In the wake of three accidents, Bell Helicopter Textron is modifying the tail rotor and its control system on Bell 407 aircraft and is conducting special flight tests aimed at removing airspeed limitations by midyear. A Bell official said in each accident the tail boom was severed at Station 150, about 5-7 in. aft of the horizontal stabilizers. Although pilot error is not being ruled out as a factor, to avoid further problems Bell is restricting maximum indicated airspeed to 100 kt.--well below the aircraft's original never-exceed speed (Vne) of 140 kt.
Aircelle, an Airbus Industrie/Hispano-Suiza Aerostructures joint subsidiary, and SINT, a Hurel-Dubois affiliate, have agreed to form a Toulouse, France-based joint venture to equip Rolls-Royce Trent 700 turbofans for Airbus A340-500/600 long-range transports.
Scott Dudley has been appointed assistant manager of FlightSafety International's Savannah (Ga.) Center. He was president/chief pilot of University Clubs Aviation, Columbia, S.C.
TRW has delivered the first laser for a next-generation lithography process, thus taking a major step toward expanding the commercial base for the company's solid state laser products. The laser was developed under a joint agreement signed in 1997 between TRW and the Extreme Ultraviolet Limited Liability Co., a consortium of U.S. semiconductor manufacturers led by Intel, Motorola and Advanced Micro Devices.
DaimlerChrysler Aerospace reported a two-fold increase in earnings for 1998, posting an operating profit of 623 million euros ($685 million) on sales of 8.8 billion euros, compared to the equivalent of 284 million euros in 1997. This represented an operating margin on sales of 7%, half a point better than that for the DaimlerChrysler group as a whole.
Thomson-CSF will supply upgraded airborne communications systems, valued at $37 million, to the British Ministry of Defense to equip Royal Air Force C-130Ks, VC.10s and PR9 Canberras, and Royal Navy Jetstream T3s and Nimrods. In addition, Thomson-CSF has concluded partnerships with several British subcontractors such as British Aerospace, Marshall Aerospace and FRA Aviation.
A court in Perth, Australia, has allowed a flight attendant to sue Ansett Airlines over alleged health damage caused by cabin fumes in British Aerospace BAe 146 regional transports. Altogether, 63 Ansett flight attendants say they cannot work on the four-engine jet because of fumes, which are likened to the smell of dirty socks. The BAe 146, operated by Ansett, Qantas Airlink and National Jet Systems throughout Australia, has been the subject of examination regarding oil fumes in its air-conditioning system for some time.
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is mapping the sky in a number of wavelengths in an effort to help satellites distinguish faint targets against celestial and Earth backgrounds.
El Al Israel Airlines will use E-TicketSM services offered by a combination of United Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Speedwing. The package includes United's electronic ticketing, Singapore's departure control application interface, and Speedwing's reservation application interface and implementation services. El Al is expected to roll out its electronic ticketing system this autumn. The agreement represents Speedwing's first sale to an IRIS reservations system-hosted carrier.
A. Scott Crossfield, longtime aeronautical engineer and the first pilot to fly at Mach 2 and first to fly successfully at Mach 3, is one of four new honorary fellows elected by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The others are: Philip M. Condit, chairman/CEO of the Boeing Co.; Vance D. Coffman, chairman/CEO of the Lockheed Martin Corp.; and Boris Laschka, professor at the Technical University of Munich, Germany.
The Kosovo conflict has again proven the value of B-52s as heavy hitters in aerial combat--this time because the bombers are firing satellite-guided cruise missiles that can find their way through the thick cloud layer that has slowed the air campaign. The B-52 force, which varied between 4-9 aircraft during the first week of fighting, struck first at Yugoslavia's air defenses and then shifted to airfields, repair depots and vehicle concentrations.
Pentagon officials aren't sure what Russia is up to by sending an intelligence ship into the Mediterranean to monitor NATO strikes. One possibility is a Russian attempt to update badly degraded threat libraries, one Pentagon official theorized. NATO officials are not overly concerned the ship will provide information to Yugoslav forces because the Yugoslav military has extensive intelligence capabilities, the target of jammers and air strikes.
Lockheed Martin Astronautics will cut 1,200 employees this year, including a 30% reduction in management positions. The cuts are part of Astronautics' previously announced restructuring to reduce spacecraft and launch vehicle product cycle times by 50% (AW&ST Feb. 8, p. 69). Its Deer Creek Canyon headquarters is on the market now, and operations are being consolidated at its Waterton facilities southwest of Denver.
Blaine Baggett has joined NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., as executive manager of the Office of Communications and Education. He was vice president-national productions and scheduling for Los Angeles public television station KCET.
A week after Singapore Airlines got a favorable government review of a plan to acquire a half ownership in Ansett Australia, financial markets have turned thumbs down on an alternate plan that would see Air New Zealand buy the Ansett stake instead.
Sweden's Ericsson Saab Avionics has been awarded a contract by Avitronics of South Africa to develop and manufacture electronic subsystems for the Saab/British Aerospace Gripen multi-role combat aircraft. The initial phase of the contract covers delivery of new power units valued at more than $1 million for the Gripen's display system.
The U.K. Ministry of Defense is looking at deferring some production of Asraam missiles destined for the Royal Air Force in order to match aircraft availability. The integrated project team (IPT) in charge of the program said that the move will also allow for an incremental upgrade to the short-range missile developed by Matra BAe Dynamics. The IPT is looking at installing a new processor with additional memory capability.
The U.S. Air Force is developing a new array of advanced aerospace materials and manufacturing technology on which to base a whole new class of sensors, structures and optics needed for development of advanced launch and military satellite systems.
Pilots from 11 airlines have formed the ``Oneworld'' Cockpit Crew Coalition aimed at preserving their jobs amid expansion of alliances between major carriers. Pilots are concerned that as global alliances continue to spread, flying will be outsourced to other airlines in the Oneworld alliance formed recently by American Airlines, British Airways, Canadian Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways and Qantas Airways. Finnair is scheduled to join later this year. Capt. Rich LaVoy, president of the Allied Pilots Assn.
For the first time in its 50-year history, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is conducting military operations against a sovereign state. The alliance has placed its credibility on the line, betting that a bombing campaign alone can stop a renegade regime from waging a brutal military campaign against an ethnic minority.
Increased competition resulting from the revised U.S.-Japan aviation bilateral and a liberalized domestic market is forcing Japan Airlines to rely more on alliances and partnerships for growth. Longer term, the prospect of a second main runway at Tokyo's primary international airport, Narita, will add capacity and likely intensify competition still further, the airline said.
Europe has postponed stricter hushkit rules until Apr. 29, inviting their amendment and calling for greater cooperation with the U.S. on uniform noise standards under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The partial privatization of Thai Airways International has been set for October, when the government is expected to reduce its holdings to 70% from 93%. Credit Suisse First Bank Group has been retained by the government to handle the transaction, and it will study options including a sale to selected investors or a public offering. Some news reports suggested the United Airlines/Lufthansa-led Star Alliance would take the 23% stake and that Qantas Airways also would participate.
Teledyne Ryan's Global Hawk reconnaissance drone had its first crash on Mar. 29, destroying the No. 2 aircraft and its sensors after it spiraled in from 40,000 ft. The crash will delay participation of Global Hawk in military exercises, which will be used to determine the future of the program. The No. 2 aircraft was to fly its first military utility assessment in the Green Flag exercise that began Apr. 1. The No. 1 aircraft has been grounded until it is released by the safety investigation board, and will take at least a month to have a sensor installed.
