In a move to assure survival of the fittest, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) announced that only up to 15 of the 34 airlines now operating in China would endure under the aviation authority's airline restructuring plan.
Lockheed Martin's X-35A Joint Strike Fighter demonstrator concluded aerial refueling operations on its 10th flight on Nov. 7 with a KC-135 tanker. The aircraft, flown by USAF Lt. Col. Paul Smith, conducted a series of qualification tests with the tanker at an altitude of 23,000 ft., and then accomplished four refuelings during the 2-hr. 50-min. mission. The X-35 uses an F-16-based aerial refueling receptacle. On Nov. 5, Smith flew the aircraft to an altitude of 25,000 ft., and Lockheed Martin test pilot Tom Morgenfeld accelerated the X-35A to Mach 0.85.
Fast-expanding SES/Astra has taken over a Deutsche Telekom orbital slot and contracted with Boeing for a new spacecraft to fill it. Under an agreement concluded last week, SES/Astra will assume responsibility for DT's slot at 23.5 deg. E. Long., which is presently occupied by the operator's DFS 1 Kopernikus 3 spacecraft, and implement the Kopernikus follow-on under International Telecommunication Union filings. DT has a 16.7% stake in the Luxembourg-based satellite operator.
Virgin Atlantic will add five new Boeing 747-400s to its fleet in a deal worth more than $800 million. The aircraft are to be delivered between March and June 2001.
Ono Sokki Technology's new GS-503 linear gauge sensor was designed to measure dimensions, thickness, curvature, eccentricity, displacement, height, depth, flatness, variation, runout, roundness, distortion, deflection and is also used for load and pressure inspection. It employs linear glass scale technology which is based on the principle that high consistent accuracy can be maintained throughout the entire range. The GS-503 performs highly accurate measurements of 0.0005 in. over its full 2-in. measuring range along with a fast response speed of 39.4 in. per sec.
Japan Airlines reported fiscal 2000 mid-term operating income of $530 million--up 88.4% compared with last year--was its second highest for a six-month period, following $593 million recorded in the first half of fiscal 1989. Net mid-term income increased by 504.8% to $360 million. These profits came from total unconsolidated operating revenues of about $6 billion, up by 7.7% from last year.
A new version of the GBIC transceiver module, for Fibre Channel and gigabit Ethernet networks, combines industry standard GBIC data integrity, form factor and performance with additional transparent port connections for network monitoring. It builds on Finisar's Gigabit Interface Converter transceiver technology. Snoop GBIC has the same data integrity, temperature stability and reliability as Finisar's standard GBICs but adds an electrical test port for monitoring network connections without interruption.
Joshua S. Abelson (see photo) has been named senior vice president-sales, marketing and customer support for the Heico Aerospace Parts Group, Hollywood, Fla. He was vice president-sales.
As ``space'' becomes more integral--and critical--to military land, sea and air operations, the U.S. must devote more attention to the sensitive issues of space control and superiority, according to the nation's top milspace commander.
BAE Systems has begun final assembly of the first production Eurofighter Typhoon (PT001) at its facility in Warton, England. The other Eurofighter partners--Alenia Aerospazio, EADS-Germany and EADS-Spain--are set to launch final assembly in the next few months. EADS is the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co.
Turkey is preparing to assist Iraq to train civil aviation technicians as the country resumes domestic services that were curtailed after the 1991 Persian Gulf war.
Runway incursions and operational errors at U.S. airports are increasing both in number and frequency, according to the Transportation Dept. In 1999, there were 321 incursions. But this year these incidents already have risen to 322 and probably will exceed 400 by year-end, department officials said. Despite the FAA's ongoing efforts to resolve the problem, the number of incursions has risen 60% in the past five years compared with 1994, when only 200 occurred, according to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board.
Loral Space&Communications has started commercial operations in two new markets as it continues to expand its fixed satellite service network. Known as the Loral Global Alliance, the network includes Loral Skynet, Satmex, Loral Skynet do Brasil, EuropeStar and Stellat.
Adroit Systems Inc. of Bellevue, Wash., plans to begin testing a new choke nozzle for its pulse detonation rocket engine late this month as part of its development program for the propulsion technology that offers greater performance and simpler design for both air-breathing and rocket propulsion.
The first prototype of Northrop Grumman's Firescout vertical take-off and landing unmanned aircraft crashed on Nov. 4 during testing at the Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, Calif. The cause is believed to be a faulty radar altimeter that read zero while the aircraft was coming in to land but was still in hover. A second prototype is nearing completion and will be used to reduce risk for the Navy and Marine Corps development program.
A Northrop Grumman-led team is one of the first industry partners picked by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to develop a concept for a quiet supersonic aircraft that is expected to lead to military and civilian spin-offs.
Trans World Airlines Inc. has received an acquisition offer from Global Airlines Corp. This is the second such attempt by Global to purchase TWA. The New York-based carrier last week offered to pay $3.75 a share, or $298 million, for St. Louis-based TWA. In trading last Wednesday, TWA's stock closed at $1.86 a share.
David Robb (see photos) has been named president, Stephen R. Thompkins executive vice president/corporate secretary/general counsel and Don Berry vice president-safety and security, all of Express One International of San Antonio.
Lt. Gen. (ret.) Donald L. Cromer (see photo) has joined the board of directors of Universal Space Network Inc., Horsham, Pa. He is the retired president of Hughes Space and Communications and commander of the Space Systems Div., Air Force Systems Command, at Los Angeles AFB.
A bold plan to build a satellite telecommunications network to serve the African continent is likely to be finalized by the end of the year, according to officials close to the project.
Scandinavian Airlines System is set to begin services between Copenhagen and Washington in May, the first step in the carrier's plans to expand its intercontinental operations. It plans to begin with five flights a week, building to a daily service by the end of the summer.
