U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command has activated its own Predator A UAV squadron, at Hurlburt Field, Fla. The squadron will process data gathered by MQ-1s piloted from Creech AFB, Nev., by crews from the 3rd Special Operations Sqdn. However, the aircraft will actually be flown in Iraq, Afghanistan or wherever the Air Force's UAV units may be operating.
A Sea Launch Zenit-3SL lofted a dual-use communications satellite for South Korea from the company's floating pad Aug. 21, using a Russian-built Block DM upper stage to insert the European-built satellite in its geosynchronous transfer orbit. Liftoff of the Ukrainian rocket came at 11:27 p.m. EDT from a spot near the equator in the Pacific Ocean at 154 deg. W. Long. The satellite's operational slot will be at 113 deg. E. Long.
There is a niche in capability and cost between the U.S. Air Force's tactical UAVs--the Predator A and the faster, bigger Predator B--that a team of investors and researchers believe they can exploit.
NASA's selection of the Lockheed Martin team for Orion vehicle development to replace the shuttle will fundamentally change contractor interaction with the space agency and turn America's primary launch site into a more centralized manned flight hardware production, assembly and integration center. From the start, Lockheed Martin highlighted a stronger role for Kennedy Space Center (AW&ST Feb. 27, p. 41).
To submit Aerospace Calendar Listings, Call +1 (212) 904-2421 Fax +1 (212) 904-6068 e-mail: [email protected] Sept. 11-12--Airport Cities World Conference. Hong Kong. Call +44 (208) 831-7517 or see http://airportconference.com Sept. 11-15--37th Annual SFTE Symposium: "We don't make the things you fly . . . we make the things you fly better." Silver Legacy Resort, Reno, Nev. Call +1 (661) 949-2095 or e-mail [email protected]
EADS Military Air Systems Div. has awarded contracts to Grob Aerospace of Germany and Sogitec Industries of France to supply basic training aircraft as well as ground training devices for the French air force's flight school at Cognac. Grob will supply 18 of its 120A trainers, and Sogitec will build three procedures trainers for Instrument Flight Rules instruction.
The flight test program for the A380 is entering its home stretch, with the addition of a second engine type and the start of cabin proving operations set to unfold in the coming days. After having to admit to major program delays twice--and minor glitches such as an aborted test flight to Tunisia caused by a landing gear door problem on Aug. 29--the pressure is mounting for Airbus at least to meet its commitment to get the first aircraft in the hands of lead customer Singapore Airlines by the end of the year.
NASA's selection of Lockheed Martin to build the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle kicks off an intense race to fly a CEV as soon as possible after the last space shuttle mission in 2010--without repeating the schedule-driven mistakes that caused previous fatal spaceflight accidents.
TRIAD AVIATION MARKETING, WICHITA, KAN., IS A NEW COMPANY formed by aviation veterans Jim Gregory and Jim Kandt that will offer marketing and communications services to airframe manufacturing, after-market companies and fixed-base operators. TriAd already has helped to market 30 new aircraft models designed for operating in general aviation, business flying, special missions and regional airline operations.
Sean Donohue has become senior vice president-flight operations and onboard service for United Airlines. Capt. Hank Krakowski has been appointed vice president-flight operations and Charlie Ahmes vice president-onboard service. Krakowski was vice president-corporate safety, security and quality assurance. Ahmes was managing director of onboard service operations.
Tests of a synthetic kerosene have demonstrated the usability of the fuel in high-bypass turbofans that will power a B-52 in an inflight trial this month at Edwards AFB, Calif.
Northrop Grumman Corp. has rolled out the first RQ-4 Block 20 Global Hawk UAV. It is larger than its Block 10 predecessor and can carry up to 3,000 lb. of internal payload. The first Block 20 aircraft is the 17th Global Hawk that has been built. Nine Block 10 versions have been produced, including two flying in support of the war in Iraq and two operated by the U.S. Navy in the Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration program. The Block 20 version, however, was plagued by major cost overruns during the design phase.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems has completed functional testing of the first geosynchronous satellite (GEO-1) for the Space-Based Infrared System. Verification included testing at ambient conditions for electrical power, command and data handling, thermal management, guidance navigation control and communication and propulsion systems. Further testing will continue at the company's Sunnyvale, Calif., facility.
The Senate still must pass a defense spending bill for Fiscal Year 2007 when it returns this week from its summertime recess. The $466.5-billion defense spending measure adopted by the Senate Appropriations Committee was bogged down amid a flurry of amendments before the recess, and Senate leaders say finishing it will be the first order of business. Democrats are expected to introduce even more amendments on the floor.
I am a retired U.S. Air Force pilot who enjoyed a second career as a 747 captain (total pilot hours in excess of 20,000). The subject article on the C-5 crash at Dover AFB, Del., was painful to read and impossible to understand how a "professional trained flight crew" would violate so many procedures and cause this accident (AW&ST June 19, p. 28). Who was the pilot in command? The article mentioned that the "sortie credit" was a factor on who made the "emergency return." Unbelievable!
Norway's fighter competition is boiling down to a three-way race, at least for the moment. Alongside the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Saab Gripen N and Eurofighter Typhoon remain in contention.
Rocco A. Petrone, the U.S. Army officer who planned the launch facilities at the Kennedy Space Center that are still in use today and in line to support a return to the Moon, died Aug. 24 of complications from heart disease and diabetes. He was 80 and lived in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.
ROCKWELL COLLINS IS EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF ITS FAA SUPPLEMENTAL Type Certificates (STC) for the Pro Line 21 integrated display system to include the Beechcraft King Air 200 and 300 series airplanes. The STC will be owned by Rockwell Collins but performed by Superior Aircraft Maintenance of Medford, Ore. The Pro Line 21 system integrates with the King Air's existing autopilot and sensors. The installation includes three 8x10-in.
Dany Kleiman (see photos) has been appointed corporate vice president/general manager of the Bedek Aviation Group of Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI). He has been general manager of production for the IAI Commercial Aircraft Group (CAG). Kleiman succeeds David Arzi, who has been named corporate vice president/commercial aviation liaison. Shlomo Karako has become general manager of the CAG's Business Aircraft Div. He has been its deputy director. Nava Sela has been appointed general manager of the CAG's Aerospace Assemblies Div.
Alan B. Hedge has become research director, Steve Bowen research analyst and Tara Flynn conference coordinator, all for the Seattle-based Air Cargo Management Group.
Startup airline Virgin America revealed that the additional $53 million in financing the carrier recently finalized is coming from the U.K.-based Virgin Group, but the carrier vows that the money is only a loan and does not represent a new equity investment. The airline told the U.S. Transportation Dept. in a filing that it needed the new money to help pay its legal bills, as the fight with potential U.S. competitors is taking longer than expected. The $53 million is in addition to the $177 million in funding the carrier had a year ago.
THE FAA ADMITS THERE'S ONE KEY ADS-B-related task it still has to perform--complete an analysis of what could be used as a backup if the GPS navigation system fails. Otherwise, a single-point failure could shut down the nationwide surveillance system. Some industry officials at the conference were pushing for "e-Loran" to be considered as a backup. However, Capezzuto doubts this digital version of the Loran navigation system would be ready in time.
Thales has sold its GPS navigation business to Shah Capital Partners, a private equity firm, for $170 million. The business, to be renamed Magellan Navigation, employs 600 people in the U.S., France and Russia.
