Tanks are designed for fast-moving battle in open terrain, where such characteristics as mobility, firepower and survivability make them ideal for high-intensity warfare. But in an urban battlefield, tanks can become deadly traps for crews and liabilities to the forces operating them. The key to overcoming this limitation is a set of relatively simple modifications that improve survivability and extend the effectiveness of even the largest tanks in close-quarter patrol and combat.
Nandu Madireddi (see photo) has been named senior vice president-business operations for Dallas Airmotive. He was an executive of Pratt & Whitney's commercial after market business.
The space shuttle Atlantis is set for roll- out to Launch Complex 39B as soon as July 31, following its transfer from the Kennedy Space Center Orbiter Processing Facility into the Vehicle Assembly Building on July 24. Atlantis already has been stacked on its safety-modified external tank and solid rocket boosters, a major milestone toward its launch to the International Space Station in a window that could open Aug. 27 if lighting conditions are judged to be adequate for inspecting the tank for damage after ascent.
Thales has submitted a technical proposal to the Indian air force for the upgrade of 52 Mirage 2000 fighter jets originally built by France's Dassault to the Mirage 2000-5 configuration. A Thales delegation was scheduled to hold further discussions with Indian officials on July 14. Thales International Chairman and CEO Jean-Paul Perrier told DTI that the contract would be made on a government-to-government basis, in which the French government would be the guarantor.
If one quarter of red ink is all it will cost Boeing to finally put defense procurement and ethics scandals behind it, CEO James McNerney is more than willing to pay up.
Airbus plans to incorporate some design elements devised for the previous A350 on the much larger version of its new, twin jet, mid-size aircraft, the A350XWB, although many particulars will not be locked in for months. With a formal program launch expected in early October, Airbus is targeting a mid-2008 design freeze for the A350XWB-900, the lead version in the multi-configuration family of mid-size, long-range aircraft. The -900 version is set to enter service in 2012.
U.S. Homeland Security Dept.'s Customs and Border Protection unit will buy two General Atomics Predator B unmanned aerial vehicles to deploy along the Mexican border and at least five light-observation helicopters, likely EC120s from American Eurocopter, to back up Border Patrol agents there. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told House appropriators that an additional eight light-observation helicopters will provide direct support to enforcement operations.
The Munich Airport will shift some of its ground services fleet to biodiesel to help transition those parts of the air transport system that can be moved away from traditional fossil fuels to alternative sources (see p. 54). Airport operator FMG has been using hydrogen fueling stations at the facility. About one-third of apron vehicles will be using biodiesel instead of diesel in the future. The lower cost of the biodiesel should yield one million euros ($1.3 million) in reduced operating costs.
Major airlines face a growing threat in the transatlantic market--"boutique" carriers that offer lower fare luxury and superluxury services for the business traveler. The concept in "boutiques"--airlines that target a select group of passengers and markets--has become increasingly popular in the past decade. They come in varied shapes and sizes. Some, such as now-defunct Delta Song and MGM Grand Airlines, catered to the leisure traveler. The latest ones to emerge target the airlines' bread and butter--the business traveler who pays a premium ticket price.
Robert J. Kanaskie has become president of Kaman Aerospace Corp.'s Aerostructures Div., Jacksonville, Fla. He was vice president of the Goodrich Corp.'s Turbomachinery Products Div., Hodges, S.C.
Canadian forces in Afghanistan are among the first to test a new acoustic recognition tool that pinpoints the exact location and direction of sniper fire. Scientists at Defense Research and Development Canada in Valcartier, Quebec, are developing the technology, which relies on complicated acoustic algorithms and a network of small microphones mounted on an armored vehicle. Jacques Bedard, who is overseeing the Ferret program, says small arms fire is associated with two sounds: supersonic bullet shock wave (that whizzing noise) and a secondary muzzle blast.
Industry officials say Bombardier has started to approach airlines with its new regional jet offering, the stretched CRJ900. The company suspended development of its proposed C-Series jet in January after failing to win a launch customer, but maintains it is still being offered. "We have the engine if and when we get around to bringing the program to market," says Michael McAdoo, the company's vice president for business development.
