The National Security Space Architect, whose organization was created to meld requirements for the military and intelligence communities, is looking at the possibility of using either an 8- or 14-engine variant of California-based AeroVironment's commercial Helios solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle to augment satellite telecommunications during future peace-keeping or wartime operations. Moving way down the size scale, the company also has been asked--this time by the Air Force's force-protection battle lab--to demonstrate its Pointer and Black Widow UAVs.
France and the U.S. hope to give final approval by the end of next year to an expanded program of joint Mars sample return missions, including a preliminary flight to test vital technologies.
Air Show China 2000, the country's third international industry get-together, attracted about 400 exhibitors and tens of thousands of visitors to Zhuhai airport on Nov. 6-12 for a glimpse into the future of China. With the country on the precipice of global market competition as it readies for membership in the World Trade Organization, aircraft and engine manufacturing officials rolled up their sleeves, ready to do business.
Interstate Electronics Corp., a subsidiary of L-3 Corp., and Control Systems Research introduced GPSView 2000. This software package integrates with the GPS Satellite Constellation Simulator IEC SCS2400 to provide a turn-key visualization and diagnostic tool for real-world performance analysis of GPS systems for high-performance vehicle scenario dynamics in real-time. It provides reproduction of real-world terrain/fuselage/inertial effects on GPS receiver performance.
The competitors for GPS III, the next version of the navigation satellite system, haven't even begun work on the project and already there is rumbling that keeping costs down will be critical. ``The decisions we make over the next few years will result in a permanent tax on the [Defense Dept.] and U.S. budget for many years,'' USAF Col. Douglas L. Loverro, the GPS program director, tells the bidders. Boeing and Lockheed Martin are now on the hook to do architecture design studies and cost estimates, after each won a $16-million, 12-month study contract last week.
Charles R. Fredrickson has become general manager of the Mercury Air Group's fixed-base operation at Fort Wayne, Ind. Other new general managers are: Joe De- Silva in Tulsa, Okla.; Paul M. Ferroni in Addison, Tex.; and Shawn McKay in Santa Barbara, Calif. Fredrickson was vice president/general manager of the Casper (Wyo.) Air Service. DeSilva was station manager for Sawyer Aviation's commercial aviation department in Phoenix.
An ad hoc Committee of Wise Men established by the European Space Agency has recommended a sharp refocusing and reinforcement of the European space program to make Europe a stronger competitor in key areas of space technology and a credible alternative to the U.S. in Asia and other developing regions. In a report issued last week, the Wise Men said policy guidelines should be set by the European Council and all programs, including those run by EU and non-EU countries, coordinated through ESA as the European Union's de facto space arm.
Employee representatives have delayed the appointment of Fritz Feitl, head of regional carrier Tyrolean Airways, to co-CEO of Austrian Airlines. The representatives walked out of a supervisory board meeting at which Feitl was supposed to be named. Meanwhile, the board gave Austrian Airlines a mandate to negotiate the purchase of Lufthansa's 20% stake in Lauda Air. Austrian wants to buy 100% of Lauda. If the move is successful, Lauda Air founder Niki Lauda is likely to be ousted. Lauda himself called the plan a hostile takeover.
Singapore Airlines has sold two Boeing 747-300s to Hong Kong's Dragonair for conversion to freighters to serve Dragonair's expanding China and European freight services (AW&ST Oct. 30, p. 55). The work will be performed at Taikoo Aircraft Engineering Co. (TAECO), a major 747 overhaul center in Xiamen, China, in which Boeing Airplane Services and Singapore Airlines are investors.
Sandor Nagy has been named general manager of GE Accessory Services Inc. of Cincinnati. He was London-based manager of business development for Europe, the Middle East and Asia for GE Engine Services.
Manufacturers are proceeding with work on plans for modifications to the Concorde that may allow the aircraft to return to service. At a Nov. 2 meeting here hosted by the British Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), an Anglo-French technical working group reached agreement on the general scope of work that would be required from the aircraft's design authorities, including BAE Systems and EADS-France, to un-ground the supersonic aircraft. The focus was on modifications to the fuel tanks to reduce the threat of a fire linked to a fuel leak.
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.
