NASA’s Kepler Exoplanet hunting observatory’s instruments are working so well that they have given astronomers their first image of the glow of a hot gasbag planet larger than Jupiter as it circles the backside of a star. The star, HAT-P-7, and its companion planet, P-7B, are located about 1,000 light years from Earth. Their existence was known but the precision of Kepler’s observation has encouraged astronomers as they undertake a planned three-year mission to look for Earth-like planets—exoplanets—circling stars in the Cygnus-Lyra region of the Milky Way.
I disagree with David Birken’s argument that selling the F-22 to foreign countries would even the playing field. That would be true if the U.S. were to sell the F-22 to Russia or China. The only countries currently interested are Japan and Australia, and the likelihood of conflict with them is zero. The only concern would be technology leaks from these countries to others, but with an export version of the aircraft, this concern would be addressed even if these countries should see revolutions similar to that of Iran in 1979.
The right-hand scale for a graphic describing lift capabilities of various spacecraft capable of reaching the International Space Station was incorrectly labeled (AW&ST Aug. 3, p. 30). The measurement is kilograms.
Graham Warwick (Washington), Bettina H. Chavanne (Washington)
“Unmanned aircraft are unmanned only in name” is becoming the mantra of operators as they wrestle with the increasing demands on today’s unmanned systems. That could change with new U.S. acquisition rules designed to encourage competition and innovation in the manpower-intensive ground segment.
William Duncan (see photo) has been named director of international strategic business development for the Boulder, Colo.-based SimAuthor Inc. subsidiary of Qinetiq North America’s Systems Engineering Group . He was director of Teledyne Controls’ Flight Data Monitoring and Analysis Simulation and Services.
Latvian space scientists and astronomers will work more closely with the European Space Agency under a cooperation agreement signed last month. Among facilities expected to benefit from the new arrangement are the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center, the Bruker Baltic company, which makes semiconductor detectors, and the University of Latvia’s Institute of Physics. The Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry already is collaborating with Astrium on cryogenic insulation.
Simon Abel (see photo) has become director of sales for the Standard Power Solutions Div. of Crane Aerospace & Electronics, Redmond, Wash. He was head of the division’s international sales.
Aer Lingus, looking to preserve cash as it struggles financially, is deferring delivery of Airbus A330s and its initial batch of A350s following a fleet plan review. In an effort to control capacity, the carrier is also reducing its leased wide-body fleet. Predelivery payment requirements have been scaled back with the new plan for introducing widebodies. All-in-all, Aer Lingus will reduce its fleet of nine wide-body aircraft to eight by year-end and maintain that level through 2012.
Boeing says the eight 737-800 orders it recently attributed to an unidentified customer will go to EgyptAir and represent a decision by the carrier to convert two orders from wide-body 777s so it can continue to expand its regional flight services. EgyptAir is taking delivery of five 737-800s later this year and has another seven on order. It also operates five 777s and is scheduled to receive six 777-300ERs beginning next year.
Kelley Dobbs (see photo) has been promoted to vice president-human resources and labor relations from vice president-human resources, strategy and culture for Alaska Airlines . Honors and Elections
Forced to effectively abandon the wide-body commercial aircraft sector, Moscow is attempting to secure and build a position in the narrow-body market using two programs—the Superjet 100 regional jetliner and the MS-21 150-210-seat aircraft.
Goodrich has expanded its maintenance, repair and overhaul capability at Dubai. With the addition of engine control accessories to its overhaul portfolio, it will now provide services for Rolls-Royce Trent 500-, 700- and 800-powered aircraft such as the Airbus A330 and A340, and Boeing 777. The operation, set up in 2007, offers services for components and systems for commercial and military aerospace customers from Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Alexey Komarov (Moscow), Michael A. Taverna (Paris)
Though the Superjet 100 certification test program is still some way from completion, prime contractor Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Co. and PowerJet, the joint venture developing the aircraft’s powerplant, are already concentrating on ramping up production and bringing the new model into service.
