Signed a letter of intent under which US Airways would contract out its information technology functions to Sabre. The multibillion-dollar, long-term agreement will include all support functions, such as internal reservations, airport check-in, aircraft and crew scheduling, yield management and electronic ticketing. The parties expect to reach a definitive agreement within 90 days, which will pave the way for US Airways' transition to Sabre technology within Two years.
Canada's aerospace sales are projected to reach $9.65 billion this year, up 23% since 1995. Boosted by Bombardier Aerospace's expanding business, including serial production of its new, ultra-long-haul $32-million Global Express business jet, the country is forecast to become the world's fourth largest aerospace manufacturing economy by 2000, surpassing both Japan and Germany. About $7 billion of Canada's 1997 sales will be exports, according to Peter Boag, vice president of strategic planning for the Aerospace Industries Assn. of Canada.
Before the talks began, Chrysler Corp. Chairman Robert Eaton weighed in with Clinton on the side of the occupants of another executive suite--those at Northwest Airlines. The carrier insists on fully ``open skies,'' not regulated expansion. If U.S. negotiators ``cave in,'' Eaton wrote to Clinton, ``it will signal the rest of us who are watching that we should trade in our hopes for free markets and open competition as we watch . . . governments in Asia carve up their markets through just such `market-sharing arrangements.'''
New leasing and buying contracts by Dragonair foresee the Hong Kong regional carrier doubling its Airbus fleet during the next four years. The extra capacity is targeted to Asia-Pacific destinations, particularly in China, where Dragonair is the biggest among non-mainland carriers.
U.S. Army and Navy space commands see a steady increase in the use of space resources by combat units and are concentrating their efforts on providing equipment and techniques that add value to warfighter operations.
Boeing is flight-testing an active vibration suppression system on the B-1B. The technology reduces structural vibration levels by 79% during takeoff and up to 45% in transonic low-level flight at modal frequencies between 400-500 Hz. AVSS measures airframe vibration using accelerometers and dampens it by supplying an out-of-phase oscillatory signal to a network of 0.02-in.-thick piezoceramic actuators. Each actuator is about the size of a postage stamp.
The General Atomics Altus 2 drone climbed to 43,500 ft. in recent tests of high-altitude performance and handling while carrying a 300-lb. simulated payload. The 55-ft.-span drone is sponsored by the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, Calif., and its Altus 1 sister ship was built for NASA Dryden's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) program. Altus 1 had previously reached more than 37,000 ft. The high-altitude tests support the ERAST goal of reaching 65,000 ft.
To expand its purchase of enhanced ground proximity warning systems (EGPWS) to its American Eagle commuter fleet. The carrier, already committed to installing the AlliedSignal-built system on its main jet fleet, is in final negotiations to purchase EGPWS for the forward-fit of 42 Embraer EMB-145 50-passenger jets on order for American Eagle. Dallas-based American also is studying retrofit of EGPWS to Eagle's ATR 42, ATR 72 and Saab 340B twin-turboprop fleets.
Richard F. Sarpolus has become program development manager for Spectrum Astro, Gilbert, Ariz. He was product manager for satellite systems for AlliedSignal Aerospace, Tempe, Ariz.
Organization has delayed the fifth test of the Theater High-Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system from December to an unspecified date in early 1998. The delay was ordered to replace an inertial measurement unit that was giving abnormal readings.
A suspected tampering with a Boeing 737-200 that was near the conclusion of a three-day C check at the carrier's Indianapolis maintenance center. The FBI joined in the investigation, but later withdrew. Special Agent Doug Garrison said there was no apparent intention to damage or to destroy the aircraft. The tampering was more of a ``nuisance'' and not related to disabling a system that would have consequences later, he said. A United employee noticed three discrepancies in three different parts of the aircraft.
NASA faced the first serious crisis involving one of its ``faster-better-cheaper'' spacecraft when the Lewis remote-sensing demonstration satellite went into a spin and lost power two days after it was orbited on a Lockheed Martin Launch Vehicle.
A new Air Force Space Battlelab is soliciting innovative ideas from active-duty and reserve personnel, defense contractors, wargame participants and other sources. Its conclusions could lead to dramatic changes in both air and space operations.
