NASA Glenn Research Center has installed a large stereoscopic wall display system for engineers to immerse themselves into huge graphics of computational fluid dynamics and structural analysis solutions. ``The display wall is ideal for showing large amounts of data where one can look up close at small details or step back and get the big picture,'' said Jay Horowitz, director of the display laboratory. NASA plans to have engineers at several centers collaborate, each viewing their own immersive display connected by high-bandwidth links.
Thales Optronique is developing a dual-band reconnaissance pod featuring a 360-deg. rotating nose section for the French air force's next-generation reconnaissance program. The day/night pod would use visible and infrared electro-optical sensors and a low-speed data link for control from the ground, and a high-speed link to download imagery. France has ordered 23 of the systems for installation on Mirage 2000N and Rafale fighters, along with seven ground stations. A prototype pod is scheduled for completion in mid-2005.
Despite uncertainties clouding Raytheon Co.'s near-term outlook (see p. 74)--especially the outcome of the legal battle with Washington Group International (WGI)--some market professionals believe the company is on the cusp of longer-term fundamental improvement and that its share price will trend upward in the next 1-2 years.
Avcom Technologies is exploiting a new foam core material in aircraft radomes that features superior transmissivity and physical toughness compared with conventional materials, according to the company. The ``Stormtrooper'' radomes aim to improve the performance of wind shear radars and traffic-alert and collision-avoidance systems (TCAS), which have to detect smaller signals and thus are more sensitive to the quality of the radomes than normal weather radars.
Errors are an inevitable part of flying. No matter how good our training is, we can never hope to eliminate errors. Nowhere in life can we ever muster enough brainpower and diligence to make mistakes impossible. Just think of the flawed mirror in the Hubble Space Telescope and the recent Mars probes. Even at our very best, we see a shadow cast by our own brilliance.
The crew of a Turkish air force CN-235 transport reportedly informed ground controllers of problems with the right engine before the twin-turboprop crashed in the eastern province of Malatya on May 16, killing all 37 people on board. Eyewitnesses said the aircraft exploded in the air and then crashed into an empty field. ``There are no survivors, and the exact reason for the crash is still unknown,'' a senior air force official told Aviation Week&Space Technology.
The first C-17 built for the Royal Air Force left Boeing's Long Beach, Calif., plant on May 17 for delivery to the U.K. The transport aircraft is scheduled to arrive at its base, RAF Brize Norton, on May 23, following a visit to Charleston AFB, S.C. where U.S. Air Force C-17s are stationed. To meet its strategic mobility needs, the U.K. is leasing four C-17s for seven years with an option for two additional years of service. The total program cost for the U.K. is estimated at $1 billion. Of the other three C-17s in the U.K.
Michael Pepper (see photo) has become general manager of Howmet Castings' Whitehall (Mich.) Casting facility. He was general manager of Howmet's Laval (Quebec) Casting facility.
David M. North, editor-in-chief of Aviation Week&Space Technology, received a honorary doctor of science degree from the College of Aeronautics in New York on May 11. He delivered the address at the college's annual convocation.
President Bush is slated to unveil his Administration's much-anticipated grand military strategy at a commencement speech this week at the Naval Academy. Lawmakers are eagerly awaiting the budget that will support the ``new strategic direction'' the Pentagon is taking. The Administration is expected to ask for $30-35 billion more for Fiscal 2002 than what it has already requested in its place-holder budget submission of $310 billion, says Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa). Of the add-on, missile defense would receive about $3 billion, he believes.
The Assn. of European Airlines said flight delays in Europe during the first quarter of the year were worse than the same period in 2000. Delays affected 23.9% of all departures, up from 21% a year ago.
In a further attempt to overhaul Russia's languishing military-industrial complex, the government has approved a radical aviation industry restructuring concept which it hopes to implement within three years. Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov, who oversees the military-industrial complex activity in the government, said the concept calls for consolidation by 2004 of 316 existing aviation industry enterprises into 9-11 large integrated holding companies with different areas of specialization. The general concept was approved by the government on May 11.
Southwest Airlines has reached a tentative accord with ramp and operations workers, but American Airlines and its flight attendants remain separated on key contract issues as both parties prepare to resume negotiations this week.
The Russian Satellite Communications Co. has ordered two new satellites to provide in-orbit spare capability for the company's growing satcom network. Chairman/CEO Boris Antoniuk said the spacecraft would use an NPO PM bus and an unspecified Western payload. Each would carry 8-12 Ku-/C-band transponders. Delivery is planned in 2003-04.
The world's largest aluminum manufacturer, Alcoa, is to focus its research and development investment on the company's growing aerospace business. Alcoa claims it plans to spend most of this year's $150-million R&D budget on developments that it hopes will be found in production on Airbus' A380 transport.
U.S. operators of General Electric CF6-50s and CF6-80C2s will be required to replace shrouds on 1,106 engines under a proposed FAA Airworthiness Directive prompted by 61 uncontained low-pressure turbine (LPT) failures since 1993. According to the FAA, newly designed shrouds will improve LPT containment capability, preventing aircraft damage should the engine experience an LPT failure.
Major U.S. airlines' profitability, ``far short of where it needs to be'' in 2000, will drop 20-40% this year, predicted the Air Transport Assn. of America's chief economist, David Swierenga, last week. Because costs will increase faster than revenues, the industry's net profit will slip from $2.6 billion last year to $1.5-2 billion in 2001, Swierenga projected. The carriers netted about $5 billion per year in 1997, 1998 and 1999.
Frederick Alimonti, who was a partner in the Holland&Knight aviation litigation practice in New York, has formed Alimonti Law Offices in New York and White Plains, N.Y.
Alcatel is poised to take full control of its space subsidiary as part of a plan to expand the company's growing satcom and government business and operating activities.
On a purely economic or cash-generating basis, Raytheon Co.'s operating profits were about in the middle of the pack in 2000 compared with those of its peer group. In the area of asset utilization, however, Raytheon ranked dead last, and it needs to employ its assets more efficiently to meet investors' expectations, as reflected in the current stock price, according to HOLT Value Associates, a Chicago-based financial research and consulting firm.
Jack Wohler has been appointed president of Raytheon Commercial Electronics, Lexington, Mass. He was senior vice president-international business development/chief operating officer of Raytheon International Inc. and succeeds Del Lippert, who will retire. Greg Shelton has been named vice president-engineering and technology and Timothy C. Oliver vice president-investor relations of the Raytheon Co. Shelton will succeed Phil Cheney, who is scheduled to retire Dec. 31. Shelton has been vice president-engineering for Raytheon's missiles business.
Tiger Century Aircraft has plans to convert single-seat Northrop F-5E fighters into two-seat TF-5 trainers aimed at the advanced lead-in fighter trainer market. Northrop Grumman has agreed to take a major role in the new design with Mojave, Calif.-based Tiger Century. Northrop Grumman would be responsible for engineering and assembly of the new forward fuselage that is the main element of the TF-5 conversion.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued emergency evacuation recommendations for Airbus A300-600s, stemming from the Nov. 20, 2000, American Airlines Flight 1291 accident at Miami International Airport that killed one flight attendant, seriously injured three passengers and left 19 others with minor injuries.
Richard Swingen has become president of DeCrane Aircraft Cabin Management Group member Audio International, North Little Rock, Ark. He was president/CEO of the S-Tec Corp., Mineral Wells, Tex. Jim Soleo has been named president of the DeCrane Aircraft Furniture Co. of San Antonio. He was general manager of the Montreal Completion Center of Bombardier. Jim Clough has become director of program management and Carl Christensen director of finance for Precision Pattern Inc., Wichita, Kan.
