Flight 708 accident investigators are unearthing clues as they continue their mission to determine what caused an apparent dual-engine flameout that led to the deaths of 160 people.
Engineers and technicians at the Johnson Space Center Space Vehicle Mockup Facility are completing assembly of a full-scale Crew Exploration Vehicle engineering mockup (see photo). The training aid gives a good idea of how large the CEV reentry vehicle will be and the physical character of its internal space. The mockup will be used to help engineers design various interior configuration options.
Jack J. Pelton, who is chairman/president/CEO of the Cessna Aircraft Co., has been elected chairman of the Washington-based General Aviation Manufacturers Assn. for 2006. He was vice chairman and will continue as chairman of GAMA's Flight Operations Policy Committee. Elected vice chairman was John J. Grisik, president of the Electronic Systems Div. of the Goodrich Corp. Other committee chairmen will be: Product Liability Committee, Alain M. Bellamare, president of Pratt & Whitney Canada; Safety Affairs Committee, Larry E.
This synthetic-vision view with highway-in-the-sky guidance allowed pilots on a NASA Boeing 757 to fly curved approaches into NASA's Wallops Flight Facility during recent demonstrations. The software was developed by Nav3D Corp. of San Carlos, Calif., a consulting company formed by Ph.D. graduates of Stanford University's GPS laboratory. The display enhances situational awareness while allowing a pilot to fly to a point where he can pick up BAE Systems' enhanced-vision sensor imagery of the runway for guidance on final approach.
Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) isn't happy with the agreement House and Senate negotiators have worked out to fund the FAA in Fiscal 2006. The senior Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee accuses House Republican leaders of rushing the bill to the floor, forcing many members to vote on legislation they hadn't read. Among Oberstar's complaints: the compromise bill's language reduces capital investment in FAA operations by more than $500 million. U.S.
Millimeter-wave radar combined with forward-looking infrared imagery is nearly ready for operational use, as shown by approaches flown to Wallops Flight Facility near here.
ARINC HAS DELIVERED 25 SHIP SETS OF ITS NEW SKYLINK SATELLITE broadband link to Gulfstream for use on the G550, G500, G450 and G350. The Annapolis, Md.,-based company says more than half of the customers for these new jets are selecting the K u band service which provides 128 Kbps. from the aircraft to the ground and 3.5 Mbps. from the ground to the aircraft. Robert Thompson, Arinc's senior director of satellite services, says he believes that within two years about 70% of business jet operators who can equip their aircraft with Skylink will choose to do so.
Mike Van de Ven has been appointed executive vice president-aircraft operations for Southwest Airlines. He succeeds Jim Wimberly, who plans to retire Dec. 31. Van de Ven has been senior vice president-planning.
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USAF has completed a platform design review for the E-10A, which will demonstrate the active electronically scanned array radar on a Boeing 767-400ER. Although the review set out the designs for this platform, USAF is not wedded to it for its future fleet.
Lt. Gen. Donald Hoffman, military deputy to the Air Force's civilian acquisition chief, says the service is "very happy" to be regaining its acquisition authority over procurement projects. A document returning that authority from the senior Pentagon leadership is "in staffing right now," and approval is expected imminently, Hoffman says. The authority to approve programs for milestone decisions was pulled from the Air Force early this year by then-Pentagon acquisition czar Michael Wynne, after former Air Force acquisition head Marvin Sambur resigned his post.
As it did two weeks ago in Seattle, the Society of Professional Engineer- ing Employees in Aerospace (Speea) recommended acceptance of a four-year contact for Boeing's Integrated Defense Systems workers in Wichita, Kan. Engineers and technical workers go to the polls Dec. 5.
John Bay (see photo) has been named chief scientist of the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate, Rome, N.Y. He was manager of the numerous programs in the Information Exploitation Office at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va. He succeeds Northrup Fowler, 3rd, who has retired.
John J. Hamre is the president and CEO of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. He served as deputy Defense secretary from 1997 to 1999. This article is adapted from his recent testimony to the airland subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
MD Helicopters (MDH) and Kaman Aerospace Corp. have signed a multi-year agreement whereby Kaman will supply MDH with rotor blades and related dynamics components for the twin-engine MD Explorer. Kaman will provide similar components for other helicopters manufactured by the Mesa, Ariz.-based company. MDH has teamed with DynCorp to compete the Explorer for the U.S. Army's Light Utility Helicopter program.
AW&ST Rocky Mountain Bureau Chief William B. Scott thanks Vietnam War veterans for their service and sacrifices, during a "Thunderbirds Hangar Party" at Nellis AFB, Nev. The event was one of several structured to honor Vietnam vets during the Aviation Nation 2005 air show, a two-day annual gathering at Nellis. This year's theme, "Operation Welcome Home," recognized the thousands of U.S. military personnel who served in the unpopular war, but never received an "official" homecoming or expression of national gratitude.
An international treaty that aims to reduce risk for financiers and underwriters of aircraft, engines and helicopters will become binding in the coming months and is likely to induce a new wave of aviation equipment purchases in the developing world.
The FAA is seeking comments on its Nov. 22 draft Advisory Circular 25.981-21A, which outlines ways transport operators may comply with airworthiness standards in reducing the risk of fuel tank explosions. The circular is intended to complement the FAA's Nov. 18 proposed rule that would require operators of new and certain existing transport aircraft to reduce that risk through use of a flammability reduction or ignition mitigation system.
Mary D. Petryszyn (see photos), vice president-Joint Battlespace Integration in Colorado Springs for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, has received the Society of Women Engineers' Upward Mobility Award. Karen P. Scott, a senior engineering specialist and optical scientist at The Aerospace Corp.'s Houston office, won the 2005 Resnik Challenger Award. Petryszyn was honored for leadership in engineering organizations, commitment to creating environments that support diversity and for contributions to higher education and local communities.
Boeing and the Air Traffic Alliance are implementing five strategies aimed at accelerating air traffic system improvements, and are hammering out a common position in a sixth area as they seek to shape new systems and procedures worldwide. Their "Mermoz" effort--named after the famous French aviator Jean Mermoz (1901-36)--was launched at the Paris air show in 2003. The Boeing and Air Traffic Alliance (EADS, Airbus and Thales) teams are working on: *Required Navigation Performance (RNP). *Air-to-ground communications.
The European Union defense ministers have agreed to a code of conduct that will make it easier for defense contractors across the union--particularly small ones--to respond to calls for proposals. The code, which will take effect on July 1, will ask member states to publish all defense contracts worth more than 1 million euros ($1.18 million) through a single online portal. Although it is voluntary, the move is considered a first step toward a common European defense market.
NASA engineers think cryogenic temperatures and pressurization may cause cracks in the space shuttle external tank's foam protuberance airload ramps when the tank is on the launch pad. But they don't yet know if the cracks have any connection with pieces of foam falling off during ascent. The recently discovered cracks are one of a number of issues NASA is addressing as it plans to return the shuttle to flight next May, though an official date has not been set.
During U.S. President Bush's Asian visit last week, Chinese civil aviation officials said they will place a 70-aircraft order with Boeing. Such announcements are common during state visits, but if this one is completed, it will be China's largest order ever. Boeing officials said the deal is still being negotiated, but is expected to include 737-700s and -800s and should close this year, with deliveries in 2006-08. Another 80 737s have been discussed, but further talks aren't slated until next year.
Canada released a request for proposals last week for 16 new airlifters and 20 years of service support worth $4-5 billion. The requirements seem to give Lockheed Martin's C-130J an advantage in the competition to replace 13 older CC-130s, but Airbus is going to push its A400M aggressively.
