Tension between Taiwan and China will likely escalate over the next few weeks and harsh words will be aimed across the strait, but senior Pentagon officials say military-to-military relations between China and the U.S. remain ``fairly good.'' As a result, they expect the crisis to resolve itself without a military clash or a significant confrontation between the U.S. and China.
Pending terminal overhauls by Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are expected to push the price tag for the redevelopment of John F. Kennedy International Airport above $9 billion, according to the airport's operator. Officials of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs JFK and four other area airports, said they met with Delta representatives on Aug. 3 to discuss construction of new terminal facilities. Delta occupies the former Pan Am Worldport and an adjacent terminal at JFK.
Hayes&Associates has developed a new class of thermally protective composite materials that makes crash- and fire-fighting suits lighter, thinner and more comfortable. The material, known by its acronym TPC, consists of a very thin endothermic film that is highly flexible and drapable, according to Claude Hayes, head of the San Diego-based research and development firm. A prototype crash suit delivered to the U.S.
Korean Air has hired its first non-Korean vice president to head its revamped pilot training program. Capt. William John Hardy, 52, will head the South Korean carrier's special projects program directing its $30-million training effort in conjunction with FlightSafety Boeing. The Seoul-based airline is trying to turn around its safety record since a series of crashes left it with such a tarnished image that other carriers suspended their code-sharing agreements with Korean Air. The FlightSafety Boeing program, which begins this month, is a key part of the program.
DGA French armaments agency has selected Thomson Training&Simulation and Sogitec to supply two Rafale M full-flight simulators to the French navy. They are scheduled to be delivered during the fourth quarter of 2000.
It's D-Day for Iridium. This week, the $4.85-billion global satellite venture must reach a debt restructuring agreement with its investors, lenders and bondholders. Without one, Iridium likely would have to file for bankruptcy protection or, at the extreme worst, liquidate and sell off its constellation of 66 low-Earth orbit satellites.
The 601 Series of low-cost, miniature magnetic coaxial failsafe switches operates to 18 GHz. Standard with SMA connectors, these 50 ohm impedance switches with actuating voltage of 12-28v dc are intended for test equipment uses. They can handle up to 100W CW and offer up to 5 million operations without performance degradation. The product line of switches range from single-pole single-throw to single-pole 10-throw as well as transfer, inline models and waveguide designs. Dow-Key Microwave, 4822 McGrath St., Ventura, Calif. 93003-5641.
Alitalia and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will combine passenger and cargo operations under a new accord extending well beyond the limits of more conventional airline alliances. Although the two carriers will remain separate legal entities in the foreseeable future, last year's Master Cooperation Agreement (MCA), which has now been formally approved by the partners' boards for an initial 10-year term starting on Oct. 29, will give birth to a virtually unified company.
The Bivco 6000 Series inline check valves use chemically inert, Teflon bodies and poppets to provide dependable service in corrosive liquid or gas systems. The free-floating nature of the conical seat permits controlled horizontal, vertical and radial movement. In the closed position, the wedge-like action of the conical poppet seals the seat against the body, for bubble-tight sealing. In the open position, the seat again becomes free floating. Seat and poppet cannot freeze in any position within their operating pressure/temperature range. Circle Seal Controls, P.O.
Derek Cheung has been appointed vice president-research and director of the Rockwell Science Center, Thousand Oaks, Calif. He succeeds Joe Longo, who is retiring.
British Airways, continuing its drive to lower capacity in order to improve yields, is looking to acquire 20-40 100-seat aircraft for regional operations. The carrier, which is seeking bids from suppliers, is considering Boeing's 717, Airbus Industrie's A318 and British Aerospace's Avro RJX-100 upgrade. BA also would like to dispose of older 757s, many of which could end up with DHL.
FAA/PMA approval has been received by ECi for new replacement cylinders for Pratt&Whitney R-1340 series engines. An upgraded A242 casting alloy (the same used on many later-built P&W cylinder heads) has led to Mil-Std-2175 Class 1, Grade B quality. The skirt flange cracking problem has been addressed by eliminating the skirt relief. Castings are produced under radiographic control to appropriate plates in ASTME-155 and machining is done to provide design conformity. Engine Components Inc., 9503 Middlex, San Antonio, Tex. 78217-5994.
The PDR9000 is a vacuum gauge controller that will provide power and readout for convention and cold cathode transducers. Its compact size makes it an excellent portable diagnostic tool for analyzing problems such as pressure discrepancies. It can also be used in leak detection, since both sensors are gas sensitive. The vacuum measurement range is 3 X 1010-1,000 Torr. MKS Instruments Inc. 5330 Sterling Drive, Boulder, Colo. 80301.
Despite the success of NATO's first combat operation in its 50-year history in Yugoslavia, a number of crucial challenges face the alliance. NATO must reshape itself to meet the new strategic concept and command structure agreed to by the allies at a Washington summit meeting earlier this year. They also charted an ambitious course with their ``defense capabilities initiative'' aimed at modernizing NATO's forces, making them more mobile and flexible to meet potential conflicts like that in Kosovo.
An extended fairing developed to allow the Ariane 5 booster to launch larger payloads was blown apart during a separation test inside the world's largest vacuum chamber, the Space Power Facility at NASA Glenn Research Center's Plumbrook facility in Sandusky, Ohio.
Ruben Moreno has been named Fort Worth-based corporate director of standards of FlightSafety International. He was manager of training and standardization for Business Jet Solutions. Jim Lair has become assistant manager of FSI's Bell Helicopter training center in Fort Worth.
Like the mythical bird Phoenix that perished and resurrected to fly again, Minor Lane Heights, a suburb of Louisville International Airport, will dissolve in coming months and reemerge as a new town far away from aircraft noise.
Raisbeck Engineering Inc. has completed modifying 30 of 52 Boeing 727s for American Airlines to meet more stringent FAA Stage 3 noise requirements which become effective at the end of this year. The installation includes replacing the wing leading edge actuators and hardware as well as changing the maximum flap extension configuration. Raisbeck is performing the modifications during scheduled C maintenance checks at the airline's Tulsa, Okla., facilities. American is lead customer for the modifications, which require about 100 hr. to complete on each airplane.
Brig. Gen. Timothy Neel and James M. Craun have joined the services' safety and economic analysis division of GKMG Consulting in Washington. Neel is deputy commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard and was director of FAA international aviation safety assessment. Craun directed the U.S. Transportation Dept. Office of Aviation and International Economics.
Raytheon Systems has been awarded a contract from the U.K.'s National Air Traffic Services to provide and install an ASR-10SS solid-state primary surveillance radar at London Heathrow Airport for approach control.
The PointWatch compact, lightweight infrared hydrocarbon detector offers the advantages of lower maintenance costs by not needing routine calibration, by operating in oxygen-depleted environments and by reliable performance in high concentrations of background gases. The 21/2 X 81/4-in. unit's explosion proof enclosure is available in aluminum or stainless steel. A multilayered filter system protects the optics from dirt and water. Det-Tronics, 3901 West 110 St., Minneapolis, Minn. 55438.
