Photograph: Nashville International Airport, formerly an American Airlines hub, is attracting a growing level of new service from a variety of low-cost carriers, including Southwest. Cities and their airports may be more vulnerable than they realize to shifting priorities of airlines--such as when a major carrier abandons a hub for business reasons. How each responds is crucial, and may determine whether they are able to preserve their long-term economic vitality.
The Removable Drive Canister is engineered to provide protection and security of classified or sensitive data and is certified to MiL-Std-810D. It is designed to withstand high shock, vibration, temperature range, humidity and dust conditions. An integrated heat sink pulls heat away from the drive to prolong its lifespan. The unit's front handle and guiderails allow easy removal and insertion. Greco Systems, 372 Coogan Way, El Cajon, Calif. 92020.
Photograph: Atlantis Aerospace's SpotLight should promote the sharing of knowledge among aircraft maintenance technicians, airframe companies and first-tier vendors. Artificial intelligence is emerging from the computer laboratory to take a place in line maintenance of turbine-powered aircraft. Two companies have developed computer programs that use an artificial intelligence technique called case-based reasoning (CBR) to guide mechanics through the troubleshooting process. SpotLight, developed by the Atlantis Aerospace Corp.
Construction of a new air traffic control center at Prestwick, Scotland, will go ahead, now that Gavin Strang, the new U.K. minister for transport, has formally endorsed the National Air Traffic Services' two-center ATC strategy. The new Scottish Center, which will replace the existing Scottish Area Control Center, is expected to be operational by the end of 2001. The other center at Swanwick in Hampshire is set to become operational in early 1998.
Tom Metzler, president/chief operating officer of Interactive Flight Technologies Inc. of Phoenix, has been named to the board of directors. Stephen Pearse has become United Airlines' marketing manager for the U.K.
Photograph: Jayhawks can refuel from ships and aircraft carriers when flying extended missions. Three Sikorsky HH-60J Jayhawks are providing U.S. Coast Guard Group Astoria here a robust and reliable multirole capability that extends far out to sea. The type's large cabin, quick-fit forward looking infrared (Flir) capability and sophisticated avionics systems are significantly increasing the efficiency, effectiveness and safety of Coast Guard aircrews.
Photograph: The Czech Republic's Aero Vodochody has built 4,000 L-39 jet trainers and attack aircraft. An L-39MS advanced training version is shown here. VACLAV SIMECEK Boeing views its participation in the winning bid to become a strategic partner in Czech aerospace manufacturer Aero Vodochody as a manufacturing foothold in Europe with significant growth potential.
The 1553 Quik-Clik Data Bus Coupler allows designers of Mil-Std-1553 networks to build systems with simple ``T'' connectors where stubs are required. When the bus is completed, the couplers can be clicked on like any other cable. The coupler is contained within the connector back shell. Stock units are manufactured with Mil-C-17/176-00002 cable and TRB/TRT 70-series connectors, but custom cable and connectors can be specified. North Hills Signal Processing, 575 Underhill Blvd., Syosset, N.Y. 11791.
This two-bladed propeller has been approved under a Supplementary Type Certificate for use on Piper Comanche 180 aircraft. The new prop, which is designed to replace McCauley threaded models and Hartzell steel hub systems, has a 2,000-hr. time between overhauls and features a two-piece aluminum hub. Hartzell Propeller Inc., 1 Propeller Place, Piqua, Ohio 45356-2634.
By Great Lakes Airlines, which closed down under FAA pressure, has been marked by an unusual level of public conflict. Carrier officials last week blamed a shortage of FAA inspectors for slowing the process of aircraft inspections and delaying the return to service. As of June 11, Great Lakes was serving 21 cities, compared to 70 prior to the May 16 shutdown. An FAA official denied there was an inspector shortage. The official said inspectors were finding ``problems were still acute'' at the carrier's Spencer, Iowa, maintenance base.
Donald Casey has been appointed executive vice president-marketing of Trans World Airlines Inc. He was a principal in Deskey Luxon Carra and a former senior vice president of TWA. Casey succeeds David M. Kennedy, chairman of the board of directors' Finance Committee, who had been acting executive vice president/chief operating officer. Rod Brandt, who has been senior vice president-marketing and planning, will return to his former post as senior vice president-planning. And, John Stelzer has been named vice president-airline planning.
Photograph: Swiss Aircraft and Systems Co. builds the payload shrouds for Ariane 5 under subcontract from Oerlikon-Contraves. Arianespace officials hope to take advantage of the one-year-plus delay in introducing the Ariane 5 heavy-lift booster to enhance the transition from the smaller Ariane 4, improve efficiency and reduce the cost of launch services. In the wake of the dramatic failure of the Ariane 5's maiden flight on June 4, 1996, qualification of the booster was postponed to 1998.
The Model 1080 Series industrial personal computer features shock-mounted drive bays that are located behind a locking door for added security. The bay can house a 5.25-in. external device, a floppy drive and up to three 3.5-in. internal hard disk drivers. The units are available with power supplies of 250-400 w. A front-mounted, filtered air intake provides positive pressure cooling, and four 62 cu. ft./min. fans cool boards in the chassis. The chassis can accomodate 14-20 slots. Customers can define virtually any configuration. Rapid Systems, 5010 14th Ave.
