European Union and Russian air transport representatives are poised to commence talks on overcoming differences in regulating their relations, but first the Europeans have to clarify who will lead their negotiations.
Lockheed Martin has begun deliveries of 12 F-16s to the Royal Air Force of Oman. The sale includes eight single-seat F-16Cs and four two-seat F-16Ds powered by General Electric F110-GE-129 engines. The fighters are built to Advanced Block 50 configuration. The first aircraft is an F-16D; the first F-16C version will fly this month. Both jets will be ferried to Oman in mid-October. The remaining airplanes will be delivered in 2006, according to Lockheed Martin.
The likelihood of action in Europe to further limit aircraft emissions is growing with the publication of two European Commission studies released last week.
Sagem and French defense research agency Onera have begun a test campaign to demonstrate the usefulness of unmanned aerial vehicles in detecting and combating forest fires. The trials involve the Busard, a long-endurance, optionally-manned aircraft acquired earlier this year to certify UAVs for civil applications (AW&ST Apr. 11, p. 18). The vehicle is equipped with a Sagem visible/IR sensor designed to transmit images that are overlaid directly onto detailed contour maps.
A Boeing cockpit crew will attempt to set a world record in October for the longest nonstop commercial flight. Flying a 777-200LR powered by GE-90 engines, the crew plans to take off from an unnamed city in Asia, traverse the Pacific Ocean and North America, and cross the Atlantic before landing in London. Total elapsed time in the air would be 24 hr.--more than halfway around the world--with a 2-hr. fuel reserve. If successful, the flight would shatter the existing record held by a 777-200ER.
Northrop Grumman is modernizing the F/A-22's communications, navigation and identification (CNI) system to improve its network-centric capabilities. CNI will be upgraded to ensure it is compatible with the Joint Tactical Radio System, which is to connect all participating communications links into the global Internet grid (set to supply intelligence and targeting data to warfighters). In addition, the modification will add Link-16 jam-resistant communication links to the CNI system for improved situational awareness.
The FAA has issued Rockwell Collins its first Technical Standard Order (TSO-C166) for ADS-B functionality on Mode-S transponders. The approval enables traffic situational awareness on airport surfaces and in flight. Functions include a visual acquisition for see-and-avoid, sequencing and merging of traffic, crossing and passing operations and oceanic in-trail procedures. Rockwell Collins already has received approval in Europe, which is introducing Mode-S during the next few years. The U.S. is not using Mode-S as extensively as Europe.
Claude P. Moreau has been named to the board of directors of Satelinx International Inc. of Montreal. He has been vice president-marketing and business development for Couche Tard Inc., an executive with Chevron Petroleum in Latin America and West Africa, and president of Texaco Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes has raised the so-called list prices for its commercial aircraft an average 3.5% (see http://www.boeing.com/commercial/prices). The prices airline and leasing customers actually pay can be significantly lower, however. Chief salesman Scott Carson recently remarked that BCA's lean manufacturing initiatives have lowered its costs, enabling its salesmen to offer better deals.
Russia's air transport sector is undergoing steady change, with airlines looking to become more competitive (see p. 50). High fuel prices are putting a temporary dent in the country's rapid passenger growth as airlines boost fares. Fuel costs are also accelerating carriers' modernization efforts that have been slowly gathering pace. The airlines want to field modern, often western, aircraft to replace fuel-inefficient fleets comprising aircraft such as this Tu-154M, which is in service with charter operator Aviaenergo. Dmitry Petrochenko, Sky & Media photo.
RESEARCHERS AT THE FAA TECHNICAL CENTER in Pomona, N.J., are conducting a survey to better understand how emerging technologies are enabling the transmission of large amounts of important data to aircraft operating within the National Airspace System (NAS). The FAA wants to know if and how these data could be used to improve safety and operational efficiency, reduce system costs and raise the level of productivity for airline passengers while in flight. This "Airborne Internet" could benefit all NAS users, according to the FAA.
Kevin P. Herlehy has become vice president-production and engineering for the Mooney Airplane Co., Kerrville, Tex. He has been vice president-engineering for NetJets Inc.
Rob Maruster has been appointed vice president-operational planning for JetBlue Airways. He has been vice president-airport customer service at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for Delta Air Lines.
World News Roundup 20 AT-802 air tankers hit forest fires hard this season 21 BAE Systems UAV/UCAV demonstrator to fly in 2009 21 Surviving members of Enola Gay crew salute today's military 22 Thales to begin full develop- ment of Watchkeeper USV World News & Analysis 26 Flight control, engineering teams laud tank, tile changes as "stellar" 29 Discovery tests advanced materials technology 30 ISS now set for another long haul without shuttle support
General Dynamics Corp. will purchase Spokane-based Itronix Corp., a manufacturer of wireless, rugged mobile computing equipment for military, public safety and other government applications. The niche acquisition will become a part of GD's C 4 Systems business, a major integrator of secure communications and information systems and technology. Itronix sales are in the $100-130-million range, according to JSA Research. The transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter.
An item in World News Roundup (AW&ST July 25, p. 19) misstated Embraer's partner for the Army's Aerial Common Sensor program. Lockheed Martin, teamed with Embraer, won the contract and is now reassessing its platform choice because the ERJ 145 is deemed too small.
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High jet-fuel prices are driving home the need for Russian airlines to acquire modern, fuel-efficient airplanes. And that means buying Western aircraft, even in the face of continued financial disincentives the Russian government has instituted to protect domestic manufacturers.
BAA USA Inc. has doubled the amount of retail space it is managing at U.S. airports with a new 10-year agreement with the Massachusetts State Port Authority that calls for investing $12 million to develop 32,600 sq. ft. of retail space at Boston's Logan International Airport. This long-term agreement adds 15,000 sq. ft. of new retail space with BAA investing $4.8 million in the upgrade. BAA was also selected last year to manage 84,000 sq. ft. of retail space at Baltimore Washington International. This is 60,000 sq. ft. more retail area than previously existed at BWI.
Raytheon is suing its partner, Lockheed Martin, on a lucrative U.S. Air Force ground-station contract after the latter announced its departure from the team to join forces with rival Northrop Grumman for the next increment of work.
AirTran Airways plans to install XM Satellite Radio service in all 83 of its Boeing 717 jets by the end of the year. The service is already available on 37 of the airplanes, and AirTran provides XM service on one of 13 Boeing 737s.
Thales will begin full-scale development of an unmanned aerial vehicle system intended for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance, under a 700-million-pound ($1.2-billion) contract signed on Aug. 4.
The Aviation Week Group is proud to announce the launch of a new publication: Aviation Week Contrails, a bimonthly electronic magazine or "e-zine." Both an extension of and editorial departure from Aviation Week & Space Technology, the new magazine is an outgrowth of the extremely popular Contrails feature that appears monthly in AW&ST. The first three issues of AW Contrails are free, and Issue No. 1 is available for viewing and downloading at www.contrailsmagazine.com.
