EUROCOPTER'S EC155 MEDIUM-LIFT HELICOPTERS will be the first users of AlliedSignal's combined solid state flight data and cockpit voice recorder. The first prototypes have already been delivered. The unit provides 10 hr. of flight data and one hour of cockpit voice conversations in a 9-lb. box. The combined product was designed for general aviation and helicopters.
AlliedSignal's 131-9[A] auxiliary power unit (APU) has been selected by Iberia to equip the Spanish carrier's recently ordered 50 Airbus 124-1 85-seat A319/A320/A321 transports.
Recovery of the Soho spacecraft proceeded faster than expected last week, and some officials believe attitude control could be restored this week. Deep Space Network (DSN) antennas were able to lock on to Soho's transmissions on Aug. 8 and decode telemetry. Further sessions on Aug. 9-11 brought back temperature, voltage and Sun sensor data that are giving clues about spacecraft health and attitude. One session lasted 100 min., indicating the batteries are working again.
Farnborough International '98 is looking to be a watershed event for several reasons. It will mark the 50th anniversary of the exhibition at the Hampshire aerodrome and the last time it will be held in the first week of September.
JobBoss 4.0 for Windows features a new structured knowledge base with intelligent search engines to point users to the correct answers to their questions and hot keys for accessing the JobBoss Web site. The software's Find It function relies on a Web-type browser. The manufacturing software is designed for job shops and make-to-order manufacturers. It also features wizards that guide users through system setup and a training database. JobBoss Software, 7701 York Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn. 55435-5832.
NEC TECHNOLOGIES HAS SELECTED GEC-MARCONI HAZELTINE CORP. to supply its ruggedized flat panel, color active matrix liquid crystal displays. The initial application for NecTech's 20.1-in. high resolution monitors will be for desktops and workstations, but other government and industrial uses are expected to follow.
The government of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has given the go-ahead to a new, larger permanent exhibition area for the Dubai air show. To be located 3-km. (1.9-mi.) southeast of the current show area, the site will have two dedicated exhibition halls providing 25,000 sq. meters (269,000 sq. ft.) of space, a two-story 7,500-sq.-meter (80,000-sq. ft.) reception building, a 750 X 140-sq.-meter (26-acre) static display area and a new control tower. A total of 64 two-story and 20 single-story permanent chalets have been planned.
The Series 160 (shown) and Series 170 position transducers are designed for providing input to flight data recorders on commercial transport aircraft. A stainless-steel cable is wound around a precision-machined drum. The bearing-mounted drum is mated to a precision sensor based on poteniometric, synchro or encoder technology that translates linear position information to an electrical signal. Extract lengths are available ranging from 0-1.5 in. to 0-42.5 in. The transducers have size, weight and installation advantages over traditional rod-and-cylinder transducers.
Sikorsky Support Services has received a $147-million contract from the U.S. Navy to procure intermediate and organizational level maintenance for 100 T-2C, 53 TA-4J, 2 HH-1N, and 3 UH-3H aircraft under the Chief of Naval Air Training flight training program.
AirGTI Task Manager is designed to meet the needs of airlines and repair stations with mixed fleets and different inspection requirements. Planners using the software can generate routine work packages that are complete, accurate and specific to aircraft configuration and tail number. A package of all cards, forms, text and graphics pertinent to the aircraft and the specific check are printed. The Task Manager also generates corrective action task cards to minimize technical research time for nonroutine maintenance.
The Vision System Model AV2424-10 is a highly accurate, automated, noncontact measuring system. It relies on a high-resolution camera mounted on the Z-axis of a Starrett Hollow Granite Coordinate Measuring Machine that features a modified bridge design. Applications include objects that cannot be measured with a touch probe or ones that deflect easily upon contact. Parts to be inspected can be placed within the machine's 24 X 24 X 10-in. envelope. L.S. Starrett Co., 121 Crescent St., Athol, Mass. 01331-1915.
American Airlines and the Allied Pilots Assn. have reached agreement on code share issues that allow the union increased access to data on route profitability analyses, but permits American to maintain and add its code on certain flights operated by Canadian Airlines International.
