It's a sorry fact that the Bell/Boeing V-22, while a technological marvel, may never be fully suited for U.S. Marine Corps service. It is too "delicate" to take concentrated hostile fire, but too expensive to be wasted on routine missions that can be perform- ed by helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft.
John Cottrell's letter (AW&ST Sept. 26, p. 6) is right on target in that the Predator is the wrong platform for the right sensor package for Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) operations, while Bruce Elliot (AW&ST Nov. 7, p. 6) is also right on target that an updated YO-3A is better suited for the border operational environment.
EADS North America Defense says it can begin deliveries of its candidate for the U.S. Army's Light Utility Helicopter program before the end of Fiscal 2006 if the company's team wins the competition in April. The U.S.-based division of EADS is proposing a UH-145 military version of Eurocopter's commercial EC145 to compete against Bell Helicopter Textron's 412EP, AgustaWestland's AB139 and the Explorer built by MD Helicopters. EADS has enlisted Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Westwind Technologies and CAE as partners.
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Startup British carrier Alpha One will begin twice-daily, Monday-Friday service between the Isle of Man and Edinburgh beginning Dec. 14. Alpha One is run by 19-year-old Martin Halstead, and will use an 18-seat BAE Systems Jetstream 31 turboprop. Further routes are planned to begin in early 2006.
Germany has completed the first test firing of a missile design that should eventually lead to a next-generation air defense system. The so called LFK NG weapon features a dual-pulse rocket motor, and, in an operational configuration, would be fitted with an imaging infrared seeker and penetrator warhead to intercept aircraft, cruise missiles and UAVs. The firing took place at the test range in Meppen. It is part of a technology assessment phase that will run through early 2008, according to the German military.
Singapore Technologies Aerospace has received a $120-million contract to provide Singapore's air force with technical and logistics support for its five Eurocopter EC120 Colibri helicopters. Under the program, STAerospace owns and maintains the helicopters while the air force provides pilot training.
It has been a long time coming, but the day has arrived when the U.S.'s military services and the Defense Dept.'s civilian leaders must make difficult funding decisions on the future of our nation's fighting forces. Final decisions will occur this month on the 2007 budget, as well as the Quadrennial Defense Review, which ultimately drives future resources. If all parties work together, our armed forces will emerge stronger than ever. If a "me-first" mentality prevails, however, there will be serious consequences for everyone.
FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey throws a little gasoline on the ongoing debate about imposing user fees in the National Airspace System (NAS). "We're at the tipping point in aviation," she tells the Aero Club, warning that "a fundamental change in our funding structure is not only necessary but warranted." Blakey notes that the ticket and fuel taxes that feed the aviation trust fund will expire in 2007--and the fund pays for most of the FAA's operating expenses.
I read with interest the Canadian letter suggesting the U.S. needs to hurry up and buy Boeing tankers before EADS gets the upper hand and takes the business away from the Americans (AW&ST Nov. 7, p. 8). If we are going to have free trade, what difference does it make if we buy from the Canadians, Americans or French. I would like to see a "Buy American" policy, but it needs to be a "Buy U.S." policy. If we do not have this policy, we should buy from the people that give us the most bang for the buck.
Reading the account of "Double Sunrise" or how a Boeing 777-200LR set a world record by flying "the wrong way" between Hong Kong and London, I cannot think of any enterprise looking more absurd or counterproductive to Boeing's image than having to make up a useless route to prove the capabilities of an aircraft (AW&ST Nov. 14, p. 45). I am surprised that Boeing even considered that segment for its test.
Between now and his Feb. 27 sentencing for conspiracy and tax-evasion charges, Rep. Randy (Duke) Cunningham will be cooperating with investigators, federal prosecutors say. That's got Beltway denizens wondering who in the defense industry the California Republican might implicate in the ongoing corruption investigation. Cunningham, an eight-term congressman, admitted that he received at least $2.4 million in bribes and illegal gifts. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and fines totaling $350,000, which gives him a big incentive to help investigators nail others.
Steven F. Gaffney has been appointed a corporate vice president of ITT Industries Inc., White Plains, N.Y. He also is president of the ITT's Defense business and had been president of ITT's Systems Div.
Efforts by Europe's fledgling airsafety agency to prove its worth are being hampered by inadequate funds, a lack of a clear mechanism for raising finance and uncertainties over its operation. Senior government officials from European Union states are looking to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to provide evidence it is capable of handling what it is tasked with.
Britain is pushing back the full-operation capability date of its Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and extending the service life of the platform it is slated to replace. The U.K. had intended to have its Joint Combat Aircraft, as it refers to the Lockheed Martin F-35, declared with a full operational capability (FOC) in 2017, but this date has been slipped to 2021. Consequently, it will keep the BAE Systems Harrier GR9 in service at least until 2019, four years beyond its previously stated out-of-service date.
A couple of years ago, I said in a letter to Aviation Week & Space Technology that concessions would not prevent a company from going bankrupt. Well, my pilot group gave concessions and nine months later my company filed for Chapter 11 protection.
Charles H. Huettner (see photo) has become executive director and Rene Tondro administrative director of the Arlington, Va.-based Aerospace States Assn. Huettner has been president of his own aviation consulting firm and was executive director of the Presidential Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry. Tondro was president of TSD Communication Services Inc.
Airbus has selected Smiths Aerospace to supply the video distribution and processing system for the A400M airlifter. The contract will be worth $55 million.
Debra Facktor Lepore (see photo) has become president of Reno, Nev.-based AirLaunch. She was vice president-business development and strategic planning for the Kistler Aerospace Corp.
The United Auto Workers and General Motors management are finding out what Delta, United, US Airways, et al., have realized. An aggressive union and a complacent/compliant management in adversarial roles only serve to kill the fatted calf. In the recent Boeing settlement, it is almost as if the past templates overlaid the agreement. Will the demise of the once-vaunted U.S. commercial aircraft industry follow?
Michael Conway has been appointed CEO of Air Jamaica. He has been a co-founder of America West Airlines, founder of National Airlines and senior adviser in an international investment and restructuring bank.
The Boeing 737-600/-700 and Airbus A318/A319 are overweight, overwinged, overengined, aerodynamically-ancient versions of designs now 25-45 years old. It's a no-brainer for Bombardier's proposed CSeries (AW&ST Oct. 17, p. 28) to be substantially more efficient. But for market success, Bombardier will have to keep its prices down, support the CSeries feverishly, further develop the airplane, sell in ones and twos to financially questionable airlines, and stay in that mode for 10 years to achieve the market penetration that will make theirs a preferred product.
Mordechai (Moti) Boness has been appointed to the board of directors of the Aviation Technology Group, Englewood, Colo. He is president of the American subsidiary of Israel Aircraft Industries.
Navtech is acquiring the European Aeronautical Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of the SAS Group in Stockholm for $20 million. Navtech, of Waterloo, Ontario, gains aeronautical charting and navigation data products and will increase its European customer base. The two companies together serve 200 airlines worldwide. EAG had fiscal 2004 sales of $23.8 million while Navtech's sales were $7.9 million.
News Breaks 20 Light Utility Helicopter contender says it can deliver next year 20 Thales faces hurdles as it tries to ex- pand in various European countries 21 Vertical stabilizers installed for first pre-production Joint Strike Fighter 22 Indian textile millionaire breaks record for hot air balloons 22 Pending Cathay Pacific order could set sales record for Boeing World News & Analysis 24 Exploration, competitiveness high- light Europe's space road map
