Pierre Fabre (see photo) has been named president/CEO of France-based CFM International. He will succeed Gerard Laviec, who is scheduled to retire on Aug. 30.
HUMAN ERROR IS THE CHIEF CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS involving helicopters flying emergency medical services (EMS) missions in the U.S. According to a report published by the Flight Safety Foundation, from January 1987 to December 2000 there were 87 EMS accidents. Of these, 32 were fatal crashes that killed 96 people. Human error was cited as the cause in 84% of the accidents. In addition, 36 of 87 aircraft were destroyed and another 51 were damaged substantially.
Bioethicist Laurie Zoloth of San Francisco State University sparks a lively debate in the NASA Advisory Council by wondering if the Crew Return Vehicle, halted to help keep International Space Station (ISS) within budget caps, is really necessary. Former Sen. Jake Garn (R-Utah), himself a one-time space traveler, argues the U.S. astronaut corps would be willing to forego the lifeboat.
Ralph W. Shrader, chairman/CEO of Booz, Allen&Hamilton, has won AFCEA's David Sarnoff Award for 2001. The award honors ``sustained personal commitment to enhancing the future of mankind through communications, electronics and information technology.''
The extent of the chill in U.S.-China relations could be known soon when Chengdu-based China Southwest Airlines (CSAL) makes a decision on whether to acquire Boeing or Airbus aircraft for its short-haul domestic routes. There is also concern for other deals, including the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) order for 30 Boeing 737 Next-Generation aircraft, the lease by Hainan Airlines (HAL) of 737 and 767 aircraft and the lease of 737s by Xinjiang Airlines (XAL).
A three-engine Tupolev Tu-154M passenger jet crashed on July 3 near the southern Siberia industrial center of Irkutsk, killing all 136 passengers and nine crewmembers. The aircraft was operated by Vladivostok Avia and was flying from Yekaterinburg, in the Urals region, to Vladivostok, with an intermediate stop in Irkutsk. It was on its approach to the Irkutsk airport at 2:10 a.m. local time in clear weather conditions when the aircraft disappeared from air traffic control radar.
Doug Whitlock, who has been president of Stellex Monitor Aerospace, a subsidiary of Florham Park, N.J.-based Stellex Technologies Inc., has been appointed president of Stellex Precision Machining, Wellington, Kan. He will be succeeded by Bill Waskey, who has been president of Stellex Paragon Precision. P. Roger Byer has been named president/ CEO of Stellex Aerostructures. He succeeds Bradley Call, who has resigned.
General Electric is preparing to begin the latest round of ground tests aimed at securing certification in 2002 for its CF34-8 growth powerplant. Upcoming trials at the company's Peebles, Ohio, site include vibration, turbine stress and turbine assurance tests (left photo).
The race to succeed Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael E. Ryan is open again. The Air Combat Command chief, Gen. John Jumper, had been seen by many as all but crowned. But new Air Force Secretary James G. Roche would like to see Gen. Gregory (Speedy) Martin, the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and one of the youngest four-stars, in the job. Still listed as contenders are the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Richard B. Myers, and Gen. Ralph E. Eberhart, head of the U.S. Space Command. But Eberhart is also in another race--to succeed Army Gen.
June passenger traffic reflected single-digit growth for four U.S. major carriers but fell for United, American, Delta and TWA, compared to June 2000. Air Transport Assn. chief economist David A. Swierenga expects that overall June traffic will be down slightly.
North Korea has conducted an engine test for its Taepo-Dong intercontinental ballistic missile, according to U.S. government officials. U.S. intelligence officials have said they believe Pyongyang has been refining the missile despite North Korea's declared flight test moratorium. The test, late last month, is the first overt sign that development work is proceeding. The only flight test of the Taepo-Dong 1 took place in August 1998.
NASA plans to bring a tiny bit of the Sun down to Earth on board the Genesis spacecraft set for launch on July 30 so scientists can analyze it for clues to how the planets formed.
The U.S. Navy has awarded several contracts that should lead to the F/A-18E/F receiving an all-weather reconnaissance capability using its Shared Airborne Reconnaissance Pod (Sharp). A Lockheed Martin/Elta team received $672,000 to assess integration opportunities of a synthetic aperture radar into Sharp. Furthermore, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon received a $5.8-million contract to demonstrate a SAR system on an F-14. The evaluation late next fiscal year will involve flying a Sharp on an F-14.
British Airways is expected to carry out a technical verification flight later this week of a Concorde supersonic aircraft modified with Kevlar/rubber fuel tank liners. The modified aircraft, Alpha Foxtrot, underwent systems checks and low-speed taxi tests at Heathrow Airport on July 5. The test flight is expected to simulate a London-New York service in order to monitor heat dissipation and obtain accurate data on the amount of unusable fuel in the wing tanks due to installation of the perforated liners (AW&ST Jan. 22, p. 38).
Warren Meyer has been appointed president/chief operating officer of Seattle-based Avolo. He was executive vice president/general manager of the We-Commerce Network.
Three-and-a-half years after the mysterious loss of SilkAir flight MI 185 in a muddy Indonesian river, five families of victims are alleging that the Singapore-based carrier had ample evidence that the flight's captain repeatedly breached safety procedures. Their charge of willful misconduct by SilkAir and its employee is being heard by Justice Tan Lee Meng in Singapore High Court in a trial that is expected to last 15 days. SilkAir is a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, which is majority owned by the Singapore government.
The U.S. Navy is exploring controlling small, tactical unmanned aerial vehicles from submarines for the long-term goal of using them to clandestinely find targets ashore and attack them with cruise missiles.
Boeing will probably lease hangar space, for its 737 corporate aircraft at the Gary/Chicago Airport in Gary, Ind., as part of the move of its world headquarters to Chicago. Boeing leased space for two of its Bombardier Challenger corporate aircraft at Midway Airport--which is closer to downtown Chicago than the Gary airport--but a hangar at that airport for the 14-passenger Boeing Business Jet was not available.
Delivery of the 6.5-ton Boeing/ NASA airlock module to the International Space Station by the orbiter Atlantis will complete Phase 2 of station assembly, giving ISS crews full autonomy for maintenance and assembly outside the station, whether the shuttle is present or not.
Europe is set to launch a vital technology spacecraft this week in what officials hope will be the first in a long line of telecom demonstration missions intended to reinforce European satcom know-how.
Japan Aircraft Manufacturing Co. won a contract to supply Boeing with landing-gear housing doors for its 747-400. Each jet has 16 such doors, measuring up to 2.5 X 1.7 meters (8.2 X 5.6 ft.). Shipment of the doors is slated for January 2002, after which the company will become the sole supplier.
