A MAJOR CONSIDERATION to designers of second-generation supersonic transports and other new transports will be recovery from accidental, rapid cabin decompression at high cruise altitudes, according to a Flight Safety Foundation report. Oxygen from masks must be available to crew and passengers 5-7 sec. after exposure to a cabin decompression level of 45,000 ft., to maintain consciousness. An emergency descent to a cabin altitude of 15,000 ft. would have to be accomplished in less than 4-5 min.
KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES is forming a Boeing 767 maintenance unit in anticipation of its first 767 deliveries in 1995. Similar to the airline's semi-autonomous 747, Airbus Industrie A310 and General Electric CF-6 engine repair units, the organization will seek third-party 767 business in addition to its baseline KLM work. Initial capabilities will focus on component inspection, repair and overhaul, with KLM planning to service at least 1,400 of the transport's 2,200 different components.
DELTA AIR LINES WILL BE INSTALLING 46 FedEx ''Heavyweight'' hushkits on Delta's aging Boeing 727-200 transport fleet through the decade. The kits will be delivered between 1995 and 1999, and initial installations will begin during routine maintenance in 1995 and 1996. All Stage 2 jet transports must meet more stringent Stage 3 noise standards by Dec. 31, 1999, or cease operating in the U.S. FedEx developed the hushkits for Pratt&Whitney JT8D-series engines with cooperation from the engine manufacturer. Delta currently has 52 options for additional kits.
A NEWLY PATENTED photonics-based system that senses the unique infrared pattern of a person's finger could lead to a highly secure method of personnel identification. The device is based on technology originally developed for military identification-friend-or-foe and noncooperative target recognition systems. After scanning the noncoherent IR image of a person's fingertip, the image is compared with stored IR patterns of that individual's finger signature.
An Israeli company is offering a multimedia Aircraft Recognition Training (ART) system that can be used for all phases of training for pilots, aircrews and intelligence personnel to identify fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. The off-the-shelf system uses still photographs and drawings, video and three-dimensional models that can be rotated in all axes and viewed from any angle. ART, developed by Geo International Computer Based Training, Ltd., is available for either 486-based IBM-compatible computers or Macintosh LC 475s.
The fourth prototype of the Eurocopter Tiger helicopter is entering flight test. Three prototypes have recorded about 630 flight hours from the French-German company's Marignane, France, flight test center. The fourth Tiger is in the escort-support configuration and can carry rocket launchers and one Matra Mistral missile. It also will be used to test the roof-mounted Stryx infrared television system and a daytime head-up display. A helmet-mounted sight tied to the 30-mm. cannon also will be tested. The French army will procure the Tiger's escort-support version.
Scheduled U.S. airlines earned about $540 million in net income during the first three quarters of 1994, but pressure from fare wars will drive earnings downward in the fourth quarter as the industry struggles toward fiscal recovery, according to the Air Transport Assn.
The 860 Series Graphical Multimeters combine advanced multimeter capabilities with the visual power of a waveform display, in-circuit component testing, trend plotting, and logic activity detection. They provide readings in three forms: analog, digital and graphically, while allowing operators to use a familiar, easy-to-use rotary switch. In meter mode, the 860 can measure current, resistance, conductance, capacitance, frequency, duty cycle, pulse width, period, decibels, and a.c. and d.c. voltage. Fluke Corp., P.O. Box 9090, Everett, Wash. 98206-9090.
Rex Lezard (see photo) has been named managing director of U.K.-based Euro Direct Airlines. Lezard, who spent most of his career at British Airways, most recently was chief executive of Air Malawi.
The Focus Find focused beam detector hardware and software automates the process of locating the laser beam focal point in a multiaxis system. This allows a less-skilled operator to produce quality parts. It also lets the system operator accurately identify significant shifts or trends in location of the laser beam's focal point. It will alert the operator to problems such as those caused by contaminated or loose optics before a workpiece is damaged. Focus Find includes a power meter located behind a 0.015-in.-dia.
FlightSafety International of New York has promoted Al Krusz to manager of its Savannah, Ga., Learning Center from assistant manager. Dan MacLellan has been named regional marketing manager for the Midwest. And, Roger Wilcox has been promoted to director of pilot training from Learjet instructor.
The Shift Shock Stop is designed to prevent operators of ground support vehicles from incorrectly shifting gears to change a moving vehicle's direction. Applications include tugs, fuel trucks and food service trucks with automatic transmissions. A vehicle's drive shaft, drive axle gearing and drive wheels all must be stopped before the Shift Shock Stop will allow the driver to shift through neutral. If the driver attempts to shift through neutral while any of these components is still moving, the device will automatically lock the transmission in neutral.
