In the article "Survival Tactics," Doug Abbey suggests major carriers' scope clauses are preventing them from introducing Embraer 190/195-class aircraft (AW&ST May 16, p. 56). He suggests JetBlue can do this because it is not "restricted" by scope. Any major airline can, regardless of scope, do what JetBlue did: bring the Embraer 190 into service flown by the same pilot group that flies its mainline aircraft. No existing scope clause "restricts" any major from doing exactly the same thing.
Ukraine has agreed to become the third country, after China and Israel, to join the Galileo system and to provide European Union airlines access to the Ukrainian market from any EU member state. The satnav agreement provides for Ukraine to take a stake in the Galileo Joint Undertaking, which is managing development, and become part of the Egnos GPS wide-area augmentation system that will precede Galileo. The move follows recent European Commission requests for approval to begin discussions with South Korea and Argentina.
A small government-owned company based in this bustling Stockholm suburb has quietly found its way to lunar orbit, building on technical capabilities that range from advanced space propulsion to airborne coastal surveillance.
Growing pressure for airlines to reduce air pollution and make less noise is coming at a time when they are already under stress from high fuel prices. A conference earlier this year brought together industry leaders as well as airport operators and air traffic control providers to compare notes and forge an action plan.
SpaceShipOne designer Burt Rutan has received the Washington-based National Space Society's Von Braun Award, in a ceremony from Konrad Dannenberg, one of the rocket scientists who worked with Wernher von Braun to land American astronauts on the Moon. "Burt Rutan's historic achievement picks up where Wernher von Braun and our team left off," said Dannenberg in a statement. "But instead of a space race with the Soviets, space tourism and entrepreneurs are driving this new space program.
The first two-day solar-powered flight was made June 1-3, marking a large step toward "perpetual" flight (AW&ST Sept. 15, 2003, p. 66). The SoLong drone by AC Propulsion went through two full-night sessions on batteries that had been charged during the day by solar cells on the wing (AW&ST May 2, p. 19). The flight was based at Desert Center Airport, Calif., and went from 4:08 p.m. June 1 to 4:24 p.m. June 3. The batteries would have had enough energy for another full night but the pilots landed because they were exhausted. SoLong has a 15.6-ft.
Megatransport fans may shout "big is beautiful," but a group of aviation researchers believes the future of aviation is very small--as in Small Aircraft Transportation System. About 3,000 people--government officials, politicians, industry executives, and just plain we-love-to-fly folks--gathered at Danville (Va.) Regional Airport June 6 for a glimpse of the futuristic world of air travel during a 40-min. proof-of-concept demonstration of SATS.
Polytec Inc. has released the new LSV-300 laser surface velocimeter for non-contact, online measurement, inspection and control of velocity and length in continuous process industries such as steel, metals, paper, plastic, glass and building materials. Designed to be easy to install, set up and integrate into control systems, these instruments are a valuable step to reducing scrap, increasing uptime and improving material throughput, according to the company.
The engine control and monitoring system for the TP400-D6 turboprop that will power Europe's A400M airlifter has completed its first bench test run. The trials were run by Safran affiliates Snecma and Hispano-Suiza, in cooperation with MTU, which is responsible for the CMS. The TP400-D6 is to be certified in October 2007 and to fly on the A400M later that year.
With their pending teaming agreement, Northrop Grumman and EADS are trying to shape the agenda as the Pentagon sits down in coming weeks to craft new plans for buying modern, U.S. Air Force aerial refuelers.
Israel Aircraft Industries expects to reach $6 billion in backlog by year-end, after recording $5.4 billion in 2004, according to company President and CEO Moshe Keret. The backlog grew on the strength of a 10% boost in sales to $2.1 billion for 2004. IAI has been looking closely to Europe to grow business. It is involved in the Euro Male medium-altitude endurance UAV program and is working with French space agency CNES on the Venus microsatellite program.
M7 Aerospace has delivered the 20th ATR 42 turboprop-powered transport converted to cargo configuration. The San Antonio-based MRO provider is developing another cargo conversion for the larger ATR 72 and is scheduled to receive FAA approval of the Supplemental Type Certificate this summer.
Japan has again delayed the launch of the Astro-EII X-ray satellite, because of work to swap out the third stage nozzle for the satellite's M-5 launch vehicle (AW&ST June 6, p. 17). The 3,740-lb. spacecraft (shown below) is to image deep space X-ray sources in unprecedented resolution. Liftoff from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Uchinoura launch site near Kagoshima is now slated for July 6-Aug. 2. The mission is a joint project with NASA.
