Hughes Electronics Corp. plans to begin operation in North America of its first Spaceway global broadband satellite network in 2002. The company will make a $1.4-billion investment in the first system, which is designed to provide high-speed communications for broadband and multimedia applications. The Ka-band system would include two HS 702 satellites and an in-orbit spare for the North American network.
Michael R. Brown has been appointed chairman of Litton Industries Inc., Woodland Hills, Calif. He will remain president/CEO and succeed John M. Leonis, who will retire Mar. 31. Leonis will remain a board member. Harry Halamandaris has become executive vice president/ chief operating officer. He was corporate senior vice president/group executive for Litton's Electronic Warfare Group.
Rolls-Royce is aggressively pursuing maintenance, repair and overhaul of its engines by forming regional-based joint ventures and partnerships that provide customers with an array of aftermarket services on a global scale.
Robert Friedman (see photo) has been appointed director of avionics interface products for the ILC Data Device Corp., Bohemia, N.Y. He was an independent consultant and owner of Flair Technologies, Cromwell, Conn.
One of the harshest congressional critics of American satellite builders' dealings with China extended an olive branch last week, offering to work with industry to alleviate ``draconian regulatory changes'' that could destroy U.S. competitiveness.
LucasVarity's aerospace subsidiary has received five contracts, expected to be worth a total of nearly $500 million, for engine controls for the Eurojet EJ200, which will power the Eurofighter. Lucas Aerospace is prime contractor for three of the contracts--to provide afterburner fuel control units and main engine fuel pumps to Rolls-Royce and main fuel metering units to ITP of Spain. Under the other two contracts, Lucas Aerospace will supply digital electronic control unit modules to MTU Munchen of Germany and nozzle actuators to Microtecnica of Italy.
Military and civilian spacecraft from many nations are supporting NATO attacks on Yugoslavia in the most extensive use of space systems to date by military forces in combat. More than 50 U.S. and European spacecraft, many of them originally developed to support NATO operations in Europe against the Warsaw Pact, are directly involved in NATO coordination, intelligence and strike operations. At least 15-20 different U.S. and European space system types are involved in the planning and execution of the attacks.
The newly revamped Thomson-CSF--which recently formed eight business units and completed a vast cost-cutting plan--expects to focus on cross-border partnerships rather than consolidation initiatives. While the French defense electronics group has no faith in giantism such as the proposed European Aerospace and Defense Co. (EADC), Chairman/CEO Denis Ranque says he firmly believes in the merits of international partnerships.
Roscoe A. Musselwhite (see photo) has been named vice president-sales and marketing for AirLiance Materials of Chicago. He was vice president-marketing and engineering for the Dexter Tool Co., West Palm Beach, Fla.
Despite Asia's recession--or maybe because of it--Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Co. is seeing its revenue and customer base grow even though it operates from cramped quarters at an outdated airport. Known as Gameco, the company saw its revenue rise from $52 million in 1997 to $66 million last year as it expanded its operations capability and became more aggressive in seeking third-party work, General Manager Dan Lange said. Profits have been plowed back into the firm.
Airborne is an herbal tablet comprising seven herbal extracts, plus amino acids, Vitamin C, antioxidants and electrolytes that is designed to help cabin crewmembers and other transport aircraft occupants ward off the germs and viruses that can be encountered in a modern jet transport, where 50% of the air in the cabin at a given time is recycled. The dietary supplement also may be used in other indoor environments to help ward off infection. Knight-McDowell Labs, P.O. Box 2884, Carmel, Calif. 93921.
American Eagle on May 25 expects to start daily service between Grenada and San Juan, Puerto Rico, with 64-seat Super ATRs. The airline was the first U.S. regional to win ETOPS certification, enabling it to fly more direct overwater routes. American Eagle currently operates 76 round-trip flights out of San Juan to 22 Caribbean destinations.
NASA's Stardust spacecraft, on a mission to intercept a comet and return a sample to Earth, went into a safing mode Mar. 18. The spacecraft's computer indicated it was carrying out an excessive number of functions during testing of the Stardust navigation camera and the return of the images to Earth. Controllers commanded the spacecraft back into a normal operational mode the following day and have been trying to figure out what triggered the fault protection software.
