USN Capt. (ret.) G.R. Allender (Severna Park, Md.)
In reading articles about the P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft that Boeing is developing for the U.S. Navy, I have become concerned that the aircraft is being put together by wannabes rather than "been there, done that" types. Indicative of that is the statement in "Boeing Alters Wing Design for P-8A MMA" (AW&ST June 6, p. 20): "Navy aircraft will have to spend hours in clouds and bad weather at around 15,000 ft., where they are more subject to ice buildup than at higher altitudes."
The Air Traffic Control Assn. is urging senators not to support the U.S. House of Representatives' recent vote to withdraw funding from the FAA's Automated Flight Service Station contract. The $1.9-billion outsourcing award went to Lockheed Martin after a 14-month study. The Senate has included funding for the contract so differences will have to be worked out in a conference committee. ATCA President Paul P. Bollinger, Jr., points out that the contract is estimated to save the FAA $2.2 billion during a time when air traffic capacity is expected to triple within 15 years.
The European Court of Justice has struck down SAS Scandinavian Airlines' appeal of a 39-million-euro fine imposed by the European Commission. The fine was levied in 2001 because SAS and Danish airline Maersk Air divided some routes in violation of European trade rules.
Midwest Airlines has been aggressive with its ticket pricing promotions as evidenced by its drive to fill aircraft mid-week. Most one-way fares offered last week were less than $100, with exceptions for the longer-haul Florida and West Coast markets. In June, the carrier's 192,000 passengers represented a 41% increase over figures from June of 2004. Yield at 12.24 cents per mi. declined 2.7% from a year previous.
XM Satellite Radio will help WorldSpace Inc. develop its satellite radio business in Africa and Asia as part of a cooperation deal. The agreement also includes a $25-million XM "strategic investment" in WorldSpace and warrants to acquire another $37.5 million in WorldSpace stock.
A reinforced army of shuttle engineers is marching toward the launch of Discovery as early as July 26, armed with evidence that a combination of subtle electrical grounding and electromagnetic interference (EMI) factors caused the sensor readings that halted the first attempt. The nationwide NASA/contractor team assessing the fuel engine cutoff (ECO) sensor problem is in a crucible where aggressive analysis to resolve an increasingly time-critical problem is being mixed with a potent dose of post-Columbia accident oversight.
Starting this week, hundreds--perhaps thousands--of frequent fliers out of Florida's Orlando International Airport will be able to bypass some of the time-consuming headaches of airport security before boarding. Using a translucent plastic smart card containing biometric identifiers, these pre-screened travelers are able to breeze past regular security checkpoints to a special designated lane. And unless they set off the metal detector, or the X-ray machine turns up something suspicious in their carry-on bags, they'll also avoid random secondary screening.
Airline executives familiar with the past year's Registered Traveler pilot-project operations believe the program has accomplished little or nothing for their customers, and they take a dim view of its future. "It's been a non-event," says a manager at one of the participating carriers. "You won't find a passenger or anyone at the airline who'll say it amounted to anything."
Suddenly, India's commercial aviation industry is booming, with billion-dollar investment pledges for new entrants prodding legacy carriers to rethink their strategies. It's not entirely a rosy scenario. India's airport infrastructure is sorely lacking and there's concern that safety cannot be sustained if expansion comes too quickly. Coverage begins on page 46. India Today photo.
Rusty Cramer has been named general manager of the West Palm Beach, Fla., facility of General Dynamics Aviation Services. He was manager of customer warranty programs at corporate headquarters in Savannnah, Ga.
Hiring former United Airlines chief Rono Joy Dutta with his three decades of aviation experience seems to have paid off for Air Sahara. He's leading the young airline during a heady time. Competition is heating up domestically and India has shifted from a protectionist stance to a more embracing one through a string of new bilateral air service agreements that increase international flight opportunities.
A final vote is due this week on a bill that will give the Japan Defense Agency director general the right to order missile interceptors into action without waiting for approval by the premier or cabinet in emergencies.
Astro-E2 is expected to begin X-ray observatory operations in August following launch July 10 from Japan's Uchinoura Space Center. The fifth X-ray telescope launched by the Japanese space agency JAXA, Astro-E2 carries a joint Japanese-U.S. science payload similar to the one on Astro-E, which was lost in February 2000 when an M-5 booster failed.
Korean Air Cargo's long climb to the top has been recognized by the International Air Transport Assn., which ranked it first in freight ton kilometers among commercial airlines, at 8,164 billion, in 2004. Lufthansa Cargo had held the title since 1986. (FedEx ranks first in total freight carried.)
Preparations for the launch of Discovery kicked off a major new foreign object debris (FOD) prevention program for the shuttle's massive Launch Complex 39B pad facility. This is to prevent anything from the pad itself posing a risk to the vehicle, as its 7.4-million-lb. liftoff thrust blasts the facility.
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The Pentagon has named Army Brig. Gen. Walter Davis to lead the new Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Center of Excellence at Creech AFB (Indian Springs Airfield), Nev. The new center is designed to foster interoperability among the services as well as develop joint operating concepts.
NASA's plan to use new vehicles based on space shuttle components to launch crews and heavy payloads hasn't won unanimous endorsement from the Air Force, which has a stake in finding as much business as possible for its Atlas V and Delta IV evolved expendable launch vehicles (EELVs).
The German defense budget is slated to grow slightly by 1.4 billion euros for Fiscal 2006 and reach 24 billion euros ($29 billion). Additionally, the defense ministry would have spending authority of another 520 million euros from money raised through the sale of equipment and infrastructure. The long-term budget forecast calls for defense spending to reach 25 billion euros in 2009. The plan unveiled last week also includes funding for a new national air transport research endeavor that would run from 2007-12 and receive 190 million euros.
Chinese weapons development continues apace with progress in both the surface attack and air-to-air arenas. Work on a turbofan- or turbojet-powered cruise missile is in the full-scale trials stage at least, while an active radar-guided air-to-air missile verges on series production. Images of the cruise missile show the weapon being tested with a booster for ship or surface launch. Moreover, sled-tests are being conducted, likely intended to examine intake airflow and engine start-up characteristics.
In an effort to expand its internal air freight capacity, All Nippon Airways says it will sell the 27.6% share it holds in Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) to Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK), which has equal share in NCA. A date for the sale has not been fixed, but it is expected to take place by the end of August. No announcement on sale price was made. When completed, the sale will make Nippon Cargo a subsidiary of NYK.
Herve Buchwalter (see photo) has been appointed chairman/CEO of France-based Spot Image. He succeeds Jean-Marc Nasr, who is moving to a new position within parent company EADS. Buchwalter was head of international business development within the Earth Observation, Navigation and Science Business Div. of Astrium.
Coupling air traffic management research more closely to problems that must be solved soon is now a high priority for the U.S. and Europe as they try to avoid gridlock. But the current capacity crunch is propelling the Europeans to forge ahead more quickly. "We will hit the capacity wall soon," says Bo Redeborn, director of air traffic management (ATM) strategies for Eurocontrol. The organization has 35 member nations and aims to develop a seamless pan-European ATM system.
Garth Petersen has been named managing director of sales and marketing for the United Services subsidiary of United Airlines. He was director of worldwide sales. Petersen succeeds R. Gene House, who is retiring.
