Mid-century, Chinese historians may well record 2005 as the Summer of American Discontent: the time when in the midst of a global war on terrorism, uneasiness over China's economic, diplomatic and military successes erupted in an uncoordinated and poorly-waged series of attempts by the U.S. to put China in its place as a second-rate world player and one of the few remaining vestiges of Communist ideology.
Pushing for C-130J, P-3C Orion and F-16 fighter sales in India, Lockheed Martin has opened a corporate office in New Delhi, brought in some big names to help it lobby India's government and begun talks on offsets with state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL). Requests for proposals to provide 126 aircraft for India's multirole fighter program are expected by late December, pitting the F-16 against the Boeing F/A-18E/F, Dassault Mirage 2000-5 and Saab/BAE Systems JAS 39 Gripen.
Special operations is a growth industry and is expected to stay that way despite a shrinking defense budget, says Army Gen. Bryan Brown, chief of Special Operations Command. The annual production of new Army Green Berets has increased to 789 from 550 two years ago, he says, and the force now totals 54,000 people. The Navy side is to grow by two SEAL teams, and the addition of Marine Corps special forces will add dimensions to the joint force, including air and naval gunfire teams, radio reconnaissance specialists and foreign military training units.
Many Middle East-based airlines and their respective governments have a lot of progressive changes to make before they can ride the expected large wave of passenger and freight air transport growth predicted for the region over the next decade.
The European Union is undertaking an across-the-board effort to improve aviation safety, with increased participation by Eurocontrol and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). European institutions, including the European Commission (EC), parliament and EU Council, have also struck a deal clearing the way for establishment of an EU-wide blacklist of banned airlines and providing passengers more information on a carrier they are considering using even when outside the EU. Both measures dominate the debate in Europe over enhancing aviation safety.
In 2002, Israeli navy commandos seized 50 tons of weapons and ammunition during the capture of the Palestinian Karine A ship in the Red Sea, thanks in large part to Elta's M-2022 radar. Operating in an inverse mode, the synthetic aperture radar allowed operators to see telltale silhouette images of suspect vessels. But the M-2022 radar operated from a testbed on board a Boeing 737, and Israel now is looking at unmanned aerial options.
National Air Traffic Controllers Assn. President John Carr told members of the Wings Club in New York on Nov. 15 that he believes the FAA is being "fundamentally mismanaged." Natca has been sniping at the FAA on a weekly basis since contract negotiations began this summer. "The first and most pressing problem, and one of the FAA's own creation, is staffing," he says. There are 1,500 fewer controllers today than two years ago and during Fiscal 2004, the agency only hired 13 new controllers, he adds.
US. Coast Guard planners are in the midst of mapping a strategy to meet the agency's latest Homeland Security assignment: patrolling the airspace over the nation's capital. In a memorandum of understanding, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has given the Coast Guard 30 days to report back on how and when it could take over Washington air patrol duties from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), another Homeland Security unit. The report is due Dec. 3.
As the Pentagon moves into the final stages of its Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR)--the four-year assessment of U.S. military strategy--possible cutbacks in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program are worrying international partners now working on the $60-billion project to build the next-generation combat aircraft.
India's future launch of the Insat series 4A, 4B and 4C spacecraft will add 36 K u-band transponders to the Indian Space Research Organization's capacity. This should sizably increase transponders for direct-to-home (DTH) operators. DTH providers can beam a maximum of 12 channels per transponder. Insat 4A and 4B have a capacity of 12 K u-band and 12 C-band transponders each. Insat 4C, on the other hand, has just 12 K u-band transponders.
Investigators probing the Air France Airbus A340-313 runway overrun accident at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Aug. 2 have discovered no "significant anomalies" in the aircraft systems, according to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Physical examination of the wreckage and a digital flight data recorder review of parameters detected no problems with flight controls or with spoilers, which were deployed at touchdown.
News Breaks 18 Ariane 5 ECA completes second launch 19 Engine tweaks add range to Boeing 787-9 19 Lockheed Martin sweetens F-16 bid to Indian air force 20 Airbus mandate to suppliers: Outsource to Asia 20 Obituaries for net-centric expert Cebrowski, photographer Adshead World News & Analysis 24 Boeing lands first orders for stretched 747-400 26 Engineers' union recommends 'yes' vote on Boeing contract
HOUSTON-BASED UNIVERSAL WEATHER and aviation has expanded its online trip information tools and made them available on its web site. These include the ability to create and modify trips, check status of flight plans and request international overflight and landing permits.
