As part of its continuing effort to interest the Army in novel lift aircraft, Boeing is mulling development of a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that could move equipment around the battlefield and would use a pulsed-ejector thrust propulsion system. The concept, called the Light Aerial Multipurpose Vehicle (LAMV), would take off and land vertically using the pulsed-ejector thrusters, which burn a fuel-oxidizer mixture explosively rather than at a constant rate. For forward flight the aircraft would rely on two turbofans.
EADS subsidiary American Eurocopter is opening a second facility in the U.S. situated at the Golden Triangle area in Mississippi. Establishing the site will cost about $12 million, including the lease, equipment and training, says new American Eurocopter President Marc Paganini. The company will produce parts for its AS350, AS355 and EC130 helicopters, conduct final assembly of AS350s, and perform customization. The move is part of EADS' growth strategy in the U.S. The other American Eurocopter facility is in Grand Prairie, Tex.
Thomas J. Amrhein (see photo) has become a managing director within the aerospace and defense practice of Colbaugh & Heinsheimer Consulting Inc., Newport Beach, Calif. He was president/general manager of the Engineering Services Group of SM&A.
Cargo shall point the way--at least that seems to be the signpost for liberalization of airline trade between China and Taiwan. A senior official of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), who didn't want to be identified, said the Chinese government is willing to approve the start of official talks to start direct commercial passenger and cargo flights between the mainland and Taiwan.
Canada-based low-fare airline WestJet has used U.S. Export-Import Bank loan guarantees to help it secure funding for the purchase of 15 Boeing 737-700s. The first has been delivered, the other 14 are to come in 2003. The aircraft are part of a 30-plane order placed in 2000; the remainder are due by February 2006.
John Schildroth has been appointed executive vice president-operations/chief operating officer, Philip O'Connor senior vice president-human resources and communications, Mark Barry senior director of operations and Ron Anderson sales director, all for EADS Aeroframe Services, Lake Charles, La.
The French defense ministry has agreed to develop a further upgrade of the MBDA Exocet antiship missile and is preparing to start work on a Block 2 upgrade of the Aster 30 anti-air missile with an anti-theater ballistic missile capability. According to program manager Philippe Cotier, the Exocet upgrade, designated Block 3 MM40, will have a 180-naut.-mi. (333.3 km.) range, up from about 90 naut. mi. now. In addition, the missile's overall efficiency will be largely enhanced by an all-new Turbomeca/Microturbo turbojet.
Britain is quietly trying to tear up the present rigid route-map for acquiring future standards of the Eurofighter Typhoon, and persuade its three partner nations to do likewise, in favor of a more flexible technology insertion approach. The Typhoon is currently envisioned as being bought in three ``tranches'': Tranche 1 is now in production, but Tranche 2 and Tranche 3 have yet to be fully defined in terms of capability.
A launch customer for the podded Cobra fire-control radar for AH-1Z attack helicopters hasn't materialized, but Northrop Grumman officials say they are making progress. Turkey, whose negotiations with Bell Helicopter Textron for AH-1Zs are slowly winding up, is a potential candidate. The aircraft wasn't initially offered with the radar, but it is being proposed as an upgrade and has received strong interest from some areas of the Turkish military, said Tony Cannon, business development manager for the Northrop Grumman/Lockheed Martin radar.
The European Court of Justice has struck down yet another European Commission merger decision, increasing speculation that an EC ruling last year blocking an alliance between General Electric and Honeywell will be reversed. The court pronouncement was the second since mid-year to find fault with the Commission's merger review procedures (AW&ST June 17, p. 26).
The Russian government says defense industry revenues rose 18.3% during the first half of the year, driven by a 43.4% surge in aircraft sales, mainly Sukhoi Su-30MKI and Su-30MKK fighters for India and China. Production of land-based weapons increased 16%, defense electronics 11.3% and space products 3%. However, the shipbuilding, munitions and radio communications sectors declined.
NASA has been studying ways it can apply technology developed by its aviation safety program to aviation security, with an eye to funding new activities as early as this fiscal year. Jeremiah F. Creedon, the associate administrator for aerospace technology, told the Aero Club of Washington about a demonstration run out of Langley Research Center in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
The European Space Agency's bid to resurrect Venus Express may be paying off. The Venus mission was deleted from a revised scientific plan earlier this year. But it is ready to be reinstated, largely thanks to savings from a new spacecraft technology program (AW&ST Sept. 23, p. 36). The only remaining hurdle--a 10-million-euro ($9.8-million) contribution from Italy for part of the payload--must await approval of Italy's new space budget.
