The French army has deployed two of its new NH90 Caiman utility helicopters to Africa after achieving initial operating capability. The aircraft have begun operational missions in Mali as part of the French government’s ongoing counter-terror operation in the Sahel region of Africa. The two NH90s arrived Nov. 3 after being ferried through Spain and with refueling stops.
Bell Helicopter conducted the maiden flight of its new Model 505 JetRanger X on Nov. 10. The helicopter, FTV1, took to the air at the company’s Mirabel facility outside Montreal. Test pilots Yann Lavalle and Eric Emblin conducted a low-speed controllability assessment of the aircraft before flying two laps of the traffic pattern with a total flight time of 30 min. and reaching 60 kt. The company has already received 240 letters of intent to purchase, and wrote an order for 50 more from Chinese firm Reignwood Investment Ltd. at the Zhuhai Airshow on Nov. 12.
FAA will stop enforcing requirements that U.S. carriers have at least one pilot under age 60 on international flights. The rules, put in place in 2007 when the pilot retirement age was raised to 65, matched those of the International Civil Aviation Organization. In March, ICAO voted to drop the requirement, allowing any two qualified pilots to be paired.
Boeing and Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China have opened a facility that will turn waste cooking oil, commonly referred to as “gutter oil” in China, into sustainable aviation biofuel. The companies estimate that 500 million gal. of this biofuel could be made annually in China. Biofuel produced by the China-U.S. Aviation Biofuel Pilot Project is expected to meet international specifications approved in 2011 for jet fuel made from plant oils and animal fats. This type of biofuel has been used for more than 1,600 commercial flights.
Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Frank Kendall talks with Senior Pentagon Editor Amy Butler about challenges keeping existing programs on track while looking to the future.
The U.K. Airports Commission says each of the bidders underestimated project costs, which is particularly important for the two proposals at Heathrow, where per-passenger charges are among the highest for major international airports in the U.K. and Europe.
A wireless sensor technology can detect damage, measure fuel levels and even potentially redirect lightning strikes to safe areas on an aircraft's exterior.
The future of A&D is looking good judging by the accomplishments and drive of the young innovators—the lifeblood of the next generation—in this Aviation Week-Raytheon feature.
The FAA estimates that just 10% of general aviation aircraft and only 3% of the major air carrier aircraft will be ADS-B compliant by year-end. That means 200,000 light planes, business turboprops and jets and airliners have yet to equip.
Virgin America reiterated in an updated prospectus filed this month with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it will focus much of its attention in the near future on five airports—Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York LaGuardia, Washington National and Dallas Love Field—but it is not clear that this strategy will pay immediate dividends.
Pierre-Olivier Bandet (see photo) has become executive vice president-public affairs for Air France. He remains vice president of the chairman’s office.
Orbital Sciences remained mum on a replacement engine for its ISS cargo carrier last week, but Russian news outlets have identified the new kerosene-fueled RD-193 developed by NPO Energomash as the chosen one.
Nov. 19-20—A&D Programs, Litchfield Park, Arizona. Jan. 13-14—MRO Latin America, Buenos Aires. Feb. 2-3—MRO Middle East, Dubai. March 5—Laureate Awards, Washington. April 14-16—MRO Americas, Miami.
Dec. 8-10—Middle East Business Aviation. Dubai. See www.meba.aero Feb. 1-3—Routes Americas. Denver. See www.routesonline.com/events/172/ routes-americas-2015 Feb. 3-6—National Business Aviation Association Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference. San Jose, California. See www.nbaa.org/events/sdc/2015
Customer deferrals, trade sanctions and a deteriorating economic outlook have forced Rolls to accelerate a planned restructuring, which will mainly affect its U.K. civil aero-engine workforce, even though many of the issues are afflicting the company’s Land & Sea division, which produces nuclear energy and power systems.
A pair of Lockheed Martin F-35Cs have successfully completed their first series of arrested landings and catapult takeoffs from the carrier USS Nimitz this month, marking the start of the developmental test program for the U.S. Navy’s first stealthy piloted aircraft.
Recent developments in the Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter program have convinced some analysts that the nearly $400 billion multirole stealth jet has seen its worst days. For instance, a key credit-rating analyst covering the Western aerospace and defense industry says the eighth low-rate initial production contract for the F-35 signals definitive long-term viability of the program after years of doubts.
The so-called Third Offset, a new Pentagon strategy for pursuing and developing military technologies to overcome the likes of China and Russia, could accordingly provide a blueprint for industry to focus on and make business moves such as acquisitions, divestitures and research spending. Advance technologies highlighted by defense officials in recent years include hypersonic weapons; unmanned; cyber; long-range strike; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; “big data,” and “cloud” computing.
