Aviation Week & Space Technology

Two launches scheduled last week at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., were postponed into January. NASA's ICESat and CHIPSat were atop a Delta II launcher, but a second-stage ordnance box showed it was not correctly signaling payload fairing separation. The box will be replaced, pushing the launch date to Jan. 8. The Air Force's Coriolis satellite using a Titan II launcher was first scrubbed due to winds and clouds, but the satellite later was found to have a sign error in its magnetic torquer attitude control system. Coriolis will launch no sooner than Jan. 7.

EADS Tests & Services will supply two Atec Series 6 automated test systems to Delta Air Lines' Atlanta maintenance center for testing the avionics suites of Boeing 737, 757 and 767 twinjets.

Peggie Giles has been promoted to director of U.S. fixed base operation sales of Jet Aviation from manager of customer service at the Bedford, Mass., facility.

Please refer to the Correspondence page.

Raytheon Co. is in the process of arranging to sell Stinger low-altitude surface-to-air missiles to Lithuania. The purchase agreement includes vehicle-mounted launch platforms, two Thales/Raytheon TPQ-64 Sentinel portable search-and-target acquisition radars, and associated training and support equipment. The weapon systems will be mounted on Humvees. The U.S. Army Short-Range Air Defense project office will be responsible for overall integration, including mounting the launch platforms onto the Humvees.

Central/Southern US: (AL, AR, CO, IA, KS, LA, MO, MS, OK, TN, TX, UT), Central & South America: See Tom Davis above. Northwest US: (Northern CA, ID, MT, Northern NV, OR, WA), Western Canada: (BC, AB) See Bill Madden above. Western US: (Southern CA, Southern NV, AZ) Soulek & Associates; (818) 762-9988; Fax: (818) 762-9972; e-mail: [email protected] Midwest/Northern US (IN, KY, MI, MO, OH, WV, IL IA, WI, MN, WY, ND, SD, NE), Central Canada (MB, SK): See Chuck Talley above.

The history of exploration is filled with stories of incredible discovery and triumph followed by abandonment and loss. Textbooks are replete with the chronicles of nations rich in culture and pioneering spirit that quit exploring and lost their roles as global leaders. In the 15th and 16th centuries, China, Portugal and Spain competed to explore the New World, but then their leaders decided to stop. The result was an end to their reign as technological and cultural innovators.

Nothing about China and Taiwan's interaction is uncomplicated--especially where aviation services are concerned.

Director of Inside Sales: Elizabeth Meyer; (212) 904-3675; Fax: 212-904-3993; e-mail: [email protected] Diane Soister; (212) 904-2897 or (800) 289-5813; e-mail: [email protected] Dept. Fax: (212) 904-3993 Europe/MidEast/Africa: See Vittorio Rossi Prudente above. United Kingdom, Ireland: Dan Riley, Mongoose Ltd.; +44-(0)20-7306-0300; Fax: +44-(0)20-7306-0301; e-mail: [email protected]

The Pentagon's revised missile defense strategy not only accelerates fielding of several systems, but also raises the prominence of the sea-based component over the land-based elements that have dominated planning in recent years.

Erin Pettigrew, (212) 904-6425; Fax (212) 904-3334

After repeated denials, Thailand's government has acknowledged that Bangkok's new airport--recently named Suvarnabhumi International Airport--will not open as scheduled in February 2004. That might seem obvious since only 24% of construction has been finished and Project Site Director Sriwiroj Chantawong said recently there are still design problems to be worked out. He declined to name them, but indicated a third-quarter 2005 opening was realistic. However, other officials have made that date somewhat elastic.

Yul Kwon has been named an associate at the Washington law firm of Harris Wiltshire & Grannis. He was a legislative fellow and adviser on science and technology issues on the staff of U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.).

FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL HAS RECEIVED approval from the European Joint Aviation Authorities for executive jet maintenance technician training programs at eight learning centers, including four in the U.S. The decision by DGAC, the French national aviation agency acting on behalf of the JAA, is the first approval for such training at U.S. facilities, a FlightSafety official said. The authorization covers 61 aircraft models.

Nice Cote d'Azur, France's second busiest airport, expects to attract more airlines as additional nonstop routes are being inaugurated in an increasingly fragmented market. Despite the tight space and environmental constraints resulting from its unusual location, a narrow strip of land between the Mediterranean Sea and the city's center, the two-runway airport is still investing heavily to create growth facilities.

Workers represented by Germany's public services union Ver.Di caused huge chaos in German air travel last week, when they went on strike to reinforce their demands for a pay raise of at least 3%. During the 6-hr. work stoppage by baggage handlers and airport firefighters, hundreds of flights had to be canceled, mainly at Lufthansa's hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. Early next year, a strike by Lufthansa's own ground workers and flight attendants is likely to follow.

The leading supplier of FAA-certified explosives detection systems (EDS)--InVision Technologies Inc.--appears to be hitting its stride.

Ryanair's executives believe the European commission (EC) will reverse its decision to investigate "subsidies" the Irish carrier allegedly obtained from Charleroi, a.k.a. Brussels South, airport. The EC's move is based on a complaint filed by an undisclosed competitor who claimed the airport offered rock-bottom landing fees and other incentives to Ryanair for setting up a major base at the airport to serve destinations in southwest France. BritAir, an Air France regional subsidiary, filed a similar complaint about Ryanair's newly inaugurated operations at Strasbourg.

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Aviation Week & Space Technology this week launches "Contrails," a monthly feature that will present stories that may never have made it into print, yet contribute to the "spirit" of aerospace (see p.56). "Contrails" has its roots in "Aerospace in Crisis" and workforce development news that AW&ST has covered during the past three years. In their reporting, our editors found that many young people--who could become next-generation aerospace professionals--were not being exposed to accounts that convey the rich heritage of aerospace.

Eclipse Aviation and Williams International last week reached a settlement agreement regarding termination of the EJ22 engine program, the terms of which were not disclosed. Eclipse recently canceled its contract with Williams, which was developing the 770-lbf. EJ22 turbofan engine for the Eclipse 500 twin-engine business jet program (AW&ST Dec. 16, p. 64). Eclipse is opting for a higher thrust engine and expects to announce a new engine manufacturer in several weeks.

British Airways is continuing its group-wide restructuring with significant cuts and shifts in its regional operation. Europe's biggest airline has decided to drop 21 routes by the end of March 2003 currently operated by its fully owned subsidiary BA CitiExpress and transfer 12 Jetstream 41s to independent carrier Eastern Airways. BA is pulling out of Cardiff and Leeds Bradford completely. In what is a major blow to Airbus, the carrier also dropped orders for 12 A318s and three A319s, replacing them with 10 larger A321s.

Recent articles on countermeasures available for adoption on civilian airliners sounded a timely warning on how terror- ists can strike. Having been involved in electronic support measures/electronic countermeasures for more than 20 years, I can say it is time that civilian airlines adopt the flare-dispensing system to thwart infrared-seeking missiles. Flares that can extinguish on reaching the ground are available.With a number of SA-7s still with terrorists, this is the only available solution.

Publisher, Strategic Media: Gregory D. Hamilton, (212) 904-3259; e-mail: [email protected] Publisher, AviationNow.com and Director, Strategic Development and Acquisitions: Mark A. Lipowicz, (212) 904-4626; e-mail: [email protected] Director, Brand Marketing and Custom Media: Chris Meyer, (212) 904-3255; e-mail: [email protected] Director, Marketing Services: Cathy Christino, (212) 904-2285; e-mail: [email protected]

A clean launch on the fourth mission of the H-IIA medium-lift rocket appears to have put Japan back in business studying global climatic change, particularly global warming.