Pulsar Ltd. of Yavne, Israel, has developed a magnetic pulse welding process that uses no filler materials, consumables or gases and creates no fumes. Called Cold Weld, the high-power, short-duration magnetic field creates a true molecular bond between two metals, according to Pulsar CEO Oren Gafri. The parts being joined are minimally heated and there is no degradation of their metallurgical properties, he said. It's a safe, economical process for many welding applications, including both similar and dissimilar metals, even aluminum to steel, according to the company.
THE AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSN.'S Air Safety Foundation (ASF) is making digitized airport diagrams available on the Internet to all pilots at no charge. The initiative is intended to help reduce runway incursions. The charts show details of the airport surface and the names of all taxiways. The ASF is working with the NOAA and the FAA to provide diagrams of more than 330 of the busiest, tower-controlled airports in the U.S. The charts can be accessed at www.aopa.org/asf/taxi. Additional airports will be added in the next six months.
ROCKWELL COLLINS, WHICH ENTERED the inflight entertainment (IFE) business in 1997 with the purchase of Hughes-Avicom, is expanding through a joint venture with film and television producer News Corp. In Flight Network will combine News Corp.'s digital satellite and data compression capabilities with Collins' integrated information system architecture to provide large data streams to aircraft, including live television, Internet access and e-mail, recorded audio and video. Aircraft would need to add a satellite antenna and server to existing IFE systems.
The French strategic air command has expressed concern over a threatened break in operational continuity between the SAC's aging fleet of Super Etendard/Mirage 2000N nuclear bombers and its Rafale F3 Standard replacement. Super Etendards are to be phased out starting this year, and Mirage 2000s in 2007, while the Rafale F3 is not due to enter service until 2008 ``at the earliest,'' SAC general officers said.
Boeing might have to further slow its strike-plagued commercial transport delivery schedule as its tracks down 346,000 faulty fasteners supplied by Cordant Technologies.
One thing that helped speed action on the FAA reauthorization bill was the imminent return of maverick Republican John McCain (Ariz.) to matters before Congress. It was a standoff between McCain, who chairs the Senate Commerce, Science and Technology Committee, and House leaders last year that blocked reauthorization. Lest that happen again, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and others pushed for agreement on reauthorization before the ``Super Tuesday'' round of 15 state primaries.
Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways reported 1999 profits of HK$2.2 billion ($285 million) last week, rebounding from a HK$542 million loss the year before. Revenues rose 7.9% to HK$28.7 billion, passengers counts were up 2.1% to 10.5 million and load factors averaged 71.4%, compared to 67.5% in 1998. Lower airport fees in Hong Kong and a young fleet helped Cathay contain costs. But the real star was cargo, which achieved a record HK$8.4 billion in revenues, up 20.6% from the previous year. Cargo yields were up 11.8% from 1998.
DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, Aerospatiale Matra and BAE Systems expect their new space venture, Astrium, to be approved by the European Commission this month, clearing the way for its formal creation by mid-year.
Turkey disappointed defense contractors by naming three survivors rather than picking a winner as expected for its $4-billion program to acquire 145 attack helicopters.
Thomson-CSF Detexis has created a business unit specializing in on-board systems and computers that will enable it to compete more effectively with Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon for turn-key integrated system awards. Related work already represents about 10% of Detexis' annual sales of $900 million and covers special mission aircraft upgrades (Atlantique), retrofits (Spanish Mirage F1), aerial surveillance aircraft (EMB-145/Erieye), as well as mission computers.
U.S. National Transportation Safety Board investigators are studying whether pilot error caused a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 to land at more than 200 mph. and skid off the departure end of Runway 8 at the Burbank, Calif., airport on Mar. 5.
Rainer Hertrich, co-CEO-elect of the proposed European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co., has been appointed chairman/CEO of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace. He succeeds Manfred Bischoff, who has become chairman of the supervisory board. In that role, Bischoff succeeds Juergen Schrempp, chairman/CEO of the DaimlerChrysler group.
