Michael L. Parrag, program manager and instructor pilot at Veridian Corp., died last month while on an airline flight. He was 61. Parrag was a primary influence in the development of flight research capabilities during his 38 years at Calspan in Buffalo, N.Y., which became a part of Veridian. He helped develop flight controls for the space shuttle and other pathbreaking aircraft, ran the building of Calspan's Airborne Systems Test Training Aircraft, and was a program manager and instructor on Veridian's variable-stability Learjet and X-22A at the U.S. Air Force and U.S.
AIRCRAFT THAT DEVIATE FROM FLIGHT PLANS IN THE U.S. will be easier to detect and track with a new network that will interconnect the radar systems of the FAA and the North American Air Defense Command. Solipsys Corp. of Laurel, Md., will use products from Rochester, N.Y.-based Performance Technologies in its tactical component network to track missing aircraft. Performance Technologies radar receiver protocol ensures reliable communications with a wide variety of radar formats, and its networking adapter functions as the communications hardware platform.
The Pentagon's growing interest in conducting military operations through space is prompting the Air Force and NASA to try to form a common development program for the next generation of reusable launch vehicles. But finding a way to combine the civil space and military requirements won't be easy. Already, analysts assessing the two constituencies' needs are finding that they don't coalesce in several areas.
The Administration will try to finesse tricky space science issues in its next budget request by proposing new nuclear propulsion R&D. The aim of the NASA/Energy Dept. effort would be to enable planetary missions that are impossible or too costly using today's chemical rockets. High on the list would be a probe to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt. Scientists are deeply divided over whether to set out for Pluto or explore Jupiter's moon Europa. Pluto proponents argue that the planet is rapidly moving out of position for a chemical-powered launch.
The Administration seeks industry views on a single advanced-technology infrastructure that could meet the common needs of civil aviation, national defense and homeland security for communications, navigation and surveillance. Charles Huettner, senior policy adviser for aviation at the National Science and Technology Council, tells a Transportation Research Board panel the idea is similar to but much broader than GPS, with civil participation and military-civil firewalls designed into the system from the start.
Jahid Fazal-Karim has been appointed regional vice president-sales for the Americas and Charles Garneau regional vice president-narrow-body aircraft for Montreal-based Bombardier Aerospace Business Aircraft.
Companies with products that have many design variations may want to help their customers interactively create the right configuration. PTC has devised DynamicDesignLink software to that end. It allows customers to define the configuration over the Web, create images and specifications in real time, compare alternatives, and generate CAD data including models, drawings and documentation. DynamicDesignLink can automate design reviews and other application engineering functions, and provides for changes to the configuration rules via a graphical interface.
NEC Corp. has been named prime contractor to develop a new-generation Base Air Defense Group Equipment (Badge) semiautomatic air defense warning and control system for Japan's air force. Japan's Defense Agency said the system is to start initial operations by fiscal 2008, following a seven-year development cycle to begin this April as fiscal 2002 gets underway. Development costs are expected to exceed 70 billion yen ($530 million), of which about 25 billion yen is allocated for the current five-year defense plan that ends in 2005.
The Hong Kong Satellite Technology Group, a company owned by the Chinese government, has contracted with Israel Aircraft Industries for the development of two IAI Amos-class direct broadcast communications satellites. The deal, worth upwards of $200 million, ``validates IAI's strategic decision to enter the space systems market,'' said Moshe Keret, IAI president and CEO.
Ryanair is scheduled to take delivery of an additional 100 Boeing 737-800 twinjets by the end of 2010. They will be powered by CFM International CFM56-7 turbofans. The Irish low-cost carrier last week signed the record order and optioned 50 more aircraft in an indication it intends to retain a one-aircraft-type fleet.
A report by Japan's space and science agencies has given a broader mandate to the H-IIA rocket by designating it as the prime launch vehicle for the country's science satellites. The decision means satellites developed by Japan's main space science agency, the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, will use the H-II. In the past, ISAS has relied on its own launchers.
Eurocopter cited a 10% boost in sales last year, to $2 billion. Orders were $2.5 billion, on the strength of continued demand for NH-90 and Cougar military helicopters, but down sharply from the record $4.5 billion posted in 2000. No earnings estimate was given, but Chairman/CEO Jean-Francois Bigay said the company was halfway to meeting the earnings-before-interest-and-taxes sales target of 10% set by parent firm EADS.