Jeffrey Ethell, a noted aviation author and pilot, was killed June 6 when the Lockheed P-38 he was flying crashed near the Tillamook Airport in Oregon. He was 49. Ethell was attending a meeting of World War 2 pilots, and had the opportunity to pilot a newly refurbished Lightning. He wrote 59 books on aviation subjects and was copro- ducer of Aviation Week&Space Technology's Air Power Showdown video series. During the fighter series, he flew the P-47 and P-51 as well as other aircraft.
CBDNet is a free online listing of government contracting opportunities published in the Commerce Business Daily. The World Wide Web site at http://www.cbdnet.gpo.gov/index.html is searchable and allows users to extract information from the data base. It also is possible to submit notices for the CBD after securing a password. CBDNet, Commerce Business Daily, U.S. Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 77880, Washington, D.C. 20013.
The 2.6-lb. LBB 36 drill is designed to meet the requirements of aerospace applications by offering more power at breakthrough, which provides better hole quality. The air-powered LZB-36 motor provides 0.9 hp. and a sound level of 81.5 dB. The pistol-grip drill is available in four models offering a range of 700-6,000 rpm. The lubrication-free drill is based on the ergonomic design of the LBB 34. LBB 36s used in testing for more than a year have operated on three shifts without failure, according to the company. Atlas Copco Tools, 2359 N.
Ceramacoat CP4000 is a high-temperature black marking paint that can be used to identify aircraft engine sensors operating at up to 700F. The single-part, water-dispersible, ceramic-silicone coating is resistant to heat, moisture and salt spray. The black paint can be applied to a variety of materials, including dense ceramics, porous insulation, carbon and stainless steel. It dries in 1-2 hr. at room temperature and cures in 1-2 hr. at an operating temperature of 450F. Aremco Products Inc., P.O. Box 429, Ossining, N.Y. 10562-0492.
Airborne Data Technologies of Ottawa is marketing a comprehensive Computer- Aided Debriefing System (CADS) for flight simulators. Research conducted by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University shows that use of CADS can increase debriefing effectiveness by as much as 40%. The CADS system dynamically recreates flight training sessions by automatically capturing, reconstructing and displaying at least 4 hr. of ``in-flight'' events on a computer workstation.
Photograph: One of the next major modernization plans of the Swiss air force is to upgrade its radar network The Swiss air force is on its way toward declaring its first squadron of F/A-18 Hornets operational by the end of 1997 as the first 50 pilots begin their transition course this month. In addition to meeting the service's primary mission of air defense, the F/A-18 procurement program is expected to help the Swiss air force pursue its goal of expanding contacts with other air forces around the globe.
The aviation tax merry-go-round has started again. A tax package offered by House Ways and Means Chairman Bill Archer (R.-Tex.) last week would increase the tax burden on airline passengers by $4 billion over the next five years. Not surprisingly, it was roundly criticized by the airline industry. The tax realignment Archer proposed would reduce the 10% ticket tax to 7.5%, but new tariffs would more than make up the difference. He also proposed a new passenger tax of $2 per flight segment that would rise each year to $3 in 2002 and then be indexed to inflation.
This Foam Sample Test Kit is designed for testing the effectiveness of the material used by aircraft rescue and firefighting equipment. The kit can test 25% drainage time, foam expansion slot, foam solution concentrate and foam ground pattern. Nordic Systems Inc., 1044 Rangeview Road, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5E 1H3.
Photograph: Swedish air force JAS 39 Gripens are flying with the F7 Wing at Satenas AB, site of the air force's centralized pilot training facility. Deliveries of the JAS 39 Gripen to the Swedish air force have accelerated, as have the marketing efforts of Saab and British Aerospace to sell the multirole fighter aircraft in the export market. As of last week, the Swedish air force had taken delivery of 40 JAS 39 Gripens--the 30 aircraft of the initial order and 10 of the follow-on batch of 110, including the first production two-seater.
Edward H. West has been named vice president-financial planning and analysis of Delta Air Lines. He was corporate controller, and will be succeeded by Hiram A. Cox, who has been managing director of the Delta Shuttle.
The Ruggedized Service Unit is a hand-held computer for reading and downloading information from aircraft flight data recorders. It can be used either for reading FDR data in real-time when the aircraft's systems are operating or for downloading stored data. The RSU also can be used for Arinc 429 bus analysis and Traffic Collision Avoidance System downloading. Avionica Inc., 14380 S.W. 139th Court, Miami, Fla. 33186.
Coachwhip is a terrestrial tactical multiband radio that can achieve T1 data rates of 1.544 million bps for voice, data and real-time video. The new radio also has a low bit-error rate and provides interference and distortion protection. The unit operates over a range of 1-500 MHz. at 1-100 w. The radio uses embedded video compression processing, so live video can be sent rapidly between moving or stationary command posts. The 5.25-in.-high, rack-mountable radio weighs 50 lb. and operates on 100-240 v. a.c. or 28 v. d.c. Sicom Inc., 7585 E.
