Marc Fiorini, Supervisory Special Agent (Diplomatic Security Service )
How do the skills needed to fly an aircraft translate to those required to kill someone in the close confines of a cockpit? Arthur R. Lee's proposal of a 5-min. firearms course is laughable (AW&ST Mar. 17, p. 6).
THINK SMALL Lockheed Martin Space Systems has completed system design review of a miniature kill vehicle (MKV) concept and plans to demonstrate it within two years, according to the company. The MKV was developed for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, and would be used to protect against a ballistic missile attack. The warhead answers the MDA's requirements for a layered approach to defense, and would intercept a missile in mid-course using some MKVs to eliminate countermeasures while others attack the warhead.
Airlines, battle-fatigued from war on terrorism and war in Iraq, are now preparing for germ warfare--against SARS or severe acute respiratory syndrome, a deadly atypical pneumonia that is spreading rapidly worldwide.
The baseline version of Ariane 5 will return to flight on Apr. 8, with Insat 3A and Galaxy 12 on board. The launch vehicle was cleared for service late last month after a nearly four-month delay following the failure of the higher power Ariane 5 EC-A version in December.
Unlike operations in Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa, the Predator UAV pilots flying over Iraq are being allowed to pull the trigger for the U.S. Air Force instead of the CIA.
INFLATABLE REENTRY An Astrium-Babakin team plans another reflight in September of an inflatable reentry capsule that could be used for payload recovery or planetary exploration missions, or even for terrestrial applications like escape from tall buildings. The submarine-launched inflatable reentry and descent technology demonstrator succeeded in its first flight three years ago, but could not be recovered (AW&ST Feb. 28, 2000, p. 44). A reflight in July 2002 ended in failure.
Jose del Rosario has become senior analyst/Asia-Pacific regional director, based in Manila, for Northern Sky Research. He was country manager for the Philippines for Frost and Sullivan and had been senior analyst/program leader of its Satellite Communications Group.
LOSS LEADERS Some of the military's unmanned aircraft losses in Iraq were intentional, say Pentagon specialists. They say the Pioneers, Hunters and some older Predators and Gnat 750s were stripped and sent into high-risk areas to stimulate Iraqi air defenses so they could be located and attacked. Also, five Firebee derivatives were sent into Baghdad the first night to serve as decoys and to drop chaff until they ran out of fuel.
ANTE UP Partner agencies in the station program meet again but they still don't hammer out the complete plan for keeping it going until NASA's space shuttles return to flight. Another meeting is due this week, as Russia presses toward an Apr. 26 launch of the two-man caretaker crew that will replace the three crewmembers on board now. Although Russia has been balking at setting a long-term plan until full funding is available, it is kicking in some funds of its own to get the station at least through 2003.
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
Douglas Schwartz, who is aviation director for AT&T and former director of standards for FlightSafety International, has received the Airbus Human Factors in Aviation Safety Award from the Flight Safety Foundation. He was cited for developing situational awareness and crew resource management training programs for corporate pilots and for initiating the development of a system to measure specific risks to flight safety.
Apr. 15-17--MRO 2003 & MRO Latin America. Broward County Convention Center, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. May 6-8--Aerospace Defense & Finance Conference. Grand Hyatt Hotel, New York. 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.
An expected go-ahead for the development/validation phase of Europe's Galileo satellite navigation system failed once again to materialize last week, as both the European Commission and the European Space Agency, which are cofunding the 1.1billion-euro ($1.2-billion) system, were forced to shelve meetings at which the program was supposed to be approved. Galileo planners had expected a green light when an ongoing dispute within ESA between Germany and Italy over program leadership was resolved.
Proposed ideas for small, responsive tactical satellites quickly run into a big roadblock--the launcher for a $5-million satellite will cost $25 million, and will take weeks to months to be scheduled. In the words of an industry executive, there is an "impedance mismatch" between promising new satellites and existing launchers.
The European Commission intends to help airlines weather the impact of the war in Iraq. However, despite a two-digit plunge in traffic, only "limited" measures are envisioned.
The Carlyle Group, a private equity company, and Alenia parent Finmeccanica are submitting a joint bid to acquire FiatAvio, Fiat's aero-engine arm. The terms are being finalized in preparation for negotiations expected to meet Fiat's primary goal of reaching an agreement rapidly, according to Finmeccanica Chairman Pier Francesco Guaguaglini.
On Sept. 24, 1861, Thaddeus Lowe rose to more than 1,000 ft. in a balloon near Arlington, Va. The intelligence he gathered on Confederate troops 3 mi. away was used to aim and fire Union guns accurately without actually being able to see the troops directly--a first in the history of warfare. Just 42 years later, the Wright brothers' first heavier-than-air powered flight paved the way to a more complete exploitation of the new medium. The advantage gained from this new "high ground" changed the nature of war.
Barry Shope (see photo) has been named vice president-business development for H. Koch & Sons, Anaheim, Calif. He was safety equipment international division manager for Simula Inc.
LAUNCH DATE Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science has set a May 9 launch date for the Mu Space Engineering Spacecraft-C (Muses-C) asteroid sample return mission. Liftoff for the asteroid 1998 SF36 will be from the Uchinoura launch site at Kagoshima. The flight had been expected last November or December, but was delayed because of a defective O-ring package in its M5 launcher. Muses-C is to arrive at the asteroid about two years after launch and return samples to Earth in June 2007. It will meet 1998 SF36 in an orbit between Earth and Mars.
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
John Hussey has been promoted to principal director from principal scientist for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration programs at The Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, Calif. Other recent promotions were: John A. Maguire to principal director for NASA and other civil programs from director of the Product Development Directorate; Mark N. Rochlin to principal director from director for commercial, international and homeland security programs in the Business Development Directorate; Hans L.
Germany's TUI Airline Management has awarded Pratt & Whitney a seven-year contract for the overhaul of CFM56-3/7B turbofans powering Boeing 737-400/-800s. Work will be performed at Pratt & Whitney's Stavanger, Norway, airport engine facility.
