The Sea Launch system, a new technique for placing large commercial satellites in orbit, is undergoing final testing in preparation for a demonstration launch at the equator with its powerful Zenit booster. The program--an international joint venture between Boeing, RSC Energia, KB Yuzhnoye/PO Yuzhmash and Kvaerner Maritime--has already overcome a number of technical, regulatory and financial obstacles to reach its current stage of development.
High-level appointments at the FAA last week filled a management slot that has been vacant for more than 2 years and strengthened the agency's focus on safety and security. L. Nick Lacey, an aviation consultant and former head of operations for Tower Air, was named director of the Flight Standards Service, which sets standards and oversees the compliance of FAA regulations. A former USAF pilot and program manager of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet, Lacey, effective this January, will be the first Flight Standards director since 1996.
The first commercial communications spacecraft to be funded and operated by a Russian company is undergoing checkout this week following its launch into geosynchronous transfer orbit from Cape Canaveral Nov. 22 on a Boeing Delta 2. The liftoff of the Bonum-1 spacecraft, a Hughes HS-376HP model, marks the first nongovernment U.S./Russian satellite project ever undertaken. The cost of the 3,142-lb. spacecraft and booster combined is about $150 million.
The second Global Hawk high-altitude unmanned reconnaissance aircraft has made its first flight, putting in 3 hr. 2 min. over the Edwards AFB, Calif., ranges. This initial airworthiness test puts air vehicle No. 2 on a fast track for airborne sensor tests before Christmas.
India's Ministry of Civil Aviation is lobbying the cabinet to reduce landing and navigation fees for aircraft with 50 or fewer seats to encourage growth in regional services. Talks are also underway to dismantle regulations on aviation fuel. The Petroleum Ministry wants to phase the regulations out by 2002, but the Civil Aviation Ministry wants a faster timetable, beginning this year. Civil Aviation Minister Ananth Kumar said regional areas must be connected to existing routes by encouraging airlines to use smaller, more economical aircraft.
Bombardier has passed 50 sales of its new Continental ``super midsize'' business jet. Plans for the $13.5-million aircraft first were revealed at the National Business Aviation Assn. convention in Las Vegas, Nev., in mid-October. Official launch of the aircraft is planned for mid-1999. The Continental will seat eight passengers, have an instrument weather range of 3,100 naut. mi. and 0.82 Mach high-speed cruise. Engines are two AlliedSignal AS907 turbofans flat-rated to 6,500-lb. thrust.
Coltec Industries Inc. has received an order to upgrade the performance of the Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter, which is operated by the U.S. Army and National Guard and the Royal Singapore Air Force.
Alenia Aerospazio has delivered the fourth flight unit of the Spacehab pressurized module to Spacehab Inc. Three other units have been built for the space shuttle. Alenia also is studying installation of a docking port to transform Spacehab into a connecting element between the shuttle and the International Space Station.
Rakesh Gangwal, who has been president/CEO of US Airways, has been appointed CEO of US Airways Group Inc., succeeding Stephen M. Wolf, who remains chairman. Gregory T. Taylor has become vice president-financial planning and analysis, Michael Scheeringa vice president-US Airways Shuttle and Metrojet and Rita M. Cuddihy vice president-customer products and service planning. Taylor was vice president-revenue management of United Airlines. Scheeringa was head of Metrojet operations, and Cuddihy president of the US Airways Shuttle.
Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems is using an integrated network of commercial software to mesh modeling and simulation tools into a seamless, virtual manufacturing environment to reduce life cycle costs of the Joint Strike Fighter program.
Aerolineas Argentinas' board has approved the purchase of 12 long-range Airbus A340s. The order comprises six 309-seat A340-600s, four 225-seat A340-200s and two 264-seat A340-300s. The first delivery of the A340-200/300s, which will be powered by CFMI CFM56s, is set for March 1999. First delivery of Aerolineas Argentinas' A340-600s, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 500s, is planned for 2004.
The American Assn. of Airport Executives has added its voice to calls for increased competition in the airline industry, including opening U.S. domestic markets to foreign airlines if reciprocal rights are afforded U.S. airlines abroad.
