Ansett Australia is considering a merger of its regional subsidiaries to cut costs and streamline operations as the management of Kendell Airlines, its key southeast Australia regional, has fallen behind in its introduction of the 50-seat Bombardier CRJ-200. A decision to restructure would see Ansett Western Australian-based Skywest Airlines integrated with New South Wales-based Aero Pelican plus Kendell Airlines. An Ansett spokesperson said Ansett executive Ron Rosalky will become Kendell's CEO in the management shakeup.
Frank L. Powell, 3rd, (see photo) has been named vice president-naval munitions of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control of Dallas. He was director of Navy Theater-Wide for Raytheon.
Vishay has released three new series of inductors/transformers in surface-mount toroidal packages. In a choice of Kool-Mu, powdered iron or MPP cores, the Dale LPT series minimizes EMI radiation in DC-to-DC converter, common mode coke and isolation transformer circuits in a broad range of electronic systems, according to the company. With a diameter of 8.93 mm. and a height profile of 6.35 mm., designers have a choice of 14 inductance values. Inductance tolerance is specified at 15% for all devices.
Large and small components are easily part marked using the Imaje handgun or table. The handgun permits walking right up to parts, making parts of large components such as skins and stringers easily accessible. The parts marker is mounted on a trolley allowing for movement around the factory. The ink's quick drying time means operators are freed up for other tasks and the part-marking time for each component is significantly shorter.
President Clinton wins praise from Congress for bolstering his $2-billion cyber-security initiative, and speeding government/industry cooperation in the wake of recent Internet attacks. At a White House meeting of executives from companies such as AT&T, Intel, Sun Microsystems and Hewlett Packard, Clinton called for an extra $9 million to jump-start the draft plan he announced Feb. 1 (see p. 111). Clinton also lauded the private sector's decision to create a mechanism to share network security information.
Delta Air Lines is making it very cheap for its employees to be wired to the Internet. In conjunction with PeoplePC, the carrier will offer a computer and secure Internet access for $12/month for 36 months. Employees who already have a computer will get free net access via ATT. . . . The Civil Aviation Administration of Finland is studying Helsinki's Vantaa airport using The Preston Group's Total Airspace&Airport Modeller. The work includes placement of a new aircraft parking area, usage of a new third runway, and possible airspace procedure studies.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, coming off of a disappointing December quarter, plans to implement a new round of cost cutting that is likely to include a decrease in routes and sizable reduction (perhaps up to 10%) of its workforce.
The new model FH 6370-1 is a 3 dB. quadrature hybrid that handles 200 CW power. Operating over 800-2,400 MHz., it offers typical insertion loss of VSWR of 1.22:1 maximum and isolation of 20 dB. minimum. Type N female connectors are standard, but alternate connector requirements can be met. Package size is 5.6 X 1.5 X 1 in. Typical applications include antenna feeds and amplifier combing in telecommunication base stations. Sage Laboratories Inc., 11 Huron Drive, Natick, Mass. 01760.
The European Union has temporarily lifted its ban on flights to Serbia. The six-month suspension of the ban, which had been requested of opposition leaders in Serbia, came as EU foreign ministers tightened financial sanctions imposed on the country. The move will presumably mean JAT Yugoslav Airlines will also be able to resume flights to EU countries.
Jean Fournet has been elected president of OCCAR European armaments procurement agency for 2000. He heads DGA French armaments agency's department of international affairs.
Arming the Eagle: A History of U.S. Weapons Acquisition Since 1775 by military historian Wilbur D. Jones, Jr., is the only book the Defense Dept. has commissioned on this subject. It recounts how U.S. weapons were developed and produced from the American Revolution to present day acquisition programs, what notable managers and organizations were involved and which weapons had a major impact on national conflicts. Space is given to each branch of the services.
LOCKHEED MARTIN WILL DEVELOP the New Scottish Center air traffic control system at Prestwick, on the southwest coast of Scotland. The U.K.'s National Air Traffic Services (NATS) awarded the company a 50-million pound ($80-million) contract for a two-year initial system development effort to rehost the computers and develop the architecture. Follow-on efforts will be required to develop additional software, buy hardware, integrate and test the system and train controllers.
