New radars are becoming sophisticated radios--radios that can be used as weapons against insurgents. A series of experiments is turning the radars of next-generation tactical aircraft--including the F/A-22 and F-35--into advanced communications devices for intelligence-gathering, reconnaissance and strike missions.
Christopher Cuddy has become Boston-based group managing director of Cheapflights Ltd. and president of Cheapflights (USA). He was vice president/general manager of New Markets at Lightbridge Inc.
Efforts by NATO to adapt military forces to modern warfighting could be at risk due to a lack of funding and political support. A top military officer overseeing NATO's so-called transformation initiative argues that more must be done if the alliance wants to better position itself for modern conflict and the integration of member forces.
James B. Kelly (see photo) has been appointed president/ CEO of Flight Explorer, Alexandria, Va. He succeeds Walt Kross. Kelly was president/CEO of SynXis.
Richard Branson, armed with the unprecedented startup funding in U.S. history of $177.3 million, filed Dec. 8 with the Transportation Dept. to operate a U.S.-based low-cost carrier, Virgin America. VAI Partners LLC holds the controlling 75% or $88.9-million share. A Virgin Group of companies led by Branson and two other British citizens holds the 25% minority stake, in accordance with U.S. foreign ownership rules. Corporate headquarters will shift from New York to near the new carrier's main hub, San Francisco Inter- national Airport.
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency is expecting its first test in 10 months of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system as soon as this week. An interceptor launched from the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands will engage a simulated target. Testing had come to a standstill after back-to-back failures resulted in a push for more ground tests and quality control.
Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing received AS9100 aerospace quality systems certification for its Leesburg, Va., and Ottawa operations. The audit was performed by TUV America.
A replay of data tapes from the Hayabusa asteroid mission has raised doubts about whether the Japanese spacecraft was successful in collecting samples for its return to Earth in June 2007. The doubts arose because of a mysterious safety mode procedure that cropped up during the command sequence for firing two pellets into the surface of the asteroid Itokawa. The pellets were to knock surface bits free that would float up a collection cone into a canister.
Data from instruments on two NASA Earth Observing System satellites--Aqua and Terra--have provided the most detailed map yet of Antarctica. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (Modis) instruments on the spacecraft generated 260 cloud-free swaths over the polar continent between Nov. 20, 2003 and Feb. 29, 2004, which were combined into a digital mosaic. Known as the Mosaic of Antarctica (MOA), the map grids match those in a 1997 mosaic generated by Canada's Radarsat-1.
Iran is acquiring the Tor M-1 (SA-15 Gauntlet) air defense system from Russia. The vertical-launch missile system is mounted on a tracked vehicle, and is capable of engaging targets at up to 7.5 mi. The Tor M-1 uses the 9M331 missile, and can engage aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and precision-guided air-to-surface weapons.
British airlines are competing with Asian counterparts for British flight crew and engineers. U.K. carriers have increased salaries by as much as 20% in an effort to attract and retain employees. A survey by aerospace staffing company Wynnwith found that of the 850 flight crew vacancies advertised in Britain, 32% were for jobs in Asia, 20% for posts in the Middle East and only 25% for airlines in the U.K.
Rolls-Royce has snagged a $600-million order to supply the engines for China Southern Airlines' five Airbus A380s. The aircraft deal was announced earlier this year, and deliveries are set to start in 2007.
Airbus has snagged a firm order for nine A320s from Philippine Airlines, which already operates seven aircraft of the type. Moreover, the carrier has taken options for another five aircraft and will lease two A320s and two A319s from GE Capital Aviation Services, Airbus announced last week. First deliveries of the newly ordered A320s are slated for the second half of next year, with handovers to run until 2012.
Finnair has expanded its order for Embraer regional jets, opting to take another four of the aircraft. The order, worth approximately $100 million, comes on top of an earlier one for 12 of the aircraft type. Finnair expects to have all 16 RJs in service in 2007. The four latest aircraft are Embraer 190s; the initial order was split between 10 170s--the first of which are now in service--and two 190s. The carrier holds four more options for the RJ. The Embraers next year will be used to phase out MD-80s and to open new routes.
Britain's Cobham plc has been selected for Australia's A$1-billion ($750-million) Coastwatch contract. The Cobham bid is based on using 10 Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft. Cobham subsidiaries would provide surveillance services out to 2020.
SHANE EDDY, VICE PRESIDENT FOR CUSTOMER SUPPORT and services for Bell Helicopter Textron, says the company has "not maintained pace with demand for spare parts and new helicopters" and has implemented plans to reverse that situation.
Airports Council International (ACI) in 2006 plans to initiate three global safety enhancement systems to complement ACI's joint work with the International Civil Aviation Organization. ACI's web-based Global Safety Network will allow member airports to exchange safety data, including safety best practices. Ground accidents/incidents are a major concern. ACI Director General Robert J.
Tropical Rainfall Measurement Satellite (TRMM) space-based precipitation radar image shows Hurricane Rita approaching south Florida on Sept. 19. It later hit the east Texas coast as a Category 3 storm. The image shows Rita firing hot rain-laden chimney-like towers (red) to 59,000 ft., indicating it was about to intensify to a Category 5 storm rapidly. TRMM data indicate that storms about to intensify create such towers. This gives forecasters hope they can meet one of the challenges in hurricane forecasting: the ability to predict intensification. See p. 46.
USAF's David S. (Scott) Gray (see photo) has been promoted to major general and been named commander of the Air Mobility Warfare Center, Ft. Dix, N.J. He was commander of the 89th Airlift Wing at Andrews AFB, Md.
Two U.S. Air Force test pilot school students have designed an autonomous aerial refueling scheme for an unmanned tanker and an unmanned combat aircraft, and have completed a test flight program. Capt. Chris Spinelli designed a program for the two aircraft's carrier phase differential GPS systems. Capt. Steve Ross designed a control system for the Learjet (surrogate unmanned aircraft).
Bob Tyler has been named vice president-flight operations for Cleveland-based Flight Options. He was vice president-flight operations and standards for TAG Aviation.
Europe is moving to plug a hole in its public launcher procurement policy that threatened the future of the Vega light booster, as well as that of a Europeanized version of the Soyuz 2 medium-lift rocket. The move eventually could have consequences for satellites as well.
Germanwings has finally signed the deal for 18 firm and 12 option Airbus A319s, powered by International Aero Engines V2500s. The carrier already operates A320s with the engine type.
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Thales will supply the onboard electrical power generation system for the Airbus A400M military airlifter. The system will be based on variable frequency generators, as in the design earmarked for the A380, also being supplied by Thales. The company had previously been tabbed to supply the enhanced vision, control and display and flight management systems, missile warning receiver (with EADS) and integrated modular avionics (with Diehl Avionik Systeme).
