For investors like Chen who want to try their hand at airplane-making, two more possibilities recently surfaced. First, Aerostar Aircraft Corp. is working to make good on the late designer Ted Smith's vision, by developing a turbofan-powered version of his Aerostar. A pressurized model, with PW615s below each wing, has been flying since July 25, when it lifted off the runway at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Airport, Aerostar's home field.
A technology demonstrator for Piaggio's Hammerhead unmanned aerial vehicle has made its first short hop into the air, in Italy. The flight is the first major step in the development of a wholly European-developed medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air vehicle (UAV), which is now on a path to potentially enter service with the Italian air force in 2015.
Following high-profile cyberpilfering of U.S. weapons and defense data, the Pentagon last week published a new rule that requires defense contractors to buttress cybersecurity in their unclassified networks. The move had been foreshadowed by Pentagon acquisition czar Frank Kendall over the summer when he told senators that the “stolen” know-how was a “major problem” because it makes it easier for potential adversaries to catch up to U.S. technology capability.
Marenco Swisshelicopter is to unveil the first prototype of its SKYe SH09 single-engine light helicopter this week. Marenco plans to fly the aircraft in the coming months and achieve EASA certification in around 2016. It will be the first indigenous Swiss helicopter. Marenco has already booked more than 50 orders for the aircraft, half from the U.S.
Brad Tilden (see photo) has become chairman of Alaska Air Group and its subsidiary carriers, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. He continues as president/CEO. Tilden succeeds Bill Ayer, who plans to retire Dec. 31. Helvi Sandvik (see photo) has been named to the board of directors. She is president of the NANA Development Corp. and is a former deputy commissioner of the Alaska Transportation Department.
The Netherlands plans to buy four MQ-9 Reaper MALE UAVs and an unknown number of ground stations for use in deployed operations and to support civil authorities in disaster relief and counter-narcotics operations. .
This week, Aviation Week publishes two editions. On the covers of both, Shenzhou 10 commander Nie Haisheng, back from his second spaceflight on June 26, is greeted in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Reuters/China Daily photo. His spacecraft is similar to Russia's Soyuz, but China is intent on developing new space technology itself (page 50). Also in both editions are articles on the Dubai Airshow (page 28), the high cost of fighters (page 41), French defense programs (page 45) and U.S. airline consolidation (page 35), with a related editorial (page 66).
Dec. 5-6—Airports Council International Aviation Issues Seminar. Washington. See www.aci-na.org/event/2421 Jan. 13-17—22nd AIAA/ASME/AHS Adaptive Structures Conference, 52nd AIAA Aerospace Sciences Conference and AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Conference. All at National Harbor, Md. See www.aiaa.org/EventDetail.aspx?id=18410, 18405, 18406 Jan. 22-24—Fifth Decennial AHS Aero-mechanics Specialists' Conference. Holiday Inn at Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco.
China is taking new steps to liberalize its airline sector by relaxing minimum fare rules and further encouraging the growth of budget airlines and new market entrants. Following moves to free up the industry announced earlier this year, the latest measures confirm suspicions that a wider government push to increase competition in the economy has spread to commercial aviation, to the detriment of the major incumbents.
A focus on realistic requirements has helped Swedish industry and government teams integrate weapons on the Gripen faster and at lower cost than similar efforts elsewhere.
Airbus is offering a new regional variant of the A350 to be used for routes of up to 6,800 nm. The aircraft will feature derated engines and a lower maximum takeoff weight than for the standard A350-900, and its range will be almost 1,000 nm shorter. The version has been selected by Etihad Airways as part of an order for 40 A350-900s, 24 with the lower takeoff weight of around 250 tons, down from 268 tons of the standard long-haul version. Engine thrust is expected to be at around 70,000 lb., compared to 85,000 lb. for the standard -900 and 97,000 lb.
Democrats in the House and Senate are at odds over how long to extend government indemnification, or compensation, for any third-party damages resulting from commercial space launches. Democratics on the House Science Committee want a “clean” one-year extension of indemnification provisions, which expire at year-end. That will give the panel time to hold hearings on the issue, without blurring the liability that commercial launch providers would face if the law is allowed to lapse, explains Rep.
Eric Martel (see photo) has been appointed president of Montreal-based Bombardier Business Aircraft, effective Jan. 1. He will succeed Steve Ridolfi, who has been senior vice president-strategy and mergers and acquisitions for Bombardier Inc. Martel has been president of Bombardier Customer Services and Specialized and Amphibious Aircraft. Following Martel will be Michel Ouellette (see photo), who has been vice president/general manager for global aircraft programs.
The other day I participated in a great general aviation tradition by lofting into brilliant blue skies with a pal in his Mooney Bravo and galloping eastward in a 220-kt. pursuit of a $100 hamburger. Well, to be squeakily factual, when figuring $6/gal. avgas at 20 gph, engine and maintenance reserve (his budget), and considering our pain d'Avignon spread actually comprised a croque madame, battered chicken, limonata, coffee and two chocolatey desserts (my treat), it was more like a $500 excursion. Fun, but pricey. A serious, industry-wide problem of long standing.
Todd Hauptli has been named president/CEO of the Alexandria, Va.-based American Association of Airport Executives, effective Dec. 1. He will succeed Chip Barclay, who will be retiring. Hauptli has been senior executive vice president.
