Australia is emerging as the most likely candidate to place the next order for the Boeing C-17, as the manufacturer cautions that countries interested in the aircraft need to indicate a firm intent by mid-year. The Royal Australian Air Force wants to purchase four C-17s, with the possible acquisition only recently considered by senior members of the government. Delivery would begin no later than 2008.
In India, where airlines have boosted their seat capacity tenfold in just three years and placed $13 billion in new jet orders last year alone, the country's rickety aviation infrastructure is splitting at the seams.
The Spectroline UV-400 Superflood ultraviolet lamp is an extremely powerful flood lamp, useful for fluorescent penetrant and magnetic particle, parts degreasing, and wash station inspections. Trace amounts of oils, greases and hydrocarbons fluoresce brightly and become clearly visible when exposed to the lamp's high-intensity UV-A (365nm) light, making it easy to spot very tiny flaws, according to the company. The lamp's 400-watt metal halide bulb provides a steady-state UV-A intensity of 6,500 microwatts/cm.--measured at 15 in. from the center of the lamp.
John W. Douglass, President and CEO (Aerospace Industries Assn., Arlington, Va.)
I applaud your editorial that sounded the alarm on the decline of NASA aeronautics funding (AW&ST Jan. 30, p. 66). However, I fear your warning will not rouse the policy makers responsible for one of the most dramatic program erosions in recent memory. The U.S. is surrendering its century-long leadership in aeronautics technology.
Australia's government has passed legislation giving the military more powers in responding to domestic terrorism. Local authorities will still have lead roles in responding, but the government wanted to specify how the military could support them.
Market Focus 16 Rockwell Collins stock on a tear, but can it sustain the pace? News Breaks 27 High-resolution cameras show extremely detailed layered rock on Mars 28 BAE begins flight testing UAV designed to disperse WolfPack sigint system 30 Pratt plans greater aftermarket work on CFM engines 31 General aviation manufacturers report record year in 2005 31 James Gilbert dies, former editor and publisher of Pilot World News & Analysis
David Bender (see photos) has been appointed president of the Electronics Group of Crane Aerospace & Electronics, Redmond, Wash. He was vice president-operations at the Aerojet General Corp. Tim King has been named Aerospace Group director of sales and marketing and Rick Lee as that group's Burbank, Calif.-based vice president-people and organization development. King was senior manager for modernization and upgrade solutions, while Lee was executive director of human resources for worldwide operations at Mattel Inc.
General Electric, which bought up a number of explosives detection and screening equipment manufacturers in recent years, is turning its attention toward the Registered Traveler program. GE Security of Bradenton, Fla., says it's making a strategic investment of up to $16 million in the operator of the nation's only Registered Traveler voluntary passenger screening program, Verified Identity Pass Inc. (VIP).
Departments 8-10 Correspondence 12-14 Who's Where 19 Industry Outlook 21 Airline Outlook 22 In Orbit 27-31 News Breaks 33 Washington Outlook 106-107 Classified 108 Contact Us 110A Aerospace Calendar
Valerie E. Richardson has been appointed vice president-strategic marketing and business development for the Americas for Leica Geosystems Inc., Norcross, Ga. She held a similar position at Invensys plc.
Thomas S. Hartwick (see photo) has been named to the board of directors of the Aculight Corp., Bothell, Wash. He has held senior management positions within TRW, Hughes Aircraft Co. and The Aerospace Corp., and has been a consultant to the Air Force Research Laboratory, New Focus Inc., Santa Barbara Infrared Inc., Boeing and TRW.
In reference to the letter by David S. Alberts, responding to B.S. Lambeth's Viewpoint concerning "Network-Centered Warfare" (AW&ST Feb. 6, p. 6), the need for effective and reliable information sharing--communication between all levels of mission command--is not a new subject.
The Embraer 170 has received certification from Brazilian and European aviation authorities to be used in Category-3a autoland operations with a runway visual range of merely 600 ft. or in adverse weather. The FAA's endorsement is expected soon.
Aeroflex has entered the SpaceWire market with the UT200SpWO2 protocol handler and UT200SpWPHY01 physical layer transceiver products. SpaceWire is a standard governing serial communication between satellite components. The self-managing protocol provides a high-speed, low-power serial interface while offering a simple user interface. The standard supports data rates of 2Mbps.-400Mbps. over 10 meters of cable. Originally developed by the European Space Community, SpaceWire combines IEEE-1355 with an LVDS physical layer.
Michael Mecham (San Francisco), Neelam Mathews (New Delhi)
Even as 2005 ended with Asian carriers splurging on orders, their acquisition plans for this year include more than 200 additional short- and long-haul aircraft. It seems the region, led by China and India, has an insatiable appetite for new aircraft. But, of course, the Asians can afford it. Studies by the International Air Transport Assn. put their combined profit in 2005 at $1.5 billion, compared with $1.3 billion in Europe, and a net loss of $10 billion in the U.S. IATA forecasts Asian profits of $2 billion in 2006.
Jim Gradoville (see photo) has become president of United Technologies International Operations-China. He was vice president-government relations for Motorola in China and the Asia-Pacific region. Gradoville succeeds Richard Latham, who has retired.
I read Edward H. Phillips' pilot report on the Bell 412EP with interest as a former 412/212 offshore pilot, having flown the aircraft in Qatar and Nigeria over several years (AW&ST Jan. 30, p. 56).
Stan Sieg (see photo) has been named deputy director of the FAA's Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City. He succeeds Richard Rodine, who has retired. Sieg was program director for the FAA Logistics Center, which is part of the Aeronautical Center.
Israel Aircraft Industries and Boeing have joined forces to compete for the Israeli Short-Range Ballistic Missile Defense program, which also is aimed at intercepting long-range artillery rockets. Boeing already works with IAI on the longer-range Arrow II missile shield system. Development and deployment will be supported by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, which helps fund Arrow as well.
Diversified aerospace company Cobham has concluded acquisition of the U.K.-based Flight Precision Ltd. (FPL), and Germany's Aerodata Flight Inspection. Both specialize in the flight inspection market and use Beech King Air 200s. FPL was jointly owned with Aerodata. The acquisition cost 11.2 million euros ($13.2 million) in total.
Robert Wall and Michael A. Taverna (St. Cloud, France)
Dassault Aviation is delaying by several months certification and first delivery dates for the Falcon 7X to make design changes aimed at increasing the business jet's range and payload. Company CEO Charles Edelstenne says certification is now slated for the first quarter of next year with deliveries to start in the second quarter. Certification was originally set for October.
The U.K. Defense Ministry has signed a 34-year support deal with Boeing to take care of its fleet of 40 Chinook transport helicopters. The contract will cost about 200 million pounds ($347 million) for the first five years, but the long-term agreement should yield about 170 million pounds in savings over previous support arrangements. Under those agreements, the government contracted with separate vendors for spares and other work. Under the new deal, Boeing commits to having a specific number of Chinooks serviceable at the main operating base at RAF Odiham.
Thomas Vaneck has been appointed vice president-research and development/ head of the Cambridge, Mass., facility of Aurora Flight Sciences. He was vice president-business development/director of advanced projects at AeroAstro Inc.
