Strong continued growth by European aerospace companies in 1998 was paced by a 30% increase in exports to the U.S. and rising domestic sales. Exports to the rest of the world, however, declined by 20%, according to the Assn. of European Aerospace Industries (AECMA). Exports represented more than 50% of the industry's sales, with government contracts providing roughly 25% of all business. Total sales rose 6% last year, according to AECMA, continuing a turnaround that began in 1995. Profits were also up, with return on sales increasing to 6.6%.
Kellstrom Industries has signed a three-year agreement with Commodore Aviation, an overhaul subsidiary of Israel Aircraft Industries' Bedek Group. Kellstrom's Certified Aviation division will provide logistics and inventory management support for Commodore's C-130 military transport aircraft business.
The ToughPad Rugged Portable Computer is an ultra-lightweight, mobile, military-touch die cast aluminum computer that can be configured with either 5X86 CPU, Pentium MMX, Pentium II Mobile Module or CE X86 CPU. It was designed specifically for demanding environments in accordance with Mil-Std-810E and EMI/Mil-Std-461, including operation from -32C to +60C. The waterproof unit can be supplied with MIL-C-38999 or sealed PC-type connectors. Phoenix Group Inc., 123 Marcus Blvd., Hauppauge, N.Y. 11788.
Israel's decision to buy F-16s further boosts its export chances as it squares off against European competitors and could spell the end for the F-15 production line, although recent U.S. congressional action may win a reprieve for Boeing.
American Airlines has exercised options for an additional three Boeing 777s, bringing to 37 the number of the large, twin-engine transports scheduled to enter service with the carrier. Delivery of the aircraft, to be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 800 engines, is set for the first half of 2001. American now operates 10 777s on Pacific routes to Japan as well as on transatlantic service to London, and next year plans to use 777s on flights to Latin America and increase its 777 service to London.
Bob Pang, technical director of air traffic management for the Telephonics Corp., Farmingdale, N.Y., has received the Charles J. Hirsch Award from the Long Island Section of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He was honored for work in developing the AeroTrac ATC system.
Airbus has concluded a contract to sell 10 A320 and four A321 narrow-body transports to Spanair, confirming an announcement made earlier this year. Spanair will also take seven additional A320 family aircraft on lease. In an unrelated deal, Emirates has transformed options for an additional A330-200--its 18th--and a third Boeing 777-300.
Emery Worldwide has been endorsed by NEC Technologies as its air freight provider and customs clearance service for shipments from Asia to the U.S. Emery will manage transportation and clearance for all components and finished products being shipped from Tokyo, Bangkok and Malaysia to three NEC facilities in the U.S.
Cirrus Design Corp. delivered the first SR20 light airplane (foreground) to a customer July 20 at the company's facilities in Duluth, Minn. Cirrus President Alan Klapmeier said about 100 of the four-place, all-composite airplanes are scheduled for delivery in the next year. Cirrus has 324 orders for the SR20, which features side-stick controllers and an emergency airframe parachute system. The SR20 is powered by a 200-hp. Teledyne Continental IO-360-ES engine. Maximum cruise speed is 160 kt., with a useful load of 1,025 lb.
An EC-130E Commando Solo aircraft, similar to this one shown during a visit to Seattle to install a new Boeing phased-array antenna, flew approximately 80 refueled sorties in the airspace surrounding Yugoslavia during the Balkans campaign. The aircraft are operated by the Pennsylvania Air National Guard's 193rd Special Operations Wing, which was deployed to Ramstein AB in Germany in late March and returned home this month.
The U.S. Air Transport Assn. has petitioned the Transportation Dept. to break out air traffic control delays in future airline on-time reporting to more accurately reflect the cause of late flights.
The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Div. has given the INTELX Corp. a five-year contract valued at up to $30 million to develop and support the Hawkeye 2000 Weapon System Trainer. The first trainer will be delivered to NAS Norfolk, Va.The contract includes an option for a second device to be installed at NAS Pt. Mugu, Calif.
