The new digital vibrometer uses the latest digital signal acquisition and processing technologies to achieve exceptional displacement accuracy and resolution (down to 1 picometer), high linearity and low harmonic distortion over a very wide vibration frequency range (DC to 2 MHz.). The VDD- 660-DA is designed for existing Polytec vibrometer customers who wish to upgrade and utilize their existing OFV-300a controller electronics, and for those who wish to have the advantage of analog output in addition to digital processing.
Olympic Aviation plans to expand service regionally with introduction of two Boeing 717-200 transports leased from Bavaria International Aircraft Leasing Co. The aircraft, delivered earlier this month, will be used by the Athens-based carrier for service to Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Munich, Paris and Stuttgart. Olympic Aviation becomes the first operator of the 717 in Europe.
Sontara AC wipes aircraft applications include polishing bright work and wiping windshields and other flight-critical surfaces virtually lint-free. They are manufactured in an ultra-clean spunlacing process which eliminates need for binders and glues. They are snag-resistant, tough enough to tackle isopropyl alcohol, MEK and other solvents without falling apart and leave no rag marks when used in pre-paint applications. Dupont Nonwovens, Sontara Technologies, 1002 Industrial Road, Old Hickory, Tenn. 37138-3683.
According to the Dallas Morning News, the crash landing of an MD-82 at Little Rock, Ark., in June was preceded by an American Airlines dispatcher suggesting to the pilots that they expedite their arrival to avoid approaching thunderstorms. The airplane slid off the wet runway after landing, killing the captain and 10 passengers. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is scheduled to hold public hearings on the accident on June 26-28 in Little Rock.
A shortage of EA-6B Prowler radar-jamming aircraft and fears they weren't effective at long ranges led the U.S. Air Force to plan the modification of a B-52H for an electronic warfare mission during the Kosovo conflict. While the project was cut short by the cease-fire, a long-term plan to modify B-52s, B-1Bs or another aircraft for electronic warfare has survived.
DDC-I of Phoenix, Ariz., reports that its Ada component is the first to pass the newest (2.2) version of ISO-standard Ada Conformity Assessment Test Suite (Acats). DDC-I's software development tools are designed for real-time embedded applications in safety-critical industries. Called Score ADA (Safety-Critical, Object-oriented, Real-Time, Embedded), the company's integrated development tool allows programmers to combine reusable components that are written in different programming languages to be targeted for a variety of microprocessors.
Around the World in 20 Days: The Story of Our History-Making Balloon Flight by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones is a moving account of the authors' journey on board the Breitling Orbiter 3. Every critical moment related to the flight, from Piccard's last-minute decision to replace his original flight partner with Jones, to the life lessons each came away with, is relayed here. From how to keep ice from building up on the fuel unit to how to maintain personal hygiene at 30,000 ft.
U.K.-based low-cost airline EasyJet has contacted investment banks to act as an adviser for a planned flotation of 20-25% of its shares, which would be offered on the London stock market in the next 12 months. EasyJet, which is expanding rapidly, carried 3.5 million passengers in 1999 compared with 1.7 million in 1998.
EgyptAir will open a $150-million airline service center in April. The center will be the largest of its kind in the Middle East, EgyptAir Chairman Mohammed Fahim Rayan said, and will service the carrier's aircraft as well as those of other international airlines.
Blue Mountain Quality Resources released Calibration Manager LE, designed for QA/QC and R&D labs, small manufacturers and similar operations in need of an efficient method for managing ISO 9000, FDA and QS 9000 equipment calibration. It maintains the full cycle of calibration management. Equipment data and calibration intervals can be tracked for up to 250 separate items. A built-in Auto Reminder tracks events that are coming due, currently due, or past due.The software fulfills the record-keeping requirement of ISO 900a, sec.
U.S. nuclear weapons experts are goading the White House to act faster and spend more on corralling Russia's enormous nuclear stockpile, warning there is no time to lose and no greater threat to American security.
Rockwell Collins has been awarded a $10.7-million second production option contract for the digital interphone system being installed on the USAF KC-135 tanker aircraft.
