Photograph: Strotek will test the intensity and flash rate of strobes on 1,000 U.S. transports that are moving on the ground under an FAA contract using specially equipped vans. U.S. airlines are facing a Mar. 1 FAA deadline to develop a plan for assuring the brightness of strobe lights on their aircraft, but some industry officials doubt the change is needed and say carriers will have difficulty meeting the requirement.
Jeffrey E. Grant has been appointed vice president/member of the Office of the President at Hughes Space and Communications Co. of Los Angeles. He was vice president-quality at GM Hughes Electronics. Richard J. Neiger, vice president/controller of Hughes Industrial Electronics, has been named vice president-operations for Hughes Telecommunications and Space Co.
IT IS UNLIKELY EUROPEAN COMPANIES WILL BE ALLOWED to participate in the JAST program any time soon. France and Germany have been interested in joining the next-generation aircraft development program. So too has the United Kingdom, which is already involved in the ASTOVL (Advanced Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing) project that has been merged with JAST. But Pentagon acquisition chief Paul Kaminski says discussions are still in the ``very early stages.'' The Pentagon wants to ensure the allies sign the dotted line for long-term commitments.
Some Wall Street airline analysts expect Federal Express Corp.'s stock within 12-18 months to climb 20% or more above its current trading range of the low 60s. Their bullish outlook is based on the company's growth prospects internationally and its aggressive efforts to boost productivity. Gruntal's Steve Lewins last week raised his earnings estimate for fiscal 1996, which begins in June, to $5.65 from $5.50 a share. He believes the stock could reach $80 a share by mid-1996. ``FedEx remains one of the biggest turnaround stories in transportation,'' he said.
Westland Helicopters will deliver the first of six new Mk.3a search and rescue (SAR) Sea Kings to the Royal Air Force this summer. The Mk.3a, shown on its maiden flight at Yeovil, is equipped with a Thorn EMI color radar, Racal RNS 252 navigation computer, and Rockwell-Collins VHF/ UHF radios for improved communications. The new Sea King also has a new SN500 Smith-Newark automatic flying control system.
UPS in 1993-94 tightened schedules to meet the rising demand, leased aircraft and began hiring pilots. The hiring campaign brought in approximately 420 pilots, and another 100 crewmembers will be added this year. These pilots would bring the pilot workforce to approximately 1,820. The growth has delivered what appears to be an extraordinary year financially. UPS is expected shortly to report 1994 revenues approaching $20 billion, at least $2 billion more than in 1993. The net profit will exceed $900 million.
Edmond L. Soliday (see photo) has become United Airlines vice president-corporate safety and security. A United pilot for 28 years, he was assistant to the senior vice president-flight operations, administrator of United's human factors pilot training program and director of corporate safety.
ALLIEDSIGNAL AEROSPACE has formed a joint venture in Russia with Aviation Corp. Rubin to produce and market wheels, brakes and brake systems for commercial aircraft. The new venture, called Rubix, is equally owned by Rubin and AlliedSignal.
MEALS, DIETS and food products specifically aimed at improving mental alertness and physical endurance for workers in high-stress occupations are available for commercialization from the U.S. Army's Natick (Mass.) Research, Development and Engineering Center. Potential dual-use applications include improved diets for air traffic controllers and law enforcement personnel.
Development of the two new advanced wind tunnels the U.S. aircraft industry says it needs to stay competitive in the next century has advanced to the point that a White House decision on funding the $3.2-billion project will probably come this year, opening the door for two more decisions that must be made before the state-of-the-art facilities can be built.
PREPARE FOR FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT MODIFICATIONS to accommodate Halotron 1. The FAA has approved American Pacific's Halotron 1 fire suppressant as a substitute for Halon 1211 in airport fire-fighting equipment. Production of Halon 1211 has been banned by international agreement due to its potential to deplete atmospheric ozone. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Halon 1211's ozone depletion potential is about 250 times greater than that of the HCFC-based Halotron 1. The FAA reports that about 1.5 lb. of Halotron 1 is equivalent to 1 lb.
