The French government is attempting to thrash out a multiyear spending plan that affords sufficient resources for the modernization of France's new professional army and its contribution to Europe's rapid reaction force while allowing for current fiscal realities.
Six governments are poised to launch a program to cooperate on advanced technologies which could be inserted into existing military aircraft and form the basis for next-generation systems by 2020. The so-called European Technology Acquisition Program (ETAP) is aimed at closing the gap with the U.S. on critical technologies, including stealth, and could form the basis for a European competitor to the U.S. Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
Stanton D. Sloane, who has been executive vice president of Lockheed Martin's Management and Data Systems, will now head the navigation systems unit based in King of Prussia, Pa., of Lockheed Martin's Space Systems.
Harris Corp. has received a $300-million contract from the Air Force Electronic Systems Center for new ground satellite terminals that will enable commanders to communicate seamlessly around the globe using a variety of military and commercial spacecraft. The new lightweight Ground Multi-Band Terminals are to replace older mobile quad-band terminals that could not work with the full range of spacecraft now aloft.
The U.S., with its worldwide intelligence-gathering capability, is viewed with suspicion by many, even when its intentions are humanitarian. A big concern for U.S. Air Forces in Europe, which need to operate throughout Africa on relief and aid missions, is how to keep tabs on what's going on without being involved in activity that could be construed as spying.
Even though many pilots underwent IFR training using government charts, they've developed a preference for flying with Jeppesen charts. King Schools has released a two-video series covering Jeppesen charts in depth. Volume 1--En route, Departures&Arrivals and Volume 2--Approaches were created for pilots familiar with U.S. IFR rules, and present a review of the meaning of the symbols used on the charts and tips on how to use the charts to their full advantage.
A White House call for reinvigorating the U.S. military has gone virtually unheeded. Forces, infrastructure and funding for Europe have all sustained cuts as Washington focuses on Eastern Asia. U.S. Air Forces in Europe is struggling to realign its few remaining bases, manpower and training facilities. Yet, the demand to conduct military and humanitarian operations in the Middle East and Africa is growing. The loss of training ranges and airspace in Western Europe is compounding the strain. U.S.
Government spending on the European Space Agency's share of the International Space Station will leave almost one-third of the cost of using it unfunded, so ESA and its industrial partners are looking for ways to fill in the shortfall with paying customers.
Tnemec has introduced its Series 237 Power-Tread flooring system, a multipurpose broadcast, slurry broadcast or mortar-applied floor-topping system designed for warehouses and industrial manufacturing or processing facilities. It offers flexibility as a primer, mortar or broadcast flooring system, for either a new floor or a retrofit job. It protects against impact, abrasion and chemicals. The material also offers contractors and facility owners easy mixing ratios, shorter cure times and a longer pot life.
The Portable Pro-Pen can provide identification and traceability of large or heavy parts in hard-to-reach areas. It marks a wide variety of materials and surfaces, including machined, flat, concave and circular, and can mark horizontally and vertically. The system is supplied with a battery pack and can also run off 110- or 220-volt current; it is self-contained and equipped with a screen, detachable keyboard and integrated software so a separate PC is not required. There is an optional Ni-Cad battery, rapid charger and Windows RS-232 cable for downloading marking files.
NASA is funding 10 rapid studies of Mars missions to ``jump start'' work for a full-fledged competition next year. In March, the agency received 43 responses to its request for proposals to refine concepts for a Mars Scout mission for possible launch in 2007. Scout missions, which are to cost less than $300 million, are intended to complement the agency's core missions to the red planet.
Thomas Herring has become vice president-integrated systems for BAE Systems Controls, Johnson City, N.Y. He was vice president-national upgrade programs and display systems at BAE Systems Advanced Systems, Greenlawn, N.Y.
European Space Agency scientists are preparing to send an armada of advanced spacecraft to the second Lagrangian point (L2), a spot about 1 million mi. from Earth in the direction away from the Sun where the thermal and radiation environments are ideal for long-distance observations.
Craig Dickson has been appointed executive vice president-business development and Louis Joubert general manager for high-performance display products for Luxell Technologies Inc. of Toronto.
The BAE Systems-led Horizon consortium has entered into a partnership with the British Royal Air Force to market spare aviation maintenance and ground-crew training capacity. The consortium, which also includes GKN Westland and Rolls-Royce, is targeting the commercial sector, as well as other armed forces. Horizon estimates the project will generate 11 million pounds ($16 million) in revenues over the next five years. The project is set to begin operations this fall.
Nickel-clad copper wire for use in temperature-rated electronics and other applications with long-term thermal requirements is available from Anomet Products. The wire combines the conductivity of copper and the corrosion resistance of pure nickel. Designed for applications requiring superior oxidation resistance, especially at elevated temperatures, it can be supplied as wire and rod from 0.01-1-in. O.D. in a standard 27% nickel ratio with a conductivity of approximately 70% IACS.
These full extension shelves have a cantilevered monorail attached to the top of the unit. Employing this system helps reduce the possibility of back injuries caused by maneuvering heavy assemblies, parts and components such as engines, molds, dies, fixtures and spare parts. The units require less floor space and eliminate two or three steps in material handling. That's because the shelves roll out, so the needed part can be picked up with the overhead hoist and then moved directly to the work area. Proper Storage Systems, 2200 Highway 90 East, Seguin, Tex. 78155.
David Kitchings (see photo) has been named president of McKinney (Tex.) Aerospace. He was chief operating officer and succeeds Ron Kitchings, who will remain on the board of directors.
Able Engineering has completed acceptance testing of the first set of solar arrays for the next-generation GPS IIF satellites. The arrays were designed, built and tested by Able under a multi-year contract to Boeing. Each set of silicon-based solar cell Puma arrays provides in excess of 1,650 watts of power. Each array consists of three deployable panels and a yoke support assembly, measuring a total of 5.6 ft. wide X 25.6 ft. long when fully deployed.
Scott Dickson has been appointed president of Vanguard Airlines. He succeeds Jeff Potter, who has become executive vice president/chief operating officer of Frontier Airlines. Dickson was vice president-planning and revenue management of Grupo TACA.
The market for Boeing's planned Sonic Cruiser aircraft design and its possible derivatives could reach into the thousands, although the company expects to be building the current wide-body models for decades to come, according to Boeing officials. Alan R. Mulally, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said the potential market for Boeing's planned Sonic Cruiser design--in its initial form and in possible follow-on models--could range as high as 3,000-4,000 aircraft in the next 15-20 years.
Tight budgets, growing competition and industry consolidation, margin erosion, workforce shortages and training issues--all are neck-and-neck in the industry's rankings of the greatest challenges facing the aerospace aftermarket, according to a joint Computer Sciences Corp.-Aviation Week&Space Technology industry poll.
