The U.S. Air Force is going to use the next B-2 mock operational deployment to show it does not have to repair the stealth bombers at a forward location. Up to eight of the 10 B-2s stationed at Whiteman AFB, Mo., will forward deploy to MacDill AFB, Fla., for 10 days next month as part of USAF's Expeditionary Force Experiment '98. During the deployment, two more B-2s will be flown to MacDill from Whiteman and two bombers will return to their home base.
Europe's unified monetary system could go a long way toward helping the continent's aerospace/defense companies compete more effectively against their U.S. rivals. But European executives are under no illusions about the euro's ability to fix more fundamental problems that plague the industry's long-term competitiveness. On the positive side, the common currency is apt to facilitate the formation of European partnerships and strategic alliances.
Steven A. Mirmina has been appointed senior associate for aviation services of Apco Associates of Washington. He was with the law firm of Crowell and Moring.
W. James Close (see photo) has been appointed president/CEO of the Canadian Marconi Co., Ville Saint-Laurent, Quebec. He was president of AlliedSignal Aerospace Canada of Toronto.
In yet another confirmation of investor confidence in the rapidly emerging mobile satellite services (MSS) market, London-based ICO Global Communications recently completed an initial public offering that raised $690 million. The company started trading on the Nasdaq National Market under the ticker symbol ICOGF on July 31. Notes and warrants also have been approved for listing on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
The U.S. House and Senate adjourned for August without acting on the politically charged issue of exporting U.S. satellites to China for launch. Though substantial progress was made, conferees were unable to wrap up the Fiscal 1999 defense authorization bill before the summer recess. The House's version contains one provision that would return satellite export authority to the State Dept. and another that would ban outright the export of U.S.-built spacecraft to China (AW&ST Aug. 3, p. 27).
The U.S. Navy has awarded EDO Corp.'s Marine and Aircraft Systems unit a contract for Mod 4 upgrade kits for the Navy's Mk. 105 airborne mine countermeasures systems. With options, the contract is worth $21 million.
Bernard Rostker is expected to be nominated by President Clinton as undersecretary of the Army. Rostker has been assistant Navy secretary for manpower and reserve affairs and will continue as special assistant to the Defense secretary for Persian Gulf war illnesses.
NASA astronaut Ellen Baker recently delivered the commencement address at the College of Aeronautics in New York. She also received an honorary degree as did NTSB member John Goglia and Capt. I.J. Duncan, vice president-training of the Airbus Service Co.
Qantas Airways has dropped Osaka and is turning Kuala Lumpur into a transit stop for a London service. Since the Asian downturn began a year ago, Qantas has slashed 29 services to the region and withdrawn from Vietnam, South Korea and now Osaka, Japan's second biggest gateway. Flights to Japan once contributed more than 30% of the airline's earnings, making them Qantas' most profitable routes. Analysts say more cuts are to come. The carrier is redeploying its aircraft, opening a three-times weekly service to Paris and twice-weekly flights to Buenos Aires.
LB&B Associates Inc. has won a contract to provide test operations support at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. The contract is worth $30 million with all options exercised.
U.S. Sens. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) and Connie Mack (R-Fla.) broke through a legislative logjam to win unanimous Senate passage of the Commercial Space Act just before the Senate adjourned for the summer recess. The House approved the bill last November, but its companion legislation had stalled in the Senate (AW&ST Nov. 10, 1997, p. 27). A key provision in the bill would make it possible for the government to license the reentry of commercial payloads and reusable launch vehicles into Earth's atmosphere.
NASA is soliciting proposals for a new set of flight experiments to validate cutting-edge technologies that have emerged since the kickoff of the X-33 and X-34 flight demonstration programs. The new ``Future-X'' program is designed to continuously fund flight experiments and low-cost test vehicles that could quickly yield technology payoffs.
Transport Canada certified the Bombardier Global Express business jet on July 31. Approval by the FAA and the European Joint Aviation Authorities is scheduled to occur in the next 60 days, and initial deliveries are planned to begin in December, according to John Holding, executive vice president of engineering and product development for Bombardier Aerospace.
Eight Orbcomm data communications satellites were successfully launched on board an Orbital Sciences Corp. Pegasus XL booster on Aug. 2. Initial data showed the spacecraft were placed in precise orbit 825 km. (510 mi.) above Earth. The launch brought the Orbcomm constellation to 20 satellites. Eight additional Orbcomms are set for launch in September.
Pratt&Whitney has gained FAA certification for its 98,000-lb.-thrust PW4098. The engine, which has a 112-in.-dia. fan, is expected to enter service on a Korean Air 777-300 in December. Additionally, General Electric has gained FAA certification for its 1,900-shp.-class CT7-9C3 engine. The new CT7 will be used to power the CN-235-300, which will be produced by CASA. The new version of the CN-235, which CASA expects to certify by year-end, will be able to carry heavier loads and operate from shorter runways.
H.L. (Harry) Gregory has been appointed vice president/general manager of Rockwell Collins Support Services, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was president of the AAR Allen Aircraft Co., Wood Dale, Ill. Gregory succeeds Mike Maloney, who has retired. Seamus O'Donnell has succeeded Gregory as president of AAR Allen Aircraft. He was general manager of Aer Spares for Team Aer Lingus.
UES Inc. has been awarded a $5.3-million contract by the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, for R&D in semiconductor sciences, aircraft mechanical/thermal technology, advanced power systems and electrical technology.
TOTAL AIR WAR, A VERSATILE VIDEO ENTERTAINMENT system developed by Digital Image Design for home entertainment on PCs, might be useful for air forces to introduce new officers to planning and executing air campaigns. The 10 war scenarios are not scripted, but give different results based on the enemy actions and decisions of the user, who can vary the view between the pilot's seat of an F-22 to commander of an airborne warning and control aircraft.
Cathay Pacific Airways has posted a midyear net operating loss of HK$175 million ($22.6 million), its first in more than 20 years. The decrease of HK$1.24 billion ($161 million) from the same period in 1997 was attributed to continuing weakness in the Asian economies, slack tourist traffic into Hong Kong and the turbulence of Asian currencies against the U.S. dollar. First-half revenues were down 16%.
To revive the SR-71 Blackbird, Rep. Howard P. (Buck) McKeon (R-Calif.) has introduced legislation that would require the Defense Secretary to obligate the $39 million appropriated for the program in Fiscal 1998. The obligation was canceled by President Clinton's line item veto in October, but all such vetoes were ruled unconstitutional in June (AW&ST June 29, p. 18). The appropriation would normally expire Sept. 30, but McKeon's bill also makes the $39 million available through Fiscal 1999.
A shift in supply-chain management may be taking place among some aerospace companies, with increasing customer satisfaction--especially on-time delivery--supplanting market share gains as the most important goal. But there is a paradox--management is devoting relatively little time to process improvement issues in their dealings with suppliers.
