An FAA Convair 580 sits underneath gas-fired infrared heating units in a new deicing process being developed by Process Technologies, Inc., Cheektowaga, N.Y. A full-scale demonstration of a prototype system was supervised by the FAA at the Greater Buffalo International Airport last month. Initial results indicate the system can deice a transport in about 6 min., depending on ice thickness.
Douglas Aircraft Co. has agreed in principle to build the planned MD-95 transport in Long Beach, Calif., as part of the company's newly ratified contract with the United Aerospace Workers (UAW). Douglas had planned to assemble the 100-seat MD-95 at Dalfort Aviation in Dallas in an effort to reduce overhead, but those negotiations fell through, Douglas officials said (AW&ST Mar. 27, p. 19).
Linda L. Carroll has been appointed vice president-human resources of the Dexter Aerospace Materials Div., Pittsburg, Calif. David Packo is the new director of operations in Waukegan. Patrick Adams has been promoted to national sales manager for aerospace coatings from area sales manager. Calvin Cedarleaf has been promoted to marketing manager for aerospace adhesives from program manager. And, Bill Welch has been named controller for the aerospace coatings business. He was plant controller for Champion Spark Plug.
Parker S. Stafford has been named vice president/chief engineer of Lockheed Martin Astronautics of Denver. He was director of technical operations at Lockheed Martin Astro Space.
The MiniChipper milling kit is an extra light duty facemill designed to maximize productivity on low-horsepower machines. Cutters are available in diameters of 0.75-4 in. It features TransPositive technology that results in reduced vibration during cutting. The sharper edges of the inserts provide smooth, quieter cutting. The MiniChipper's small inserts also can be used in larger cutters to minimize costs, maintain high productivity and improve surface finish. Carboloy, P.O. Box 330237, Detroit, Mich. 48232.
WITH A DOZEN OR SO STARSHIPS remaining in inventory, Raytheon Aircraft Co. plans to launch three special-mission adaptations to increase sales. A photo version would allow detailed imagery unaffected by heat waves from the Starship's rear-mounted pusher engines; an airways calibration model would use a portable Sierra Technologies flight inspection system. The canard-winged Starship's stability in rough weather and turbulence lends appeal as an air ambulance, Raytheon said.
AS PART OF A five-year (1995-2000) military-technological cooperation agreement with Russia, India will receive a ``highly impressive'' amount of combat equipment, primarily aviation-related. In addition to new MiG-29 purchases, it will involve modernization of the existing MiG-29 fleet--which has a troubled maintenance history--and delivery of R-73E (AA-11 Archer) close combat and RVV-AE (AA-12 Adder) medium-range air-to-air missiles and new antitank missiles for Mi-25/35 helicopter gunships.
The Titan safety-interlock switch is designed for use with high-risk machines that have long rundown times and present a hazard to personnel even after the stop button is pushed. An actuator operated, solenoid-locking switch, the Titan incorporates two safety contacts and one auxiliary contact in a compact housing. The design allows four actuator entry points. When the door guarding a machine is closed, the actuator enters the switch and physically locks the door until it receives a release signal. The Titan holds firm with more than 335 lb.
AIRLINES NOW HAVE DIRECT, ON-LINE ACCESS to Boeing's central maintenance technical drawing and parts lists data base. The new 24-hr. electronic library, which covers all Boeing jet transports including the 777, eliminates maintenance department reliance on bulky, handloaded microfilm-based systems. The data base, Reference Engineering Data Automated Retrieval System, is updated daily and accessible on conventional workstations.
PENTAGON COMPTROLLER JOHN HAMRE WARNS that plans to reverse the downward trend in modernization spending will be placed at serious risk if base closings do not yield the savings anticipated. ``We have got to have those savings,`` according to Hamre, who is not optimistic that Congress will increase the defense budget. The Navy has by far the best modernization plan, he says, while the Air Force is well-financed for the F-22.
USAF OFFICIALS HAVE again delayed the next launch of a Lockheed Martin Titan 4 from Cape Canaveral Air Station. The launch was pushed back two days, to no earlier than May 13, after launch team workers discovered that rails on which the Titan's mobile service tower moves had settled deeper into the ground than anticipated. The Titan had been slated for launch with its classified payload in April, but problems with ground-support equipment and radiation shielding on the vehicle's Centaur upper stage had pushed that launch back to May 11.
AVIATION WEEK&SPACE TECHNOLOGY held its annual dinner to honor recipients of the 1994 Aerospace Laurels awards, here on Apr. 19. The awards were announced in the Jan. 23 issue of the magazine, and are presented to individuals and teams who make substantial contributions to the global field of aerospace. Also honored were three senior cadets/midshipmen from the service academies and one recent graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Osmay Torres from Aviation High School in New York also was honored.
