As part of its strategy to expand service in busy New England, Southwest Airlines plans to begin flights as early as this summer from Manchester, N.H., to provide an alternative facility for passengers accustomed to using Boston's Logan International Airport. Manchester would represent the airline's second foothold in the region. It began flying from Providence, R.I., in 1996. In addition, Southwest is establishing a new crew base at Baltimore-Washington International Airport.
Japan's Civil Aviation Ministry has extended its 120-min. ETOPS rule to 180 min., more than a year after the FAA began issuing 180-min. certifications. The new rule offers immediate benefits to Japanese carriers--it will allow All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines to use Boeing 767s and 777s on flights to Hawaii instead of relying on Boeing 747s, or to operate DC-10s or MD-11s when seating demands. The extension may accelerate 777 operations by JAL, ANA and Japan Air System.
National Reconnaissance Office Lacrosse imaging radar spacecraft and geosynchronous orbit relay satellites--shrouded in secrecy for years--have been unveiled by the NRO, providing new insights into how the U.S. acquires and routes space reconnaissance imagery of critical areas such as Iraq and North Korea.
The U.S. Air Force and Pratt&Whitney believe high-cycle fatigue was responsible for an F119 engine knife-edge seal failure, a problem that has resulted in suspension of all engineering and manufacturing development engine tests for the F-22 fighter's powerplant.
In a dramatic about-face from just a few years ago, engine manufacturers are eyeing the small commercial turbofan engine market as a way to boost sales and generate profits.
A National Academy of Sciences study is prompting the Air Force to rebalance its investments in new space technology. USAF was planning to use industry research as it develops its long-term space capability. But industry R&D is focused only 2-4 years into the future, the study says. ``This is the next product. They are not investing in anything that is significantly beyond that,'' Muellner told the Senate Armed Services acquisition and technology subcommittee. He said the service will have to ``pick up some of the slack.''
A U.S. Marine Corps investigation board has determined the crew of an EA-6B Prowler should face disciplinary action for violating minimum altitude restrictions when their aircraft severed two gondola cables resulting in the death of 20 people at a ski resort in northeastern Italy on Feb. 3.
French independent carrier AOM is concluding alliances with several European airlines in an effort to boost revenues and acquire a stronger market share. AOM recently finalized business and code-share agreements with Sabena Belgian World Airlines, Swissair and Air Portugal that will go into effect in the next few weeks.
Look for NASA to delay the launch of its first Earth Observing System spacecraft, EOS AM-1. The agency hasn't made it official yet, but a combination of problems will force a slip of 30-60 days, program officials confirm. That could fuel Republican criticism of the program, a pet project of Vice President Al Gore. EOS AM-1 had been scheduled for launch around June 30 on an Atlas 2AS from Vandenberg AFB, Calif. Contributing to the slip are difficulties with ground software, spacecraft testing delays caused by late delivery of instruments, and launch pad availability.
THE HONEYWELL/RACAL SATCOM TEAM has developed MCS-7000, an enhanced satellite communication system for airliners and business jets. MCS-7000 offers up to seven channels of voice/data communications and can use Aero-H, H+ or Aero-I service, depending on the high-power amplifier and antenna on the aircraft. Aero H+ will add the ability to use spot beams, with lower service cost per minute. Aero-I will operate in the smaller spot beams of the new-generation Inmarsat-3 satellites, permitting smaller antennas, exclusively furnished by Canadian Marconi.
The Super Slim is a rigid, 2.4-mm.-wide borescope that uses a gradient-index glass rod to provide a high-quality image. The instrument can be used for inspecting engines or ensuring that printed circuit boards have sound solder joints. The device uses gradient-index or Grin optics, allowing a glass rod that is about the same thickness as a pencil lead to replace many tiny lenses used in other borescopes, which reduces the cost of the instrument. The Grin rod bends light gradually and continuously, rather than bending it suddenly as conventional lenses do.
The Yankee Group, a software market analysis firm, predicts that component and supplier management (CSM) software activity will reach the $1 billion/year mark by 2000. This number includes internal company work as well as purchase of outside products. CSM activity is now roughly $600-700 million. Another consultant estimated that a $1-billion/year company with $500 million in purchasing can save up to $50 million using CSM.
The Size 34 and 44 induction motor is available in 1, 2 and 3-phase designs for aircraft applications. Configured with 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12-pole speeds, it can achieve speeds of up to 24,000 rpm. The motor is rated for up to 1,600 Hz. and voltages of 5-440 volts a.c. The motor can provide in excess of 1/2-hp. and is engineered to meet Mil-Spec requirements. It can function over a range of -20-85C. The motor is available with either open construction and an internal cooling fan or in a totally enclosed version with an external fan.
