A new Air Force Space Command squadron that evolved from a Talon Shield project can now provide theater ballistic missile warning information to field units within seconds. During the gulf war in 1991, alerts reached theater commanders several minutes after launch detection.
Russian upgrades to the Indian air force's MiG-21bis aircraft will provide the aging fighters with some of the world's most modern air-to-air missiles and a helmet-mounted sight that even the most sophisticated U.S. fighters do not have.
Rising fuel prices and the threat of new taxes on Jet A have dampened the 1995 financial outlook for U.S. airlines. The carriers are bracing for a 7-cent/gal. increase after crude oil prices rose $2 per barrel in recent weeks. If the new prices are sustained, airline fuel costs could increase $1 billion this year (AW&ST Mar. 13, p. 66).
THE TRANSPORTATION DEPT.'S JUST-COMPLETED International Air Transportation Policy Statement makes it clear the Administration is serious about expanding competitive air service, liberalizing international airline markets and not stepping on the Pentagon's toes in the process. Promoting the U.S. agreement with Canada as illustrative, Transportation Secretary Federico Pena last week reaffirmed Administration intentions to ``move forward, never backward'' in its efforts to forge additional Open Skies agreements with other nations.
Sync Roll software allows an operator of a Windows-based personal computer to search up to six videotapes and play them together with accuracies of 2 frames. Multiple video images from an entire squadron could thus be reviewed in sync to assess training and readiness. In addition, inputs from a head-up display camera, an over-the-shoulder camera and a forward looking infrared could be time synchronized. The program is designed to work with Hi-8 mm. videotapes encoded with Vertical Interval Time Code during recording in lines 16 and 18.
Most major U.S. aerospace/defense contractors are posting sizable gains in overall first-quarter profits, helped in many cases by substantial improvements in commercial operations. Notable exceptions thus far in the reporting cycle are the Boeing Co., whose earnings plunged 38%, and Hughes Electronics Corp. (formerly GM Hughes Electronics Corp.), whose earnings slipped 4.7%. In addition, Sundstrand reported a net loss of $18 million, or 59 cents per share.
The Model 9200B radio frequency voltmeter now has additional stored program memory and a separate, nonvolatile memory that expand capability in systems requirements and manual operation. Low noise circuitry gives the Model 9200B 200 millivolt sensitivity in the 10 KHz.-1.2 GHz. and 10 Hz.-100 MHz. frequency ranges. Measurements can be taken at 50 or 75-ohm characteristic impedance. Results can be displayed in voltage or power. Data from up to eight probes can be stored in nonvolatile memory. Boonton Electronics Corp., 25 Eastmans Road, Parsippany, N.J. 07054-0465.
THE FAA HAS OPTED to stick with Loral to develop a limited capability portion of the Advanced Automation System that had experienced major delays and cost overruns under an original contract with IBM's Federal Systems Div., which Loral acquired last year. Under a new, $898-million fixed-price incentive contract, Loral will develop the Display System Replacement (DSR) for use in the FAA's traffic control centers. The first is scheduled for installation in the Seattle center by late 1997.
E-SYSTEMS, GREENVILLE, TEX., has developed a composite repair technology to repair and reinforce metallic aircraft structures. The technology, which uses a building-block approach, already has been used to fix floor beam cracks and corrosion in USAF/Boeing C/KC-135 transports and tankers. It provides quick, simple and high-quality repairs. The on-board, in-situ process also eliminates hazardous materials and alumina grit blast associated with current adhesive bonding repairs, according to Jaycee Chung, project leader.
Algor, Inc., has released a Windows NT version of its mechanical engineering finite element analysis software. The new FEA software will allow aerospace engineers to efficiently perform more than one design or analysis task at a time and to view more than one task in action concurrently. Such capabilities previously were available only to workstation-based users. Windows can be scaled to the proportions of a model.
Pan-Flex color-coded flat cable is available in heat bonded or slit bonded styles with six to 64 circuits. Colors repeat every 10 circuits. The cable is designed for use with Lat-Con, Hi-Con, I/O and insulation displacement contact connectors. Its PVC insulation carries a flammability rating of VW-1 to assure optimum electrical and mechanical properties. The 28-gauge conductors are 7/36-in. stranded, tin-coated copper. They can be used over a temperature range of -4-221F. Panduit Corp., 412 Rockwell Court, Burr Ridge, Ill. 60521.
Photograph: Jon Kutler is president of Quarterdeck Investment Partners, Inc., an investment banking firm in Los Angeles and Washington that serves clients in the aerospace and defense industries. He previously was managing director in charge of the West Coast office and international aerospace/defense practice of Wasserstein and Perella&Co. Kutler holds a B.S. in naval architecture from the U.S. Naval Academy and a master's degree from the Harvard University Graduate School of Management.
Restored Air Force SR-71A made its first flight last week, creating a visible start to reactivation of the U.S.' penetrating aerial reconnaissance capability.