Venezuela appears to be the latest customer for the Sukhoi Su-30 multi-role fighter. A contract for 24-30 Su-30MK2s is believed to have been signed and include 14 Mil Mi-17V5 utility and two Mi-26T heavy-lift helicopters. Two Mi-35 attack helicopters were ordered to complement the eight bought in 2005. The Tor-M1 (SA-15 Gauntlet) tracked air-defense system is also being procured. The estimated value of the procurement is $3 billion.
Lufthansa's first-half operating profit was up 17.4% to 297 million euros, as the airline benefited from a substantial increase in average yields. Yields were up 9.3%, and the airline still attracted 3.3% more passengers in the period. The carrier now expects to exceed last year's operating profit of 577 million euros for fiscal 2006. All of Lufthansa's primary operating units were profitable. Also, affiliate Swiss International Air Lines reported a 98-million-Swiss-franc operating profit ($79.3-million), compared to a loss of 9 million francs a year earlier.
A Yakovlev Yak-130 advanced jet trainer crashed during flight trials on July 26. The aircraft was one of three prototypes. The two crewmembers ejected safely after reporting they were unable to control the aircraft.
Now that Alan Greenspan has left the Fed, the Justice Dept. is making a strong bid to fill the void in inscrutable advice. Witness its words on legislation to repeal the Wright Amendment, which has limited routes that can be served from Dallas Love Field for a generation. On July 24, Justice staffers opined in a letter circulated on the Hill that the repeal measure would violate antitrust laws, particularly in tearing down gates not used by Southwest and American, and thus preventing competitors from entering the market.
Arlene Butler Feldman has been named president of the New Jersey Aviation Assn. She is retired Eastern U.S. administrator of the FAA and succeeds Jack Olcott. He will remain as a director.
The Mariner Demonstrator II unmanned aerial vehicle got rave reviews from the U.S. Navy during the mid-June Trident Warrior 2006 experiment off the West Coast. It was the first real test of the platform in an at-sea exercise. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' Mariner is an extended-range derivative of its U.S. Air Force Predator B loaded with new technology, such as a 360-deg. radar being developed for the U.S. Navy's planned Broad Area Maritime Surveillance UAV, and an onboard processing system that broadcasts data continuously to every node in its network.
Engine specialists say they are making solid progress on the technology road to a next-generation short-haul turbofan and that they are keeping potential airline customers apprised of the advances. But Airbus and Boeing are in no hurry to act, leaving the industry's next big development cycle 8-10 years off.
EADS is preparing for second-half financial charges as a vetting of major Airbus programs reveals the true costs of the turmoil of recent months. It is now looking at a new competitiveness initiative, since current activities in this area have fallen short of the target. Although EADS delivered strong first-half financial results, executives highlighted that there are several weighty issues to contend with. And the Airbus A380 remains at the top of that list.
House aviation subcommittee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) usually makes sound decisions regarding U.S. aviation. But his latest swipe at the Airbus A380 looks to be a serious miscue. Mica has introduced legislation into Congress that would make foreign airlines pay extra to fly the A380 to U.S. airports. That would hurt more parties than the Europeans he is lashing out against. What's more, this measure would set a bad precedent.
Chautauqua Airlines will operate 44 50-seat regional jets for Continental Airlines, beginning in January, as the successor to a 69-aircraft operation by Continental's former subsidiary and current regional partner, ExpressJet. Chautauqua would have operated some or all of the 69 aircraft if ExpressJet had turned them back to Continental, but ExpressJet decided, as permitted by its capacity purchase agreement with Continental, to retain the aircraft on subleases from Continental.
Jade Cargo, a Chinese all-freight startup carrier, will use Lufthansa Technik's total Component Support and Total Engine Support maintenance programs for its six Boeing 747-400ER freighters, which are to be delivered starting January 2008.
The U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin spent the middle of June testing the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) concept for the first time in a live at-sea experiment in the Pacific Ocean. Lockheed Martin is building the first LCS, which is scheduled for delivery in early 2007, and General Dynamics is constructing the second with a different design. In the meantime, the Navy is planning to develop "hybrid sailors" with broader skill sets than is typically necessary in the existing crew-heavy fleet.
