The U.S. Army's latest space wargame provides new insight to the complex political and military issues associated with an enemy's use of communication satellites owned by international consortiums, and the impact of commercial remote sensing systems on Army land operations.
The PRC-710 is a handheld, VHF/FM voice and data radio that weighs less than 700 gm. (1.54 lb.). It is fully compatible with Tadiran's CNR-900 radio system. The radio has digital encryption and data transmission error-correction capabilities. Its use of orthogonal nets with inter-net synchronization allows it to defeat even powerful electronic warfare systems. Tadiran Com. Ltd., Marketing Department, 26 Hashoftim St., P.O. Box 267, Holon 58102, Israel.
THE RELEASE OF BOEING'S annual long-range commercial transport forecast, the Current Market Outlook, has been delayed until at least early May while company officials continue to assess the potential impact of Asian financial problems. The forecast is usually released in March.
The proposed $2.1-billion Fiscal 1999 budget for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which includes satellites and aviation weather services, represents a 5% increase from this year's spending. NOAA benefits from the Clinton Administration's established interest in monitoring the global environment. The agency also profits from a renewed interest in promoting civilian scientific research in general that the Administration displays in its budget proposal this year.
The first Boeing Delta 3--a corporate-funded launch vehicle built during a three-year ``fast-track'' development program--has been shipped to Cape Canaveral on schedule for launch in June.
JobBOSS For Windows 3.1 is a 32-bit shop management software package that is optimized for use in machine shops that serve the aerospace industry. The program is tightly integrated with Microsoft Office 97, which simplifies tasks such as e-mailing status reports, delivery schedules and other data or analyzing reports from the system in Excel. The new release also allows on-line hookups of general ledger balances. JobBOSS Software, 7701 York Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn. 55435-5832.
The 36DL Plus combines thickness measurement features with sophisticated data acquisition and output capabilities in a water-resistant case. Its 4-in.-wide liquid crystal display presents thickness measurement in large numerals and a high-resolution A-scan waveform. The instrument can measure over a range of 0.020-20 in. It comes with a probe capable of taking measurements on materials at temperatures as high as 932F (500C). It can make through-paint echo-to-echo measurements. It can store as many as 95,000 thickness measurements or 1,750 waveforms. Panametrics Inc.
Zoard Richter has become vice president-finance for Fairchild Dornier in Oberpfaffenhoffen, Germany. He was managing director of finance and administration for the German subsidiary of SmithKline Beecham. Ray Perry has been named vice president-risk management, and Joe Laasko has been promoted to vice president-worldwide sales finance from director, both in San Antonio, Tex. Perry was director of risk management financial services for AlliedSignal Inc.
It appeared that Bahrain had joined Saudi Arabia last week in prohibiting the U.S. from flying air strikes from its bases against Iraq. The mid-stride change blind-sided Air Force officials who thought they might have to totally rework their tactical plans for strikes against Iraq, since the B-1 bombers and F-16s specialized for destroying air defenses are based in Bahrain. The problem, according to U.S. officials, came from a phrase in a statement saying that U.S. strikes ``were not yet authorized'' from Bahrain.
SAIC researchers have flown a manned version of the Vigilante vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) earlier this month at Newport News, Va. The flight was made to test systems prior to the first unmanned flight, which was scheduled for late last week at Fort Pickett, Va. The helicopter-type UAV is designed to meet the Navy requirement for a tactical reconnaissance aircraft that can operate from the small flight decks on destroyers and cruisers.
Investigators are focusing on a possible breakdown in cockpit procedures on board a China Airlines A300-622R that crashed at Taipei's Chang Kai Shek airport as the crew apparently attempted a go-around because of retracted landing gear. All 182 passengers and 15 crew died in the Feb. 16 crash, which also killed at least six persons on the ground.
Kent Kresa, chairman/president/CEO of the Northrop Grumman Corp. is one of three honorary fellows elected by the Reston, Va.-based American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The others are: Profs. Arthur Kantrowitz of Dartmouth College and Jack Kerrebrock of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Lockheed Martin has taken to the road with its C-130J transport on a worldwide marketing blitz at the same time that the British Royal Air Force is trying to figure out how to cope with the latest delay in the program.
Richard Borken has been appointed vice president-growth initiatives of Honeywell Defense Avionics Systems, Albuquerque, N.M. He was vice president-project management and will be succeeded by Louis Chavez, who is director of Honeywell's Home and Control facility in Albuquerque. Jeffrey G. Peterson has been promoted to vice president from director of customer satisfaction. Patty Martin has been named controller. She succeeds David Anderson, who has become director of materials.
The J88 machining center is designed to provide the advantages of both flexible and high-speed machining. Its flexible transfer line allows production shifts to new parts by selecting a different toolpath program. The unit's personal computer-based front-end controller and graphical interface simplify toolpath programming. The X, Y and Z axes are all behind the spindle, so it can move out to meet the workpiece. Makino, 7680 Innovation Way, P.O. Box 8003, Mason, Ohio 45040-8003.
The STAC 100 Spark Tester meets European requirements for inspection of coatings and linings. It is effective at thicknesses of up to 1.2 in. (30 mm.). The unit, which will not cause electromagnetic interference, is housed in a strong aluminum case. It features an adjustable output voltage of 5-55 kilovolts. The unit measures 8 X 5 X 7 in. and weighs less than 9 lb. It comes with a test probe that has a 6.5-ft. lead. Buckleys (UVRAL) Ltd., Range Road, Hythe, Kent, England CT21 6HG.
AFTER A TWO-YEAR SEARCH, DHL AIRWAYS INC. has decided to keep its main U.S. hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and will build a new $170-million hub and sort facility there.
Michael A. Mayer has been promoted to vice president-marketing, sales and purchasing from director of sales and George J. Milarck to director from manager of quality assurance for the Avatar Alliance of Atlanta. Mayer succeeds James O. Niece, who has retired.
The FAA estimates it will issue 31 licenses in 1998 for commercial launches from the U.S., 82% more than last year. But Ray F. Johnson, director of The Aerospace Corp., sees tougher times ahead for launch vehicle operators. He warns of a glut of medium-heavy lift launchers in 2000-10, after the Ariane 5, Sea Launch, Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles and other new boosters come on-line and U.S. quotas on Russian and Chinese launchers expire. ``We actually think there could be as much as a 50% oversupply,'' he said during a recent FAA conference on commercial space.
THE FRANCO-RUSSIAN Pegasus/Apogee Mir mission ended successfully on Feb. 19 with the return to Earth of French astronaut Leopold Eyharts. He landed near Arkalik, Kazakhstan, accompanied by Mir mission EO-24 crewmembers Anatoly Soloviev and Pavel Vinogradov.
The Criterion Standard is a solid-state system for testing strobe light intensity on aircraft. It is FAA approved as a field testing device. It also measures flash rate and automatically averages intensity readings. The device can be used in all ambient lighting conditions. A built-in laser measures the distance to the test subject. The Criterion Standard can be held by the operator or mounted on a tripod and uses a rechargeable battery. UCO Aerospace Inc., 7000 Merrill Ave., Box 34, Hangar 31, Chino, Calif. 91710.
Gordon Rusk has been named president/chief operating officer, Roger Rusk vice president-sales and service, Ken Frutchey vice president-finance/controller and Doug Rusk vice president-operations, all for the Kenneco-Magnaghi Logistics Corp., Corona, Calif.
