The Japan Defense Agency, which has spent 2.4 billion yen ($22.5 million) in research on its own unmanned aerial vehicle since fiscal 2003, has decided that it will take too long--about 10 years--to complete an "operational-ready" system for the nation's front-line reconnaissance needs and is expected to select the Northrop Grumman Global Hawk over the General Atomics Predator to fill that role. The continued threat of military action by North Korea has prompted the JDA to seek improved reconnaissance as quickly as possible. The agency sent a specialist group to the U.S.
Giovanni Fazio (see photo), a senior physicist at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and lecturer in the Harvard University Astronomy Dept., has received NASA's Public Service Medal. The award recognizes Fazio's efforts as principal investigator for, and his role in the development of, the Infrared Array Camera, which is one of three instruments on board NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.
David A. Fulghum (Baltimore), Amy Butler (Washington)
Pentagon planners are beginning to quietly voice their alarm at what appears to be up to a $30-billion shortfall that could threaten a host of weapon programs--including aviation projects.
Raytheon has received a $752-million contract to provide Taiwan with elements of a missile and air defense system. They include a UHF phased-array radar integrated with Taiwan-furnished IFF beacons, two missile warning centers, and communications as well as specialized architecture and protocols.
Arm Aerospace's options to its aero-lift include: an increase in scoop width of 20% making it easier to dock aircraft; high-speed drive for faster travel time to full height or floor level; increased tail clearance for loading ease, the company says. Arm Aerospace, 1775 South Pantano, Suite 100, Tucson, Ariz. 85710. 10 on www.AviationNow.com/aps
United Airlines flight attendants, in response to the carrier's efforts made last week to begin termination of their pension plans, said the action sets the stage for "strikes this summer." In the meantime, the Assn. of Flight Attendants (AFA) will continue to pursue legal and legislative solutions to preserve the plan. AFA has warned that any unilateral change to its contract is a violation of the Railway Labor Act and is grounds for legal work stoppages.
Jack A. Milavic's comments show how quickly we forget history. Prior to Sept. 11, 2001, the closest we came to a successful hijacking of an airliner and suicide attack was the attempt on FedEx Flight 705 in 1994 by a disgruntled pilot who reportedly planned to crash it into the FedEx building in Memphis, Tenn. The attempt was foiled by the survival instincts of the crew. So yes, there is a threat of an irate passenger storming the cockpit in a cargo-only environment.
JetBlue Airways has awarded MTU Aero Engines' maintenance subsidiary a 750-million-euro ($900-million), 10-year contract to support up to 360 International Aero Engines V2500 turbofans. MTU is a partner in IAE.
Aircraft Spruce & Specialty is the only agent in the U.S. with the full line of H3R Halon and Halotron1 fire extinguishers for use in aircraft cockpits and cargo areas. The products range from 14 oz. of agent for pilot bags to 150-lb. wheeled units for flight-line ops. The colorless, odorless gas will not transmit electrostatic shocks to avionics or affect pilots' vision, according to the company. The units meet EPA standards. Aircraft Spruce West, 225 Airport Circle, Corona, Calif. 92880 or www.aircraftspruce.com. 9 on www.AviationNow.com/aps
Ray O. Johnson has been named senior vice president/chief operating officer of Modern Technology Solutions, Alexandria, Va. He was senior vice president/general manager of the Advanced Concepts unit of the Science Applications International Corp.
A European airline is likely to be the launch customer for Ericsson's passenger-cabin cell phone service before year-end, according to executives of the Swedish company.
After a year of fretting about which bidder will have the right to tender for deployment and operation of the Galileo satellite navigation system, Europe will now sit down and talk with both of them.
CAE AND THALES HAVE WON CONTRACTS FOR A380 full-flight simulators. Thales will supply a simulator for the new jumbo jet to Malaysia Airlines, its second order after being selected by Airbus A380 launch customer Singapore Airlines. The Malaysian unit will rely on Thales C2000X technology and an Evans & Sutherland LaserWide system to produce high-performance visual effects. It will also use a motion system that consumes one-third less power than current types. CAE will provide a next-generation full-flight simulator to Qantas.
The Pentagon simply can't afford its existing system for developing and operating unmanned aircraft, so the services must find a new formula for getting the increasingly popular technology to the warfighter, say top military and industry officials. For example, the Navy's UAVs are budgeted for 12,000 flight hour per year, but they actually operate at three times that rate, says Rear Adm. Tim Healy, program executive officer for strike weapons and unmanned aviation.
Iberia Airlines has opted for CFM56-5B turbofans to power the 30 additional Airbus A320-family aircraft the carrier ordered earlier this year. Deliveries will stretch from 2006-08. Options could extend deliveries until 2011.
Former Royal Air Force pilot Raymond T. Holmes, who gained fame by ramming a German Dornier Do-17 bomber to prevent an attack on London's Buckingham Palace during World War II, died June 27 of cancer. He was 90. The incident that made Holmes famous occurred Sept. 15, 1940, when he flew his Hawker Hurricane into the bomber after expending his ammunition while engaging other German bombers in the raid. Holmes had to bail out at 350 ft. and yet avoided injury.
Lufthansa has cleared another hurdle in acquiring Swiss International Air Lines, with 91.2% of minority shareholders offering up their stock at a purchase price of CHF 8.96 ($7) per share. AirTrust, a holding company created to facilitate the Lufthansa/Swiss deal, now has 98.7% of all of Swiss' shares. The airlines are still waiting for European Union competition authorities' blessing.
USN Rear Adm. (lower half) Bruce W. Clingan has been appointed deputy director of the Air Warfare Div. in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in Washington. He has been commander of Carrier Strike Group 3, Bremerton, Wash. Rear Adm. (lower half) Alan B. Hicks has been named program director for Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense in the Missile Defense Agency. He has been deputy for surface warfare for the Combat Systems/Weapons Div. of the Office of the CNO. Hicks will be succeeded by Rear Adm. (lower half) (selectee) Nevin P.
Japan's unfortunate history of accidents continues to blot its transportation safety record. Recently, fragments of a Pratt & Whitney PW4090 high-pressure turbine blade were found inside the engine after a Japan Airlines Boeing 777-300 made an emergency landing at Kansai International Airport following an inflight shutdown on a flight from Tokyo to Naha, Okinawa.
World News Roundup 18 U.S. Army slated to select winner of helicopter competition this month 19 Deep Impact pair of spacecraft set to hit and observe comet 9P/Tempel 1 19 Dutch use new ability to transmit im- agery during combat operations 20 New penetration of Washington air- space by general aviation aircraft 20 Obituaries for RAF pilot of WWII fame, lead designer of spacecraft crawler World News & Analysis
The prospect of terror in the skies was seared into the consciousness of every air traveler nearly four years ago, and the reality is that threat is unlikely to go away in the post-Sept. 11, 2001, world. That point was driven home on June 4 in Boston.
The White House has nominated the Air Force's top uniformed acquisition official, Lt. Gen. John Corley, to be the service's next vice chief of staff. USAF often promotes operators fresh from a major command or duty in the field to its top slots. In this case, Corley has been working in the acquisition office for the last five years. The move is being interpreted as an effort to raise the level of oversight needed to repair USAF's scandalized acquisition system.
French procurement officials may be about to steal a page from the U.S. Congress and initiate a tanker modernization program that effectively shuts out competition from overseas.
NASA is right to begin final preparations for launching the space shuttle Discovery next week. Even though the agency has not met all of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board recommendations for returning to flight, Administrator Michael D. Griffin is correct when he says the post-accident work has reduced risk to an acceptable level. It's time to go fly.