Senators continue to question the pay and sleeping habits of regional pilots, with some citing a Washington Post report about boardinghouses that some pilots use to get rest when making cross-country commutes to work. But at a hearing last week, regional carrier executives said they do not believe pilot commuting patterns are a big problem or need monitoring. Fatigue from long commutes to hubs and its relationship to pilot performance were among many issues that emerged in the investigation of the Feb. 12 Colgan Air Flight 3407 accident near Buffalo, N.Y.
The country’s air force commander, Gen. Col. Alexander Zelin, says that in addition to buying the Sukhoi Su-35S, the service will also field the MiG-35S—as the new aircraft are now designated in Russia. This is the first official confirmation of interest in the MiG-35, an updated version of the MiG-29 with extended range, increased combat payload and a radar with active electronically scanned array. It’s a boost for the aircraft as Russia tries to win India’s 126-aircraft Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft program against stiff competition.
Another UAV, the Thunderstorm Fury (which looks like a miniature B-2) demonstrated an electronic attack capability during two flights at an undisclosed site in California on July 27. The design is a product of Chesapeake Technology International and AeroMech Engineering. CTI, which is headquartered near NAS Patuxent River, Md., is a veteran software and systems developer for airborne communications surveillance and attack, counterterrorism C4ISR, UAVs, EA-6B electronic attack aircraft simulators and Tactile Situational Awareness Systems for aircraft and helicopters.
The first G.222 airlifter for the Afghan Army Air Corps has completed its first flight after undergoing refurbishment by Alenia North America. The aircraft, a used Italian air force G.222, was flown at Alenia Aeronautica’s Naples plant. It will be transferred to the company’s Turin Caselle facility for installation of a new communication suite, before returning to Naples for final preparations before delivery. The U.S. Air Force in September awarded a $287-million contract for 18 G.222s for Afghanistan.
Israel’s BlueBird Aero Systems is expected to unveil a long-endurance commercial unmanned aircraft powered by a hydrogen fuel cell at this week’s Assn. on Unmanned Vehicle Systems International show in Washington. With an endurance of more than 9 hr. on a 2-kg. (4.4-lb.) power system supplied by Singapore’s Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies, the 9-kg. Boomerang is an advanced version of a battery-powered tactical UAV with 3-hr. endurance. The canard-configuration vehicle is already licensed for flights in Israel, says BlueBird.
The FAA has certified TAP Maintenance and Engineering Brazil to perform heavy maintenance work on U.S.-registered Airbus A330s and A340s. The FAA has also certified TAP M&E for the A300B4/-600 and A320. The company has already been certified by Brazil’s ANAC civil aviation agency and Transport Canada Civil Aviation to perform maintenance on the same aircraft. The Rio de Janeiro-based company is an affiliate of TAP Maintenance and Engineering and has been authorized by Airbus since December to perform maintenance on its aircraft.
A new industry advocacy group will try to boost the case for a formalized high-speed development road map as the U.S. air-breathing hypersonics enterprise enters what researchers believe is the most pivotal period in its checkered 50-year history.
Regarding Endeavour’s post-launch foam release (AW&ST July 20, p. 14): Are engineers considering the possibility that emptying and refilling cryogenics five and six times, respectively, caused enough repetitious thermal stress to disbond foam in a non-cryogenic area?
While JAL is trying to fill more seats, it is trying to cut back in other ways. It is switching to a screw-cap, recyclable PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic wine bottles, which weigh a mere 22 grams (0.7 ounces) each, in economy class beginning Aug. 6, a day before the annual Japanese summer holiday period begins. Passengers on a Boeing 777-300ER bound for London from Tokyo will be first to sip red French and white Spanish wines from the plastic bottles, which weigh one-seventh as much as equivalent glass bottles.
“A Wing and a Prayer” (AW&ST July 27, p. 22) reminds us that Boeing jumped into unknown territory in opting to produce the 787 with all-composite wings.
Investigators are trying to sort out what caused a Swiss AIM-9P Sidewinder to come apart after being launched. Eight Swiss air force F/A-18s and nearly 50 personnel were at German Wittmund air base to exercise air defense skills under the Squadron Live Firing 09 program. Last week, one of those aircraft was approaching its target—which was being towed by another aircraft—and launched the AIM-9P. The missile separated cleanly, but a few seconds later came apart in flight, Swiss military officials say. The debris fell into the North Sea.
