Elbit Systems is expanding the role of its Hermes-1500 long-endurance unmanned aircraft by giving it a maritime surveillance mission. The two-engine system was devised as a payload demonstrator for Israel's military and intelligence community, but Elbit officials believe the redundancy makes it an attractive operational system, particularly for multi-sensor, over-water operations. The UAV would operate at 7,000-10,000 ft. to provide high-resolution imagery. It will be able to get enough information to determine whether a vessel carries weapons.
Loss of situational awareness by the flight-deck crew was ruled the cause of a Mar. 31 crash in Albania that killed nine crewmembers of a USAF MC-130H Combat Talon II. An accident investigation board says the aircraft, which was on a night mission in mountains near Tirana, was too low in a climb. In responding, the crew didn't use all available power and stalled during a turning climb, causing an almost immediate crash, the board says.
Continental Airlines asked the National Mediation Board (NMB) to intervene in negotiations with the only union that has not accepted the carrier's plea for contract concessions totaling $500 million annually. The International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represent flight attendants who were originally assessed $82 million as their share of the goal. Continental officials say fairness demands that the initial giveback be larger because other unions already have implemented their concessions.
Vought and Alenia North America see the start of construction at their new South Carolina manufacturing complex as the first step toward their goal of shipping 787 fuselage sections to Boeing early in 2007.
Rocket science isn't just for rocket scientists anymore, at least not just those who are funded by the U.S. government. NASA Administrator Michael D. Griffin, himself a "rocket scientist" who has worked both sides of the public/private street, tried to pound that point home last week with a bracing call for private enterprise to carry crew and cargo to the International Space Station. Let's hope he's taken seriously, in and out of the government.
Paul DeHerrera (see photo) has been promoted to vice president-marketing and product support from senior marketing director of Universal Avionics, Tucson, Ariz.
Jose Kuri Orvananos has become senior vice president of Aeromexico's U.S. Div. He has been a counselor and adviser to Aeromexico and a consultant to the president of Avianca.
Quality control for the shuttle main engine project has caught manufacturing flaws in electronic components intended for the new SSME Advanced Health Monitoring System (AHMS). These are in addition to the problem components found in engine controllers. The AHMS will be used starting in late 2006 to sense abnormal engine vibrations to trigger emergency shutdowns. The health-monitoring-component flaws were discovered in bench testing of the parts, not a firing test as with the controller.
Fighting a losing battle with two low-cost carriers and encumbered by debt nearing $4 billion, Varig, Latin America's oldest airline, is seeking reorganization under a new Brazilian bankruptcy law.
Russian flag carrier Aeroflot is one step closer to building its own terminal at the overcrowded Sheremetyevo Airport by picking the Turkish Enka Insaat ve Sanayi A.S. company as a main contractor to develop the new Terminal 3. The facility is set to be inaugurated in the third quarter of 2007.
USAF Lt. Gen. Norton A. Schwartz has been nominated for promotion to general and assignment as commander of United States Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill. He is director of the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. Schwartz will succeed Gen. John Handy, who is expected to retire.
Michael A. Taverna and Douglas Barrie (Le Bourget)
France and the U.K. appear to be moving toward a joint-build program for their new aircraft carrier requirements, suggesting that the two countries remain interested in working together on defense matters, despite sharp political disagreements at the European level.
The Russian/U.S. crew on the International Space Station is unloading some 3,100 lb. of dry cargo from the Progress 18 transport after ISS commander Sergei Krikalev smoothly took manual control of the approaching vehicle June 18 to dock it. The Kurs autodocking system on the Progress did not fail, but the Russian mission control center (see photo) was unable to load final parameters into the vehicle's computers due to a ground-system problem. The Progress was about 500 ft.
USAF and Boeing teamed to demonstrate a new avionics system for the B-52 that allowed it to drop six 2,000-lb. Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) from an internal weapons bay. The prototype integrated weapons interface unit (IWIU) is expected to expand the B-52's combat role, so it can carry 20 instead of 12 JDAMs. The mission was flown by a 53rd Wing aircraft from Barksdale AFB, La., over the Utah Test and Training Range.
William Sample (see photo), who is president of Space Gateway Support, a joint venture led by the Northrop Grumman Corp. to support the Cape Canaveral Spaceport Joint Base Operations and Support Contract, has received the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal.
Arianespace will adopt a dual launch-campaign strategy this summer in an effort to get its 2005 manifest back on track, says CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall. The approach had been contingent on the availability of a second launch table built for the heavy-lift ECA variant, which in turn depended on a review of final data from the ECA's return to flight on Feb. 12, Le Gall explained. That was the sole mission so far this year, and Arianespace still has five Ariane 5s--including two ECAs--and nine satellites to launch in 2005.
The Livingston Group is being reorganized to combine aircraft and services of the Livingston charter operation and Lauda Air Italia. Livingston operates mainly medium-range flights, and Lauda is responsible for long-range operations. The two entities are subsidiaries of Italian tour operator Ventaglio through the Livingston Aviation Group holding. The new arrangement is designed to simplify organization. Recent contract agreements with 85 pilots and 340 flight attendants cleared the way for the realignment.
David Adams (see photo) has been named president of Curtiss-Wright Controls, Roseland, N.J. He was senior vice president-electronic systems. Adams succeeds George J. Yohrling, who will be chairman until retiring next March.
Boeing's reliance on Catia computer-aided design software was a much heralded part of the 777's development in the early 1990s. Now the airframe maker is betting that upgrades to the Dassault Systemes toolset will ease development, fielding and support of the 787.
Air Canada canceled its order for Boeing 777s and 787s after rank-and-file pilots voted down an agreement negotiated by their leadership and the company. The pact covered costs of operating the airplanes, which would have been new to Air Canada's fleet and was a precondition for the order. There were no cancellation penalties. The two-month-old deal with Boeing comprised a firm order for a mix of 18 777-300ERs, -200LRs and freighters with purchase rights for another 18, and a firm order for 14 787s. Three 777-300ERs were scheduled for delivery next year.
Sagem Defense Security, part of the Snecma/Sagem Safran group, will team with Thales to provide complete fighter upgrade solutions for aircraft other than the Rafale and Mirage 2000. Thales will provide radar, electronic warfare and communications hardware and laser designation pods. Sagem will supply navigation, mission-planning systems and mission computer, software and integration, as well as weaponry.
Philip A. Teel (see photo) has been named corporate vice president and president of the Northrop Grumman Corp.'s Ship Systems Sector, effective July 1. Teel succeeds Philip A. Dur, who plans to retire at year-end. Teel has been vice president for Airborne Early Warning & Electronic Warfare Systems for the company's Integrated Systems Sector, Bethpage, N.Y.
Finmeccanica officials say they have completed discussions with EADS on the creation of a new space launcher venture, and final agreement is awaiting only the completion of legal details. Dubbed New Generation Launchers (NGL), the venture will create a single entity to manage development and construction of future launch systems to succeed the current Ariane 5 and Vega light launcher lines. Ariane 5 prime contractor EADS will have a 70% share in NGL and Finmeccanica the remainder.
