Boeing will close the assembly line and deliver its 155th production 717 this spring, ending the last chapter in commercial programs the company inherited from McDonnell Douglas.
Aero Vodochody has contracted to extend service life and provide spare parts for 12 Bulgarian L-39ZA trainers. The contract is expected to be followed later this year by a further L-39 award, in partnership with a local maintenance provider. Aero provided 36 L-39ZAs to Bulgaria in 1987-90.
Orbital Sciences Corp. is beefing up its satellite manufacturing facilities to meet recovering demand for small geostationary communications satellites, a product line that has boosted spacecraft and related services above the company's stagnant missile defense business in generating revenue.
NASA seeks industry's help to identify alternate heat-shield materials that could protect the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) when it re-enters Earth's atmosphere following a mission to the ISS. The agency and its CEV contractors already are working on the more advanced and robust heat shields that will be needed to protect the CEV when it re-enters following a trip to the Moon. The LEO-specific thermal protection system is a risk-mitigating alternative in case NASA runs into problems developing the thermal protection system for lunar returns.
Joseph Post, in "ADS-B: Watch Out for Who Pays Cost" (AW&ST Nov. 28, 2005, p. 6), is correct that no formal method of taking advantage of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast signals has been put forth to modify separation standards for controllers. But, Post fails to consider additional technology and a precedent.
Former astronaut Buzz Aldrin has been named to receive the Gen. James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award for 2006 from the Space Foundation. The award recognizes individuals for lifetime contributions to the betterment of humankind through the exploration, development and use of space, or the use of space technology. Aldrin was selected for his impact on manned space exploration and continual efforts to advance the interests of the U.S. through its space assets.
Sasemar, the Spanish marine safety agency, has awarded AgustaWestland a contract for AB-139 helicopters fitted for search-and-rescue (SAR) operations. The rotorcraft will feature a rescue hoist, a forward-looking infrared sensor, a search/weather radar, a flotation system and a four-axis autopilot with SAR modes. The contract is valued at about 35 million euros. First delivery is slated to occur within 18 months. Other buyers are United Arab Emirates, Oman, Ireland and Estonia.
Florida-based Convergent Knowledge Solutions, a company that trains customers to improve human performance in high-risk activities, has helped the U.S. Marine Corps 4th Marine Air Wing (all reservists) dramatically cut aviation mishaps. In slightly more than a year, the unit's Class A mishap rate--incidents resulting in more than $1 million in damage, complete loss of an airframe or loss of life--were slashed from 9.4 per 100,000 flying hours to zero. Less-severe Class B mishaps were cut 44% and Class Cs more than 50% in the same period.
Stephen T. Fisher has become executive director of the Next Generation Air Transportation System Institute, Arlington, Va. He was a senior account manager with the Northrop Grumman Corp.'s Information Technology Sector, overseeing FAA and Transportation Dept. programs and services.
An article on European plans for a heavy-lift helicopter (AW&ST Jan. 23, p. 26) omitted the MD Helicopters entrant in the U.S. Army Light Utility Helicopter competition.
I have a one-word comment on your editorial about NASA Aeronautics: Amen! The issue at this point has become: Does anybody with any clout care? There are a number of members of Congress who have been working to try to stem the bleeding, but without much success. Without support from congressional leadership or the administration, I agree that NASA Aeronautics is headed down the road to becoming irrelevant (AW&ST Jan. 30, p. 66).
THE LEESBURG, VA., AUTOMATED FLIGHT SERVICE Station will be the first to close on Feb. 19, 2007, as Lockheed Martin begins to replace existing FSS facilities. A new "Flight Services 21" hub station will be activated by Lockheed Martin on the same day as part of its $1.9-billion, 10-year public-private outsourcing contract. The company has taken over most of the FSS system from the FAA (not including stations in Alaska).
The Peruvian navy may buy an unspecified number of former Italian navy helicopters, in particular the medium-sized SH-3D and the light AB-212. The Italian navy is slowly retiring its SH-3D fleet, replacing them with EH-101s, while the number of frontline AB-212s is being reduced as NH90s are fielded.
In response to growing concerns about the safety of aging aircraft in the U.S. general aviation fleet, the FAA will hold public meetings Mar. 22-23 in Kansas City, Mo. The sessions will center on continuing airworthiness issues related to aging and what actions can be employed to mitigate effects of corrosion, fatigue and deterioration of general aviation airframes. According to the agency, the average age of a general aviation airframe is 35 years and is expected to increase to 50 years by 2020.
French helicopter-engine maker Turbomeca is boosting output at its U.S. production facility and plans to invest $40 million on facilities and equipment. The expanded facility, which will add 67,000 sq. ft. and has been under construction since last year, is due to be operational by May. Engine output at the Grand Prairie, Tex., site, meanwhile, will grow to 550 engines in 2007 compared with 234 in 2005. Maintenance work on roughly 400 engines is also performed there. The new facility will house a procurement center to manage Turbomeca's U.S.-based suppliers.
Flight safety can never be good enough, of course. Despite last year's fair numbers, weaknesses remain a disappointing reality, and the responsibility for promoting and sustaining needed advances is, more than ever, in the hands of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) because political support is a prerequisite to success.
NASA's International Space Station partners are ready to discuss human-exploration cooperation now that the agency's Fiscal 2007 budget request includes funds to launch their ISS hardware on the space shuttle. However, NASA-funded scientists are howling over the cuts they face.
HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT handled a record 853 flight movements on Jan. 27, or about 10% above the average of 775 a day and breaking the previous single-day record of 827 on Oct. 28, 2005. New records are also being set in cargo and passenger movements. Also on Jan. 27, flight movements through the Hong Kong Flight Information Region hit 437, or 23% higher than an average day. Total flight movements for 2005 were 389,100, up 65% since the airport opened in 1998.
Delta Air Lines and its pilots' union are in a countdown toward a series of March deadlines if they are to amend the current contract in negotiations. John Culp, a Boeing 767 pilot and an Air Line Pilots Assn. officer, says the union is disappointed and angered at a management proposal seeking an 18% wage cut to replace the 15% cut to which pilots temporarily agreed (AW&ST Jan. 2, p. 62). An interim agreement stipulates a Mar. 1 deadline for negotiators to settle on a contract, Mar. 8 for official approvals and Mar. 22 for ratification.
Lisa LaRue (see photo) has been named director of risk management and compensation for SkyWest Inc. She was director of finance and administration for subsidiary Atlantic Southeast Airlines.
The European Space Agency will provide data from Japan's new Advanced Land Observing satellite (ALOS) to users in Europe and Africa under an agreement approved by the ESA Council in December and awaiting signature. Data from the spacecraft will be made available to commercial distributors and the scientific community, as well as Europe's Global Monitoring for Environment and Security Network.
Thank you for publishing Capt. Geraldo Knippling's article "Three-Engines-Out Ditching." The whole flight was one equipment failure/problem/disaster after another, but Knippling still managed to get all but one of his crew home. What an airman. And what an excellent example to those of us much lower on the "pyramid."
