The Italian Military Defense has chosen Raytheon's air-to-air Stinger for its A129 Mangusta combat variant, attack helicopter $10-million program. The integration phase is scheduled to begin later this year.
JMC Airlines, the third-largest U.K. holiday charter carrier formed with the integration of Flying Colours Airlines and Caledonian Airways, has placed a 100-million-pound ($158-million) order for two Boeing 757-300s to be delivered next spring. JMC, a joint venture of Thomas Cook and Carlson Group of the U.S., launched operations under the new integrated structure last week with its fleet of 28 aircraft. That will increase in May when JMC starts taking delivery of two new and two refurbished 757-200s as part of its fleet enhancement plans.
The Pentagon is sending U.S. Army Hunter and U.S. Air Force Predator unmanned aerial vehicles back to the Balkans. The reconnaissance assets are supposed to watch activities in Kosovo as tensions between Albanians and Serbs are escalating.
BFGoodrich is forecasting that deliveries for its newly acquired ACES II ejection seat line will exceed 400 units over the next five years. The outlook was bolstered by the recent order of 80 Lockheed Martin Block 60 F-16s by the United Arab Emirates. BFGoodrich acquired ACES II from Boeing in November. The seat is used in the F-16, F-15, B1-B, A-10 and B-2 and has been selected for the F-22. Aerospace is the largest business sector at BFGoodrich Co., which had total 1999 sales of $5.5 billion.
General Electric Aircraft Engines has created a customer-based Internet site aimed at boosting productivity, strengthening customer relationships and promoting e-business activities between the engine-maker and its clients.
The MLM Div. of Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) has proposed to the Chilean government that, should it choose the Lockheed Martin F-16 or Dassault Mirage 2000-5 in the competition to supply a fighter, it use the company's Air Combat Maneuvering System when training pilots in the new aircraft. The system is designed to record inflight positions and attitudes of each aircraft in a group and then transmit that information via data link to all other aircraft participating in the training exercise.
Swisscontrol, Switzerland's air traffic management organization, will acquire a second Total Airspace&Airport Modeler system from the Boeing-owned Preston Group.
Mark Coleman has become president of the RPA Airline Automation Services subsidiary of Los Angeles-based Mercury Air Group Inc. He was senior vice president of marketing and sales of Midway Airlines.
Metric Systems Corp., a subsidiary of Tech-Sym Corp., has received a contract valued over $3.2 million from Raytheon Defense Systems Segment. The contract provides for engineering, electronic manufacturing and integration support for the Enhanced Guided Bomb Unit-15 Phase II Program.
New modeling and simulation tools running on high-speed computers at the Joint National Test Facility are allowing senior military and political leaders to explore National Missile Defense concepts of operation through realistic wargames. As the center for Ballistic Missile Defense Organization simulation, the JNTF conducts missile defense-related analysis, system-level engineering, integration and test and evaluation services. It also is a valuable development laboratory for exploring the complexities of missile defense command and control.
MirCorp, a plucky band of young Western space capitalists and graying Russian space apparachniks trying to save the Soviet-era Mir space station with a fresh shot of cash, got a lot of ink earlier this year with plans to send rich tourists into orbit.
With two missions in the last three months, the introduction of the new heavy-lift Ariane 5 onto the market is off to a promising start, after a longer than expected qualification period, and appears to be in a good position to meet its goal of five launches this year.
Thomas M. Clancy (see photos) has become vice president-engineering and Kristine T. Miller vice president-administration of Aurora Flight Sciences, Manassas, Va. Clancy was manager of the Environmental Research and Sensor Technology Program, while Miller was director of finance and administration.
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. at the Surrey Space Center has been awarded the $120,000-Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission Study contract from NASA to initiate concepts for a five-spacecraft mission.
IAI's Lahav Div. and the Kamov Design Bureau of Russia plan to be among the bidders to supply South Korea with up to 36 Ka-50-2 heavy attack helicopters. The two companies also have teamed to offer Turkey 50 of the rotorcraft in a similar configuration. A decision on the proposed sale to Turkey is due early this summer from among three proposals on a short list, while a decision on the sale to South Korea is expected in June 2001 on bids that are due in mid-July.
Boeing, seeking to boost its global credentials, is eyeing more intently joint ventures and potential acquisitions in key markets around the world. ``You can't be a global company by just going around selling things,'' said Harry Stonecipher, president and chief operating officer. ``It's not long-lasting.'' Stonecipher said Boeing wants to have a presence in Europe and Asia, one which will allow it to influence policy in those regions and be viewed as a ``good corporate citizen.''
On final approach to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, Orbcomm Chairman and CEO Scott Webster gazes out his window, captivated at the sight of thousands of idle freight cars in the Windy City's vast train yard. More enthralling than the symmetrical configurations arrayed below, however, is the huge business opportunity he sees.
L-3 Communications will install 400 cockpit voice recorders for Delta Air Lines in a retrofit plan for their Boeing 737, 757, 767, MD-11 and MD-88 aircraft.
China will spend $600 million to build, reorganize and expand 20 airports as part of a national thrust to develop its remote western region. Poor transportation facilities are restricting development of the vast area, which is rich in natural resources, according to Song Chaoyi, deputy director general of basic industry in China's State Development Planning Commission. Some of the funding will come from foreign investors, he said. At least five new airports are planned.
The MLM Div. of IAI expects to demonstrate to the Colombian air force and police next month the company's On-Line Airborne Reconnaissance System. MLM also plans to demonstrate the system to the national police in Chile and Venezuela, according to marketing manager Arie Perry. MLM has designed this electro-optic survey and surveillance system for general aviation aircraft being used in narcotics and guerrilla detection activities in heavily forested or mountainous areas. The system is designed to scan up to 300 sq. km. per hr. from up to 10,000 ft.
Under attack for the slow pace of F-22 flight testing, U.S. Air Force officials are fighting back by arguing they can easily meet the test schedule. The program is about 450 test points behind, but USAF officials believe they can erase the deficit. Foremost, with in-flight refueling, longer missions can be flown during which more is accomplished, USAF officials say.
Ball Aerospace&Technologies Corp. was one of four contractors selected by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to perform an 18-month study for the design of the Terrestrial Planet Finder mission.
