Jim Swartz, who is director of corporate safety for Delta Air Lines, has been named by the U.S. Labor Dept. to serve on the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health. He will advise the Labor and Health and Human Services secretaries on occupational safety and health programs and policies. Swartz also is past president of the National Safety Council's Air Transport Section's Executive Committee.
The House aviation subcommittee unanimously approved an omnibus aviation security bill that includes measures previously outlined plus major recommendations in the 9/11 commission's final report.
Mark J. Flavin has become vice president-government operations for Armor Holdings Inc., Jacksonville, Fla. He was director of government operations for the AM General Corp.
Aerojet has revealed the successful hot-fire testing of a flight-weight solid propellant Throttling Divert and Attitude Control System on July 28 in a simulated SM-3 mission scenario at its Sacramento, Calif., headquarters. It is proposing TDACS to Raytheon Missile Systems and the U.S. Navy and Missile Defense Agency for lateral maneuverability of the SM-3 Kinetic Warhead.
Kenneth J. Paul has been named vice president-sales of Max-Viz, Portland, Ore. He was head of original equipment manufacturer sales and marketing for S-TEC Meggitt Avionics.
Chances are dimming for passage of a bill to streamline licensing of commercial suborbital spaceflights as the clock runs down on the current session of Congress. The bill (H.R. 3752) would firm up the definition of a suborbital launch vehicle and the policy that FAA's space experts, not its aircraft and aviation regulators, would issue licenses. Critical to entrepreneurs hoping to spawn a "space tourism" industry, the measure also would make it clear that paying passengers are participating in experimental flight and they waive rights to sue should anything go wrong.
BAE Systems remains on the acquisition warpath in the U.S., but all indications are it has little intent in continuing to pursue crafting a mega-merger with a U.S. prime contractor. The U.K.-headquartered defense and aerospace manufacturer last week moved to further strengthen its North American operation with the proposed $595-million purchase of government information technology provider DigitalNet at $30.25 per share.
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Robert T. Dail has been nominated for promotion to lieutenant general and to deputy commander from director, J-3/4, of the U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
The Snecma group reported an 8.1% rise in revenues for the first half of the year, to 3.3 billion euros ($4 billion), and an 8% rise in operating earnings to 250 million euros. Net income surged 64% to 120 million euros but orders fell to 2.3 billion euros, excluding maintenance, repair and overhaul, from 2.4 billion euros a year earlier.
Robert Fordree has been appointed London Heathrow Airport-based general manager-commercial for the U.K. and Ireland and Adrian Ajayi key account manager for Menzies Aviation's cargo division.
Roy Griffins has been named director-general of Brussels-based Airports Council International. He succeeds Philippe Hamon, who has retired. Griffins was U.K. director-general of civil aviation.
David L. Hayes, Director of Certification Programs (Air Line Pilots Assn., Herndon, Va.)
Congratulations to Douglas Barrie and Robert Wall for their excellent overview of Manpads (Man-Portable Air Defense System) and government and industry efforts to address the threat to commercial transport aircraft (AW&ST Aug.23/30, p. 57). To better ensure safety and security in commercial aviation, stakeholders in the aviation industry need to better manage their limited assets, to provide the 9/11 commission's "layered defenses" strategy of prevention, protection and response.
M. Natarajan has been named scientific adviser to the defense minister of India and director general of the Defense Research and Development Organization. He succeeds V.K. Atre, who has retired.
The House appropriations panel also wants the FAA to tighten the reins on sick leave, noting that the agency average is 11.2 days per year, nearly 20% higher than the rest of the government's. Investigating hotline complaints at five locations, the Transportation Dept. inspector general finds evidence of a scam--which may or may not be widespread--in which Controller A requests sick leave, Controller B is brought in on overtime to keep the position filled, and Controller A then shows up. Under the NATCA contract, A and B both work and get paid for the full shift.
NASA has transferred leadership of the X-37 program to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa), after finding that the reusable launch vehicle technology demonstrator does not fit agency goals. In particular, NASA is no longer focused on reusable launch vehicles, an agency official said.
India has cleared an indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control System for development within seven years. The Defense Research and Development Organization and Indian air force will cooperate on the program. The approval has restored one of India's most ambitious defense research projects, which was shelved when, in 1999, a rotodome mounted on an HS-178 Avro dismounted and struck the tail, resulting in a crash that killed eight. India recently agreed to mount Israeli Phalcon radar systems on a Russian Ilyushin Il-76, using Indian avionics.
France's descending star in combat aircraft may begin to rise again with improved prospects for domestic and export sales of its fourth-generation Rafale fighter, and near-agreement on partnerships for a French-led unmanned combat aircraft program.
Alvaro de Souza and Antonio Kandir have been named to the board of directors of Brazil-based GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes. De Souza is the former CEO of Citibank in Brazil, while Kandir is a partner and director of Banco Ribeirao Preto.
The Federal Air Marshal Service will be reviewing the background checks of all its armed agents over the next two months to ensure they are qualified under background screening criteria for law-enforcement officers.
In an effort to bolster innovation from defense suppliers, the Pentagon is establishing a funding stream to promote new ideas. The goal is a "capability to monitor constantly emerging defense suppliers that have products and technologies mature enough to be injected in ongoing programs," says Suzanne D. Patrick, deputy undersecretary of Defense for industrial policy. The so-called Innovation Clearing House would be able to provide money to one or several defense programs to embrace new technology that might languish otherwise.
Boeing has received an $891.6-million support contract for U.S. Air Force C-17s. It is the first of four options the company has for the logistics work, which could total $4.9 billion with all options exercised.
American Airlines says its fuel cost increases in the third quarter, from $1.18 per gallon in July to $1.27 estimated for August and $1.31 for September, means its expenses for the quarter will be more than $300 million higher than they would have been at last year's prices, and about $1 billion higher for full-year 2004. United Airlines reports that fuel costs held its net profit for July down to $6 million, even though July normally is one of United's best months of the year.
Korean Air Chairman and CEO Yang Ho Cho has been awarded the title of commandeur in France's Legion D'Honneur, which is considered one of that country's highest civilian honors. Cho was recognized for his contributions to France and the South Korea-France relationship as chairman of the France-Korea High-Level Businessmen's Club and for being instrumental in creating the SkyTeam alliance with Air France.
Bruce Mahone has been named assistant vice president-technical operations for the Washington-based Aerospace Industries Assn. He has been director of space policy.