All Nippon Airways and Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines have signed an agreement to cooperate on services between Japan and China starting in February. Joint operations will start on the Kansai-Shanghai route and the Kansai-Beijing route via Qindao. The plan calls for Tokyo-Shanghai service later.
Iridium's newly inaugurated global satellite telephone service is being used to provide communications in areas of Central America devastated by Hurricane Mitch. Prime contractor Motorola has donated 46 Iridium phones to disaster relief teams and government officials in Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Guatemala. Iridium is providing the satellite service at no cost. Iridium inaugurated commercial telephone service on Nov. 1 and a worldwide paging service 2 weeks later.
A preproduction version of the GPS-guided Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile is launched at Eglin AFB, Fla., during tests in October. The Pentagon subsequently authorized start of the program's 40-month development phase. Top defense acquisition officials also issued the warning that any unexpected growth in costs would imperil the program and cause the Pentagon to seek off-the-shelf alternatives. Price creep doomed the Tri-Service Standoff Attack Missile that JASSM replaced. However, despite cost-cutting, JASSM has emerged with all-around stealth.
George Bagley, president/CEO of Horizon Air, has been elected chairman of the Regional Airline Assn. He succeeds Bryan Bedford, president/CEO of Mesaba Aviation. New board members are Jerry Atkin of SkyWest Airlines, Peter Bowler of American Eagle, Andy Price of Commutair and David Reeve of Astral Aviation.
The second Category-3, 4,000-meter (13,120-ft.) runway at Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok (CLK) is not expected to open until mid-1999--six months late--because of delays in testing CLK's automated ground lighting (AGR) system. The Airport Authority wants to be certain there are no glitches in the AGR's computer-controlled link to CLK's air traffic control communications system. A manual backup system will be provided.
RAYTHEON WILL PROVIDE traffic-alert and collision avoidance systems (TCAS 2) and terrain awareness warning systems to the U.S. Air Force for 63 C-141C aircraft. USAF's Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Ga., awarded the $8.9-million contract to Raytheon's Waco, Tex., operation. Also included are integration of TCAS 2 on 33 C-141Bs. The work is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2000.
The first solar array flight wing and mast canister for the International Space Station is due for arrival at Kennedy Space Center early this week. The array is the first of eight built by Lockheed Martin Missiles&Space at its Sunnyvale, Calif., facilities in a $450-million contract from Boeing-Rocketdyne Div. in Canoga Park, Calif. At 108 X 38 ft., the arrays are the largest ever built for spaceflight. Their usable solar energy area is 26,000 sq. ft.
France-based Avions de Transport Regional in the first half of 1999 will decide whether to launch the 70-84-seat Airjet or focus its efforts on in-production ATR 42/72 twin turboprops. Despite Bombardier/Canadair's and Embraer's healthy sales and Fairchild Dornier's tentative plan to launch the 70-seat 728JET in the near future, ATR executives believe the envisioned Airjet still could acquire a significant share in the regional twinjet market. Its design has not been frozen, and the program's business plan has not been finalized.
After a year of delicate negotiations, the European Space Agency has concluded agreements for full-scale development of the Automated Transfer Vehicle, a critical International Space Station component that, in conjunction with the Ariane 5 heavy-lift booster, will resupply the complex in cargo and fuel and periodically reboost it to proper orbit.
A telecommunications satellite Lockheed Martin is to build for two Japanese companies will include a Mitsubishi-built X-band payload for use by Japanese defense forces. Lockheed Martin beat out Hughes for a $130 million contract to build N-SAT-110. Two Japanese companies, JSAT and SCC, will split the spacecraft's Ku-band transponders to provide direct broadcast and fixed services throughout Japan. The joint satellite settles disputing claims between the two companies over an orbital slot. Launch is set for the third quarter of 2000 on an Ariane booster.
US Airways Chairman Stephen M. Wolf has been beating the bushes calling for the U.S. to renounce the U.S.-U.K. Bermuda 2 air services treaty, arguing that such a step would force the British to negotiate a new open skies pact. Not so, said United Airlines Chairman Gerald Greenwald last week. He argued such a step would ``likely do more harm than good'' by preserving the status quo under which British Airways currently has ``significant advantages.'' Of course, Wolf has nothing to lose in suggesting renunciation since US Airways currently does not fly to London.
