As it fights the headache of reducing weight in the Joint Strike Fighter, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. and its Joint Strike Fighter partners are trying to avoid another kind of headache--high-cost software--by emphasizing off-the-shelf applications.
David Morrison, senior scientist at the NASA Astrobiology Institute at the NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., has won the 2004 Carl Sagan Medal from the Planetary Sciences Div. of the Washington-based American Astronomical Society. The medal is awarded to a division member-researcher for long-term excellence in communicating planetary science to the public. Morrison is considered an expert on solar system small bodies and an investigator for numerous spacecraft missions, including Voyager and Galileo.
Jeffrey McKinney has been appointed senior vice president-worldwide sales and Russ Rasmus vice president-strategic accounts for San Diego-based Avexus. McKinney was executive vice president and president of Americas Operations and Rasmus was a vice president, both for Manugistics.
South Africa is set to select a dogfight weapon for its future fighter and, in the process, is likely to signal the country's commitment to its domestic aerospace industry.
Participants from industry and academia are being sought by the U.S. Joint Forces Command to take part in interoperability experiments in fiscal year 2005. The command, which leads the transformation of the military, wants outside input for its Extended Awareness series, a program to examine and improve UAV and related intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability interoperability. Interested parties should submit a response of five pages or less identifying their organization and what proposed capabilities they could provide. The July 30 tight deadline looms.
The NTSB is recommending the FAA expedite an airworthiness directive that would require operators of Boeing 737 "classics" to perform a detailed inspection and rework of the main landing gear (MLG) retract actuator beam (see diagram), as specified in Boeing's Service Bulletin 737-32A1355.
Britain aims to launch an unmanned combat air vehicle program as one of six key development efforts, part of a strategic endeavor to bolster aerospace/defense research and technology. The UCAV project will come under the wing of "autonomous systems," one of six technology validation programs (TVP) to emerge from the work of the Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team (AIGT). Others include work to develop environmentally friendly propulsion, advanced wing design and a future air battle-space demonstrator (see p. 92).
Honeywell will be the sole provider of air traffic and terrain avoidance warning functionalities for the Airbus A380, through its Aircraft Environment Surveillance System (AW&ST June 14, p. 11).
Levalign offers an efficient method for precision measurement of flat/straight properties of machine foundations, circular and rectangular flanges, split machine casings and crane slewing rings, according to the manufacturer. The system comes with PC software using InfiniSplice to measure an infinite number of points. The surface profile of the component is in a four-color, 2- and 3D display, A reference grid is put on the surface to be measured and the laser sensor is moved to each marked location to take a reading.
Concerning the use of the International Space Station as a Mars transfer ship, Keith Slater would modify the ISS by adding engines, propulsion capability and power supplies, and end up with a ship to carry a crew to Mars, orbit the planet, conduct a landing from the orbiter and then return to Earth orbit (AW&ST June 14, p. 6).
The first stages of satellite activation and checkout have begun on Aura, NASA's mission to fill in the facts behind headlines on pollution, greenhouse gases and global climatic change.
The ShafTest portable ultrasonic flaw detection system tests large shafts and pins with V-scan volumetric grid analysis, zoom capability and 3D cross-sectional views. Results can be analyzed off-line to minimize equipment downtime, and highly reproducible tests allow accurate comparison of stored shaft signatures to monitor crack growth over time. The system is fully sealed against water and dust and will withstand a 15g operating shock load. Uni-Tech Engineering, P.O. Box 510, Pelham, Ala. 35124. 221 on www.AviationNow.com/oic
I'm envious of Jim Ross of Indianapolis, stealing my idea of selling 717s for the regional market (AW&ST June 21, p. 10). I wanted to get paid big consultant fees for explaining that to Boeing. If Boeing wants to make a lot of easy money, as in cash flow, the company should offer a quiet, economical, short-runway, very comfortable aircraft in a single type rating with seating capacities of 70, 85, 100, 115 and even 130. This aircraft already has been partially proven, many airframes are already available, and it is the clear customer aircraft of choice.
product guide, including an electronic catalogue on CD, covers its line of electromechanical systems and components. The CD contains more than 2,000 pp. of product/technical information on how to design, specify and order a completed system for machine automation. Each listing has an icon and search code. Ordering info is included, along with links to web pages of the division where updated product info can be viewed. The catalogue operates with self-loading Adobe Acrobat Reader software included. Sales Lead Management Service, M.S.
Frederic Denise has become chief operating officer of Miami-based EADS Sogerma Barfield Inc. He has been senior vice president-sales and marketing for the Americas for both EADS Sogerma Barfield and EADS Aeroframe Services, Lake Charles, La.
U.S. plans to reduce troop levels in South Korea are prompting talk that Seoul will increase its defense spending more than expected in Fiscal 2005. Won Jang-hwan, director of the Acquisition Policy Bureau, says the Ministry of Defense will seek a 13.4% increase next year, or 21.4 trillion won ($18.5 billion). The U.S. says the current level of 37,000 personnel will be cut 12,000-13,000 next year. U.S. troop commitment has been regarded as a benefit to U.S. suppliers. During the past decade, the U.S. has held close to 80% of Korea's defense procurement budget.
The way Europeans tell it, substantive negotiations toward a U.S.-European Union super-open-skies "open aviation area" will take a break until after the U.S. presidential elections because no American administration would agree to the kind of ownership and cabotage provisions the EU wants during the heat of a political campaign. U.S. negotiator John Byerly demurs, saying differences among EU member nations and airlines, not the "red-herring" issues, blocked a deal.
General aviation groups are even more concerned than they had been that the "temporary" air defense identification zone (ADIZ) over Washington might never be lifted. With good reason. At a recent congressional hearing, the FAA's Linda Schuessler said the agency soon will propose rulemaking to make the ADIZ permanent. Rumors of the move had been circulating for months. The ADIZ was set up as a 30-naut.-mi.-radius around Washington and Baltimore after Sept. 11, 2001.
Patrick Bultema has become CEO of Colorado Springs-based XAware Inc. He succeeds Bill Miller, who will remain as executive chairman. Bultema was CEO of FrontRange Solutions.
It is good to see that the U.S. Transportation Security Administration is finally implementing a kind of trusted traveler program, although it still seems like their hearts aren't in it. After all, why should there be a fee to participate in something that will reduce the requirement for screening?
I have often thought that the air could take a lesson from the sea. The captain of a ship does not steer or adjust the engines; he has overall direction of the voyage no matter how long it takes. Why not have airplane captains on long sectors do the same? There are many good people who are getting a bit old for really competent handling of airplanes, especially over long sectors and many time zones, but have a wealth of experience that could be put to good use.
ROCKWELL COLLINS WILL SPEND FIVE MONTHS studying ways to upgrade the Ground Element Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network System. Improvements include updating advanced EHF communications using Milstar satellites and redundant VLF communication paths for critical strategic message traffic. The goal is to replace existing fixed and deployable ground systems before the end of 2009. These nuclear command-and-control systems are used by USAF's Air Combat Command and Air Mobility Command for bomber, tanker, reconnaissance and other alert communications facilities.
A new PC-like cockpit is under development at Thales. It features a novel "intuitive" flight management system for helicopters and tactical management display to protect against enemy surface defenses. The cockpit is derived from the TopDeck NG Windows-configured glass cockpit developed for military transports--itself an outgrowth of the control and display system on the Airbus A380 ultra-widebody airliner (AW&ST June 2, 2003, p. 44).
