A former air charter operator and aircraft maintenance facility owner has developed a computer-based aircraft maintenance log suite that can be adapted for any aircraft from a single-engine light aircraft to a four-engine heavy transport. Called the Log Book Organizer 2000, the program creates separate log books for the airframe, each engine and each propeller. On larger aircraft, a log also could be created for the auxiliary power unit. The program also can be adapted for recording helicopter maintenance.
WATER AND CRASH damage to a NATO E-3 that ran off the runway at Aktion, Greece, on July 14 is still being assessed. NATO officials in Germany said a recovery team has not yet been able to pull the aircraft from the water, even though its location at the end of the runway restricts operations from the NATO forward operating base. NATO teams are attempting to strip as much equipment from the aircraft as possible before again attempting to pull it out.
KLM ROYAL DUTCH Airlines' net profit for the first quarter of the 1996-97 fiscal year increased to $163.2 million, up from $81.9 million. However, the Dutch carrier included in the quarter's results a $107.3-million profit resulting from the resale of nonvoting shares to Northwest Airlines Corp. KLM's traffic increased 6%, but overall load factor declined 1.6 points to 70.7%. British Airways' first-quarter net profit increased 11.3% to $179.6 million, a positive trend tied to strong sales and higher yields, company officials noted.
Global Positioning System and personal computer technology are melding to create programs that allow a laptop or other PC to serve as a moving map display.
Russia's civil aviation sector continues to sink, with not a single aircraft sold domestically in the first six months of this year. Of more than 300 Russian air companies, only 10 have realistic chances of buying new aircraft, and in decidedly limited numbers.
A U.S./Israeli effort to develop a portable, high-energy laser capable of destroying short-range artillery rockets has been accelerated with $22 million in funding from Israel and a congressional pledge of more money in the next fiscal year.
CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS of Hong Kong saw profits in the first half of the year reach HK$1.65 billion ($213 million) on revenues of HK$15.2 billion ($1.97 billion). The profit picture was aided by a HK$514 million ($66 million) exceptional return on the sale of part of the airline's stock in Dragonair, a regional carrier. Even without that bonus, profits were up 12.5% over a year ago. They came despite a disadvantageous exchange rate for the U.S. dollar and increased fuel prices, Chairman Peter Sutch said. Revenues were up 7% for the same period.
Kenneth E. Gazzola Executive Vice President/Publisher
Last month, with more than a decade of television and video documentary production experience behind us, the Aviation Week Group achieved another milestone in broadcasting. We launched Aviation News, the first major weekly cable television news program covering the world of aviation and aerospace.
The three-bladed Scimitar propeller system for the Piper Comanche 260 features a blade twist distribution that maximizes low-speed thrust while maintaining or increasing cruise performance. It features a trailing edge extension aligned with the engine induction inlet that is designed to provide a more intense pressure pulse, resulting in increased manifold pressure. The three-bladed prop offers improvements in acceleration, takeoff and climb performance while reducing cabin and flyover noise. Time between overhauls is 2,000 hr. or five years.
Following the sale of key defense and space divisions to Boeing, the ``New Rockwell's'' primary aerospace presence will be in avionics and communications. It's a $1.4 billion a year business serving both commercial and government customers, according to Donald R. Beall, Rockwell chairman and CEO. Based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Richardson, Tex., the Collins avionics and communication systems divisions being retained provide communications, navigation, flight control and position-location systems for commercial and business transports.
China and India have long wanted AWACS capabilities. Now, Israel Aircraft Industries' Phalcon airborne early warning and aerial command post system is on their wish lists, a senior Air Force official says. China, at least, has consummated a deal to put one of the systems on a Boeing 707 from its civil
Philippine Airlines is counting on a $4- billion fleet investment in 36 new aircraft to help pull itself out of chronic debt by opening more routes and giving it a chance to turn around its reputation for tardy takeoffs and erratic service.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. will use limited information technology and human-factors guidelines to help smooth customers' service introduction and operation of its new G5. The Savannah, Ga.-based manufacturer plans to provide customers with a CD-ROM version of manuals for the 6,500-naut mi.-range, business jet. Gulfstream also is consolidating manuals for major GV components, such as the AlliedSignal auxiliary power unit, into its own manuals. The combined manuals should simplify GV operators' search for aircraft data.
Robert Wassman has been named director of pricing and yield management of Kiwi International Air Lines. He was manager of market research and route development for the Massachusetts Port Authority.
Improving aerial firefighting safety and efficiency is the focus of a joint research project begun this month by NASA, the U.S. Forest Service and other federal and state agencies. Mini-cameras installed in five firefighting aircraft will record in-cockpit, air-to-air and air-to-ground communications to collect pilot workload data, according to Vernol Battiste, project principal investigator, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
Heading into the 21st century, India's national space program is remaining true to the form of its first three decades. It continues to adapt the technology of others while employing its own unique ideas on how spacecraft can serve a nation of more than 900 million people who are trying to overcome rural poverty and illiteracy. The budget for the nation's main space agency, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), is modest by most national standards, about $300-350 million a year for development and operations.
FAA has certified the Transponder Landing System as capable of providing precision approach guidance to Category-1 standards for single aircraft approach. TLS precisely tracks aircraft position using several on- or near-airport sensors that triangulate its assigned transponder code return (AW&ST Jan. 24, 1994, p. 55). The system then transmits correction data on the ILS frequency. Certification was granted to TLS developer Advanced Navigation and Positioning Corp., Hood River, Ore., after extensive ground evaluation and a 20-week test program.
NASA IS PLANNING a new series of X-vehicles to flight test air-breathing rocket engines instead of continuing research started on the DC-XA single-stage-to-orbit prototype, which was destroyed in a July 31 accident. Agency managers are seeking startup funding in Fiscal 1997-98 for the project--designated X-3--to begin designing airframes to go around new engines that will be developed under a separate technology effort launched last month.
This flat sensor is designed for flush mounting on a surface to detect formation of ice. It can accurately distinguish between frozen and melted ice conditions on aerodynamic control surfaces of aircraft, windshields, runways and weather balloons. The device works by measuring the rise in impedance that occurs when water freezes. Environmental&Process Controls, 2888 E. Long Lake, Suite 120, Troy, Mich. 48098.
The rebirth of Cessna Aircraft Company's 172 Skyhawk and the introduction of Zenith Aircraft Co.'s twin-engine, kit-built Gemini CH260 highlighted the 44th Annual Experimental Aircraft Assn. Convention and Sport Aircraft Exposition held here last week.
House and Senate conferees are threatening to transfer U.S. Navy funds for EA-6B modifications to the Air Force to upgrade its EF-111 fleet, unless the Navy submits plans to complete an advanced jamming program to Congress by June 1, 1997. The conference report for the Fiscal 1997 authorization bill said that EA-6B funds were made available in 1996, but the Pentagon shifted the money to 1999-2001. The report said the EA-6B is using obsolete 1960s technology ill-suited to countering the most modern surface-to-air, air-to-air and anti-ship missiles.
A LOCKHEED U-2R reconnaissance aircraft crashed and burned on a building loading dock on the outskirts of Oroville, Calif., on Aug. 7 at 2:15 p.m., killing the pilot and a woman on the ground. The aircraft, tail No. 801088, had taken off 15 min. earlier from Beale AFB, which is 21 naut. mi. south of Oroville. The single-seat aircraft belonged to the 99th Reconnaissance Sqdn. and was being piloted by Capt. Randy D. Roby on its first functional check flight following two weeks of maintenance. It was accepted by the Air Force in December, 1986.
