Robert L. Del Boca (see photo), who is vice president/general manager of the Northrop Grumman Corp.'s Defensive Systems Div., Rolling Meadows, Ill., has won the 2006 Combat Survivability Award for Leadership from the National Defense Industrial Assn. He was recognized for the protection of aircraft from heat-seeking infrared missiles, and selected "for his focus on the development and transition of the Northrop Grumman Viper solid-state, multi-band, infrared countermeasures laser."
Prof. A.U. Krishnamurthy cites the different approach Airbus has versus Boeing when it comes to fly-by-wire philosophy (AW&ST Oct. 30, 2006, p. 6). He says: "It would be better for A380 to follow Boeing's ideology in this matter." This may be so but there is an error in what he says. It is Airbus that has adopted a fly-by-wire philosophy under which pilots are unable to override the computers. Boeing has stayed with a conventional control column, which places no limits on maneuvering. One could roll a 777 (theoretically).
The prospect of snagging a 100-plus fighter order was a powerful lure that drew numerous Western and Russian fighter manufacturers to Aero India 2007 in Bangalore last week. The sixth annual show also attracted 500 exhibitors, up from 380 last year, as India's rapid economic growth continues to fuel an aggressive program of purchasing new military and civil aircraft. AVIATION WEEK Editors Douglas Barrie and Neelam Mathews report.
China's Civil Aviation Flying University (Cafuc) will take delivery of 72 Cessna Skyhawks this year for use as primary trainers, in addition to 42 Skyhawks last year. Cafuc is China's largest flight training facility and accounts for about 90% of airline and general aviation pilots in that country. The new airplanes will be equipped with Garmin G1000 glass cockpits.
South Korea's Asiana Airlines in 2006 delivered a 121% higher operating profit of 127 billion won ($135 million), or 3.7% of revenue. Asiana is targeting an 11% rise in revenue for 2007, after 13% last year.
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Shelley Hedrick has been appointed director of charter sales and marketing for Million Air Dallas. She was director of operations for Perfect Jet Travel.
Ill-fated Alitalia's lingering agony is probably the European airline industry's most heartbreaking development since Sabena Belgian World Airlines' demise in 2001. It is like losing a long-time friend to an incurable disease.
Israel Defense Forces Brig. Gen. (ret.) Uzzi Rozzen (see photo) has become president of IAI International, Israel Aerospace Industries' American subsidiary, Arlington, Va. He succeeds Moti Bones, who has retired. Rozzen was corporate vice president-research and development and strategic planning.
Though there is no shortage of Pentagon concern about China's growing space capabilities, the Air Force's unclassified space budget doesn't reflect any accelerated work to counter the problem. The service's approach remains focused on efforts to improve its awareness of what is in space--with ground-based sensors and a modest space-based effort--as well as to understand the capabilities of potential adversaries' satellites.
Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) took over chairmanship of the House aviation subcommittee in January after Democrats won control of Congress. Costello, 57, discussed FAA reauthorization and other issues facing the panel, with AVIATION WEEK editors John M. Doyle and Adrian Schofield. Excerpts follow: AVIATION WEEK: The FAA reauthorization plans, outlined broadly in the president's Fiscal Year 2008 budget, call for a combination of user fees and taxes to pay for modernization, but haven't you questioned the need to change the funding system?
Cessna Aircraft Co. delivered 1,239 airplanes in 2006. Jack J. Pelton, chairman, president and CEO, says deliveries of Citation-series business jets increased by 307 aircraft--up more than 50 over 2005. Deliveries of single-engine, piston-powered airplanes totaled 865 units, and 67 turboprop-powered Caravans went to new owners. Pelton says the market for business jets continues to grow, with international customers accounting for 48% of total orders in 2006. He expects the company will deliver 375 Citations this year, including 40 new Citation Mustang lightweight jets.
NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate is changing its approach to maintaining the International Space Station over the long haul, now that it knows it won't have the space shuttle's unique capabilities after September 2010. But some of the new "spares philosophy" may also apply to future exploration vehicles traveling to the Moon and beyond, says William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for space ops.
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Philip LaVelle has been named vice president-sales and marketing of Cleveland-based Flight Options. He was senior vice president-sales and marketing for the Wayne-Dalton Corp.
Researchers hope to learn more about seasonal changes in the hydrocarbon rain and evaporation processes they believe shape the moon Titan, using cameras on the Cassini Saturn probe that have spotted this expected cloud of organics over Titan's north pole. The cloud, measuring about 2,400 km. (1,491 mi.) in diameter, has moved into sunlight from winter shadow, and Cassini imaged it in the visual and infrared wavelengths on Dec. 29, 2006.
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary may be busy plotting the acquisition of Aer Lingus, fighting with the U.K.'s airport authority over fees, arguing with the French about labor rules and jousting with the British over environmental taxes, but none of these seem to be affecting his airline's core business from delivering strong financial results. Europe's main low-fare carrier, Ryanair is boosting its forecast of net profit to €390 million due to performance gains and lower fuel costs. Profits are up 30% on 21% growth in seat capacity, and ancillary revenue has increased 61%.
Ball Aerospace and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory are trying to determine the cause of detector degradation in the critical HiRise High-Resolution Imaging System on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter that has forced managers to cut imaging operations by 50%.
Eurocontrol, NATO, military services in many nations and a variety of aerospace industry groups in Europe are pursuing greater access to civil airspace for UAVs, but one industry leader notes that these efforts are not unified.
Steven Lott has been appointed Washington-based regional director of North American communications of the International Air Transport Assn. He was deputy managing editor of AVIATION WEEK's Aviation Daily.
The FAA's expanded National Air Tour Safety Standards will require air tour operators to meet tighter safety requirements, which include providing enhanced passenger briefings before takeoff.
Lt. Gen John G. Castellaw, the Marine Corps deputy commandant for aviation and a self-described country guy from Crockett County, Tenn., sums up President Bush's $716.5- billion military spending plan in plain language. "There's a lot of bucks in there," he told a New York audience of investors. "But when you think about what we need to do, somehow it's never enough."
Harris Corp., a Florida-based infotech company, received a three-year, $66-million U.S. Navy contract for preproduction and test of the K u-band common data link Hawklink system for the MH-60R light airborne multi-purpose system helicopter.
MARKET FOCUS Aerospace executives like Bush's defense budget, but are wary of Congress 10 NEWS BREAKS Sea Launch's platform and mother ship returning to their home base 14 Ball, JPL trying to determine cause of detector degradation in Mars orbiter 15 Airbus unions drawing battle lines before unveiling of cost-cutting plans 15 Fare and load factor hikes improve fortunes of Big Seven U.S. airlines 16 Obituary for Southwest Airlines co-founder M. Lamar Muse 16
