A new facility will begin producing large round turbine engine components next month using the Spraycast-X process developed by Howmet Corp. A joint venture between Howmet and Pratt&Whitney, Sprayform Technologies International's (STI) new A2 production unit in Whitehall, Mich., will have a 1,000-lb. melt capacity and be capable of forming parts up to 30 in. in diameter. The components are formed by spraying atomized superalloys in a vacuum onto a mandrel. A 6,000-lb.-capacity unit, designated A3, is set to open in Whitehall later this year.
A European direct-to-home television satellite equipped with on-board multiplexing capability was successfully launched into geosynchronous transfer orbit by an Ariane 42P booster.
Michael S. Francis has been named vice president-advanced technology of the Aurora Flight Sciences Corp., Manassas, Va. A recently retired U.S. Air Force colonel, he was director of architecture and integration for the Defense Airborne Reconnaissance Office.
Yielding to strong resistance from several U.S. major airlines, the computer reservations systems provider Galileo International has canceled a 50-cent fee it was intending to impose on airlines for processing an electronic ticket. Northwest, Continental and US Airways thwarted Galileo's plans using tactical maneuvers directed for the most part at the travel agent middleman.
Robert J. Stevens has been appointed president/chief operating officer of the Lockheed Martin Energy and Environment Sector, Bethesda, Md. He was president of Lockheed Martin Air Traffic Management. Stevens succeeds Albert Narath, who is scheduled to retire this year.
Capt. Ron Rogers, a United Airlines A320 pilot, has been named chairman of the Air Line Pilots Assn. Airworthiness, Performance, Evaluation and Certification Committee.
Japan is edging away from plans to develop its own replacement for aging Kawasaki C-1 medium-sized military transports and its Lockheed/Kawasaki P-3C antisubmarine warfare aircraft. Instead, the Japanese Defense Agency is leaning toward bringing in a U.S. partner to develop replacements based on a common airframe. Japan's navy operates 101 P-3Cs and its air force flies 31 C-1s. Both are due for retirement in 2010. Although Japanese industry wants to take on the design of both aircraft by itself, the JDA reasons that U.S.
With competition for the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) scheduled to end early next month with selection of a winning contractor, Boeing has revealed some of its weapon's capabilities.
James C. Williams has been named vice president/director of the Advanced Simulation Group of TASC Inc., Reading, Mass. He was vice president-advanced programs and business development for Lockheed Martin Tactical Defense Systems.
BOLSTERED BY STRONG aero-engine sales, Rolls-Royce chalked up pretax profits of 276 million pounds ($455 million) in 1997, up 17% from the previous year. The company said it captured 34% of the civil aircraft engine market in 1997, up from 20% in 1996--its highest share ever. It doubled its market share for civil engine repair and overhaul. Defense sales were also strong and prospects were bolstered by the decision to move ahead with production of up to 1,500 EJ200 engines for Eurofighter.
The ultra-long-range business jet category that didn't exist five years ago is now worth $5 billion. Bombardier reported 75 firm orders for its new Global Express at last month's Asian Aerospace '98 in Singapore. The price for the aircraft in ``green,'' or uncompleted, form is $32.2 million, up from $27.5 million initially. Certification and first deliveries are scheduled by June. Gulfstream has delivered or turned over to completion houses 32 G-5s and has 41 on firm order at a price of $27.5 million each. Latecomer Boeing Business Jet has orders for 29 BBJs.
The reborn Pan American World Airways, which filed for bankruptcy and quit flying scheduled services late last month, is seeking $15-20 million in financing to return to the air with a scaled-back operating plan. The revised business plan calls for initial services to be concentrated on a few key cities such as New York, Miami and Fort Lauderdale, and then seek to grow from there. The Boeing 737-400 would be the primary aircraft used.
David A. Kay, a former chief nuclear weapons inspector in Iraq for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), led three arms inspection missions during 1991-92. He is now a vice president with the Science Applications International Corp. and is based in McLean, Va. He wrote the following article for Aviation Week&Space Technology.
The French aerospace industry posted its highest level of sales, orders and exports since the beginning of the decade, but remains preoccupied by trends in domestic defense and space spending, officials at the GIFAS industry association said last week.
First derivatives of the next-generation Joint Strike Fighter will not be electronic warfare aircraft to replace the EA-6B. Instead, they are likely to spin out of black programs with needs similar to the new, stealthy fighter, says Harry Blot, Lockheed Martin's deputy program manager.
The $100-million Lockheed Martin Intelsat 806 spacecraft is undergoing checkout in geosynchronous orbit this week following its launch on an Atlas booster here. The flight was earlier planned for launch from China on a Long March booster, but Intelsat pulled the unique satellite off the Asian launcher in the wake of a fatal launch accident. The 3,500-kg. (7,700-lb.) spacecraft was launched into a geosynchronous transfer orbit from Cape Canaveral on Feb. 27 on board an International Launch Services Atlas 2AS equipped with four solid rocket motors.
The Asian financial crisis is having an effect on military training as Japan has canceled participation of its fighters in this summer's Cooperative Cope Thunder exercise in Alaska with the U.S. Air Force. But China, bucking a regional trend of cutbacks, will send observers and has been actively exercising its growing fleet of Su-27s, according to USAF Gen. Richard Meyers, commander of Pacific Air Forces. Moreover, North Korea is well into its winter training cycle and is ``regularly'' flying its MiG-29s.
Finnair and British Airways are deepening their alliance, with plans to begin code-sharing on flights between London and Helsinki, as well as Stockholm, on Mar. 29. The code-share pact also extends to a new twice-daily service British Airways is starting from London Gatwick to Helsinki. By May, the code-sharing deal will be extended to include the daily Finnair services between Helsinki, Stockholm and Manchester.
The U.S. Air Force last week started testing modifications to its Slingsby T-3A Firefly pilot screening trainer at Edwards AFB, Calif. A number of updates to the light, piston-powered aircraft will be evaluated including changes to the fuel and engine cooling systems. The alterations are aimed at correcting powerplant shutdown and controllability problems that may have contributed to three fatal crashes at the Air Force Academy.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON'S Eagle Eye UAV has been shipped to Yuma, Ariz., to begin a 3-month, 50-hr. flight demonstration as part of a VTOL/UAV program managed by the U.S. Navy. The tests will exercise the vehicle's ground control, digital data link, inertial navigation and payload systems. Eagle Eye is a 7/8-scale, ship-based aircraft capable of flying at 200 kt. while carrying a 200-lb. payload outbound 110 naut. mi.
Southwest Airlines plans to acquire three Boeing 737-300s from bankrupt Western Pacific Airlines, which ceased operations early in February. Dallas-based Southwest plans to buy two of the airplanes and lease the third, according to an official of the airline. The agreement is contingent upon the completion of detailed technical inspections and financial arrangements before the aircraft's interiors are refurbished and the exterior repainted in Southwest livery. The 737s would be used to augment existing service.
AMERICAN EAGLE HAS TAKEN delivery of the first of 42 Embraer RJ145 twin- jets that it has on order, and plans to begin revenue service with the 50-seat transport in May from its hub at Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
GERMANY'S ANTITRUST OFFICE has cleared a consolidation of the German leisure travel industry that will ensure the continued independence of its three major charter carriers. The office approved the purchase of charter carrier Hapag-Lloyd by Preussag, which is controlled by the bank WestLB, provided WestLB sells its 34% share in charter airline LTU. The move will allow WestLB/Preussag to merge Hapag-Lloyd with tour operator TUI.
Brian K. Muirhead has been named project manager for the Deep Space 4/Champollion mission at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. He was project manager for the Mars Pathfinder mission.