D. Wayne Snodgrass (see photos) has become vice president of the Norwalk, Conn.-based Norden Systems unit of Northrop Grumman's Electronic Sensors and Systems Div. He was vice president-antisubmarine warfare and ship systems. Succeeding Snod- grass will be Francis K. Holian, who was director of business strategy and operations for ESSD.
Aero International Regional has selected the SPW14 turbofan engine to power its proposed 58-84-seat regional twinjets. The all-new 13,000-15,000-lb.-thrust SPW14 is being developed by Pratt&Whitney Canada and France's Snecma. The two engine manufacturers would become equal partners in SPW International, a joint subsidiary scheduled to be formed when AIR's program is formally launched.
Boeing Delta 2 lifts off from Cape Canaveral Aug. 25 carrying the NASA Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) on a mission to study the chemical makeup of particles from the Sun and other sources in the galaxy. During launch a small NASA television camera mounted on the exterior of the Delta's first stage provided real-time images of the climbout, separation of nine solid boosters and the first stage falling back to Earth.
Saab AB will produce a wing assembly package for the Boeing 777 under a five-year contract valued at $20.5 million. The contract, covering flap support struts for the rear portion of the 777 wing, starts immediately and expands the subcontracting work already being conducted for the Boeing Commercial Airplane Group.
In what is believed to be the first contract of its size and scope in China, China Southern Airlines has selected the Sabre Group to help it with a system-wide realignment of the management of its flights, crews and aircraft operations. In addition to training China Southern's staff, Sabre also will help the carrier establish a new systems operation control center in Guangzhou, a major manufacturing center in southern China and one of the nation's three busiest hubs.
As the U.S. Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) marks its 15th anniversary this month, its founders and their followers are seeing a steady maturation of--and growing dependence on--military space operations.
Meanwhile, Russia's new single warhead SS-27 ICBM is ready to enter production and scheduled for deployment by the end of the year, according to the Arms Control Assn. The U.S.-based private research outfit says the mobile and silo-based SS-27, designated by the Russians as the Topol-M, made its fourth flight test in early July. An upgrade of the SS-25, the SS-27 would become the centerpiece of Russia's ICBM nuclear arsenal, replacing the 10-warhead SS-18s that would be eliminated under the START 2 treaty.
The Australian Defense Science Technology agency will be joined by the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense Organization in tests early this month aimed at improving boost phase defense against theater ballistic missiles. The U.S.-built, ground-to-air Terriers will be fired without warheads about 60 mi. out to sea from a newly established defense practice area on the northwest Australian coast. Each of the Terriers has been modified to look like a ``Scud'' missile to radar.
In the wake of rising traffic demand, American Airlines' cargo division is pursuing new alliances in Europe and Central and South America. Mark Najarian, vice president of cargo sales, said American transports more than 4.5 million lb. of cargo each day, and in the first six months of this year posted record revenues of $333.4 million. He said the cargo division is targeting larger, multinational freight forwarders, consolidators and integrators who are interested in participating in global partnerships with the airline.
Has submitted to its 2,000 members a UPS contract proposal that the company said would increase a nine-year captain's annual pay by 35% from the current $152,000 to $202,000 in 2002. A five-year first officer's pay would rise from $85,000 a year to $132,000 in 2002 under the proposal. IPA President Robert Miller criticized UPS negotiators for a dictatorial attitude in issuing a ``last, best and final'' proposal during an Aug. 24 session in Louisville.
While U.S. negotiators seek `open skies,' the Japanese look for wider access to the U.S. and Latin America The latest round of talks in Washington on renewal of the 1952 U.S.-Japan bilateral air services agreement focuses attention on demands by Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways for greater access to the U.S. domestic market and Latin America.
The U.S. Air Force Titan 4 program and its contractors are recovering rapidly from a serious generic problem discovered in the thrust vector control systems (TVC) of Chemical Systems Div. solid rocket motors used on Titan 4A launch vehicles. The problems delayed the launch of a Titan 4A at Vandenberg from mid July to late September or early October. They also delayed launch of a Titan 4A/Centaur here at the Cape from early August to late October or early November. Both missions will carry National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) payloads (see p. 22).
