The NTSB continues its probe of the May 30 crash of a Eurocopter EC135P1 on the grounds of the U.S. Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington. The MedStar helicopter, operated by C.J. Systems Aviation Group of West Mifflin, Pa., was transporting a patient when it crashed at about 4:50 p.m. The pilot, paramedic and flight nurse were injured and the hospital reported the patient died, according to the NTSB.
I don't know what to make of the report on Rep. Frank Wolf versus the Chinese space program (AW&ST Apr. 3, p. 21). Wolf (R-Va.) "warns" that China could get to the Moon before the U.S. He states "I don't trust China," that the U.S. ought to pursue its own goals regardless of what other nations do, and that the "race to the Moon in the '60s did more harm to the American space program . . . than it did good . . ." I offer the following reactions:
Insulating foam will drop from the space shuttle external tank on the next launch and the 16 or 17 planned after that, but the latest tank redesign should minimize the risk of serious damage to delicate components.
Italy's second largest airline, Air One, is establishing a dedicated, regional-jet operation--Air One City Liner--with the goal of being more competitive against low-fare operations. Air One City Liner will begin operations with six Bombardier CRJ900 RJs, which the mainline carrier is acquiring with an investment of $150 million. The first two were delivered recently; two more are scheduled to become available this month. The remainder should be fielded by November. Air One holds options for another 10 CRJ900s.
Korean Air Cargo has opened its thrice-weekly services from Seoul/Incheon to Seattle using Boeing 747-400 Freighters. It opened cargo services there last June using belly space. The carrier is the world's largest airfreight airline with scheduled services.
Marshall Aerospace, Rolls-Royce and Lockheed Martin have been awarded a 1.52-billion-pound, 24-year contract by the British Defense Ministry for support and maintenance for the Royal Air Force's C-130s. Marshall will be prime contractor.
Boeing certainly will keep its lean manufacturing strategy for the 747-8 production line in Everett, Wash., when that stretch version of the 747-400 begins assembly in 2008. But it hasn't decided if it will employ a moving line, as it does for 737s at its Renton factory. "We don't want to make the 747-8 an event," Vice President Jeff Peace, general manager for the new aircraft's development, said late last week. "We want to make the 747-8 a continuation in the improvement of the production of the 747-400."
The Mooney Airplane Co. is introducing the 310-hp. single-engine retractable Ovation3. The Teledyne Continental Motors IO 550-G/AP-powered aircraft has a maximum cruise speed of 197 kt. Compared with Mooney's 280-hp. Ovation2GX, the Ovation3 has a shorter takeoff roll and cruises, depending on altitude, at about 9 kt. faster. The Ovation3 has been added to the production schedule, and the first aircraft will enter service this month, says a Mooney executive.
Richard F. Ambrose (see photo) has been appointed vice president of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co.'s Denver-based Surveillance and Navigation Systems. He has been vice president/ general manager of Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors' Tactical Systems, Eagan, Minn.
The Delta pilots' stamp of approval on another concessions contract is allowing the airline to return to its transformation plan--and rekindles its nearly extinguished hope for survival. The Delta pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Assn., on May 31 ratified a tentative contract granting additional annual concessions of $280 million. Delta had sought $300 million in annual concessions from its pilots when, bleeding billions, it filed for bankruptcy protection in September 2005. That amount wasn't enough.
I can see both sides of the argument about fuel tank inerting devices (AW&ST Apr. 24, p. 66). The risk posed by combustible mixtures in tanks is real. There is little chance of ignition, but the results are catastrophic. The airlines make a good point, too: Inerting systems constitute a huge expense. Has anyone made a serious effort to develop a system in which a non-permeable flexible membrane separates fuel from air in the tank? The empty part of the tank could be open to atmosphere or even have a ventilation fan.
Autonomous Space Transport Robotic Operations servicer satellite undergoes assembly and test at Boeing's facility in Huntington Beach, Calif. The satellite was built by Boeing Advanced Systems, which is the prime integrator for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Orbital Express program. Orbital Express is scheduled to test autonomous servicing of satellites. It is a pair of spacecraft, a servicer and client, that are to be launched in October (see p. 46). The client satellite is being built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies. Boeing photo by Bob Ferguson.
Are two engines better than one? Only when one doesn't work. Such thoughts must be going through the minds of Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) officials and anyone who cares about the success of the largest defense procurement in history. With what we have learned lately, it surely seems that having an alternative engine program for the F-35 is a good idea.
Demand for 787 pilot training is high enough that Boeing's Alteon Training subsidiary has ordered three additional training suites to add to the six it already has on order from Thales. Deliveries are to begin in 2008. The suites include a progressive approach from desktop systems to flat-panel displays and then to full-flight simulators. Alteon has established 787 centers in Tokyo, Seattle, London-Gatwick Airport and Beijing. It could add as many as five more centers worldwide or install some of the new simulator suites at the four locations.
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The European Commission is trying to salvage the basic terms of a passenger data-sharing agreement with the U.S. to avoid what otherwise could become lengthy, new negotiations.
The European Space Agency is preparing to receive bids for the first satellite earmarked for the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security system, even though matching funds from the European Commission, which is co-sponsoring the system, remain uncertain.
The U.S. Justice Dept. has cleared the merger of Intelsat and PanAmSat. Only a green light from the Federal Communications Commission and finalization of the financing package remain for the merger to be completed, creating a new satellite communications leader (AW&ST Sept. 12, 2005, p. 35). Financing is expected to be concluded "over the next few weeks," says Intelsat CEO David McGlade. Intelsat said last week it will issue a $1.9-billion senior note offering, due in 2013 and 2016, to cement the deal. For their part, PanAmSat Corp. and PanAmSat Hold- ing Corp.
Airbus suffered an industrial accident on May 29 at its Saint-Eloi site near Toulouse, when a hydraulic press used for sheet-metal forming exploded, injuring five workers. The cause of the failure is under review, and inspections are ongoing on nearby equipment, although Airbus officials indicate no collateral damage was incurred. The facility makes parts, including engine pylons, for the breadth of Airbus aircraft, but no aircraft delivery delays are expected.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has chosen CDI-Aerospace to operate a third Engineering Design Center in the U.S. Located in Bozeman, Mont., the facility will support Sikorsky's aftermarket business for commercial and international government initiatives. Engin- eers will perform airframe and subsystem detail design for military and commercial programs. The facility is scheduled to open in July.
Pat McKenna (see photo) has been appointed vice president/ general manager of Boeing's Commercial Airplanes' fabrication unit, Auburn, Wash. He has been head of the 717 program and its Long Beach, Calif., site. McKenna succeeds Ross Bogue, who is now vice president/general manager for 747/767/777 programs and the Everett, Wash., site.
Ryanair and the Moroccan government have signed a five-year agreement to foster low-cost aviation in the North African country. Ryanair has committed to developing 20 routes and bringing up to 1 million passengers annually to the country by mid-2011. In turn, the Moroccan government makes regional airports available. Ryanair expects its service to draw Moroccan expatriates living in Europe. Routes from Frankfurt and Marseille to Morocco have already been announced, with more to come, Ryanair says.
The U.S. Defense Dept. needs to improve operational planning for ballistic missile defense, according to a Government Accountability Office report. The Pentagon also must provide Congress with complete data on the operational costs of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), says the GAO. Without operational criteria, the report says, the Defense secretary won't be able to assess preparations to conduct BMDS operations.
