The Mineseeker Foundation, a joint venture between the U.K.'s Defense Evaluation Research Agency (DERA) and the Lightship Group, is seeking to raise $14.4 million to complete development work on an ultrawideband radar capable of detecting buried mines and unexploded ordnance. A prototype, installed in an airship, was deployed to Kosovo for operational testing late last year (AW&ST Nov. 27, 2000, p. 38). DERA officials said detailed analysis of data exceeded their expectations.
Australia's new A$20.8 billion ($10.8 billion) defense budget for 2001-02 includes an increase of $263.4 million that is to be followed by a $539.8 million increase next year. The budget includes funds for several new systems including anti-submarine torpedoes for use on the P-3C maritime patrol aircraft, and Seahawk and Seasprite helicopters that should be in service by 2005. It also funds the extension of the Caribou airlifter to 2010 and buys additional air-defense systems. The spending level also finances 33 existing modernization programs.
INTERSTATE ELECTRONICS CORP. HAS SHIPPED its first SAASM-based GPS receivers to Raytheon for testing in the Army's Excalibur program, which is developing GPS-guided 155-mm.-artillery projectiles. The Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) makes the GPS receiver jam-resistant, an attribute that will be demanded in a number of military applications. IEC's ability to produce ruggedized products will be tested by Excalibur, which will subject the 12-channel GPS receiver to 15,000g.
OBESE OR OVERWEIGHT PILOTS must be careful when using diet drugs and participating in weight loss programs because of health problems that can affect their ability to fly safely and exercise good judgment, according to the Flight Safety Foundation. Dr. Quay Snyder, associate aeromedical adviser for the Air Line Pilots Assn., said his office receives inquiries nearly every week from pilots seeking help in losing weight. The actual number of obese and overweight pilots flying for the airlines and within general aviation is unknown.
French and German aerospace research centers are aiming to dramatically reinforce their ties and eventually integrate their operations, in an initiative they hope will form the nucleus of a Europe-wide aerospace research organization. The move is intended to meet demands by industry and government for closer integration and coordination of European aerospace research programs. Such streamlining is considered a key prerequisite if Europe is to overtake U.S. leadership in aeronautics, a recent report found (AW&ST Feb. 5, p. 30).
THE FALCON 2000EX, Dassault Aviation's latest Falcon business jet under development, will have a nonstop range of 3,800 naut. mi.--up from 3,040 naut. mi.--thanks to a 3,815-lb. increase in fuel capacity coupled with upgraded Pratt&Whitney Canada PW308C turbofan engines, each rated at 7,000 lb. static thrust (18% thrust improvement). The airplane's fuel system features 31% more capacity, new fuel pump and fuel quantity installations, along with a new digital fuel servicing panel and more precise flow meters, according to Dassault.
European Space Agency officials plan to unveil the price list for ESA facilities on the International Space Station at a users conference in Berlin. The meeting will kick off an effort to attract nontraditional users to the orbiting laboratory. ISS Forum 2001, set for June 5-7 and sponsored by ESA and the German space agency DLR, will launch a push to fill 30% of Europe's station racks and other gear with commercial users, matching NASA's goal.
Royal Australian Air Force is in the early stages of defining plans for what will become the service's largest procurement program. The requirement, known as Air6000, is to replace the country's aging F/A-18s and eventually, the long-range interdiction F-111s.
Turkey has grounded all training flights of its CN-235 aircraft following the third crash in less than four months. Operational missions will continue.
In the wake of a serious landing incident, Airbus plans to revise the A319/A320 twinjets' automated angle-of-attack (AOA) protection. Recently, a 150-seat A320, operated by an unspecified European carrier, made a hard landing, in nose-down attitude, despite the pilot-in-command's decision to go around and the application of maximum power. The aircraft's front landing gear collapsed, and the engine nacelles were damaged. Light turbulence but no wind shear had been reported to the flight crew before the nighttime ILS approach began.
The Senate's abrupt reversion to Democratic control is apt to alter the defense landscape on Capitol Hill, but leave the space and aviation fields largely undisturbed. Democrats almost certainly will mount a greater challenge to the big military spending increases expected from the White House, but the President might preemptively shave the pending requests in deference to his big tax cut and to mitigate partisan warfare on other issues.
