A DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING (DSP) CHIP, believed to be the first optimized for the frequency domain, is in production at DSP Architectures. NASA selected a radiation-hardened version of the DSP24 for a Honeywell vector processor set to launch in 2005 as part of the agency's Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (Gifts), which will test new technology for measuring temperature, water vapor, wind and chemical composition of the atmosphere.
Hans G. Hollander, a longtime marketing consultant who specialized in services to companies at international air shows, died Sept. 2 at home in Harrison, N.Y. He was 73. Hollander came to the U.S. in 1957 from his native Germany as a cargo expeditor for Lufthansa. He later became station manager in New York. In 1964, Hollander founded American Aerospace&Defense Industries Inc. He concentrated his early efforts on the design of sales chalets. Hollander later arranged for large blocks of exhibit hall space at major air shows and then sold segments to clients.
Airport-related construction starts in the U.S. were up 57% in the first half of 2001, with a strong gain for both terminal and runway projects, according to F.W. Dodge. (Dodge, like Aviation Week, is a unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.) It says while aviation-related building has trended upward solidly over the past two decades, the dollar value is volatile from year to year. In 2000, airport projects fell 34% to just under $3 billion.
General Electric and Honeywell have appealed the European Commission's decision earlier this year against their planned merger. The joint appeal was filed Sept. 12 with the Court of First Instance in Luxembourg, the European tribunal that normally hears EC cases (AW&ST July 9, p. 27).
In contrast with Boeing's decision to lower production and impose massive job cuts, Airbus executives last week ruled out dramatic changes in its production schedule. Airbus, however, recently revised its combined production rate for 2003 and beyond, girding for an approaching sales plateau or moderate market downturn. A long-term goal to produce an average 450 aircraft per year was put on hold several weeks prior to the terrorist attacks against the U.S.
Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Co. has become the first on-the-job training center for maintenance technicians for Airbus A319/A320/A321 transports in China. Gameco, an overhaul partnership comprising China Southern Airlines, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics International and Hutchison Whampoa, maintains the A320-family aircraft for Air Macao, China Northern and Hainan Airlines, as well as China Southern's fleet.
The U.S. airline industry is near financial collapse--a casualty of the recent terrorist assaults--and while a federal rescue package would certainly help, at least one or two major carriers probably will fail. No fewer than five airlines are on the ``most endangered'' list. They are AirTran, America West, Continental, Northwest and US Airways--based on their cash reserves, as well as their ability to borrow money.
KAISER ELECTRONICS HAS DELIVERED the first rear projection display to Lockheed Martin for the F-22 program, as part of a product improvement effort aimed at reducing costs. The 8 X 8-in. display will be for laboratory integration and evaluation, but is being considered for the primary multifunction display. Since rear projection displays share a common ``engine,'' they can be created in sizes not common in AMLCDs, at a large cost saving to the buyer.
U.S. military forces are moving into the Middle East and South Asia, a flow that will accelerate markedly over the next two weeks. The multinational ``Bright Star'' exercise, slated for late September, will be used to move additional forces into Egypt that will stay on in the region after the exercise is completed, Air Force officials said.
As the nation gears up to combat terrorism, NASA managers are waiting for the third shoe to drop on their straitened Fiscal 2003 budget. First came the Bush Administration's spending ``blueprint.'' That forced the agency to cover a $4.8-billion shortfall on the International Space Station, an unfunded facilities repair bill estimated at $2.5 billion, and everything else--all without adding to its long-term spending plan. The agency's top managers, already scarred from a budget-squeezing ``retreat'' this month (AW&ST Sept. 10, p.
Bryson P. Monteleone has been appointed vice president-marketing and operations/chief financial officer, Christian Nuehlen manager of global marketing/ senior analyst and Jennifer Winkler manager of operations for Washington-based Morten Beyer and Agnew Inc.
Ron Schleede, Gregory Feith and Mike Stockhill, all former National Transportation Safety Board senior accident investigators, have joined Safety Services International, Redmond, Wash.
Officials with the Airports Council International-North America are cautioning Congress that airline bailout plans under consideration in the aftermath of terrorist attacks should also include airports. ACI-NA Vice President Stephen Van Beek said if landing fees or passenger facility charges are lowered or waived as a way to help airlines cut operating costs, hundreds of medium and large airports in the U.S. and Canada could face financial crises--lower bond ratings and higher payments on about $40 billion in accumulated debt for ongoing improvement projects.
Navy and Sikorsky pilots based at the manufacturer's Stratford, Conn., headquarters flew early relief missions into lower Manhattan in the hours following the attack on the Twin Towers of New York's World Trade Center.
Mark VanLoh has been named president/CEO of the Chattanooga (Tenn.) Metropolitan Airport Authority. He has been commissioner of airports for Hopkins International and Burke Lakefront airports, both in Cleveland.
The economic pain inflicted on the U.S. aerospace industry by terrorists who attacked Washington and New York may not become as acute as it will for the airlines, but it will be greater than anything the sector has experienced in many years (see p. 14). The Aerospace Industries Assn. (AIA) expects total sales to drop by up to $5.6 billion in 2002, and by as much as $6.7 billion in 2003. Increased military and space-related sales may offset some commercial losses, depending on how the Bush Administration responds to the crisis, but it's too soon to tell by how much.
PAM Group is developing a turbine-powered version of its experimental flying platform and is collaborating with Nina, Wis.-based SWB Turbines to get the vehicle into the air by year's end.
President Bush has proffered a Cabinet-level ``Office of Homeland Security,'' nominating fellow Republican and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge to head the organization. Speaking to world leaders during a 30-min. joint session of Congress, Bush said, ``Either you're with us, or you're with the terrorists.'' Bush spent much of last week trying to assemble an international coalition to combat terrorism. At the same time, the Administration spent energies trying to defuse any domestic backlash against Muslims.
Japan's Transport Ministry was warned last week of a possible terrorist attack on the U.S. Yokota air base in western Tokyo. The Civil Aviation Bureau said an FAA officer reported that four Arab terrorists are hiding in the city's Chofu and Yokota districts and may try to charter a general aviation aircraft to plunge it into the base. The embassy later denied that it was the source of the warning, however. The ministry issued an alert to the country's airports and GA aircraft owners, but reported nothing suspicious.
Aerospace companies worldwide responded quickly to relief efforts established in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. The money will go toward assisting victims of the attacks, as well as to the firefighters and police of New York and Washington. GE has pledged $10 million; Boeing, more than $5 million; EADS, $2 million; Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, $1 million each. These are just some of a myriad of companies donating money, time, equipment and blood.
GE Capital Aviation Services is using custom software from Intelliseek of Cincinnati (www.intelliseek.com) to automatically monitor a number of public and private online information sources to look for commercial, regional and cargo aircraft that are for sale or lease. The system filters and sorts the data by predefined parameters to notify Gecas employees of potential deals. Gecas has added its own patent-pending technology that automatically generates offer letters.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. has completed initial flight tests of an F-16C equipped with nonfunctional conformal fuel tanks (CFT) for advanced versions of the fighter. The tests, conducted at Eglin AFB, Fla., involved 24 flights totaling 65 hr. checking flutter, loads and stability-and-control issues. The CFTs provide 440 gal. of additional fuel. Further flight testing of the airplane fitted with functional CFTs is scheduled for late October.
