RUSH JOB To aid its intelligence personnel supporting combat operations against Iraq, the U.S. Navy quickly fielded a bunch of new data exploitation tools. But the well-meant effort also came with a price; operators found themselves in the Persian Gulf scratching their heads about what some of the devices are supposed to be good for. There was a lot of "hands- on learning" that proved less than ideal, says one Navy intelligence officer.
FRIENDLY E-FIRE The Pentagon is opening its doors to foreign developers of high-power-microwave (HPM) devices to see if any of their tools would be useful to the U.S. military. Under its foreign comparative test program--one of the few avenues for foreign technology into the U.S. arsenal--the U.S. Navy plans to conduct a series of tests of available technologies around July through September next year. The assessment will be conducted at the Etcheron Valley Outdoor HPM Test Facility at the Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, Calif.
JAL FLEET PLAN Look for the Japan Airlines Group to simplify its fleet during over the next four years while buying mid-sized aircraft. The group, which combines Japan Airlines and Japan Air System, has 281 aircraft in 16 types but expects to reduce this to 276 jets in 14 types by March 2006. The list will be cut further to 11 types by March 2007. Airline officials have not said how many total aircraft are to be in the fleet then. But the group's Jetstream 31 turboprops and MD-11s are to be retired by March 2004 and 2005, respectively.
AVIONICS ADVANCE IN CHINA China's AVIC I Commercial Aircraft Co. has selected Rockwell Collins' Pro Line 21 avionics system for the ARJ21 regional jet. The 79-99-seat aircraft's flight deck will include five Collins' 10 X 8-in. liquid crystal displays and join a number of technologies, including integrated processing and Ethernet network communications. Other advances for Chinese aviation manufacturing include radio sensors supporting the transition from voice to data communications.
CUSTOM FIT Vykor Inc. has allied with Boeing's St. Louis-based Phantom Works to find new, cheaper and more efficient methods of machining component parts. The Renton, Wash., company, a fabrication specialist, has pursued what it describes as "plunge milling," using a series of drilling steps that show promising efficiencies over other methods, according to Todd Wallen, Vykor's vice president for product strategy and business development.
MORE SPECIAL Some of the U.S. Army's best helicopters, those flown by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, are slated to get a bit better. For instance, the U.S. Army wants to upgrade its MH-47 Chinooks to make them less vulnerable to heat-seeking missiles by adding infrared exhaust suppressors to the fleet. The service expects to buy up to 67 kits starting next fiscal year. Also, the service is initiating a service life extension program for its MH-60, that should make the aircraft highly common with the upgraded UH-60M the regular Army is buying.
A continued controversy over engine selection is jeopardizing the decision to procure the European A400M airlifter on strictly commercial terms. Responsibility for development of the commercial transport-inspired program --including the selection of suppliers and vendors--has been given to Airbus without restrictions. However, the aircraft manufacturer's plan to choose Pratt & Whitney Canada's (PWC) proposed PW180 turboprop, instead of a European candidate, is fueling a fierce debate and behind-the-scenes political interference.
American Airlines is implementing concession agreements and initiating a flood of layoffs to more than 7,000 pilots, mechanics, flight attendants and support personnel.
To the relief of the Canadian tourism industry, the World Health Organization lifted its travel warning to Toronto last week (AW&ST Apr. 28, p.26). The WHO move prompted a flood of airline ticket offers. Air Canada launched its "Canada Loves Toronto" program for the May1520 Victoria Day weekend celebrations with deep discounted fares, and its subsidiary Tango offered 1,000 one-way, $1 "Loonie Fares" to the city from anywhere in its Canadian network.
Delta Air Lines has joined American and United airlines in seeking steep wage cuts from its pilots. Delta asked for an immediate 22% pay reduction and rescinding of a 4.5% raise that was to become effective last week. Other concessions include extra pay for night and international flights.
FRENCH CONTROL CENTER The European Space Agency has contracted CNES, France's national space agency, to develop and run a control center dedicated to the Automated Transfer Vehicle. ESA is developing the ATV to resupply and reboost the International Space Station as part of the agency's share of ISS operations. The center, to be located in Toulouse, will begin operation in September 2004, when the first ATV is scheduled for launch.
