Analysts at the U.S. Dept. of Commerce predict a big slowdown in aerospace industry growth this year and into the coming century, with civil transport and commercial space outpacing other sectors as the mix of the industry changes with the times.
First use of electric brakes on a conventional aircraft was marked last month by a team led by BFGoodrich and supported by the U.S. Air Force, Boeing and Lockheed Martin. BFGoodrich said yesterday that an F-16 Block 60 aircraft, in tests at Edwards AFB, Calif., demonstrated electrically actuated brakes and a digital brake control and anti-skid system.
Engineers at TRW Space and Electronics will continue testing for suspect circuit boards in NASA's Chandra Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF) for a week longer than originally planned to ensure none of them are launched with the unique space telescope. According to a status report issued yesterday, the observatory's command and data management system has already been shipped to BFGoodrich Aerospace, Davis Systems Div. in Albuquerque, N.M., where the two faulty boards already identified will be replaced.
Eight air traffic organizations have signed bilateral agreements to establish terms of cooperation in support of the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), intended to provide GPS/Glonass satellite-based augmentation services to aviation, maritime and land users in the European region. European Space Agency Director General Antonio Rodota signed pacts with agencies representing France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K.
During the fourth quarter of 1998 there were a total of 23 space launches worldwide. All launches were successful, orbiting 38 satellites and sending two interplanetary probes on their way. The U.S. performed 11 launches with 21 satellites, including one each for Argentina, Brazil, Eutelsat and Russia. Russia had six launches, orbiting 10 satellites, including one for the U.S., one for Sweden and the U.S.-funded Russian-built "Zarya" module for the International Space Station.
January 22, 1999 Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $46,141,531 face value increase to a firm-fixed-price contract to provide for 18 Mid-Life Update kits applicable to the F-16 aircraft. This effort supports foreign military sales to Belgium. Expected contract completion date is June 30, 2003. Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (F33657-93-C-2380-P00058).
Last week's decree by Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov extending the service life of the Mir orbital station another three years was needed to free up a $150 million down payment on a $750 million deal to keep Mir operating with investor funds, according to a press report here.
The Aerospace Industries Association, trying to help forge a future export policy that would preserve the best of today's approach as well as new flexibilities for an era in which the U.S. might be a net importer of technology, sees the possibility of licenses being approved by a public-private group rather than by the government alone.
FIRST SUPER HORNET SQUADRON was established Jan. 15 at NAS Lemoore, Calif. Super Hornet prime contractor Boeing said the unit, VFA-122, is a Fleet Readiness Squadron charged with aircrew and maintenance training. Beginning in May, the squadron will support VX-9 with operational testing of the F/A-18E/F at NAS China Lake, Calif.
January 20, 1999 Lockheed Martin Command and Control Systems, Colorado Springs, Colo., is being awarded a $5,044,643 face value increase to a cost-plus-award-fee contract to provide for training support for the Theater Battle Management Core Systems. This effort includes training materials, software, personnel, and help desk support. Expected contract completion date is Sept. 30, 1999. Solicitation issue date was Oct. 28, 1998. Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom AFB, Mass., is the contracting activity (F19628-95-C-0143-P00204).
LOCKHEED MARTIN has won a $120.5 million U.S. Air Force contract for engineering and manufacturing development through fiscal year 2002 for Avonics Modernization Program kits for 126 C-5 airlifters. The Dept. of Defense said the kits will include Global Air Traffic Management and All weather Flight Control systems. DOD said expected completion date is October 2005.
The No. 2 DarkStar unmanned aerial vehicle flew to about 25,000 feet during its fifth flight test Jan. 9 at Edwards AFB, Calif., the U.S. Air Force said yesterday. In this flight - the first high altitude mission of the stealthy, high altitude, long-endurance UAV - the DarkStar "also successfully demonstrated the ability to update [its] mission plan while it is in flight," said Maj. Mike Trundy, the AF's DarkStar program manager.
January 22, 1999 Truetech Inc., Riverhead, N.Y., is being awarded a $5,492,381 modification to a firm-fixed-price contract for 10,116 boxes of M295 decontamination kits. Work will be performed in Riverhead, N.Y., and is expected to be completed by May 21, 2000. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This is a sole source contract initiated on Jan. 8, 1999. The contracting activity is the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive&Armaments Command, Rock Island, Ill. (DAAE20-97-C-0134).
January 20, 1999 Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $149,745,000 firm-fixed-price contract to provide for Mid-Life Upgrade kits, Service Life Improvement Program kits, and Time Compliance Technical Orders kits to upgrade 20 F-16A/B aircraft. This effort supports foreign military sales to Portugal. Expected contract completion date is July 2006. Solicitation issue date was May 21, 1998. Negotiation completion date was Jan. 15, 1999. Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill AFB, Utah, is the contracting activity (F42620-99-C-0023).
ARINC Chairman James Pierce said a demonstration last week proved the company will be ready for computer problems associated with the Year 2000 that could affect communications services to the aviation industry and civil aviation authorities. The demonstration was conducted in the ARINC System Test Bed, a multi-computer system that replicates most of the operational systems that ARINC uses to provide critical air traffic control and aeronautical operational control communications for the FAA and the airlines.
The U.S. Dept. of Transportation is seeking responses to a complaint by Northwest Airlines against the European Union that says the EU is discriminating against U.S. carriers by intending to limit use of hushkitted aircraft at airports of its member nations.
WEATHER CONDITIONS again forced a delay in launch of the U.S. Air Force's ARGOS scientific satellite and two piggyback payloads, pushing back today's scheduled attempt until tomorrow. The mission has been grounded at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., for more than a week (DAILY, Jan. 25), and is now scheduled to fly no earlier than 5:35 a.m. EST tomorrow.
January 19, 1999 Metters Industries, Inc., McLean, Va., is being awarded a $6,704,257 cost-plus-fixed-fee service contract for technical support for design, development, manufacturing and installation of integrated training devices for various U.S. and other government vehicles. Work will be performed in Orlando, Fla., and is expected to be completed by December 1999. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Indian Head Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head, Md., is the contracting activity (N00174-99-D-0008).
