WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP 20 First 'official' rollout of RQ-4A Global Hawk 21 Last Boeing Stratoliner heads for retirement at Smithsonian WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS 26 Record crowds, deals at Osh- kosh made for a standout show 26 South Korea F-15 specialized for air, sea and ground conflict 30 Indian authorities weigh MiG-21 trainer safety issues 30 U.S. digs up MiG warplanes hidden in the desert of Iraq 32 Japan's navy angles for eight 13,500-metric-ton-class carriers
BIG BIRD BLOCKADE The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reaffirmed its long-standing commitment: Big birds, don't even think of landing at New Jersey's Teterboro Airport. The move is timely. The FAA has proposed a national policy regarding airport access restrictions based on weight, and the public commentary period on the proposal ends this week. Many airports have denied access to large aircraft, citing that weight would cause damage to runway pavement. The FAA's proposal examines whether such action is a "reasonable" restriction.
Air Canada, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Apr.1, in the second quarter reported an operating loss of C$270 million ($193.8 million) before reorganization items. This compares with a C$62-million operating income in the same period last year. Revenue and traffic declines, primarily related to severe acute respiratory syndrome, continued in the second quarter. Total operating revenues were down C$600 million or 24% year over year. There was a shortfall of $127 million or 63% in Asian passenger revenues.
The first Antonov An-140s are about to enter service in Iran as sales of the Ukrainian-designed twin turboprop ramp up, driven by a state-backed financing and after-sales support program.
Based on a review of Boeing's and Airbus' order books, UBS analysts have concluded that both commercial airframe manufacturers appear covered for the 2003 deliveries they have forecast (300 for Airbus and 280 for Boeing), and that they are "mostly covered" for projected 2004 deliveries (300 for Airbus and 275-290 for Boeing). However, UBS believes that both companies could be hit with deferrals and cancellations, especially in 2004 and 2005, because the airline industry remains so weak.
A year after two aging air tankers and five crewmembers were lost to wing failures, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has unveiled a strategic plan to modernize the nation's aerial firefighting fleets. If properly funded by Congress, the plan should significantly improve aircrew safety and wildland fire-suppression efficiencies.
GLOBAL TEAM Boeing Launch Services, Arianespace and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries have formally agreed to loosely align their launch services and marketing so that a customer can switch between members if flight delays by one member of the alliance threaten the customer's satcom schedules. The arrangement, to involve Boeing's Sea Launch, the Ariane5 and Japanese H-IIA, has been under discussion for some time.
Kirsten Lear and Tom Wolfman have become directors of imports and brokerage, based in Phoenix and New York, respectively, for BAX Global, Irvine, Calif. Gilbert Salas has become import product strategy manager. Lear was international import operations manager at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) facility and Wolfman director of national import operations, both for Eagle Global Logistics. Salas was import brokerage manager of LAX for Danzas AEI. Pavel Novak has become managing director in Prague.
Elements of Russia's defense and commercial aerospace industry are making some progress, albeit painfully slow. Another fifth-generation fighter effort is getting underway, this time with Sukhoi rather than MiG in the lead. MiG, meanwhile, is trying to push ahead with series production of the Tupolev Tu-334 regional airliner. Both in the military and commercial sectors, Russian industry continues to face demanding challenges.
Declan Hartnett has become Shannon, Ireland-based senior vice president/region manager for Europe for GE Capital Aviation Services, Stamford, Conn. He succeeds Paul Barton, who has resigned.
Don't look now, but Continental Airlines carried more passenger traffic in July 2003 than it did in July 2001--before the September 2001 terrorist attacks--and is close to passing Northwest to become the fourth-largest airline in the U.S.
IN AN EFFORT TO EXPAND the number of landing facilities for small helicopters, Robinson Aircraft Co. is offering a free helipad with purchase of a new Robinson R44 helicopter, but only for a limited time and only for buyers in Southern California and Arizona, according to Robinson. Company President Frank Robinson, who has long championed programs to add more heliports and helipads in U.S. cities, had company engineers design the 20 X 20-ft. deck that can be assembled in one day. The helipad can accommodate aircraft weighing up to 3,000 lb.