CSA UNIFORM-ITY As an additional step in China Southern Airlines' takeover of two regional carriers, the Guangzhou-based carrier said that beginning June 1 flight attendants and pilots from China Northern Airlines and Xinjiang Airlines will wear the same uniform as their new parent. CSA was China's largest carrier before the government-planned consolidation of airlines, with a fleet of 187 aircraft and assets of $6.8 billion, according to company officials.
Neil Planzer has become vice president-stakeholder solutions for Boeing Air Traffic Management, McLean, Va. He was executive director of the Defense Dept.'s Policy Board on federal aviation and associate director for civil aviation of the U.S. Air Force.
The way European nations react to U.S. demands to participate in Iraqi peacekeeping missions may prove to be a bellwether of future defense cooperation.
SCREENING ROOM Virgin Atlantic Airways and EasyJet are the participating airlines in trials of a new pre-entry screening system under evaluation by U.S. and U.K. law enforcement agencies. Under the system, a computerized document reader scans passports for possible forgery or tampering, and cross-checks against records in law enforcement and immigration databases. The three-month-long test was launched at London Heathrow Airport Apr. 28 and is set to begin at Miami International in mid-May.
PILOT LAYOFFS AHEAD American Airlines' regional affiliate American Eagle plans to lay off 60 pilots in response to slack travel demand and revised service schedules in certain markets. According to an Eagle representative, about 35 pilots would be given pink slips in June followed by the remainder in August and September. The representative said the reductions are being driven chiefly by weak advance bookings, particularly in the Caribbean region where Eagle operates turboprop-powered transports.
Northrop Grumman Corp. last week posted one of its strongest first-quarter performances on record, with major contributions from the recently acquired TRW businesses. "Key programs appear to be on track, and there were no charges on recently troubled programs in the quarter, including Polar Tanker and [United Arab Emirates'] F-16 radar," Credit Suisse First Boston analyst Pierre Chao noted.
Alison Hartley (see photos) has been named head of business development for L-3 Communications' Integrated Systems, Greenville, Tex. She succeeds Val Gavito, who is now head of engineering and strategic initiatives. Hartley was market segment leader of electronic warfare/special mission aircraft for Honeywell Defense & Space Systems.
NEW ESA LAUNCHER CHIEF Antonio Fabrizi, head of space activities at FiatAvio, will take over as director of launchers at the European Space Agency when current director Jean-Jacques Dordain steps up to become director general of the agency on July 1. Fabrizi's appointment underscores the growing importance of Italy, which is spearheading the Vega light booster initiative and a major reusable launch vehicle research project. It could also smooth ruffled feathers among those member states that didn't want a Frenchman to replace Antonio Rodota as agency boss.
TRANSATLANTIC GROWTH Labinal, a Snecma group subsidiary, continues its U.S. expansion. The French company will acquire Boeing's Corinth, Tex.-based electrical wiring business. The unit, which has 900 employees, will be renamed Labinal Corinth and bring Labinal's total workforce in North America to 2,300. Labinal also operates industrial units in Mexico and in Morocco.
May 14-16--Homeland Security Summit & Exposition. Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arlington, Va. June 16--Top 100 Stars of Aerospace, Paris (during the Paris air show). Sept. 16-18--MRO Europe, Cardiff, Wales. Oct. 14--Value Creation Conference The McGraw-Hill Companies Headquarters, New York. Oct. 28-30--A&D Programs & Productivity Conference & Exhibition. Arlington (Tex.) Convention Center. Nov. 18-20--MRO Asia Conference & Exhibition. Hong Kong Convention Center.
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
COMANCHE KICK-OFF Boeing has opened a 20,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing facility at its Philadelphia plant to produce Comanche helicopter aft fuselage assemblies. Boeing is responsible for the aircraft's mission equipment package, as well as manufacturing and assembling the helicopter's composite tail section and rotor blades. Completed structures will be shipped to Sikorsky Aircraft, Boeing's partner on the Comanche, for final installation on production vehicles.
MOONEY AIRPLANE CO. IS INCORPORATING a redesigned electrical system into its production airplanes. Based on the M20 Bravo's DC drive air conditioning program, the new system uses high-current diodes to isolate either of two alternators from the primary electrical bus. If one alternator fails, it will not affect the other alternator or battery. The new system allows the pilot to fly or land the airplane safely if one alternator fails in flight. Electronic warnings alert the pilot to a failure, and pushing one button removes all unnecessary electrical loads.
