Aspect Development plans to announce its ``MRO Net'' database this month, listing parts from a number of suppliers for maintenance, repair and overhaul. The product includes programming to manage a repair shop, and connects to Aspect's data base via the Internet. The company also has a Very Important Parts database to help designers choose from more than 2.5 million parts, and a Strategic Sourcing Module to assist in purchasing. Aspect's products are aimed at larger companies, to help them manage components and suppliers.
THE U.S. SENATE OVERRODE a presidential line-item veto, reinstating a host of military construction projects that included a flight simulation facility at Kirtland AFB, N.M., and a runway extension at Whiting Field, Fla. (AW&ST Nov. 17, 1997, p. 32). The 78-20 vote was a landmark test of the line-item veto authority Congress granted to the President to help control budget deficits. In this case, however, the White House said it had used erroneous information in striking down nearly half of the 38 projects involved.
Boeing is looking at innovative packages--involving combinations of governments, air forces, industrial partners and commercial cargo airlines--to launch the MD-17 program on the back of C-17 production. The MD-17 represents a unique airlift capability for commercial operators that will build on the markets developed and proven by the Antonov An-124 since 1989, according to program manager David Bowman. ``We are working with potential customers--government, military and airline--developing business plans,'' Bowman said.
AFTER 10 MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS, Continental Airlines and the Independent Assn. of Continental Pilots reached a tentative agreement last week that would secure a new, five-year labor contract. The proposed pact, however, must be ratified by a majority of the pilots.
Thomas Fitzpatrick has become vice president-engineering of Lockheed Martin Sanders, Nashua, N.H. James C. Korcuba has been named director of business development and Michael Heffron director of program operations, for the Mission and Space Electronics Div. Fitzpatrick was director of engineering and Heffron director of the Sniper program, in the Avionics Div. Korcuba was director of business development for the Telecommunications Systems.
The FAA's emphasis in developing new air traffic control systems should be on human factors, applying automation first to improve the information presented to controllers for decision-making, a National Research Council panel reports. The top priority should be for decision aids to help resolve conflicts in aircraft flight paths and to help controllers maintain aircraft separation.
Some Wall Street analysts expect a growing number of aerospace/defense companies to implement a more rigorous coupling of executive compensation to stock-price performance.
Observers of the U.S. airline industry--not to mention investors--surely must wonder what it will take for Trans World Airlines Inc. to start earning a net profit.
Pratt&Whitney's PW8000 will feature a geared-fan design that will allow the engine to have 40% fewer stages and 50% fewer airfoils than existing conventional turbofans of comparable thrust. Preliminary design of the 13-stage powerplant is underway, and detailed design should begin no later than June 1, David E. Crow, senior vice president of engineering at Pratt&Whitney, said. As a result, some characteristics of the engine will remain fluid until this summer. Certification is expected 30 months from June.
KUWAIT HAS ISSUED a detailed request for proposals for an integrated command, control, communication, computer and intelligence (C4I) system to integrate its air, sea and land forces through a single joint operations center. Contractors have begun teaming to bid for the 12-year project valued at up to $1.3 billion. Litton, GEC and possibly TRW; Lockheed Martin and British Aerospace; and a potential Raytheon/Thomson-CSF combination are expected to be the major contenders.
Ending a decade of indecision and false starts, Pratt&Whitney has launched a new family of common core engines in a bold attempt to challenge CFM International's dominance in the increasingly lucrative small commercial turbofan market. Pratt is pinning its hopes for success on the 56-in.-dia. fanned PW6000--a conventional turbofan capable of generating 15,000-23,000-lb. thrust--and on the PW8000, a geared turbofan. Launched last week with no firm customer lined up, the PW8000 has the potential to profoundly affect commercial transport aviation.
THE FOURTH PROTOTYPE of the Franco-German Tiger combat helicopter crashed on a night demonstration flight for the Australian army. The crash, which took place near Springvale Station, North East Australia, destroyed the machine but left the French test pilot and his Australian passenger unhurt.
