The International Space Station's Expedition 2 crew, with the first Russian commander and two U.S. astronauts, is starting a planned four-month stay that will be much different from that of the first station occupants. Expedition 2 will transition the ISS from a shakedown cruise to an operational laboratory with more self-sufficiency for heavy assembly tasks. The ISS operational shift is beginning immediately and will involve the time-critical activation of new Canadian robotics avionics along with the switchout of Progress unmanned supply transports.
The FAA predicts stable load factors, lower fuel costs and continued intense competition among commercial airlines this decade despite merger worries and near-term belt-tightening in the business sector. ``Everyone who can fly, is flying,'' said John M. Rodgers, FAA director of aviation policy and plans. Rodgers, unveiling the FAA's 2001-12 aviation forecast in Washington this week said domestic airline revenue passenger miles will grow 4.2% per year as fuel prices continue to decline.
Pilots of AirTran Airways have rejected a multiyear contract that had been unanimously approved by the board of the National Pilots Assn. (NPA), which represents the carrier's 540 pilots. The announcement is surprising considering recent claims by management that relations between the two sides had been smooth. The airline pointed out that the present contract is not amendable until Apr. 1 and that a resolution was expected soon after contract negotiations resumed on Mar. 19.
China Southern Airlines and China Yunnan Airlines have entered a code-share agreement--the first between two domestic carriers in that country--for services between Guangzhou and Kunming. China Southern, China's largest airline, offers 19 services weekly between the two destinations, and China Yunnan, 18. The two carriers, which jointly carry 80% of the market share between the two cities, plan to increase combined frequencies to 4-6 times daily once the agreement is concluded.
Japan's Maritime Safety Agency is seeking new, long-range jet aircraft this year for extended patrol missions. The agency's surveillance area has expanded beyond the range of two Dassault Aviation Falcon 900s currently in service. Bombardier's Global Express and the Gulfstream V are being considered by the agency.
The Global Outlook issue provides an in-depth look at aerospace around the world, focusing on North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. Stories from each region spotlight topics that could have significant implications for the industry in those areas.
Videos that appeal to a child's sense of wonder include The Fighter Pilot&Me and The Blue Angels in Pursuit of Excellence and A Day with Annie in the Sky. The fighter pilot video has an ANG pilot performing a preflight check of the F-16 Falcon and explaining the controls on the flight deck. Viewers put the plane into rolls and pull gs. An unidentified aircraft begins firing and the pilot puts his aircraft through its paces. Aircraft from A-10 Warthogs to stealth bombers are introduced. The Blue Angels features the U.S.
Scott R. Gunnufson has become vice president-business operations, Mark T. Harris vice president-maintenance operations and Ken A. Peterman director of communications systems marketing for Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
South African Airways (SAA) will operate a chartered Boeing 747-400 to circumnavigate the North and South poles in a single flight for the purpose of setting a new air speed record. Polar Byrd III is scheduled to launch from New York JFK International Airport on Nov. 17. It will operate to Rio Gallegos, Argentina, before crossing the South Pole to Perth, Australia. The flight will continue to Beijing and through Russian airspace, over the North Pole before returning to JFK.
Another step toward development of a reusable launch vehicle has been taken with the first of a series of seven planned free-flights of the X-40A, which was completed at Edwards AFB, Calif., according to program officials. The unpiloted X-40A was originally developed by Boeing as a precursor to the U.S. Air Force's Space Maneuver Vehicle (SMV) program, but is now serving as a pathfinder to evaluate systems for the approach and landing phase of NASA's X-37.
A Vnukovo Airlines Tu-154M with 166 passengers and seven crew was hijacked shortly after a 1:30 p.m. takeoff from Istanbul's Ataturk airport on Mar. 15. The charter flight, en route to Moscow, was taken over by two men claiming to be Chechens and armed with knives. One crewmember was reported to have been injured. The hijackers successfully demanded the aircraft be flown to Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Sweden's LFV (civil aviation authority) projects that the number of people using air travel in 2002-04 could increase 5% to 38.4 million annually from 30.4 million in 2001, and landings will increase 4%. LFV officials said Sweden will invest heavily during the three-year period to upgrade the nation's aviation infrastructure, particularly air traffic control.