Gene Rainville has been appointed executive vice president-international sales of Gulfstream Aerospace, Savannah, Ga. He was senior vice president-marketing for Dassault FalconJet, Paramus, N.J.
The Clinton Administration's proposal to create a separate air traffic control corporation is encountering stiff bipartisan resistance, leaving little doubt the controversial plan faces an uphill battle in the 104th Congress. Despite Republican desires to privatize as many government functions as possible, GOP lawmakers are reluctant to embrace the Administration's plan especially in its current form.
PILOT HIRING BY U.S. AIRLINES got off to a strong start in 1995 with 863 new cockpit crew hires in January. The rate is 43% above the same month last year, according to Air, Inc., an Atlanta, Ga.-based pilot career services firm. At that rate, U.S. airlines would create more than 10,000 new pilot jobs this year, including 2,000 hires by top-paying major airlines. As expected, U.S. jet and turboprop regional airlines led hiring for the month, employing a total of 485 new cockpit crewmembers.
USAF WILL EQUIP its F-16 variable stability inflight simulator test aircraft with Pratt&Whitney's pitch/yaw balance beam nozzle. The nozzle will be added to the aircraft in the second half of 1996.
AIRBUS INDUSTRIE'S A330 transport has obtained additional extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) certifications in several engine configurations from the European Joint Aviation Authorities. JAA's approval involves three engine types: The General Electric CF6-80E1 is now approved for 180-min. ETOPS. The Pratt&Whitney PW4164/4168 received 90-min. ETOPS, prior to entry into service. The Rolls-Royce Trent 700 obtained 90-min. ETOPS approval.
GERMAN LUFTWAFFE TORNADO ground attack fighter and a French air force/Matra Apache air-to-ground missile are being prepared for firing in early spring on a French test range. Several Apaches have been fired from Mirage 2000s, but this is the first Apache launch from a Tornado. Both the French and German air forces will receive Apaches starting in 1997.
Dave Toole has been appointed chief executive officer of GaSonics International, San Jose, Calif. He will remain as president. Toole succeeds his father, Monte Toole, who will remain chairman.
AIR FORCE CHIEF OF STAFF RONALD FOGLEMAN CONTENDS modernization, not readiness, is the real problem facing the military. He agrees modernization is adequately funded in the new six-year budget plan, but calls it ``very delicately balanced.'' For example, the Air Force has carefully plotted F-22 procurement to end just as the service starts buying new aircraft developed from the Joint Attack Strike Technology (JAST) program. ``If we don't follow through we could face a disaster in tactical air,'' Fogleman warned.
The Boeing 767-300ER freighter, now in production and eagerly awaited at United Parcel Service, will add a unique new aircraft to the world fleet of all-cargo airplanes. UPS has taken an unusually strong role, even for the launch customer, toward the design of its international freighter. With Boeing's encouragement, the air express company set out an array of requirements that emerged from studies at UPS' Industrial Engineering Div. here.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries foresees 200 domestic sales for a 4-ton, eight-passenger commercial utility helicopter built around the MG-5 engine it is developing for Japan's OH-X light combat rotorcraft. Called the RP-1, the new twin-engine helicopter is to make its first flight next year with deliveries in 1998, according to Mitsuo Inoue, manager of civil business development for MHI's Helicopter Engineering Div.
Airbus Industrie says it could have a new version of its four-engine A340 ready by 1997 that would trade seats for even longer range--up to 9,000 mi. or 17.5 hr. of nonstop flying. Called the A340-8000 and based on the A340-200, the new, 8,000-naut.-mi. aircraft would have an increased takeoff weight, a thrust bump to its CFM56 engines and auxiliary fuel tanks under the floor, according to Adam Brown, vice president for strategic planning.
