With ``space tourist'' Dennis Tito set to return to Earth last week after six days on the ISS, the station partners hope to complete work by June on training and other criteria to govern future tourist visits to the station. NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin said the agency will charge the Russians for any Tito-related U.S. ISS expenses.
HARRIS CORP. HAS RECEIVED a two-year, $9.4-million contract for telemetry modules, supporting the USAF Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (Amraam). The AIM-120 missile is designed to capitalize on the more accurate, long-range detection capabilities offered by the radars in modern tactical aircraft. Under the contract, Harris will supply Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Georgia with 93 warhead replacement tactical telemetry modules, slated for use in missiles fired during tests and training at Tyndall AFB, Fla.
The Flight Safety Foundation and the International Civil Aviation Organization are becoming increasingly concerned about pilot exposure to loud noises in the cockpit during routine flight operations. Engine noise, propellers, helicopter main rotors, hydraulic and electrical pumps and motors, air conditioning and pressurization systems and communications equipment are among primary sources of noise that can be detrimental to the human ear.
The people--the human faces that stand behind the year's achievements in aviation and aerospace--were presented to an international assembly of dignitaries who gathered Apr. 25 in Washington to commemorate Aviation Week&Space Technology's 2000 Laureate Awards and Hall of Fame.
Eurowings' and Khalifa Airways' orders for ATR 72s indicate there is still a market for regional twin turboprops, according to Avions de Transport Regional executives. Orders recently secured by ATR for 68-seat ATR 72-500s include 10 aircraft for Algiers-based Khalifa, a rapidly expanding startup carrier, and six for Germany's Eurowings. Last year, ATR concluded orders for six ATR 42-500s and 18 ATR 72-500s, delivered 22 aircraft and sold 48 used aircraft.
The United Arab Emirates is expected to buy 500 Boeing-built GPS-guided, 2,000-lb. Joint Direct Attack Munitions and 800 of Lockheed Martin's Wind Corrected Munition Dispenser tail kits for submunition-dispensing to equip the 80 F-16 Block 60s the country is buying. The Pentagon notified Congress of the impending $40-million deal late last month.
AIRLINES AT LONDON'S HEATHROW AIRPORT are operating with a new system of common user terminal equipment at check-in desks and gates. The new system, Arinc's Multi-User System Environment (Muse), supports 82 different airlines and 32 handlers, at 520 shared check-in desks and 102 gates. The installation (including two new rooms to house servers, airline gateways and communication) was completed in 120 days, while maintaining the schedule at Heathrow, according to Arinc.
Larry W. Fullerton, founder and current chief technology officer of Time Domain Corp. (TDC), is a pioneer in developing practical applications of ultrawideband communications and radar technology. He is listed as the sole or primary inventor on 58 domestic and foreign UWB patents. Another 147 are either held by TDC or are pending.
U.S. Marine Corps officials and independent experts believe overcoming problems with the V-22 tiltrotor should be possible in 12-24 months despite the long list of issues highlighted by a blue-ribbon commission that reviewed the program.
Australia's air carriers are fighting mad and bracing for heated competition following discount carrier Impulse Airlines' decision to cease operations under its own brand as of May 14 and join forces with Qantas Airways.
The decline in funding for intelligence analysis that occurred throughout the last decade will continue for at least five years, according to the intel community's first annual Strategic Investment Plan for Intelligence Community Analysis. The number of analysts has declined significantly but is expected to grow slightly by 2007. That's why the National Intelligence Production Board has identified critical areas that need more money and attention, lest the U.S.
Titanium Metals Corp. has reached a settlement of its court battle with the Boeing Co. stemming from their 1997 long-term purchase and supply agreement. Timet will receive a cash payment. In addition, the companies entered into an agreement in which Boeing will have the right to purchase up to 7.5 million lb. of titanium products annually from Timet through 2007.
The Japanese parliament is broadening the role of the country's Aircraft Accident Investigation Committee to include rail accidents. The number of committee members will increase from five to 10 and the number of investigators from 21 to 28 to handle the expanded missions. The group, which also gets a new name--Air and Rail Accident Investigation Committee--is to begin functioning in its enhanced role by next fall.
Navy test pilots have flown an F/A-18 to the first ``hands-off'' landings on a carrier using a new anti-jam GPS system, which could be the key to operating Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAVs) on board ship. The first automatic carrier landings to use GPS rather than radar were demonstrated late last month on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt, using a shipboard relative GPS system--the Navy's version of Raytheon's Joint Precision Approach and Landing Systems (JPALS).
Michael McGowen has been appointed general counsel of Teledesic LLC, Bellevue, Wash. He was a partner in the Seattle-based law firm Perkins Coie. McGowen succeeds Dennis James as general counsel. James had been president/general counsel. Len Quadracci has been promoted to vice president from director of system engineering.
Open skies agreements moved to a broader global level with last week's signing of a multilateral agreement by the U.S. and Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore.
The Air Line Pilots Assn.'s Master Executive Council at Delta Air Lines approved a tentative agreement with the carrier that would make its 9,800 pilots the highest paid of any major U.S. airline. Ratification of the proposal could be completed in the next 30-60 days, according to Delta. In related news, Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) will take delivery of three Canadair regional jets to expand service from its hub at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
The Air Transport Assn. is sponsoring the Alertness Management in Flight Operations symposium May 23-24 in Arlington, Va., to address safety risks associated with pilot fatigue. Experts from the airline industry, academia and government will discuss the latest findings related to fatigue, including the challenges of managing alertness in operational settings. For more information, go to www.airlines.org/commerce/alertsymposiumreg.htm.
General Electric has obtained tentative U.S. Justice Dept. approval of its proposed $40-billion merger with Honeywell, but continues to encounter strong opposition to the idea among European government and business leaders. The Justice Dept. ruling, which was expected, requires Honeywell to divest of its helicopter engine business and to authorize maintenance, repair and overhaul of its aircraft engines and auxiliary power units by more third-party MRO providers.
Turkey has requested Israel Aircraft Industries to pay $621,000 for correcting fuel leak problems in at least 15 F-4Es that the company upgraded for the Turkish air force. IAI is modernizing 54 Turkish F-4s under a $634.5-million program. The leaks were reported to be the result of poor insulation around the fuel lines. The Turkish air force had grounded the aircraft temporarily, but a number have now returned to service following fixes.
Aviation Week&Space Technology's Laureates Hall of Fame recognizes all of the Laureates winners selected by the magazine's editors since 1988. Each year, the current Laureates are added to the Hall of Fame following the award ceremony. The Hall of Fame display--featuring the Laureate Trophy, Legends plaque and a listing of the members who have been inducted to date--is on display at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air&Space Museum in Washington. Aeronautics/Propulsion Pierre Baud Laurent Beaudoin
American Airlines has been granted a motion in U.S. District Court in Kansas for summary judgment in a lawsuit alleging predatory pricing schemes by the airline. The suit against American was filed in 1999 by the U.S. Justice Dept. After reviewing the case, Judge J. Thomas Marten issued a verdict stating that American had not violated antitrust laws. The case will not go to trial.