Italy and France are poised to jointly launch a multimission frigate program that will greatly expand Europe's force projection capability and serve as further impetus for integration of defense procurement and operations. The 27 ships to be built under the 11-billion euro ($10.8-billion) program are to be delivered starting in 2008 and will be the first to carry the Scalp Naval shipborne land-attack cruise missile.
An arbitrator has ruled that Boeing did not violate terms of a job-security provision concerning the right of the International Assn. of Machinists to review and offer alternatives to send work overseas. The 18-month dispute centered on Boeing's freedom to act strategically even if shifting work means losing jobs. The issue was central to strike calls in September, but the machinists couldn't muster enough votes for a walkout.
Frank Hornbuckle has been named chief operating officer of Swales Aerospace, Beltsville, Md. Paul Sanneman has become director of aerospace systems engineering and Mehmet Basci director of mechanical systems engineering.
Meanwhile, Mars Express--the basis for Venus Express hardware and software--passed an important milestone this month when a redesigned parachute for the spacecraft's Beagle 2 lander (shown in preparation for thermal testing) completed balloon drop tests. The new chute, designed by Beagle prime contractor Astrium with the assistance of Analyticon and assembled by Per Lindstrand, was ordered when earlier testing revealed that airbags used to cushion the landing would work only if descent velocities were lower than planned.
Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corp. last week used a supersonic Hawker Hunter 58 to fly chase on its SJ30-2 business jet, undergoing initial FAA certification flight testing. A production prototype (foreground) recently flew at Mach 0.83 (558 mph.) during envelope expansion trials near San Antonio.
Russian space officials are seeking to rescope the Spectrum-X gamma-ray mission in order to fit it into a constrained science funding envelope. The downsizing has been dictated in part by a recent European Space Agency decision not to participate in the mission. ESA was forced to withdraw because of spending limitations, said science projects director John Credland. Russia is a partner on the Integral gamma-ray observatory, for which it has built a dedicated science data reduction center near Moscow.
As its partner nations ratchet up the pressure on Germany to finally decide on the Airbus A400M airlifter, Berlin is warning it must consider cutting procurement numbers. Amid demands from the partner nations that Germany clarify its position on the program as quickly as possible, the newly elected German government is to embark on a wide-ranging program review, including the A400M.
The FAA will extend financial assistance until Dec. 15 for U.S. airlines buying war-risk insurance. As it did with an extension in August, the agency will retain the pricing structure adopted in June that varies the cost of coverage based on how much the airline desires (AW&ST June 24, p. 36). Congress authorized the insurance program after the terrorist attacks last year because insurers raised premiums and reduced coverage.
The launch customer for the Boeing 717 100-seat transport--Orlando, Fla.-based AirTran--will lease 23 more from Boeing Capital Corp. The 717-200s, part of 24 aircraft that AMR Corp. declined to put in service when it acquired TWA, are slated for delivery next year. AirTran currently operates 46 717s.
By MICHAEL MECHAMBy NEELAM MATHEWS ( SAN FRANCISCO NEW DELHI)
Already a key Asian hub, Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok airport should become more important under terms of a renegotiated Hong Kong-U.S. air services agreement that expands access for passenger and freighter services. Over the next two years, the agreement doubles the current cap of 28 weekly passenger services between Hong Kong and third countries, including Japan, for U.S. carriers. A cap of seven will be placed on flights from Chek Lap Kok to Tokyo and four to Osaka. United Airlines is the leading U.S.
War against Iraq more than a decade ago began with one of the most sophisticated electronic warfare campaigns ever conceived. Since then, the Pentagon has innovated little in electronic combat. In many areas, it has let its EW expertise atrophy. New technologies are available to repeat that Persian Gulf war success, but implementation has been stymied by a lack of leadership--both in the services and Office of the Secretary of Defense--and of course by money.
EADS Barfield Inc. has signed a five-year agreement with El Salvador's Taca Airlines to support components for the airline's fleet of 28 A319/A320 aircraft.