Solex Environmental's ``Maverick'' fuel storage tank inspection robot recently successfully completed a bottom floor inspection of an Amoco floating-roof tank near Baton Rouge, La. The robot gathered 100,000 data points during the three-day, in-service inspection of the tank, which held 206,000 barrels of light crude oil, according to Don Hartsell, president of Solex's robotics division in Houston. A demonstration inspection of a USAF floating-roof jet fuel storage tank at MacDill AFB, Fla., began last week.
The Smart Welding System allows the operator to perform efficient and durable welding operations. Its computerized technology features synchronized speed controls and is user-friendly. The system is powered by a 225-amp. alternator and can weld AC and DC electrodes of 1/16-5/32 in. with a 100% duty cycle. The long cables and remote load control make it possible for the unit to be operated up to 100 ft. away from the vehicle. The system also can serve as a battery charger, booster and general power source. Stellar Industries Inc., 280 W. Third St., Garner, Iowa 50438.
Domestic political interest will drive Russia's Duma to ratify the START 2 arms reduction treaty, Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.) hypothesizes. His theory holds that the Communist majority in the Duma wants to strengthen Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, particularly as rumors are beginning to spread that Russian President Boris Yeltsin wants to fire him. ``Primakov needs a win,'' Weldon said, and ``that's why the Duma will ratify START 2.'' But in the U.S., the treaty may still face hurdles, even though it has been ratified by the Senate.
Hugo B. Poza (see photo) has been named vice president/general manager of the Strategic Systems Div. of the Raytheon Systems Co., Falls Church, Va. He was vice president-aerospace electronics for Lockheed Martin Electronics.
The Model C-90-AUX Power Adapter was designed for the BNE Active Noise-Canceling headset. The power adapter allows the pilot to connect a BNE headset directly into the aircraft's power supply by plugging it into the aircraft's cigarette lighter socket and inserting the headset's 3.5-mm. jack into the adapter's extension cord socket. The battery power pack can be reinserted in the event of a power failure. SoftComm Products Inc., 2310 S. Airport Blvd., Chandler, Ariz. 85249.
Jerry Torrance (see photo) has been named vice president/general manager of the Garrett Aviation Services Jet Center, Van Nuys, Calif. He was director of operations at the Springfield, Ill., facility.
Security personnel at U.S. Category X airports have started using new screening technology that tests their alertness by projecting simulated images of weapons and bombs into passenger bags.
A prototype of the upgraded Mi-24VM attack helicopter, with a night-vision-compatible cockpit, has made its first demonstration flight in preparation for further flight tests in May. The first of two prototypes commissioned by the Russian Ministry of Defense will undergo flight worthiness testing. A second prototype, now being completed at Mil's facilities here, will include an avionics package developed for the helicopter, which will provide it with an all-weather, day/night capability.
Kiwi International Airlines was grounded last Wednesday after the FAA revoked the carrier's operating certificate due to safety concerns. Kiwi filed an appeal, but FAA officials said the carrier will have to remain grounded through the appeals process. Earlier in the week, the Newark, N.J.-based carrier filed a prearranged Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This was the second such filing in less than three years. Pan American Airlines, no stranger to bankruptcy court, extended $3 million to Kiwi and indicated it plans to purchase the airline for an undisclosed price.
Stork N.V. of the Netherlands has acquired a 42.8% stake in Societe Anonyme Belge de Constructions Aeronautiques previously held by now-bankrupt Fokker Aircraft. The Dassault Group of France remains the majority shareholder with a 52.9% stake in the Belgian aerostructures and aerospace systems company, which employs 1,500.
Federal officials likely will launch a comprehensive review within a year of how the FAA certifies commercial aircraft as safe to operate in U.S. skies. The National Transportation Safety Board is considering a broad review of FAA certification rules and procedures, but safety board officials said it is unlikely a review could begin before their investigation into the 1996 crash of Trans World Airlines Flight 800 is completed late this year.
