Honeywell International has granted an exclusive license to Santa Barbara Infrared Inc. (SBIR), a Heico company, to manufacture and incorporate Honeywell's infrared emitter technology into SBIR's Mirage IR Scene Projector product line. The Mirage offers real-time infrared images for testing IR missile seekers, imagers and missile warning systems. Use of the Honeywell technology will provide ``hotter/brighter'' pixels and higher frame rates, resulting in more accurate and dynamic target representation to seekers and sensors under test, according to SBIR.
Aces in Command is a thoughtful, informative work that examines the careers of four extraordinary individuals who, in each of their respective wars, had a profound effect on U.S. fighter strategy and tactics.
U.S. airlines ended 2001 with traffic gradually returning from the setback caused by terrorism and the dampening effect from the persistent state of high threat over the last four months. Traffic is not likely to return to normal pre-Sept. 11 levels until midyear. Stabilized prices--meaning fewer discounts and less availability--are forecast for later in 2002 when there is a hint of operating profits for the industry as a whole.
EMBRAER IS OFFERING an upgraded version of the Rolls-Royce AE3007 engine to customers placing orders for the new Legacy business jet--a corporate version of the company's regional jet transport. The E-series engine produces increased thrust and reduces takeoff distance. Balanced field length would be less than 6,000 ft., according to Embraer. The Brazilian company also has teamed with Jet Aviation, Bizjet International and Midcoast Aviation to provide service and support for the Legacy in the U.S. and Europe.
China's Aviation Industry Corp. I (AVIC I) has established an infotech unit called AVIC Information Technology Co. Ltd. (AVICIT), and it is going after business outside the mother company, both inside China and internationally. One of its goals is to guide other Chinese national enterprises ``toward advanced management smoothly.'' AVICIT chairman Shi Chuan said less than 10% of Chinese companies have CAD/CAM or office automation, and less than 3% have enterprise resource planning software.
Flight tests recently began evaluating an experimental system with a forward-looking infrared type sensor that can also provide missile approach warning data to aim a laser jamming beam at an incoming IR-guided missile. Highlights of the system, which might find application on Germany's Eurofighter, were reported by Ingo Schwaetzer of BGT Bodenseewerk at the annual conference of the Assn. of Old Crows, an electronic warfare professional group. A functionally similar technique was earlier selected for the U.S. Air Force's new F-22.
While competition goes on for signals intelligence programs such as a follow-on to the ill-starred Joint Sigint Avionics Family, there also is an unseen, parallel battle being waged in the world of classified programs. The prize will be survival and perhaps supremacy in the rapidly shrinking, increasingly expensive arena of intelligence gathering.
The ADT-1000 aeronautical data terminal supports high-speed data access, including e-mail, Internet, voice and fax services from the air. A dual-channel unit capable of bi-directional 128 Kbps. throughput over the new Inmarsat Swift64 mobile ISDN service, the unit will allow users to access e-mail and the Internet from suitably equipped business jets. The technology, combined with the Inmarsat satellites and network, works as an extension of a corporate local area network. The ADT-1000 is compatible with Arinc-741 Aero-H/H+ antennas.
The Defense Dept. is reporting progress for its tactical laser weapons with interest in the systems expanding--as the Navy joins in the Air Force and Army push for such devices. Officials at the High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility (Helstf) here are in early discussions with Navy officials about employing some of the Army's laser infrastructure. The Army facility would be used to lay the groundwork for the Navy to reinitiate its long-dormant high-energy laser research, Defense Dept. officials said.
The Touch 'n Go ultrasonic thickness gage features color touch-screen operation of approximately 40 control knobs and switches. In addition, the NovaScope 5000 permits touch storage and recall of all instrument setup parameters. An ultrasonic pulser-receiver allows a range of applications from those that require sensitive, high-resolution setups to those that need penetrating power and high sensitivity. The unit is suited for both contact spot gaging and noncontact gaging in automated in-line process control applications.
Temp-Plate irreversible temperature recorders provide an alternative to monitoring surface temperature with sensors or probes. These self-adhesive labels create a permanent record of overheat conditions, which have applications in preventative maintenance, warranty abuse detection, electronic circuit failure, failed component troubleshooting, product design, hydraulic systems, motor bearings and batch process monitoring. Each round temperature position turns irreversibly black when exposed to its rated temperature, thus permanently recording the temperature event.
General aviation pilots and charter operators in Utah are preparing for a three-week lockdown next month, the result of a new round of flight restrictions proposed by security officials connected with the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
Confirming the bad news trends they began reporting last fall, Japanese airlines said their Dec. 22-Jan. 6 holiday season transpacific passenger loads were way off normally buoyant levels for the two-week period.
The Model 85 instrumentation disk recorder emulates DCRsi tape recorders, allowing the user to work with existing software and cables. The product has applications in high-technology industries and government-related markets for airborne, range telemetry, intelligence and test/measurement use. The recorder features a built-in network port for transfer of recorded data, a transfer rate of 240 Mbps., a minimum internal disk storage of 200GB, and external disk storage of up to 4 terabytes.
First launch of the Boeing Delta IV Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) will be delayed from Apr. 30 until mid-July at the request of Eutelsat, which has purchased the mission to launch a Eutelsat W communications satellite. Although Eutelsat requested the delay, first flight of the Delta IV already was on the verge of being postponed to allow Boeing to complete checkout of its new Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral (AW&ST Dec. 10, 2001, p. 65).
Air services Australia has awarded Thales ATM a contract to upgrade The Australian Advanced Air Traffic System (TAAATS) to use aircraft position information from ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) information sent automatically from equipped aircraft. The upgrade will allow air traffic controllers to display ADS-B traffic information integrated with inputs from radar, flight plans and the existing ADS-C (contract) system. The TAATS upgrade covers the Brisbane area control center and the Melbourne test/evaluation platform and simulator.
French independent carrier Air Lib--whose massive losses are curtailing its ability to attract new investors and devise a rescue plan--got an unexpected boost from the French government, which agreed to inject 30.5 million euros in emergency bailout funding.
This company offers precision welding and micro-hole drilling services using an Nd:YAG four-axis, pulsed-laser system featuring fiber-assisted optic lenses to achieve close tolerances. It can produce holes 0.008-in. in diameter and weld depths of up to 0.030 in., depending on material thickness. Typical parts produed through these precision welding and micro-hole drilling processes include electronic connectors and strainers for jet aircraft engines. Small components made from stainless steels, beryllium, titanium, steel or nickel alloys, and inconel can be processed.
The FAA approved a request by the Air Transport Assn. and the Regional Airline Assn. for a 10-day extension, through Jan. 17, of the deadline for comments on its rule requiring airport and aircraft operators to conduct fingerprint-based criminal history record checks of all personnel who have unescorted access to secure areas at airports. The FAA issued the rule Dec. 6 without prior notice, but said it might amend it if the after-publication comments warrant a change. The trade associations asked for more time to assess practical and legal issues.
AS OF DEC. 31, 2001, Raytheon Aircraft Corp. had flown the production prototype Hawker Horizon on 69 flights totaling 93 hr. since the airplane first flew in August 2001. Chief test pilot Tom Carr said the Horizon is flying up to three sorties each day, seven days a week, and that the flight envelope has been expanded to Mach 0.7 (350 KIAS) at altitudes up to 45,000 ft. and takeoff weights as high as 36,000 lb.
These wrench-operated collet chucks require no drawbar, cylinder or collet closer. They feature universal flat back design, and can be used in applications such as workholding on lathes, mills and grinders. They can be operated manually with a standard chuck key. Concentricity is adjustable for accuracy, and the chucks can be used on hybrid CNC/manual lathes. They are available in types 5C, 16C, 3J and 22J, with respective workpiece capacities of 11/16 in., 15/8 in., 13/4 in. and 21/4 in. Lexair, 2025 Mercer Road, Lexington, Ky. 40511.
The Dust-Hog Supra-Blast is a single-or double-filter configuration unit designed to remove dust, fumes and other industrial pollutants from the air. The unit is designed to remove dust along the entire length of each filter. The cartridge filters offer 310 sq. ft. of media, which the company says is 22% more than the former industry standard. The unit was designed to minimize maintenance time by eliminating standard turn-knob filter access doors.
Searchers have rushed to the hills around Shamsi, a civilian airport in Pakistan about 35 mi. from the Afghanistan border, to examine the site of a Marine Corps KC-130 tanker crash. The airfield, just across the border from Kandahar and on a main escape route from Afghanistan, is being used as a U.S. helicopter base. KC-130s, because of their slow speed, are used as tanker aircraft for long-range, special ops helicopters. U.S. Central Command said they did not yet know if any of the seven crewmen had survived the Jan. 9 crash. The aircraft went down about 8 p.m.
Global Internet exchange Exostar has named Donald E. Bielinski as president and chief executive officer. He is a 29-year veteran of North American maintenance supplier W.W. Grainger Inc., where he held a number of senior management positions, including chief financial officer. Since 1995 he has overseen Grainger's Internet-related initiatives and guided its digital strategy.
The FAA has released its first book dedicated to balloon flying. It is written for student pilots learning to fly balloons, certificated pilots preparing for additional balloon ratings or who desire to improve their flying proficiency and aeronautical knowledge, commercial balloon pilots who are teaching students, and prospective students seeking information on the sport. Beginning with a brief history of balloon flight, the book provides information and guidance to pilots in the performance of maneuvers and procedures.
