Christopher Korenke has become New York-based vice president/general manager-U.S. for Air France. He succeeds Jean-Louis Pinson, who has been promoted to executive vice president/chief operating officer for the Americas. Korenke was general manager for Germany.
The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission is moving toward conclusion this week after making nearly 1 trillion measurements for a high-resolution 3D map of most of Earth's terrain while demonstrating large structures technology critical for the International Space Station. Endeavour's 197-ft. radar receiver mast is the single largest structure ever deployed in space, and the C- and X-band radars it is supporting were mapping the planet's terrain at a rate of 100,000 sq. km. per minute late last week.
Donald E. Washkewicz has become president/chief operating officer of the Parker Hannifin Corp. of Cleveland. He was president of Parker's Hydraulics Group.
``Before This Decade is Out. . .'' Personal Reflections on the Apollo Program edited by Glen E. Swanson is a collection of oral histories relating to the Apollo Program that gives the perspective of some of the political leaders, engineers, scientists and astronauts who made it possible. The observations are far-reaching from administrators Webb and Paine to top managers such as von Braun, Faget and Mueller to astronauts Schmitt and Duke--each contributes significant insights to this astounding scientific achievement.
Delta Air Lines is testing its Web site with wireless hand-held organizers and new cellular phones. Participating passengers can check personal travel itineraries, flight arrival/departure and gate information, and Delta's worldwide flight schedules. Delta plans to roll out the service systemwide later this year. The airline's redesigned site (www.delta-air.com) adds a corporate purchasing section where customers can apply their specific corporate sales agreement.
BAE Systems sees its Hawk Synthetic Training Facility for the Royal Air Force as a stepping-stone for further service support projects in the U.K. and possibly elsewhere around the globe.
Gerald Laderman has been appointed senior vice president-finance of Continental Airlines. He was vice president-aircraft finance, general corporate finance and investor relations.
The REA 9000W probe gun has an external-charging probe to apply waterborne coating with high transfer efficiency without isolating paint. Electrostatic air caps produce the charging voltage required at 70 kV., resulting in consistent spray patterns and paint build-up while minimizing paint consumption and environmental impact. The gun is field repairable with no air driven parts and its major components are constructed of high-strength engineered resins. ITW Ransburg, P.O. Box 913, Toledo, Ohio 43697-0913.
Carnegie Mellon University's Nomad robot has left Antarctica after demonstrating it could autonomously search for meteorites and distinguish them from indigenous rocks--a task not always easy for humans. The NASA-funded effort is a major step toward intelligent robots--able to think and act independently--which would have direct applications for unmanned explorations of the surface of Mars and the Moon.
Hughes Global Services Inc., has won a second six-year contract with a potential value of $490 million from the Federal Technology Service for satellite services for the U.S. Defense Dept.
The panel layout for Boeing's Joint Strike Fighter candidate underscores a simple, flexible design philosophy aimed at freeing the pilot from actively managing data flow and allowing greater focus on the mission and tactics.
The Pentagon and intelligence agencies are seeing Iraq rebuild many of the structures damaged during four days of air strikes in December 1998, but no one is certain what that means. ``We know he has put some roofs back on buildings,'' says the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Henry H.
Logicon leads a team that will provide engineering services for the U.S. Air Force Material Command through its Design Engineering Support Program under a five-year contract.
A Seoul District Court sentenced Korean Air Chairman Cho Yan Ho, son of the airline's founder, to four years in prison for failing to report 27.3 billion won ($24.2 million) and for sending overseas another 270 billion won in foreign funds in illegal transactions. He also was fined 30 billion won. The court ruled that the airline must pay 80 billion won in fines from its funds. Cho became chairman in December as part of a management shakeup in response to Korean Air's poor safety record. He gave up day-to-day control of the airline.
The European Shippers Council requested the European Commission to scrutinize the recent decision to levy a fuel surcharge of euro 0.10 ($0.167) per kg. on cargo. The Brussels-based council, which represents shipping interests running the gamut from telephone companies to the transport industry, acted out of concern that the surcharge would have a more serious, and therefore discriminatory, impact on cargo operators as opposed to passenger carriers.
The controversial move to restructure Milan's airports has prompted entrepreneurs and investors to form Gandalf Airlines. The startup carrier seeks to attract time-sensitive business travelers to Bologna Orio al Seco airport, in Eastern Lombardy. Gandalf recently inaugurated routes to a dozen European points including Paris, London City Airport, Amsterdam and Prague. It also concluded code-share agreements with Swissair and Deutsche BA (British Airways' German subsidiary), and expects to forge a similar partnership with Air France.
The trading floor goes to the airline passenger. Northwest Airlines plans to introduce the Stockwalk.com investment service to its WorldClub members in early April. The trading terminals are to be installed at the carrier's Minneapolis, Detroit and Memphis hubs for a three-month trial period, and then at other locations, depending on results of the test run. WorldClub members may access stock quotes, obtain news stories as well as open an online account and eventually trade securities, according to Stockwalk.com.
Ranoda's new model BCS telecommunications systems connector is ruggedized to withstand a minimum 1,600 volts rms. (2,20 volts DC or peak) before corona discharge arc-over occurs between any two pins. It is a direct form, fit and function replacement upgrade for standard board-edge (``centronic'') type business systems connectors. Its contact pitch is 2.160 mm. Contact resistance is specified at 15 milli-ohms typical; maximum operating current per contact is 2 amps. Minimum operating lifetime is specified at 200 mate/demate cycles. Ranoda Electronics Inc., 1095 E.
Gerald A. Goguen (see photo) has been named vice president-customer service of Dassault Falcon Jet , Teterboro, N.J. He succeeds Peter L. Ginocchio, who has retired. Goguen was director of administration for customer service.
ATR is counting on a quick breakthrough in India and a longer term rebound in U.S. sales to help maintain a 50% share in the turboprop aircraft market, and make the company an attractive partner for regional aircraft suitors.
Thirteen people were charged in a U.K. court last week with the hijacking of an Ariana Airlines Boeing 727, which ended peacefully on Feb. 9 at London Stansted airport. A 14th person was still under questioning. All face possible life prison sentences. Out of the 150 passengers on the aircraft, 73 were returned to Afghanistan on a chartered aircraft. The remainder are seeking asylum in the U.K.
An executive order by President Clinton that raised limits on computer performance for exports is hailed by the computer industry as an opportunity to be more competitive in world markets, and could be advantageous for aerospace design and analyses.
The aerospace industry's use of electronic commerce, with links that span the entire manufacturing chain, is poised for explosive growth. But close industry observers expect many of the ventures to fail, leaving only one or two dominant Web sites. Within the next 45 days, Honeywell International, United Technologies and i2 Technologies Inc., a Dallas-based software firm, plan to launch a World Wide Web portal called MyAircraft.com. Any company will be able to participate, and it will provide access to a broad range of information, products and services.
A private firm, MirCorp, has signed a lease to keep the aging Russian Mir space station in orbit for commercial use. Mir builder RSC Energia owns 60% of MirCorp. Two outside investors--Gold&Appel Transfer S.A. and Chirinjeev Kathuria, president of New World Telecom LLC--hold the remainder.