Geoffrey L. Carpenter has been named assistant treasurer for global treasury operations and Carol A. Sexton has been named assistant treasurer-corporate finance and banking for the Boeing Co. in Seattle. Carpenter was director of treasury services for DaimlerChrysler's Freightliner Corp. in Portland, Ore. Sexton succeeds Paul Kinscherff, who is now vice president-investor relations. She was director of corporate banking and finance.
Maunu von Lueders has been named vice president-sales of the OneWorld alliance. He was vice president-alliances and international relations of Finnair.
The organization and people of this elite corps are nicely recalled in Dennis Gordon's 500-page book The Lafayette Flying Corps: The American Volunteers in the French Air Service in World War One. The volume exists in two parts, each informative, although best suited for different audiences. There is a useful primer on the corps, how it was created, whom the troops faced and how they trained and fought. The balance of the book contains biographies of 269 men listed on the Lafayette Flying Corps roster. The biographical sketches vary in length.
German engine manufacturer Motorenund Turbinen-Union (MTU) Aero Engines is seeking government aid for funding its workshare in the General Electric/Pratt&Whitney Engine Alliance GP7000 program for the Airbus A380.
European Transport and Research Commissioners Loyola de Palacio and Philippe Busquin met with ESA director Antonio Rodota and top space executives late last week in an effort to nail down a private investment plan for Galileo. European finance ministers threatened to block the navigation satellite project earlier in the week if more detailed financial information was not forthcoming.
The fact that geography can influence history has also held true for the development of the airline industry in Latin America and the Caribbean. Formidable mountains, rivers, jungles, deserts and long distances have hindered the development of surface transportation in some regions and fostered early introduction of airline systems.
Reflexite's new harness system is composed of highly reflective tape, is easy-to-use, cost-effective and can help workers in many industries comply with ANSI/ISEA 107-1999 Conspicuity Garment Class recommendations, according to the company.
Societe Europeenne des Satellites and JSAT Corp. plan to interconnect their satellite-based broadband networks. The agreement will allow JSAT customers to tap into SES' Astra-Net broadband service network, which already covers Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America. For SES, the deal will allow access to JSAT's new Arcstar IP-VPN service and create opportunities in the consumer area, which is developing very rapidly in Japan.
Delays continue to plague the weary traveler. According to the FAA air traffic operations network or Opsnet, winter weather caused 18,595 of 27,979 delays within the National Airspace System in January--a month in which 12,763,517 total operations were conducted.
The union representing 15,000 mechanics of United Airlines was partially responsible for work slowdowns related to stalled contract negotiations, and a temporary restraining order (TRO) should be imposed, ruled the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The court instructed U.S. District Judge William J. Hibbler to issue the TRO requested by United, which claimed International Assn. of Machinists members were removing airliners from revenue service for safety concerns as a way to pressure management to settle a contract dispute.
Tig Krekel, president of Boeing Satellite Systems, is leaving the unit along with Executive Vice President Joe DeSarla. Randy Brinkley, senior vice president of programs, will take over immediately as acting president, according to Jim Albaugh, president of the Boeing Space&Communications Group.
Forecast International/DMS Inc., a Connecticut-based provider of aerospace analysis and intelligence, predicts the world market for fighter, attack and trainer aircraft could reach 3,500 units in the next 10 years. Boeing would lead with more than 600 aircraft worth in excess of $27 billion, but the Eurofighter consortium would capture second place with $21 billion in sales. In addition, during the period, Boeing and Lockheed Martin would face increasingly stiff competition from European manufacturers.
Boeing finished maximum-power ground runs on the X-32B Joint Strike Fighter on Mar. 7, putting the short takeoff/vertical landing prototype one step closer to its first flight, which is expected at the end of the month. The engine runs included transitions between forward and vertical thrust, and occurred at a small hover pit at Boeing's Palmdale, Calif., facilities. Officials hope to complete validation and verification of the integrated flight and propulsion control software next week.