Lufthansa German Airlines is expected to disclose its new regional concept within the next few weeks, streamlining its vast franchise operation. The new brand, "Lufthansa Regional," is set to replace the current "Team Lufthansa" design and individual airline brands. The new regional system will comprise five airlines: Lufthansa's fully owned subsidiary CityLine, Eurowings, Air Dolomiti, Augsburg Airways and Contact Air. While Augsburg and Contact are independent, Lufthansa holds a 24.9% stake in Eurowings and a 98.8% stake in Air Dolomiti.
I enjoyed reading the "Small UAV, Big Goal" article (AW&ST July 21, p. 28) until I got to the following sentences: "Low cost is critical because designers want operators to feel free to fly the small aircraft down to 500-1,000-ft. altitude over the battlefield. The weapon needed to shoot the UAV down will be more expensive than the UAV, [Institu CEO Steve] Sliwa said."
TEST PILOTS CELEBRATE THE WRIGHTS' 100TH The Society of Experimental Test Pilots is staging a special historical program for its annual symposium next month, featuring many of the people intimately involved with aviation and space progress. The SETP symposium is open to the public. This year the society is adding time to handle about 15 historical sessions including early aviation, the X-15 program, black-world aircraft, Apollo Moonwalkers and the space shuttle.
Between a string of solid quarterly financial performances and Boeing Co.'s troubles stemming from the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program (AW&ST Aug. 4, p. 32), the view from Lockheed Martin Corp.'s executive suite must be looking good about now. By almost any measure, momentum is building.
UNITED STATES Editor-In-Chief: David M. North [email protected] Managing Editor: James R. Asker [email protected] Assistant Managing Editors: Stanley W. Kandebo--Technology [email protected] Michael Stearns--Production [email protected] Senior Editors: Craig Covault [email protected], David Hughes [email protected] NEW YORK 2 Penn Plaza, Fifth Floor, New York, N.Y. 10121 Phone: +1 (212) 904-2000, Fax: +1 (212) 904-6068
USAF Lt. Gen. John D. Hopper, Jr., has been nominated as assistant Air Force vice chief of staff at the Pentagon. He is vice commander of the Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, Tex. He would be succeeded by Lt. Gen. Richard E. Brown, 3rd, who is deputy chief of staff for personnel. Brown would be succeeded by Maj. Gen. Roger A. Brady, who has been nominated for promotion to lieutenant general. Brady is director of operations at Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill. Lt. Gen. Steven R.
Edwin Beall has become vice president-supply management of Superior Air Parts Inc., Coppell, Tex. He was senior principal for the Technology Solutions Co. and had been vice president-materials management for Superior.
Edward Cohen, who is chief technology officer of Plateau Systems, Arlington, Va., has been elected chairman of the Training Infrastructure Subcommittee of the Aviation Industry Computer-Based Training Committee. AICC is one of the standards-setting and certification organizations for the elearning industry.
SN Brussels Airlines, Sabena Belgian World Airlines' successor, and Sobelair, an independent charter operator, are holding exploratory talks tentatively scheduled to lead to a merger agreement. Both carriers are losing money, and expect that consolidation would generate economies of scale and contribute to significantly reducing costs.
Jay R. Sculley has become president of Aviation, Navigation and Satellite Programs Inc., Fairfax, Va. He is chairman emeritus of the Allied Defense Group and former director of advanced studies and technologies at the Grumman Corp.
Mike Becraft has been appointed senior vice president-homeland security for SI International, Reston, Va. He was acting deputy commissioner of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.
David Benton has been named director of corporate communications for Menlo Worldwide, Redwood City, Calif. He was senior director of public relations for Aspect Communications, San Jose, Calif.
To no one's surprise, Cathay Pacific has posted a massive first-half loss of HK$1.24 billion ($160 million) as a result of the devastating effect of the severe acute respiratory syndrome health crisis that gripped Hong Kong, China and much of Asia.
