Barrington Antonio Irving has become the first African-American to fly solo around the world. About 2,000 people greeted the 23-year-old upon returning home on June 28 to Miami Opa-Locka Airport, from which he departed Mar. 23 in his single-engine Columbia 400, "Sweet Inspiration." Irving says his motive for the 24,000-mi. journey was to demonstrate to inner-city youth that they can overcome obstacles and attain higher goals.
Bigelow Aerospace launched its Genesis II inflatable space module on a converted Russian ICBM on June 28, as the company continues the successful orbital test of its first sub-scale module, Genesis I, which was launched last July. Genesis II, at 300-mi. altitude, carries a large billboard sign on its exterior reading "Blair," the granddaughter of CEO Robert T. Bigelow, in a test of the imaging system the company plans for marketing purposes. The new spacecraft is being controlled from Bigelow's futuristic space control center in northern Las Vegas.
Atlas Air subsidiary Polar Air Cargo and DHL Express on June 28 sealed a $150-million deal that will give DHL Express a 49% equity share and 25% voting interest in Polar. The deal also includes a 20-year blocked-space agreement that will give DHL access to Polar's capacity in certain markets (particularly U.S.-Asia routes) and on some Atlas aircraft. Atlas Air and DHL Express estimate the partnership could generate more than $3.5 billion in revenues. The closure follows decisions from the U.S. Transportation Dept.
Air New Zealand has begun putting Air China's code on its services between Shanghai and Auckland and on some flights between New Zealand and Australia. In return, Air New Zealand's code will go on Air China services between China and Australia.
Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise has become BOC Aviation Pte. Ltd., changing its name to reflect its sale in December to Bank of China, the world's sixth most valuable bank.
Initial flight tests of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (Sofia) are expected to begin within a few weeks at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB, Calif.
Nigeria is buying two ATR 42MP Surveyor maritime surveillance aircraft, which it hopes to field by 2009. It is the first export order for this configuration. The $73-million contract includes training, logistics support and initial spares. The Nigerian air force wants the aircraft to meet a requirement for surveillance of its large coastal waters zone, search and rescue missions and fishery and environmental monitoring.
A News Break on Aerospace Journalist of the Year Awards in the June 25 edition incorrectly described a story by William B. Scott. He won the Messier-Dowty Safran Group Award for Best Air Show Submission, an account of his F/A-18B flight in the slot position of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels' Diamond formation.
NASA has picked seven "suitcase science" experiments for further development against the day when astronauts can deploy them on the Moon's surface, and also has created two new programs to fund research based on data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) planned for launch next year and to help prepare for long-term human operations on the Moon.
Nav Canada, the country's air navigation provider, reports an average increase of 4.3% to 77.4 million charging units in April traffic, compared to 74.2 million during the same month in 2006. Traffic is measured in weighted charging units for en-route terminal and oceanic services. Traffic for the year ending Aug. 31 has been up 4.5%.
Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy completed the Air Systems Critical Design Review (CDR) for the F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter on June 22, paving the way for the initial production process to begin. First flight of the F-35A is tentatively scheduled for 2009.
After 15 years of pushing for a federally funded corporation to promote travel to the U.S., the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) senses that it is close to success. The Senate Commerce Committee has passed the Travel Promotion Act of 2007, which would set up a Corporation of Travel Promotion funded by fees paid by travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries. The bill also would establish a travel promotion office in the Commerce Dept. TIA expects a similar bill to be introduced in the House within two weeks.
Researchers at the University of Dayton in Ohio are using a light-gas gun to study the effects of damage to materials and structures caused by impact with space junk or meteoroids traveling at orbital speeds. The gun (see photo) features a 45-ft.-long, triple-barrel gunpowder and hydrogen-powered launcher that fires aluminum spheres at nearly 20,000 mph. Engineering staff at the university's Research Institute Impact Physics Lab recently broke a world record by shooting a sphere at hypervelocity speed.
The German, French and Spanish governments have agreed to back EADS's modular Advanced unmanned aircraft project, with funding for an initial risk-reduction phase. The year-long study will examine service requirements and could lead to a development effort starting next year. The Advanced UAV is likely to compete for funding with a potential Dassault/Israel Aerospace Industries effort and ambitions by AleniaAeronautica to create a multinational consortium, involving Dassault, Thales and others.
European Space Agency officials say they have begun talks with NASA about selling the U.S. agency one or more automated transfer vehicle space tugs. Under current agreements, ESA is committed to supplying around 20 metric tons of upload capacity to the International Space Station via the ATV through 2013-15, in return for utilities used by Europe's Columbus orbital laboratory (see p. 25).
Asiana Airlines, under an agreement with Jeppesen, will introduce Boeing Class 3 Electronic Flight Bag technology on its Boeing 777s. Three new Asiana 777s--the first was scheduled for delivery in June--will feature Class 3 EFB applications and data. Jeppesen is also providing its e-Link system so that dispatch and operations personnel may access charts and data. The airline says it plans to evaluate expansion of the EFB program for the entire fleet.
Rep. Henry Waxman (Calif.), a leading watchdog among House Democrats and chairman of the Government and Oversight Reform Committee, sees worsening trends in federal acquisition. Drawing on reports from the Government Accountability Office, the Defense Contract Audit Agency, inspectors general and other "independent" oversight officials, Waxman says 189 programs valued at $1.1 trillion have been "plagued by waste, fraud, abuse or mismanagement" in the past six years--not coincidentally, during President Bush's tenure.
An industry link between Alliant Techsystems and MBDA's German business unit may entice Berlin back into a transatlantic anti-radar missile program. The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding covering "potential workshare opportunities" on the missile. Italy already is a partner on the program with the U.S., and the three countries were previously partners in the AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile precision navigation upgrade, which was canceled.
Xinhua Airlines Holdings Co., the entity that is to succeed Hainan Airlines, has received an operational license from China's civil aviation administration, clearing the way for it to begin operations. The company is the fourth largest airline in China and potentially a major challenger for the government-fostered Big Three.
The European Commission has blocked Ryanair's hostile takeover bid for Aer Lingus, citing the dominant position it would have given the combined entity on 35 routes. Ryanair's offer to relinquish some slots was deemed insufficient.
GKN Aerospace completed the acquisition of the Teleflex Aerospace Manufacturing Group last week for an undisclosed amount. TAMG manufactures engine components at seven sites in the U.S., Mexico, U.K. and France. The purchase gives GKN greater access to supplying hot-section engine components, and increases the company's footprint in the commercial jet engine sector.
The Lufthansa Technik-MTU Aero Engines Airfoil Services joint venture is expanding its Malaysia operations. A new production facility has been opened at Kota Damansara near Kuala Lumpur. More than 250 new jobs have been created so far through the expansion, and the product portfolio is to be extended further.
The second test article in the U.S. Navy's VH-71 presidential helicopter development program is set to fly in days. This aircraft is more representative of the final VH-71 configuration than the first test article, which has already executed landing tests on the White House lawn.
Italy's Elettronica and Israel's Elbit Systems have teamed up to develop another contender in the directed infrared countermeasures (Dircm) market. At the core of the program is Elbit's Music laser-based Dircm system. Plans call for targeting both helicopter and large airplane applications. The two companies have begun marketing the system and could deliver the first device by the end of next year. The Italian/Israeli design, however, will face stiff competition from Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems.