After a long delay, Australia's Queensland-based Flight West Airlines received the go-ahead to operate into Papua New Guinea. The airline had been forced to sit on the sidelines for 10 months after an impasse between its owner, Sir Dennis Buchanan, and the government of Papua New Guinea relating to an earlier decision by Sir Dennis to withdraw from domestic services in New Guinea in 1993. Flight West will fly former Ansett F-28s and start services on Oct. 12 from Cairns and Townsville to Port Moresby.
Photograph: Alexander Lebed WIDE WORLD A high-ranking defector from Russia's GRU military intelligence service told a House panel he had scouted potential locations in the U.S. for Soviet agents to hide portable nuclear devices that could be activated in case of war. The former GRU colonel also charged that the former Soviet Union deployed tactical nuclear weapons in Cuba until the late-1980s without the knowledge of Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
The Marines are still waiting for Boeing and Lockheed Martin to present acceptable designs to meet requirements for the short takeoff and vertical landing version of JSF. The Marines believe they are near the point where they can't trade any more performance to keep cost low and commonality high, according to Brig. Gen. Bruce Byrum, USMC assistant deputy chief of staff for aviation. ``We are basically down to what we consider the minimum,'' Byrum said.
The U.S. Army Communications&Electronics Command has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract for Rapid Response to Critical Requirements Support to ensure that critical systems maintain full functionality and operability. The five-year contract has an estimated maximum value of almost $1.8 billion.
Japan's Air-Self Defense Force (JASDF) is slated to choose a new turboprop trainer to replace aging Fuji Heavy Industries T-3s for the primary flight training role by the end of this month. The Japanese selection process started with the solicitation of some 35 companies to compete for the 50-aircraft buy. The new trainers are to replace piston-powered Fuji T-3 trainers in service since the mid-1970s.
C. Dale Reis has been named general manager of Raytheon Defense Systems, Tucson, Ariz. He was general manager of Raytheon Command, Control and Communications, Marlborough, Mass. Reis succeeds David L. McPherson, who has retired. Succeeding Reis is Frank S. Marchilena, who has been general manager of Raytheon Training and Services, Vienna, Va. Philip T. Le Pore, who has been deputy general manager, has succeeded Marchilena and has been promoted to executive vice president.
Alenia Aeronautica has signed a $4.5-million contract with IBM for its Enovia Product Manager software to support data management for Eurofighter 2000.
Tickets went fast for Skymark's inaugural flight from Tokyo to Fukuoka on Sept. 19 (AW&ST Aug. 3, p. 37). Opening day for the first independent Japanese carrier in 35 years had been pushed back a week, but all of its discount tickets for first day operations were sold in 20 min. Japan Airlines and Japan Air System instituted a discount fare plan on half of their round-trip tickets between the two cities--but only for the five that correspond with Skymark's operating times, not the five that do not match. All Nippon Airways is expected to follow suit.
Officials of Rolls-Royce Turbomeca are in the ``final stages'' of discussions with Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. to install two RTM322-04 turboshaft engines in an S-92 airframe for testing late in 1999 or 2000. Louis Scipioni, director of sales and business development for Turbomeca Microturbo here, said the RTM322-04 would offer significantly more power than the General Electric CT7-8 engine that is being installed in prototype S-92s. The CT7-8 is rated at 2,000 shp. and is equipped with a dual channel, full authority digital engine control.
FLIGHT VISIONS EXPECTS TO BEGIN DELIVERING 82 head-up displays in spring of 1999 to upgrade U.S. Navy F-14B aircraft. The Sparrow Hawk HUD and FV-3000 Modular Mission Display Processor System will give ``B'' pilots similar symbology to that on the F-14D and a big increase in reliability. Six years of field test data shows mean time between maintenance action should go from 11 hr. to at least 750 hr. with the new HUD. The HUD has an integral combiner, which will let the Navy replace the F-14B wind screen with the night vision compatible version used on the F-14D.
