Alan Ladwig (see photo) has been named manager of Washington operations for space systems business development for the Northrop Grumman Corp.'s Integrated Systems Sector. A former associate NASA administrator for policy and plans, Ladwig also was chief operating officer for the Zero Gravity Corp.
Widespread industry opinion and academic analyses notwithstanding, there is "no clear evidence" that Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection contributes to commercial aviation's overcapacity and underpricing, "and there is some evidence to the contrary," the Government Accountability Office tells Congress. And despite the leverage Chapter 11 gives airlines trying to renegotiate labor, supplier and creditor deals, the success rate is low: only 16 of the 146 airlines that filed for Chapter 11 reorganization since deregulation took hold in 1979 are still in business.
Alliant Techsystems' Mission Research unit will build and test a "Scorpion II" high-power microwave system capable of disabling a variety of improvised explosive devices (IED) under a $1.5-million contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The company will work with AFRL's Directed Energy Directorate, High Power Microwave Div. to develop and demonstrate technologies rapidly that can be deployed as ground-transportable, counter IED systems.
The U.S. Army has rolled out its first High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (Himars) unit, at Ft. Bragg, N.C., where the vehicles, which are sized for the C-130, will be stationed as supporting artillery for the XVIII Airborne Corps. This Lockheed Martin-built Himars unit (3/27th Field Artillery) is the first certified for operations, and it demonstrated its ability to fire multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) munitions. It is able to launch the new guided MLRS and generally carries a six-pack of rockets or single Army tactical missile system projectile.
Grob Aerospace plans to enhance its reputation for building high-altitude surveillance aircraft with the introduction of a long-endurance jet that could operate either manned or as a UAV. The high-altitude system, called the Grob G600, is being designed for 65,000-ft. operations and a range of 5,400 naut. mi. An extended-range model, fitted with four 1,000-liter auxiliary fuel tanks carried in the aircraft cabin, is also planned. It could have a range of 11,340 naut. mi. and endurance of 33 hr.
The FAA could save more than $60 million per year on operations and maintenance and $1.7 billion in multi-year replacement costs by retiring 50 of its 750 radars and moving to a system centered on Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, Mitre Corp. Senior Vice President Amr ElSawy tells Air Traffic Control Assn. seminar attendees. This estimate is "just one part of a more comprehensive planning process that the FAA's Air Traffic Organization is targeting for completion by the fall," he says.
Evergreen International Aviation's modified Boeing 747 Supertanker (see photo) could be fighting wildfires in the western U.S. late this summer if discussions with the California Forestry Dept. are successful. Evergreen has invested more than $35 million in developing and testing the airplane, which can deliver more than 20,000 gal. of water or fire retardant from altitudes up to 800 ft.
Eurojet has delivered its 250th EJ200 engine for the Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft. All 363 engines for the Tranche 1 production run will be delivered during 2006.
Vought Aircraft Industries (VAI) has sold its facility in Hawthorne, Calif., to MS Kearny Northrop Avenue, a partnership of Kearny Real Estate Co. and Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund IV, and with principals of Wedgewood and Howard CDM. Vought builds large fuselage assemblies for the Boeing 747 and aft body panels for the 767 at the site and employs about 530 people. The sale is part of VAI's initiative to reduce manufacturing space in Hawthorne to 1.38 million sq. ft.
Aviation Partners Boeing has received a supplemental type certificate for its blended-winglet technology for the Boeing 757-200, a modification the company says can save 150,000 gal. of fuel per year for each aircraft. The winglets also allow the plane to take off 14,000 lb. heavier, according to Aviation Partners Boeing.
Pratt & Whitney finally received European Aviation Safety Agency certification for its PW6000; FAA approval came late last year. The 18,000-24,000-lb.-thrust turbofan was designed for the Airbus A318 to compete against the CFM56 and give Pratt a foothold in the narrow-body market. But the engine had to be redesigned when an early version missed fuel-burn targets.
Solar-powered aircraft crossed an important milestone this month when the privately developed SoLong drone flew for 48 hr., including two full nights (see p. 48). This demonstrated that SoLong had enough battery capacity to stay aloft through the night and enough solar power could be collected during the day to fully recharge the battery--the basis for sustainable flight. SoLong was developed by AC Propulsion of San Dimas, Calif. It is shown in this William G. Hartenstein photo on the El Mirage dry lakebed in the southern California desert, where the first 24-hr.
Jan DeGiorgio has been promoted to president/CEO from vice president-sales of Los Angeles-based Corrigan's Express. She succeeds Warren Barnes, who has left the company.
Singapore Technologies Aerospace said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Turkish Airlines to set up a 50-50 maintenance, repair and overhaul partnership at Kurtkoy Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in Istanbul. The center is to provide airframe, engine and component overhaul services.
Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI) has inked a letter of intent with Aermacchi to work on the Italian aircraft maker's M-311 trainer. Under the arrangement, the two will establish a joint engineering team to determine possible workshare for TAI. Aermacchi is actively seeking international partners, in part to broaden the potential customer base for the trainer.
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Brazil will provide ground facilities for data reception from France's Corot stellar seismology and extrasolar planet search mission under an agreement between the Brazilian space agency AEB and the French space agency CNES. Brazil also will participate in development of the ground segment in France and Spain, and Brazilian astronomers will have a role in observations from the satellite, which is set for launch in mid-2006.
Raising air fares is not the obvious answer to airline woes that Bruce Elliot suggests (AW&ST June 6, p. 8). Airlines that do so will lose market share and go out of business because their planes will fly empty.
Ralph Thompson, International Air Transport Assn. (Montreal, Quebec)
(An article on the International Air Transport Assn.'s road map for a new global air traffic management incorrectly identified the contributors, as pointed out by Ralph Thompson, IATA's director of infrastructure strategy (AW&ST May 30, p. 42)--Ed.)
Israel and France have concluded an agreement to jointly develop a multispectral imaging mission, known as Venus. It will expand Israel's microsatellite and electrical propulsion capabilities while affording Europe a precursor mission for its planned Global Monitoring for Environment and Security network (AW&ST Apr. 25, p. 18). The spacecraft is to enter operation in 2008.
Go Air, India's latest start-up airline, is leasing four Airbus A320s from GATX. Deliveries are scheduled for the end of this year, when the carrier plans to launch operations, according to Airbus officials speaking on behalf of Go Air. The airline is owned by textile conglomerate Bombay Dyeing.
James C. May and Paul P. Bollinger, Jr., have been named co-chairmen of the Industry Management Council of the Arlington, Va.-based Next-Generation Air Transportation System Institute, which assists the federal government as it defines and implements a new air traffic control system. May is president/CEO of the Air Transport Assn. (AIA), while Bollinger is president of the Air Traffic Control Assn. Charlie Keegan, director of the Joint Planning and Development Office, is an ex-officio member. The other council members are: John W.
Iceland's Competition Authority has ruled that Bluebird Cargo/Flugflutnigar and Icelandair Cargo would have to be operated as independent companies within the parent FL Group. The group operates Icelandair and intends to complete the acquisition of Bluebird after a four-week due diligence process, says Ragnhildur Geisdottir, president/CEO. The acquisition is part of a strategy of expansion in the international cargo and charter market.
