Boeing hopes to resolve key exportability issues concerning the F/A-18E/F before the strike fighter debuts at the Paris air show this June. Briefings to potential customers have been hindered by the fact that the U.S. hasn't determined to what extent Boeing can describe the new Raytheon radar, an active electronically scanned array, that will go on the aircraft to replace the APG-73. And Boeing doesn't want to start a major marketing push overseas without the information release authority.
The space shuttle is set for liftoff this week on its most ambitious robotics mission, carrying its largest international crew, on a flight to install and exercise the new $1-billion Canadian space station remote manipulator system on the ISS. ``This is an extremely complicated mission,'' said Phil Engelauf, the STS-100 lead flight director.
Officials of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum took another step last week toward the planned opening of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Washington Dulles International Airport on Dec. 17, 2003, the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' flight. The museum awarded a $125-million contract to the Hansel Phelps Construction Co. of Greeley, Colo.
The X-40A has completed a second drop test from a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter at Edwards AFB, Calif. The free-flight and landing tests are being conducted from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards as part of the space agency's X-37 program, which plans to carry a vehicle into orbit on the space shuttle for return to Earth with an autonomous landing system.
The concept of the wide area augmentation system (WAAS) for GPS is sound, with no serious technical barriers to commissioning an initial capability within two years, an independent review board recently told FAA Administrator Jane Garvey.
The Pentagon is taking its closest look yet at the financial performance of the U.S. aerospace/defense industry with the help of several outside organizations, including Chicago-based HOLT Value Associates, an Aviation Week&Space Technology partner on the magazine's annual Best-Managed Companies project. The Defense Dept.'s Industrial Affairs office is using HOLT software tools and services to better understand how investors perceive the performance of companies.
The Pentagon is getting ready for another round of efforts to dismantle the former Soviet Union's military capability. A new effort is being examined by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency to work with Ukraine to dismantle several of its bombers and missile systems. Headed for scrap are 45 aircraft--27 Tu-95 Bears, 11 Tu-160 Blackjacks and 7 Tu-22M Backfires. Another two Tu-134 bomber trainers are to be destroyed. Furthermore, 487 Kh-55 Air-Launched Cruise Missiles are to be eliminated.
The U.S. Air Force's Arnold Engineering Development Center has completed testing of improvements proposed for the Pratt&Whitney F100-220 engine, which powers the F-15 and F-16. Upgrades were made to compressor blades, oil seals and engine logic control. Pratt plans further tests before the engine undergoes flight testing, according to the Air Force.
The NASA/Lockheed Martin Jet Propulsion Laboratory Mars Odyssey spacecraft is undergoing initial checkout in interplanetary cruise after its successful launch from Cape Canaveral on board a Boeing Delta II booster on Apr. 7. The liftoff occurred at 11:02 a.m. EDT after a flawless countdown that enabled launch at the opening of a 1-sec. launch window. Solar array deployment was normal. Odyssey is now to make its first trajectory correction maneuver in late May, a month later than planned, because of the precise Delta targeting.
The delivery of XM Satellite Radio production design chips to radio manufacturers is another step toward commercial launch of the system scheduled for this summer. The custom silicon chips are designed to receive and decode digital signals broadcast via satellite and ground-based repeaters from the company's studios in Washington. XM plans to offer up to 100 channels of music, news, sports and other programming. The organization's first satellite was launched in March, and the second is scheduled to be placed in orbit next month.
Russia's Siberian and Far Eastern regions are not desirable places to visit or live, and the majority of airports are user-unfriendly. A polar route operator, however, must assess these airports in terms of passenger and aircraft safety in the event of a weather diversion or medical or aircraft emergency.
Pratt&Whitney has finished accelerated mission testing of its JSF119-611 propulsion system for Lockheed Martin's X-35B, freeing the way for full STOVL flight clearance. The test was completed a month ahead of schedule.
Matthew Huff has been promoted to president from vice president-sales and marketing of the Signature Combs Aircraft Sales subsidiary of BAA Aviation, Orlando, Fla. Fred Ahles has been promoted to vice president-New Piper Aircraft sales from regional sales manager.
Intersputnik will deliver Internet access, data transfer and voice service to Germany and elsewhere in Europe through a C-band transponder on its Express-3A satellite at 11 deg. W. Long, leased by KB Impuls Service GmbH. The German company will use its teleport facilities in Berlin to make the Internet connection for the Moscow-based satellite consortium.
Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority last week grounded Ansett Australia's 10 Boeing 767s until a special safety check is completed and CASA is satisfied ``the aircraft meet all relevant safety standards.'' Ansett has had repeated safety problems with its 767s--the latest involving incorrect stowage of emergency slides. CASA was to ask Ansett to provide, within two weeks, reasons why its license to operate should not be withdrawn.
India offers hope for aircraft sales but no guarantees. The country's national carriers are deferring aircraft purchases until the government's disinvestment plan is completed, while the country's largest private domestic carrier is actively pursuing fleet expansion.
Robert R. Moore (see photo) has become vice president-production operations of the Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn. He was an aircraft products, aircraft systems and operations executive at Hamilton Sundstrand.
Michael Kipp has been appointed engineering director for international partnerships and planning, Chris Boardman director for the U.K. Ministry of Defense Smart Acquisition Process and Denis Lidstone director for the U.K. Smart Acquisition Implementation, all for BAE Systems, Farnborough, England.
In Raytheon Co.'s struggle to put its fiscal house in order, the defense contractor plans to sell the majority of its aviation-support business to Veritas Capital Inc. for $270 million in cash and stock.
General Electric is flight testing the increased-thrust version of its CF34 engine that will power the Bombardier CRJ900, Fairchild Dornier 728JET and Embraer ERJ-170.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) Deputy Chairman and CEO Cheong Choong Kong predicts very large commercial aircraft will become an important element in numerous fleet plans, despite apparent hesitation by most major carriers to order the Airbus A380 superjumbo jetliner. Widespread use of super-size jetliners is ``inevitable,'' he said. ``Despite Boeing's discouragement, such aircraft are badly needed because of all the congestion on the ground and in the air.''
Taking a cue from Wall Street, the U.S. Army is contemplating establishing a venture capital fund to finance promising technologies. The initiative is being examined in large part because service officials hold out little hope of getting additional money.
Continental Airlines pilots are expected to vote 60% in favor of having their union--the Independent Assn. of Continental Pilots (IACP) merge with the Air Line Pilots Assn. (ALPA), according to sources close to both pilot groups. ALPA declined to comment on the possible outcome of the vote. Both unions agreed to the merger on Dec. 12, and ballots were mailed to Continental and Express pilots on Mar. 12, and are to be counted on Apr. 12. A yes vote will reunite Continental pilots with ALPA, which represented the group until the early 1980s.
Boeing's Delta IV integrated stage assembly completed a 145-sec. hot-fire test at NASA's Stennis Space Center last week, simulating several events the Delta IV Common Booster Core will experience in flight. Among them were a commanded halt and resumption of the countdown, gimballing the Rocketdyne RS-68 main engine and depletion of the liquid hydrogen fuel. Throttle settings ranged from 58-101% during the Apr. 3 test, which was the third that combined the Delta IV stage and its newly developed engine (AW&ST Mar. 26, p. 44).
