Avi Cohen, CEO of Israel-based RRsat, has been named 2014 Teleport Executive of the Year by the New York-based World Teleport Association. The award is presented to an individual for “entrepreneurship, leadership and innovation in the development or operation of a teleport-based business.”
A military fly/drive vehicle inspired by miniature “multicopter” unmanned aircraft is being prepared for its first flight. Advanced Tactics Inc.'s (AT) Black Knight Transformer is the technology demonstrator for a casualty-evacuation and cargo-resupply vehicle that can drive on or off road and fly like a helicopter, manned or unmanned.
Chris Reuther has become group vice president-finance for Circor Aerospace & Defense, Corona, Calif. He was lead manager of financial planning and analysis for Sikorsky Aerospace Services and had been CFO of Sikorsky's overhaul and repair business.
The U.S. Air Force has finally given its newest aerial refueler, Boeing's developmental KC-46, a name. Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh announced Feb. 20 at the Air Force Association's Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla., that the aircraft will be dubbed the “Pegasus,” after the winged stallion from Greek mythology. The aircraft, however, has yet to fly. The first Boeing 767-2C, a commercial jetliner outfitted with plumbing and wiring for the military refueling modifications, is slated to roll out of the factory this summer.
For Sikorsky, demonstrating the S-97 Raider high-speed helicopter is even more important now that the U.S. Army has decided to retire its armed scout helicopters and not replace them, at least in the near term. The company, which is building two Raider prototypes on industry funds, believes there is still room, and time, within the Army's long-term budget to acquire a small fleet of new armed scouts before it begins the heavy expenditure of replacing its large fleets of medium-utility and attack helicopters.
USAFR Maj. Gen. (ret.) Ralph S. Clem Jacksonville, Fla. (Nantes, France )
The recently released report by the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force (AW&ST Feb. 3, p. 12) captures many of the key issues raised and discussed by that body, especially as they relate to the need for optimizing the mix of forces among the three components of the service (Active Duty, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard) in light of shrinking budgets, declining manpower and new mission areas.
With its population spread across more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia faces costly infrastructure challenges in keeping its people connected. Low-fare airlines have quickly blossomed, linking major towns and cities but not many smaller settlements, so Indonesia is turning to its fledging aviation industry to find a way forward.
The U.K. and Saudi Arabia have agreed on a new pricing structure for Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft being purchased under the Al-Salam contract. The price escalation reflects changes in the contract including production of all 72 Typhoons in the U.K. Saudi now has 34 Typhoons delivered, a further 12 will arrive during 2014. Sir Roger Carr, BAE Systems chairman, said the agreement was: “welcome, mutually acceptable, and equitable” . . . and would underpin “potential future business.”
Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the last commercial operator of passenger-configured Douglas DC-10s, similar to the one shown, completed the type's last scheduled passenger service on Feb. 20, flying from Dhaka to Birmingham, England, via Kuwait. The aircraft, a DC-10-30 registered S2-ACR, then carried out a series of scenic flights around the U.K. for aviation enthusiasts. The type is being replaced in service by the Boeing 777-300ER. Biman plans to donate the DC-10 to a museum, and a final ferry flight is expected later this year.
As the civil helicopter industry everywhere continues to expand and support economic growth, inconsistent safety methods and programs remain a stumbling block in many nations. Too often, growth in helicopter operations also means an increase in accidents.
Valery Kubasov, the flight engineer on Soyuz 19, which docked with an Apollo spacecraft in Earth orbit in July 1975, died Feb. 19 in Moscow. He was 79. His death was announced on RSC Energia's website, which called him a “high-spirited instructor test cosmonaut.” No cause of death was given.
The trouble began with the CJ610 and JT12, the kerosene guzzlers that launched business aviation's jet age. The showgirls at the Sahara and Flamingo just made things worse. The problem with the former was their ungodly racket, while the latter served as leggy magnets that got those single-spoolers howling at all hours. And too often the place of departure and return was Santa Monica Airport (SMO).
USAF Maj. Gen. Bart O. Iddins has been named commander of the 59th Medical Wing of Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. He has been command surgeon at Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill. Iddins has been succeeded by Brig. Gen. Kory G. Cornum, who has been commander of the 81st Medical Group of Air Education and Training Command, Keesler AFB, Miss. Col. Keith M.
Sam Harris has been named as managing director of JetLease Capital, Palm Beach, Fla. He was founder of Aviation Advisors Group and worked in aircraft financing for National City Bank and PNC.
Sikorsky Aircraft is bringing oil and gas platform operations into the 21st century with a new satellite-based approach system that takes the human calculation and guesswork out of legacy rig approaches in instrument conditions and at night. The system offers operators an automated arrival tool to reduce crew loading while increasing situational awareness.
Cessna kicked off the flight-test program of its Latitude midsize business jet, keeping the aircraft on schedule for a 2015 certification. The aircraft, which recently rolled out quietly before employees, took to the air three years after Cessna unveiled the aircraft during the National Business Aviation Association's annual convention in October 2011. The first flight, announced Feb. 18, tested flaps, landing gear, pressurization systems, anti-ice capabilities, stability and control. Flight engineers reported that systems performed as expected.
Legacy airlines in Europe and Asia have long recognized the Persian Gulf carriers as a major threat. Now the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are exploring an open-skies agreement that they hope will help defend their position and stop leakage of traffic to the three big Middle East hub airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.
James R. Muhs has been appointed president/CEO FedEx Trade Networks, Memphis, Tenn. He was senior vice president of U.S. International, Global Planning, Engineering and Trade Services at FedEx Express.
Petroleum Helicopters Inc. Sikorsky S-92A departs an oil-drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. The company recently began using a Sikorsky-developed automated rig approach system to reduce the workload and increase the safety for S-92 pilots in night or low-visibility conditions. A special report starting on page 38 examines how trends in the oil-and-gas industry and the search-and-rescue business are impacting helicopter operations. The Petroleum Helicopters photo was altered to obscure details of the offshore rig.
