The inflight breakup of a Grumman Turbo Mallard G-73T operated by Chalk's Ocean Airways may lead to closer scrutiny of aging aircraft, maintenance program criteria and FAA oversight procedures.
The Italian air force will start taking delivery of AleniaAermacchi M-346 advanced jet trainers in 2009, now that Rome has finally agreed to formally become the launch customer. But the defense ministry doesn't have the money to buy the 14 aircraft being discussed as a first batch, and it is turning to the economic development ministry to foot the bill. Discussions between the two departments are underway, says defense undersecretary Lorenzo Forcieri.
UNITED STATES Editor-In-Chief: Anthony L. Velocci, Jr. [email protected] Managing Editor: James R. Asker [email protected] Assistant Managing Editor: Michael Stearns [email protected] Senior Editors: Craig Covault [email protected], David Hughes [email protected] NEW YORK 2 Penn Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10121 Phone: +1 (212) 904-2000, Fax: +1 (212) 904-6068 Senior News Editor: Nora Titterington
You can now register ONLINE for AVIATION WEEK Events. Go to www.aviationweek.com/conferences or call Lydia Janow at +1 (212) 904-3225/+1 (800) 240-7645 ext. 5 (U.S. and Canada Only) Oct. 17-18--MRO Asia, Shanghai. Oct. 29-31--A&D Programs, Phoenix. Nov. 6-8--MRO Europe, Milan. Nov. 28-29--A&D Finance Conference, New York. PARTNERSHIPS June 9--The Spirit of Patterson House, Washington. June 18-24--Paris air show. June 4-6--Defense Suppliers Forum, Washington.
Researchers are analyzing data from the first “hands-off” live-fly operations around an aircraft carrier—information that could lead to a specially modified F/A-18F Super Hornet landing on a ship without a pilot touching the controls in as little as two years.
Australia has decided to persevere with its oft-delayed program to field 11 Kaman Super Seasprite naval helicopters with updated avionics. The program's most recent problem is the realization that the aircraft, ordered in 1997, did not have a flight-control system that complies with the FAA rules adopted by the Australian defense forces. Australia has committed A$1 billion ($830 million) under a fixed-price contract. The government says the decision to continue the program is subject to contractual negotiations.
Dan Greenfield, the director of investor relations at Allegheny Technologies (ATI), keeps a Wall Street Journal clipping from December 2003 on his desk. The news item noted that the company's stock, which bottomed out at $2.10 a share earlier that year, had jumped 19% in a single day after an upgrade from a Merrill Lynch analyst who was impressed by new CEO L. Patrick Hassey.
Business aviation leaders worry that prospects for uniform security regulations may be receding just as progress is being made in harmonizing operating rules.
Kathleen Petrowsky has been appointed federal security director for Chicago O'Hare International Airport. She has been acting FSD and was deputy FSD there.
The X-51A scramjet program is procuring flight hardware for a series of Mach 6-7 tests over the Pacific Ocean to begin in the summer of 2009 to demonstrate that hypersonic propulsion can be practical for a wide array of applications.
To submit Aerospace Calendar Listings, Call +1 (212) 904-2421 Fax +1 (212) 904-6068 e-mail: [email protected] June 12-14--SAE's Digital Human Modeling for Design and Engineering Conference and Exhibition. Hotel Deca, University District, Seattle. Call +1 (724) 776-4841 or see www.sae.org June 12-14--Halldale Media Group's World Aviation Training Expo. Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando, Fla. Call +1 (407) 942-0071 or see www.halldale.com/wats
General Electric Aviation Materials will open distribution and sales offices in Singapore and Amsterdam this summer. In July, the 30,000-sq.-ft. Singapore facility will open to serve the region from China to New Zealand; Amsterdam's 50,000-sq.-ft. facility is to open in August for European, African and Middle East customers.
Sandia National Laboratories and Boeing are collaborating to explore the feasibility of using a hydrogen-powered fuel cell for backup power in aircraft. Bill Glover, Boeing Commercial Airplanes' general manager for environmental affairs, says the primary objective is to eliminate the need for auxiliary power units, which have only a 40% fuel efficiency and are basically used only when the aircraft is on the apron. Fuel cells could offer a fuel efficiency of 70% or so, and provide additional electric power in the air as well.
India's aviation ministry has given the green light to government-owned helicopter operator Pawan Hans to apply for scheduled airline status. Founded in 1985 to serve the petroleum sector, link remote areas and conduct tourist charters, Pawan Hans now plans to acquire and operate small fixed-wing aircraft to isolated locations. It has a fleet of 34 helicopters, including the Bell 206L4, Bell 407, Dauphin SA365N, Dauphin AS365N3 and Mi-172, and is acquiring two new Dauphin N3 helicopters, which it expects will be delivered in the fall.
Airbus stresses it won't change the A350XWB design again--in spite of Emirates favoring a different fuselage concept--and experienced a boost in confidence from a large order by Qatar Airways last week. But after visiting the Boeing 787 final assembly line, Emirates President Tim Clark said that "fuselage barrels are the way forward. That's not to say that the Airbus approach is flawed, but I'm of the opinion that it represents an interim step and they will move to the barrel approach eventually."
The White House is threatening to veto the Fiscal 2008 defense authorization bill if "Buy American" language in the House-passed version of the bill isn't removed.
UNITED STATES Editor-In-Chief: Anthony L. Velocci, Jr. [email protected] Managing Editor: James R. Asker [email protected] Assistant Managing Editor: Michael Stearns [email protected] Senior Editors: Craig Covault [email protected], David Hughes [email protected] NEW YORK 2 Penn Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10121 Phone: +1 (212) 904-2000, Fax: +1 (212) 904-6068 Senior News Editor: Nora Titterington
EADS Astrium says testing for the Automated Transfer Vehicle space tug, intended to resupply the International Space Station, will be completed in time to ensure an end-of-year launch.
Claudia Oliveira Amaro Demenato has been appointed chairman of the board of directors of Brazil-based TAM. She succeeds Noemy Almeida Oliveira Amaro, who remains a board member. Mauricio Rolim Amaro was named vice chairman. Pedro Pullen Parente has become a board member, filling the seat vacated by Henri Philippe Reichstul. Parente is vice president of Rede Brasil Sul.
Horizon Air, junior partner to mainline Alaska Airlines, has always been a "contrarian," says President/CEO Jeff Pinneo. Unlike other U.S. regional carriers that chiefly serve as traffic feeders to mainline airlines, Horizon dedicates two-thirds of its 500 daily flights to operations not connected to its mainline partner. In Horizon's case, only a third of its flying is fee-based and flows traffic between it and Alaska Airlines.
Walter (Woody) Hogle has become vice president-government operations of Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He succeeds Michael K. McDonald, who has retired. Phil Jasper has been named to succeed Hogle as vice president/general manager of integrated systems. Jasper was senior director of Air Force programs.
Japan Airlines will rely on a codeshare with Jetstar budget operation of Oneworld partner Qantas to restore its service on a triangular route connecting Osaka with Brisbane and Sydney. The Japanese carrier abandoned its own flights on the route in March.
Lockheed Martin has won an international patent case that establishes the term "paveway" as a generic term for a technology that uses lasers to guide bombs to a target. In 2005, Raytheon sought a trademark for the term, but the Turkish Patent Institute sided with Lockheed Martin's protest.
