The DRS Optronics unit of DRS Technology has received a $6.5-million contract from Electro Design Manufacturing Inc. for manufacture of components and assemblies for the TOW (Tube-launched Optically-tracked, Wire-guided) missile system.
The Austrian Airlines Group has joined the three-year-old Star Alliance, extending its reach into the eastern and southeastern parts of Europe as well as the Middle East. The newest member comprises Austrian Airlines, Lauda Air and Tyrolean Airways. They serve 120 destinations in 67 countries, with a combined fleet of about 90 aircraft. The move is only the first of four expansions set for Star this year. Singapore Airlines is set to join the alliance in April, to be followed later this year by Mexicana Airlines and British Midland Airways.
SensAble Technologies makes the FreeForm system, a touch-sensitive 3D tool and software that mimics sculpting in clay or foam (AW&ST Oct. 18, 1999, p. 21). It was launched last August and the new Version 2 incorporates feedback from customers such as Boeing and Honda. Version 2 has a more realistic clay sculpting feel and better smoothing tools to remove unwanted marks. CAD 2D and 3D models can be imported for reference or to directly build the model, as objects to be refined by sculpting, or serve as ``no-fly'' boundary zones.
When the decade began, the Internet was for sending files between universities and carrying electronic mail traffic for niche providers like CompuServe. Five years ago, the World Wide Web was inhabited by college students and teenagers, with only brief, escorted forays by curious parents. Today, the Internet is such a big part of popular culture that nearly a third of the ads during this year's Super Bowl telecast were for the dot.coms--companies doing business on the Internet or involved in Internet-focused markets.
The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization plans to consolidate some of its software processes to help discriminate reentry vehicles from decoys. BMDO director Lt. Gen. Robert Kadish says he wants to create a ``national effort'' rather than have different companies pursue their separate approaches. The combined activity is called ``Hercules'' and will try to develop target discrimination algorithms that could be applied to various missile defense programs.
Plans to revamp the Joint Strike Fighter's acquisition plan could tack up to an additional 33%--about $4 billion--onto early phases of the program. The revelation has produced an explosive environment in the Pentagon, which is already under heavy congressional pressure to cut spending on tactical aviation. Advocates say a reconfigured program could create savings and preserve a larger subcontractor base by feeding two competing assembly lines and maintaining yearly competition through the end of JSF production.
The European Commission has approved a pair of 50-million euro ($48-million) research projects intended to provide more efficient and environmentally friendly engine technologies for future generation civil air transports. The Efficient and Environmentally Friendly Aero-Engine project, planned under the EC's Fifth Framework Program for research and development, will involve two groups, one headed by Snecma and MTU and the other by Rolls-Royce.
DY4 Systems Inc. will design and manufacture the Flight Control Computer for the BA-2 heavy-lift rocket. Developed and constructed by Beal Aerospace, the BA-2 rocket will lift and deploy payload such as telecommunication satellites.
J. Scott Kirby has been named senior vice president for America West Holdings Corp.'s electronic business, Internet and on-line investments. He was vice president-revenue management.
Finmeccanica/Aeronavali concluded an agreement with the Finova Capital Corp. to modify six DC-10-30 trijets into all-cargo configuration and optioned the conversion of three additional aircraft.
SITA and SH&E have received a five-year contract to provide their Strategy Revenue Management System to Venezuela-based Avensa Airlines. Designed for regional and international carriers, Strategy offers flight inventory information.
Ballistic Missile Defense system components will be the first to undergo major testing in a new $100-million radiation test facility just opened at the Arnold Engineering Development Center at Arnold AFB, Tenn. Although the collapse of the Soviet Union has lessened the overall nuclear threat to the U.S., the reliance on satellites in military/commercial infrastructure and work on a U.S. BMD system have spawned the need for the new facility. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency helped lead development of the facility with the Air Force.
Howard C. (Pat) Curtiss, Jr., professor of aeronautical engineering at Princeton University, is scheduled to deliver the annual American Helicopter Society Alexander A. Nikolsky Honorary Lecture on May 2. The lectureship is awarded to an individual ``who reflects the highest ideals, goals and achievements in the field of helicopter and V/STOL aircraft engineering and development.''
Hugh Colver has been named corporate communications director at BAE Systems. He was director of public affairs for the British Aerospace Defense Co. and succeeds Locksley Ryan, who has become a partner at international public relations consultancy Brunswick.
Bombardier Inc. has reported a 30% increase in net income (adjusted for unusual items) on an 18% rise in revenues, to $13.6 billion, for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2000. The company's aerospace backlog rose to $18.9 billion.
Bill G. McKnight has been named executive vice president-marketing and sales, Peter Wilander vice president-inflight services and Dan Ryan president of subsidiary Chicago Express, all at American Trans Air. McKnight was vice president of the U.S. transportation practice of A.T. Kearney Inc. Wilander was managing director of onboard services and catering for Northwest Airlines, and Ryan was vice president-customer service for Midway Airlines.
A U.S. software company has joined forces with a pair of Israeli aerospace companies to collect high-resolution Earth imagery with a fleet of small satellites and sell the data over the Internet. While all of the companies selling or planning to collect high-resolution satellite imagery for sale use Internet Web sites as cybercatalogs of their products, West Indian Space (WIS) counted the U.S. company--Core Software Technology-- as a founding partner, along with Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Israel's El-Op.
Ballistic Missile Defense Organization officials are putting their heads together again here with air force and industry research-and-development types from Israel as the Israelis begin looking for long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to include in their new missile-defense plan. Last month, Israel turned the first Arrow ballistic defense missile battery over to its air force. Now researchers want to concentrate on how to find and destroy enemy missiles either before or immediately after they fire.
British Airways Chairman Lord Marshall has reportedly asked Ansett Executive Chairman Rod Eddington to become the airline's CEO, filling the vacancy left by the departure of Robert Ayling. Eddington said he has accepted no job offer yet. Air New Zealand completes its takeover of Ansett on Apr. 30.
Michael Rossi has been promoted to chief operating officer from chief financial officer of Flight Options Inc. of Cleveland. He has been succeeded by Stephen Nevin, who was CFO of Atlas Air Inc.
A new entrant has joined the scramble to establish an electronic marketplace for the aerospace and defense sector. It doesn't have a dot.com name yet, its services are more concept than reality and its software is yet to be refined. But it is big, and that may make all the difference.
Donna Coles has been named vice president-customer service and Steve Pfannkuche director of quality assurance and compliance for Dobbs International Services, Memphis, Tenn.
Laurent Jossart has been appointed chief financial officer of Virgin Express. He was CFO of City Bird Holdings. Jossart succeeds Brett Godfrey, who has become CEO of Virgin Australia. Neil Burrows has been named director of flight operations, Hugo Lucke director of customer services, Ignace Bral legal counsel and Yves Panneels communications and public relations manager, all of Virgin Express.
NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center plans to conduct follow-on testing of a wing design that achieved supersonic natural laminar flow over more than 80% of a test article during initial flights.