The government of Quebec will invest $15.3 million over four years to help train 400 new employees and upgrade the skills of another 4,000 workers as part of an expansion project at CAE Inc.'s main facility at Saint-Laurent, where the company builds flight simulators. Another $10.3 million will be made available from Investissment Quebec to fund enlargement of the facility to meet demand for simulators. CAE President Derek H. Burney estimates the international market for pilot and maintenance training is worth about $9 billion.
The Transportation Dept. is leaning on Continental Airlines to stop putting its flight codes on Copa Airlines flights, following the FAA's downgrading of Panama's safety rating. But Copa CEO Pedro Heilbron is making an interesting appeal to Washington to back off. On May 9, the FAA busted Panama to its Category 2 list, meaning the agency believes the nation no longer meets the safety standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization. Such assessments result in bans on expanding service to the U.S. and are a constant source of irritation in Latin America.
Marvin R. Sambur has been named the nominee designate to fill USAF's top acquisition job. He is a consultant to ITT Industries and was president and CEO from 1998 until earlier this year.
Attorneys for the majority of the families of the victims of the Air France Concorde crash in Paris last July say they have reached an agreement on compensation. The package is reported to be worth close to $150 million.
Snecma Sabena Engine Services expects to boost revenues in the commercial engine overhaul market in an indication that manufacturers and airlines can achieve efficient partnerships.
Israel Military Industries (IMI) has developed a hard-target penetrating bomb for the Israeli air force (IAF) capable of penetrating emplacements, such as bunkers and aircraft shelters, built with concrete up to 6 ft. thick. The 1,000-lb. bomb, dubbed the PB-500A1, can be used by aircraft approved to carry Mk 83 general purpose bombs because it has similar properties. IMI officials are in the process of signing a production contract with the IAF, and hope to interest the U.S. Navy in the weapon.
Alexei Tupolev, former head of the Tupolev Design Bureau, who led development of the first Soviet supersonic civil transport, died on May 12 after a long illness. He was 75. Alexei Tupolev began his career in 1949 after graduating from the Moscow Aviation Institute. He joined the design bureau, managed by his father, the famed Soviet aircraft pioneer Andrei Tupolev. The younger Tupolev became chief designer in 1963, and 10 years later attained the top job of general designer.
Varig Airlines of Brazil will be the first carrier in Latin America to operate the Boeing 737-800 with blended winglets. The aircraft will be operated through a lease from the GATX Capital Corp. beginning in September and October.
Collins Aviation Services, the unit that helps Rockwell Collins customers with technical support, training and maintenance, needed an e-commerce Web site so its customers could access these services and track orders. Collins decided to get help with the site, and went to Hewlett-Packard's E-Services Institute. At its facility in Ontario, Calif., E-Services built a copy of the existing Collins systems that customers would access and worked with Collins employees to develop and deploy www.shopcollins.com. The site was up and running within 90 days.
Lloyd J. Parker, Jr., has been appointed vice president for e-business for America West Airlines. He was managing director for business-to-business. J. Steven Whisler has been named to the board of directors. He is chairman/president/CEO of the Phelps Dodge Corp.
Capt. Ted Murphy, an Airbus A330 pilot with Aer Lingus, has been reelected president of the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Assns. (IFALPA) for a two-year term.
Steven J. Demetriou has been named CEO of the PMD Group Inc., Brecksville, Ohio. Recently appointed David B. Price will remain as president. He was executive vice president of the BFGoodrich Co. and president/chief operating officer of its performance materials business. Demetriou was executive vice president of IMC Global Inc.
Mike Disbrow (see photos) has been promoted to senior vice president-marketing, applications and customer support from vice president-marketing and customer support for Hartzell Propeller Inc., Piqua, Ohio. Brian Meyer has been named manager of aircraft applications engineering and Ken Johnson Top Prop sales manager. Meyer was manager of STC programs and Johnson an original equipment manufacturer account representative.
Jaan Albrecht has been appointed CEO, Kristian Kirchheiner vice president/head of seamless service and product development and Jill Nealon vice president-human resources of the Montreal-based Star Alliance. Albrecht has been CEO of Aeromexpress and succeeds William L. Meaney, who has resigned. Kirchheiner has been president/CEO of Air Baltic of Latvia. He succeeds Per Stendebakken, who has returned to the Scandinavian Airlines System. Nealon was group personnel director for British Midland Airways and succeeds Dan Grenier, who is retiring.
