The idea floating around the air traffic control industry in recent months that it might take a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)-type process to shut down aging and redundant FAA equipment and facilities has reached Capitol Hill. House aviation subcommittee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) said at an ATC modernization hearing that a BRAC-type procedure--in which Congress gets a take-it-or-leave-it proposal and can't make piecemeal changes--might be needed in next year's FAA reauthorization.
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Two new U.S. military spacecraft are completing transit this week into geosynchronous orbit where they will demonstrate formation flight at 22,300-mi. altitude and new space technologies following launch on an unusual four-stage Boeing Delta II version. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Micro-Satellite Technology Experiment (MiTEx) lifted off from Launch Complex 17A here June 21 at 6:15 p.m. EDT. The U.S. Air Force/ Darpa MiTEx vehicle carried two 500-lb. spacecraft--one developed by Orbital Sciences Corp., the other by Lockheed Martin.
The Netherlands is expected to buy CH-47F Chinook helicopters by year-end. The initial contract will likely be for six of the helos, including the exercise of two options. The Dutch will also have options for further aircraft. Eventually, the Chinooks already in service with the Dutch military are expected to be upgraded to the -F standard.
In response to three letters on UAVs (AW&ST May 15, p. 6), the Customs and Border Protection cost comparison of a $7-million UAV to 70 light sport cubs does not account for 70 trained pilots and hundreds of man-hours per week for support personnel. This amounts to more than the cost of the hardware. Manned aircraft fail too, and may result in costly human loss.
FedEx Corp. officials cite two big factors in the company's record financial results for the fourth quarter and full 2006 fiscal year, both of which ended May 31. One is "solid economic growth" in the U.S. and international markets, says CEO Fred Smith. The other is "much more aggressive" revenue management than in fiscal 2005, according to Mike Glenn, executive vice president for market development and corporate communications.
Kazakhstan's dream of using the giant Soviet-era Baikonur Cosmodrome as a stepping-stone to space-power status has taken a tiny step forward with launch of its first spacecraft--a telecom satellite to provide broadcasting and telecom services to Central Asia and Russia. Moscow provided engineering assistance and a Proton K booster for the KazSat-1 spacecraft. France's Alcatel built the payload.
The U.S. Transportation Dept. has decided tentatively to award Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways and Frontier Airlines authority to enter three popular U.S.-Mexico markets--Los Angeles-Puerto Vallarta, New York-Cancun and Los Angeles-San Jose del Cabo, respectively. Each market currently is served by two U.S. airlines, and December 2005 amendments to the U.S.-Mexico aviation agreement provide for a third.
U.S. and Japanese officials are working to release a halted shipment of composite materials needed for the Patriot theater missile defense system, following Japan's decision to hold the ship because of snags in export licensing. Torus Industries of Japan manufactures the material for the Army's Patriot Advanced Capability Missile-3. Japan has agreed to procure the system and wants to coproduce the missile. Torus's material is available elsewhere, an industry official says. Still, the U.S. and Japan are cooperating on moving the shipment.
Burgeoning commercial order books and high Pentagon expenditure should see an industry flushed with confidence. Instead, optimism is tempered by caution about what may exactly lie ahead.
Robert F. Mehmel has been promoted to executive vice president/chief operating officer from executive vice president-business operations and strategy of DRS Technologies Inc., Parsippany, N.J.
A story on Airbus A320 enhancements (AW&ST June 19, p. 40) mischaracterized the goal of the Inter- national Aero Engines V2500 Select- One upgrade. It should boost output and reduce maintenance workload.
The U.K.'s Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and U.S. Justice Dept. are investigating whether British Airways and other airlines engaged in illegal price-fixing. According to the OFT, the investigation relates to fuel surcharges on long-haul routes. British Airways said it complies with all competition regulation, but gave Commercial Director Martin George and Head of Communications Iain Burns leaves of absence during the inquiry.
Pakistan's purchase of Saab 2000-based Erieye airborne warning and control systems aircraft has been finalized. Pakistan will receive eight of the aircraft under the $1.1-billion deal.
The European Commission is opening a formal investigation into aeronautical R&D aid provided by Belgium, and in particular 200 million euros ($252 million) in interest-free reimbursable loans for civil aircraft programs. The loans include a 41-million-euro facility to Safran unit Techspace Aero for the GP7000 program.
Boeing is building parts for almost two dozen C-17 transports beyond its current order book to continue production as it tries to snag additional domestic and international orders. The company is in the final days of talks with potential foreign buyers of the transport to lock in the $220-million unit flyaway price, which Boeing says will remain in place only until the end of the month. With the deadline looming, several countries have expressed interest, although Canada at this point may be the only one to commit by month's end.
U.S. Army officials are expected to announce the winner of the Light Utility Helicopter program as soon as June 30. There are four proposals: AgustaWestland's AW139, EADS North America's EC145, Bell Helicopter Textron's 412EP and MD Helicopters' Explorer. The program is expected to be worth $1.3 billion and supply the Army with 322 helicopters. They will be used to ferry people and equipment inside the U.S. and free up combat-coded Black Hawks for use overseas.
Oscar S. Garcia has become president of the Greater Miami Aviation Assn. He is chairman/CEO/founding partner of the InterFlight Global Corp. Other officers are: first vice president, aviation lawyer Robert C. Owens; second vice president, Airplane Shop Manager Carol Jarman; third vice president, Steven Daun, vice president-sales and marketing for the Aeroservice Aviation Center; treasurer, Robert Christiansen, vice president of Airliners magazine; and secretary, Ray Cain, director of aviation/assistant professor at Florida Memorial University.
Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon says the airline's 2005-06 profit will be about A$670 million ($491 million) after a A$153-million restructuring charge. Analysis had projected a profit of A$670-890 million. Qantas advised the market since reporting a 2004-05 profit before taxes of A$914.3 million that it would not achieve the same level in 2005-06, Dixon said.
Intelligence reports that North Korea may be readying another series of long- range missile tests has Washington in an uproar--especially on Capitol Hill, where talk is turning to increased missile defense spending. Concerns center on activity around the Musudanri launch site in the northern part of the country, spotted recently by an Advanced version of the KH-11 reconnaissance satellite. Observers believe the Taepo-Dong-2 missile, with a 3,500-6,000-km. range, was possibly being fueled.
Brady Templeton (see photo) has been promoted to vice president-ground operations from senior director for planning and technical services for ABX Air, Wilmington, Ohio.
MBDA plans to team with Saab Bofors Dynamics to bid for a common European tactical missile technology demonstrator planned by the U.K., France and Sweden.
Claudio Ponzi (see photo) has been named Orlando, Fla.-based technical director for the Meads International Medium Extended Air Defense System program. He was head of programs for the Seeker Div. Ponzi succeeds Pietro Ragonese, who will be retiring.
The U.S. Air Force is paying close attention to the proliferation of small- satellite technology, fearing one day it could be used to attack U.S. military spacecraft in orbit, according to the deputy commander of U.S. Strategic Command. "We'll have to be very vigilant there," says Lt. Gen. Robert Kehler. "We've seen, of course, some countries have had anti-satellite weapons in the past, and some are interested in anti-satellite weapons today.
A transformed Brazilian air transport sector appears set for launch after the slow dismantling of operations at former national carrier Varig over the course of the last week.
