While Fuji's fate hangs in the balance, the JDA has ordered Toyo Communications Equipment Corp. and Niko Electronics Corp. to refund 4.7 billion yen ($39 million) as punishment for inflating bills for defense work. Both are subsidiaries of Nippon Electric Corp, known as NEC. Their punishment is specifically for work done for the air force. The JDA said it will also begin reviewing their records for the army and navy.
In what would be a milestone in space history, Russian space officials have signed preliminary documents with an unnamed private company for the commercialization of the aged Mir space station. If the deal is consummated, possibly by late December, the Russians plan to keep Mir aloft into 2000-02, raising questions about whether the Yeltsin government can fulfill its commitments to the International Space Station. The company will be revealed if the deal is completed, the Russians said.
FlightSafety Services Inc. (FSS) has ordered enhanced ground proximity warning systems, standby attitude indicators and central air data computers from Thomson Training&Simulation (TSS) to upgrade 19 U.S. Air Force KC-135 operational flight trainers. FSS also ordered TTS enhanced GPS systems to equip three USAF C-141 weapon system trainers.
The U.K.'s GKN is acquiring the Interlake Corp. of Lisle, Ill., an aerospace parts and powdered metals producer, for $292 million. Interlake's subsidiary Chemtronics Inc. is a leading U.S. manufacturer of lightweight structural components for engines and other aerospace products.
The concept of a pan-European aerospace company to compete against U.S. rivals is gaining favor among a growing number of countries. Ironically, however, this swelling spirit of cooperation could impede the speed at which the Europeans are able to consolidate. And for the European industry, time is of the essence. The longer their consolidation is drawn out, the stronger U.S. systems integrators become.
Assembly and test of the RS-68 engine for Boeing's Delta 4 rocket is expected to provide 100 manufacturing and technical jobs at Stennis Space Center, near Bay St. Louis, Miss. Boeing's Rocketdyne Propulsion&Power segment plans to invest $8 million to upgrade the B-1 test stand and have it ready in time for first RS-68 assembly in September. After assembly and test, the RS-68s will be shipped to Boeing's new Delta 4 factory in Decatur, Ala.
Deep Space 1 completed 14 days of continuous thrusting of its xenon ion engine on Dec. 8, then shut the engine off to activate the spacecraft's plasma spectrometer and test the Ka-band transmitter. Officials are happy with the results, which indicate engine performance is close to expected (AW&ST Dec. 7, p. 82). The engine was recycled about 28 times over the two weeks to clear small debris from the accelerating grids. The spectrometer properly measured electrons and ions, and the Ka-band test was successful. Thrusting was to be restarted Dec.
Since last year, aerospace jobs are up by 100,000, aerospace exports hit $59 billion and civil aircraft sales increased $8.6 billion or 22%, according to John W. Douglass, the new Aerospace Industries Assn. president. Sales are expected to increase in 1999. But in 2000 and 2001, the picture clouds as the full impact of the Asian financial crisis is felt, he said. To head off a downturn, AIA is going to do several things, including lead the charge against export controls--particularly on commercial satellites--that will hobble foreign sales.
John R. Murphey has been promoted to president from executive vice president of Bell Helicopter Textron of Fort Worth. P.D. Shabay has been promoted to executive vice president/chief operating officer from executive vice president-operations. Fred N. Hubbard has been named senior vice president-acquisitions and international business development, J.W. (Bruce) Camp vice president-customer support, Jeffery P. Pino vice president-sales and marketing and James K. Rogers vice president/managing director of the Bell Agusta Aerospace Co.
Besides ordering 125 new aircraft last week (see p. 40), Trans World Airlines chief Gerald L. Gitner was busy firing off a letter to urge the White House to reconsider its international aviation policy before all independent airlines are driven out of the market. Gitner urged President Clinton to support legislation to repeal the Transportation Dept.'s authority to grant antitrust immunity to U.S. airlines and their non-U.S. alliance partners.
Researchers from the U.S. Air Force, NASA and industry have taken a step forward in their efforts to develop inflatable solar concentrators for use in space propulsion systems. In a thermal vacuum test at NASA Lewis Research Center, they demonstrated that an inflatable concentrator (shown) made out of a thin-film material can withstand the harsh space environment.
The commercial spinoff of the Intelsat consortium is up and running. Netherlands-based New Skies Satellites N.V. has inaugurated commercial service with five satellites formerly owned and operated by Intelsat. A sixth spacecraft is slated for launch in the first quarter of 1999. Intelsat's 142 member nations ended 4 years of debate in February by agreeing to spin off much of the consortium's video broadcasting business into New Skies. Intelsat now plans to privatize the remainder of its Washington-based organization in 2001.
