Aviation Week & Space Technology

I have 23 years of experience as a Defense Dept. contracting officer and while I agree that the provisions of the Berry Amendment on specialty metals are restrictive in today's "global market place" I do support the Defense Dept. contention that we have been applying this provision for years (AW&ST Mar. 13, p. 24).

A series of fires on board Bombardier CRJ200s prompted the NTSB on Mar. 30 to issue urgent recommendations aimed at preventing their recurrence. Six of the seven fires occurred in the last six months, and all involved Ultem 2200 (polyetherimide) surface material of the 1K4XD contactors, which are switching devices for three-phase AC electrical power. None of the incidents involved loss of life. However, "the potential exists for an uncontained fire to compromise the oxygen line, which could develop into an even more critical situation," according to the safety board.

I have to take issue with your editorial that lambastes the lowly screw (AW&ST Mar. 13, p. 70). First, I have to set straight some issues that you got wrong. You are talking about the Berry Amendment, known in the industry as DFARS (Defense Federal Acquisition Requirements Supplement) 252.225-7014.

I'm one of those aging pilots that Matt Zuccaro mentioned in the article "Helo Ops Gaining Lift" (AW&ST Feb. 27, p. 53). The pool of military pilots is certainly drying up, and those coming up are the future. The trick is to get the youngsters interested in the industry. The honor and glory are not so much at issue now. The thing that gets attention is the pay scale.

The FAA finalized a tentative decision to extend through Oct. 28 its limit on flight operations at Chicago O'Hare Airport (AW&ST Mar. 27, p. 17) with a single change: It will drop the restrictions sooner if its longer-term solution to O'Hare congestion takes effect earlier. The agency rejected proposals from the City of Chicago, which operates O'Hare, that the restrictions be dropped entirely or loosened if retained.

The one-stop shop for running all U.S. military satellites, the Joint Space Operations Center (JSPOC) in California, is being linked more effectively to its higher headquarters, U.S. Strategic Command (Stratcom), formed after 9/11 in Nebraska to combat weapons of mass destruction. Connections of the year-old JSPOC to commanders of U.S. military theaters worldwide are also being strengthened.

Finnair is the launch customer for the Rolls-Royce Trent 1700 turbofan. The airline made the commitment as part of its order of nine Airbus A350-900s, firming up a previous decision. First aircraft delivery is slated for 2012. The carrier also has options for four more aircraft.

Germany's airline sector is undergoing rapid structural changes, with Air Berlin's announcement of an initial public offering (IPO) and the launch of close cooperation between DBA and LTU that could lead to a merger. Air Berlin's IPO comes after months of speculation about how the airline will finance its ambitious growth plans. The carrier plans to sell shares to fund its order for 60 Airbus A320s, a move welcomed by most analysts and observers.

The marriage of Beechcraft's Bonanza G36 and Garmin's G1000 digital, fully integrated avionics system gives an already classic airplane a new lease on life that will help keep it abreast of the competition.

The Reston, Va.-based American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has named three honorary fellows for 2006 and 30 fellows. The honorary fellows are Donald Fraser of Boston University, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin and Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Alan Mulally.

Singapore is preparing to revamp its air defense missile inventory, and India is about to do the same as many in the region refurbish their surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems.

There is a renewed impetus in the U.S. and in Europe to try to get military satellite communications right--to provide more capacity and manage development and operations better (see p. 46). One of the most aggressive efforts is the U.S. Air Force's multi- billion-dollar Transformational Satellite project, which aims to introduce laser communications to provide ground troops high bandwidth information rapidly. Artist concept by Associate Art Director Lisa Caputo.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. is conducting ground-based structural tests of the first pre-production F-35A Joint Strike Fighter. The tests will center on structural coupling, which is the interaction between the flight control system and the dynamics of the airframe, to verify that vibrations will not induce a flutter condition throughout the airplane's performance envelope. First flight is scheduled for this autumn. The F-35A is one of 15 airplanes being built for flight testing. Another seven airframes will undergo static and fatigue testing.

The Agency for the Safety of Aerial Navigation in Africa and Madagascar (Asecna) has concluded a long-term deal with Intelsat intended to improve Africa's air navigation communications network. Asecna will use capacity on the satellite operator's IS 10-02 spacecraft to expand its Africa Indian Ocean Satellite Network and enhance interconnections with VSAT systems in Southern and Northeastern Africa.

