The U.S. government spends more on weapons development than any other nation on the planet, but its plans for doing so are caught up in a larger financial debate.
Amanda Brownfield has joined Chantilly, Va.-based TASC as VP of the Mission Analysis Business Unit. She was VP of a business unit supporting intelligence, defense and law enforcement customers for SAIC. HONORS AND ELECTIONS
It is a standing joke that business aviation recycles its own, referring to the frequent movement of executives, sales people and managers from one company to another, but always within the community. This, I submit, is a result of the demanding nature of the segment's high-octane users and the infinite flexibility of its missions. Not many individuals thrive in that kind of environment, so there's a steady demand for those who do. All that came to mind when I learned of Jim Christiansen's new position.
Israel's Rafael will spotlight its Iron Dome counter-rocket system at Aero India 2013. India has been showing interest in the combat-proven active defense system, which can intercept short-range artillery rockets. Rafael also will showcase David's Sling, the multi-mission, multi-platform interceptor; the Spyder short- and medium-range air defense systems; Python-5 air-to-air IR and air defense missiles; Derby beyond-visual-range range air-to-air and air defense missiles; and Modular, Integrated C4I Air & Missile Defense System, the company says.
Central Florida's Lake County is well named since it comprises 1,400 lakes and countless ponds, pools and puddles. This water wealth, combined with the region's abundance of sunshine and warm air year-round, make the place a magnet for fisherfolk, boaters, kayakers and other wet-setters. And that very much includes floatplane fliers.
Your Person of the Year feature “Frau Nein,” fails to grasp the historic underlying tension among the participants of Germany, France and the ever-vacillating U.K.! Approving the EADS/BAE merger could have placed Deutsche Airbus and its employees in a potentially vulnerable position vis-a-vis France and Britain, since it could have lost control of its very survival in Germany.
The European Commission (EC) in November proposed to temporarily exempt non-European flights from the European Union's Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), but the 27 member states and the European Parliament (EP) must endorse the deal. More worrisome is that many airlines operating to Europe might have misinterpreted the buoyant “stop the clock” message of EU Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard and wrongly believe that they are no longer required to comply with the system at all.
I wonder why Michael Dyment, author of a recent Viewpoint (AW&ST Jan. 14, p. 54), did not mention the savings that would be realized by taking the money from the little-used WAAS (Wide-Area Augmentation System) and putting this toward NextGen. WAAS has not been used at all by commercial aviation in spite of the FAA trying to “hook” every system possible to it.
George Kelemen has joined Washington-based Airports Council International-North America as senior VP-government and political affairs. He was senior director-external affairs for the American Cancer Society.
Poland has set its sights on a new fleet of heavy transport and attack helicopters as it renews its rotary-wing assets over the next decade. On top of plans announced by the Polish ministry of defense in 2012 to purchase 70 medium utility helicopters beginning in 2014, Warsaw is planning to purchase a further 130 helicopters to replace its aging fleet of Polish and Russian-built rotorcraft. This helicopter procurement program will be the largest in Europe in more than a decade.
Jim Wurth, a former Eastern Airlines pilot and Pratt & Whitney engineer, became interested in batteries when his MD-500 helicopter would not start after a night out in the cold in New Mexico years ago. He and a friend had camped in a remote area and faced a long walk out even to get cellphone coverage. Fortunately, a warming sun got them on their way that afternoon. But Wurth thought there had to be a better answer for batteries.
France caused a flap last week with the public endorsement of Anne Lauvergeon as the potential new chairwoman of EADS, renewing doubts that efforts to curb government interference in the company's management will succeed. French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici said Jan. 28 the ex-CEO of nuclear energy group Areva could play a “major role” at Airbus parent company EADS along with France's other board favorite, former European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet.
Former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) (see photo) has been selected to receive the 2013 National Space Trophy, presented by the Houston-based Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Foundation. She is being cited for her promotion of the International Space Station program and her efforts to support the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, the Space Launch System and commercial space transportation.
Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Co. (SCAC), the designer and manufacturer of Russia's new Superjet 100 regional aircraft, is undergoing a leadership transition following the rocky start of series production.
Boeing is telling its 787 supply chain “ business as usual” even as the aircraft —its highest-profile development effort —is in its third week of being grounded and deliveries have been suspended.
Cameron Burr, founder of JetCapital Group, and Glenn Leonard, co-founder of Cavok, have been appointed to the board of directors of Ottawa-based Mxi Technologies.
