Debate over the use of portable electronic devices (PEDs) on flights has long centered on cell phones. The announcement to stop dialing and texting has become a refrain synonymous with takeoff. PEDs, however, are becoming far more diverse. Tablet computers are exploding in popularity. The development of smartphones with audio and video capabilities means that passengers are more loath than ever to darken their screens for any stage of flight, let alone wait until 10,000 ft. to listen to music or log into Facebook.
Hypersonic technology is extremely difficult to master and high-speed travel generally involves long distances. These simple, but axiomatic principles of hypersonic studies not only dictate key areas of research but also, increasingly, influences who teams with whom.
Even before the latest fighting in Gaza between Israeli and Hamas forces, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin were poised to receive major new orders for missile defense systems from Middle Eastern countries, Wall Street analysts note. But the recent fighting, and the performance of Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system developed with U.S. funds and technology, may spur growth. This month, the Pentagon announced potential foreign military sales to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) worth up to $17 billion, combined.
Robert Cords (see photos) has been named senior VP-airlines and fleets of StandardAero, Tempe, Ariz. He was senior VP-corporate strategy and customer development. Jeffrey Wood has become senior VP-airlines and fleets, succeeding Jennifer McNeill, who returned to her former role as VP-sales, marketing and business development for airlines and fleets.
Mark Dankberg, chairman and CEO of ViaSat, has been named Visionary Executive of the Year by Carlsbad, Calif.-based Satellite Markets and Research news service. The award is given to a senior executive of a satellite company.
The performance of the U.S.-backed Iron Dome missile defense system in Israel can only add to congressional support for co-production of the short-range system in the U.S. (see p. 24). In its fiscal 2013 defense authorization bill, the House requires the Missile Defense Agency to establish an Iron Dome program office and calls for negotiation with Israel for data rights to the technology and to explore co-production of the system.
In another case of an OEM acquiring one of its prime suppliers, GE Aviation is taking over the assets of family-owned Morris Technologies and its sister company, Rapid Quality Manufacturing. The companies, both located in Cincinnati, specialize in advanced machining and additive manufacturing, particularly of specialty alloys such as cobalt chromium.
Jan. 22-23—MRO Middle East. Dubai, United Arab Emirates. March 5-6—Defense Technology Requirements. Arlington, Va. March 7—Aviation Week's Laureate Awards. Washington. April 16-18—MRO Americas/MRO Military. Atlanta. May 7-8—Civil Aviation Manufacturing. Charlotte, N.C. May 14-15—MRO Eastern Europe. Vilnius, Lithuania. Sept. 24-26—MRO Europe. London. You can now register ONLINEfor Aviation Week Events. Go to www.aviationweek.com/events or call +1 (212) 904-4682.
The first implementation directive for “Better Buying Power” (November 2010) by Ashton Carter, the then-undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics (USD/AT&L), concluded with the challenge, “Reduce Non-Productive Process and Bureaucracy.” Yet the memo added 16 tasks and reports. Similarly, “Better Buying Power 2.0” directs the defense acquisition workforce to “eliminate unproductive processes and bureaucracies.” The dictum institutes new processes while not detailing procedures, reports or reviews to be eliminated. The processes are addictive.
Qatar Airways is among Airbus's and Boeing's best customers, given its huge targets for growth. But it is also using its clout to rearrange its orderbook and push for new models.
In the past several decades, airlines disrupted by deregulation, low yields, excess capacity and soaring fuel prices, from time to time have filed for protection from their creditors, thanks to the celebrated U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection or similar provision in other countries. Then usually they implemented a cost-savings plan, reinforced by job cuts and elimination of unprofitable routes, in preparation for a new start. This was the airline industry's routine, in a slowly evolving context.
EasyJet has issued requests for proposals to Airbus, Boeing and Bombardier as well as engine manufacturers CFM and Pratt & Whitney as the airline plans to renew its fleet. It is looking at a 150-seat version of the Bombardier CSeries, the Airbus A320NEO and the Boeing 737 MAX. If it proceeds with a Bombardier order, EasyJet would go for a mixed fleet of two types, as the airline would then also buy a 180-seat aircraft, either the A320NEO or 737 MAX.
William Forthofer has been appointed VP-quality and continuous improvement at Kansas City, Mo.-based PAS Technologies. He was director of quality, export and regulatory compliance at Pratt & Whitney Military engines.
The U.S. Export-Import Bank said Nov. 19 it authorized two transactions totaling $461 million to underwrite the export of U.S.-made satellites to Hong Kong. Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) will deploy the satellites to upgrade and expand its fleet, which offers coverage to 80% of the world's population and targets emerging markets in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Russia. In the first transaction, the bank authorized a $171.3 million loan to ABS to finance the purchase of a FS1300, C/Ka/Ku-band geostationary satellite from Space Systems/Loral and insurance.
The Indian air force (IAF) is likely to start taking delivery of 512 CBU-105 sensor fuzed weapons (SFW) made by Textron Defense Systems in the first half of 2013, a defense ministry official says. Under the U.S. foreign military sale, Textron will deliver the SFWs to the U.S. Air Force, which in turn will give them to the IAF, the official says. The SFW will be mounted on the IAF's Jaguar fighters, and Textron will work closely with state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. to integrate the weapons, the official says.
There's good news and bad news for U.S. space exploration and exploitation, now that the election results are in. The good news is that the bipartisan space policy hammered out with a lot of angst over the past four years will not need to be reviewed while a new president gets his feet on the ground. For now, at least, President Barack Obama's space policy, as modified by members of both houses in Congress, will remain unchanged. Work can continue as planned, without delay.
At the end of a president's first term in office, a Cabinet-level changeover is expected. But revelations of now-former CIA director David Petraeus's extramarital affair, the delay of Gen. John Allen's nomination to become the next commander of European Command, and a war on Capitol Hill over the Obama administration's handling of events in Benghazi, Libya, in September are overshadowing President Barack Obama's efforts to replenish the team who will lead spending on military and intelligence assets.
Benoit Beaulieu (see photo) has joined Montreal-based Esterline CMC Electronics as VP of human resources. He was VP of human resources, organizational effectiveness, information systems and technologies at L-3 Communications MAS (Canada). Honors and Elections
A decade of wake turbulence research, analysis and testing by aviation authorities, academia and industry already is finally paying concrete dividends in Memphis. Starting at 6 a.m. on Nov. 2, Memphis (Tenn.) International Airport and its chief tenant, FedEx, began using the FAA's re-categorized wake turbulence separation criteria (Recat) for all airport operations.
James A. Morrison (see photo) has been promoted to CEO of Partner Jet, Mississauga, Ontario, succeeding Ian McDougall, who has retired. Morrison had been managing director.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China has approved head-up displays (HUD), which lower the landing minimums at seven instrument landing system-equipped airports, for Chinese carriers. An additional 58 airports are to be approved for HUD use in the next two years. The CAAC's “China HUD Application Roadmap” calls for 10% of all HUD-capable aircraft in service to be equipped with the new displays by 2015. Rockwell Collins says it is in talks with Chinese carriers about retrograde fits of HUDs on Boeing 737NG series aircraft and making HUDs standard on new orders.
NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman whipped up a Thanksgiving dinner analogy to describe the shuffling of safety areas on the board's annual “Most Wanted” list of 10 transportation safety improvements. The NTSB has bumped three aviation items off the list—professionalism of pilots and air traffic controllers, human fatigue and preventive safety efforts—due in part to improvements made. But it kept two others that have not improved—general aviation safety and airport surface operations (previously called runway safety).
