Passengers are increasingly criticizing European airlines, blaming their discontent on flight overbooking, extensive delays and poor information relay, according to consumer groups. The European Commission (EC) plans to address passenger concerns with cross-border legislation and voluntary commitments from airlines and airports (AW&ST June 26, p. 74). Travelers, however, are showing signs of impatience and pressing for the compilation of air travel consumer reports similar to the U.S. Transportation Dept.'s monthly data.
A secret 3-4-ton Boeing/National Reconnaissance Office data relay spacecraft is en route to its geosynchronous orbit station following launch Dec. 5 from Cape Canaveral on board an International Launch Services Atlas IIAS. The launch was managed by Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing. The Atlas-Centaur with four solid rocket strap-on boosters lifted off from Complex 36A at 9:47 p.m. EST and placed the spacecraft into an initial 20,241 X 146-naut.-mi. transfer orbit inclined 26.5 deg.
The ``Big Shot'' is a large-shot high-capacity JIT vacuum chamber that provides large injection molding machine users the opportunity to use a system with a high-capacity high volume JIT set up. A vacuum chamber is mounted to 6-, 10- or 15-lb. capacity polycarbonate sight tubes with a high temperature molded cone bottom. Adjustable photo eye sensors for the load signal reduces material storage at the throat of the machine, saving inventory costs. It mounts to a slide plate that moves off of the machine throat for quick access and clean-out during material changes.
The global market for military aircraft upgrades is becoming increasingly unstable as demand shifts away from modifications of existing aircraft toward acquisition of new equipment. According to a report prepared by Frost&Sullivan, the market for upgrades and service-life-extension programs is forecast to be ``sporadic and slow'' through 2005. Spending by U.S. and European/NATO forces on upgrades will be ``uneven,'' while the Middle East and Africa will be ``sluggish'' during the next four years.
British Airways will reduce capacity at London Gatwick Airport by 40% over the next two years, 30% of which will come from cuts in long-haul operations, as it abandons its strategy of building up a second transfer hub at London's second largest airport. The carrier will drop six unprofitable routes and move another 10 or more to Heathrow Airport. British Airways' Gatwick long-haul fleet will be reduced from 33 Boeing 747s, 767s and 777s to 20 777s.
Japan's Nozomi spacecraft is on schedule to enter an orbit in Mars' upper atmosphere in January 2004 after completing the second of three trips it will take around the Sun since its July 1998 launch.
President Clinton ordered the FAA to create the Air Navigation Service Organization (ANSO) to manage the world's largest air traffic control system, an expected action that stems from Congress' AIR 21 aviation improvement act and presidential commissions.
Does Raytheon Co. remain on track for a financial turnaround? Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown analyst Christopher Mecray thinks so, despite some misgivings by investors. He upgraded the company's stock last week to ``strong buy'' from ``buy,'' based on a sharp drop in the price recently. Triggering the pullback was management guidance for estimated 2001 earnings per share (EPS), which fell short of Wall Street forecasts. The company also signaled that Raytheon Aircraft is continuing to struggle in some areas.
The International Space Station is now the largest, most powerful spacecraft ever to orbit the Earth, following the addition of solar arrays spanning 240 ft. and emergency efforts by both the Endeavour astronauts and ground teams to correct problems that threatened this critical phase of station assembly.
Robert Fan (see photos) has been appointed technical director for fiber optic operations and Kees Trimpe European sales manager of Trompeter Electronics, Westlake Village, Calif. Fan was principal research engineer/technical director of LiteCom, Canoga Park, Calif., while Trimpe was a sales and marketing executive for Tyco Electronics in the Netherlands.
In the article ``United, ACA Share Contract Trade-Offs'' (AW&ST Dec. 4, p. 50), it was incorrectly reported as to which group in labor negotiations had stated that regional jets posed a job threat to mainline pilots. It was the pilots, not management, that expressed reservations about RJs.
The F Series line of fire retardant foam tape is a self-extinguishing foam which conforms to UL94 requirements. This tape can be combined with new materials and other foams and tapes to meet the challenges presented by changing environmental regulations in complex industrial materials. It is available in a range of densities from 6-40 lb. per cu. ft. and a variety of colors. Gaska Tape Inc., P.O. Box 1968, 1810 W. Lusher, Elkhart, Ind. 46515.
The K series is the smallest, lightest 200-400-amp., 28-vdc contactors available in the aerospace industry, according to the company. They weigh between 0.50-0.75 lb. and are extremely flexible. Their dual-usage contactors are designed for continuous operation at 200, 300 or 400 amps, or for start duty applications requiring starter inrush currents of up to 1,000-2,000 amp. The units have infinite mounting positions, including chassis and buss bar mounting. CII Technologies, Fairview, N.C. 28730.
Delta Connection Comair, which introduced U.S. travelers to regional jets (RJs) in 1993, now operates an all-jet operation from its main hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. The carrier is in the process of phasing out its 12 Embraer Brasilia turboprop aircraft that provide service out of the airline's Orlando, Fla., hub. Comair, a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, operates 103 Bombardier Regional Jets.
Hans Mark, director of defense research and engineering for the U.S. Defense Dept. is one of three honorary fellows recently named by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The others are: Dale B. Myers, who is retired from NASA and the Rockwell International Corp.; and Harold W. Ritchey, former technical director/president/CEO of the Thiokol Corp.
Ross W. Reynolds has been named vice president of the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.'s Marietta, Ga.-based C-130J program and June R. Shrewsbury director of the C-130 sustainment and modifications organization. Reynolds was director of F-117 programs at the company's Palmdale, Calif., site. Shrewsbury led the C-130 avionics modernization program.
Mars Explorer Rover (MER) project officials have determined they may not be able to take the design of the Pathfinder airbag landing system and ``build it to spec'' for the twin 2003 MER missions as planned. While still early in development, it appears there could be at least minor changes to the landing system's parachute, solid rocket braking motors or possibly the airbags themselves to accommodate the heavier payload weight, and weight margin, for the 2003 mission.
Information warfare has become so critical that manpower needs are getting hard for the Pentagon to meet. As a result, defense officials are forming 182 mixed-service national guard and reserve personnel into five support teams to man the department's cyber barricades or launch offensive forays into enemy computer systems.
Boeing plans to lay off up to 400 employees in the company's reusable space systems division in late January and early February. The reductions come with the winding down of modifications to the space shuttle Columbia at Palmdale, Calif., and no decision, to date, on when modifications and upgrades to the orbiter Discovery will begin.
Minuteman missile above-ground alert facility Golf-01 caught fire Nov. 30 and, while it burned, kept two crewmen trapped underground beneath closed blast doors at Minot AFB, N.D. However, the hardened facility and its 10 missiles were never threatened and the crews rotated normally at shift's end.
The Danish air force has ordered three C-130J-30 transports from Lockheed Martin and holds an option for a fourth. Deliveries of the stretched version of the turboprop-powered airlifter are scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2003. The aircraft will be equipped with an improved cargo handling system and an integrated electronic warfare suite.
