Michael A. Taverna (Paris), Douglas Barrie (London)
Often seen as a governmental slough of despond, the ongoing failure to rationalize U.S. technology export rules continues to dog transatlantic cooperation efforts. Ever since switching jurisdiction for compliance with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) from the Commerce to the State Dept., Washington has promised to break the resulting logjam that requires foreign companies marketing or using products based on U.S. technologies to wait for months for requisite export licenses.
It is ludicrous that the U.S. Air Force and/ or federal government should be concern- ed about overflight of other countries by American ICBMs armed with conventional weapons, as mentioned by Maj. Gen. Timothy J. McMahon in "Rapid Response" (AW&ST Apr. 7, p. 66).
Blair Sullivan (see photo) has been named Southwest U.S. sales director for the Wichita, Kan.-based Raytheon Aircraft Co. He was director of marketing for the Beechcraft Div.
NIGHT STALKING U.S. Army special ops helicopters are being upgraded with new third-generation forward-looking infrared (Flir) systems that should improve crews' ability to operate at night. Raytheon won a $111-million contract, and Flir Systems a $40-million contract, for their electro-optical sensors. Raytheon will build 210 sensors for MH-60 and MH-47 assault helos, as well as 50 Flirs integrated with laser designators for AH-6 and MH-60L attack helicopters. Flir Systems will deliver sensors in a lightweight 40-lb.
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge told the House Select Committee on Homeland Security last week that unmanned aerial vehicles may be patrolling U.S. land and sea borders by the end of 2004. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) supports the idea for the U.S.-Mexican border citing the expense of helicopters. The HSD will look at Defense Dept. systems such as the Predator. The Coast Guard's 20-year Integrated Deepwater procurement program also envisions using Global Hawk and a new tilt-rotor UAV from Bell Helicopter, the Eagle Eye.
SOBS AT SAAB SPACE Saab Ericsson Space will cut 80 personnel from its Gothenburg, Sweden, operation because of a falloff in orders. The international market for telecommunications satellites remains weak, and Sweden's space budget has gradually been cut back over a number of years. Since its formation in 1992, Saab Ericsson Space has successfully marketed products for use on board commercial telecommunications satellites. In recent years, some 50% of the company's net sales have been generated by communications satellite system sales.
Roman G. Ptakowski has been appointed president of Innovative Solutions and Support Inc., Exton, Pa. Hewas group vice president/general manager of B/E Aerospace Inc.
E-TOOLING ALONG After assuring the system's security and reliability, the U.K. Defense Ministry has expanded its Purchase to Payment (P2P) electronic procurement system with a link to Exostar, the aerospace and defense trading exchange that includes BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce among its founders. The Defense Ministry said more than 1 million pounds ($1.62 million) worth of contracts went live with the application, which began May 16. These include several contracts from BAE. Rolls-Royce is expected to begin using the link soon.
The article "Rapid Response" contained an idea that was great (and feasible) 21 years ago, and which is even more so now. William B. Scott mentions Pentagon planners proposing a space-based kinetic weapon they refer to as "rods from God --a non-explosive device, such as a titanium rod-based munition delivered at hypersonic speeds from space . . ."
GAMBLERS' RUN Low-fare carrier Allegiant Air will begin nonstop scheduled service between Denver International Airport and Las Vegas on July 3, initially flying three weekly round trips. The airline is offering introductory air and hotel packages starting at $209 per person, round trip. Allegiant has provided direct service to Las Vegas from Colorado Springs for about a year, and "that market continues to build," according to Maurice J. Gallagher, the airline's chairman.
American Airlines will reinstall seats in 140 Boeing 757s and 34 Airbus A300s in an attempt to attract more passengers in leisure and vacation markets. President/CEO Gerard Arpey said, however, that the airline's "More Room In Coach" program will remain in effect on more than 75% of the fleet. Reconfiguration is scheduled to begin this autumn at American's Tulsa, Okla., maintenance facility.
Eric F. Paillet has been appointed executive vice president and Ronald S. Greene chief pilot for the Viva Airlines subsidiary of the Auxer Group, Traverse City, Mich.
The U.S. and Canada are reviewing more than 250 cross-border agreements and plans that span several decades, preparing a framework to join the nations under a mutual-defense organization that supersedes the North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad). A Binational Planning Group--which includes about 40 Canadians--is working at U.S. Northern Command headquarters in Colorado, preparing a plan that would consolidate these myriad agreements and, possibly, extend them to include missile defense.
NASA's first Mars Exploration Rover (MER), which is scheduled for launch on a Delta II on June 5, is given a final test run in the Kennedy Space Center's Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility before integration with its circular cruise stage in background and aeroshell at extreme right. A second MER is set for launch June 25. The flights will mark the first U.S. twin Mars landers launched since Project Viking 28 years ago (see p. 54). Photo by Karl Ronstrom.
Formal launch of the A400M airlifter was slated for May 27 following German parliamentary approval, May21. The German parliament's budget committee finally sanctioned program funding, clearing the way for launch of the seven-nation program.
World Health Organization experts maintain their position that severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) can and must be contained and it may even be possible to eliminate it from human populations. But U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson in Brussels told reporters "I don't think SARS is going away." Last week, WHO extended its travel advisory against visiting Taipei to cover all of Taiwan as 35 new cases were reported and SARS' reach increased.
Mounting test problems may be jeopardizing the start of full-rate production of the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile. Unperturbed U.S. Air Force officials, however, are quietly building up the number of operationally available weapons to bridge a bomber cruise missile gap that has emerged.
A modern airborne tanker fleet and electronic warfare enhancements top the list of new initiatives the Australian government has included in its Fiscal 2003-04 budget request. The proposal released last week calls for defense spending to increase A$2.1 billion ($1.4 billion) between the 200203 and 2006-07 budget years. Total defense spending in the upcoming fiscal period would reach $11.6 billion, a $770-million increase over the current budget.
ROBOT BOMB DETECTOR Los Angeles International Airport has acquired a mobile robot for bomb detection and disposal duties and will deploy it at LAX this fall. The Board of Airport Commissioners approved the $160,000 purchase in March. The manufacturer, Remotect Inc., produced the 3-ft. 8-in. tall robot for the military. At 17.5 in. wide, the slender body can reach fairly confined spaces even on aircraft. It can travel on wet or dry surfaces, climb stairs and cross ditches. Officials said the robot will be controlled by fiber-optic or wireless signals.
The FAA may issue an airworthiness directive, or take other "appropriate" action as early as this week in response to an incident on America West Flight 44, where an oil mist filled the passenger cabin of an Airbus A319 and prompted a diversion.
Don't confuse US Airways' recent $4.3-billion order for 170 regional jets as the harbinger of a recovery in this beleaguered industry sector; it's probably the last big order the two leading RJ airframe makers will snare for a long time.
Paul David Miller, who is chairman/CEO of Alliant Techsystems of Minneapolis, is scheduled to relinquish the CEO post on Oct. 1 to Dan Murphy, who is now group vice presdient-precision systems.
TEHRAN RISING Iran's efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction are increasingly raising alarms. "I am very concerned," says Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.). He indicates Tehran's activities have accelerated since the fall of Baghdad. The House Armed Services Committee member contends classified information shows Iran's Bushehr nuclear facility, which has been the focal point of U.S.
