General Dynamics' plan to buy crosstown neighbor Spectrum Astro for its C4 Systems unit (AW&ST Mar. 22, p. 18) should boost the two companies' ability to compete for government and commercial communications satellite business. Scottsdale, Ariz.-based C4 Systems and its heritage companies have a long history of building advanced communications gear, including space-rated systems, for government customers.
Managers charged with fielding complex space systems-of-systems may sidestep traditional program startup problems attributed to enterprise systems' incompatibilities, thanks to a new "middleware" package that translates engineering and product data formats.
China plans to launch the lunar rover it has been developing in 2012 to scout sites for an eventual Moon base (AW&ST Oct. 13, 2003, p. 34). The Beijing Youth Daily said China also is planning a lunar sample return by 2020, as well as the Chaang'e-1 lunar orbiter already set for launch in 2007. Meanwhile, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has received a host of proposals from nations that would like to participate in India's Chandrayaan-I lunar mission, also scheduled for launch in 2007. ISRO would make room for 20 kg.
Michael A. Dornheim Neelam Matthews Pierre Sparaco (Los AngelesNew DelhiParis )
The China Airlines Flight 611 accident may illustrate how an airplane can pass a heavy maintenance inspection yet be structurally unsound. The rear fuselage of the 23-year-old Boeing 747-200 came apart at the top of climb on May 25, 2002. Investigators believe the structural failure originated at cracks underneath a tail-strike repair doubler located on the upswept part of the pressurized fuselage. The accident occurred within the inspection interval for that area of structure.
The two four-star generals who head U.S. Air Force Space and Materiel commands are improving the odds that tomorrow's space-based "systems-of-systems" will perform as intended by exchanging personnel among organizations today.
In a move to attack the "high-cost culture" of the U.S. launch industry, the aggressive new SpaceX commercial rocket company is enlisting the help of Pratt & Whitney to take market share away from Boeing for commercial and military geosynchronous orbit missions. The SpaceX Falcon rocket project will specifically target Boeing, by offering the SpaceX Falcon V booster for 60-70% less than Boeing can fly its Delta II and newer Delta IV Medium Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle, said Elon Musk, SpaceX chairman and CEO.
Your editorial "Let Failing Airlines Fail" (AW&ST Mar. 8, p. 70) failed to mention the most important asset of any airline: its employees. I only fly approximately 100,000 mi. per year, but follow the airline industry with great interest. I have an important personal interest to maintain: the right to fly the airline that makes my travels the most comfortable. That carrier is United Airlines.
V-22 Osprey No. 22 conducted the first air-to-air refueling flights since the program's return to flight almost two years ago. Two test pilots each logged five "dry plugs" behind a KC-130F in flights near NAS Patuxent River, Md. The test unit is in the process of qualifying six pilots to refuel during the day or night. Developmental testing of a retractable probe will begin in early April and is expected to last about three weeks.
Suzanne Scharton (see photo) has been promoted to general manager of Signature Flight Support's Santa Barbara, Calif., facility from client service manager at company headquarters in Orlando, Fla.
USAF Gen. (ret.) Larry D. Welch, a former chief of staff, has been named chairman of the Homeland Security Dept.'s Science and Technology Advisory Committee. Among the other members are: Lillian C. Borrone, chair of the Eno Transportation Foundation in Washington and former chair of the American Assn. of Port Authorities; Lawrence Papay, retired vice president-Integrated Solutions Sector of SAIC; Richard T. Roca, director of The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory; and Vincent Vitto, president/CEO of the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc.
Sabre Airline Solutions and Mxi Technologies reached agreement for Sabre to offer Mxi's Maintenix maintenance, repair and overhaul software to existing customers of Sabre's Maxi-Merlin MRO software. Mxi will be offered as part of Sabre's AirOps Control systems operations software suite. Sabre acquired Maxi-Merlin during the conversion of US Airways' reservations system in 1998 and will continue to support it for customers who choose not to switch to Mxi.
Plans are afoot to name the next director of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) to head a new global network operations task force for U.S. Strategic Command. It is part of a plan to simplify how the government can strengthen network-centric operations. Moreover the DISA chief will become deputy commander of Stratcom. The new organization is to complement the task force for Computer Network Operations that integrates computer defensive and attack capabilities into the military forces.
