JOHN D. MORROCCO and GEOFFREY THOMASBRUCE DORMINEY
Oneworld, the latest airline alliance grouping to hoist its designer brand logo in the global market, is already moving quickly to expand its reach beyond its five founding members.
Iberia concluded an order for six 249-seat Airbus A340-300 long-range transports and optioned five additional aircraft. First delivery is scheduled for November 1999. The Spanish carrier's A340s will be operated to the U.S., South America and South Africa.
Rekkof Aircraft, a newly formed Dutch company backed by private investors, seeks to relaunch ``in the next 2-3 weeks'' production of the 70-seat Fokker F70 and 100-seat F100 twinjets. Fokker Aircraft filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations in 1996. Rekkof executives claimed they have concluded orders and commitments for 26 aircraft. However, the company's institutional backers still want to further scrutinize the current economic situation before authorizing the program's go-ahead, Rekkof executives acknowledged.
Airports Council International's economists predict ``a vibrant future market for air transport'' despite difficulties resulting from Asia's regional crisis. According to ACI's new forecast, which covers the period ending in 2010, worldwide passenger traffic will increase by an average of 4.65% per year and cargo will grow by 6.43% per year, ``a slightly less aggressive growth [rate] than has been recently forecast by other international organizations.'' In addition to market demand, ACI assessed airport-related capacity constraints.
The recent North Korean missile test raises grave new concerns about the ability of the U.S. to defend its citizens from missile attack. The most notable reason for distress is North Korea's use of a three-stage booster, a technological advancement that places portions of both Hawaii and Alaska at great risk. While the third stage may not be able to support a payload consisting of a large nuclear warhead, it could readily deliver chemical and biological weapons to parts of the U.S.
India has received the first 12KRB cryogenic booster block, developed by Russia's Krunichev Space Center, for its GSLV launcher. Krunichev is to deliver three more such blocks under an agreement between Glavkosmos and ISRO Indian Space Agency which was revised to exclude technology transfer following U.S. objections. The first launch of the GSLV with the 12KRB booster block is expected to take place in the first quarter of 1999.
Estonian Air has taken delivery of a third Boeing 737-500 on lease from Maersk Air of Denmark. The aircraft will be used to increase capacity on key routes including Helsinki, Stockholm, and Riga, Latvia. Maersk has a 49% stake in the Estonian carrier, which is also expanding its network to include two new destinations. On Oct. 25, Estonian will commence four-times-a-week services between its Tallinn hub and Oslo and Frankfurt.
Dave Swan (see photo) has been appointed vice president/general manager of the SimCentral Div. of Illgen Simulation Technologies Inc., Santa Barbara, Calif. He was executive vice president-marketing of Discreet Logic.
Jan H. Timmers has been named managing director for international original equipment manufacturer programs for Rockwell Collins Air Transport Systems, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
A new sensor is installed in the previously empty aft module on the top of Boeing's Airborne Surveillance Testbed aircraft in Seattle. The AST crew will test the Raytheon-built infrared (IR) sensor's software to verify it can acquire and track targets. Similar sensors are to be installed on U.S. Navy theater ballistic interceptor missiles. The sensor is smaller than the long-wavelength IR sensor the AST carries in the forward module, which it tests and operates under contract with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command.
NATO moved closer to military intervention in Kosovo last week when alliance defense ministers approved an ``activation warning'' to alliance military commanders. They have been authorized to prepare for both limited air strikes and a ``phased air campaign'' against Serbian forces who continue their offensive against ethnic Albanian forces. The move came a day after the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the embattled province and a halt to repressive Serbian security force actions against the civilian population.
The revelation that NASA hopes to spend an additional $660 million in Russia for International Space Station hardware has some influential members of Congress fuming. The space agency was quietly trying to sell Congress and the White House on the plan--to buy the hardware that Moscow once had promised to contribute but now can't afford--when the cat got out of the bag (AW&ST Sept. 21, p. 26). House Science Committee Chairman F.