McGraw-Hill Aerospace & Defense's Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN) has won the Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award in the category of best web site with 25,000-100,000 monthly visitors. www.aviationweek.com/awin includes content from Aviation Week & Space Technology as well as MHA&D's other magazines, newsletters and the World Aerospace Database. It features tools that allow users to find information on commercial and military aircraft fleets and suppliers in more than 1,000 product and service categories.

British and Irish air safety officials are looking into an incident last week where an Eirjet Airbus A320 was landed at the wrong airfield in Northern Ireland. The Mar. 29 flight was operated on behalf of Ryanair by Eirjet, and was due to land at Derry airport, having departed Liverpool. Instead, the pilot landed at Ballykelly, a base used by the British Army Air Corps, several miles from the intended airport.

EDWARD M. BOLEN, PRESIDENT of the National Business Aviation Assn. (NBAA), says business aviation leaders need to present a united front to fight proposals by the FAA to implement user fees to help pay for the national airspace system. "Some of the most effective and dedicated voices for our industry are the people outside NBAA's Washington offices, who make up the business aviation community." The association vigorously opposes the fees, calling them a form of taxation.

Norman H. Wood has become manager of North American operations for New York-based SecureLogic. He was director of aviation business for EG&G Astrophysics and senior vice president/ chief operating officer of International Total Services.

The Greek government is making another effort to salvage Olympic Airlines, with the help of outside investors. A consortium of five private groups is promising to boost Olympic's finances with 100 million euros ($120 million), with the government providing another 60 million. As part of the deal, the airline's operation will be cut back, and the name changed to Pantheon Airways. The latter would operate 33 leased aircraft and fly to 92 destinations.

Airbus has developed an environmentally friendly fire-extinguishing agent to overcome performance shortfalls that have existed since "Halon"-based devices were outlawed because of their ozone layer-depleting effects. The system has completed tests and is now undergoing assessment by the FAA Technical Center. Once the concept is approved, Airbus wants to work on packaging to have the product ready for the A350 and offer it as retrofit.

The Aeroflot board has OK'd the terms and conditions of purchase of 30 Russian Regional Jets, preparing the way for final approval at the shareholders meeting on May 15. Assuming shareholders are in agreement--National Reserve Corp., the second largest equity owner, has been opposed--Aeroflot will become a launch customer for the 95-seat twinjet, which is to begin delivery in 2008 (AW&ST Mar. 13, p. 62).

Soyuz TMA-8 and its launch vehicle roll to the pad at Baikonur Cosmodrome in preparation for its successful Mar. 30 launch to the International Space Station with a three-man crew. Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov of Russia and NASA's Jeff Williams, the flight engineers, were joined by Brazilian test pilot Marcos Pontes on the flight, which was scheduled to deliver them to the ISS on the Zarya module's nadir port late on Mar. 31. Liftoff came at 8:30 a.m. Mar. 30 in Kazakhstan (9:30 p.m. Mar. 29 EST), and the Soyuz vehicle reached orbit 9 min. later.

Burgeoning space power China will donate data-receiving stations for its weather satellites to seven nations around the Pacific Rim and Indian Ocean. The stations, which can receive data from Chinese polar- and geosynchronous-orbit weather satellites (see photo), will go to Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru and Thailand.

Chile is making the International Air Transport Assn.'s Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) part of its airline certification process--the first country to take that step. Within this year, Chile will change its regulations to make IOSA "a requirement for AOC applications," says Gen. Enrique Rosende, director general of civil aviation for Chile. IATA says it is working with governments such as Madagascar, Jordan, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey, Mexico and Ethiopia to make IOSA part of the certification process.

Royal Jordanian Airlines, Middle East launch customer for the Embraer 195, signed an agreement with the aircraft manufacturer on Mar. 22 to acquire seven of the aircraft type, with deliveries to start in the fourth quarter. The aircraft will be configured for 100 passengers, with 12 42-in.-pitch seats in first class and 88 33-in.-pitch seats in economy. The airline, which aims to develop Amman as a hub for the region, will use the aircraft to increase frequencies and add new routes.