Are the Big Six network U.S. airlines--and possibly much of the industry--already down for the count in 2004? Recovery prospects are fading fast, says UBS' Sam Buttrick. He widened his industry loss forecast for this year to $2.3 billion from $500 million, blaming galloping fuel prices and continued weak domestic revenues. The carriers' deep cost reductions and rising international demand have not been adequate to put things right financially.
The Air Transport Assn. isn't giving in to Bush administration claims that its Strategic Petroleum Reserve buildup has only a minor effect on aviation fuel prices. The Energy Dept. puts the impact at less than $1 per barrel of oil, which itself means $425 million per year in industry costs at the current consumption rate. But the ATA cites estimates from outside the government that the add-on is $2-6 per barrel, or $950 million-2.55 billion for the industry.
Fossilized ripples from a long lost Martian sea--or lake--have planetary scientists more eager than ever to get their hands on actual samples of the red planet, something the agency's top science planner says could happen as early as 2016.
Raytheon and Germany's Diehl Stiftung have established Diehl Raytheon Missile Systeme GmbH. to modernize and market older versions of the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile. The joint venture also plans to expand into supporting and developing the AIM-120 Amraam air-to-air missile in Europe.
Air One expects to record positive operating results and a pretax profit for 2003. The Italian airline's revenues were up 8% to 409 million euros on an operating result of 5.7 million, which translates to a profit of 1.65 million euros, not including extraordinary items. In 2003, AirOne transported 4.9 million passengers, compared with 4 million in 2002. The forecast for 2004 is also positive: Revenues are expected to increase to more than 500 million euros, passenger traffic by 26%, and available seat miles by 22%, according to AirOne Chairman Carlo Toto.
Astronomers studying the most distant object ever spotted in the Solar System plan to use the Hubble Space Telescope soon to check their theory that the mysterious object has a moon. Dubbed "Sedna" after the Inuit sea goddess who lives in a cold, dark region beneath the Arctic Sea, the object rotates every 40 Earth days. Scientists hypothesize it does so in lockstep with a satellite like Pluto and Charon, and will use the Hubble to try to resolve it directly.
David Finkleman has become senior scientist in the Colorado Springs-based Center for Space Standards and Innovation of Analytical Graphics. He was director of analysis/chief technical officer for the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
Hans W. de Roos, who has been senior vice president-network of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, is expected to become executive vice president-passenger business, effective July 1. He will succeed Henny A. Essenberg, who is resigning. Arend R. de Jong, who has been corporate controller, will succeed de Roos. De Jong, in turn, will be succeeded by Erik R. Swelheim.
Air One expects to record positive operating results and a pretax profit for 2003. The Italian airline's revenues were up 8% to 409 million euros on an operating result of 5.7 million, which translates to a profit of 1.65 million euros, not including extraordinary items. In 2003, AirOne transported 4.9 million passengers, compared with 4 million in 2002. The forecast for 2004 is also positive: Revenues are expected to increase to more than 500 million euros, passenger traffic by 26%, and available seat miles by 22%, according to AirOne Chairman Carlo Toto.
New factual information from Taiwan's Aviation Safety Council (ASC) on the inflight disintegration of China Airlines Flight 611 revives disturbing points about how repair doublers can complicate maintenance inspections. The ASC update found 29 cases of delayed or overdue inspections for corrosion or deterioration of parts on the 23-year-old Boeing 747-200, and focused on a surveillance inspection for cracks in the fuselage bilge area where the breakup is believed to have originated.
The unusually blunt sniping between Washington and Spain's new government--led by Prime Minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero--may leave scars at the political level, but so far at least, U.S. defense contractors aren't overly concerned they will suffer a backlash in pursuing contracts in Spain. U.S. firms have some "insurance" against drastic action because "there is, in all cases, deep involvement with local industry," says a senior representative of a major U.S. defense company. Canceling a program would cost Spanish jobs, he notes.
India and BAE Systems late last week appeared on the brink of finally inking a deal for the purchase of the Hawk advanced jet trainer. India is expected to acquire 66 of the type.
Steve Vogeding, who has been chief financial officer of the Seattle-based Boeing Capital Corp., has become vice president-transition management and operations integration. He has been succeeded by Russ Evans, who was promoted from deputy CFO. John Rosenthal has been appointed director of risk management. He was treasurer and has been succeeded by Geoff Carpenter, who has been promoted from assistant treasurer.
