As the Pentagon embarks this month on its latest year-long mobility assessment, there are growing signs airlift demands will go up significantly. USAF Gen. John W. Handy, commander of U.S. Transportation Command, notes that airlift in recent operations topped 60 million ton-mi., compared with the 54-million-ton-mi. goal of the most recent, pre-Sept. 11, 2001, mobility study. And that report didn't include missions that have developed since, including homeland security and mobility for the more maneuverable Army.
Christopher Chadwick (see photo) has been promoted to vice president-F/A-18 program from deputy program manager at Boeing Integrated Defense Systems in St. Louis. He succeeds Tony Parasida, who is now vice president-program management and independent review.
The Japanese space agency JAXA isn't sure which of two key missions will go first when the H-IIA returns to service, probably in fiscal 2004's winter launch season next December-February. The toss-up is between the MTSAT-1 combination weather and air traffic control satellite, replacing one lost on a failed 1999 liftoff, and the long-delayed Advanced Land Observing Satellite (Alors). The betting is that MTSAT-1R will get the nod.
Thomas Cook, assailed by high costs and low demand, reported a net loss of 251 million euros in 2003, after a 120-million-euro loss the year before, and a 10% drop in revenues to 7.2 billion euros. Despite severe cost-cutting, including the sale of 12 757-200s to Russia, another loss is forecast this year (AW&ST Feb. 2, p. 50).
WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP 18 Airbus adds four Japanese firms to A380 supplier base 18 AW&ST honored for Colum- bia accident coverage 18 NASA and ESA eye new Russian space chief 19 First flight for Embraer 190; Chautauqua orders 145s 19 U.S. space program pioneer William Pickering dies WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS 24 Confusion surrounds F/A-22 air-to-ground upgrade 26 JSF advocates warn that delays could drive up costs 27 Aging fighters, tankers draw USAF explanations
Flying Through Time: A Journey into History in a World War II Biplane By James M. Doyle Brasset's Inc. 281 pp., Hardcover $27.95 Time: Aug. 18, 2000, San Angelo, Tex. Departure Control: "Say again type of aircraft?"
TSA also plans to start a 90-day pilot project in June for registered travelers, including frequent travelers. Airports being considered for the program include Boston Logan International, Washington Reagan National and Dallas Love Field.
NASA is adopting a wait-and-see posture after the leadership of its principal partner on the International Space Station (ISS) turned over as President Vladimir Putin reorganized Russian government following his reelection last week.
John Podolak (see photo) has been named infrared countermeasures program manager at Avisys Inc., Austin, Tex., for its Homeland Security Dept. Counter-Manpads Initiative. He was program manager for Avisys' Air Force operations in San Antonio.
John Podolak (see photo) has been named infrared countermeasures program manager at Avisys Inc., Austin, Tex., for its Homeland Security Dept. Counter-Manpads Initiative. He was program manager for Avisys' Air Force operations in San Antonio.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) plans to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking in a few months for the Computer-Assisted Passenger Prescreening System (Capps II). Acting TSA Administrator David M. Stone told a House Aviation subcommittee last week that he wants to keep the public informed of how the data will be used. However, airlines have said they will decline to provide data unless ordered to do so by the government owing to privacy concerns.
Ulyanovsk, Russia-based Aviastar has rolled out its last Antonov An-124-100 Ruslan superheavy freighter. The aircraft, an upgraded model featuring extended maximum takeoff weight (from 392 metric tons to 402) and maximum payload weight (150 metric tons, compared with 120 for the basic version) was delivered to outsize cargo specialist Volga Dnepr. Like other Russian air transport programs, its production was virtually halted in 1994, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, but assembly has continued using parts already in stock (see p. 45).
Ronald D. Sugar, president/CEO of the Northrop Grumman Corp., of Los Angeles is among the new members elected to the Washington-based National Academy of Engineering. Other aerospace-related new members are: Siva S. Banda, senior scientist and leader of the Control Science Center of Excellence at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; George H. Born, professor of aerospace engineering sciences at the University of Colorado; David E.
Eutelsat is still laboring to determine the ultimate impact of problems affecting its new e-Bird dedicated broadband satellite. Officials said tests were still proceeding on the Boeing-built spacecraft, which was launched in September and was supposed to enter service in November.
General Electric is buying InVision, the leading maker of explosive detection systems, in a move that highlights how far aviation security has come since the startup company began adapting medical technology to find bombs in luggage more than a decade ago. The purchase agreement, subject to regulatory approval, was announced on Mar. 15, four days after terrorists bombed trains in Madrid, leaving 200 dead and more than a thousand wounded.
John Moyn (see photo) has been appointed vice president-sales and marketing for the Montreal Jet Center. He held a similar position at Innotech Aviation.
Boeing has received U.S. and European certification for the 777-300 Extended Range, its first twin-engine widebody capable of reaching a 747-400's range and competing head-on with Airbus' four-engine A340-600.
A federal flight deck officer lost a Transportation Security Administration-issued weapon in Las Vegas in January. This should be no surprise, as TSA operating procedures place FFDO weapons in jeopardy every day. As an airline pilot with a background in federal law enforcement and firearms training, I advised TSA that its operating procedures would result in lost weapons. For my trouble I was dismissed from the first FFDO class last April.
The crew of "Dark Angel," a B-24D Liberator, had enjoyed an easy mission that October night in 1944. A supplies drop to the resistance behind German lines had been completed without a hitch. Stripped of its armor, the B-24D had exhibited impressive performance during the low-level, high-speed run that had gotten it past both German flak and determined night-fighters. The aircraft commander, Lt. Elmer Heaberlin, turned toward the North Sea, headed for the crew's home base in England.
Pratt & Whitney's F135 system and development demonstration (SDD) test program is quickly gaining momentum with seven engines planned to be under evaluation by midsummer. FX631--the first of the SDD F135s--began running at the company's West Palm Beach, Fla., test center in October and has accumulated more than 246 hr. Initial trials examined sea-level operability, fan performance and augmentor operability of the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) configured powerplant.
David A. Fulghum Robert Wall (WashingtonWashington )
Delays in formulating an agreement to acquire Boeing KC-767 tankers are rapidly driving up the cost of the deal, warn House legislators supporting the program. House defense appropriators and authorizers are increasingly vocal in their criticism of the Senate, which they fault for not moving on the accord. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) has blasted the Senate for inaction, and now House appropriators, who were instrumental in conceiving of the lease proposal, are chiming in.
A two-piece spacecraft that started environmental testing this month will attempt to shed new light on the solar system's beginnings when its impactor section smashes into comet Tempel-1 at about 23,000 mph. next year. By assessing imagery and spectral signatures of material spewed from the resulting crater, scientists expect to get their first glimpse of organic-rich, pristine material that may be linked to the origins of life on Earth.
As aerospace companies wrestle with adapting to uncertain markets and resolving myriad financial challenges, several small ones are trying new, potentially risky business models that put people at the top of their priority lists. If they work, these strategies may be adopted by others, rebuilding the global aerospace industry's fortunes one person at a time.
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.
John Moyn (see photo) has been appointed vice president-sales and marketing for the Montreal Jet Center. He held a similar position at Innotech Aviation.