No matter how you look at it, Airbus Industrie has grown into a very strong competitor to Boeing. While this competitive growth had an initial slow start some 25 years ago, last year, the European manufacturer cornered nearly half of the worldwide airline orders for large transports. It would appear that the strong Airbus order trend will not abate in the coming years.
Robert H. Maze of Petroleum Helicopters of New Orleans has won the Pilot of the Year award from the Alexandria, Va.-based Helicopter Assn. International. Other award winners were: Lawrence D. Bell Memorial Award, HAI President Frank L. Jensen, Jr.; Robert E. Trimble Memorial Award, Jeffrey Mamuzich, president of Minuteman Aviation Inc., Missoula, Mont.; Excellence in Communications Award, Morris E.
The HL 1003D is a continuous-wave neodinium-yttrium silver (Nd:YAG) laser for cutting thick metals that was developed for integration with an industrial robot. The laser can be programmed to automatically regulate its power of up to 1,000 watts and can be fitted with a 300-micron-dia. fiber optic. The new laser also can be used to cut thin materials, focusing a narrow kerf while cutting at high speeds. Trumpf Inc., Laser Div., 19500 Victor Parkway, Suite 525, Livonia, Mich. 48152.
Derek Elmes and Ken Harter (see photos) have been promoted to directors of manufacturing from production managers at Kaynar, Fullerton, Calif. Steven C. Hoyt has been appointed senior manager of technical services for the American Society for Nondestructive Testing, Columbus, Ohio. He was a certification specialist and succeeds Robert Anderson, who will continue as a technical service consultant.
Mario Cid Fernandez has been appointed director of sales for mobile satellite communication products for O'Gara Satellite Systems, Torrance, Calif. He was North American sales manager for the MagnaPhone unit of the Hughes Technical Services Co.
The Helicopter Assn. International's 50th annual convention held here last week clearly demonstrated that the global helicopter industry is entering an era of stable growth, but a number of key issues must be resolved before that growth can be sustained into the 21st century, industry officials said.
The award of a new Turkish telecommunications satellite last week to Aerospatiale signals a strong comeback by the French satellite maker and further intensifies competition in the fast-growing Eurasian satellite TV broadcasting and telecom market.
The 9002A is a subminiature accelerometer that generates 100 millivolts/g with low noise. It is designed for applications where transducer mass must be minimized while maintaining a high signal-to-noise ratio. The device measures 0.33 in. long and 0.30 in. in dia. It can withstand a 10,000g shock. It comes with a 6-ft. cable. Vibra-Metrics Inc., 1014 Sherman Ave., Hamden, Conn.
Kirk Albrow has been appointed general manager for the U.K. and Ireland for Swissair. He succeeds Marcel Hungerbuehler, who has been promoted to route manager for the Far East.
Carl R. Wolf, Jr., has been named director of aftermarket sales and marketing for the Avidyne Corp., Lexington, Mass. He was director of worldwide aftermarket sales and marketing for AlliedSignal Commercial Avionics Systems.
These integrated tire fill valves and gauges can be mounted on an aircraft wheel without modifying the existing assembly. The integrated design allows maintenance personnel to quickly and easily monitor tire pressure. They are approved for use on all commercial aircraft. The gauge's helical Bourdon coil is the only moving part, which greatly reduces the chance of component failure. Circle Seal Controls Inc., 2301 Wardlow Circle, P.O. Box 3300, Corona, Calif. 91718.
The Precision Altimeter Tester is a microprocessor-based static air data tester that can meet the needs of general, commercial and military aviation. With the push of a button, a user can evaluate altitude, rate of climb or lead functions. The unit is accurate within +/-7 ft. at sea level and +/-38 ft. at 36,000 ft. over a range of 23-122F. The unit meets FAR 91411 for static system leak checks and exceeds FAR 43 Appendix E for altitude. It can display test results in feet or meters, as well as in in. Hg., mm. Hg. or millibars.
