With the 10th anniversary of the crash of TWA Flight 800 fast approaching, acting Chairman Mark V. Rosenker of the National Transportation Safety Board is focusing on what his panel considers the urgent need to implement--and expand--the FAA's proposed rule aimed at mitigating fuel tank flammability.
Turkey has extended the source selection period for two acquisition programs. After initially establishing the request for proposal deadline for up to 52 utility helicopters last December, it was then pushed to mid-March and is now set for September. The program calls for 20 helos for land forces, six each for the navy and air force--the latter to be used for search-and-rescue--and 20 for firefighting by the forestry service. Moreover, bidders for the basic trainer aircraft program have until mid-month to respond.
Charles H. Scales has been appointed associate administrator for the NASA Office of Institutions and Management. He was deputy director in the Office of Center Operations at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. Marvin Christensen has been named deputy director of the NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. He was acting director and a senior manager. Christensen succeeds Steven Zornetzer, who was acting deputy director and will remain deputy director for research.
Paul B. Domorski has been appointed president/CEO of EMS Technologies Inc. of Atlanta. He succeeds Alfred G. Hansen, who has retired. Domorski has been vice president of Avaya Inc.
European Union spending for research and development will climb 60% over the next seven years, significantly boosting outlays available for aeronautics and space.
Michael A. Taverna (Bordeaux and St. Dizier, France)
The Dassault Rafale F2 strike aircraft is poised to enter the French air force inventory, augmenting Europe's force-projection capability and opening a new chapter in the battle with rival U.S. and European manufacturers for lucrative foreign military sales contracts.
Market Focus 10 Problems at Boeing IDS could bring $1-billion earnings hit News Breaks 15 LockMart promoting savings from multi-aperture imaging systems 16 NTSB urges rule to mitigate fuel tank explosions 18 Decoy-maker Chemring logs surge in sales and profits 18 Airservices Australia buying eight ATC radars for busiest airports World News & Analysis 20 Rafale F2 strike aircraft poised to enter French AF inventory
Shortly after your article "Shuttle-Derived" was published (AW&ST May 8, p. 46), NASA decided to dump the Space Shuttle Main Engine in favor of the RS-68 for its Cargo Launch Vehicle (CaLV). In addition, the diameter of the CaLV first stage jumped so as to provide sufficient tankage for the less-efficient RS-68. In so doing, NASA has removed just about all of its "shuttle-derived" components. Everything else used on the Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV) and CaLV involves so much redesign and test that it might as well be considered a new set of vehicles.
The U.S. airline industry is grasping at any optimistic news that comes along, most recently the report that domestic yields in March and April reached the highest point in more than five years, but there's a major battle that many have overlooked or chosen to ignore--the economy.
Russia will begin to roll back a decade of aerospace privatization later this year with the formal creation of the United Aircraft Co., pulling together the core of its aircraft manufacturing industry. The state will have a 75% stake in the company initially, though this may eventually reduce to 51%.
Ukraine and NATO have agreed to eliminate 1,000 man-portable air defense missiles, which are seen as a potential terrorist threat against airliners. The effort is part of a larger disarmament effort in Ukraine.
Airservices Australia is buying eight new air traffic control radars from Thales for the busiest airports in Australia. The more than $60-million (U.S.) contract will replace 15-year-old radars at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Cairns, Coolangatta and Canberra.
Britain's procurement system is once again under fire, only days before the Defense Ministry announces it will fundamentally alter how it buys and supports weapons. The Parliament's public accounts committee is criticizing the ministry for delays and cost overruns on big-ticket procurements, while also cautioning that "some of the latest capability cuts are short-term expediencies."
Missteps by Boeing Co.'s Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) unit could add up to a hit of more than $1 billion on the company's next earnings report. Boeing is warning Wall Street that it will take a pre-tax charge on second-quarter earnings of $300-500 million--the exact amount is still being determined--because of an 18-month delay to its airborne early warning and control program for Australia. Boeing is developing six of the 737-based surveillance aircraft under a $2.5-billion contract signed in 1999.
The Federal Communications Commission has approved the merger of Intelsat with PanAmSat. With all other approvals in hand, the $3-billion merger, announced on Aug. 29, 2005, is subject only to obtaining financing by Intelsat and finalizing of legal issues.
John A. Crocker wants Delta Air Lines creditors and the Bankruptcy Court judge to fire the "unschooled management" (AW&ST May 15, p. 6). However, other legacy airline managers have had successful careers elsewhere and will have them in the future, often within the industry.
An Iberia Airlines Airbus A340 heads toward stormy weather. New technology weather radars are making it possible for pilots to detect hazardous storms more easily. The Rockwell Collins WXR-2100 multi-scan radar, for example, is available on all Boeing and most Airbus aircraft (see p. 50). Next week, Senior Editor David Hughes continues his coverage with articles on the new Honeywell RDR-4000, which was developed for the A380 and available on other civil and military transports. Photo by AirTeamImages.
Lithuania is buying three C-27J transports under a $75-million contract to replace Antonov An-26s. Alenia Aeronautica is supposed to deliver the first aircraft by year-end, with the second to follow by 2009.
The British Royal Air Force's Canberra PR9 photo-reconnaissance aircraft, in use by the RAF for 55 years, ended operational service June 22. The type has been used in recent operations in Afghanistan. Its withdrawal leaves the RAF with a recon capability gap. In the longer term, the Dabinett effort is intended to address that need, among others. The aircraft first entered service in 1951. The squadron which operates the PR9, No. 39 Sqdn., will be disbanded on July 28.
Constantine (Gus) Sarkos, manager of the FAA's Fire Safety Branch at the William J. Hughes Technical Center, Egg Harbor Township, N.J., has won the 2006 Distinguished Engineer Award from the Engineering Society of the Rutgers University Alumni. He was cited for long-time contributions to improving fire safety in commercial and military transport airplanes.
A comprehensive study sponsored in part by privatized air navigation service providers on four continents finds that these new types of ATC organizations are more responsive to customer needs and often improve safety.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission accepted an offer by Raytheon to pay $12 million to settle an investigation into improper accounting at its commuter aircraft business from 1997-2001. Raytheon did not admit or deny wrongdoing.
Las Vegas's McCarran International Airport ranked highest in overall satisfaction for larger airports in the new 2006 J.D. Power and Associates Airport Satisfaction Index Study. The airport posted impressive scores for its check-in/baggage check, security check and terminal facilities.
Delta Air Lines reported a $16-million net loss during May. Excluding costs arising from its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, the company had a net profit of $8 million, a $148-million improvement over its May 2005 loss. Delta ended the month with $3.8 billion in cash, $2.7 billion of it unrestricted.
Michael A. Taverna (Bordeaux, France), Andy Nativi (Genoa)
The Greek government may be able to move forward with key defense acquisitions--including an advanced fighter, additional transport helicopters and a satellite imaging capability--following approval of a multiyear spending plan.