President Clinton has transmitted a bill to Congress to extend permanent normal trade relations to China. Senate passage is considered likely, but a House vote is apt to be extremely close. The Aerospace Industries Assn. endorsed the bill, saying China bought nearly $4 billion worth of U.S. aerospace goods in 1998 and may buy 1,800 aircraft through 2020, worth $125 billion.
The first F-4E Phantom to be modified in Greece under the Peace Icarus 2000 modernization program has rolled out of Hellenic Aerospace Industry's facility at Tanagra. Under the program, 39 F-4Es are to be upgraded by 2001 with a new avionics package by HAI and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace for the Greek air force.
Bob Hanrahan has become president of Wood Group Aero Inc., the Connecticut-based subsidiary of Wood Group Gas Turbines Ltd., Aberdeen, Scotland. He was executive vice president of Turbine Controls Inc.
NORTHROP GRUMMAN'S LITENING II precision attack targeting system pods have completed operational test and evaluation on the F-16 aircraft at the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Test Center in Tucson, Ariz. The self-contained pod has a forward-looking infrared sensor, charge-coupled device TV and laser spot tracker/range finder. No modifications to the F-16 are required to carry and operate the laser target designating system, which was developed by Northrop Grumman's Electronic Sensors and Systems Sector, teamed with Rafael of Israel.
An ultrahigh-temperature ceramic test unit (such as the one in photo) is scheduled to fly in June on a Minuteman III missile launched from Vandenberg AFB, Calif. The Slender Hypervelocity Aerothermodynamic Research Probe will be mounted on a modified Mk. 12A reentry vehicle, which will have four sharp leading edges. The flight will test whether the material could significantly improve thermal protection of spacecraft during atmospheric reentry.
Sir Peter Abels is among five people who have been named to the International Air Cargo Hall of Fame. Abels, who also is former chairman of Ansett Airlines, was cited for starting with just one truck in Australia, eventually merging his own small express company with TNT and building it into a billion-dollar global corporation.
Marvin H. Fritz has been appointed vice president-marketing of Puroflow Inc., Van Nuys, Calif. He was vice president-rotable and repair operations/director of airline programs for AAR Distribution, Elk Grove Village, Ill.
Investigators looking at wreckage of the Mitsubishi LE-7 first-stage engine from the H-2 launcher that failed last November have discovered a broken blade from a liquid hydrogen turbopump (AW&ST Nov. 22, 1999, p. 38). They previously identified a cracked welded section of a liquid hydrogen pipe as the prime suspect. The 8-in. titanium blade is one of three in an inductor system.
Jersey, England-based AirTV has selected Alcatel Space to build a network of four S-band broadcasting satellites to provide live TV and radio for commercial and business aviation. Alcatel will also be among the strategic partners participating in the first round of financing, to be finalized later this year. BAE Systems Canada (ex-Marconi Canada), another partner, will build S-band onboard antennas. Boeing, too, is also reported to be in discussions to join the $1-billion project.
Pan American Airways recently purchased seven Boeing 727 Stage 3 Heavy Weight Systems from Raisbeck Commercial Air Group. Installations are to be performed at Raisbeck's Portsmouth, N.H., facility at the rate of one per month. Hushkitting of the fleet is expected to be completed by August. Raisbeck kits for 727s range in cost from $695,000 plus 30 installation man-hours to $1,295,000 and 215 installation man-hours.
Two Star Alliance partners--Varig and United--have moved into joint facilities at Rio de Janeiro International Airport, and a third, Lufthansa, is set to follow suit shortly. The moves will make Rio the latest major airport to house all Star members under a single roof, after Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Shanghai and Beijing. Discussions for similar arrangements at London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Miami and Los Angeles are underway.
Further consolidation among civil aircraft manufacturers is likely in the next year or so, and some industry observers expect Raytheon's $2.7-billion business will be the next major player to change hands. Raytheon Aircraft Co. (RAC) has been on the auction block for some time, and the only reason it hasn't sold yet is because the parent company is holding out for a higher price than prospective buyers have been willing to pay, according to several investment bankers and some top industry executives.
