The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is starting a project to develop a long-range, high-speed but quiet reconnaissance aircraft with the hope that its technologies could benefit other areas, including commercial supersonic transport.
India is being touted as a bright star in information technology, with the potential to be ``a second China'' for Western investors if its large infrastructure gaps can be bridged. The world's largest democracy--one billion people--is attempting to leapfrog into infotech (IT) and software preeminence along a broad front, from military modernization and commercial aviation to mushrooming ventures in e-commerce.
William J. Hannigan, president/CEO of the Sabre Holdings Corp. of Fort Worth, has been appointed chairman. David A. Schwarte has been named general counsel/executive vice president. James F. Brashear, who has been deputy general counsel, also will be senior vice president/ corporate secretary. Schwarte was a director of the Fort Worth law firm of Kelly, Hart&Hallman, which specializes in technology and aviation law and litigation. He succeeds Andrew B.
In ordering 94 Canadair Regional Jets and securing options for 406 RJs including two new 40- and 44-seat versions, Delta Air Lines has set the stage for a decade of growth providing air service to small- and medium-size markets.
XM Satellite Radio is racking up commercial partners and expanding investor support as it heads toward a launch next year of its 100-channel, satellite-based digital radio service to drivers and other customers in North America. In the past several months the Washington-based firm has signed agreements with major equipment manufacturers and distributors and tapped equity markets for about $200 million.
Patricia Summers has become vice president-compensation and benefits for the Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman Corp. She was vice president-performance, rewards and benefits for Foundation Health Systems Inc., Woodland Hills, Calif.
A high-ranking executive of the Saab Aircraft/BAE Systems Gripen program says he expects the Chilean government to decide within the next year among the three candidates for the country's new fighter program. Hans Kruger, senior vice president and general manager of the Gripen program, indicated during a press briefing at FIDAE that Chile could order both single- and two-seat models. The other two aircraft types in the competition are the Lockheed Martin F-16 and Dassault Mirage 2000-5.
LanChile expects to take delivery this year of the first four of at least 25 Airbus A319/A320s the airline ordered or optioned two years ago (AW&ST Mar. 30, p. 58) in addition to two of the seven A340-300s ordered by the carrier. According to John J. Leahy, senior vice president-commercial of Airbus Industrie, LanChile will take delivery next year of eight A319/A320s and two more A340s; six A320s and two A340s in 2002; and seven A320s and one A340 in 2003.
Richard McAdoo has been appointed vice president-corporate safety and compliance for Atlantic Southeast Airlines. He was director of flight safety and quality assurance for US Airways.
In the early 1990s, in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf war and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the U.S. Air Force produced a white paper entitled ``Global Reach, Global Power.'' That slogan reflected the recognition that, in the long term, substantial portions of U.S. military power deployed abroad would be returning to North America.
The Pentagon's decision to delay the next flight test of the National Missile Defense program is causing concern inside the Defense Dept. that program risk is being increased. The Defense Dept. delayed the next intercept attempt for the missile defense system (IFT-5) by two months, and a critical internal review of the program's maturity by a month. Fixing hardware after the NMD program failed to intercept its target in its last attempt on Jan. 18 caused the delay.
The process of winding down communications services, selling off company assets and completing plans for a phased deorbiting of 74 operational and spare satellites began last week for the Iridium system. The activities followed Iridium's notification of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York that the mobile satellite communications firm had not been able to find a qualified investor to acquire the assets of the company.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines in the next few months is to cut 2,700 jobs, freeze capacity and terminate unprofitable routes in a far-ranging effort to reduce costs by an estimated $450 million per year. Overcapacity in key market segments, weak yields, high fuel prices and rising direct operating costs are endangering profitability in a highly-competitive market, according to the airline. In addition, KLM's ``near-merger'' with Alitalia has been affected seriously by the controversial restructuring of Milan's airports (AW&ST Mar. 13, p. 17).
Alaska Airlines has placed a base manager on administrative leave while it investigates complaints by mechanics who have said they were directed to perform work contrary to FAA regulations.
A 60-passenger version of China's Xian Y-7 twin-turboprop has been put into operation at Chang'an Airlines in Xian. Called the Xinzhou 60, and designated MA60, the 60-passenger aircraft is 24 meters (79 ft.) long, has a range of 1,600 km. (1,000 mi.) and can achieve speeds up to 504 kmh. (315 mph.), according to Chinese Vice Premier Wu Bangguo. Price is estimated to be 33% less than comparably sized foreign transports, he said.
XM Satellite Radio has concluded an agreement with Sextant/Harris joint venture LiveTV to deliver digital audio programs for LiveTV's inflight entertainment package. The 10-year agreement will permit airline passengers to receive up to 100 channels of live radio programming anywhere in the U.S. starting in 2001. LiveTV recently announced a similar deal with DirecTV, and Hughes affiliate and one of XM's strategic partners, that will provide up to 24 TV channels for in-flight use.
Aproposed network of television broadcasting satellites launched to serve the airline industry's growing appetite for inflight entertainment has moved a step forward with the signing of a contract to build the four-satellite system.
British-based low-cost airlines received a boost in the U.K.'s new budget, which calls for halving passenger taxes in economy-class to and from destinations in Europe, from 10 to five pounds ($15.70 to $7.85), as of Apr. 1, 2001. Low-cost carriers have complained that, with the rapid decline in fares due to increased competition, the 20-pound tax paid by passengers for a round-trip fare was often higher than the cost of the ticket itself. The duty paid by first- and business-class passengers traveling to destinations outside of Europe, however, will double to 40 pounds.
The recent Mars failures and the gee-what's-wrong reports that are still coming out have NASA chief Daniel S. Goldin reeling on the Hill--but fighting back.
The consolidation of Russian airlines and major elements of the aerospace industry will be a high priority for the country's new president, but opposition by the ``old guard'' in these companies will slow reform. In addition, Russian aviation design bureaus, manufacturing plants and airlines must embrace consolidation if Russian aerospace as a whole is to survive, sources said here.