The FAA is reporting a decrease in the total U.S. runway incursions for 2001 as well as the number of high-collision-risk incursions. Until last year, runway incursion incidents--which the FAA has regarded its ``No. 1 Safety Priority,'' steadily increased (AW&ST Aug. 14, 2000, p. 51). Based on preliminary FAA data, 381 incursions were reported last year, compared with 431 in 2000. Category A and B incursions, or those with the greatest potential for collision, were also down, with 50 recorded in 2001 compared with 68 in 2000.
Jonathan Howe has rejoined the Washington law firm of Zuckert, Scoutt&Rasenberger and will be a senior policy adviser to the firm and executive vice president of affiliate Farragut International. He was director general of the Geneva-based Airports Council International.
Canadian researchers have determined that wake turbulence generated by heavy commercial aircraft could be amplified under certain atmospheric conditions, a finding that officials say could drive operational considerations for how far apart aircraft should fly. After puzzling over the inflight upset of American Airlines Flight 587 just before it crashed Nov. 12, aerodynamicist Mirek Mokry decided to investigate if wake turbulence could somehow intensify when interacting with wind shear layers, differences in wind direction and velocity with altitude.
THE U.S. NAVY HAS AWARDED Northrop Grumman a $49-million contract for pre-systems development and demonstration of a radar modernization program for the E-2C Hawkeye. The replacement radar is to be a solid-state, electronically steered UHF radar, and incorporate a capability for theater missile defense. Other planned improvements include a new communications suite, improved IFF, updated mission computer and a cockpit modification so the copilot can function as a fourth mission system operator.
The British Defense Ministry and European missile manufacturer MBDA are looking to draw key procurement lessons from a damaging dispute which has substantially delayed a 875-million-pound ($1.25-billion) next-generation air-to-air missile program. The debate between the ministry and industry centered on the issue of missile lethality, and the methods used to model and evaluate this, according to sources close to the program. Another issue concerning a background clutter missile engagement scenario has also been resolved.
FAA Administrator Jane Garvey thinks the Transportation Security Administration will expand the area covered by her agency's newly issued rule requiring fingerprint-based criminal history records checks for employees of airlines, airports, businesses and vendors. Currently the rule applies only to people with unescorted access to secure areas at an airport. Presumably, an expansion would target other employees at and near terminals.
Despite industry-wide efforts to raise cash and ride out the post-Sept. 11 collapse of demand, two of the airlines, US Airways and Continental, finished 2001 with less cash on hand than they had a year earlier. US Airways reported $1.08 billion, down from $1.32 billion, and Chairman Stephen Wolf said the carrier would have a difficult time raising capital quickly by selling or borrowing against assets, since most of what it owns is encumbered.
James J. Ballough has been named director and Louis C. Cusimano deputy director of the FAA Flight Standards Service. Ballough was manager of the service's Eastern U.S. region and acting manager of the FAA Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Div. Cusimano was acting director of the Flight Standards Service.
Fairchild Dornier has reached an agreement with a consortium of banks and shareholders, as well as the Bavarian state and German federal government, regarding a substantial capital injection to secure funding for the manufacturer's expanded product range, pending European Commission approval.
U.S. Air Force officials have gone to Austria to help promote the F-16 in that country's fighter competition to replace J350E Drakens. Austria is looking for a huge offset package, totaling about 200% of the value of any deal. The offer for Block 50/52 F-16s is expected to be up against the JAS 39 Gripen, Eurofighter and Mirage 2000.
Edo Corp. has won a $24.8-million contract from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. to design and manufacture a suite of pneumatic weapon delivery systems for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Gary W. Ervin has become vice president of the El Segundo, Calif.-based air combat systems (ACS) unit of the Northrop Grumman Corp. Integrated Systems Sector. He succeeds Scott J. Seymour, who is now the sector president. Ervin was vice president-advanced development programs for the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Palmdale, Calif. Steven R. Briggs has been promoted to vice president/deputy of ACS from vice president and F/A-18 program manager.
Software companies can expect growing competition from China. On Jan. 4, The New York Times reported on Chinese delegations visiting Indian software companies and universities to learn what makes the country the second-largest software supplier after the U.S. The Chinese wondered what factors might play a role in India's success. ``The most important difference is that professors in India teach computers in English and professors in China teach computers in Chinese,'' said Shen Weiping, vice president of Jiaotong University in Shanghai.
