The NASA-led A-Train constellation, intended to provide the first tridimensional view of the atmosphere, will soon begin receiving complementary data on aerosols and cloud particles, following the launch of two new satellites after a series of long delays.
Pressure is heating up on FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey to send an estimate to Congress on how much it will cost to build the Next Generation Air Transportation System. Two senior Democrats on transportation panels have asked Blakey when Congress will receive a cost estimate for NGATS. The Democrats' letter says the FAA is not providing enough capital funds to begin modernization and is freezing money for new technology.
W. Michael Hayman (see photo) has become president/general manager of the Night Vision Value Center of ITT Industries Inc., White Plains, N.Y. He succeeds Gary Aicher, who is now president of ITT Advanced Water Treatment. Hayman was vice president/director of operations of ITT's Aerospace/Communications Div.
Austria's Jetalliance has purchased an Airbus Corporate Jet. It is the seventh order this year for the Airbus corporate jet line, including one for an A330-200.
The annual Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment at Nellis AFB, Nev., usually provides hints of secret activities the Pentagon thinks will improve its warfighting skills. The just-completed 2006 edition focused on networking, but was also notable for what was not there. The "Suter 1, 2 and 3" series of communications network invasion and exploitation capabilities, initially associated with the EC-130 Compass Call electronic attack aircraft, were absent.
Grob Aerospace is offering the Honeywell Apex avionics systems on the SPn light jet now in development. Additionally, Grob says it is offering both an auxiliary power unit and enhanced vision system as options. Moreover, Grob says flight tests have shown the aircraft is beating its landing distance goal at maximum weight, coming in at 2,670 ft. or 10% better than first thought.
When Rolls-Royce started talking about the Trent engine family concept, it was dismissed by some as little more than a marketing gimmick. Now, about two decades after the engine maker committed to expanding its engine offerings to as many aircraft as possible, it may still be viewed as a gimmick, but apparently a quite effective one. Rolls has gained market share and now has a firm hold on the number two position in the global big-engine business, behind its U.S. rival, General Electric.
BAE Systems is increasing the pressure on EADS over the U.K. manufacturer's plans to unload its 20% shareholding in Airbus. After EADS officials complained BAE wanted too much money, the British defense giant issued a put-option notice to EADS for the sale. The clock now is ticking on a 30-day negotiating process.
There will be no space shuttle external tank cryogenic propellant loading test on Pad 39 at the Kennedy Space Center in early June, NASA has decided. Some managers had argued for a test to assess the performance of tank modifications under cryogenic thermal loads. But others were concerned the test, along with one or more STS-121 launch countdowns, could itself increase chances of foam cracking in flight.
GE Aircraft Engines recently tapped Smiths Aerospace for a $90-million risk- and revenue-sharing contract to supply six major components for nearly 750 engine upgrade kits for the J85 Propulsion Modernization Program on U.S. Air Force T-38 Talon trainers. Work will be carried out at Smiths' facilities in North Carolina and Connecticut, with deliveries expected to continue through 2012.
A Eurofighter Typhoon has completed flutter trials in heavy, air-to-ground weapons loadout. Further tests are planned to assess vibration for the weapons more accurately, and to conduct stores release and jettison trials.
Embraer's year-old very light jet/light jet aircraft programs have been given a firm footing by air taxi startup JetBird's large commitment to the Phenom product line. The deal also boosts the market segment in Europe, where the response to the small jets was expected to be more hesitant than in the U.S.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. completed ground vibration testing of the first pre-production F-35A Joint Strike Fighter on Apr. 30. The tests centered on how the fighter responded to vibratory inputs to the wings, empennage and flaps. Dan Crowley, executive vice president and F-35 program general manager, says the measurements "closely matched our engineering predictions."
EADS Space has handed over the Columbus orbital laboratory, Europe's key contribution to the International Space Station, to the European Space Agency. Merkel attended the handover ceremony at EADS's plant in Bremen, Germany. Germany is Europe's lead ISS contributor, providing 41% of European funds. At the end of May, the 13-metric-ton module will be shipped on an Airbus Beluga transport to Kennedy Space Center in Florida for pre-launch preparations.
Controllers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center have started maneuvering the three micro-satellites in the Space Technology 5 (ST5) constellation into its operational "string-of-pearls" formation after finding everything nominal less than a month after they reached orbit. Checkout of the three technology testbeds was originally scheduled to take three months following their Pegasus launch Mar. 22 (AW&ST Mar. 27, p. 28). "We have begun demonstrating all of the New Millen- nium Program technologies," says Art Azarbarzin, the ST5 project manager at Goddard.
After being told not to expect any guarantees of outsourcing, India may shelve its plans for a $100-million, 10% equity stake in the Russian Regional Jet project.
The Air Transport Assn. (ATA) says U.S. carriers' record cargo and passenger traffic in 2005 emphasizes the need for an overhaul of the nation's air traffic control system. Transportation Dept. data shows that in 2005, U.S. airlines operated 11.5 million departures and carried 738.6 million passengers and 28 billion cargo revenue ton miles.
Chinese combat aircraft manufacturer Chengdu has flown the first prototype of its FC-1 light fighter that incorporates aerodynamic changes intended to improve its overall performance. This fourth prototype of the fighter includes redesigned, and enlarged, air intakes, as well as leading edge root extensions. The maiden flight took place in late April. The FC-1 is being developed with Pakistan, which has ordered an initial batch of 16 aircraft. Pakistan may order more than 100. The extent of Chinese air force interest in the aircraft is not yet clear.
British Airways' initiative to slash short-haul fares clearly indicates that the European airline industry is heading into a heavy turbulence zone. Legacy carriers can't evolve overnight into low-cost, low-fare players, especially with fuel prices at an unprecedented high.
Netjets Europe will take delivery of 30 aircraft in 2006, 13 of which will be Hawker 800XPs. It also is fielding four Hawker 400XPs, five Citation Excels, two Gulfstream 550s and Falcon 2000Ecs, and one Falcon 900EX and Beechcraft 1900D. The company expects to make an operating profit this year.
Joanne M. Maguire has been appointed executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif. She has been deputy to G. Thomas Marsh and will succeed him when he retires July 1.
Airbus has scheduled for May 18 the first visit of the A380 to London Heathrow, which is slated to be the first European airport to handle the mega-transport. The A380 will undergo gate and other compatibility checks like those carried out at Frankfurt and several Asian airports, and planned for New York JFK. At Heathrow, the aircraft will park at Terminal 3's new Pier 6, which has stands for up to four A380s.
Serious organizational issues within the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), compounded by the dismissive attitude of Congress, suggest that a new aviation agency for aerial firefighting may be the only answer. This agency should be created from the current USFS divisions or branches, and staffed by quality people. Since NASA apparently intends to close the Dryden Flight Research Center, its talented workforce could become the new agency's engineering authority and aviation research arm.
Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise (SALE) has added 10 737s, valued at $675 million, to the 20 aircraft it purchased last May. The new order includes 10 options and 10 purchase rights. SALE's first 737s are to begin arriving in 2009.
China's 6,000-lb. Remote Sensing Satellite-1 is undergoing checkout in a 375-mi. near-polar orbit following launch on board a Long March 4B Apr. 26 from the Taiyuan launch center. The spacecraft will be used for land and agricultural surveys. It is one of 18 Earth remote-sensing satellites China plans to launch over the next 10 years.
