France is focusing on the promising micro satellite business. Myriade is a line of micro satellites weighing less than 330 lb. that are reportedly capable of performing the same functions as larger satellites at the same performance levels and precision. The line is being developed by the National Center for Space Research, whose officials contend the organization can cut development time and keep costs low by relying on commercial technology and using the satellites as testbeds.
Stephane Rambaud has been promoted to president/chief operating officer of Phoenix International Freight Services Ltd., Wood Dale, Ill., from executive vice president/COO.
Despite stiff competition in depressed markets, weak yields and intense pressure from low-cost carriers on the European route system, Air France remains optimistic about its long-term business prospects.
THE U.S. NAVY AIRCRAFT CARRIER George Washington will soon test a new tool for landing signal officers (LSOs) that will use forward-looking infrared (Flir) and laser tracking to reduce the risk in carrier landings, particularly at night. DRS Technologies makes the new Visual Imaging System for Approach and Landing (Visual), which can automatically track and show LSOs images of aircraft from the abeam position to landing.
John Riordan has been promoted to vice president-customer services from vice president-marketing and Chris Rossi to vice president-sales and marketing from head of the U.S. sales team for Virgin Atlantic Airways.
The company has developed a high-performance fire seal to replace an earlier design in the International Aero Engines V2500 turbofan. The component is known as a bifurcation seal and fits between the fan case compartment and the core compartment of the engine. Its function is to seal against the closing of the thrust reverser, and consequently it is subjected to repeated cycling and wear. The company says this is an entirely new seal that is designed for improved performance and economy, and the seal installation can be done without mechanical fasteners.
WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP 18 GEAC to provide CF680C2 powerplants for Japan's C-Xs 19 Massive blackout disrupts flight schedules in U.S., Canada WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS 24 Beleaguered NRO has high hopes for upcoming launch 27 Boeing is developing small, long-range cruise missile 27 Near-term V-22 production curtailed; five-year plan boosted 28 Canada expects to deploy UAVs, forces to Afghanistan 30 Japan rethinks defense budget in light of contemporary threats
Goodrich Corp. will supply cabin attendant and cockpit occupancy seats for the Airbus A380. Goodrich's Aircraft Interior Products Div. will develop and manufacture the seats in the contract valued up to $40 million. First deliveries are scheduled for 2005. Also, Goodrich will provide landing gear overhaul services for Air New Zealand's fleet of B-747-400s in a five-year $4- million work order.
Dennis Jarvi (see photo) has become vice president/general manager of the V-22 program for Bell Helicopter of Fort Worth. He was vice president-U.S. government programs.
FRENCH REVIEW The French government of Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin has concerns about the aerospace industry's future. It is seriously suffering from the euro's unfavorable exchange rates against a weakening U.S. dollar, while the airline industry's long downturn continues to retard Airbus' growth plan. In an initiative to help understand and weather the difficulties, Raffarin asked Yves Michot to complete in the next six months a top-to-bottom review of the industry's product range, structure, market share and long-term goals.
HUBBLE ENDGAME A panel of top scientists says NASA could greatly enhance the scientific take from the Hubble Space Telescope by adding another servicing mission to the one that was planned before the shuttle Columbia was lost. But given the shuttle's shaky future, NASA has scotched the idea of using a shuttle to retrieve the telescope for display on the ground.
The U.S. approach to civil aviation security seems to focus on the latest, most visible threat, not on looking at security in a holistic way. Some members of Congress believe that all 6,500 commercial passenger jets in the U.S. should be equipped with state-of-the-art laser systems to warn and protect against shoulder-fired missiles. Interest in the topic flared anew last week after the FBI arrested a British citizen who allegedly was trying to sell a Russian SA-18 Igla missile to a supposed terrorist--actually an undercover FBI agent.
USN Rear Adm. Reubin B. Bookert has been named commander of Amphibious Group Two, Little Creek, Va. He has been deputy director for expeditionary warfare in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon. Bookert succeeds Rear Adm. Michael P. Nowakowski, who has been assigned as commander of Mine Warfare Command, Corpus Christi, Tex. Rear Adm. Richard E. Brooks has become commander of the Navy Safety Center, Norfolk, Va. He was commander of Patrol and Reconnaissance Force Atlantic, also based in Norfolk. Brooks succeeds Rear Adm. Stephen A.
Continuing worry over the vulnerability of commercial aircraft to terrorist attack was underscored last week as U.K. flag-carrier British Airways suspended some flights, while an "arms dealer" was arrested in the U.S. in a sting operation, after having brought a Russian shoulder-launched missile into the country.
Capt. Steve Stowe of Delta Air Lines has succeeded Capt. Rick Shay of United Airlines as chairman of SAE Flight Deck and Handling Qualities Standards Committee, which is dedicated to creating, preparing and maintaining all relevant specifications, standards and requirements pertaining to aircraft handling qualities and the flight deck.
UNITED AIRLINES IS THE FIRST U.S. air carrier to sign up for Lockheed Martin's new information integration product, FltWinds. Pronounced "flight winds," it could benefit both air traffic controllers and airline operations centers and aid collaborative decision making. FltWinds shows an integrated airways/weather picture, and analyzes flight routes in real time, to identify upcoming conflicts between the aircraft, weather and special use airspace. Not a flight planning tool, it can feed information into such programs.
James F. Van Gilder, who was founder and has been president/CEO of the Corrosion Technologies Corp. of Dallas, has become chairman. He has been succeeded by Michael L. Tuite.
Due to the electrical power failure affecting much of the Northeast U.S. Aug. 14-15, this issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology was printed two days later than normal. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused our readers.
Former astronaut Mark Brown has been named vice president-Aerospace Div. of the Computer Sciences Corp., El Segundo, Calif. He was district manager for air and space programs development for AT&T Government Solutions.
The FAA last week grounded the Learjet 45, citing a problem with the corporate jet's pitch/trim actuator. The action followed the discovery of a crack in the pitch/trim actuator screw in March. Bombardier replaced all the part number -1 actuators with a -5 assembly shortly after the finding and an earlier FAA directive. No cracks have been found in the new actuators. However, because of a lack of proper procedures used by screw-manufacturer MPC Products, the FAA had not been part of the approval process.
Once again the debate has risen from the grave. I'm a 49-year-old airline pilot and my whole career I've heard this same argument; that if a pilot is healthy enough, he ought to be able to fly after his 60th birthday. The pilots screaming the loudest for this always seem to be the ones coming up on 60. I wonder why this is? I believe greed is their motivation here. You never hear these pilots complain when they're moving up the seniority list.
First flight of the U.S. Navy's integrated APG-79 active electronically scanned array radar onboard an F/A-18E was made at the China Lake, Calif., test facility. While Navy officials are hypersensitive about the new radar's capabilities, an industry researcher said it does many things at once, including electronic jamming and finding small targets such as stealthy cruise missiles at extended range.
To submit Aerospace Calendar Listings, Call +1 (212) 904-2421 Fax +1 (212) 904-6068 e-mail: [email protected] Aug. 30-Sept. 1--Canadian National Exhibition's International Air Show. Ontario Place, Toronto. Call +1 (416) 263-3650, fax +1 (416) 263-3838 or see www.cias.org Aug. 31-Sept. 5--International Society for Air Breathing Engines' 16th Symposium. Cleveland Renaissance Hotel. Call +1 (540) 231-9617 or see www.conted.vt.edu/isabe
Thomas W. O'Connell has been sworn in as the assistant secretary of Defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict. He was a senior manager for the Raytheon Co.'s intelligence and information systems.
