British aircraft-maker Britten-Norman, which went into receivership, has been acquired by buyers from Oman for an undisclosed sum. Alawi Zawawi will be chairman of the new company to be called B-N Group Ltd. A previous refinancing offer for Britten-Norman from the ruler of Sharjah of the United Arab Emirates was withdrawn. The B-N Group plans to continue production of the Islander, Trislander and Defender series of utility turboprop aircraft.
With its launch plans now in place and licensing and investment goals within reach, SkyBridge is poised to become the world's first global multimedia satellite network.
John S. Fairfield, vice president-strategy development and integration of the Marketing Div. of DynCorp, Reston, Va., has been appointed to the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Service.
George Nelson has been named director of commercial marketing of Parker Aerospace, Irvine, Calif. He was director of marketing for Parker's Control Systems Div.-Commercial, Ogden, Utah. Bill Stone has become director of Embraer programs in the company's Brazilian office. Stone was manager of new business development for the Control Systems Div.
Steve Townes, founder/CEO of Ranger Aerospace, Greenville, S.C., has been appointed to the board of governors of The Wings Club of New York. Townes also is president of the Aircraft Service International Group and chairman of SkyTanking GmbH.
Boeing has begun flight-testing an updated Block 3S avionics software package for the F-22 fighter on its 757 flying testbed. The Block 3S software is an early version of the Block 3.0 software that the Defense Acquisition Board said must fly on a F-22 before year-end to qualify the program to receive production funding. Boeing said it remains on schedule to deliver the Block 3.0 software to F-22 team-partner Lockheed Martin in early November.
George L. Donohue, the FAA's associate administrator for research and acquisitions from 1994-98, is a professor of systems engineering and operations research at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. This piece was adapted from his recent testimony on NASA's aviation efforts to the U.S. House space and aeronautics subcommittee.
The Air Force is increasing its precision targeting capability by ordering 124 more PC-based 3D photogrammetry systems to locate and measure terrain features from satellite imagery using ``RainDrop'' software. The systems are made by Comptek Research and were used to target precision-guided weapons in some Balkans attacks. The $1.4-million order will go to the Electronic Systems Center at Hanscomb AFB, Mass., and increase the number of stations to more than 300.
The U.S. Air Force Academy class of 2000 will attempt a first this week, a class photo taken from 360 naut. mi. in space. The 1-meter resolution image to be taken by the Ikonos commercial imaging satellite is planned to show about 2,000 members of the Cadet Wing in formation, spelling out ``USAFA 2000'' on the campus at Colorado Springs, Colo.
The Defense Dept. has signaled contractors that ``affordability'' will remain paramount in all future weapons purchases, despite its admission that high arms prices will not drop sharply until the military corrects decades of institutionalized flaws that mock attempts at major cost reduction. Further, top defense officials insist the U.S. must continue to buy the most expensive leading-edge technology, defying the inherent conflict between lower cost and higher performance.
U.S. tactical air forces should not receive more money or force structure, despite the increasing reliance on airpower to settle international disputes over the last decade, said Adm. Harold W. Gehman, Jr., commander-in-chief of U.S. Joint Forces Command. ``I would not sign up to that,'' he said. ``I could make the argument that the mechanized part of our armed forces should be given more resources.'' However, the service chiefs may not agree with Joint Forces Command.
China scrambled two F-8 fighters to approach a U.S. Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint signals intelligence gathering aircraft operating over the South China Sea. The Pentagon is dismissing the Apr. 27 event, which occurred in international air space, as a routine incident, saying the USAF crew never felt threatened. The F-8s closed within a few kilometers of the Rivet Joint.
The U.S. Navy has given Rockwell Collins a $30.2-million contract to supply AN/ARC-210 radios, with priced options worth an additional $85 million for follow-on orders.
The FAA's GPS Wide Area Augmentation System will not meet its target date of September for an initial operating capability, but the agency is pressing on and making good progress in developing instrument approach procedures.
Bernd Kessler has been appointed vice president/general manager of Honeywell Aviation Aftermarket Services of Phoenix. He was general manager of Honeywell Aerospace Services in Europe.
Claude Morin has been promoted to vice president-cargo from managing director and Alice Keung to vice president-information technology/chief information officer from director of information technology for commercial business units, both at Air Canada.
Limited relief is in store for aerospace exporters fed up with slow licensing. The State Dept. is looking at ways to help companies respond faster to foreign tender offers and obtain high-volume licenses, which permit multiple shipments of an approved item. But don't count on Foggy Bottom's license processing to go electronic--licensing officers don't have e-mail.
Drake's new GS:F machine provides state-of-the-art positioning accuracy and versatility for making the precise cutting tools that make precision parts: taps, end mills, drills and special tools. Its accuracy is supported by four sets of linear guideways, including a set of unique curved guideways for right and left helix positioning. The flute grinds Fanus controls and servos plus a large 25-hp. spindle motor and a choice of optional loading systems. Drake Manufacturing Services Inc., 4371 North Leavitt Road, Warren, Ohio 44485.
Mark Larsen has been appointed engine program sales manager for the Springfield, Ill., facility of Garrett Aviation. He was director of customer service for Alliance Engines.
Placed in orbit 10 years ago this week, the Hubble Space Telescope has amassed a spectacular record of astronomical discoveries, but ``the best is yet to come,'' according to the program's senior project scientist.
Arianespace has agreed to fill out its launch vehicle line by adding the Soyuz and Rockot boosters into its product line, alongside the Ariane 5 heavy-lift model and its derivatives. The measure will lead to closer ties with Soyuz-builder Starsem--in which Arianespace has a 15% holding--and other firms in the Russian space industry that can provide more cost-effective launch solutions at the lower end of the product line. Meeting last Thursday, the Arianespace board:
Boeing has outlined plans to develop a space-based, global high-speed data communications network. The move, following the aircraft manufacturer's pending acquisition of Hughes Space&Communications, signals its positioning in the commercial, space communications market.
The ACT 8600, a radiation-tolerant positive and negative dual output voltage regulator, is packaged in a space-effect 6-lead metal power package. Each regulator is capable of supplying 1.5 amp output current over an output voltage range of 1.2-37 volts. It is radiation tolerant to 50 kilorads, guaranteed by wafer diffusion lot testing, which is required for commercial, military and government satellites. The ACT 8600 will be available to a Standard Microcircuit Drawing procurement--simplifying the procurement process and reducing total acquisition costs.
