The failure of a four-stage, 2-million-lb.-thrust Proton booster at the Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 5 has extended the string of major launch accidents to Russia--with serious international consequences. The failure of the 200-ft.-tall booster threatens the schedule for launch of the critical Russian Service Module for the International Space Station and has grounded another member of the Lockheed Martin International Launch Services commercial stable.
Maj. Gen. Pat Halloran (USAF, Ret.), former SR-71 wing commander, has received the J.T. Vida Award from the SR-71 and U-2 Blackbird Assn. for his commitment to keeping the spirit of the SR-71 program alive. Tech. Sgt. Teresa L. Glassmyer of the 9th Logistics Support Sqdn. at Beale AFB, Calif., won the General Electric Award for contributions to U-2 and T-38 engine support worldwide. Maj. Jack Hirrlinger of the 1st Reconnaissance Sqdn. at Beale received the Mastery of Flight Award for flawless handling of a U-2 emergency with full nose-down runaway trim.
ALL ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS TO AIRCRAFT FUEL tanks for fuel quantity monitoring could be replaced with a fiber-optic cable, data bus and digital processor, in a system developed by Raytheon Control-By-Light and Smiths Industries Aerospace. Replacing copper wires with fiber removes a conducting path that can carry energy into the tank from high-intensity radiated fields, lightning, or EMI, and is subject to chafing and arcing. It can still use existing capacitive probes as sensors. Instead of supplying 7 volts a.c.
Fifty schools across the U.K. will receive free Pro/Desktop design software in ``The Schools' CAD/CAM Initiative'' launched by the U.K. Dept. for Education and Employment, Parametric Technology and the Warwick Manufacturing Group. The Design and Technology Assn. (DTA), an independent educational charity, will oversee a program to ensure the successful use of the software in schools. The project was originally conceived in 1998 by Kumar Bhattacharryya of Warwick and Parametric Chairman and CEO Steven Walske.
Barely days after concluding an agreement with Deutsche Telekom to take over a satellite and orbital slot at 28.5 deg. E. Long., Eutelsat has reached a similar accord with France Telecom for a slot at 8 deg. W. Long., reinforcing its new gateway over the Atlantic.
A cockpit dialogue reportedly from SilkAir Flight 185 lends credence to the theory that the flight's captain was in a position to intentionally disable the CVR to cover up his apparent intent to crash the aircraft.
TRW has successfully operated for the first time the laser subsystem for the Tactical High Energy Laser Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrator. The demonstration, which lasted about 0.5 sec., occurred inside a fully enclosed chamber June 26 at the company's Capistrano Test Site near San Clemente, Calif. Engineers are seeking to verify the correct operation of the subsystem's major lasing components. The test was the first in a planned series to be conducted during the next few weeks.
As fallout from NATO's campaign against Yugoslavia, Pentagon acquisition chief Jacques Gansler expects ``a significant number'' of teaming arrangements between U.S. and European defense companies ``within months, rather than years.'' And he sees that leading to mergers. ``The areas that make the most sense [for teaming] are those involved in coalition warfare,'' such as communications or air and missile defenses, where commonality and interoperability are necessary.
FedEx has retained its title as the world's leading freight hauler, with Lufthansa a distant second, but United Parcel Services has edged out Korean Air for the No. 3 slot. Korean slipped to fourth place. The latest issue of World Air Transport Statistics for 1998, a publication of the International Air Transport Assn., ranks Singapore Airlines as fifth. Singapore displaced Air France, which now ranks sixth. FedEx topped the list by flying 9,615 million scheduled freight ton-kilometers. Lufthansa was second with 6,221 million scheduled freight ton-kilometers.
A British court has convicted an airline passenger who refused to switch off a mobile phone during a British Airways 737-300 flight last September between Manchester, England, and Madrid. The passenger, accused of endangering the aircraft, is to be sentenced on July 21 and could face a jail term. The case represents the first such conviction in the U.K.
