U.K. linear motion device provider Power Jacks is using SolidWorks 3D PartStream.NET service to create an interactive online catalog that allows customers to configure screw jack, gear box or other products for their designs. Since the 1930s, Power Jacks has offered screw jack technology. Today it supplies motion control devices to global firms such as Airbus, Alcoa and Siemens. Power Jacks used catalogs and static web sites to market its products. Now, with 3D PartStream.NET, customers can configure and download specific products in the CAD format of their choice.
Janet Dhillon has been named senior vice president/general counsel and Thomas B. Chapman Washington-based vice president-congressional and federal affairs for US Airways. Dhillon succeeds Jim Walsh, who is retiring. She will continue as compliance officer and has been vice president/deputy general counsel. Chapman succeeds Rosemary G. Murray, who is retiring. He has been legislative counsel for Southwest Airlines.
USN Vice Adm. Ann E. Rondeau has become deputy commander of the U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill. She has been director of Navy staff in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon.
Andrew Walmsley has become vice president-sales and marketing for Jet Aviation Specialists Inc. of Miami. He was an executive with Windsor Airmotive, British Airways and Air New Zealand.
Douglas Barrie (London), Michael A. Taverna (Paris)
The U.K. is seeking assurance that Washington will not interfere with the proposed weapon packages for the Royal Saudi Air Force Tornado and Typhoon combat aircraft. Senior British and Pentagon officials met earlier this month to discuss the packages being offered by London for the Tornado capability sustainment program (CSP) and as part of the purchase of 72 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft by the kingdom.
With one more quarter to go, CFM International has already set a new engine sales record for itself, something some top executives didn't think possible at the start of the year. The company, through Sept. 30, had sold 1,772 CFM56s, topping the 1,640-order intake for all of 2005.
Libya could be the first export customer for the French Rafale fourth-generation fighter. Paris has reportedly cleared export of the Rafale, along with the Tiger attack helicopter and other advanced weapons, to the North African country, two years after the lifting of an arms embargo. However, industry observers say Libya is more likely to start by upgrading its Mirage F1s, as Morocco--another potential Rafale buyer--is doing.
Mike Gruntman, chairman of the Astronautics Dept. at the University of Southern California, has received the Luigi Napolitano Award from the International Academy of Astronautics for his book Blazing the Trail: The Early History of Spacecraft and Rocketry, published by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
The International Air Transport Assn.'s (IATA) member airlines this year will pay a record-breaking fuel bill, $115 billion, or 26% of their direct operating costs, up from 13% five years ago. Low-fare carriers, which have a simpler cost structure, are feeling the impact even more. Of course, economic difficulties resulting from high fuel prices are nothing new, but the time has come to take bold initiatives, consider innovative solutions and plan for alternative energy sources in the form of synthetic fuels.
The U.S. Export-Import Bank has cleared one of its largest transactions for Air India's acquisition of 68 aircraft from Boeing. The bank will guarantee a loan of up to 85% of the aircraft cost; the remaining 15% will be funded through commercial borrowings. The Indian government will in turn insure 85% of the loan guaranteed by the Bank.
USAF Col. (ret.) David M. Votipka has become the warfighter advocate for professional services firm Gestalt, Orlando, Fla. He was commander of USAF Agency for Modeling and Simulation.
A consortium of global motion control companies has launched the Motion Control Assn. (MCA). The trade group will promote the use of mechanical and electronic (mechatronics) motion control technology, which now accounts for more than $44 billion in annual sales worldwide, according to the organization. MCA will be a source for industry statistics; it also plans to develop and coordinate standards and provide educational programs. See www.motioncontrolonline.org for additional information.
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.