The BioPuck HC is a small, disc-shaped tablet that slowly releases an oil-consuming bacteria. Each puck is capable, in most cases, of treating 1,000 gallons of oily water for a month. The puck is dropped into the collection pit and immediately begins to metabolize the hydrocarbons, converting them to the harmless by-products of carbon dioxide and water. It usually takes 1-2 months to visually see the difference. Landa Water Cleaning Systems, 4275 Pacific Rim Blvd., Camas, Wash., 98607.
Oliver Fritz and Keith Kruse have been promoted at Washington-based DFI International to senior associates in the firm's government practice. Both specialize in projects involving the U.S. Air Force.
The Netherlands and U.S. are negotiating for the possible upgrade of 10 Dutch P-3C maritime surveillance aircraft under a $200-million program. Improvements would include the addition of secure and satellite communications, missile warning system and countermeasures dispensers, cockpit enhancements and other gear.
A U.S. Bankruptcy Court is expected to rule on Feb. 24 on $275 million in financing for ICO Global Communications. ICO and a group of investors led by Eagle River Investments agreed to the deal--the second portion of a $500-million package intended to rescue ICO from Chapter 11--on Feb. 4.
U.S. Navy test officials have declared the F/A-18E/F operationally suitable and effective. The passing grade clears the way for the aircraft to transition to fleet use, with the first deployment scheduled for 2002. Boeing is set to receive a $9-billion production contract this spring.
Michael Besler has been named director-defense systems of Orthogon's Brussels liaison office. He was director-European business development of Gallium Inc.
There was talk at the last Singapore air show that Asia's economies could shake off an economic crisis within a couple of years. Those sentiments seemed awfully brave at the time.
Embraer will use AeroInfo Systems' Collaborative Reliability Management System (CRMS) to create maintenance programs for its future regional jets. Embraer's 15 international partners can participate online in devising the maintenance programs, based on standards from the Air Transport Assn.'s MSG-3 Rev. 2 handbook. ``The CRMS will allow our partners and Embraer to dramatically reduce the time and effort required to establish the maintenance programs for our aircraft,'' said Edson Carlos Mallaco, Embraer technical support senior manager.
This upgraded software offers the quick generation of an initial cost estimate at any stage of design in a few simple steps. Used as an analysis tool during part design, DFM Concurrent Costing 1.1 guides product engineers as they investigate alternative materials and processes for producing parts and helps them select the most cost-efficient design. It now allows engineers to import solid models in order to obtain 3D part geometry data for cost estimating. Solid models of parts created in all major CAD/CAM software systems can be opened and viewed.
Engine maker CFM International has signed a memorandum of understanding with Russian aircraft manufacturer Ilyushin to offer the CFM56-5 on the Il-76 transport. According to company officials, CFM plans to provide the entire propulsion package, including engine, nacelle and thrust reverser. Hardware will be based on systems used on the Airbus A340. The MOU specifies a formal program launch only after customers have been found for five of the CFM-powered aircraft. Ilyushin will handle program marketing.
Fort Worth plans to file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court this week in a last-ditch legal maneuver designed to stop startup Legend Airlines from flying long-haul flights from Dallas' downtown Love Field airport. The appeal comes after the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans upheld a 1998 decision by the Transportation Dept., which essentially sanctions long-distance flights from the airport for aircraft having 56 or fewer seats. Legend is using DC-9s with 56 seats and plans to start scheduled service Feb. 29 (AW&ST Feb. 7, p. 45).
The Douglas-Kalmar TBL-200 aircraft handling tractor is designed for pushback, intergate and higher speed longer distance maintenance towing operations. Cab layout, design concept and modes of operation are the same as the other models in the range, so an operator trained on one of these will be able to work with any other in the series. It is powered by a 93-kw. (125-bhp.) emissions-compliant Deutz water-cooled diesel engine, driving through a conventional ZF power shaft transmission and Kessler axle.