DIMENSIONS INTERNATIONAL IS OFFERING a low-cost aircraft situation display that can run on a laptop, providing accurate aircraft location, arrivals and departures from the FAA's database. Users include 40 regional carriers, corporate aviation, nine fixed-base operators and ramp controllers. A suite of products provides virtually the same ability to keep track of aircraft as the major airlines developed for their operations centers. The latest system, FLIGHTExplorer, is designed for Windows 95/NT. The service costs $250 per month. U.S.
Rory Fisher has been appointed general manager of British Aerospace Asset Management-Jets, Hatfield, England. Formerly vice president-commercial of British Aerospace Asset Management-Turboprops (AMT) in Washington, Fisher succeeds Andrew Davies (see photo), who has become general manager of Oasis International, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Melissa Corbin has been promoted to vice president-commercial contracts of AMT from head of portfolio management and Michael Agnew to vice president-portfolio management from regional sales manager for Canada and Alaska.
European governments gave little indication they would back away from bilateral air traffic agreements concluded with the U.S. despite a renewed threat from the European Commission to take legal action against them.
Lockheed Martin, perplexed at the government's strident stance on the company's proposed merger with Northrop Grumman, is assessing at what point the acquisition can no longer be justified. That's the $11.6-billion question senior management is pondering in the wake of a recent conference with top Pentagon and Justice Dept. officials. At that meeting, company officials were told what it would take to win approval of the transaction and were presented with three choices:
If it receives government approval to begin scheduled flights later this year, Dallas-based Legend Airlines plans to equip its six McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32s with leather seats, on-board telecommunications and computer interface equipment, and to provide passengers with complete meal service on most of its flights, according to T. Allan McArtor, president and CEO of Legend Airlines. The carrier also plans to offer meeting rooms, computer workstations, and waiting lounges in its terminal areas. Legend is applying this month to the Transportation Dept.
Aircraft Wrecks in the Mountains and Deserts of California, 1909-1996 by G. Pat Macha is a guide to locating historical aircraft crash sites and offers details on many downed aircraft. The book does not, however, provide exact locations for many of the wrecks that are listed. Macha, an aviation archeologist and wreck finder, offers procedures for approaching historical aircraft wreck sites and guidelines for aviation archeology. A companion video is also offered. Info Net Publishing, 34188 Coast Highway, Suite C, Dana Point, Calif. 92629.
The Defense Dept. is about to approve a U.S. Army plan to upgrade CH-47D Chinook utility helicopters. The program will keep Chinooks flying until at least 2020 at which time the replacement Joint Transport Rotorcraft is expected to come into inventory. The core elements of the $3-billion Improved Cargo Helicopter program are a remanufactured airframe, vibration reduction initiatives, a new engine and a new, digital cockpit. Without ICH, the first Army CH-47Ds would reach the end of their programmed life in 2002.
The Clinton Administration's expansionist aerospace policy now embraces Latin America, and industry specialists forecast increasing exports to the region if its economies keep growing and can fend off Asia's financial woes.
NASA Dryden and Boeing managers are to meet in Moscow with Tupolev managers on Mar. 23-27 to negotiate a new series of flights using the Tu-144LL supersonic transport research aircraft. During February the aircraft, operated by Tupolev crews, completed 18 research flights covered under the initial U.S./Russian agreement. This series is to involve several additional flights to be undertaken as a joint NASA/Boeing effort instead of just a Boeing follow-on series as earlier envisioned (AW&ST Sept. 8, 1997, p. 50).
These pneumatic right-angle sanders, grinders and polishers can be used on a variety of materials, including composites. With a central water feed, they can be used at speeds of 2,000-16,000 rpm. and from 1/3 hp. to 1.3 hp. Their low-vibration design protects workers from carpal tunnel syndrome. The tools also can be converted for use as belt grinders. Suhner Industrial Products Corp., Highway 411, P.O. Box 1234, Rome, Ga. 30162-1234.
John C. Weaver and Ken C. Dahlberg have been named executive vice presidents of the Raytheon Co., Lexington, Mass. Weaver was president/chief operating officer of the Hughes Aircraft Co. and also will be chairman/CEO of Raytheon International Inc. He will succeed Renso L. Caporali, who will retire in April. Dahlberg also is president/chief operating officer of the Raytheon Systems Co. He was senior vice president of Hughes Aircraft.
