Frontier Airlines last week took delivery of its seventh Boeing 737-200 Advanced aircraft from Triton Aviation Services Ltd. The -200 is the 20th aircraft in the Denver-based carrier's fleet, which includes 13 737-300s. Next year, Frontier plans to lease 3-4 more 737s and is scheduled to transition to an all-Airbus fleet in 2001.
President Clinton has signed the Fiscal 2000 Omnibus Appropriations Act. It imposes a 0.38% across-the-board federal spending cut, but fully funds $1.8 billion in security and other aid to the Middle East in support of the Wye River peace accord (AW&ST Nov. 29, p. 27). In addition to monies for foreign military sales financing and for peacekeeping operations in Kosovo, the omnibus funding law provides a total of $1.5 billion in assistance to Russia and other former Soviet republics. A portion of that money will be used to continue long-term U.S.
ANALYSTS LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT for the EA-6B Prowler radar jamming aircraft are studying electronic warfare (EW) pods that can be added on existing aircraft. But the military expects the Pentagon will choose a new EW aircraft instead. ``Everything we do on board [by adding to existing aircraft] takes longer and costs more than we planned,'' said Lt. Gen. Gregory Martin, the U.S. Air Force's senior military acquisition official. Moreover, the early evidence from the Kosovo air campaign shows that the U.S.
Boeing has signed a memorandum of understanding to install Sony Trans Com inflight entertainment systems on six 747 transports, with options for up to 44 more.
Swissair Capt. Christoph Huber has been elected chairman of the Global Pilot Alliance. Other new officers are: vice chairman, Capt. Jean de Looze of Sabena Belgian World Airlines; and secretary, Robert Enzelsberger of Austrian Airlines. Huber succeeds Finnair Capt. Antti Lehto.
Elijio V. Serrano has been named chief financial officer of Houston-based Eagle USA Airfreight Inc. He was vice president/general manager for Schlumberger Geco-Prakla. Serrano succeeds Douglas A. Seckel, who will continue as treasurer.
Boeing reports its Part Page Web site is processing about 18,000 transactions a day, including orders as well as shipping status, inventory level and pricing inquiries. The three-year-old, password-protected site has grown 100% each year since its launch and supports the spares-related business of about 75% of the world's fleet, according to the Seattle-based aerospace manufacturer. The Part Page provides airlines and maintenance firms a direct link to 500,000 different part numbers stored in seven distribution centers worldwide.
We've now been living in an era for some 10 years for which we don't have a name. We don't know quite where we are and we certainly don't know where we are going. The one thing I do know with high confidence is that, if we extrapolate the present into the future, we will be wrong. --Former U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary John P. White
Ericsson Saab Avionics has received a $22-million order from Saab for avionics for the third production lot of JAS 39 Gripens. The order involves development of three cockpit panels and two computer units.
Virgin Atlantic Airways has been granted authority to operate two additional weekly flights between London and Shanghai by the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority. British Airways, which operates four flights a week to Beijing, also bid for the new Shanghai frequencies. Virgin, which currently operates a twice-weekly service to Shanghai, will add the new frequencies next summer.
Environmental groups and U.S. Rep. Martin Sabo (D-Minn.) are looking closely at the low-frequency noise that jet transports generate and its effect on nearby communities. Currently, there are no established FAA standards on low-frequency noise, or the rumble made when large, fully loaded and fueled jet transports start their takeoff roll or employ reverse thrust, according to Dennis McGrann. He's executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based National Organization to Insure a Sound-controlled Environment (Noise).
AlliedSignal and Honeywell completed their merger last Wednesday after receiving regulatory approval from the European Commission. The combined enterprise will operate under the Honeywell name and be based in Morristown, N.J., where AlliedSignal was headquartered. The EC demanded no divestitures beyond those called for in the companies' agreement with the U.S. Justice Dept. (AW&ST Oct. 11, p. 93). With the merger's closing, Lawrence A. Bossidy, chairman of the new Honeywell, said the integration process has been placed on an accelerated timetable.
After two years of negotiations, Australia and the U.S. have agreed to a cooperative experiment that involves flying the Global Hawk long-endurance unmanned reconnaissance aircraft on a 27-hr., nonstop mission in April 2001 from Edwards AFB, Calif., to a base near Adelaide in southeast Australia. There a combined team will work on integrating and testing payloads, software and ground stations tailored for regional operations (AW&ST Mar. 1, p. 35).
Japan's National Space Development Agency has ordered another Mitsubishi LE-7A first-stage prototype engine for the H-2A commercial launch vehicle. The NASDA/Mitsubishi development team already has five developmental engines but says it needs to spend $23.5 million to buy another for the H-2A development program in light of the premature shutdown of an earlier generation LE-7 engine in a Nov. 15 H-2 launch. Loss of the first stage ruined the launch and cost Japan its first Wide Area Augmentation System positioning satellite for air traffic control.
Transport Canada has certified Bell Helicopter Textron's Model 427 for VFR flight operations, and the company plans to begin initial deliveries in January. A Bell official said FAA approval is anticipated later this month. The company has orders for more than 80 of the light, twin-engine helicopters. The model fills a gap in its product line between the single-engine 407 and intermediate, twin-engine 430. The 427 is priced at $2.2 million in 1998 dollars.
Mike Gallagher has become city manager in San Diego for United Airlines. He was manager of the station operations center for United at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Gallagher succeeds Jill Sheffield, who has been promoted to managing director for Southern California.
Kerry Skeen, who has been president/CEO of Atlantic Coast Airlines, will become chairman on Jan. 1, while remaining CEO. C. Edward Acker will retire as chairman, but continue as a director. Thomas Moore, who has been executive vice president/chief operating officer will become president.
US Airways cleared a major labor relations hurdle last week when passenger service employees ratified their first contract with the carrier. Meanwhile, negotiations with flight attendants are set to resume Dec. 13, by order of the National Mediation Board (NMB). About three-fourths of the airline's 10,400 passenger service employees--all members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA)--approved the five-year agreement. It took immediate effect.
President Clinton last week signed into law a bill permitting U.S. direct-to-home satellite TV operators to carry local stations. DirecTV and EchoStar's Dish Network began offering local stations in select American cities and plan to expand the service to most major markets by the end of 2000.
BFGoodrich Aerospace has strengthened its position in the ejection-seat business, signing a letter of intent to purchase the outstanding stock of IBP Aerospace Group. Together with Moscow-based Zvezda, IBP has adapted the Russian K-36/3.5A ejection seat for U.S. production and installation in American-built aircraft. If the deal, which is subject to government approvals, is consummated, BFGoodrich expects it will be able to offer these ejection seats within three years for use on U.S.-built aircraft.
A Russian electronic ocean surveillance satellite, Cosmos 2,347, was commanded to self-destruct in orbit Nov. 22 by its Russian air force ground controllers as the spacecraft neared the end of its operational life. The explosion left more than 130 pieces of debris in a 230 X 410-km. (142 X 255-mi.) orbit inclined 65 deg. The spacecraft was launched in late 1997 on board a Cyclone booster. The deliberate explosion of Cosmos 2,347 marked only the second time during the last 12 years that the Russians have chosen to dispose of an ocean surveillance spacecraft in that manner.
Hughes Electronics--still smarting from the imbroglio over what may have leaked or been transferred to China when U.S. satellites were launched on Long March rockets (see p. 82)--has decided it needs some top-drawer help. The satellite builder has retained former Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.) and former Under Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz to review its compliance with export controls and recommend to the company any improvements to help it toe the line.