Orbital Sciences Corp. (OSC) last week successfully launched eight new communications satellites for the company's Orbcomm Global L.P. affiliate. This 14th consecutive, successful mission completes the space segment of Orbcomm's worldwide data communications network, which will operate from low-Earth orbit. The OSC Pegasus XL rocket delivered the new satellites into their targeted orbit about 818 km. (510 mi.). A comprehensive series of performance tests will be conducted during the next several months in preparation for placing the satellites into commercial service.
Ariane 5's final qualification launch has been scheduled for Oct. 20 by the European Space Agency. Flight 503's qualification review was completed last week at Kourou, French Guiana. The booster is expected to be transferred to the final assembly building on Oct. 3. Flight 503, which is the first production Ariane 5, will orbit Maqsat 3, a dummy satellite built by Germany's Kayser-Threde.
The California Institute of Technology has entered into a new five-year contract with NASA to continue managing the Jet Propulsion Laboratory through 2000. The contract has an estimated total value of $6.25 billion.
Aerostructures Hamble has been selected by British Aerospace Airbus to manufacture wing trailing edge ribs for Airbus A340-500/600 aircraft, which could be worth up to $50 million for the company over the life of the program. The U.K. company is now part of TI's Dowty Group aerospace operation following the recent acquisition of the EIS Group of Companies, by TI Group Plc.
The Assn. of Asia/Pacific Airlines has formed a Year 2000 task force in conjunction with the IATA Year 2000 project, to share information among the 19 AAPA member airlines. The task force will examine the vulnerability of regional infrastructure such as airports, air traffic control and immigration. . . . CADSI's DADS dynamic simulation software can analyze and animate mechanical systems (see photo).
Anxious to gain a foothold in new growth markets, avionics manufacturers are increasingly positioning themselves to provide a full range of aircraft systems and services. ``One thrust is integrated communications/information-based solutions to improve flight operations and maintenance and provide passenger cabin services,'' said Larry Bowe, head of Honeywell's new Aviation Services unit, which was founded with this business in mind. ``The other is the CNS/ATM [communication, navigation and surveillance/air traffic management] `free flight' environment.''
Eurocopter International's EC 120B ``Colibri''--with a combination of price, performance and technology not found in its competitors--brings a new level of sophistication to the lightweight class of single-engine turbine helicopters. The EC 120B competes chiefly with Bell's 206B3 JetRanger and Boeing's 500/520-series helicopters, and like them, it is well-suited to a variety of missions, including law enforcement, flight training, electronic news gathering and business aviation.
The unexpected malfunction of two gyroscopes has muted the effects of the successful repointing of Soho to the Sun, but program officials remain confident that the solar observation satellite can be successfully returned to service.
Lufthansa German Airlines is planning to add two new U.S. destinations to its route map next year when it begins daily nonstop services from Frankfurt to Detroit and Philadelphia. The flights, which will begin at the end of March with Airbus A340 aircraft, will bring the carrier's number of U.S. gateways to 12. Lufthansa is in the midst of an extensive upgrade to seating and inflight services for all its long-haul flights worldwide.
Derco Aerospace Inc. is in the final negotiation stage with the Brazilian government to upgrade C-130 aircraft in a contract estimated at about $50 million for the Brazilian System for the Vigilance of the Amazon (SIVAM). The SIVAM program is intended to promote the development of the Amazon region.
The Congressional Budget Office is expected to report before lawmakers adjourn in October on ``non-traditional'' ways to reduce the risk of an accidental or unauthorized Russian nuclear launch. Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.), who commissioned the report, cautioned last week that the recent U.S./Russian summit accord to share early-warning data on ballistic missiles and space launchers was fine, but more must be done.
The Flight Safety Foundation is calling for the ``elimination of obstacles'' impeding the implementation of Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) to help reduce airline accidents. The FAA/industry program is designed to collect and analyze data gathered in flight and share the information among air carriers in an effort to enhance safety not only in flight operations, but in air traffic control and the design and maintenance of aircraft.
Boeing's idea that late-production Joint Strike Fighters might become the first unmanned air combat vehicles is still alive, but in an altered state, company officials say. The UCAV idea appears to have changed from a 20g, fighter-like aircraft to a more sedate platform that can carry lots of long-range weapons, lasers and sensors. The concept ``will not be one where all the platforms look alike,'' a senior Boeing official said.