Datel Systems' PC-430N A/D coprocessor board has two simultaneous, sampling A/Ds. It is suited for nonstop continuous Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) processing, communications receiver signal collection to disk, or simultaneous graphics display of spectral data. A/D triggering uses a programmable timer-counter, which controls the interval between A/D conversions and the interval between multisample A/D scans. With both A/Ds sampling in parallel, the maximum conversion rate is 5 Mhz. per channel. Datel Inc., 11 Cabot Blvd., Mansfield, Mass. 02048.
Robert E. Uphus has been appointed director of quality assurance/chief metallurgist for Capo Industries Inc., Chino, Calif. He was technical director of forged metals/chief metallurgist of Conan/Accurate Metallurgical Services.
Aircraft quality assurance inspectors can utilize longer-lasting, more durable articulating fiberscopes in aircraft and engine inspections. Instrument Technology Inc. has developed ProTecht, an articulation system that significantly reduces the occurrences of accidental damage to the fiberscope due to rough handling when articulating the scope in restricted areas. The tool is also highly responsive to hand control. Instrument Technology Inc., P.O. Box 381, 33 Airport Road, Westfield, Mass. 01085.
Japan's three major carriers and their subsidiaries said a test of their computerized reservation systems, emergency and other systems was completed successfully at the end of June to assure Year 2000 computer compliance. In a joint press conference, Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways and Japan Air System added that they received assurances from manufacturers earlier in the year that the equipment is Y2K-compliant. The airlines subsequently confirmed those assurances in tests completed last month.
Until recently, US Airways Group's strong cash flow coupled with management's aggressive stock buyback program seemed like a sure-fire formula for increasing the company's shareholder value, including stock performance in the next 12-18 months.
Fairchild Aerospace is looking to hire as many as 100 engineers at its Oberpfaffenhofen facility near Munich to work on its new regional jet programs. These include the 328JET, 428JET, 528JET, 728JET and 928JET. The company, which has a backlog worth more than $8 billion, is specifically seeking specialists in aerodynamics loads, systems, landing gear, flight controls and propulsion. U.S. regional carrier Atlantic Coast Airlines recently placed orders and options for up to 100 328JET and 428JET transports, launching the 44-seat 428JET version (AW&ST July 19, p.
The ``Bulldog'' single-slot graphics overlay generator card is a mechanically ruggedized IEEE 1102.2 compliant board designed for use in harsh environments--such as the cockpit of a high-performance combat aircraft--to draw a graphics display over the video image of a target. The board is supplied with comprehensive built-in test and monitor software, accessible via VME or a diagnostic RS-232 port. Application software can be written using Primalib, Primagraphics' real-time graphics library or using the X Window system. Primagraphics has offices in the U.S., U.K.
The Davenport part-length detector for Model B, multispindle automatic screw machines senses the length of parts with an accuracy of 0.0002 in. as parts are being produced. The unit is ready for field installation, including a detector/sensor and amplifier/ LCD readout with 2-position switch. The readout is available in inch or milllimeter display and is sealed in a NEMA-12 enclosure. The sensor mounts between spindles so no tooling positions are lost. Davenport Machine, 167 Ames St., Rochester, N.Y. 14601.
Delta Air Lines will provide primary domestic heavy maintenance for Boeing Business Jets in the Boeing Netjets fleet. GE will provide engine maintenance services. BNJ has ordered nine Boeing Business Jets and placed options for 20 more. The modified 737-700s will be equipped with GE/Snecma CFM56 powerplants.
An Air Transport Assn. human factors subcommittee is helping change the way pilots are taught to fly automated cockpit aircraft by issuing guidelines for policies and procedures to use in designing pilot training courses.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., has formed a Commercial Advisory Council to optimize its research and technology development for commercialization by U.S. businesses. The council consists of leading private-sector aerospace, technology, business and financial executives. As envisioned, the small group will open new avenues of cooperation between JPL and industry for joint research and development as well as promote business growth and entrepreneurship.
Already facing the virtual certainty of F-22 cuts, the Pentagon is apt to face more congressional attacks. Air Force leaders in particular are in for harsh criticism about their stewardship of directed energy weapons, UAVs and satellite programs. ``They've been extremely disingenuous about the whole [Space-Based Infrared Satellite] effort,'' a House staffer said. ``The Air Force is dragging its feet on UAVs generally and Global Hawk specifically. They're also an obstacle in the development of directed energy weapons.