United Airlines, with the help of the information services company CompuServe, Inc., based here, has developed a new way to sell airline tickets directly to consumers--giving them direct access to United's computer reservation system. The new service, United Connection, is billed as the fastest and most user-friendly on-line travel service available. It is certainly the newest service, a key development in a general trend that is breaking down long-established practices in ticketing and distribution (AW&ST Jan. 23, p. 40).
Satellite Communication Systems: Design Principles by M. Richharia focuses on the fundamentals rather than examining specific systems. It provides an in-depth treatment of the components of satellite communication systems, including the geosynchronous satellites used in global mobile communications. The book includes step-by-step explanations of the principles and methods of system design, focusing on concepts, guidelines and models. Radio link design, the basics of satellite orbits and data transmissions techniques are covered.
ILYUSHIN DESIGN BUREAU is using EDS Unigraphics' CAD/CAM software for the production of its new Il-96 transport. The Moscow-based manufacturer also is using the software for the body and interior design of its other aircraft including the Il-76 transport, Il-112 and Il-103.
AEROSPACE CONTRACTORS jockeying for the U.S. Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) also are eyeing foreign customers to make the first four years of the production program economical. Potential early customers are Israel (up to 75 aircraft), Mexico (about 40 aircraft) and NATO (around 60 based at Sheppard AFB, Tex.). These likely would be followed by Greece, Turkey, Taiwan, Thailand and South Korea. JPATS would fit the requirement for the Korean KTX-1 primary trainer if that indigenous program falls through.
Jerry Nickelsburg (see photo) has been named director of airline marketing for FlightSafety International, based at its Long Beach, Calif., training center. He was deputy regional vice president-Asian sales for Douglas Aircraft Co.
The Model FE-5660A and FE-5650A are commercial rubidium frequency standards that offer accuracy that is an order of magnitude better than quartz crystal clocks. Applications for these rubidium atomic standards include airborne GPS receivers and other navigational or computer equipment. The smaller FE-5650A measures 3 X 3 X 1.4 in. Both offer warm-up times of less than 4 min., outstanding accuracy, resolution of 2 X 10-12, low phase noise and frequency setting of 10 KHz.-20 MHz. Frequency Electronics, Inc., 55 Charles Lindbergh Blvd., Mitchel Field, N.Y. 11553.
The European Union's transport ministers are scheduled to meet on June 19 to determine a common external policy that could lead to a multilateral accord with the U.S. Late last week, the European Commission approved a draft mandate to open negotiations with the U.S. Transportation Dept. on behalf of the 15 EU member states.
Contracts to build components for Boeing's new 737-600/700/800 short-medium range transport family will help Japan's three largest aerospace manufacturers offset declining orders. Mitsubishi, Kawasaki and Fuji are to be sole providers for the parts. The contracts are the first of their kind signed by Boeing in Asia on the new 737 program. They were negotiated last year but not announced. By themselves, they are unremarkable. Japanese manufacturers have a long history of subcontract work with Boeing and other airframe makers.
The BU-65539M2-300 is a Mil-Std-1553 IBM-AT compatible card for users who want the full capabilities of ILC Data's Advanced Communications Engine terminals. The half-slot card accomplishes fast data transfers via a 16-bit shared random access memory interface, making it ideal for 1553 communications in test, simulation and ACE terminal software development. The card can be configured as a bus controller, remote terminal or bus monitor. ILC Data Device Corp., 105 Wilbur Place, Bohemia, N.Y. 11716.
Boeing has combined a fly-by-wire system with traditional cockpit controls in the 777 to create a large, twin-engine transport that represents an evolution rather than a revolution in its product line.
BANKRUPT ALASKA-BASED AIRLINE MARKAIR plans to move its base of operations from Anchorage to Denver, but will continue to operate its MarkAir Express regional operation within Alaska, an airline official said. MarkAir filed for protection under Chapter 11 last month after the State of Alaska failed to provide loans to keep the airline solvent. Although MarkAir is terminating service between Reno and Oakland, Calif., and Dallas/Ft. Worth and Atlanta, the carrier is scheduled to initiate new service from DFW to Las Vegas on May 18.
AN INDUSTRY CONSORTIUM WILL ATTEMPT to develop an ultraviolet differential absorption laser radar (lidar) system to provide a remote capability to detect chemical agents for a number of Defense Dept. missions. It also might be able to distinguish vehicles of friends from foes by analyzing exhaust emissions. The state of California and consortium members--OCA Applied Optics of Garden Grove, Calif., and Los Alamos Science, Inc., of Los Alamos, N.M.--will provide $1 million toward costs, and the federal government will provide a $1-million grant.
