VIP Sensors has introduced Model 1011, a 1.2-gram piezoelectric accelerometer for vibration and shock measurements on structures and small objects. This self-generating device requires no external power and exhibits a broad frequency response range to 15 KHz. and a high resonance frequency at 50 KHz. It utilizes a piezoelectric crystal material that exhibits stable output sensitivity over the operating temperature range. Each sensor features a 10-ft. integral low-noise cable terminated with a 10-32 connector.
Richard DalBello has been named vice president-government relations for the Intelsat General Corp., Bethesda, Md. He has been president of both the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Assn. and Satellite Industry Assn.
Aerion Corp. is seeking potential partners to build its proposed supersonic business jet and deliver the airplane to the market by 2011. "We are keeping to an aggressive timeline moving toward routine supersonic business jet travel," said Brian E. Barents, vice chairman of the Reno, Nev.-based advanced engineering group. He says Aerion has resolved major issues surrounding the technical feasibility of an SSBJ, and "we are now able to present . . . a design that is well-researched and quite achievable."
Neelam Mathews, New Delhi-based contributing editor for Aviation Week & Space Technology, has been appointed chairman of the new India chapter of the Bangkok-based Asia Pacific Aviation Media Assn. (Apama).
High speed without a sonic boom is a cherished goal of supersonic business jet designers, and four teams are working to further the technology under NASA contracts, with results to be reviewed early next year. Aerion Corp. and Supersonic Aerospace International will be presenting updates on their SSBJ designs at the National Business Aviation Assn. show in Orlando, Fla., Nov. 9-12. Both companies are proposing Mach 1+ airplanes.
A decision by Eutelsat Communications' private equity owners to abandon a long-awaited initial public offering could spell trouble for other planned aerospace IPOs. The move by the number-three satcom operator could also reset the stage for realignment of the telecommunications satellite sector.
Two of NASA's International Space Station partners are moving ahead on alternate ways to deliver equipment and supplies to the International Space Station, now that the U.S. agency has decided to retire its shuttle fleet. The European Space Agency has hired a team headed by Dutch Space to figure out how to put the European Robotic Arm (ERA) on Russia's planned Multipurpose Laboratory Module and launch it on a Proton rocket. The arm was originally intended to ride a shuttle to orbit, and be mounted on the canceled Russian Science and Power Platform.
The British government is attempting to use key procurement decisions to drive through fundamental changes in the U.K.'s defense-aerospace industrial base.
The Australian military will deploy the Elbit Systems-built Skylark man-portable unmanned aircraft to Iraq. The initial contingent will include four Skylarks, with two remaining in Australia for training.
The past decade or so is littered with good intentions when it comes to defense industrial policy in Europe. Grand declarations have come and gone, with the government and the private sector seemingly content to muddle along.
Boeing officials are downplaying the findings of the long-anticipated Pentagon Mobility Capabilities Study (MCS), which stopped short of requiring more C-17s despite an impending production line closure that would start next year.
As concerns grow over a pandemic sparked by avian flu spreading out of Southeast Asia, official Washington still grapples with what to do. President Bush calls for $7.1 billion to pay for vaccine development, an anti-viral drug stockpile, domestic and international surveillance and local preparedness. The administration says travel restrictions may be needed in a serious outbreak, but one expert thinks concern over airplanes' role in a crisis may be overblown.
The U.S. government has selected Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics to upgrade six Raytheon King Air 300 special-use aircraft with an option for 12 more. The integrated packages will include dual-channel digital flight control systems, a fully integrated digital autopilot and three 10 X 8-in. liquid crystal adaptive flight displays with engine indication capability. The Rockwell Collins Integrated Flight Information System will be included, along with GPS with Wide Area Augmentation System capability.
Northrop Grumman Corp. has selected Federal Equipment Co. of Cincinnati to design and build weapons elevators for the Navy's next-generation CVN 21 aircraft carrier. The ship will be equipped with 11 weapons elevators, each platform powered by four magnetic motors, manufactured by MagneMotion of Acton, Mass., that eliminate the need for hoist cables. The 8 X 20-ft. platforms will be capable of holding 24,000 lb., and "basically levitate in place," says Federal President Doug Ridenour.
USAF Maj. Gen. (select) Jeffrey R. Riemer has been appointed commander of the Air Armament Center and program executive officer for weapons at Air Force Materiel Command, Eglin AFB, Fla. He has been director of operations at the command's headquarters, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. He will be succeeded by Brig. Gen. Kurt A. Cichowski who has been commander of the 49th Fighter Wing of Air Combat Command (ACC), Holloman AFB, N.M. Brig. Gen. Michael F. Planert has been named military executive of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Bethesda, Md.
In a bid to expand their command and control, and network-centric defense activities in Finland, local TietoEnator is pooling its efforts with Saab. The TietoSaab joint venture will be 60% controlled by the Finnish entity, with Saab holding the rest. The business will be formally opened by Jan. 1. In addition to Finnish contracts, Saab Systems President Dan-Ake Enstedt says the joint venture will pursue export defense and civil security opportunities.
Major European airlines could be forced to reevaluate corporate strategies now that Lufthansa holds a minority stake in Fraport AG, the operator of Frankfurt's international airport, and has confirmed plans to invest in German air traffic control provider Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS) next year.
An inexpensive flight recorder to be delivered on several new light aircraft is attracting interest for its flight operations quality assurance abilities.
After four wasted years since the U.S. Air Force's 2001 tentative lease contract for the KC-767 with Boeing, it is time to move ahead. USAF and Congress should start the process for replacing the KC-135 Stratotanker with an all-American solution. Brand-new KC-767s remain the only choice for USAF, Congress, the U.S. aerospace industry and U.S. taxpayers. If USAF stands for a backup tanker fleet, secondhand converted MD-11s or early Boeing 777-200s should be considered.
The German air transport department has decided not to renew the operating license for charter carrier Aero Flight, formerly known as Aero Lloyd. The agency said only that Aero Flight no longer meets legal requirements to maintain its operating license. The charter operators insisted that safety is not the underlying issue, suggesting the government had problems with Aero Flight's business plan.
India is expected to make its biggest arms sale ($88 million) to Chilean armed forces for 20-30 twin-engine lightweight Advance Light Helicopters manufactured by government-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. Technology transfer for the ALHs is said to have been offered to Chile. The first squadron of ALHs in the Indian air force became operational in October with the delivery of six helicopters; four more are expected. Chile may also be India's first buyer for the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos.
The International Federation of Airline Pilots Assns. has issued a safety bulletin in response to the recent JetBlue Airways Airbus A320 landing that saw the nosewheel turn 90 deg. Ifalpa says the incident "has caused increasing concern among pilots and operators" and that 13 similar occurrences were found to have four different causes. In response to the JetBlue case, Airbus has told airlines the nose gear shock absorber upper support anti-rotation lugs were damaged.
Sidney E. Fuchs (see photo), who is president of the TASC business unit within the Northrop Grumman Corp.'s Information Technology Sector, has been named to an executive-level panel of the Information Technology Assn. of America's Coalition for America's High-Tech Future. The panel consists of presidents of large companies and universities that have an investment in the future leaders of technology, engineering, science and math industries. The coalition addresses ways to secure the availability of science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills in schools.
Northwest Airlines says rising fuel prices led to cancellation of its intended Oct. 30 launch of Seattle-Amsterdam-Bangalore service. Northwest, along with partner KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, offers daily flights from 16 U.S. gateway cities to Mumbai and New Delhi, via Amsterdam.
