The next round of U.S.-U.K. bilateral negotiations, scheduled for Oct. 18-20 in London, has been called off. Informal discussions between the two sides found that there was little basis on which to proceed with the long-stalled negotiations. Talks were set to resume in September but were postponed by a month to await the outcome of merger talks between British Airways and KLM which ultimately collapsed. Observers say there is little chance of resuming substantive negotiations in the foreseeable future given the forthcoming change in the U.S. Administration.
China and India are working on new boosters, including a heavy-lift version of Long March, that are intended to reduce launch costs, increase reliability and flexibility, and better meet the needs of the marketplace.
Russian and U.S. International Space Station ground controllers are continuing to assess flight operations and maintenance tradeoffs after the second of eight critical batteries on the Russian ISS Service Module malfunctioned. The ISS battery problem will have no effect on the Discovery STS-92 ISS/Z-1 truss assembly mission that was tentatively set for launch no earlier than Oct. 9 pending resolution of an external tank separation bolt issue that delayed launch on Oct. 5.
International Rectifier introduces five new ultra-fast recovery diodes developed to increase power and improve reliability and efficiency in high-frequency inverter welder output stages. Typical voltage and current requirements for arc welders are 20-50 volts and 50-500 ADC with low ripple for optimum weld quality. Many discrete diodes are limited to 60 amps but most welders are created for continuous operation at more than 60. Four of the five new welding diodes are rated at 80 amps.
Much has been made of Bombardier Inc.'s revenue and earnings growth in recent years, based partly on the booming demand for business aircraft and regional jets (RJ). But the Canadian company isn't the only game in town; there's also Brazil's Embraer, for which RJ production will account for 91% of 2000 sales, according to estimates.
The U.S. Air Force's Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) at Tullahoma, Tenn., and Rolls-Royce have completed protocols for a 10-year agreement allowing the engine manufacturer to conduct simulated high-altitude tests of its large commercial powerplants at the facility. The first engine, possibly a Trent 500, may arrive in mid-2001, according to company officials. AEDC has tested engines with sea-level static thrust ratings up to 98,000 lb. and can accommodate engines up to 117,000-lb. sea-level static thrust.
The advanced HSP family of motorized spindles were developed for high-speed milling, drilling and grinding applications in the aerospace, die/mold and automotive industries. Various spindle sizes are available with maximum speeds of 12,000-51,000 rpm., tool interfaces from HSK 25-HSK 100 and power from 10-100 hp. Spindles are dynamometer tested to provide the actual (versus calculated) shaft power at output.
Boeing, Spectrum Astro and Lockheed Martin's Sanders Div. are leading teams chosen to develop concepts in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Orbital Express program, aimed at exploring methods to refuel satellites in-orbit. The Orbital Express concept calls for packages of fuel and electronics to be launched into space, grabbed by an autonomous, space-based robot and transported to a satellite for installation. The robot is named Astro. The notional weight for the packages is 100-1,000 lb.
This book celebrates the aircraft designed and built by Italian aviation pioneer Gianni Caproni and his companies from 1908 onward. The reopening of the Caproni Museum at Trento airport in Italy has prompted this compilation which provides more than 350 B&W and color photographs, features and events of the 170 models that carried the Caproni name. Ten thematic chapters tell the company history, from the first hops of the Ca.1 biplane in 1910 through the 1980 C-22J twinjet.
European nations are moving closer to a cooperative effort on advanced aircraft technologies and development, including stealth, an area in which they hope to close the gap with the U.S.
Edmund F. Ball, retired chairman, president and CEO of Ball Corp., died on Sept. 30. He was 95. An entrepreneur, philanthropist, rancher, educator, adventurer and aviator, Ball was considered the ``father'' of Ball Aerospace&Technologies Corp., a major U.S. manufacturer of military and civil spacecraft. He spent his entire 42-year career with Ball Corp., guiding the maker of glass jars into the space age. Ball received Aviation Week&Space Technology's ``Lifetime Achievement'' Laureate award earlier this year (AW&ST Apr. 10, p. L11).
Avemco Insurance Co. has added online purchasing of its Direct Approach 2000 Non-Owned Aircraft Insurance policy for pilots who operate rented or borrowed aircraft. The company says an increasing awareness that the FBOs from which pilots are renting may not provide them adequate coverage has led the company to offer this service. The non-owned policy offers comprehensive coverage options that include bodily injury and property damage liability as well as optional physical damage coverage for the non-owned aircraft.