Emirates engineers developed this polythene curtain to deal with the problem of hot air displacing cool air in aircraft in Dubai's extreme heat when the door is open for boarding or servicing. The curtain assembly was designed to be quick to erect and dismantle, and convenient for passengers. The lightweight aluminum framework is contoured to the doorway's shape. The polythene, embossed with the Emirates logo, parts in the center to provide a practical opening. Tests indicate the unit can produce a difference of 18F between inside and outside the aircraft. Emirates, P.O.
THE GEORGE M. LOW AWARD, NASA`s highest commendation for contractor quality, has been won by Unisys Corp.'s Space Systems unit in Houston. The unit supplies software products, services and support to NASA's Johnson, Langley and Goddard centers. This year's is the first Low Award given under a tough new rule that requires applicants to first reach the consensus stage for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
FRENCH-GOVERNMENT-OWNED Pechiney Group plans to sell off all or most of its Howmet Corp. subsidiary. Pechiney, which reported staggering losses last year, is being privatized by the French government, and assets that do not fit into its long-range business plan are being sold to help reduce debt. Howmet is a major supplier of precision investment-cast components of superalloy, titanium and aluminium for gas turbine engines and aerospace structural applications. Greenwich, Conn.,-based Howmet had 1994 sales of $800 million.
NASA HAS RESERVED June 22 as a launch date for Atlantis' flight on Mission 71 to dock with the Russian Mir space station, but space agency officials are hoping they can launch the orbiter three days earlier to preserve their launch schedule for the rest of the year. Launch team workers are readying Atlantis to fly as early as June 19 if Russia can launch and position a critical Spektr scientific supply module on Mir by that date. After several delays, Spektr is slated for launch on a Proton booster in late May.
SENIOR NAVY AND AIR FORCE OFFICIALS, just starting their Fiscal 1997 budget planning, are already disgruntled because they will lose another $1.5 billion to the Army. This matches a similar reduction in Fiscal 1996. They complain that the Army will sink the additional money into maintaining force structure that will be cut soon anyway. In the end the Army will have ``nothing to show for [the diverted money],`` a senior Navy official complained.
MESABA AIRWAYS IS LOOKING FORWARD to a new 10-year Northwest Airlinks pact with Northwest Airlines, after its parent company, AirTran Corp., splits off Orlando, Fla.-based AirTran Airways into a wholly owned subsidiary this summer. The Air Line Pilots Assn. at Northwest had objected that Northwest's relationship with AirTran could result in jet jobs being siphoned off by AirTran Airways pilots.
The Cirrus SR20 prototype four-place aircraft made its first flight on Mar. 31 from Duluth (Minn.) International Airport. FAR Part 23 certification is planned for 1996, with first delivery by the end of that year.
EXPECT CONTINUED WORK on low-tech solutions to bird strike problems near airports. Although bird strikes are responsible for only about 1% of all fatal commercial transport hull losses, that figure is significantly larger than engine-related fatal accidents, according to a report by Flight Safety Foundation, Arlington, Va. Environmental solutions include discouraging bird habitation by removing local water sources and garbage dumps, insect control and choosing unpopular grass lengths. In one case, pigs were brought in to eat nesting birds' eggs.
A JET PROPULSION Laboratory instrument to measure ocean winds has been tested and integrated into Japan`s Advanced Earth Observation Satellite (Adeos), which is to be launched on an H-2 from Tanegashima next February. The NASA Scatterometer (N-Scat) is capable of taking 190,000 wind measurements per day and should be able to map more than 90% of the world's ice-free oceans every two days. That should provide better understanding of ocean circulation and air-sea interaction and their role in the global environment.
THE RACE TO PROVIDE PASSENGERS WITH THE LATEST high-tech, in-flight entertainment continues. Singapore Airlines (SIA) is introducing a system developed by Matsushita Avionics Systems in its 747-400 and A340 fleets. The SIA package includes 6-in. video screen, a combination remote control unit and in-flight telephone for all seats. The system offers 22 video channels (14 for movies), 12 digital audio channels, Celestel satellite-linked telephones and destination updates (offering airport information and local attractions) for 12 major cities.
This high-performance J1/J2 monolithic backplane was designed with 20 slots to achieve the maximum current capability covered by VME specifications. They are designed to attain closely controlled impedance and the most effective power distribution with minimal crosstalk. By using fewer layers, the design simplifies fabrication, improves quality and reduces costs. Near-end crosstalk is on average, less than 2% and peak forward crosstalk is less than 5%. The loaded backplane impedance is 50-60 ohms at 600 picosec. risetimes.
Sikorsky Aircraft is turning to Japanese-style management techniques to address cost and quality issues associated with building a wide variety of products in small, short-run production lots. The company has registered steady productivity and quality improvements in the past eight years using various methods, but early successes in Kaizen events have led managers to believe this Japanese technique may be the key to accelerating gains.
