EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is the third and last section of edited excerpts from the Airbus Industrie English translation of the 1992 preliminary accident report on the Jan. 20, 1992, crash of an Airbus A320 operated by Air Inter during a VOR approach to Runway 05 at France's Strasbourg-Entzheim airport.
The U.S. military will spend the lowest proportion of its budget on new hardware since the 1940s, making it increasingly difficult to maintain a two-war force level, which itself is conceptually flawed, according to two soon-to-be-completed studies.
Europe will continue to represent a substantial segment of the world market for aircraft manufacturers over the next decade. In its latest look forward, Airbus Industrie is predicting that Europe will account for 3,093 jet aircraft orders between 1994 and 2011, about 26% of the worldwide market. Nearly two-thirds of the expected orders--1,966 aircraft--are forecast in the 100-210 seat category with the remaining 1,127 aircraft in the larger, 210-plus seat segment.
Debra Guinand has been named sales manager for North America for Simon Aviation Ground Equipment, Inc., Olathe, Kan. She worked in sales and marketing for AMR Services Corp.
The Model 1203 nonexplosive actuator can hold tensile loads of up to 12,500 lb. The actuator, designed for space applications, quickly releases upon electrical activation. Using the Model 1203 eliminates the need for special handling and transportation requirements associated with pyrotechnic actuators. Applications include initiating antenna deployment, payload release, solar array release and structural separation in spacecraft and satellite applications. A 4.5-amp signal applied to its initiators for 20 millisec.
After losing a staggering $12 billion in the first half of the 1990s, U.S. airlines will be solidly profitable this year and may perform even better in 1996. But no one should read too much into the industry's financial recovery; chances are the profits are unsustainable. That is the consensus among many industry observers.
The AMRA Friction Wear Tribosystem is a large-scale tribometer with the ability to simulate the pressures and temperatures found in engines and other industrial machinery. It uses flat-ended cylindrical pins with a large surface area in contact with a large diameter wear disk. This geometry is closer to real-life situations in terms of materials responses to friction conditions. The system can be configured to simulate mechanical conditions such as load and speed as well as lubrication conditions like viscosity, temperature, flow rate and pressure.
AMR COMBS, the only fixed-base operation at Denver International Airport, opened its new facility and started servicing aircraft on DIA's opening day last month. The company's move from the old Stapleton International Airport was a costly one, with the new executive aircraft terminal completed a year ago but idled by delays in opening the $2.4-billion airport. Business aircraft landing at DIA also can receive maintenance at a Bombardier Aviation Services' Learjet and Canadair Service Center colocated with the AMR Combs terminal.
Richard J. Powers has been appointed director of financial administration of the Aerospace Industries Assn. in Washington. He was chief of financial advisory services branch of the National Institutes of Health and civilian agency representative to the pricing committee of the Defense Acquisition Regulation Council.
SINGAPORE AIRLINES WILL TRADE IN THE FOUR LEARJET 31s it uses for advanced pilot training for the new Learjet 45 that will enter service in 1997. SIA, in a $56-million contract, shifted to the 45 because its standard avionics closely resembles the electronic flight instrumentation system (EFIS) found in the airline's A310 and 747-400 fleets. SIA will take delivery of two new Learjet 31s in December to replace two of its original aircraft. But in 1997 it will trade in all of the 31s for the 45s.
Lockheed and Martin Marietta almost certainly will have the votes they need to officially merge their companies later this week. The approvals are likely to come despite objections by some pension-fund shareholders and shareholder advisory services to merger-related payouts to Martin executives. Their objections also include an ``omnibus'' incentive-compensation plan proposed for the new Lockheed Martin Corp.
Britt Hoskins has been promoted to director of government business for FlightSafety International of New York. He was manager of FSI's Daleville-Dothan Learning Centers.
The global avionics market will generally be flat this year but should start a modest single-digit growth in 1996 if new aircraft purchases by major airlines pick up as expected.
