Don't tell Gary Kelly and Laura Wright, but they are notable throughout Europe's aerospace community. Southwest Airlines' chief executive officer and chief financial officer, respectively, may not be aware that their U.S.-based airline's business model has cast such a long shadow abroad. However, they should know that the low-fare carrier's setup has been a universal source of inspiration for nearly four decades.
With the end of the year fast approaching, there are two significant pieces of unfinished aviation-related business that official Washington needs to complete as soon as possible. The first, of course, is FAA reauthorization, which is now in its 22nd extension. The FAA has been limping by on short-term extensions since 2007, and the latest one is set to expire on Jan. 31.
With the setting of a Feb. 7 launch date for the first commercial spacecraft to attempt a linkup with the International Space Station, NASA managers hope to launch a new economy in low Earth orbit (LEO) as well. If Space Exploration Technologies Inc. (SpaceX) succeeds in berthing its Dragon cargo capsule at the orbiting outpost, the way will be open for regular commercial cargo deliveries by the end of 2012. A year ago the company became the first to launch a private spacecraft to orbit (see photo) and recover it after reentry.
One maxim around here says that congressional compromises offend in proportion to their age. A deal reached a day ago is acceptable, if still regrettable; but a deal reached a month ago can become totally unpalatable—even to the very people who agreed to it. Thus is the case with the so-called sequestration effects of the emergency deficit-cutting and debt-ceiling deal passed into law in August.
Defense contractors are breathing easier this week after they appear to have dodged a new restriction on how extensively their salaries can be covered under federal contracts. The move was part of the annual defense policy bill, which was rushing to completion in Congress last week. The Senate's version of an earlier bill tried to limit salaries to $400,000, but the final congressional compromise keeps the covered level at nearly $700,000 and even allows the government to provide exemptions.
David A. Fulghum (Washington), Bill Sweetman (Washington)
The U.S. Air Force is planning to develop a heavier, more powerful version of the jet-powered, reduced signature Predator C Avenger unmanned aerial system (UAS) for deployment soon in combat zones.
Michael Mecham (Seattle), Frank Morring, Jr. (Washington)
In what is probably the year's most exotic approach to space launch, billionaire entrepreneur Paul Allen and aircraft designer Burt Rutan aim to use the equivalent of two Boeing 747-400s to carry a Falcon 9-derivative rocket to 30,000-35,000 ft. for an air-drop launch of satellites or humans into low Earth orbit.
Commercial Earth observation was all but invented in France, yet companies here that pioneered the high-resolution optical imagery market a decade ago have been edged out in recent years by tough competition from the U.S. That could change, however, with the planned launch of France's first Pleiades high-resolution Earth-observation satellite this month, one of two next-generation optical-imaging spacecraft designed to serve military and civil users while reserving capacity for commercial customers.
Anyone who has been following the progress of the Joint Strike Fighter program knows it has had many ups and downs, and each week seems to bring at least one new development. Interpreting what it all means at any given time is akin to reading tea leaves. The latest is last week's news that Japan has chosen the F-35, but that was counterbalanced by an unflattering review of the program's technology assessment leaked from the Pentagon.
In English-speaking countries, people like to keep up with the Joneses. For South Korean defense ministry officials, it is important to keep up with the Tanakas. That is one reason why Japan's expected order for the Lockheed Martin F-35 is likely to result in sales of more than the 42 fighters that industry officials anticipated Tokyo would buy. Another is that the aircraft chosen for Japan's fighter program for this decade may well be built throughout the 2020s, long after the initial requirement is filled.
While Japan expects to receive its first F-X fighters for training in 2016, a new report suggests that the F-35 will not meet its 2015 target for starting initial operational test and evaluation, which would delay the completion of certificated training plans and syllabi.
