"Bravo" for the article "Securing Safety for All " by Pierre Sparaco (AW&ST Feb. 13, p. 54). It is encouraging to see an international perspective promoting non-political safety measures. I agree that blacklisting is not the answer for securing safer air travel. The answer lies with future international efforts in standardization, training and system safety programming.
European satellite manufacturers are increasingly turning to Russian partners to bolster their position in the telecom satellite business, paralleling similar efforts in the space launch sector.
Kenya Airways has given Boeing its first order of 2006 for the 787, purchasing six to replace its 767 fleet beginning in 2010. Kenya was the first sub-Sahara African customer to buy the 777 and becomes the continent's third customer for the 787. Its fleet of 21 aircraft also includes 737s, and it recently signed an agreement with Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprises for three 737-800s.
If as the FAA claims, the average age of the general aviation fleet is 35 years now, and expected to increase to 50 years by 2020 (AW&ST Feb. 13, p. 13), then the FAA shouldn't be worried about aging. In fact, that implies older aircraft are expected to hold up better than new ones.
The dog days of summer will be busy ones for Delta Air Lines, as it implements its restructuring strategy: right-sizing aircraft and adding feeder frequencies to connect with expanding international and transcontinental services at main hubs.
MOONEY AIRPLANE CO. HAS DELIVERED ITS 11,000TH production airplane, an Ovation2 GX. The single-engine, piston-powered monoplane is equipped with a Garmin G1000 avionics package, a GTX 330 Mode S transponder, XM satellite radio and an STEC 55X autopilot. The 10,000th airplane was delivered in 1991. Last year, Mooney delivered 85 aircraft.
Data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and the Calar Alto Observatory in Spain's Sierra de Los Filabres were combined to produce this false-color image of one galaxy crashing into another at more than 1 million mph. The green shock wave, which is larger than our Milky Way galaxy, represents atoms of hydrogen gas heated as the galaxy designated NGC7318b (the pink dot on the left at the center of the image) careens into its neighbor.
Rob Maruster has been appointed senior vice president-airports and operational planning and Gerald Lee vice president-business development for JetBlue Airways. Maruster was vice president-operational planning, while Lee was assistant treasurer.
Taiwan-based China Airlines' subsidiary Mandarin Airlines is looking at eight Boeing 737-700s, Airbus A319s or Embraer 190s to replace its 11 Fokkers to operate on regional routes to Seoul; Hong Kong; Cebu Island, Philippines; and Yangon, Myanmar. A decision is expected by May, with aircraft to be delivered by 2009.
Eurocopter is introducing a more powerful version of the AS355N TwinStar helicopter to be designated as the AS355NP. It will feature upgraded Arrius 1A1 turboshaft engines, a new main rotor gearbox and a vehicle/multifunction cockpit display borrowed from the single-engine AS350 B3 AStar. In addition, Eurocopter says it has sold two EC225 medium-lift helicopters to ERA Aviation (Seacor) of Lake Charles, La., for use in offshore missions, and three EC155 twin-engine helicopters to Vectra, an Indian offshore operator.
Russia has delivered a second Ilyushin Il-96-300 long-haul passenger aircraft to Cubana de Aviacion airlines. The four-engine aircraft can accommodate more than 250 passengers; and the first-class cabin can be converted to VIP configuration for government use. The first Cubana Il-96-300 was shipped last November.
Market Focus 12 Divestitures galore color activity at major European contractors News Breaks 18 U.S., Japan complete first test flight of SM-3 missile defense interceptor 19 U.K. defense official aims for industry overhaul, beginning in '06 21 Inmarsat studying introduction of cell phone-size voice/data handsets World News & Analysis 24 Zealous enforcement of law on domestic metals holds up deliveries 26 U.S. easing some spacecraft export rules for India
I have the greatest enthusiasm and support for innovations in aviation and pushing the boundaries by establishing new flight records, but I find the recent GlobalFlyer record unrefueled airplane flight by Steve Fossett to have been an event without a true purpose (AW&ST Feb. 20, p. 41).
