Eurocopter AS532/EC725 The AS532 Cougar and the new EC725 are twin-engine, medium-lift military transport and special-purpose helicopters. They are the military versions of Eurocopter’s AS332 Super Puma and EC225, respectively. Current engines are as follows: AS532 Mk1, two Turbomeca Makila 1A1 turboshaft engines rated at 1,819 shp. each for takeoff; AS532 Mk2, two Turbomeca Makila 1A2 turboshafts rated at 1,845 shp. each for takeoff; and EC725, two Turbomeca Makila 2A turboshafts rated at 2,100 shp. each for takeoff.
Air France-KLM is planning to transform a number of short-haul slots at London’s Heathrow Airport into transatlantic services in a bid to gain a foothold in the lucrative U.K./U.S. market. The move will involve U.S. partners of the Air France-led SkyTeam—Delta and Northwest—which plan to pool the new routes via a joint venture agreement with Air France-KLM to replace existing ad-hoc code-sharing arrangements with a setup in which all airlines share costs, revenues and decision-making.
Sikorsky SH/MH-60 Seahawk Current production models of this medium-lift anti-submarine warfare and special-purpose maritime helicopter are the MH-60R and MH-60S. They are powered by two GE T700-GE-401/401C turboshaft engines rated 1,690-1,860 shp. each. The MH-60R configuration combines systems and capabilities from earlier Seahawk variants, plus further upgrades. The U.S. Navy plans to procure 254 new-build MH-60Rs.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) hopes that Congress will include funding for a six-month pilot program for employee screening, allowing it to start this effort at six airports in January. TSA has already worked with industry groups, including Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA), to establish employee-screening efforts at airports.
A last-minute bid by the U.S. to sell Lockheed Martin F-16s to Morocco appears to have destroyed French hopes of making that country the first export customer for the new-generation Dassault Aviation Rafale fighter. As of late last week, a U.S. offer to sell up to 24 new-build F-16s for $2.1 billion, or a like number of secondhand aircraft for $1.6 billion, had apparently received the nod over Dassault’s €2-billion ($2.8 billion) proposal for 18 Rafales.
The Space-Based Infrared System (Sbirs) program, believed during the past few months to be out of the woods, is back in hot water. After persistent cost increases, Air Force officials thought the ballistic missile warning satellite system’s cost estimate had stabilized at $10 billion. Not so. Last week, USAF Secretary Michael Wynne notified the Pentagon’s leadership of a new overrun, potentially $1 billion. This time the trouble is in the geosynchronous-Earth-orbit (GEO) satellite’s safe-hold system, which engages when an on-orbit satellite encounters anomalies.
AgustaWestland AW109 The current military model of this twin-engine, eight-seat, single-main-rotor multipurpose helicopter is the AW109 LUH, which is powered by either two Turbomeca Arrius 2K2 turboshafts, rated at 711 shp. each, or two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207C engines, rated at 735 shp. each. Armament capability for the AW109 LUH is as follows: 7.62mm and 12.7mm machine guns, rocket launchers, anti-tank missiles (TOW, HOT or Hellfire) and/or air-to-air missiles (Stinger or Mistral).
The Air Force’s air armament center at Eglin AFB, Fla., is officially in the hunt for high-power microwave (HPM) weapons to put in its munitions, cruise missiles and UAVs. Last week, the center issued a request for information, due Nov. 1, about “HPM source technology capabilities.” It is interested in counter-electronics payloads that won’t damage buildings or harm humans.
The U.S. Navy’s selection of a contractor to develop the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) system has slipped until February. It was slated for award this month.
Alenia Aeronautica has landed a three-year contract to provide technical and logistics support for Italian C-130J transports. The €97-million award, notably covering spares management, will ensure fleet readiness through 2010.
Though Lockheed Martin is working to get its stealthy cruise missile program back on track, company officials are considering proposing an alternative to the Pentagon. The Air Force issued a request for information (RFI) for alternatives to the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (Jassm) last month as a backup plan if the weapon’s price goes too high. Lockheed Martin is working to improve reliability and to fix a GPS dropout problem that has distorted Jassm’s guidance.
Is the U.S. Air Force turning its back on future sustained supersonic capability by opting for a subsonic, next-generation, long-range strike aircraft? The short answer is a definite “no,” according to the service’s chief scientist.
Bell UH-1/212/412 This family of single-main-rotor, single- and twin-engine utility helicopters has come in a variety of models, and has been built by Bell Helicopter Textron and several licensees. Models in production or forecast for delivery over the coming 10 years include the UH-1Y improved four-blade variant—with the first 10 units for the U.S. Marine Corps to be upgraded UH-1Ns—and the bulk of the USMC acquisition (encompassing 90 units) to be new-production aircraft.
