The space shuttle program was undertaken to extend our reach, to see what was possible—to look forward. It has made its mark on history, in both stunning success and heartbreaking failure. Now it is time to enshrine the orbiters in places of honor and look forward. Morgan Hill, Calif.
There has been much discussion regarding the difficulty faced by Boeing in crafting a landing gear redesign needed to raise ground clearance on the 737 to accommodate the most modern large-fan engines, whether from Pratt or CFM. What about a redesign with gear that are outwardly identical and fold identically, but that after extension use a telescoping tube main strut to further extend?
After reading “Revival in the Air?” (AW&ST July 11, p. 49), I can't help but believe that Paul W. Litchfield of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. and Hugo Eckener of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH must be smiling from above. The two men formed the Goodyear Zeppelin Co. in Akron, Ohio, in late 1923. Truly, the more things change the more they remain the same. Check historian and zeppelin expert Henry Cord Meyer's “Airshipmen, Businessmen and Politics 1890-1940” for some fascinating background.
I find it hard to believe that the U.S. Air Force Academy will use a Cirrus to introduce its cadets to the thrill and excitement of flying, as mentioned in an Inside Business Aviation column item, “Enter The T-53A” (AW&ST July 11, p. 54). I assume the goal of most cadets is to pilot high-performance airplanes. This requires attention to detail and other critical skills that I question being learned in a Cirrus. Perhaps the academy is training the next generation to just sit in windowless rooms guiding UAVs.
Re: San Francisco Bureau Chief Michael Mecham's Aviation Daily post “Memories Of 787 Factored In 737 Decision” Stealth says: “Boeing officials say a 42-aircraft rate at Airbus is not the same as 42 at Boeing because Airbus takes August off. Boeing says 42 at Airbus translates as 40 per month at Boeing.”
In response to International Editor Robert Wall's Ares Defense blog post: “Plaaf Su-27 Going U-2 Hunting?” Rick-Joe wrote: The Chinese side says the U-2 crossed west of the center line before Flankers drove it back . . . Interesting how the Chinese are the belligerents in this situation. jackjack responds:
Mark Bitterman has been named senior VP-government affairs for Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) in the Washington office. He was senior VP-government and external relations at Orbital Sciences Corp.
Paulo Penido Marques has become CFO of Brazil-based Embraer. He succeeds Cynthia Marcondes Ferreira Benedetto, who is leaving the company. Marques has worked for Citibank, BankBoston, J.P. Morgan and Brazilian industries Usiminas, Cosipa and CSN.
Ralph Eisenschmid, Omar Matar, Steve Wilks and Mohamed Juman (see photos) are among key management appointments at Mena Aerospace Enterprises of Bahrain. Eisenschmid has been promoted to CEO from chief operating officer and acting CEO. Matar is the new general manager after retiring from 31 years with Gulf Air, where he was head of inflight services. Wilks has become general manager of MAE Aircraft Management, Mena's airline division. He was head of operations at an Indonesian airline. Juman is the new managing director of Mena.
Meredith Siegfried (see photo) has been elected to succeed Bill Peacher as CEO of Nordam, Tulsa, Okla. Peacher will remain as a board member and financial consultant.
Rafael Echevarne is expected to become director of economics and program development for Montreal-based Airports Council International in September. He will succeed Andreas Schimm, who will remain in Europe. Echevarne was director of his own airport economics and management consultancy and worked for Ferrovial, Copenhagen Airports, Abu Dhabi Airports Co. and Airways Corp. of New Zealand.
Rob Wigington (see photo) has joined the Metropolitan Nashville (Tenn.) Airport Authority as VP and chief operating officer, succeeding Monty Burgess, who retired in June. Wigington was deputy director of the Houston Airport System.
Rudy Quevedo has been appointed deputy director of technical programs at the Flight Safety Foundation, Alexandria, Va. He was director of safety at North American Airlines.
Janet G. Figone has been named manager of customer service at the Los Alamitos, Calif., facility of the Timken Co., Canton, Ohio. She was director of customer service for a power management technology company.
Stephan Krenz (see photo) has become senior VP and general manager of Switzerland-based Jet Aviation Basel. He was president of Bombardier's Germany and Scandinavia business unit.
George A. Williams has been appointed director of human resources at Tampa (Fla.) International Airport. He held the same position for Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa.
Tom Lieser has been named manager of Lincoln, Neb.-based Duncan Aviation's avionics satellite facility in St. Paul, Minn. A Duncan Aviation employee since 2003, Lieser was crew leader of the company's avionics satellite shop in Chicago.
Dennis Hildreth has been appointed manager-original equipment manufacturer sales at Aircell, Broomfield, Colo. He joins Aircell from Rockwell Collins, where he was principal marketing manager.
Paul Gregorowitch has been named chief commercial officer at Air Berlin. He was head of operations for Dutch airline Martinair, where he will be succeeded by Diedrick Pen.
Larry Dean has joined CRS Jet Spares, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., as Western U.S. sales manager. He was a member of the Atlantic Aviation, Jet Aviation and International Jet sales teams for aircraft management and charter services.
Jane Jurgensen has been named VP-business development at Mesa, Ariz.-based Aero-Zone. She was account director for civil customer management at GE Aviation Systems.