Kimberly Gavaletz (see photo) has become vice president/deputy for global sustainment for the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. in Fort Worth. She was vice president-internal audit at Lockheed Martin's headquarters in Bethesda, Md.
The U.K. Defense Ministry and AgustaWestland have signed a $787-million contract covering the first five years of a planned 25-year support package for the Army and Navy's EH101 Merlin helicopter fleet. Previously, the two versions were supported separately. The Royal Naval Air Station at Culdrose, England, will serve as the primary base for both versions. The contract is designed to keep the helicopters operational until 2029 for the Navy's Mk. 1 and 2030 for the Air Force's Mk. 3, although both versions may remain in service well beyond these dates.
Inmarsat says it is actively studying the introduction of cell phone-size voice/data handsets to ensure the success of its new Broadband Global Area Network.
Wind tunnel tests have begun on scale models of the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) and the Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV), which NASA has under design to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station, and eventually start them on their way to the Moon. The tests give a first look at the aerodynamic characteristics of both vehicles--the CEV, and the CLV and the CEV as a single vehicle. They are required to help define the criteria for the design of the two vehicles prior to a contract award, which is expected later this year.
European scientists are preparing to take an active part in the support and analysis of data from Japan's Astro-F/Akari infrared astronomy mission, launched from Uchinoura Space Center on Feb. 18 (AW&ST Feb. 27, p. 40). Scientists from a group of British universities are participating in the mission, backed by funding from the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council, along with Groningen University and the Netherlands Institute for Space Research.
It's sad to see a once-proud airline like United brought to its knees, but listening to the employees whine about it could be worse. The vast majority of the airlines that have liquidated, are in bankruptcy, or are consistently losing money have AFL-CIO unions including the Air Line Pilots Assn. Post-deregulation, these unions have bargained with no regard for their companies' ability to sustain those contracts.
After more than two years of researching and re-researching, the Pentagon has finalized an analysis of alternatives for replacing its 50-year-old fleet of 490 KC-135 tankers. The results are broad, recommending that the Air Force select from among the Airbus A330 and A340 and Boeing 767, 787, 777 and 747 models. Those include both medium and large aircraft with similar cost-effectiveness ratings. The study rejected mixed fleets of small and medium/large tankers, as well as used aircraft and all-new, unmanned or stealthy designs.
A British defense minister's "hit list" spells out key targets for an overhaul of the country's defense industry, acquisition strategy, and research and technology imperatives this year. Paul Drayson, minister for defense procurement and the engineer of the U.K.'s Defense Industrial Strategy (DIS), identifies 21 critical "action" steps to be completed during 2006.
Bombardier officials expect continued strong demand for turboprops, after a banner year in which those aircraft outsold regional jets. The focus in the next five years probably will shift to replacement aircraft. There are about 3,000 turboprops that are nearing the end of their economic lives, and most of them will be replaced by turboprops, says Vice President Neville Taylor.
Scientists have known that Saturn's ice moon Enceladus sprays out plumes of water vapor and ice particles, but now, after a period of studying observations by the Cassini spacecraft, they have a better sense of where it might originate.
Despite signals that Saudi Arabia is poised to make a large purchase of Eurofighter Typhoons, France continues to push the rival Rafale. Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie was in Riyadh last week to tout its merits. Also on the agenda, the French defense ministry said, were transport and light military helicopters, tankers and naval hardware, plus training and support.
The U.S. military's unfunded priority lists rivals War and Peace for length. The Air Force's wish list includes seven C-17s, four C-130Js, eight MQ-1 Predator UAVs, weapons and armored vehicles for expeditionary troops, small-diameter bombs with focused blast warheads and B-2 fan blade repairs. The shortfall adds up to $5.6 billion. The Navy's total is $4.6 billion and includes acceleration of the LPD 17, six T-45Cs, five T-6As and 12 F/A-18E/Fs.
