Struggling to stay within a flat budget for the heavy-lift Space Launch System (SLS), NASA plans to halt development of the J-2X rocket engine that will power its upper stage after the ongoing development-test series.
In “Regaining Control” (AW&ST Oct. 24/31, p. 86), Boeing's chief pilot for regulatory affairs presents a list of six points to follow in a stall or approach to stall. These are fine if the stall is recognized, which it would appear was not the case in either the Air France Flight 447 or Turkish Airlines crashes, both in 2009. There have been many examples of intuitive airmanship in the face of severe inflight problems. This is a capability and mindset that I expect of any pilot. Train to fly the aircraft first.
Despite efforts by industry and educational institutions to cultivate young women's interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), things have not changed much since 2001, at least not on paper. Women still represent less than a quarter of the aerospace and defense (A&D) workforce and only make up a small fraction of engineers.
Senior Editor-Technology Graham Warwick's recent blog in Ares on progress in the F-35 program drew this exchange: Solomon asserts: Talk about damned if you do, damned if you don't! Concurrency was supposed to prevent a lot of these problems but the critics slam that plan and then get all atwitter when the alternate . . . life extensions are done. And Warwick responds:
Nov. 23-24—BCI Aerospace's European Defense Meetings. Palais de Congres, Bordeaux, France. See en.edm-bordeaux.com/391-homepage.html Nov. 28-30—Airports Council International-Europe/Asia's 2011 Airport Exchange. Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, United Arab Emirates. Also, Power of India: “New Horizons for Airport Commercial Revenues. Novotel, Hyderabad. See www.aci.aero
Richard Davey has been elected chairman of the Massachusetts Port Authorityboard of directors. He is the CEO of the Massachusetts Transportation Department.
Airlines, pilot hiring committees, flight instructors and the FAA should have heeded reader Capt. Roger Waldman's letter of more than a decade ago (AW&ST Sept. 6, 1999, p. 6). Pilot attitude was and is the key to safety. Waldman's letter outlined exactly what's wrong and how to fix it. The serious situation facing pilots at all levels today is the same. The basics of piloting any airplane are either not understood, not being taught, not reinforced by practice or not applied in actual flight.
Lockheed Martin has acquired Netherlands-based commercial flight simulator manufacturer Sim-Industries in a bid to diversify as defense budgets decline—and not for the first time. In 2000, citing a similar rationale for expanding into closely adjacent markets, Lockheed built a commercial flight training center in Orlando, Fla., equipped with three full-flight simulators for the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. In 2007, it leased the center to civil training provider SimCom.
Air France is entering an area of unprecedented difficulties, an indication it urgently needs to improve its corporate governance. But it is also the victim of problems it can't control. In other words, Air France (and the entire Air France-KLM Franco-Dutch group) is in dire straits.
This time around, Tehran was merely the propaganda target of Israel's test launch of a Jericho III intermediate-range ballistic missile, but there is no question that Iran is also the primary target for any potential use of the nuclear weapons delivery system.
Noe E. Rodriguez, 2nd, Guadaloupe O. Delgado, Jr., and Rodolfo Loera were honored by the Northrop Grumman Corp. for their achievements in science, technology, engineering and mathematics at the company's Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference. Rodriguez won an award for Professional Achievement in Industry; Delgado was recognized for Most Promising Engineer or Scientist-Undergraduate Degree; and Loera won an award for community service.
Finland again looks set to become a potential export customer for the stealthy AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile under a foreign military sales deal now under discussion with the U.S. The package is valued at up to $255 million and would include 70 missiles as well as related equipment. Finland would use the weapon on its F/A-18C/Ds.
Lower than expected deliveries of executive aircraft are forcing Embraer to moderate its earnings forecast, although the situation is cushioned by strong regional jet and defense activities. The move, coupled with the release of third-quarter results, means the full-year forecast is for revenue of $5.6-5.8 billion rather than the $5.8 billion foreseen at the half-year mark. Through the third quarter, Embraer delivered 47 Phenoms and six executive aircraft; it delivered 83 business aviation aircraft in the year-ago period, including five executive jets.
