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.
UNITED STATES Editor-In-Chief: David M. North [email protected] Managing Editor: David Hughes [email protected] Assistant Managing Editors: Stanley W. Kandebo--Technology [email protected] Michael Stearns--Production [email protected] Senior Editor: Craig Covault [email protected] NEW YORK 2 Penn Plaza, Fifth Floor, New York, N.Y. 10121 Phone: +1 (212) 904-2000, Fax: +1 (212) 904-6068
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.
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.
THE DIAMOND AIRCRAFT DA42 TwinStar made its first flight Dec. 9 at the company's facilities in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. Company owner/CEO Christian Dries said the airplane is aimed at the light piston segment of the general aviation market, including multi-engine training. He said JAA certification is tentatively scheduled for late in 2003, followed by FAA approval in mid-2004. Two Thielert Centurion 1.7 engines, that can burn either Jet A1 or diesel fuel, power the all-composite DA42. Dries projects fuel consumption would be about 10 gal./hr. at 180 kt.
Jerome F. Lederer has received an honorary doctorate in safety science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Ariz., in recognizion of his "unparalleled achievements in aviation safety." The 100-year-old Lederer was founder of the FSF, first director of the U.S. Civil Aeronautics Board Safety Bureau and director of safety for NASA. He also was the subject of a special issue of the FSF's Flight Safety Digest for August-September 2002.
Robert Thibodeau has been appointed vice president-engineering for Avexus Inc. of San Diego. He was senior director of product management for software applications at QAD.
Mark Van Tine has been named president/chief operating officer of Englewood, Colo.-based Jeppesen, effective Jan. 1. He will succeed Horst Bergmann, who has been president/CEO and will be chairman/CEO until retiring May 1. Van Tine has been executive vice-president.
At what point does national security outweigh the public's right to know? Air Transport Assn. President Carol Hallett last week suggested that the fight against terrorism is being undermined by information that is flowing too freely. "The leak of aviation security information is excessive," she told a gathering of aviation and aerospace industry professionals at the Wings Club in New York.
The bulk of New Zealand's air force, which has recently beenstripped of its combat wing and fast jet capabilities, is being consolidated at a single base over the next four years. Whenuapai AFB in Auckland will be closed and assets shifted to Ohakea AFB to be near the primary army base at Linton. Six Orion patrol aircraft and five C-130 transports will be among those making the move. The P-3s are being upgraded, as is the country's combat helicopter force.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT CO.'S Premier I business jet has been certified by Denmark and Israel, bringing to eight the number of countries granting approval to the aircraft. Company officials anticipate certification from Ireland, Brazil and Italy by the end of this year, followed by nine other countries in 2003, including China, Japan, France and the U.K.
The first preproduction Bell/Agusta Aerospace Co. BA609 civil tiltrotor is parked on the tarmac at Bell Helicopter Textron's Flight Research Center in Arlington, Tex., prior to beginning engine runs earlier this month. BAAC test pilots are completing 50 hr. of systems tests before the aircraft is cleared to make its maiden flight early next year (see p. 48). BAAC photo by Sheldon Cohen.
Russia, for so long the focus of U.S. defense technology interest in the Soviet era, may appear to have fallen by the wayside as Washington has emerged as the global superpower, but it could yet turn out to be an active participant in the network-centric world.
Controllers have halted imaging operations on Canada's Radarsat-1 while they work on the spacecraft's faltering attitude control system. The second of two pitch momentum wheels was taken off line Nov. 27 when it began displaying signs of excessive friction and heating, the same problem that shut down the primary momentum wheel in September 1999.
China Southern Airlines has begun installing its Sabre AirOps fleet management software system at the operating bases of China Northern Airlines and China Xingjiang Airlines, which it has taken over as part of an airline consolidation ordered by Beijing's top political leaders.
Apparently expecting to need some replacements, the U.S. has ordered 140 improved tactical air-launched decoys and support equipment worth $21.5 million from Israel Military Industries. In combat, these powered decoys are used to fool enemy air defenses into exposing themselves to attack by coalition forces using anti-radar weapons.
The European Space Agency is expected to confirm this week that its member states endorsed a council decision giving final approval to funding the Galileo satellite navigation system.
While the Pentagon forges ahead--some might caution rashly--with its network-centric warfare efforts, those European countries that are following at all are taking an evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, path.