The need for competition and the availability of newer technology are among the arguments representatives for Montville, N.J.-based Marotta put forward as they explain their uphill battle to establish a foothold in the air-launched infrared-guided missile seeker-cooling business.
Trevor Venter has been appointed CEO of the Los Angeles-based Astrata Group Inc. He was chief operating officer and succeeds Anthony Harrison, who is now executive chairman. Anthony Bryan, who has been non-executive chairman, will become non-executive vice chairman.
A Florida state court jury gave victory last week to Bombardier Learjet in a $200-million lawsuit filed by the pro golfer Payne Stewart's family. The suit, filed in Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida in Orlando, claimed that the aircraft manufacturer's negligence caused the October 1999 crash of a Learjet 35 that killed Stewart and five other occupants. The aircraft, en route to Dallas, apparently lost cabin pressurization during climbout from Orlando and continued flying for approximately 4 hr. before crashing in a South Dakota field.
The Keyence CV-2600 high-speed machine vision system incorporates numerous "first-in-class" features, including the 2 megapixel CCD built into a small camera housing. The system can inspect an area four-times larger than conventional cameras at the same resolution, saving installation time and cost, the company says. The CV-2600 controller also supports two cameras. The camera can be mounted in tight spaces, increasing installation flexibility. Novice users can easily configure all of the inspection tools. Keyence Corp.
EADS leaders are betting on a flurry of activity in the realm of tankers, tactical and strategic transports that should allow them to close the gap with their U.S. rivals. The military transport aircraft operation wants to achieve in its field what its sister division, Airbus, has done in commercial aircraft and what Eurocopter has realized in helicopters: wrestling the top slot in sales from its competitors. EADS still lags behind Boeing and Lockheed Martin in the military transport realm.
The first test firing of a Lockheed Martin Hellfire 2 missile from Australia's Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter, a version of the Eurocopter Tiger, was performed on May 28 in Woomera, South Australia. A second firing is planned for later this year. The first two ARH units were delivered to the Australian army last December.
Michael Mecham (San Francisco), Robert Wall (Paris)
Long-haul, twin-aisle aircraft will dominate commercial presentations by Airbus and Boeing during the Paris air show, but the focus will be on a few specific types. Airbus was expected to launch the A350 with 100 or more orders or commitments as a competitor to Boeing's 787. However, last week the European company indicated the launch will be delayed until about September, although it says it has the orders. This seems to indicate that other matters--internal Airbus politics and a chance to firm up the A350's configuration--are behind the delay.
A senior Air Force civilian leader from the Clinton era says that while he still has doubts that Congress will approve purchase of an Airbus aircraft, the current atmosphere of distrust that surrounds Boeing and Pentagon acquisition offers the best chance ever for Airbus to sell at least some A330-based tankers. The Air Force will need 500 aircraft to replace its 700 KC-135s, and the A330 could be the choice for 100-200 of them, the official believes. He says analysis has shown both the A330 and the Boeing 767 are well suited to the role.
James D. Raisbeck, the founder of Raisbeck Engineering Inc. of Seattle, received an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree from Purdue University and was the commencement speaker at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University's Prescott, Ariz., campus, both in May. At Purdue, Raisbeck was recognized for developing technologies that have enhanced the performance, productivity and safety for many in-service airplanes, including the Boeing 727 and 737; Airbus A320; all models of the Sabreliner, Cessna and Piper singles and twins; and the Beechcraft King Air.
VERY LIGHT JET BUILDER EXCEL-JET LTD. has signed with Williams International to supply FJ-33-4A engines for its Sport Jet, currently under development. According to Excel-Jet, the engine will be rated at 1,500 lb. thrust and feature a dual-channel Fadec. The single-engine, four-place Sport Jet is projected to cost about $1 million, have a maximum speed of 375 kt., cruise at 340 kt. at 25,000 ft., and climb at 2,500 fpm. Range with IFR fuel reserves would be 1,000 mi. Plans call for the airplane to make its first flight this summer.
Lockheed Martin has completed flight tests of its Dual-Mode Guided Bomb at the U.S. Navy's China Lake, Calif., range. They were released in flight and maneuvered through a planned route to the target impact. DMGB allows the use of different guidance systems for standard Mk. 82, 83 and 84 bombs.
