Use its MSTI-3 (Miniature Sensor Technology Integration) satellite as a target for the test firing of a powerful laser has angered the spacecraft's builder. Spectrum Astro Inc. Senior Vice President Stan Dubyn says MSTI-3 could generate remote sensing data for three more years and that several organizations, including NASA, have offered to pay to operate it. ``The Air Force has not been cooperative,'' he charged. Defense Secretary William Cohen has indicated he'll approve the laser antisatellite (ASAT) test (AW&ST Sept. 8, p. 19).
Ronald W. Lawler has become president of the New Berlin, Wis.-based Systemation Engineered Products unit of Robotic Vision Systems. He will succeed Phil Koerper, who will be vice president-strategic programs of Robotic Vision's Electronics Div. Lawler was president/chief operating officer of the Vitronics Corp.
A stable economy, record corporate profits and growing demand for flexible, secure air travel are fueling sustained growth in sales and utilization of business aircraft that could continue unabated through the end of this decade, according to industry officials.
A strengthening European economy is spurring not only an increase in utilization of business aircraft, but also is driving demand for new jet and turboprop airplanes and creating new interest in fractional ownership programs.
Nigel Argent has been named director of sales and marketing in Vancouver for Innotech Aviation, Dorval, Quebec. He held a similar position with Odessey Aviation, Mississauga, Ontario.
Leo S. Mackay, Jr., (see photo) has been appointed vice president-business development and strategic planning of Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. of Fort Worth. He was director of market development of the Lockheed Martin Corp.
The lift module and spool duct portion of a 17% scale model of Boeing's Joint Strike Fighter propulsion and direct lift system is shown during tests at the company's nozzle test facility in Seattle. Earlier this year, the system successfully passed a three-month evaluation that verified the full range of the planned aircraft's short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities as well as transitions to and from forward flight.
F-22 program officials have decided to halt the Raptor's initial flight test program at two flights, one short of the planned three. Officials made the early termination decision last week, in the wake of an aircraft built-in-test which indicated a faulty hydraulic valve in the F-22's right main landing gear area.
Establishment (FOA), teamed with Ericsson Microwaves, is testing a second generation of its Carabas coherent ground and foliage penetrating radar. Compared with its predecessor, the Carabas 2 has increased transmit power and is using a 20% duty cycle to get an average of 100 watts, which will give a greater operating range. FOA expects a 20,000-meter standoff from 10,000 meters altitude. The Carabas 1 only had an average of 1 watt (AW&ST Dec. 5, 1994, p. 58). The broad band transmitter has been improved to block bands that would interfere with other radios.
America West Airlines, in a far-reaching effort to renew its fleet and gain growth capacity, plans to take delivery of 46 Airbus Industrie narrow-body twinjets in the next three years.
Cedric D. Beckett (see photos) has been appointed president of Barnes Aerospace OEM and Advanced Fabrications and Marian Acker-Quinn group controller of Barnes Aerospace, Bristol, Conn. Beckett was president of the Windsor (Conn.) Manufacturing Div., while Acker-Quinn was corporate manager of accounting.
Honeywell's new Epic system likely will have a major impact on the way the company's avionics units do business. The processor-based, cursor-controlled Epic system is designed for easy upgrade, with multitasking processors and provisions for numerous ``snap-in'' modules for increased capability, and to incorporate rapidly changing technology. Such flexibility, coupled with module reliability estimated at 100,000-hr.
US Airways has until the end of this month to respond to a lawsuit by the Boeing Co. alleging the airline broke contracts to purchase about $2 billion worth of 737 and 757 transports in favor of a large agreement with rival Airbus Industrie. The suit also is seen by some as a warning to airlines--and archrival Airbus--that Boeing will not easily give up legally binding contracts when a more attractive deal is offered.
Wood Lockhart, a Boeing 747 captain for United Airlines, has received the Air Line Pilots Assn.'s Annual Air Safety Award. Lockhart, who holds a doctorate in art and architectural history, was cited for establishing his expertise in the area of airport design, especially the protection of navigable airspace. Comair Capt. David M. Mitchell and First Officer Hank Clay won the Superior Airmanship Award for successfully landing their Embraer EMB-120 at Orlando, Fla., despite the failure of its landing gear. And, Capt.
Of a National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) spacecraft in mid-December on board an International Launch Services Atlas 2A/Centaur booster from Cape Canaveral. It will be the first NRO satellite ever launched on board an Atlas 2A. The booster is capable of placing 3-3.5 tons in a highly elliptical geosynchronous transfer orbit, from which the NRO spacecraft can conduct specialized operations or maneuver into geosynchronous orbit.
Donald G. Smith, vice president/general manager of Airborne Express subsidiary Sky Courier, has been appointed president of the Air Courier Conference of America. He was vice president and succeeds Phil Belyew of the General Parcel Service.
Fred A. Poole has become vice president-heavy maintenance and Frederick W. Sine vice president-line maintenance of US Airways. Poole was general manager of United Airlines' maintenance facility in Indianapolis, while Sine headed aircraft maintenance at the United Parcel Service's hub in Louisville, Ky.
The U.S. air transportation system faces airport and airspace ``gridlock'' within 10 years unless sweeping changes in management and funding of the FAA occur soon, according to a report by the National Civil Aviation Review Commission's funding task force. The commission submitted its preliminary report to Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater on Sept. 10. Although the report covers a broad spectrum of aviation issues, its call to action centers on five key recommendations. These include:
The Pentagon is asking Congress to reinstate $9 million to help pay for a common ground station that can control the long endurance, 1-ton-payload Global Hawk and the stealthy DarkStar UAVs. The reconnaissance aircraft are to be ready for deployment to worldwide hot spots by around 2000. But without a second ground station, European Command officials are saying, they may not be able to call Global Hawk or DarkStar to the continent should the need arise.
Hughes Aircraft Company has been selected by the U.K. Ministry of Defense to provide a tactical airborne reconnaissance system for Royal Air Force Tornados.
Bill McKenna has been promoted to vice president/site manager of the Northrop Grumman Commercial Aircraft Div.'s Milledgeville, Ga., facility from site manager. Other promotions in the division were: Tom Risley to vice president/integrated product team (IPT) leader for empennage programs from head of production for Boeing 747/757/767 tail sections; and Mark Tucker to vice president/deputy IPT leader/ site manager for the Aircraft Doors Center, Perry, Ga., from B-2 and 747 program management.
Honeywell is advancing development of its new Epic processor-based, cursor-controlled avionics suite and test-flying prototype hardware. About 100 employees now are working on the Epic program and detailed design of major components is underway, according to Larry Clark, manager of Next Generation Systems for Honeywell's Business and Commuter Aviation Div. First delivery of hardware to launch customer Raytheon Aircraft, for its new Hawker Horizon mid-sized business jet, is scheduled for mid-1998.