The Defense Dept. is suffering from a "lack of focus" and needs a comprehensive plan to handle the politically sensitive problem of unexploded ordnance (UXO) on the battlefield, according to a Defense Science Board study. The independent analysis suggests this will be a problem as the Army continues to develop smaller fighting units that can maneuver unimpeded on the battlefield. USAF is upgrading the CBU-87 and CBU-97 cluster bombs, chronic offenders, and the Army is improving its Multiple Launch Rocket System.
Lorraine Martin (see photo), who is vice president-flight solutions for Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training and Support, has become chair of the Washington-based Network Centric Operations Industry Consortium. She succeeds Carl O'Berry of Boeing, whose one-year term has concluded. Martin was vice chair. USN Capt. (ret.) Kevin J. Reardon (see photo) has been named executive director. He was an executive with Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics.
With sales of C$21.7 billion ($18.2 billion) last year, the Canadian aerospace industry is not much more than one-third the size of the Boeing Co. Then again, Canada is the world's fourth-largest aerospace producer and home to the world's third-largest commercial airplane company, Bombardier Inc. The industry is a leading supplier of regional and business jets, small gas turbine engines, flight simulators and landing gear. It's also a vital part of Canada's economy.
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The U.S. Army's Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center is running the world's largest water purifier on the Gulf Coast, supplying potable water from a fire hydrant and the ocean. The Expeditionary Unit Water Purifier (EUWP) was designed by the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR) and funded entirely by $23.35 million in congressional plus-ups since 2003. Sen. Peter Domenici (R), of water-poor New Mexico, is behind the effort and has already secured $11 million for the program in 2006.
Flight testing of the first Saab Gripen fighter for South Africa has begun in preparation for deliveries scheduled to start in 2008. The initial flight occurred on Nov. 11 at Saab's Linkoping facility in Sweden and lasted for 70 min. Following system integration and additional flights in the next few months, the fighter will be transported to South Africa in August for development testing. South Africa has ordered 28 Gripens--19 single- and nine two-seat versions.
Australian budget airline Virgin Blue--which recently reported a $76.7-million annual net profit--has launched a frequent-flier program, Velocity. The program allows customers to redeem points on flights all year, with no blackout periods. CEO Brett Godfrey says the company's strategy is to broaden its appeal to frequent fliers in the corporate and government sectors.
The British Trade and Industry Dept. is on the brink of approving technology validation programs at the heart of the country's aerospace road map. An announcement had been expected to coincide with the first meeting of the Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team leadership council on Nov. 8, but procedural issues have delayed formal approval.
Future communications capability is playing a dominant role in the business aviation sector. Iridium Satellite LLC, for example, reported that its aeronautical satcom business more than doubled this year. The number of its subscribers passed the 5,000 mark, and includes a cross section of customers--airlines, fractional jet services and helicopter fleets. At the recent National Business Aviation Assn. (NBAA) meeting here, Executive Vice President Don Thoma referred to the aviation sector in general as a "core and growing market."
Space-based radar altimetry data collected since 1991 indicate that the ice sheet blanketing Greenland is thickening at an average rate of 5.4 cm. (2.1 in.) per year. The phenomenon may be related to relatively short-term variability in regional atmospheric circulation. Greenland is home to the second-largest concentration of freshwater ice in the world, with an average thickness of 2.3 km. (1.4 mi.). If it were all to melt, world sea level would rise about 7 meters (23 ft.), scientists estimate.
Boeing's Conical Microwave Imager/ Sounder (CMIS) is up for a beating as the next problem sensor for the National Polar Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (Npoess), a joint venture between the Defense and Commerce Depts. CMIS technology has not developed as quickly as planned and might delay the Npoess development, program officials say. Earlier, they blamed part of a multibillion-dollar Npoess cost overrun on Raytheon's Visible/Infrared Imager/ Radiometer Suite.
The Cape Town Treaty, an international agreement that is designed to reduce risk for financiers of aircraft, engines and helicopters, is on track for full implementation Mar. 1, now that it has been ratified by Malaysia. Eight nations including the U.S. have ratified it. The treaty is a product of more than a decade's work by manufacturers, governments and organizations to establish a legal framework that protects rights of buyers and investors.