Ongoing initiatives at Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems are cutting costs, boosting quality Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems has girded itself with an array of ``lean'' initiatives in its manufacturing, engineering and business activities to dramatically lower costs while simultaneously boosting competitiveness, customer satisfaction and the first-time quality of all its manufactured goods.
DaimlerChrysler Chairman Juergen Schrempp has reiterated plans to put up to 60% of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace on the stock market. The move could facilitate plans for further acquisitions--particularly in the U.S.--or allow the automaker to spin off its aerospace and defense operations, which account for less than 10% of group sales.
With strong hints from the U.S., Japan is studying use of U.S. components for the four reconnaissance satellites it plans to build in response to North Korea's tests of Radong and Tapodong ballistic missiles. Japanese industry, led by Mitsubishi Electric Co. (Melco), has been urging the government to build a reconnaissance constellation for several years, and North Korea's tests in 1998 prompted the Japanese to act. Melco probably would be named prime contractor for the program, which is estimated to cost about $1.6 billion.
James Boyd has been named Los Angeles-based director of public relations for the U.S. for Singapore Airlines. He was director of public relations for the Americas for Air New Zealand and Ansett Australia.
Thailand's plan to reduce the government's ownership share in Thai Airways International to 70% from 93% has met a wall of bureaucracy that means it is unlikely to advance until next year. There are eight major departments and consulting bodies involved in the process, which is hobbling progress.
Mark Bole has been named vice president-sales and finance of the Fairchild Aerospace Corp., San Antonio, Tex. He was treasurer of Atlantic Southeast Airlines' parent, ASA Holdings Inc.
A NASA investigative board has determined that the loss of the agency's $73-million Wide-Field Infrared Explorer (Wire) shortly after launch on Mar. 4 was caused by an improperly designed electronic component that triggered a premature firing of pyrotechnics. Electrical power almost instantly reached the pyrotechnics, ejecting the telescope's cover, as controllers initially had suspected (AW&ST Mar. 15, p. 32).
An Indian investigation team will seek to determine why a crashed on July 7 near Mount Bhasmasoor, 7 mi. southwest of the Kathmandu airport. All five crewmembers on board were killed. The all-cargo aircraft, which carried a nonhazardous payload comprising textiles and carpets, was operating the Kathmandu-Delhi route on behalf of Lufthansa German Airlines' cargo subsidiary, in Hinduja Cargo Services livery. Hinduja is jointly owned by Lufthansa and Machen Holdings U.K. Kathmandu Trihuvan Airport is located at a 6,230-ft.
Globalstar has selected the Franco-Russian consortium Starsem for a mission in 2001 intended to orbit four replacement or spare satellites. The launch is the seventh awarded to Starsem, which already has launched 12 Globalstars and is scheduled to orbit 12 more this autumn. In related news, Globalstar/Iridium competitor ICO Global Communications is extending an offering for 207.6 million new shares until July 27 instead of June 24. ICO is considering changes to conditions of the offering in an attempt to reach the minimum amount of $500 million.
The Zeevi Group, an Israeli investment company, and Knafaim-Arkia, which owns Arkia Israeli Airlines, have agreed to acquire a 75% stake in debt-laden Balkan Bulgarian Airlines for $150,000. As part of the deal, the two companies will invest $100 million over the next five years to renew the carrier's aging fleet. Balkan Bulgarian operates three leased Boeing 737-500s, although the bulk of the fleet consists of Russian-made Tupolev Tu-154s, which are to be phased out. Arkia will help manage the airline, which will remain Bulgaria's flag carrier.
Rono Dutta has been appointed president of United Airlines, effective July 13, succeeding Jim Goodwin, who will be promoted to chairman/chief executive from executive vice president/chief operating officer. Dutta has been senior vice president-planning. Goodwin will succeed Gerald Greenwald, who is retiring, and will be followed by Andrew Studdert. Douglas Hacker, who has been executive vice president, will also be chief financial officer.
British Aerospace Airbus Ltd. has selected Tecnomatix to provide Simple+++ process simulation software to support process planning and production control at its Broughton, Wales, facility.
