MAKING HASTE SLOWLY Aviation negotiators from the European Commission and the U.S. should look for confidence-building baby steps when they begin talks here in the fall, U.S. government and industry officials say, because Europe's vision of an open transatlantic aviation market won't be realized easily or quickly. Even adapting current bilateral open-skies agreements between the U.S. and 11 European countries--to conform to Europe's court ruling against nationality clauses--will be a headache. The U.S.
INTEL ADJUSTMENTS The intelligence community should consider moving measurement and signature intelligence (Masint) from the Defense Intelligence Agency to the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA), argues a senior intelligence official. A large element of Masint is hyperspectral sensing, which is essentially another form of imagery, the official contends, suggesting Masint would receive better management under NIMA.
GOOD SIGNS FOR SUKHOI Sagem is the third European aerospace/defense contractor to conclude a collaboration agreement with Sukhoi. Like similar pacts signed by Dassault Aviation and EADS/MBDA (AW&ST June 30, p. 31), the Sagem accord is preliminary, providing only for the formation of a working group to explore avenues of collaboration such as modernization of Su-27s now in operation; more extensive Su27 family upgrades for future customers, and UCAVs.
Early in the year, the German government "abandoned" the unmanned EADS/Dornier Seamos reconnaissance helicopter for its Navy as "overdesigned and too expensive," but now defense ministry officials have put out yet another request for information for a maritime UAV.
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.
