The U.S. Army Forces Command has selected Lockheed Martin Aircraft&Logistics Centers--under a $45-million contract over a five-year period--as a provider of logistic support field teams under a program called Logistics Joint Administrative Management Support Services.
High tensions with India over Kashmir have prompted Pakistan's government to seek a 10.9% increase in defense spending. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said the National Assembly is being asked to approve 142 billion rupees ($2.74 billion) for the armed forces, about $270 million more than last year.
Robust sales of airline transports and a stabilizing defense environment are overshadowing subtle indications that the health of today's global aerospace industry is in jeopardy.
Researchers at Baltimore-based Epitaxial Technologies are fabricating a low-cost multiwave infrared detector that, when the technology is fully developed, could allow broad-based commercial use of IR technology. The sensor is formed by depositing layers of different optoelectronic materials, such as gallium-indium-arsenide, on a substrate using molecular beam epitaxy techniques. The complex layers allow the wafer to simultaneously respond to more than one wavelength of optical radiation, according to Leye Aina, president.
Mumbai-based Jet Airways has received Indian government approval to operate five ATR 72-500 twin-engine turboprops, which had been ordered about a year ago. Delivery of the first two of the 64-passenger aircraft is expected by mid-October. The third aircraft should arrive in late October, and the fourth and fifth ATR 72s, during the first quarter of 2000.
Scientists at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffet Field, Calif., have designed an improved leading-edge attachment method that promotes laminar airflow on metal aircraft. The low-cost technique machines a shallow recess where the leading edge and upper wing skins join, an area typically encompassing rivet attach points as well as the skin joint. Using the new technique, fasteners are flush mounted in the machined-out area and the recess is filled with a precision-cut aluminum or plastic cover strip, according to Robert A.
Bell/Agusta Aerospace Co. envisions a market for at least 900 of its new AB139 medium twin-engine helicopters over the next 20 years, although the company has yet to book its first order. The decision to launch the program was based on what the company described as a ``rigorous'' market analysis dating back to the mid-1990s and updated last year. Base price is $6 million. The aircraft, which was unveiled at the Paris air show last week, is powered by two 3,358 shp.-rated Pratt&Whitney Canada PT6C-67C turboshaft engines.
Bragging rights for delay-free operations last year go to Fairbanks International Airport. During 1998, the Alaska facility recorded one delay in more than 141,000 IFR arrivals and departures, according to a congressionally mandated study of delays at the top 55 U.S. airports. Despite its severe winter weather, Fairbanks beat out perennial good-weather favorites such as Honolulu International and Maui. In 1997, the airport--located hard by the Arctic Circle--ranked second in the FAA's Air Traffic Operations Management ``Opsnet'' delay database.
When preparing the Polyurethane Die for flap fairing, toolmakers manufacture a master model using loft data. After applying a sheet wax to the model surfaces, they make a plaster splash. They then build a plastic-faced plaster tooling intermediate on the splash and apply a universal surface coat backed by two layers of epoxy and fiberglass. Then a paste compound is used to produce a fast curing, lightweight PFP that is sanded to remove about 5% of the thickness. Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corp., 4917 Dawn Ave., East Lansing, Mich. 48823-5691
Delta Air Lines, which is establishing an all-digital shop floor maintenance system, recently signed a multimillion-dollar contract with CIMLINC for licensing and implementation of the Shop Excellerator software package. The application is aimed at ``driving processing and procedure compliance on the shop floor,'' according to John West, president of CIMLINC, a major supplier of e-shop floor information systems to the industry. Working in the ``author module,'' planners may create multimedia documentation defining work procedures.
Christopher C. Bernhardt has become president of the Litton Industries Data Systems Div., Agoura Hills, Calif. He was vice president-business operations and development for Litton Guidance and Control Systems.
Don R. Kozlowski has been named president/chief operating officer of the VisionAire Corp., Chesterfield, Mo. He succeeds Fred E. Miller, who will become vice chairman. Kozlowski was executive vice president/Vantage program manager. Gregory M. Bubb has been appointed senior vice president/chief financial officer and Joseph F. Furnish vice president-engineering. Bubb held the same positions at Garrett Aviation Services, and Furnish held the same position at the Dee Howard Co.
A Nobel laureate will head NASA's Astrobiology Institute, an assembly of leading scientists whose search for answers to age-old questions about how life began is expected to shape the agency's future planetary exploration program. Dr. Baruch Blumberg, 73, winner of the 1976 Nobel prize in physiology and medicine for discovering the hepatitis B vaccine, expects to take over leadership of the institute in September.
The Shaft-Tucker is a self contained, resolver-based encoder. It provides incremental and absolute position outputs with a resolution of 4,096 counts per turn. It is packaged in a Nema 12/4-rated, 4-in. long housing, and features a size 25, 2.5-in. square flange mount, for placement of standard optical encoders. The units are free from deficiencies such as limited life brushes, light sources, fragile optics and brush noise. Computer Conversions Corp., 6 Dunton Court, East Northport, N.Y. 11731.
Larry Rockliff has been appointed vice president of the Airbus IndustrieTraining Center, Miami Springs, Fla. He has been an instructor there on all Airbus aircraft types. Rockliff succeeds John Lauber, who is now head of the Airbus Industrie Office of Safety and Technical Affairs for North America in Washington.
Boeing has commissioned an independent panel of experts dubbed the Boeing Mission Assurance Review Team to examine a full spectrum of internal processes, then recommend ways to improve reliability of the company's expendable launch vehicles. Chaired by Sheila E. Widnall, former Air Force Secretary, the panel comprises Gen. Donald J. Kutyna (USAF, Ret.), Steven D. Dorfman, Eberhardt Rechtin, George W. Jeffs and Frederick H. Hauck.
Amr ElSawy has been named senior vice president/general manager and director of the Mitre Center for Advanced Aviation System Development, McLean, Va. He succeeds John J. Fearnsides, who has retired.
EXPANDING THEIR INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE, Pilkington Optronics of the U.K. intends to team with Flight Visions to provide an advanced head-up display to upgrade the U.S. Air Force's C-130.
Vanguard Airlines is expanding in spite of difficulties obtaining airport gates and leased airplanes at prices the carrier considers reasonable. The network of business-oriented city markets will grow to 10 on July 15 with the addition of Buffalo, N.Y. Cincinnati was added as the ninth market on Apr. 15 and flights have increased to five from three a day between Atlanta and Vanguard's home base, Kansas City.
Joel S. Birnbaum, retired chief scientist for Hewlett-Packard, and former astronaut Sally K. Ride, a professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego, have been named to the board of directors of Washington-based Veridian.
The Top Prop family of lightweight, modern, compact piston propeller systems has been approved under a Supplemental Type Certificate for use on Piper Turbo Arrow III and Turbo Arrow IV aircraft. The newly approved prop offers improved service and maintenance benefits, including a six-year, 2,400-hr. time between overhaul, improved ground clearance, reduced noise levels and vibration, and elimination of the current rpm. restriction placards. Hartzell Propeller Inc., One Propeller Place, Piqua, Ohio 45356-2634.
The HVLP Spray Gun is lightweight and has tough nylon grips for maximum durability. Its small grip size and short grip span make it ideal for smaller hands. The gun also features a large, easy-to-grasp fluid adjustment knob, flexible swivel hose to maneuver easily, nylon-lined fluid hose compatible with all coatings, optional lock-out system to assure 10-psi. HVLP NESHAP compliance and pneumatic trigger. Replacement grips allow for easy clean-up. Devilbiss, 1724 Indian Wood Circle, Maumee, Ohio 43537-4048.
