Megadoor offers comprehensive product literature to designers and building owners involved with doors for aviation and aerospace applications, such as the door that it designed and built for Lockheed Martin's Atlas V rocket. With more than 10,000 doors installed worldwide, the design and engineering team is adept at developing solutions that "marry" the door with the structure.
Brett D. Rhodes has been named director of military domestic business development for Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Conn. He was manager of business development and strategic planning for Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines.
SAS CONNEXION Scandinavian Airlines said it will equip 11 long-haul aircraft with transmitters that will enable passengers to make wireless connections with Boeing's Connexion broadband Internet service beginning next year. The agreement includes an undisclosed number of options for other aircraft.
Regent has introduced a universal utility trailer that is designed to transport all combinations of powered and non-powered ground support equipment to any job site. The trailer is certified for highway use up to speeds of 55 mph. A hydraulic floor allows for automatic or manual raising and lowering of all types of equipment. The universal design accommodates all types of aircraft recovery equipment such as Rhino axle jacks, wheel and brake dollies, nitrogen servicing units, tire and hand tools, forklifts, baggage carts and related equipment.
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The drive for worldwide ATC standardization has propelled Boeing, EADS, Airbus and Thales into an endeavor that aims to offer a more global approach to data link and other modernization issues.
You can now register ONLINE for Aviation Week Events. Go to www.AviationNow.com/conferences or call Ryan Leeds at +1 (212) 904-3892/+1 (800) 240-7645 (U.S. and Canada Only) Sept. 16-18--MRO Europe, Cardiff, Wales. October--Network-Centric Conference. Washington. Oct. 28-30--A&D Programs & Productivity Conference & Exhibition. Arlington (Tex.) Convention Center. Nov. 11-13--MRO Asia Conference & Exhibition. Bangkok Intercontinental Hotel.
. . . AND FUNDING QUESTIONS Rep. Bob Beauprez (R-Colo.), a member of the House aviation subcommittee who chaired the "Denver Summit," acknowledged that a "funding question" is probably one reason airline passengers are enduring longer security lines these days. TSA officials have little doubt that whipsaw funding and a stream of directives with almost-impossible deadlines are behind many of the agency's problems today. Post-Sept.
Robert S. (Steve) Miller, Jr., and George B. Weiksner, Jr., have been named to the board of directors of United Airlines parent UAL Corp. Miller is former chairman/CEO of the Bethlehem Steel Corp., while Weiksner is vice chairman for Latin America of the New York-based Credit Suisse First Boston Corp. Richard D. McCormick and John K. Van de Kamp have retired from the board.
Trans States Airlines will operate as many as 25 50-seat regional jets as a United Airlines regional affiliate, mainly at Washington and Chicago, under a 10-year memorandum of understanding announced July 10 by United. The deal is subject to final negotiations and approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court handling United's Chapter 11 reorganization.
Following a three-year delay to correct software problems, the FAA has commissioned the Wide Area Augmentation System to refine Global Positioning System guidance for en route navigation and approaches.
The ability of the U.S. to capture the elusive electronic whispers that reveal enemy intentions is eroding with much of the effort relegated to a small, rapidly aging group of aircraft. The task of reinvigorating the capability has become mired in interservice indecision and acquisition muddles.
This company has added a 400-watt YAG laser to its welding equipment lineup. Electron beam welding and laser welding are used commonly in the production of high-value, small, precision components for the aviation and space industries. Both types of welding are low-heat input techniques, which is important when heat could cause fracturing or warping of specialized materials. The processes produce high-integrity welds, suitable for difficult-to-join materials.
Garfield Thomas, vice president-reconnaissance programs for the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, has received the Blackbird Assn.'s Kelly Johnson Award. The lifetime achievement award is presented for contributions to the SR71 Blackbird program.
In collaboration with Airbus/Germany, Mtorres has developed an aircraft assembly tool designed to facilitate jigless assembly of aircraft structures such as fuselage barrels. The Torres Positioning System can integrate an unlimited number of NC actuators to position barrel skin panels on the proper slots and position in order to complete the barrel assembly. Laser trackers measure preset targets on the incoming skin panel, read the actual position of these targets and compare it to the theoretical position at the original CAD file of that component.
The Indonesian National Police has given Enstrom Helicopter Corp. of Menominee, Mich., the largest order in the company's 44-year history with the purchase of 18 480Bs. Powered by single Rolls-Royce/Allison 250-C20W turboshaft engines, the helicopters will be assigned security missions and carry a standard equipment package that includes VFR communications and GPS position locator systems. No sale value was announced but by list prices, the order would be valued at $11.9 million. However, a substantial discount was likely.
HEAVY-LIFT HELO The DGA also confirmed that it's studying acquisition of a heavy-lift helicopter capability, but said it is focusing on upgrades of existing models rather than a more expensive development program being bruited about by manufacturers (AW&ST June 23, p. 18). The study is being conducted in cooperation with Germany, which has a large fleet of CH-53s due to be modernized or replaced soon. However, the U.K. and Italy are also interested, officials said, as is the U.S. Planners want to be able to launch a program by 2008.
FRANCO-GERMAN TIES Sigmar Wittig, president of German aerospace center DLR, and Yannick d'Escatha, his counterpart at the French national space agency CNES, have agreed to reinforce cooperation between the two agencies under a framework agreement concluded last year (AW&ST Mar. 25, 2002, p. 42). The agencies, which also have close ties to French defense research organization Onera, together fund half of European Space Agency programs and 70% of Europe's launcher effort.
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UAVS UNITE Sagem also has linked with STN Atlas of Germany to cooperate in unmanned aerial vehicles. The initial goal is to ensure full interoperability of Sagem's Sperwer, STN Atlas' KZO and Taifun tactical UAVs, in use by six nations.
BAE Systems and Finmeccanica have moved to build up key business sectors, while avoiding the pitfalls of traditional joint ventures, with the two finally inking an agreement intended to set a broad alliance in motion. The two companies signed off on a letter of intent in November 2002. Settling on the details of the deal has taken longer than anticipated. The initial nature of the collaboration has also been modified considerably.
In a move applauded by Boeing, the International Telecommunications Union has approved the 14-14.5-GHz. frequency band for aeronautical mobile satellite services. The move paves the way for Boeing to introduce its in-cabin high-speed Connexion broadband services beginning next year.
Following almost two years of study, the British Defense Ministry has decided to focus its strategic, tactical and tanker capability at one air base. Royal Air Force Brize Norton will become home not only to the air force's tanker/transport fleet, but also to its Boeing C-130J and Airbus A400M tactical airlifters, as well as the C-17. The decision means RAF Lyneham, present home for four C-130 Hercules squadrons, will be closed. Under the plan, by 2012 all RAF transport and tanker aircraft will be based at Brize Norton.
Among Europe's leading aerospace/defense companies, EADS' stock by far has been the strongest performer since April, increasing more than 50% in absolute terms. And some market professionals think it could climb higher. Deutsche Bank analyst Ben Fidler in London said it's looking increasingly likely that Airbus, which accounts for 63% of EADS' sales, will meet its forecast of 300 commercial jet deliveries in 2003. Many industry observers have expressed skepticism of this prediction in recent months.