British Airways affiliate Air Liberte will assume control of the full 18-aircraft capacity of French regional Flandre Air under a franchise agreement that is expected to be concluded by month's end. Flandre Air is already operating about a third of its routes on behalf of Air Liberte under a code-sharing agreement signed last year. The airline's sales ($40 million in 1997) are expected to increase significantly with the pending arrival of 10 Embraer ERJ-135 twinjets.
Turkey has decided to increase the number of its Block 50 F-16s from 240 to 272 under a $750-million additional contract that will extend licensed production of the aircraft in Turkey until 2002. Turkish Air Force Commander Gen. Ilhan Kilic sent a request to the Turkish government last week to start the process. A contract is expected to be signed with Lockheed Martin next month. The 32 additional aircraft will be built under license by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), which has been manufacturing Lockheed Martin F-16s since 1982 at its facility near Ankara.
Russia has reorganized the management of its military satellite and launch operations under a single command that will also be responsible for its nuclear deterrent force. The Military Space Force that used to develop and operate military satellites has been merged with the former Russian Strategic Missile Command. The new entity will be called the Russian Strategic Missile Force. Its most important mission to date was the Nov. 20 launch of the heavy Proton booster from the Baikonur Cosmodrome carrying Zarya, the initial module for the International Space Station.
Estonian Air has signed a long-term cooperation agreement with Scandinavian Airlines System, to become effective on Mar. 28, 1999. The carriers will code-share on flights between Tallin, Estonia, and Stockholm and Oslo. Estonian will also join SAS' frequent-flier program. Maersk Air, the Danish airline that owns 49% of Estonian, entered into a similar pact with SAS in October.
The Dusseldorf airport company has concluded financing and construction agreements for the first phase of its Airport 2000 Plus project, which is intended to revitalize passenger handling facilities following a disastrous fire in April 1996, and to raise capacity.
Governments are stepping back from direct control of airports by either establishing autonomous authorities to operate facilities or, increasingly, opting for some form of privatization.
NASA has selected Boeing for a 4-year cooperative agreement to develop a Future-X flight demonstrator for study of technologies that have the potential of signficantly reducing space transportation costs. Assembly of the unpiloted, autonomous vehicle is planned for 2000-01 at Boeing facilities in Palmdale, Calif., while a space shuttle test flight is set for 2002. Total value of the cooperative agreement is estimated at $150 million, including comparable NASA and Boeing contributions.
The new Learjet 45 established a pending transcontinental speed record in late November, flying from San Diego to Washington in 4.3 hr. Two pilots, four passengers and 280 lb. of baggage were on board. The twin-engined light business jet took off with 6,000 lb. of fuel and had 1,570 lb. remaining when it landed. Final cruising altitude was 47,000 ft. and average true airspeed was 422 kt.
Trans World Airlines gave fledgling 100-plus seat aircraft programs at both Airbus Industrie and Boeing Co. a boost last week with a split order for 50 Boeing 717-200s and 50 Airbus A318s. In its largest-ever aircraft acquisition, the St. Louis-based carrier also said it would acquire another 25 aircraft from the Airbus A320 family, which ranges from the 107-seat A318 to the 185-seat A321.
A close call between a Delta Air Lines 767 and a Caledonian Airways L-1011 has added to the scrutiny focused by the NTSB and FAA on the Boston air route traffic control center (see p. 47). The incident occurred about 10 p.m. EDT on Dec. 6, investigators said, after both aircraft were cleared to enter the Boston center's airspace at 33,000 ft. on converging headings. Both aircraft received warnings from their traffic-alert and collision avoidance systems. The Delta crew followed its TCAS advisory to climb. Advised by their TCAS to descend, the Caledonian crew did so.
Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems plans to transform its product support function into a fast-paced, technology-driven organization through implementation of commercial practices, new partnerships and business development to improve responsiveness and reduce costs.
Southwest Airlines will begin service at Long Island (N.Y.) MacArthur Airport on Mar. 14 with 12 daily, nonstop flights to Baltimore, Chicago, Nashville and Tampa. Eight departures are scheduled for Baltimore/Washington International (BWI), with two flights to Chicago's Midway Airport and one flight each to Nashville and Tampa. The Dallas-based low-fare carrier will operate Boeing 737-700s on the routes and plans to charge $65 one-way to BWI. According to Southwest officials, competing airlines charge up to $140 for a one-way ticket to Baltimore.
After its third and last battery-powered test flight, the Centurion solar drone will return to its manufacturer, AeroVironment, to have high-altitude equipment added so it can reach a goal of 100,000 ft. Centurion lofted a 605-lb. payload on its last flight, 421 lb. more than carried on the first two sorties and half of its 1,200 lb. empty weight. The 30-min. flight went well, encountering turbulence without overstressing the airframe.
