Jeff has been involved in aerospace journalism since the mid 1990s. Prior to joining Aviation Week, Jeff served as managing editor of Launchspace magazine and the International Space Industry Report. He has been the editor and chief of Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report since 2007 and has been a regular contributor to Aviation Week magazine. He received his B.A. from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va.
The leadership of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee vowed at a Nov. 1 hearing to speed the confirmation of Shana Dale as NASA's deputy administrator, which should allow her to assume her duties within a week. NASA Administrator Michael Griffin has made several calls to Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) to expedite Dale's confirmation, Stevens said. Dale's nomination and several others likely will be voted on at a committee markup hearing Nov. 2.
NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., is gearing up to begin flight-tests next summer using a small scaled model of an airliner to evaluate "refuse-to-crash" technology. With more and more aircraft moving to digital controls and fly-by-wire technology, NASA aviation safety engineers decided the time was ripe to put more "smarts" into onboard flight controls, according to George Finelli, manager of NASA Langley's Aviation Safety and Security Program.
An engine flameout problem that occurred on two separate Air Force-owned Global Hawks over the summer has contributed to a delay with the Navy's Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration program, according to the Navy. The Air Force still is investigating the problem with the Rolls-Royce-built engine and has yet to comment on the cause. One flameout occurred on an advanced concept technology demonstration (ACTD) Global Hawk flying overseas in theater, the other on a production aircraft in the U.S. Both managed to glide autonomously to a safe landing.
