Virtual Prototypes is easing its foot into the DO-178B waters for its VAPS design environment for display software. DO-178B is the RTCA's specification for producing airborne software with varying levels of criticality, and Virtual Prototypes is working with several avionics companies to certify that its automatic C-code generator (CCG Lite) produces code that meets DO-178B Level B requirements, one notch short of the most critical Level A. The new product will be called Qualified Code Generator, and will initially be approved for Level C criticality devices.
Transport Canada plans to significantly reduce the time it takes to certify new aircraft from about five years to 40 months or less. The move is supported by Bombardier, now the world's third largest aircraft builder, but came as a surprise to the U.S. FAA. Manufacturers will now be able to perform certification tasks themselves.
Boeing's two-pilot conversion of the DC-10 cockpit received FAA certification last week. The Advanced Common Flightdeck modification installs a Honeywell instrument panel with a layout identical to that found in later-model MD-11s. Following receipt of the amended type certificate and production authority, Boeing delivered the first MD-10 to FedEx, launch customer for the program in 1996.
Russia has sold China the aircraft carrier Kiev, according to the Russian daily Kommersant. Built starting in 1970, the Kiev was the first Soviet carrier, although it was originally designed as an antisubmarine cruiser. With the sale, Russia has sold all four of the ships in her class.
LaBarge Inc. has received a $2.1-million contract from Sensis Corp. to produce printed circuit board assemblies for the AN/TPS-59 (V)3 Tactical Missile Defense radar system. The U.S. Marine Corps will use the system for long-range surveillance and ground control intercept capabilities.
Alaska Airlines has broached one of the final barriers to passenger self-check-in, linking its Instant Travel Machine (ITM) self-service ticket kiosks to baggage X-ray devices at Portland and Anchorage. The carrier plans to expand the service to Los Angeles and Seattle soon. It takes 23 sec. to check in using an ITM, an airline official said. Alaska also hopes to introduce Required Navigational Performance approaches on its routes to San Francisco International as early as this year.
Electrical systems on aircraft are about to change drastically. In the near future, variable frequency generators will replace today's constant frequency power systems, and electrohydraulic actuators will replace centralized hydraulics for powering flight control systems.
Airbus is trying to round up A3XX customers prior to the Farnborough air show in July but ``customer interest is probably cooler than'' the European aircraft manufacturing consortium would like, according to Steven Udvar-Hazy. He's president and CEO of International Lease Finance Corp., one of the largest purchasers of new jet transports. Although the A3XX targets a 15% cost advantage over the Boeing 747-400, the proposed 555-seat transport requires ``lots'' of new infrastructure including terminal and airport taxiway upgrades, Udvar-Hazy said.
Canada has created an Air Travel Complaints Commissioner in response to customer charges that service has deteriorated after Air Canada's merger with Canadian Airlines International. Air Canada said the problems are only temporary as the two airlines meld their systems, and it would establish a ``customer bill of rights'' and appoint an ombudsman to respond to consumer problems.
Former NTSB Vice Chairman Robert Francis has been named senior policy adviser to the Washington law firm of Zuckert, Scoutt and Rasenberger and executive vice president of affiliate firm Farragut International. Denise Daniels also has joined the law firm. She was special counsel to Francis at the NTSB and a lawyer in the FAA Office of Chief Counsel.
The SAirGroup, Swissair's parent company, and French investors are expected to form France's second largest airline by unifying Air Liberte, AOM and Air Littoral.
James O. Arnold, deputy director for space transportation in the Aeronautics Directorate at the NASA Ames Research Center, is among the 30 new fellows elected to the Reston, Va.-based American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The others are: Gary T. Chapman, professor at University of California, Berkeley; Donald R. Connell, retired engineering manager of Pratt&Whitney; USAF Lt. Gen. Donald L. Cromer (Ret.); David S.
The Lufthansa Aviation Group expects e-commerce, deeper integration with alliance partners and further diversification to kindle renewed profit growth, despite continued air traffic congestion that helped lead to a business slowdown last year.
Boeing Co. last week appointed Michael M. Sears as its chief financial officer and pushed back President Harry Stonecipher's retirement another year in moves critics fear may perpetuate Boeing's long-held management style of promoting company insiders and engineers to top executive positions.
Rodney B. Mott has been appointed CEO of Pechiney Rolled Products, Ravens- wood, W.Va. He was a vice president/general manager of the Nucor Steel Corp.
Honeywell has shipped fully conformed AS900 engines to program risk-sharing partners in Belgium and Taiwan to begin accelerated mission cycle (AML) testing. Tech Space Aero of Belgium and Aerospace Industries Development Corp. of Taiwan will perform the ground-based tests, which include runs under higher-than-design temperature and speed conditions. The AMC tests accelerate wear at a 4:1 ratio compared with normal service, Honeywell said.
The World Trade Organization has ruled that Brazil must withdraw its Proex subsidy affecting the sale of more than 900 undelivered Embraer regional jets, despite higher acquisition costs and potential legal ramifications that could arise from the mandate. The mandate is considered a victory for Bombardier Aerospace, a major competitor of Embraer. It builds the Canadair series of regional jets as well as the Dash 8 turboprop-powered transport.
Airtours is launching an e-commerce strategy in an effort to gain an edge in the increasingly competitive European travel industry. The plan includes a new global Web travel service and virtual low-cost airline, expansion of an existing auction site and strategic and technology partnerships. The global travel service will be based on Mytravelco, a brand marketed by TSI, acquired earlier this year. Airtours expects to generate 90 million pounds ($136 million) from 230,000 Internet customers in the current 1999-2000 business year.
S. Caine O'Brien has been promoted to CEO from vice president-marketing/ executive vice president-North American operations at Artisan Software Tools Inc., Portland, Ore.
Lynx Real-Time Systems Inc., of San Jose, Calif., is changing its name to LynuxWorks Inc. The company supplies software for aerospace embedded systems and says it is using Linux as a standard, open and multi-vendor operating system to avoid a software world fragmented by proprietary systems. . . . Dornier will use Engineering Animation's VisMockUp in the design of the 728JET so all involved can visualize data from the computer-aided design and product-data management systems.
Boeing has launched a secure, password-protected Web site, myboeingfleet.com, as a single-source of on-line maintenance, engineering and flight operations data. It uses e-business software from BroadVision Inc. that allows content to be customized for each user. The site consolidates Boeing On-Line Data (BOLD) and Flight Technical Services On-Line and will offer access to Boeing's Web-based parts ordering PART Page system.
Eugene, Ore., is maturing from a timber town in the shadow of Portland to a city with diversified economy, much like many urban areas in the U.S. Northwest. Air service has been the main missing ingredient in the growth pattern until the idea for a travel bank came along. Travel bank is the informal name for the depository of funds created by Eugene area companies to bring new air service to the community.
John Bent (see photo p. 10) has been named Hong Kong-based managing director for Asia for GE Capital Aviation Training, Stamford, Conn. He was manager of flight training and training services for Cathay Pacific Airways.
