Regarding the article "Bigger Fish" (AW&ST Sept. 25, p. 41), while we continue building $200-million stealth fighters to fight terrorists without radar, Europe will be building a 5-ton Barracuda unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), no doubt to be followed by an 8-ton Shark.
Arianespace expected to launch its fourth Ariane 5 mission of the year, late last week. The mission will carry Optus D1, a 2.3-metric-ton TV/telecommunications satellite built for Australia's Optus by Orbital Sciences Corp.; DirecTV 9S, a K u-/K a-band spacecraft manufactured by Space Systems/Loral; and a half-scale experimental model of a future large-scale deployable reflector built by NEC Toshiba Space Systems for Japanese space agency JAXA.
NASA wants to continue the barter approach originally pursued in the International Space Station partnership as it joins with other countries to explore the Moon. Administrator Michael Griffin tells the International Astronautical Congress in Valencia, Spain, that while he realizes not all potential partners share his view, a "no exchange of funds" approach to partnership will work best. With the exception of some direct purchases of goods and services from Russia, that is how all ISS cost-sharing deals are handled.
Carl Pilcher, who has been senior scientist for astrobiology at NASA Headquarters in Washington, has been named director of the NASA Astrobiology Institute at the NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. He succeeds Bruce Runnegar, who is returning to the University of California at Los Angeles.
Innovative Solutions & Support Inc. is building on its successful participation in the market for Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums with a variety of flat-panel glass cockpit systems for civil, military and business jets.
James Hogan, who has been chief executive of Gulf Air, has left that Bahrain- and Oman-owned carrier, to become CEO of Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates. He succeeds Robert Strodel, who left five months ago. Hogan is credited with leading a restructuring of Gulf Air during the past four years that brought it back to profits.
Labelmaster has packaged its Air International Regulations for Shippers of Dangerous Goods; Early 49 CFR; 49 CFR Government; its RegStick; and Compliance Network into convenient packages, according to the company. A.I.R. Shipper is recognized ICAO. RegStick, a USB flash drive, contains the necessary information for compliance with regulations for shipping dangerous goods. Keyword searches of PDFS allow access to regulatory information from any USB port-equipped computer.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld once argued forcefully against congressional proposals to expand the U.S. Army to ease the strain of occupying Iraq. "We simply do not expect to have 100,000, 120,000 troops in a single country permanently deployed," he said. That was nearly three years ago. Last week, Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker revealed the Army is budgeting to keep 120,000 soldiers in Iraq--plus 20,000 Marines--through 2010.
The chronology of milestones for the Airbus A380 program should have noted that the first flight took place Apr. 27, 2005, after having been scheduled originally for late 2004 (AW&ST Oct. 9, p. 26).
USAF Brig. Gen. Brooks L. Bash has been named director of combat and information operations for the U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb. He has been commander of the 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force of Air Mobility Command, Travis AFB, Calif. He will be succeeded by Brig. Gen. Mark E. Stearns, who has been director for strategy, policy and plans at Headquarters Southern Command in Miami. Brig. Gen. (select) Marvin T.
China has published a new white paper setting out a space road map for the next five years. One priority of China's second plan will involve developing and operating a high-resolution Earth-observation system, a polar and geostationary weather satellite network and a system of small disaster protection spacecraft--along with associated satellite, launcher and ground production and operating facilities.
Safran reported sales of €8.1 billion through the first nine months, an 8% increase over 2005 results. The aerospace propulsion and defense security operations drove growth, with 13.9% and 18.5% increases, respectively. The commercial cell phone business, whose future is now being debated, continued to lag with a decline in year-on-year sales of 5.4%. Safran also says its revenue this year and next will be affected by Airbus A380 delays, although some income from nacelles already delivered should be booked in mid-December upon certification of the aircraft.
USAF has received its first production award--$112.9 million--for the newest Amraam configuration. The AIM-120D is optimized for small targets, longer range and enhanced maneuvering when closing on targets. A second contract includes funding for the AIM-120C7 missile, which is designed to allow for maximized lethality when attacking small, stealth cruise missiles in head-on attacks. The two Lot 20 contracts are worth a combined $168 million.
Peter Jackson, who is CEO of the Hong Kong-based Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co., has been voted Satellite Executive of the Year by the Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council. He was cited for his "achievement and contribution to the advancement of the satellite and space-related industries in the Asia-Pacific region through leadership in satellite operation."
EADS is desperately looking for clear skies after weeks of A380-induced turbulence that has unnerved customers, shareholders and politicians. But several more months of uncertainty lie ahead before normalcy can return as industrial and product decisions are made.
J. Michael Sapienti has become group vice president-sales and marketing for the Vulcan Electric Co., Porter, Maine. He was director of sales and marketing for the Teledyne Corp. Sapienti succeeds Normand Sirois, who has been named group vice president-engineering and quality.
NASA has shut down one of the four big control moment gyros (CMGs) on the International Space Station (ISS) because of excessive vibration. The remaining three CMGs continue to perform their attitude-control task normally but if the problem with CMG-3 can't be fixed, it could mean trouble for future ISS-assembly missions when space shuttles are docked to the orbiting laboratory, NASA says. The station was down to only two of the 600-lb. reaction wheels when the shuttle Discovery delivered replacements for a failed CMG and CMG power supply last year (AW&ST Aug.
Although I am sure he believes he could have prevented the Comair tragedy, the Lexington, Ky., tower controller bears no responsibility. If he issued correct taxi instructions and heard a correct readback, he fulfilled FAA requirements. I can imagine how he feels. Many times, I interrupted nagging administrative routine to look out the window just once more --many times seeing something unexpected that needed immediate attention. It's a controller's instinct. It's not infallible.
USAFR Co. (ret.) T.C. Kenna (Incline Village, Nev.)
Your Washington Outlook item on microwave usage (AW&ST Sept. 18, p. 21) documents the ultimate in political correctness. It might also establish why the Pentagon has been called the "puzzle palace." Testing new weaponry on U.S. citizens before use on an "enemy" to avoid vilification "in the world press" has to be part of the next Jay Leno monologue on NBC's "Tonight Show."
Korean Air plans to rapidly expand its cargo operations in an effort to strengthen its position in key Asian markets. The airline has firm plans to grow its fleet by more than 30% in the next two years and is preparing to launch a new Chinese subsidiary next year that will give it a foothold in the lucrative China-Europe and China-U.S. markets.
Jay Groen, chairman of Groen Brothers Aviation Inc. of Salt Lake City, died at home in Washington on Oct. 9 of cancer. He was 62. Groen and his brother David, who was president and CEO, cofounded GBA in 1986 to develop modern auto-rotative aircraft. Together, they won key government and industry contracts such as a recent one from the U.S. Defense Dept. to advance rotary-wing technology. Jay Groen was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War who received a B.S. degree in economics from the University of Utah and an M.S. in economics from Virginia Tech.
The Rockot light launcher returned to service on July 28. The flight return of Dnepr, provisionally expected by late November, will be the third in four months for Russian boosters, after Rockot and Proton M (AW&ST Oct. 2, p. 70).
The first Australian C-17 has moved out of Boeing's paint hangar at Long Beach, Calif., to begin preparations for its first flight later this month. The Australian C-17 is a Block 17 aircraft that includes upgraded combat lighting, formation flying capability and flight-control software.The second C-17 for Australia is set for delivery in 2007 followed by two more in 2008.
Scott Berkey has become vice president-worldwide operations for the Abaqus division of Paris-based Dassault Systemes. He was CEO of Axentis Inc. and president/CEO of Proficiency Ltd.
