U.S. Air Force crews are evaluating the ability of three sensors to ``see'' through fog as an aid to improving landing safety. The tests will not only compare the capabilities of a passive millimeter wave sensor with mid- and long-wave Flirs, but also will assess the potential cost and benefit to the airlines.
L3 Communications has received an $11-million contract from the U.S. Navy for the manufacture of pilot/copilot display panels for the ASA-82 system on the S-3B aircraft.
In the wake of increased airline service from Love Field near downtown Dallas, BAE Automated Systems Inc. is installing conventional baggage handling conveyor systems for American Airlines and start-up carrier Legend Airlines. American's system began operating when the airline inaugurated flights to Austin on Aug. 31. Legend's system is scheduled to be operational on Jan. 15, 1999. Legend officials have applied for, but have not yet received, federal approval to begin operations.
Republican fans of missile defenses aren't disheartened by the Senate's second rejection in five months of an antimissile deployment. They think they might yet prevail if November's congressional elections go their way. By the same margin as last spring, 51-49, the Senate failed last week to clear the way for floor consideration of the ``American Missile Protection Act,'' which called for deployment of a national missile defense system ``as soon as technology permits.'' The objective is to protect U.S. territory from a limited attack of roughly 3-20 nuclear warheads.
Despite France's efforts to streamline its aerospace/defense industry, a prerequisite for a long-awaited Europe-wide restructuring, Dassault Aviation firmly intends to remain a stand-alone player.
Serge Plattard has been named international relations director of CNES French space agency. He was science and technology adviser of the French Embassy in Washington.
British Aerospace is discussing the introduction of an advanced version of its Hawk trainer--complete with new cockpit--into the Royal Air Force as a lead-in trainer for Eurofighter, as well as possible assembly of the aircraft at PZL-Mielec as part of a Polish purchase.
AlliedSignal is launching full-scale development of its first all-new turbofan engine in 25 years, for the regional and business aircraft market. The engine manufacturer used the backdrop of the Farnborough air show to outline specifics of the 4,000-9,000-lb.-thrust engine family. The timing of the announcement also was to counter misconceived perceptions that AlliedSignal was going to rest on the success of its 731 series of engines and not develop new engines, one AlliedSignal official said.
F-22 avionics development is getting a cash infusion and new software development plan as a result of a recent U.S. Air Force study into the stealth fighter's avionics program. Air Force F-22 officials said they ``will reallocate resources to the avionics development'' while staying under the program's $18.7-billion development cost cap. The new plan calls for Block 2 software to be used only on the Boeing 757-based F-22 flying avionics testbed. Plans to use it on F-22 flight test aircraft were scrapped.
Pratt&Whitney has successfully concluded initial sea-level tests of the JSF19-614 and JSF119-611 engines, powerplants for Boeing's and Lockheed Martin's Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, respectively. Component performance evaluations, compression system stability demonstrations, vibration surveys, functional checks and control software verification evaluations were conducted in more than 120 hr. of engine tests. Both engines are scheduled to begin altitude tests at USAF's Arnold Engineering Development Center this fall.
Alcatel has handed over the first in a new generation of telecommunications/TV satellites being built for Eutelsat to replace its Eutelsat 2 line. The spacecraft, W2, is scheduled to be launched on Oct. 5 by an Ariane 4 to an orbital position at 16 deg. E. Long., where it will take over from Eutelsat 2-F2. In early September, Alcatel also delivered Hot Bird 5, another Eutelsat satellite. Hot Bird 5, to be launched by an Atlas booster on Oct. 6, will be collocated with other Hot Bird spacecraft at 13 deg. E.
AN INFRARED SENSOR CARRIED BY AN UNMANNED aerial vehicle has demonstrated the ability to provide high-resolution imagery over large areas. Data is transmitted to a ground station where an algorithm detects and, aided by an operator, recognizes targets on the ground. The Reconnaissance Infrared Surveillance and Target Acquisition (Rista-2) sensor uses a second-generation IR line scanner for wide-area reconnaissance with a Flir mode for imaging.
Ahigh-speed vertical take-off and landing aircraft (VTOL) being developed by the Office of Naval Research and duPont Aerospace Co. is being considered for use for aircraft carriers.
A special investigation board set up by the European Space Agency and NASA to inquire into the loss of Soho has issued a final report asking for a full review of the procedures, systems, management setup and processes used in ground operations, even as engineers continue efforts to recover the spacecraft.
Airbus' Managing Director Noel Forgeard is expected to visit China as part of a worldwide tour as early as this month to discuss new joint manufacturing initiatives now that the 100-seat AE31X program has been officially killed. Forgeard's trip is likely to be in advance of autumn state visits to China by French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, according to Airbus officials.
USAF Cols. Wendell H. Shawler and Robert L. Stephens, Lt. Col. David L. Ferguson, Richard L. Johnson and Thomas C. McMurtry, all former test pilots, are scheduled to be inducted into the Lancaster (Calif.) Aerospace Walk of Honor on Sept. 19.
The U.K.'s General Electric Co. is forging ahead with its strategy of seeking alliances and acquisitions on both sides of the Atlantic, but wants more transparency in governmental policy on industrial consolidation. Managing Director Lord Simpson said GEC does not believe in a ``fortress Europe'' approach, nor does it wish to turn solely to America. ``We want to contribute to restructuring in the U.S. and Europe.'' Simpson foresees a future in which large defense electronics companies can ``look both ways,'' spanning the Atlantic.
Northrop Grumman Technical Services has won a contract from the U.S. Air Force for maintenance, system operations and logistics support of several radar sites and associated ground satellite stations. USAF's Air Combat Command will use the system for counter-drug surveillance and control measures. The five-year contract is valued at $60 million.
Federal spending on information technology will remain steady at about $28.6 billion annually through 2003, according to an Electronic Industries Alliance forecast due to be released this week. But hardware and software sales will decline, while services will grow at 2.3% annually. EIA's forecasters believe key government systems will clear the year 2000 problem, but they worry about support systems and input from countries less active in Y2K solutions.
Marty Guthrie (see photo), vice president-customer support for Parker Aerospace, Irvine, Calif., has won the Nuts and Bolts Award from the Engineering, Maintenance and Materiel Council of the Air Transport Assn. of America. He was cited for service to airline customers and work on Aerospace Industries Assn. panels.
The State Dept. may fine Boeing as much as $20 million for passing technical information to its Russian and Ukrainian partners in Sea Launch without government approval, industry sources say. The fine might pave the way for reinstatement of a key license State suspended on July 27. But Boeing's troubles are far from over. State is expected to refer the matter to the Justice Dept. for possible criminal prosecution. A grand jury in Seattle is looking into the exchanges. And, the failures of Zenit last week (see p. 60) and Boeing's first Delta 3 Aug.
THE NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND SELECTED GEC-Marconi Hazeltine's Electronic Systems Div. to provide digital interrogators to replace existing identification friend or foe (IFF) systems on board most combat ships. The IFFs are to accommodate next-generation needs for Mode S and Mode 5.
GEC-Marconi Hazeltine has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command to provide digital interrogators for the identification of nearby aircraft and ships. The units will replace aging interrogators on combat ships. The total contract value is $23 million.
