References to images of two unmanned aircraft, Boeing's X-46A and Northrop Grumman's X-47B, were transposed in an interactive feature with the Dec. 9 cover story on the RQ-180 (p. 20). Tap the icon in the digital edition of AW&ST to view “The Road to Stealth UAS” with the correct references, or go to AviationWeek.com/stealthuas
Blue Origin President Rob Meyerson defines close-mouthed, but as his secretive startup begins to notch some success in its plan to develop reusable space launchers, he is opening up a bit. He was unusually chatty during a press teleconference on the results of a full mission-cycle test of the clean-sheet BE-3 rocket engine Blue is developing to power its reusable suborbital New Shepard crew vehicle.
“Russian Renaissance” (AW&ST Nov. 11, p. 48) regarding new Russian nuclear weapons systems raises profound questions. Add to these new strategic weapons an unmatched array of tactical weapons, extensive underground military facilities and an intercontinental-ballistic-missile reload capability.
Often, brochures for a new aircraft program depict a splendid variety of potential versions. Program managers, eager to persuade decision makers a proposed aircraft is viable, suggest it can fill this role as well as that, and—with further development—a few more besides. The temptation for such optimistic promotion is perhaps strongest for helicopters because they are so adaptable.
After less than two years in development, Textron's low-cost, jack-of-many-trades Scorpion aircraft has made its first flight, lasting 1.4 hr., at McConnell AFB in Wichita. The company is promoting the milestone as “one of the fastest developments of a U.S.-built tactical jet.” Whether the aircraft's quick transition to flight will translate into firm orders in the U.S. or abroad is an open question. The U.S. military has no requirement for such an aircraft, and the Pentagon is preparing for a new round of budget cuts.
Boeing has obtained type inspection authorization (TIA) for the stretched 787-9 from the FAA, officially clearing the way for the start of certification flight testing. The award of TIA marks a key transition in the test program, which now moves from establishing the basic airworthiness of the 787-9 to the comprehensive task of certifying it for airline use. The milestone, which covered approval for the two Rolls-Royce Trent 1000-powered variants, comes as the overall flight test program passed 100 flights on Dec. 10.
When EADS CEO Tom Enders announced a major strategic review of the group's defense and space business earlier this year, he inadvertently raised expectations for a plan to overcome the structural limitations of operating in Europe. As it turns out, the grand plan has a lot more to do with cutting jobs and finding internal efficiencies than with a new approach to markets.
USN Vice Adm. (ret.) Mark Skinner (see photo) has become vice president/deputy of business and advanced systems development for the Falls Church, Va.-based Northrop Grumman Corp.'s Aerospace Systems sector. He was principal military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition and had been program executive officer for tactical aircraft programs.
In simulator centers worldwide, training providers are coming up with clever and creative ways to boost the relevance of virtual flight-training scenarios, where pilots experience and respond to unusual circumstances like upsets. The trick will be to keep the pilots from trumpeting their experiences on social media and alerting pilot colleagues of what awaits them in the simulator.
The global airline industry is notorious for losing money. But for various reasons, 2014 looks set to be the most profitable year ever. That is the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) upbeat forecast and it applies to profits in absolute numbers. While the figure may look impressive, it only corresponds to a margin of 2.6%; the industry has had some better profit margins, most recently in 2010.
H. Christopher Goodrich has been appointed chief operating officer/executive vice president of the Mission, Cyber and Intelligence Solutions Group of the ManTech International Corp., Fairfax, Va. He was senior vice president of the Cyber Solutions business unit.
Beth McClurg (see photo) has been named director of real estate for the Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., Savannah, Ga. She was vice president-corporate real estate for Capital One. Kevin Valik has been appointed sales director for Delaware, New Jersey and New York City. He succeeds Howard Modjeski, who is expected to retire at year-end. Valik was a sales manager at Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. for the Eastern U.S. and Eastern Canada.
David Schneeman has become CFO of Dynamic Aviation, Bridgewater, Va. He was CFO/treasurer/secretary of Decision Sciences International Corp. and had been an executive with SRA International Inc.
Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330-200 flies over the island of Kauai. Photo by Dennis Mahaffay for Hawaiian Airlines. The carrier will eventually have 22 of these aircraft once all its orders have been delivered. Hawaiian is using A330s for expansion of its Asia-Pacific network, which is a key part of its business strategy. Along with Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian is among the niche players that have found business models that allow for disciplined growth (page 38). Elsewhere in this issue, senior editors interview Bombardier chief Guy Hachey (page 46).
Meantime, the Ryan-Murray framework is splitting the commercial aviation sector, with airline proponents lambasting doubled passenger security fees and airport boosters lauding the compromise and looking forward to more money for runway and other improvements. One revenue generator doubles the post-9/11 security fee charged to airline passengers for flights from $2.50 now to $5 per one-way trip this fiscal year, then to $5.60 in 2015. Critics say it steals more than $1 billion from travelers without improving their experience or security.