CS Verilog has made available an automatic test generator for real-time software, called TestComposer. To check the functional aspect of software, users input test objectives, but TestComposer can devise its own tests of the structural aspect. Interfaces are provided to match TestComposer with many proprietary testing techniques.
Airbus Industrie last week disclosed contracts covering 56 commercial transports, bringing its 1999 sales record to 476 aircraft valued at $30.5 billion.
Boeing is instituting a bonus plan for its nonunion workers that provides cash payments when company financial performance goals are met. Under the incentive program, which has been approved by the board of directors, most nonunion employees can be awarded an annual sum worth up to two weeks' extra pay if ``economic profit'' objectives are met. Economic profit is calculated by subtracting a capital charge from Boeing's net operating profit after taxes.
Two of the primary competing U.S. launch vehicles, the Lockheed Martin/International Launch Services Atlas II and the Boeing Delta III, are shown together for the first time at Cape Canaveral. The two flight vehicles were towed to historic Project Mercury Launch Complex 14 where they were the centerpiece of a major Year 2000 New Year's Eve event that was part of the Cape's 50th anniversary celebration.
Cargo carriers are adding fuel surcharges as fast as fuel costs are increasing. Beginning on Feb. 1, American Airlines Cargo plans to charge 10 cents for every 2.2 lb. carried on North Atlantic routes and on routes from the U.S. to Latin America. For routes within the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean, the surcharge will range between 4 and 10 cents. United will add 5 cents per pound on domestic freight and 10 cents per kilo for international shipments. Northwest, Air France, KLM, SAS and Alitalia also have imposed surcharges.
SupplierMarket.com (www.SupplierMarket.com) is an electronic marketplace that matches suppliers of industrial products with buyers. Suppliers register with the service, and buyers submit a request for quotation. Software matches the parties, the suppliers go through a qualification process, online bidding occurs, and the buyer picks a winning bid. Suppliers pay a 1-4% commission to SupplierMarket.com. Parametric Technology has an agreement to make its Windchill software connect directly to the marketplace service.
In anticipation of budget battles this year, U.S. Air Force officials are trying to make the case that they have F-22 costs under control and are making progress in developing the stealth fighter.
Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems has opened a Product Support Center designed to integrate e-business-based practices and technical information for rapid response in support of the F-16, F-22 and the company's proposed Joint Strike Fighter.
The market research firm Euroconsult says it observed a modest increase in geostationary-orbit satellite purchases in 1999, but detects signs of an impending slowdown in the early years of the new decade. Orders for 25 GEO spacecraft worth $3 billion were placed by commercial telecom or TV operators last year, the company said. This was up from 23 in 1998 and the second best on record, after 1995, when 47 orders were placed. In addition, preliminary agreements were signed for up to seven more satellites.
Lockheed Martin's missiles and fire control division is planning a broad-based effort to win a larger portion of the U.S. Navy's ship-launched munition and missile programs, bringing the company into direct competition with Raytheon for that business.
Trying to accurately gauge the strength or weakness of airline industry profits in 2000 could be akin to reading tea leaves, even formarket professionals. As Paine Webber analyst Samuel Buttrick points out, ``airline industry fundamentals are mixed.'' Oil is high now but may trend lower later in the year (AW&ST Jan. 10, p. 24); labor costs appear to be on the rise, although he expects the impact to be moderated by falling distribution costs, and system capacity is planned to grow faster in 2000 than actual capacity growth in 1999 (4.9% versus 4.1%).
Preliminary data from a Jan. 3 Galileo flyby of Europa has given the strongest evidence yet that the Jovian moon may currently have liquid water. Readings taken of Europa's magnetic field suggest that the moon is acting like a conductive shell--and the most likely conductor is saltwater in a liquid phase. Ice is not conductive enough. The presence of liquid water increases the chances for life.
In the same vein of business-to-business commerce, aviationX (www.aviationx. com) is trying to establish an electronic marketplace for the nearly 25,000 buyers, sellers and intermediaries in the aviation world. The site is to have discussion and user group forums as well as e-commerce applications with decision support capabilities. The company has retained Breakaway Solutions to help scope its network, which is to be activated in phases during the first half of 2000.