Oct. 15-16—Technology Training Corp.’s Aviation Maintenance Conference. MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas. And, Oct. 29-30—Military Energy and Fuels Conference, Harrah’s Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas. Call +1 (310) 563-1223, fax +1 (310) 563-1220 or see www.ttcus.com Oct. 16—Air Force Assn. Symposium on Space. Beverly Hills (Calif.) Hilton. Call +1 (703) 247-5800, fax +1 (703) 247-5853 or see www.afa.org
EADS CASA/IAe CN-235/C-295 CN-235 passenger transport variants seat between 30 -40 passengers or up to 53 paratroopers. The new, stretched C-295 carries up to 78 troops. The CN-235 is powered by two GE CT7 turboprop engines (the exact version depends on aircraft model), and the C-295 is powered by two 2,750-shp. Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G turboprops. The first CN-235 prototype flew in 1983, followed by initial deliveries in 1986. First flight of the C-295 occurred in 1997, with deliveries beginning in 2001.
Southwest Airlines’ first fatal accident since its 1971 start is prompting safety improvements designed to prevent runway overruns. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)-recommended safety measures after the Dec. 8, 2005, accident at Chicago Midway Airport are aimed at helping pilots better assess when, and if, it is safe to land, especially on contaminated runways.
AgustaWestland EH101/AW101 A three-engine, medium-lift, multirole helicopter, the EH101 has been produced in naval, military utility and civil versions. Team US101, a partnership comprising AgustaWestland, Lockheed Martin and Bell Helicopter Textron, is developing a U.S. version of the EH101 for the U.S. Navy’s VXX presidential transport program. The US101 will be powered by GE CT7-8E engines, rated at more than 2,500 shp. AgustaWestland markets the AW101, which incorporates features from the US101, as the standard model for non-U.S. sales.
Sukhoi Su-25 The Su-25 is a twin-engine, single- and twin-seat, ground attack and weapons training aircraft powered by two Tumansky/Soyuz R-195 turbojet engines rated 9,921 lb. thrust each. First flight of a prototype occurred in 1975. A number of versions have been produced, including the Su-25TM, which includes new avionics and increased fuel capacity. More than 1,200 Su-25s were manufactured. Competing Su-25 upgrade packages for existing aircraft are on the market.
Ron Marcotte has been appointed vice president-business development and Daryl G. Pelc vice president-engineering and technology for Boeing Advanced Systems. Marcotte was vice president/general manager and Pelc chief engineer for Boeing Global Mobility Systems, Long Beach, Calif.
Recently in your Correspondence section, reader Mark Fay touted letting judges make the final decision on aircraft accidents (AW&ST Sept. 17, p. 10). In my opinion, that is the worst way to handle such matters that could ever be devised. Turning such decisions over to lawyers is not the way to go. Speaking as a retired Naval aviator, I recall a number of occasions where investigating boards decided on pilot error when they lacked sufficient evidence to pin down a cause. Sometimes they were right but too often they overlooked poor engineering and/or maintenance.
Fuji T-7 The Fuji T-7, also known as the T-3 Kai or the KM-2F, is a two-seat basic/primary trainer derived from Fuji’s earlier T-5. The T-7 is powered by a 450-shp. Rolls-Royce 250-B17F turboprop engine. First flight of a prototype, converted from an existing T-3, occurred in 1998. In 2000, the T-7 was selected over the Pilatus PC-7 as the new primary trainer for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. T-7 deliveries began in 2002, with 41 produced through 2006. Production of eight additional T-7s is forecast.
Hawker Beechcraft has won a $3-billion contract for procurement of T-6A Texan II training aircraft in Lots 14-20 and ground-based training systems and service support for the U.S. Air Force and Navy. Northrop Grumman snagged a $44.5-million add-on contract for peacetime support of the Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. And, General Atomics took home a $22-million contract increase for MQ-9 Predator-B parts and maintenance at Creech AFB, Nev., and deployed sites elsewhere.
Aermacchi MB-339 The MB-339 was developed as a follow-on to Aermacchi’s MB-326. The first prototype flew in 1976. Propulsion is provided by a Rolls-Royce Viper Mk 632-43 engine (4,000 lb. thrust) or a Viper Mk 680 (4,400 lb. thrust). More than 220 aircraft for flight training and light air combat have been produced. The MB-339CD variant is a lead-in trainer for Tornado and Eurofighter Typhoon pilots in the Italian air force.
Deborah G. Droke has been appointed Washington-based director of sales development for the Mid-Atlantic U.S. for South African Airways. She was manager of national account sales for US Airways.
