The system development and demonstration phase of the U.S. Air Force’s B-2 radar modernization program has been completed by Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. The company is the prime contractor for the aircraft, and Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems developed a large portion of the new radar hardware under contract to Northrop. The modernization program replaces the B-2’s original radar with units that include a new advanced electronically scanned array antenna, a power supply and a modified receiver/exciter.
The decision by low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines to charge for overhead storage of carry-on bags is accelerating the push for regulation or taxation of airline a-la-carte fees. The fee, effective for travel beginning Aug. 1, will range from $20-45 and apply to carry-ons that do not fit under seats, with exceptions for items such as medication, baby supplies and coats. Spirit defends the fee as necessary to lessen a glut of carry-ons that is slowing down the boarding process and creating safety problems, as passengers seek to tote more on board to avoid checked-bag fees.
Panama’s civil aviation authority is paving the way for a radical modernization of its air traffic system following flight validation of Boeing-developed Required Navigation Performance (RNP) procedures for the nation’s Tocumen International and Howard airports.
The British Royal Air Force’s 2 Sqdn. last week replaced 9 Sqdn. on deployment in Afghanistan, following the latter’s three-month detachment in theater. RAF Tornado aircraft are being used to provide reconnaissance and close air support (CAS) for coalition forces in Afghanistan. During its three-month tour, 9 Sqdn.’s operation flights totaled 1,600 hr.
Pratt & Whitney Canada is laying out a major update program for its large turboprops as ATR, Xian, Bombardier and Embraer refine plans for new-generation regional turboprops. “We’re looking at refreshing the PW100 and/or the PW150 families, both of which have had remarkable resurgences since 2003,” says Richard Dussault, PWC strategic planning and marketing vice president. “We’re looking at what technology suite we can get from the PW800, and other product lines,” he says.
The Vietnamese branch of AirAsia will begin flying in August, following the signing of the partnership agreement that brings it into the budget airline’s chain and positions it to compete with Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar Pacific. Malaysia’s AirAsia Bhd., whose 30% stake in the company was approved this month over the objections of Vietnam Airlines, says its new affiliate, VietJet Aviation, has tentatively adopted the trade name VietJet AirAsia.
This data overlay map of the Idunn Mons feature on the cloud-shrouded surface of Venus represents the best evidence yet that the planet remains active, with volcanism spreading lava flows across the surface to erase impact craters. The brown area is radar terrain data generated by NASA’s Magellan probe and vertically exaggerated 30 times. The color overlay on the mountain is based on data from the visible and infrared thermal imaging spectrometer (Virtis) on the European Space Agency’s Venus Express spacecraft.
A battle between China Southern Airlines and a fast rail line will help reveal how badly high-speed trains will undercut Chinese carriers over the coming decade. The airlines are at least facing a few years of stunted growth as the railways ministry progressively commissions the world’s largest high-speed rail system, on which it will run the world’s fastest long-distance trains.
Major additional suppliers to China’s Comac ARJ21 regional jet have been rewarded with contracts to make equipment for the C919 156-seat narrowbody. Parker Aerospace will build the primary fly-by-wire flight control actuation system and—in association with a subsidiary of national aircraft-making conglomerate Avic—the hydraulic, fuel and inerting systems. Honeywell will supply the auxiliary power unit in cooperation with Avic Engine Co., and Goodrich will fit the C919 with external lighting, working with the Jiangsu Tongming Automobile Lamp Co.
In a move that threatens to reignite the conflict between Israel and Lebanon, Syria is being blamed for supplying Hezbollah with Scud-B short-range ballistic missiles. In response, Israel has been sending warnings to Syria through diplomatic back channels via the U.S., Qatar and Turkey that it might use force to stem the transfer of such weapons. But those calls seem to have been ignored, so far prompting no action however. In 2007, Israel showed its willingness to intervene when it attacked a presumed nuclear facility under construction in Syria.
A flurry of acquisition activity in recent weeks lends some credence to predictions that the commercial aviation aftermarket would ripen for acquisitions early this year.
Com Dev has begun detailed design (Phase C) for the Canadian Space Agency’s Radarsat Constellation Mission (RCM) under an authorization-to-proceed agreement from prime contractor MacDonald, Dettwiler & Associates. The RCM—a fleet of synthetic aperture radar satellites intended to provide more timely and comprehensive data than current Radarsat spacecraft—are to be launched in 2014-15, pending negotiation of a final-build contract.
Stronger commercial aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul businesses are emerging from a market that has dipped in strength in the past year. As the aviation aftermarket rebounds in 2010, expect to see companies that have focused on leaning, restructuring or reinventing their organizations during the downtime to be stronger.
China’s human spaceflight program is developing a 13-ton cargo carrier to supply the space station it plans to orbit late this decade, but the program’s leader is ready to discuss using it for International Space Station logistics, as well. Wang Wenbao, head of the China Manned Space Engineering Office, says his agency is prepared to cooperate across the board on human spaceflight with NASA and other agencies, including joint human missions and unpiloted logistics with the 5.5-ton-payload-capacity cargo vehicle it plans to test after 2014-16.
Pratt & Whitney’s aftermarket services will reach seven engine centers this year with the start of overhaul work at its Turkish joint venture in Istanbul for CFM56 and V2500 powerplants. Meanwhile, the CFM56 overhaul center that Pratt opened last September in Shanghai, in a partnership with China Eastern Airlines, is now fully online and builds on the company’s 26-year presence in Singapore (AW&ST Jan. 7, 2008, p. 55). China Eastern operates its country’s largest CFM56-powered fleet.
Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems started its pulse production line for the GPS IIF spacecraft last week with Space Vehicle 4. Each satellite will take about 10 months to manufacture, including 14 pulse stations with different work. Twelve satellites are on order from USAF.
The Space Foundation’s Space Report 2010, released at the National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, paints a picture of positive global growth in the space business, but simultaneously reveals the continuing shrinkage of the U.S. launch industry. The report reveals it reached a value of $261.6 billion in 2009, representing close to 40% growth since the Space Foundation started tracking the state of the industry in 2005.
Michael Mecham says “the Delta IV Heavy’s 2-million-lb. liftoff thrust is the most of any expendable rocket since the Saturn V . . .” Didn’t the Titan IV have around 3? (The reader is correct. The Titan IV’s two solid rocket booster motors had a combined 3 million lb. thrust. Its two-stage liquid propellant core had 548,000 lb. in the first stage and 105,000 lb. in the second—Ed.)
William F. Kiczuk (see photo) has been named vice president/chief technology officer of the Raytheon Co. , Waltham, Mass. He is a Raytheon senior principal engineering fellow and was technical director and director of the Strategic Architectures unit of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems.
Former U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab has been appointed to the board of directors of Chicago-based Boeing . She is now a member of the faculty at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. George C. Roman has become Washington-based vice president-state and local government operations. He was vice president-government operations and St. Louis regional executive for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems.
Airbus has wrapped up the Airbus A330-200F freighter flight-test campaign and on April 9 received type certification for the aircraft from the European Aviation Safety Agency. The FAA’s target date for completing the freighter certification amendment is late May. The 200-hr. flight-test program launched in November 2009 involved two aircraft, the first powered by Pratt & Whitney PW4000 turbofans (above) and the second by Rolls-Royce Trent 700s. The EASA certification includes both engine types.
Boeing recorded 12 unidentified customers for the 777 last week, which pulls the airplane into the black for the year with nine net orders. It previously had lost three orders. The company also lost a 737 order from an unidentiifed customer, giving it a net 70 for the year. In all, Boeing has 94 net orders, including 15 previously recorded for the 787.
Dorothy Arbiter (see photos) has been promoted to principal director of the Systems Engineering and Ground Div. within the National Systems Group from systems director for the Systems Architecture, Engineering and Cost Department in the Systems Engineering Div. of The Aerospace Corp. , El Segundo, Calif. Chris Dunbar has been promoted to associate principal director of the Guidance and Control Subdivision of the Vehicle Systems Div.
NASA has decided that a problem with the International Space Station’s thermal control system can wait at least a month before astronauts will have to perform a spacewalk to fix it.
