Germany-based Lombard Leasing has acquired two BAe 146-200 regional jets from British Aerospace Asset Management-Jets (AMJ) for $22 million. The aircraft will be operated by Eurowings under a long-term lease. AMJ's portfolio includes 89 BAe 146s.
Sweden envisions commercial applications for its Carabas radar installed in an unmanned aerial vehicle for assessing forest density, as well as the initial goal of penetrating foliage for military reconnaissance. The broadened role stems from the results of airborne tests in a Swedish air force Rockwell Sabreliner. Sweden's National Defense Research Establishment (FOA) developed the Coherent All Radio Band Sensing (Carabas) radar to detect man-made objects concealed under ground or foliage.
TRW is acquiring Astro Aerospace Corp., a subsidiary of Spar Aerospace Ltd., which specializes in the design and development of space deployables. Under the deal, expected to be completed this month, Astro Aerospace will become a wholly owned subsidiary of TRW's Space&Electronics Group. Astro, based in Carpinteria, Calif., has developed a number of lightweight mechanical systems that are deployed in space to serve as solar arrays or reflectors.
The U.S. policy for dealing with Iraq is ineffective. The recent limited air strikes to ``degrade'' Saddam Hussein's ability to produce and deliver weapons of mass destruction were expensive pinpricks. They did no lasting military damage. Meanwhile, serious arms inspections seem a thing of the past.
An underground pipe carrying compressed air ruptured last month inside a sprawling factory where the space shuttle's external tanks are manufactured, covering hardware in sand and dust and interrupting production. Lockheed Martin had mobilized hundreds of workers to clean up the mess in the 43-acre assembly building at its Michoud facility in New Orleans. The cleanup was expected to continue through last week's holiday shutdown.
Swedish researchers expect their next generation of military aircraft radars to use active electronically scanned arrays, and hope to fly a demonstrator before the year 2000. The only thing standing in the way is money. Sweden is looking in Europe, the U.S. and Japan for cost-sharing partners, which are vital to funding a flying development model, said Lennart Hallberg, manager of future systems at Ericsson Microwave Systems.
The U.S. FAA lowered Costa Rica's safety rating last week and will limit operations to the U.S. by operators certificated in the Central American nation. FAA inspectors concluded in 1994 that Costa Rica complied fully with International Civil Aviation Organization standards for oversight aviation safety. Based on an FAA reassessment last August, the nation no longer fully meets the standards.
A Boeing Business Jet was temporarily transformed into a Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft for inspection by Royal Australian Air Force officials. The 737-based Wedgetail, being offered by Boeing to Australia, is set for contract award in July. The full-scale mock-up included a 25-ft. replica of the aircraft's top-mounted MESA radar, assorted other sensors and an aerial refueling probe. The cabin contained a full suite of operator consoles and equipment cabinets.
U.S. airlines will be ready for the Year 2000, with all computer systems adjusted for the changeover, according to Carol Hallett, president of the Air Transport Assn. She also is confident the FAA will have in place all the necessary updates to its systems so that air traffic flows smoothly across the U.S. ``The FAA really has done a superb job,'' she said, adding that the trade association does not hesitate to criticize the FAA when warranted.
The Russian multifunction fighter (MFI) aircraft, also known as the MiG project 1.42, will arrive at Zhukovsky outside Moscow on Jan. 12 as preparations continue for its first flight in the first quarter of the year. Russians say the top-secret Mach 2.6 aircraft has capabilities which equal or exceed those of the U.S. F-22. The MFI is a single-seat fighter with a moving canard type foreplane.
Boeing plans to complete a series of Delta 4 wind tunnel tests early this year with a booster separation simulation at USAF's Arnold Engineering Development Center. The overall test series, which began at the company's St. Louis facilities in 1997, more recently has included ground-wind simulations at Canadian facilities. Initial Canadian tests were run to determine how ground winds will interact with the system's launch pad structures and to measure loads the booster will encounter when mounted on the launch pad.
United Technologies Corp. has received a $10-million contract to provide 42 kits to upgrade the TF-33-P102B engine to the TF-22-P102C configuration in support of the U.S. Air Force E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft.
World scheduled airline traffic in 1998 increased only 2% over 1997, when measured in passenger kilometers, while the number of passengers remained static at 1.5 billion, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization. Freight traffic slowed even more significantly. Cargo traffic fell 1%, both in domestic and in international services. The number of freight tons carried was just over 25 million.
PERU HAS THE MOST MODERN RADAR SYSTEM in South America, now that Northrop Grumman's new turnkey ATC system is operational, according to Peru's transportation minister. The system includes the world's first ASR-12 airport surveillance radar, a monopulse secondary surveillance radar (MSSR), airspace management system with new displays and communications suite. The ASR-12 is a solid-state derivative of the ASR-9, in use at 135 U.S. airports and 17 internationally.
Two New York-area near midair collisions are under investigation by the FAA and NTSB. On Dec. 8, a Canadian Airlines International Boeing 737-200 Advanced had a close call with a Cessna 172 while the airliner was in instrument meteorological conditions at 4,000 ft. MSL on approach to La Guardia's Runway 4. The Canadian crew spotted the lights of the Cessna and concluded the aircraft would not collide. Investigators estimate the aircraft were within 500 ft. of each other at the same altitude. The second incident occurred on Dec.
Fairchild last week purchased Kaynar Technologies for $370 million in cash, or $28.75 a share. General Electric Co. is the majority owner of Los Angeles-based Kaynar, which manufactures fasteners.
Having developed and certificated five new aircraft auxiliary power units in the past 6 years, AlliedSignal now is testing future APU technologies including an oilless version. It would offer higher reliability while eliminating the potential for leaks and related cabin odors, according to Thomas A. Johnson, vice president of AlliedSignal's commercial APU enterprise unit. As envisioned, an oilless APU would use a direct-drive, high-speed starter/generator turning at about 45,000 rpm.
The international terminal at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is scheduled to undergo a $22-million expansion in 1999 in preparation for increased service to Asia. The additional space will allow accommodation of as many as 3-4 wide-body transports simultaneously, instead of only two in its present configuration. Japan Airlines plans to begin three flights weekly from DFW Airport to Tokyo beginning on Mar. 15. The carrier will market some of the flights with American Airlines, according to JAL.
The Kamov Ka-60 Kasatka (Killer Whale) multirole lightweight helicopter made its first flight at the Kamov flight test facility on Dec. 24. A year-long flight test program is planned. The aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 6,500 kg. and a range of 700 km.
Iraq has demonstrated it will try to shoot down U.S. and British aircraft flying over its country, but its first few attempts using SA-3 and SA-6 surface-to-air missiles were unsuccessful and left the air defense sites damaged. Iraqi air defense operators fired three SA-3 missiles against U.S. Air Force F-15Es and F-16CJs on Dec. 28 and 6-8 missiles suspected to be SA-6s against U.S. and British aircraft flying on Dec. 30. Both attacks occurred while the aircraft were on regular daytime patrols in the northern and southern no-fly zones over Iraq.