Chip Fichtner has been named VP-engineering for Associated Air Center, StandardAero's Large Transport Category VIP Aircraft Completions Center in Dallas. He comes from Gore Design Completions of San Antonio.
Range and technical issues have forced German researchers to delay the flight test of an ambitious hypersonic demonstrator until early 2012. The test of the Mach 11-capable Sharp Edged Flight Experiment (Shefex 2) is meant to pave the way for potential flights of a small suborbital reentry vehicle in 2020 and builds on the technologies validated by the Mach 6 Shefex 1 flight in 2005. Shefex 2 is designed provide up to 50 sec. of experimental hypersonic flight time, with a reentry flight distance of around 100 km (62 mi.).
Lufthansa and International Airlines Group (IAG) have entered exclusive negotiations over the possible sale of BMI. Virgin Atlantic, once seen as a potential bidder, has not qualified as a competitor. Lufthansa decided to sell BMI as a result of huge operating losses and no viable prospect to turn the airline around. Since 2009, BMI operating losses have totaled more than €350 million ($483 million). It was the worst performer in Lufthansa's airline portfolio. IAG appears only to be interested in the Heathrow-based mainline operation. BMI is in separate talks with a U.K.
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise has converted five of its 15 Boeing 747-8 Freighter orders for the equivalent of 777Fs to be operated by Emirates, the largest operator of 777s. Boeing also has added two more 777 orders from an unidentified customer. DAE now accounts for 20 unfilled Boeing orders, 10 each for 747-8Fs and 777s. As of Nov. 1, Boeing holds 428 net orders for 2011, including 132 777s. The company has booked seven 747-8 orders this year but lost eight.
In the Oct. 24/31 issue the article “Power Play” (p. 97) misstated the vote on an amendment to a U.S. Senate bill that would have mandated the sale of F-16 aircraft to Taiwan. The amendment lost on a 48 to 48 vote.
Unlocking supply chain data means moving away from operation-specific databases. For the airline industry, with revenues of $554 billion that transports passengers and cargo around the world, why are there about $50 billion worth of non-moving spare parts? The supply chain is complex and the financial risks of not having the right assets at the right location are significant.
Deployment of the United Arab Emirates' F-16Es to support NATO operations in Libya shows a heightened commitment by the Persian Gulf country to work closely with Western militaries. The move is particularly critical as the political and strategic environment in the Middle East shifts following political uprisings in the region and North Africa. Tokunaga/aviation-images.com photo.
Reader Harry White misses the point when he suggests replacing sidesticks with yokes would have helped the doomed Air France Flight 447 (AW&ST Sept. 19, p. 10). Pilots need to undergo more rigorous training to recognize and take appropriate action when faced with unreliable sensors, including, but not limited to, airspeed pitots.
Your editorial “No Good Will Come From EU's Plan” is spot on (AW&ST Oct. 17, p. 78). However, one point that was overlooked is that none of the fees go toward improving emissions or the environment; the money goes into general coffers—or some bureaucrat's pocket. Diplomacy, law, reason and logic have failed. Every foreign nation whose airlines are affected should immediately impose a dollar-for-dollar offsetting charge on EU airlines operating into or through its airspace.
In regard to “After Rockets?” (AW&ST Oct. 24/31 p. 76), the colonization/escape-from-Earth notion is a very poor justification for advancing space travel. Consider Antarctica: Even if there were no treaties forbidding it, I doubt there would be much interest in building a housing development there. People endure the area's harsh conditions in order to conduct or support scientific research.
I greatly enjoyed your recent innovation feature. However, in “Hyperspeed Computing” (AW&ST Oct. 24/31, p. 65) Goldbach's conjecture is misstated. It should read: “every even whole number greater than two is the sum of two prime numbers.” Colorado Springs, Colo. The reader is correct. An editing error led to an alteration of Jeffrey Barrett's original text—Ed.
AW&ST Senior Editor Amy Butler's piece on the Pentagon reducing the JSF buy elicited: snafu saying: I can't fathom the level of blind faith that has been accorded this program. Many people reasonably questioned the claims and projections from the start, yet those voices of common sense were rapidly assailed by true F-35 believers. richardb noting:
