Bell Helicopter Textron has delayed first flight of the BA609 civil tiltrotor until at least mid-2002. The first aircraft was to have flown this month from Bell's research and development facility in Arlington, Tex. A company official said the tiltrotor program has funding ``to keep it moving along'' and that engines have been installed in the two preproduction prototypes at Arlington. Bell still has orders for 80 aircraft. According to the official, the six-month delay is not related to the troubled Bell Boeing V-22 program.
RAF Air Chief Marshal (ret.) Sir John Willis (see photo) has been appointed chairman of London-based Rosetta Global Communications, a consortium that includes BAE Systems and the Lockheed Martin Corp.
Meanwhile, an Ariane 4 orbited a television broadcasting satellite for DirecTV--the 65th success in a row for the medium-lift booster, which is to be phased out in favor of the Ariane 5 in a year's time. The Ariane 5, currently idle while engineers test a new ignition sequence for its Aestus upper stage engine, is expected to return to service in February, for the Envisat Earth observing satellite mission.
The FAA turned down a request from FedEx to extend an exemption from Part 121 rules that would enable it to continue carrying journalists or photographers on board its flights. The exemption, last renewed in 1993, traces its lineage back to permission issued in 1978 to Flying Tiger Lines. Given the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 and the absence of background, screening or security checks for journalists on all-cargo aircraft, ``it is presently not in the public interest to permit such access,'' the FAA said.
Lockheed Martin faces the challenge of carrying the momentum gained through its Russian RD-180 powered Atlas III to the new, more cost-effective Atlas V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle. The Atlas V EELV is set for its first flight in May with a European Eutelsat Hot Bird payload. Lockheed Martin and International Launch Services (ILS) must also take care to sustain an already strong global launch market position, while dealing with the higher risks inherent in a new booster.
Passenger air travel transformed human life during the 20th century. Growing from nothing in 1901 to 1.5 billion passengers a year in 2001, aviation directly and indirectly supports 100 million jobs worldwide in the travel, accommodation, catering and leisure industries.
The V370 VME four-channel arbitrary waveform generator was designed in cooperation with aircraft engine manufacturers to handle simulation of real-world sensor inputs. Applications include simulation of sensor signals from complex rotating machines; generation of pure and distorted polyphase AC waveforms with all waveshape parameters (frequency, amplitude, phase, distortion components) smoothly variable in real time; generation of complex pulse trains with real-time control of relative pulse positions and amplitudes; and shake table, servo or actuator drive.
Continental Airlines has opened a new 325,000-sq.-ft. concourse, C-3, at Newark International Airport's Terminal C as part of a $1.4-billion ``Global Gateway'' terminal improvement project.
The Calys 10 calibrator/tester is designed for hand-held or bench-type use. Functions include measurement and simulation of current, temperature (both RTD and thermocouple sensors), DC voltage and resistance. The unit can be used to calibrate controls and perform on-site maintenance of temperature sensors, controllers, converters, regulators, valves, indicators, panel meters, transmitters, recorders and other process loop devices. There is an option for pressure calibration. Built-in software carries data management, setpoint profiles and report generation modules.
Thomas Kilcoyne has been appointed president/CEO of Veritect, Reston, Va., and senior vice president of parent company Veridian. He was CEO of RedCreek Communications.
French independent carrier Air Lib tentatively plans to begin Paris-Algiers operations Dec. 22. The airline intends to serve the politically sensitive destination twice a day in an initiative set to generate much-needed revenues. Air Lib's MD-80s flying to Algeria will rely on voluntary flight and cabin crews. Air France in the last few years repeatedly declined to restart operations to Algiers, reportedly in the absence of sufficiently tight security measures.
The Ariane 5 heavy-lift launcher has completed a test firing of a modified solid rocket motor under the European Space Agency's ARTA continuing technology improvement and validation program. The tests qualified an increased-load forward booster segment containing an extra 2.2 metric tons of propellant, capable of boosting GTO lift capability by 200 kg. (440 lb.), and a new nozzle designed to shave 10 months off manufacturing time and to cut production costs by 40%. Other objectives were to qualify Wecco of the U.S.
Dassault Aviation is planning to postpone a planned increase in the production rate of its Falcon Jet line, following the terrorist attacks in September, but has no plans to postpone or stretch out the introduction of new models.
The development program has been anything but smooth and engineering changes are still in the works, but U.S. Air Force acquisition officials nevertheless have decided that Raytheon's T-6A Texan II Joint Primary Aircraft Training System is ready for the assembly line.
Lufthansa German Airlines is scheduled to take delivery of its first Airbus A380 in the third quarter of 2007. The German flag carrier's Dec. 6 decision to order 15 of the 555-seat aircraft constitutes a vote of confidence for the mega-transport, particularly after the events of Sept. 11. Within hours of Lufthansa's announcement, the value of EADS shares listed in France, Germany and Spain rose a robust 10% to more than 15 euros, reflecting the importance of the order. EADS owns an 80% stake in Airbus.
The French Thales group has formed Thales Airborne Systems Canada, which will focus its business on the integration of aircraft maritime patrol systems.
New tanker aircraft for the U.S. Air Force came a step closer to reality last week with the inclusion of a lease for 100 Boeing 767s in the Senate Appropriations Committee markup of the $317.6-billion Fiscal 2002 Defense Appropriations Bill. The measure includes $60.9 billion for procurement ($500 million more than requested by the White House), a 10% increase in research and development over Fiscal 2001 and $7-8.3 billion for missile defense.
Just as the end of the Cold War a decade ago triggered the wave of consolidations that ultimately produced Boeing Space&Communications and Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., today's emerging global security environment is shaping the U.S. space industry in ways that may send it back to its roots in the early days of guided missiles and reconnaissance satellites.
The AC45LP low-profile aircraft scale is designed for military and commercial aircraft ranging from F-16s to B747s. It is 30 percent lighter than traditional high-capacity scales, can be maneuvered by two men, and can accommodate the nose gear of a widebody aircraft, according to the company. Accuracy is plus/minus 0.1 percent. It includes keypad calibration and set-up, along with on-site altitude/altitude correction.
Boeing Delta IV Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle managers believe their strong early manifest will provide an immediate chance to demonstrate the reliability and long-term marketability of the Delta IV.
Raytheon Technical Services Co. has been awarded a five-year, $11-million contract to provide follow-on test equipment repair and calibration services for the FAA Logistics Center Depot with support of the National Airspace System.
USAF Col. (ret.) Daniel J. Murawinski has become leader of the Ballistic Missile Defense Div. and general manager of the Arlington, Va., office of the Schafer Corp.
James F. Pitts has become vice president/general manager of the Aerospace Systems Div. of the Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems Sector in Baltimore. He was vice president-engineering and manufacturing. Pitts has been succeeded by D. Wayne Snodgrass, who was vice president-Norden Systems, Norwalk, Conn.
An FAA advisory committee has told data link advocates that there will be sufficient spectrum to support ATC voice communications in the U.S. until 2009, contradicting the agency's statement a year ago that voice-frequency bandwidth would run out in 2005. That assessment is good news for the airline industry because it delays the need for a major avionics investment.