ITALY'S ALENIA WILL TEAM with Aerospace Technologies of Australia (ASTA) to promote the G222 twin turboprop military transport in the Australian market. The Australian Defense Force plans to procure about 15 small transports to replace aging de Havilland Caribous. If the G222, designated the the C-27A Spartan by the U.S. Air Force, is selected by Australia, ASTA will produce subassemblies and perform final assembly at its Port Melbourne facilities. ASTA also will have product support responsibility and could serve as a base for a planned G222 Pacific Rim sales campaign.
From the poorest to the richest, Asian nations are eager to develop their own aerospace industries, but many are finding the step from subcontractor to prime is a big jump. Strategies vary. In China, the basic demand of a huge population that is finding money to travel fuels demand for aircraft. The state-owned Aviation Industries of China (AVIC) wants to build its share.
THE AIR FORCE Phillips Laboratory is flying initial laser propagation tests with Gulfstream 2 and Boeing C-135E ``Argus'' aircraft in support of Airborne Laser program conceptual design efforts. The two testbeds started technology validation flights early this month in the Albuquerque, N.M., area at altitudes of 35,000-50,000 ft. Subsequent flights over the Gulf of Mexico, the central and southwest U.S. and South Korea will evaluate the effects of varying climates on laser propagation through the atmosphere.
LORAL CORP'S AERONUTRONIC DIV. has snagged a $38.7-million contract from the U.S. Navy to build 1,784 AIM-9 M/S guidance and control sections for the service and seven allied nations. The buy includes components destined for Finland, Taiwan, Belgium, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Turkey which will be built at Loral's new electronic assembly plant in Litchfield Park, Ariz.
Harnessing the nation's commercial industrial base to reduce defense costs and keep pace with technological advances is one of the key challenges the U.S. military faces over the next decade.
THE ROLLS-ROYCE TRENT 700 entered commercial operations last week on a 320-passenger Airbus A330 for Cathay Pacific Airways on an inaugural flight from Hong Kong to Singapore and Bangkok. The occasion also marked the first commercial flight by an Airbus aircraft with Rolls-Royce engines. Cathay has orders for nine A330s and its sister airline, Dragonair, for three more.
The P7-900060 series of dome-styled pushbuttons is available in two versions. In one the button is flush with the conical bezel, while in the other it is slightly extended from the bezel. The switches also feature short back-panel depth, offering vastly improved mechanical and electrical performance. They are designed to last at least 50,000 operations at a full rating of 0.5 amps and up to a million operations at low-signal switching levels. The switches are available in dust-tight and moistureproof sealed or unsealed construction. Otto Controls, 2 E.
The space sector will continue to lose ground in 1995-96, but a turnaround should occur soon thereafter. At best, NASA's budget will remain flat at about $14 billion; it is likely to decline to $13 billion or less by the end of the decade. Cuts in defense spending will continue to put pressure on military space expenditures. Commercial space will remain the healthiest part of the industry, with new applications in telecommunications--especially low-Earth orbit constellations--and in remote sensing, offering potential for solid expansion.
Richard S. Wigton (see photo) has been named manager of Challenger training programs for SimuFlite, Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport. He was director of operations for Rainin Instrument Co.
Pilot in Command is a CD-ROM-based emergency procedures trainer that is designed for single-engine VFR pilots. The interactive, multimedia program includes more than 30 emergency classes, briefings and analyses of real-life emergencies, a collection of more than 500 aviation still photos and more than 20 Fox Movietone Newsreels related to aviation history. A checkride allows a pilot to evaluate his skills. The program is available for computers running Microsoft Windows or the Macintosh. Digital Perceptions, Inc., 11526 Sorrento Valley Road No. C, San Diego, Calif.
Albert F. Peter has been appointed president/chief executive officer of Structural Dynamics Research Corp., Milford, Ohio. He was acting chief executive officer. William P. Conlin has been elected chairman of the board. He is a consultant to CEOs of advanced technology companies. Jeffrey J. Vorholt has been appointed chief financial officer. He was CFO of Cincinnati Bell Information Systems.