Boeing has agreed with BFGoodrich Aerospace and InterContinental Aircraft Services (ICAS) to jointly develop a 737 passenger-to-freighter conversion program. The first conversion--at BFGoodrich facilities in Everett, Wash.--is scheduled for completion as early as the summer of 2002. Subsequent modifications would be carried out at the BFGoodrich Everett plant or by ICAS at facilities in Taiwan.
NASA HAS AWARDED A CONTRACT to Sensis Corp. to provide runway occupancy times from its multilateration surveillance system to controllers at Memphis International Airport. Northwest Airlines' ramp tower will also use the multilateration data for gate management and scheduling, and it will be integrated with ARINC's data link delivery of expected taxi clearances system. Multilateration systems use multiple receivers to triangulate aircraft locations and gain positive identification from their transponder responses.
Bob Bond has been appointed president of the Automation Group, Marwan Kashkoush president of the Hydraulics Group and Tom Mackie president of the Instrumentation group, all of Parker Hannifin of Cleveland.
Skyteam Alliance, which launched in June 2000, has extended its reach with the formation of Skyteam Cargo. The new group comprises founding partner airlines' cargo operations: Aeromexico Cargo, Air France Cargo, Delta Air Logistics and Korean Air Cargo. Skyteam Cargo was introduced at the recent Air Cargo Forum 2000 sponsored by the International Air Cargo Assn., held in Washington.
FAA Administrator Jane F. Garvey addressed the issue of delays, delays, delays in a speech last week before the Airports Council International annual conference in New York. Garvey said airlines, airports and government share ``the responsibility for action'' and that the FAA has a role in defining the limits on efficiency of the system. ``But you get to a point where you say, `Okay, Noah, we know it's raining. Can we get to work on the ark?''' The agency is developing capacity benchmarks for the top 30 airports, she said, which would lead to defining actions.
Continental Airlines has placed orders for 15 Boeing 757-300s for use on U.S. domestic routes. Rolls-Royce RB211 engines will power the aircraft. Initial deliveries are scheduled for late next year and will continue through 2003. The order will increase Continental's 757 fleet to 56 aircraft.
Serious aviation accidents involving U.S. military aircraft operated by the combined services are at their lowest point in the past 10 years, according to the Defense Dept. The number of Class A accidents, defined as complete destruction of an aircraft or damage exceeding $1 million, has declined to 1.23 accidents per 100,000 flying hr. compared with 2.1 per 100,000 hr. in 1991. There were 57 Class A events in Fiscal 2000--13 fewer than in Fiscal 1999, and included accidents stemming from Operation Allied Force. The U.S.
Solvent Savers are an easy-to-use cleaning cup/tank designed to speed up the equipment cleaning process, save solvent, reduce VOC emissions and save finishing operators time. They utilize compressed air to push a blast of air and solvent through fluid passage of spray guns, hoses, etc. to clean them. Metering permits variations in the air/solvent mix. Solvent Saver is equipped with a measuring valve, safety valve and air and fluid connections. It is available in a two quart cup and a two gallon tank.
The dismissal of WestJet Airlines President and CEO Stephen Smith over a clash of management styles with other executives is not expected to adversely affect the future of the leading low-cost alternative to Air Canada.
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and U.S. Energy Dept.'s National Energy and Technology Laboratory will work together in the development and demonstration of cleaner-burning aviation fuels that reduce pollution. Research will center on the effects of sulfur on particulate formation and creation of special additives for new fuel blends to reduce those particulates. The initiative, which is part of the department's Ultra Clean Transportation Fuels program, includes aviation turbine fuels.
India has signed arms agreements valued at an estimated $3 billion with Russia, including licensed production of 120-130 Su-30 MKI multi-role fighters at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. India earlier ordered an initial batch of 40 Russian-made Su-30 MKIs. The deals, signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India last week, also covered the transfer of the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov to the Indian navy and a letter of intent for the sale of 124 Tu-90 tanks, plus licensed production of another 186.
Capt. Suzanna Darcy (see photo), a senior engineering test pilot for the Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group, was one of seven women honored by Women in Aerospace (WIA) organization. Darcy received the Outstanding Leadership Award. Other honorees are: Sydell P. Gold of the Science Applications International Corp., Outstanding Achievement Award; Kathryn Clark of NASA, Outstanding International Award; USAF Col. Suzanne Vatrinot, Outstanding Leadership Award; Joan Vernikos, a NASA retiree, Lifetime Achievement Award; Arlene S.
