As expected, the U.S. Air Force investigation into the fatal crash of a CT-43A that killed Commerce Secretary Ronald Brown has found that the accident was caused by command failure, pilot error and an improperly designed instrument approach. In the wake of its two-month probe, the Air Force Accident Investigation Board has concluded in its report that: Command failed to comply with governing directives from higher headquarters that required a review of all instrument approach procedures not approved by the Defense Dept.
The congressman whose district includes Cape Canaveral is accusing the U.S. Trade Representative's Office (USTR) of failing to prevent China and Russia from charging unfairly low prices for launching geosynchronous commercial communications satellites. Rep. Dave Weldon (R.-Fla.) claims the lone launch to date on Russia's Proton booster was priced 30-35% below comparable Western services. He says China has been selling launches on its Long March 22-36% below Western prices. U.S.
Following are excerpts from a presentation earlier this year by U.S. Navy Under Secretary Richard Danzig on improving defenses against biological warfare, including civilian attacks. These views, published in the National Defense University publication ``Strategic Forum,'' are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect university or U.S. policy. The overwhelming conventional military superiority the U.S. displayed in Kuwait [in 1991] will make potential aggressors less likely to confront us directly.
Now that survival no longer is an issue at Trans World Airlines, the seventh-largest U.S. carrier is beginning to implement parts of its long-range business plan that could help accelerate growth. At or near the top of management's priority list is the formation of a network of strategic alliances with other airlines worldwide. The first of these came together last week with the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Transbrasil Airlines, Brazil's No. 2 carrier.
BOEING ENGINEERS were considering whether to modify the international space station's connector nodes with new interior struts so they will be able to withstand more pressure. Both the first node and a structural test article that will later become Node 2 failed to meet the design-specified 22-lb. per square in. (psi) during pressure tests last month (AW&ST May 20, p. 33). Subsequent tests of the nodes at 15.2 psi. on May 31 and June 10 ``went well,'' Boeing says.
Russia's Rosvoorouzhenie, a state-owned company for defense equipment exports and imports, is studying production contract award for as many as 300 Sukhoi S-80PT patrol-transport aircraft. The company reportedly is interested in introducing the short-takeoff and landing aircraft to the world market, in particular Brazil and Indonesia. The S-80PT, developed under Sukhoi's conversion program from the S-80 light multipurpose transport, is fitted with two 1,750-shp. General Electric turboprops.
Bell Helicopter has adapted a fixed-wing technique to provide increased safety in its new Model 430. A ``collective shaker'' provides backup, tactile input to the pilot if maximum takeoff power exceeds limits by 1%. The device is intended to aid pilots during the critical takeoff phase of flight, when their attention is focused outside the cockpit.
IMAGES TAKEN BY NASA'S HUBBLE Space Telescope have revealed that a tiny pulsar that powers the Crab Nebula is far more dynamic than astronomers had previously known. The vast Crab Nebula (shown at left in a ground-based photo), the remnant of a supernova explosion that occurred more than 900 years ago, stretches 10 light-years across. It is powered by the Crab Pulsar--the collapsed core of the exploded star--which has a mass greater than that of the Sun but is just 6 mi. across.
THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT is urging its businesses there to increase their spending on information technology research and development. The nation's minister for technology, Juergen Ruettgers, recently warned that without such an investment for the future, Germany cannot hope to maintain its position in the information technology industry. Along with the biotechnology and health industries, information technology accounts for 40% of business in Germany, he said.
Frederick D. Lawrence has been named chief executive officer of Spar Aerospace Ltd. subsidiary ComStream, San Diego, Calif. He was president of the Transmission Group of ADC Telecommunications of Minneapolis.
The Pentagon is expected to announce two finalists for the $8-billion U.S. Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile contract this week, with competitors expected to be closely grouped. The two contractors selected will conduct a 48-month development and demonstration program. Sometime during the four-year process, a single production contract will be awarded. Texas Instruments, Hughes, McDonnell Douglas, Lockheed Martin and the team of Raytheon/Northrop Grumman are expected to offer bids in the cost range of $400,000-500,000/missile.
