British Royal Marines used two AgustaWestland WAH-64 attack helicopters as combat taxis in an attempt to rescue a colleague who had been shot during an operation in Afghanistan last week. Four marines were strapped to the stub-wings of two WAH-64s, two on each helicopter, while a third WAH-64 provided top cover.
I appreciated your editorial "Six Issues That Demand Action" and in particular the observation regarding NASA's plan to return to the Moon by 2020, which said the plan requires that NASA "move quickly, decisively and skillfully to develop the needed capabilities and identify those that would be best left to other nations." How timely, and how perspicacious of the editorial staff.
The U.S. Air Force's Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) is upgrading the imaging system of the large Hypervelocity Ballistic Range G facility with a special laser. The facility uses a two-stage, light-gas gun system to launch high-fidelity missile simulations at hypervelocity speeds while minimizing acceleration loads. The laser, which will assess the condition of a projectile during a specific stage of flight, incorporates a neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser, a compact power supply, high-resolution digital camera and supporting hardware.
Field Aviation of Toronto has developed a cargo-door modification for the Bombardier Dash 8 that builds on the company's extensive experience upgrading this aircraft model. The new door, which can be operated in flight, is suitable for use on the types of special mission Dash 8s that Field has supplied to various customers in Europe and Asia. The door could be used by military parachutists and for cargo air drops, as well as by smoke jumpers to fight forest fires. And maritime patrol aircraft could drop life rafts to people in the water.
Wood Dale, Ill.-based AAR has acquired almost all of the assets of Reebaire Aircraft Inc., a regional maintenance, repair and overhaul provider in Hot Springs, Ark. AAR officials say the acquisition will help AAR double its regional airline MRO business as well as expand its supply-chain operations. The new subsidiary will operate as AAR Aircraft Services at its current location.
EADS may ask shareholders to approve of a capital increase to bolster its balance sheet, according to Chief Financial Officer Hans-Peter Ring. A decision would likely be made in early April, ahead of the annual general assembly. The capital increase was the subject of internal debates among the shareholders late last year, when subsidiary Airbus asked for approval of the A350 launch. Sources close to the company said one way around a possible shareholder clash would be a capital increase in which none of the main shareholders participates.
Perhaps one answer to the question-- "Why do people go to school for two years to become an aviation mechanic and then go to work at the local Chevrolet garage rather than work in aviation?"--is in the following letter to the editor in your Mar. 11, 1992, issue.
Stork Fokker AESP will be responsible for the composite inboard flaps of Boeing's 747-8 airline transport. The company will design and build tooling and initially manufacture the flaps. It is the first major structural part Stork will build for Boeing's commercial airplane business, although Stork already performs similar work and has an extensive supplier relationship with Boeing on other commercial programs. The inboard flaps will be manufactured at Papendrecht and Hoogeveen in the Netherlands.
An oncoming missile is disabled by bursts of high-power microwaves emitted from the payload on an unmanned combat aircraft. BAE Systems is carving out its position as the developer of small, HPM weapons, and company artist Dave Jantausch shows an operational concept. One laser-triggered HPM weapons design can be built as part of the composite wing of an unmanned aircraft. The technology is being examined for air-to-air and surface-to-air missile defenses in the air, on board ships and on the ground (see p. 42).
Firm configuration of the 747-8 Intercontinental, the passenger version of the third-generation 747, will not be completed until later this year, but this full-scale mockup of the interior gives an idea of the direction Boeing is taking.
Letters 6-7 Who's Where 8 Industry Outlook 13 Airline Outlook 14 In Orbit 15 News Breaks 16-22 Washington Outlook 23 Close Up 51 Inside Avionics 54 Classified 55 Contact Us 56 Aerospace Calendar 57
TAT subsidiary Sabena Technics purchased EADS Barfield, the component repair and maintenance entity, as part of Sabena Technics efforts to expand in the U.S. Barfield has facilities in Miami, Phoenix and Louisville.
Embraer has chosen Elliott Aviation of Moline, Ill., as an authorized service facility for the Phenom 100 and 300 small cabin jets. Elliott will provide routine airframe, engine and avionics maintenance, inspections and repairs. Embraer is developing the Phenom series for the private and air taxi markets. The Phenom 100 is tentatively scheduled to enter service in mid-2008 followed by the larger Phenom 300 in mid-2009. The jets are priced at $2.85 million and 6.65 million, respectively.
Your editorial "Six Issues That Demand Action in 2007" (AW&ST Jan. 1, p. 66) is highly interesting. However, at least one point should be modified. In paragraph 2, you write: "The development of nuclear arms in Iran and North Korea, . . . which seems inevitable, will increase the already significant need for deterrence of and defenses against small nations with big weapons."
BVR SYSTEMS LTD. OF ISRAEL HAS RECEIVED A $1.1-MILLION contract from a European nation for its embedded virtual avionics (EVA) software. The software can run on a wide variety of mission computers and communicate with the aircraft's head-up and multifunction displays, air data computer and hands-on throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) system to simulate a variety of advanced airborne avionics, sensors and weapons systems.
China's new Fengyun 2D weather satellite is operating normally, a month after it was launched to geostationary orbit. It and its partner, Fengyun 2C, are intended to transmit pictures to the ground every half-hour. The authorities say the spacecraft will help forecast weather during for the Olympic Games in Beijing next year.
THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF NAVIGATION IN LONDON REPORTS that a 75-lb. female snow leopard captured on the Purdum Mali ridge in Pakistan has been fitted with a GPS collar that will report her location several times a day. In the next few months, four more snow leopards are to be fitted with the collars, which will provide more accurate, detailed information on day-to-day movement than the radio collars used previously. The institute has a 235-member subsection, the animal navigation special interest group, which is focused on the use of this technology.
Senior British defense officials will this month consider the next step in forging a strategic partnership with BAE Systems in the aerospace sector. Ministry officials and BAE have been working on a foundation contract to pave the way for a long-term partnering agreement. The ministry's Investment Approval Board likely will review terms of this contract before Jan. 31. The strategy suggests the ministry has no plans to develop a manned fixed-wing combat aircraft beyond the Eurofighter Typhoon or Lockheed Martin F-35.
Tom Bisges has been named senior vice president-engineering and program management, and Malcolm Thomson vice president-flight test engineering, for Adam Aircraft, Englewood, Colo. Bisges was vice president-engineering for the Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corp., while Thomson was president of Blue Mountain Avionics.
Boeing Phantom Works researchers say they have demonstrated an advanced airborne networking and information management system that uses a near-space, long-loiter vehicle to provide real-time tactical information to ground forces. The demonstration was part of Project Marti, which combines high-altitude routing of information with collection by low-altitude UAVs that are much closer to targets of interest. Testing will continue through 2008.
UNITED STATES Editor-In-Chief: Anthony L. Velocci, Jr. [email protected] Managing Editor: James R. Asker [email protected] Assistant Managing Editor: Michael Stearns [email protected] Senior Editors: Craig Covault [email protected], David Hughes [email protected] NEW YORK 2 Penn Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10121 Phone: +1 (212) 904-2000, Fax: +1 (212) 904-6068 Senior News Editor: Nora Titterington
Stringent rules for maintaining sterile cockpits and the introduction of graphic Notams (Notices to Airmen) may emerge from the crash investigation of Comair Flight 5191 at Lexington (Ky.) Blue Grass Airport. The cockpit voice recorder transcript, released by the NTSB last week, shows that the two-person flight crew punctuated their takeoff and taxi checklist dialogue with non-flight-related conversation that covered sick children, a pilot who failed a sim ride and other topics.