AFTER FENDING OFF U.S. AIR FORCE plans to snare more missions in 1994, the Army will propose this week to absorb acquisition, training and logistics support for all of the Pentagon's rotary wing aircraft. Brig. Gen. John P. Costello, director of the Army's roles and missions office, said the mandate would include U.S. Marine Corps/Navy acquisition and training for landing on ships at sea.
ACTIVE NOISE CONTROL has been successfully used to reduce low-frequency, broadband jet engine exhaust noise radiating from engine test cells. The noise-cancellation technique, which field trials indicate will result in up to a 15 dB. attenuation in some one-third octave frequency bands, could be used by airports, military bases and engine repair facilities to limit community-irritating noise pollution.
Benoit B. Mandelbrot, IBM fellow emeritus at the IBM Research Div.'s Thomas J. Watson Research Center and Abraham Robinson adjunct professor of mathematical sciences at Yale University, has received the 1994 Honda Prize for his foundational work in fractal geometry.
The French Ministry of Defense has selected the Matra Apache missile as the basis for development of two new long-range air-launched precision strike weapons for the French air force. Both of the new cruise missile versions will be developed to deliver a 1,000-lb. conventional warhead 250 mi. with pinpoint accuracy. They will involve significant stealth technologies.
Boeing's third 777 recently underwent cold-weather testing in Kiruna, Sweden. The city, located inside the Arctic Circle, was the first international destination for the new twinjet and provided -7F (-21C) temperatures to help validate the transport's cabin air conditioning and temperature control system. Kiruna was chosen after temperatures in Sondre Stromford, Greenland, Boeing's original cold-weather test site, became unseasonably warm.
The RHC-44E is a rugged, handheld computer that is based on the 16-bit Chips and Technology F 8680 A microprocessor. It runs at a clock speed of 14 MHz. and can process 1.5 million instructions per second while having a battery life of 6 hr. The handheld PC is available with two optional PCMCIA drives. With both drives the RHC-44E will be able to accept PCMCIA memory, communications and removable hard drive cards. Earlier RHC-44s can be upgraded to the capability of the new machine.
The Dual PC Keyboard Extender provides a complete interface for receiving key codes and transmitting LED information to two keyboards simultaneously when used in conjunction with the Hex Channel Video Adapter. Up to eight extenders can be used on one RS422 link with the adapter. The low-power device supports up to 19,200 baud and can be configured for binary or ASCII protocols. It will operate over a temperature range of 0-70C and runs at 80 milliamps at 5 v. d.c. SCM Products, Inc., 1797-8 Veterans Highway, Islandia, N.Y. 11722.
E-Systems, Inc., has purchased Westinghouse Corp.'s Transportation Management Systems business to help expand the company's nondefense revenues, but some financial analysts are skeptical about the move. The new property will be combined with E-Systems' existing transportation resources, including the recently acquired Auto-Trac and an alliance with Newcomb Communications--both mobile data communications suppliers.
The Clinton Administration sought to get the jump last week on the new Republican legislative majority in framing the impending year-long debate on the appropriate size of the U.S. defense budget. Following are excerpts from a speech by Deputy Defense Secretary John Deutch, who addressed the National Defense University in Washington, setting the stage for the debate the day before the 104th Congress convened.
Alpine Helicopters is using at least nine Bell 212 helicopters to support a growing winter heli-skiing tour business. About 40% of the Kelowna, British Columbia-based helicopter operator's fleet regularly airlifts heli-skiing customers to peaks where they can ski virgin snow during the mid-December through early May season. The 11,200-lb. maximum gross weight helicopters, plus about 18 pilots and 18 mechanics, work under contract to Canadian Mountain Holidays, an established tourism company based in Banff, Alberta.
The U.S. Army Missile&Space Intelligence Center at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., has obtained the Russian equivalent of a Patriot missile system for evaluation at a time when China is modifying these S-300s (SA-10s) for export to third world nations.
THE NATIONAL CENTER for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) will use a recently acquired WB-57F Canberra for science experiments in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. The regions are not covered adequately by other aircraft in the National Science Foundation fleet. Operated by NCAR's Atmospheric Technology Div. Research Aviation Facility, the former Air Force reconnaissance aircraft can reach altitudes up to 66,000 ft., carry a substantial scientific payload and stay airborne for about 7 hr.
