According to Andreas Sperl, the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co's. (EADS) Airbus Div. chief financial officer, the A3XX mega-transport will retain its current designation after the program's launch, late this year or in early 2001. ``We have no intention to change the aircraft's designation, which in the last few months achieved global notoriety,'' he pointed out. Airbus Industrie officials, however, adamantly refute Sperl's assertion and claim they plan to replace the A3XX's temporary designation by as-yet-undisclosed numbering.
A large portion of the $33 billion in new commercial transport orders--not options or purchase rights--claimed by Airbus and Boeing at the recent Farnborough 2000 air show did not consist of the traditional firm contracts accompanied by substantial deposits. Indeed, Airbus included in its show sales totals up to 12 A330s that British Midlands ``will acquire'' and ``plans to operate.'' Many other firm orders claimed by both companies during the show were based either on letters of intent or memorandums of understanding, not definitive sales agreements.
Peak summer traffic is swelling federal displeasure with the airlines. As flight delays multiply and lengthen, carriers stand accused by lawmakers of treating the flying public ``like cattle.'' Airlines also are charged with blaming their own sins on the government--the Transportation Dept. says carriers are masking the real growth in delays by stretching out scheduled flight times, while blaming gridlock on government air traffic control.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Alitalia have entered into what looks to be a long battle over financial compensation claims following the April breakup of their alliance. Alitalia said last week that it is claiming 250 million euros ($228 million) from KLM, alleging that the Dutch airline's decision to split up was ``illegitimate.'' A spokesman for KLM said the airline, in response, is now considering filing additional claims against Alitalia.
The Pentagon's national missile defense program is going to come under even closer scrutiny in the coming weeks as Defense Dept. and White House officials decide whether to authorize construction for an X-band radar needed in Alaska for the system. The so-called Defense Readiness Review, through which Pentagon officials will recommend what course to pursue, is set to kick off this week. The review is expected to be completed relatively quickly and the White House may make a decision this month, Defense Dept. officials say.
Northrop Grumman Corp. delivered the eighth E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar Systems aircraft on July 27 to the U.S. Air Force's 93rd Air Control Wing at Robins AFB, Ga.
China Southern Airlines, headquartered at Baiyun International Airport at Guangzhou, says its cargo Web site is generating sales of more than 50 million RMB ($6,040,000), making it the No. 1 sales-oriented Web site in the country. The site, launched in August 1999, is China's only online cargo service.
The great experiment for Canada's commercial aviation sector is underway. Air Canada and its acquisition target, Canadian Airlines, have combined their networks. The prospects for Air Canada have never been better. Seven analysts recommend ``buys'' (three ``strong'' and four ``moderate'') now that Air Canada is that nation's only major airline, operating the only hub-and-spoke system and offering the only frequent-flier program--Aeroplan.
John J. Walsh has become executive vice president/chief operating officer of Special Devices Inc., Moorpark, Calif. He was vice president-strategic marketing and programs.
The Pentagon insists no substitute for its hit-to-kill national missile defense system can be deployed nearly fast enough against a rogue threat ``that is continuing to develop.'' Defense Secretary William S. Cohen was adamant in recent Senate testimony that alternative national missile defense (NMD) systems based at sea, or reliant on intercepting an enemy missile before it dispenses its warheads (boost phase intercept-BPI), cannot possibly be ready by 2005.
Scheduled British Airways Concorde operations continued unabated last week, although services were disrupted by several incidents. The airline maintained there was no concrete evidence to ground the fleet, although it did put in place additional precautionary procedures following the July 26 loss of an Air France supersonic transport.
Larry R. Feuerstein has become vice president/chief information officer and Pete Gross chief technology officer of the Computer Sciences Corp., El Segundo, Calif. Feuerstein was vice president-corporate projects for the Technology Management Group, and Gross was vice president of the Year 2000 Assurance Office.
Rozalie Schachter has been appointed vice president of Herley Industries Inc., Lancaster, Pa. She was vice president-business development of the General Microwave Corp.
Jean-Claude Husson, president/CEO of Alcatel Space, has been awarded the French Aeronautic and Astronautic Assn.'s annual Grand Prix for bringing Alcatel Space to its current international status.
The Experimental Aircraft Assn.'s AirVenture 2000 held here last week showcased a bevy of new, advanced designs bristling with technologies spawned by close cooperation between NASA and the general aviation industry. EAA's annual event, hailed as the world's largest air show and exhibition of small aircraft, also underscored the industry's vibrant health that has seen record sales of both kit and production aircraft as well as a surge in availability of sophisticated electronics and avionics systems.
The Air Force is seriously considering accelerating the Global Hawk UAV program to hedge against a potential shortfall in U-2 capabilities around 2008. Secretary F. Whitten Peters is asking Northrop Grumman to devise a plan to have more and better Global Hawks available earlier. One strategy calls for Block 10 Global Hawks--which would feature sensor, self-protection and power improvements--to be ready in 2006, two years earlier than planned.
The headquarters building for the U.S. Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo., has been named for Gen. James V. Hartinger (Ret.). He was commander-in-chief of the North American Aerospace Defense Command from 1980-84. Hart- inger is credited with leading the effort to establish a separate USAF operational command for space.
NASA's more sober approach to Mars exploration means the agency has to choose whether to send a lander or an orbiter in 2003, not both as originally planned. Headquarters picked one and arranged to announce it on July 24--but three days before that, they put off the announcement. Making the decision was much more complex and difficult than anticipated, and it will take perhaps one to two weeks longer than planned, said Ed Weiler, associate administrator for space science.
NASA boosters on Capitol Hill have long been fond of pointing out that none of the money invested in space is actually spent in space, but instead in the laboratories and factories on Earth. Now a Silicon Valley startup company hopes to turn a profit in space by selling ``content'' generated there, but again no money will change hands in orbit.
The Air Force/Lockheed Martin F-22 fighter conducted its first missile firing on July 25, shooting a short-range AIM-9M Sidewinder into a stabilized trajectory. The F-22 was flying at Mach 0.7 and 20,000 ft. over the NAS China Lake, Calif., range when the doors of the left side missile bay opened, the missile rail was deployed into the airstream, and the rocket motor ignited. The missile came forward off the rail without the use of ejectors. The rail was aimed slightly outboard and down, and the missile came back up as it headed forward.
PIERRE SPARACO, FRANCES FIORINO and MICHAEL A. DORNHEIM
Investigators were focusing last week on damage that occurred during the takeoff roll of Air France Flight 4590, the Concorde that crashed near Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, including debris of tires that was found on the runway. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board in a 1981 report cited four occasions in a 20-month period from July 1979-February 1981 ``when an Air France Concorde was involved in a potentially catastrophic accident resulting from blown tires at takeoff'' (see p. 36).
Meanwhile, NASA has decided what sort of mission it wants to Mars in 2003. To aid in the search for water, it will begin working on an advanced rover--maybe even two--not an orbiter with a very high-resolution (60-cm.) camera, the other option considered. And the agency will go back to the ``drop, bounce and roll'' air-bag landing technique used successfully with Mars Pathfinder, not the retro-rocket approach of the failed Mars Polar Lander.
Jeff S. Potter has been appointed president/CEO of Vanguard Airlines. He succeeds Robert J. Spane, who will become chairman. Potter was vice president-marketing for Frontier Airlines.
