Russian air cargo haulers Volga-Dnepr and Polyot intend to purchase five An-124-100M-150 freighters each, which could mean a new life for An-124s--along with some major financial hurdles. The new model is an enhanced version of the An-124, of which Volga-Dnepr has 10 and Polyot eight. The An-124-100M-150F calls for a reduced crew--to four from six--and a payload capability increase to 150 metric tons from 120. Deliveries are set to begin in 2008. But, An-124-maker Aviastar needs at least $270 million to reopen production--funding that, so far, appears iffy.
Ken Miller, a senior civilian in the Navy, is expected to be tapped to take on a thorny task--leading the Air Force's acquisition office. After a handful of cases of faulty contracting and the imprisonment of a former senior USAF procurement official who admitted bias toward Boeing, the Pentagon's civilian leadership took control of the service's acquisition authority earlier this year. The USAF's previous assistant secretary for acquisition left in January under a cloud after the Boeing tanker lease deal crumbled.
Switzerland's Pilatus Aircraft is making UGS Corp.'s Teamcenter product life-cycle management software tools its company-wide standard, undertaking a third-generation update.
The Army is willing to sacrifice artillery and traditional force organization for the promise of integrated airpower, says Gen. Peter Schoomaker, the chief of staff. "What makes artillery heavy is the ammunition," he says. "It takes 70 rounds from one gun at a fixed target to get a [high] probability of kill. You can do the math. Why in the world would we continue to build in that direction," instead of turning to precision-strike aircraft that don't depend on ammunition trucks in forward locations and can put a single round on the target?
The European Space Agency plans a five-month test campaign on the cryostat for Herschel, an infrared space telescope to be launched in 2007. Just delivered by EADS Astrium, the cryogenic unit is intended to prevent heat from the sensitive instruments on Herschel from drowning out faint infrared emissions from distant stars and galaxies. Essentially a large thermos bottle, the cryostat will carry 2,300 liters of liquid helium to hold the telescope detectors at -271C over a three-year service life.
Capt. (ret.) James R. LeBel (Sherman Oaks, Calif.)
In the mid-1980s, 59 of us in our late 50s petitioned the FAA for a waiver of the Age 60 Rule. This made sense because it is common practice for the FAA to grant waivers for physical considerations.
The European Commission's anti-trust authorities have given their blessing to Rheinmetall taking a 50% stake in the infrared technology supplier AIM. The latter was a joint venture between Diehl and EHG Elektroholding. Rheinmetall is buying EHG's stake. The EC determined that the AIM acquisition wouldn't give Rheinmetall anti-competitive power in the German market, because in the past other competitors using infrared technology from French supplier Sofradir have also won contracts.
A string of satellite delivery and ground infrastructure problems that plagued Arianespace during the first eight months of 2005 is likely to force a one-flight reduction in the Ariane V manifest for the year, to five from six. Launch of France's first new-generation Syracuse 3 military communications satellite, initially scheduled for April, is slated for the end of September. Also flying on that mission will be PanAmSat's Galaxy 15, an Orbital Sciences Corp.
El Al's net profit for the second quarter reached $29.9 million, an increase of more than $22 million over last year. Revenue reached $423 million, a 30% boost. The increase comes largely on the strength of higher traffic, with load factors up 7%.
"We don't have our act together," says one leading defense figure on the homeland security front. Two companies that are intent on improving that act are Guardian Technologies International (GDTI) and Isonics Corp. GDTI's PinPoint software may help scanners spot contraband items such as weapons and explosives concealed in carry-on or checked baggage. An international intelligent imaging informatics company, GDTI has developed an alert system that attaches to X-ray systems already in place.
Stephen Legg has been promoted to director of product technology and development for FKI Logistex in St. Louis from vice president-business development for FKI Logistex North America.
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Roger Ray of Cheshire, Ore., has been appointed to the board of directors of Australia-based Airservices Pacific Inc. Ray owns an aviation consulting firm and has been transition manager and interim CEO of API.
World News Roundup 22 Missed time line truncates station spacewalk 23 New set of JSF wind tunnel tests begins next month 23 Absolute speed record-holder Joseph W. Rogers dies 24 Russian fighter aircraft and helicopter manufacturers post progress at MAKS 24 Prototype debuts for armed recon version of Ansat light utility helicopter 24 France and India discuss integration of air-to-surface weapons on fighters World News & Analysis
SAS Group reports a 949-million Swedish kronor ($123.8-million) operating profit for the second quarter. For the first half, however, it incurred a loss of 99 million Swedish kronor (SEK)--which is a vast improvement compared to the 1-billion SEK loss in the first half of 2004. SAS Group had a negative $472-million net income for the first half. The company cut unit costs by 6% through its "Turnaround 2005" initiative, and management says the various group units, which include SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Spanair and Blue1, are devising new efforts to reduce costs.
John J. Perrotti has been promoted to president/CEO from president/chief operating officer of the Gleason Corp., Rochester, N.Y. He succeeds John W. Guffey, who will remain as vice chairman.
The FAA is seeking $33 million in its Fiscal 2006 request--$6.1 million more than in 2005--for expansion of its international leadership role. In October, the agency's 2nd International Aviation Safety Forum will gather government and industry partners to explore the best way to aid newly developed and fast-growing countries in structuring safe air transport operations. FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey talked with Transport Editor Frances Fiorino about the U.S.' leadership role. Excerpts follow. RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADERSHIP
Mark J. Tedone has been appointed vice president-solution delivery for the Cavok Group, Keller, Tex. He was vice president/chief technology officer for Rotable Asset Management.
FedEx's hub at Oakland International Airport will satisfy 80% of its daylight energy needs from a solar-powered system that the company says is the largest corporate installation in California. The system, which went online earlier this month, produces the equivalent power needed for 900 homes during daytime. Built by Berkeley-based PowerLight Corp., the facility uses more than 300,000 Sharp solar cells that are distributed in 5,769 photovoltaic modules to convert sunlight directly into electricity. The 904-kw. system is spread across virtually all 81,000 sq. ft.
The Transportation Security Administration is tightening the rules under which cargo can be carried on passenger jets, to counter the threat of concealed explosives destroying an aircraft in flight.
Charles Beard has become a director in the aviation, aerospace and defense practice of Mercer Management Consulting and head of its Washington operations. He has been senior vice president-global transportation and industrial markets for BearingPoint.
Faced with inadequate funding for future systems, the Russian air force is struggling to focus its limited cash on upgrading in-service platforms and systems. The inevitable admission that its fifth-generation fighter program--known as the future frontal fighter (PAK FA)--is delayed simply underscores the air force's troubles. Series production is not anticipated until 2015, and even this date may well be optimistic.
Tons for detection, very little for prevention: Is that the NASA culture? I think I speak for most engineers in the aerospace industry when I say we are disappointed in NASA's resolution of the space shuttle foam separation problem. It is now apparent that NASA put its main efforts into observation of foam separation and inflight inspection of critical surfaces, rather than prevention.
The Keystone Group's FlareAlert is a battery-operated electronic safety flare that is visible for 3 mi. from both the ground and air in dark light conditions, 1 mi. in residual light. It offers 20 hr. of battery life in flash mode and six in steady-on mode, according to the company. Applications include marking helicopter landing zones, road hazards and emergency evacuation routes. It can also be used for personal use, such as hiking or boating emergencies. Because it employs no fumes or hot flames, it can be used indoors or outdoors even in high winds, the company says.
