Harold C. Simmons has become vice chairman of the Denver-based Titanium Metals Corp. He also is chairman of Valhi Inc. and chairman/CEO of NL Industries Inc.
The European/U.S. Cluster constellation of space weather satellites--Rumba, Salsa, Samba and Tango--has directly detected the Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities (KHI) that occur when the solar wind blasts past the Earth's magnetic field. The resulting eddies may explain how charged particles from the Sun find their way into Earth's magnetosphere when the magnetic fields of the Sun and Earth are aligned. When they aren't, the phenomenon known as magnetic reconnection allows the particles into the magnetosphere to create auroras at the poles. On Nov.
The Pentagon's newly unveiled plan for fostering international participation in its missile defense program calls for significant partner cost-sharing as well as new agreements, which some argue represents too high a barrier-to-entry.
In his letter, Paul Havis, a 777 captain flying ultra-long-range (ULR) operations, objects to being held responsible for what happens while he is off the flight deck, even asleep, because his company does not staff the flight with a relief captain--just a type-rated first officer (AW&ST Aug. 16, p. 6).
Russian aircraft manufacturer Irkut Corp. is internally funding development of the Yak-130 advanced jet trainer/light attack aircraft in an attempt to hasten the speed of the program. Irkut took a majority stake in Yakovlev earlier this year.
ELECTRONIC CONTROL SECURITY INC. WILL INSTALL SYSTEMS using a variety of passive infrared and video technologies to protect classified U.S. Air Force installations from unauthorized entry or access. The Clifton, N.J.-based company specializes in perimeter security solutions for military and homeland security needs, including tactical automated sensor systems for rapid deployment to forward bases and remote-controlled aerial surveillance.
Senior Editor Craig Covault (left) and Robert T. Bigelow, founder and president of Bigelow Aerospace, examine shielding for the interior of Bigelow Nautilus inflatable space modules. Covault and AW&ST photographer William G. Hartenstein were given exclusive access to Bigelow's complete inflatable module facility in North Las Vegas, Nev. Bigelow is initiating a $50-million "America's Space Prize" to spur development of a commercial manned orbital vehicle following the X-Prize suborbital competition. See p. 54.
In the cat-and-mouse game of responding to transport-aircraft initiatives, Airbus' stated views on the Boeing 7E7 shed little light on what the company plans to do. But the European giant is working behind closed doors on its main option, an extensively upgraded A330-200.
World airline passenger traffic is expected to rebound this year with 6.2% growth, according to the Inter- national Civil Aviation Organization. ICAO forecasts continued expansion worldwide, with 5.4% growth in 2005 and 5.2% in 2006. The Asia-Pacific region's projected 8.5% growth, the highest rate this year, is attributed to the region's quick recovery from the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome. ICAO predicts Asia-Pacific will have 6.8% growth in 2005 and 6.4% in 2006.
National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) has signed a five-year, renewable lease with Raytheon Aircraft Co. to operate its structural test facility as a full-scale laboratory. NIAR, which is at Wichita (Kan.) State University, will move its aging- aircraft lab to the facility and plans to begin operations Oct. 15. The lab will be available to airframers for structural testing and certification work.
Airbus is using an advanced information technology architecture on the A380 flight deck to deliver enhanced capability now, while making it easy to upgrade the cockpit in the future.
The European Space Agency has approved spending 80 million euros ($98 million) to evaluate socio-economic spinoffs from Europe's planned Global Monitoring for Environment and Security network, begin design of the space segment and continue studying potential services begun under an earlier funding phase.
Contrary to Rick Schreiner's and others' assertions, the space shuttle fleet is neither obsolete nor unsafe (AW&ST Aug. 23/30, p. 6). The shuttle is the most technologically advanced reusable orbital spacecraft. It is a reliable, rugged and versatile vehicle that provides unmatched capabilities.
Brian A. Hathaway suggests the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) can be saved by placing it in the orbit and at the altitude of the International Space Station (ISS) where it can be repaired and moved to an orbit where HST will satisfy the needs of astronomers (AW&ST Sept. 6, p. 7).
Pre-emptive war with Iran is a last-resort option that can't be discarded, says Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.). "I don't want to saber-rattle, but I wouldn't take anything off the table," Lieberman declares, voicing worries about Iran's Islamic government's growing power, its increasing support of terrorists and its spending on advanced weapons. "These folks are clearly thumbing their nose at world opinion in terms of going forward with their nuclear program," he says.
The 2005 French budget bill presented last week calls for a 1-billion-euro ($1.2-billion) hike in civil research spending, including a 300-million-euro increase in tax credits for industry R&D. The budget also provides for an 8% boost in defense research. An agreement between the defense and research ministries to collaborate on technologies is expected to be signed soon (see pp. 33 and 37).
The House Appropriations subcommittee overseeing NASA funding has set a Fiscal 2005 spending level for the agency about $1 billion below the administration's request. The $15.2-billion measure cuts $438 million because of delays associated with the Crew Exploration Vehicle. Project Prometheus takes a $230-million funding hit, while International Space Station funding is reduced $120 million to account for money NASA isn't expected to spend because of continued lack of space shuttle operations.
The U.S. Army has awarded Huntsville, Ala.-based Miltec a contract for the second of three phases of the low-cost interceptor (LCI) project. The contract covers one year, with two option years that could total almost $50 million. The effort is intended to develop a $100,000 weapon that can shoot down cruise missiles and eliminate the need for more expensive interceptors, such as Patriot missiles. LCI has survived largely through congressional largess, a situation not expected to change.
Delta's pilot union members will soon decide whether the airline may recall retired pilots to stave off operational disruptions. Ironically, early pilot retirements are sparking concerns about the very operational problems Delta is trying to avoid. If a large number opt to retire by Oct. 1--and they need only give notice the last day of September--the airline could come up short on cockpit crews. This could lead to flight cancellations, revenue loss--and a speedier opening of Delta's books to Chapter 11 (AW&ST Sept. 20, p. 40).
My I suggest Capt. Paul Havis look to the marine industry for some answers. Avia- tion's roots are soaked in salt water. Merchant Marine ships' masters and military ships' captains are always responsible for their ships and crews. How does the Air Force handle this? Is there not an aircraft commander in addition to the pilots?
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Following the signing of a new three-year wage pact between Singapore Airlines and its union, the carrier says it will outsource an undisclosed number of information technology jobs from its 14,000-member staff later this year (AW&ST Sept. 13, p. 56). Elder statesman and unofficial adviser Lee Kuan Yew cautioned in a letter to the union that the carrier must not be derailed by American-style union practices that could drive it into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, referring to the recent filing by U.S Airways.
Predicting that the "the enemy will come at us very, very tough" and that U.S. troops will have to fight for the elections in both Afghanistan and Iraq, Gen. John Abizaid, chief of U.S.
Virgin Express and SN Brussels Airlines next week are tentatively scheduled to complete a merger agreement. The British Branson group, which owns Belgium-based Virgin Express (and controls Virgin Atlantic Airways) and Belgian investors owning SNBA plan to jointly establish a Brussels-based holding company that would acquire both carriers and tightly coordinate their strategies and operations. Virgin would focus on low-fare European routes while SNBA would concentrate on high-yield market segments and African destinations.
