Concerns are growing that 50% or more of the KH-11 optical and Lacrosse imaging radar satellites that make up the core of secret U.S. space reconnaissance operations will die before smaller, more modern replacements can be launched. A new program, however, may be forming to stem this trend. Fears over the loss of future secret imaging capability are growing as the need for detailed pictures of Iranian and Chinese weapons developments is increasing.
JAXA has celebrated the selection of two Japanese astronauts for a space shuttle mission at the end of 2007 to install Kibo, the Mitsubishi experimental module for the International Space Station.
Pierre Sparaco does a disservice to BAE Systems' European credentials when he writes in his "European Perspective" column: "BAE Systems is no longer a genuine European player. But was it any time in the past?" and "BAE Systems' predecessors, Vickers and BAC, believed in economic patriotism long before the French did" (AW&ST Apr. 24, p. 71). He goes on to say the Airbus A300B became a reality despite the British government's withdrawal.
Paul Hewett (see photo) has been promoted to manager from assistant manager of FlightSafety International's London Farnborough Learning Center. He succeeds Rudy Toering, who has become managing director for European business development. Blaine Little (see photo) has been promoted to manager of the Toledo (Ohio) Learning Center from regional marketing director. He succeeds Kyle Davis, who has left the company.
Northwest Airlines, operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since last September, posted a $15-million operating loss for the first quarter of 2006, which was a much improved result over the 2005 quarter's $301-million deficit. The net loss was $1.1 billion, $975 million of it for reorganization items, compared with $455 million in the 2005 quarter. Northwest reduced mainline capacity 10.8% year-over-year but otherwise resembled other carriers.
The British Defense Ministry will use a BAC 1-11 twin-engine regional jet to simulate unmanned combat air vehicle operation as it moves toward a full-blown technology demonstrator for a long-range strike platform. An industry team led by BAE Systems recently submitted a proposal to the Defense Ministry for a unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) technology demonstrator program. This is now being reviewed with an eye to a formal launch in the next few months.
The U.S. Army's Stryker Brigade Combat Team 3 became the first unit to deploy a Northrop Grumman-built secure wireless local area network radio during combat. The LAN radios are intended to make communications in an urban setting easier and more secure. The design eliminates cabling, doing away with the long setup times and making the radio more mobile. The Army also has used the radios to extend access to the Pentagon's secret Internet protocol router network in urban areas where offices may be separated by more than a half-mile.
Air Canada parent ACE Aviation Holdings had a "solid" first quarter from a financial perspective, says CEO Robert Milton. The company reported a net income of C$118 million (U.S. $107 million) and an operating loss of C$29 million for the quarter (excluding C$33 million in special charges for labor restructuring). This compares to a net loss of C$77 million and operating loss of C$10 million in the year-ago quarter. Passenger revenues increased 16% to C$282 million based on a 9% improvement in yield and 6% growth in revenue passenger miles. Unit costs were up 10%.
The World Bank has approved $33.6 million in credits and grants to four African nations--Burkina Faso, Mali, Cameroon and Guinea, for air transport safety and security. The money will be used to bring civil aviation into compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization safety and security standards.
AAI Corp. has captured two Shadow UAV contracts. One for $87.1 million involves full-rate production of the Shadow and associated support equipment. A second for $65.5 million covers logistics support.
General aviation groups are welcoming the news that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is expanding the number of entry points for GA flights into Washington's Reagan National Airport (DCA), but say more needs to be done. TSA is adding Dallas Love Field, Memphis International and Milwaukee's Mitchell International to the list of gateway airports permitting certain pre-cleared GA operations to fly directly into DCA.
Airbus's largest customer for the A380, Emirates, is taking a step back from the freighter variant, saying it wants to see more work done on the massive cargo hauler before committing to it.
NASA awarded $10.4-million to Alliant Techsystems last week for development of a liquid oxygen/methane rocket engine. Early this year, the agency dropped its requirement that a methane-fueled engine would power its Crew Exploration Vehicle service and lunar ascent modules, but clearly is interested in the technology. Separately, a South Korean company has acknowledged that a full-up version of its "Chase-10" LOX/methane engine had been test-fired at maximum power for 10 sec., producing 20,000 lb. of thrust with a non-optimum nozzle.
Imad Bitar (see photo) has become vice president of the Northrop Grumman Corp.'s Electromagnetic Systems Laboratory, Reston, Va. He was operations director.
The European Space Agency has awarded EADS Astrium a contract for a probe to provide a 3-D map of 1 billion stars in the Milky Way--10,000 times as many as ESA's previous star-mapping mission, Hipparcos.
Oslo is trying to signal that its decision to stay in the present phase of the Joint Strike Fighter does not reflect a final commitment to purchase the F-35, as it struggles to keep a semblance of a fighter competition alive. Meanwhile, London is waiting to see if its concerns over the aircraft are addressed. Norway has decried the level of work it was receiving from Lockheed Martin because of its participation in the system development and demonstration phase of the program. It threatened to pull out unless this was adequately addressed.
Ian Massey has been appointed to the board of directors of the Memphis, Tenn.-based Pinnacle Airlines Corp. He is executive vice president overseeing the aviation group of the Republic Financial Corp. and is a member of the board of Vought Aircraft Industries Inc.
Using a single $7-million UAV to patrol the 2,062-mi. U.S.-Mexican border ranks right up there with the proverbial $500 toilet seat. For that same $7 million, the Homeland Security Dept. could purchase 70 Light Sport Cubs and have officers armed with night vision goggles patrol just 30 mi. of border each, and the entire Mexican border would be covered. Predators can and do fail. It is only a matter of time until one is involved in a midair collision and/or comes down in a populated area.
Three French defense industry organizations say Northrop Grumman has fulfilled its offset obligations regarding acquisition of three E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft for aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. The obligation, worth more than $500 million, was primarily met by developing business in the U.S. for French companies, like a Northrop Grumman-EADS deal to market Airbus tankers to the U.S. government.
Air France Industries and Thales have teamed for support of the Top Series inflight entertainment system on Airbus A380s, via Air France Indus- tries' Paris Charles de Gaulle site.
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Executive Director Patrick Goudou is calling for a change in the agency's board of directors, urging the removal of representatives from national aviation agencies, which are often seen as in conflict with the new European authority. The board should be staffed by professionals with no conflicts of interest, he argues.
The European Regions Airline Assn. is calling for the creation of a European Transportation Safety Board, replacing national bodies. Moreover, aircraft registration in Europe should also be centralized, the airline group argues. Many in industry believe an ETSB is years from being created, especially after the start-up problems experienced in creating the European Aviation Safety Agency.
The beginning of May saw the first meeting of the Russian government industry commission that was established to manage creation of an integrated aviation company, known as OAK. Industry and Energy Minister Victor Khristenko is the commission head. His deputies are MiG Corp. chief Alexey Fedorov and German Gref, the economic development minister.