Expect about a month of testing before Aurora Flight Services' Theseus drone makes its second flight. Surges on both engines during takeoff roll late last month limited the high-altitude drone's first flight to just 61 sec. The 140-ft. wingspan aircraft lifted off Runway 23L at Edwards AFB, Calif., just as the throttles were cut. It appeared unscathed after the manually controlled takeoff and a three-bounce landing. Company officials believe the rpm. surge problem can be corrected by altering propeller pitch control software.
LONG-TERM PROSPECTS for the U.S. government information technology market are good, although it will be years before that market overcomes the negative effects of major reorganizations and cutbacks at federal agencies, according to a recent survey of the market. Federal Sources Inc., the McLean, Va. consulting firm that prepared the survey, said federal spending on computer systems and telecommunications will grow during Fiscal 1997, despite the threats of cuts to discretionary spending accounts.
A LABOR DISPUTE BETWEEN the McDonnell Douglas Corp. and striking machinists in the St. Louis area late last week deteriorated into an impasse that could last indefinitely. About 6,700 members of Aerospace District Lodge 837 of the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) voted overwhelmingly to strike onWednesday. Wages, pensions and job security are the key issues.
The Pentagon could save another $360 million on its purchases of C-17s over the next six years if it embraces an option in the U.S. Air Force's newly signed multiyear contract for buying 80 additional airlifters.
The Aurora Flight Sciences Theseus drone made a short first flight on May 24 on the lakebed Runway 23L at Edwards AFB, Calif. (AW&ST May 13, p. 17). Both engines on the high-altitude twin-propeller aircraft had rpm. surges during the takeoff roll, but the aircraft lifted off as the throttles were cut. The harrowing 61-sec. flight was under manual control and had a three-bounce landing, but the 140-ft.-span aircraft appeared unscathed. NASA agreed on May 29 to fund detailed flight test planning and another flight. Company officials believe the rpm.
Srinivasan Shankar has been appointed vice president-turbine services marketing of Sermatech International Inc., Limerick, Pa. He was business center manager of the Turbine Components Corp., Branford, Conn.
THE GROWTH OF MEDIUM-CLASS U.S. boosters means they might one day replace the more expensive, heavy-lift Titan 4, according to the U.S. Defense Dept.'s space architect. The Titan 4 is currently used to launch large military and classified payloads. But launching 20,000 lb. to low-Earth orbit ``is going to be within the realm of the medium-launch vehicle before long,'' says Maj. Gen. Robert S. Dickman. ``Maybe that's a reasonable size to downsize to and still be able to do the large payload missions.''
RUSSIAN COSMONAUTS have installed the Mir space station's first U.S.-made component. The Mir Cooperative Solar Array contains panels built by Lockheed Martin Missiles&Space Co. The unit is one of two stowed solar arrays attached to a Russian-built docking module during a May 24 spacewalk.
Philippe Jary has been appointed vice president-large commercial aircraft of Airbus Industrie. He was vice president-marketing, and has been succeeded by Colin Stuart.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is calling for immediate and repetitive inspections of Pratt&Whitney JT8D turbine hubs produced before 1989 to detect fatigue cracks that could cause uncontained failures. The board's findings stem from its investigation of a Delta Air Lines Boeing 727-232 that experienced an uncontained failure of the No. 1 Pratt&Whitney JT8D-15 turbofan engine on Jan. 30. The crew and passengers evacuated safely.
Although the FAA has conducted more than 1,000 detailed safety inspections of ValuJet Airlines aircraft since the May 11 loss of a DC-9 in Florida, none have prompted senior agency officials to revoke the low-fare airline's operating certificate--at least not yet, according to Tony Broderick, FAA associate administrator for regulation and certification (see p. 25). But it is an option, he said.
David G. Assard has been appointed president of Textron Lycoming, Williamsport, Pa.. He was president of Textron's Cessna Aircraft Co., Wichita, Kan. Assard succeeds Philip R. Boob, who will become a consultant to Textron Inc.
