Raytheon has completed flight tests of a low-cost missile that was developed rapidly to shoot down mortars, rockets and unmanned aircraft, but has yet to find a home for the weapon.
I believe reader Robert J. Stewart is incorrect in his letter “Old Becomes New” (AW&ST Oct. 7, p. 10), in which he credits Alexander Kartveli as the designer of the Fairchild Republic A-10. Pierre Sprey—working with Hans Rudel in the 1960s—was one of the early minds consulting on the A-10. Kartveli may have been assigned to supervise production of the aircraft, but he was not the designer. Flemington, N.J.
Martine Ohayon has become director communications and events for Montreal-based Airports Council International. She held a similar position at the International Air Transport Association and was director of communications at Canada Steamship Lines. Ohayon succeeds Cheryl Marcell, who is now deputy director for business development at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose (Calif.) International Airport.
On the eve of the NBAA convention, Bombardier marked Learjet's 50th anniversary by presenting the first two Model 75s off the line to their new owners: a real estate businessman and a Canadian charter company. Both aircraft are replacing Lear 45s. The updated aircraft features a Garmin G5000 flight deck and Honeywell TFE-731-40B engines, and carries a price tag of $13.7 million.
Aviation Partners Inc. (API) is offering to refit any Boeing Business Jets with its split scimitar winglet (see photo). The modification is already being adapted by airlines operating the Boeing 737, from which the BBJ is derived. The modification is said to improve fuel burn by 2.5-3% and thus increase range by 200 nm. Gary Dunn, API's vice president of sales and marketing, says he expects operators of “a very healthy percentage” of the roughly 130 delivered BBJs to adopt the signature modification.
One of the unintended consequences of the 2011 Budget Control Act (BCA) and its annual threat of sequestration—the automatic, widespread budget rescissions plaguing federal agencies since March—is the turnabout that will occur in the ratio of Defense Department procurement to research, development, testing and evaluation (RDT&E). According to analyst Todd Harrison of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments think tank here, since fiscal 1955, the ratio has averaged 2.1, meaning the Pentagon was spending more than $2 in procurement for every $1 of RDT&E.
Jim Meier has been named vice president-government business development for the Greenwich AeroGroup of Wichita. He was senior vice president-aviation services for the Sabreliner Corp.
The Center for New American Security (CNAS) recently released a report entitled “Game Changers: Disruptive Technology and U.S. Defense Strategy.” That study considered additive manufacturing (3-D printers), autonomous vehicles, directed energy, cyber capabilities, human performance modification and other emerging technologies that the center believes need to be factored into U.S. security policy and planning.
The National Business Aviation Association annual convention, held last week in Las Vegas, is the largest industry event in the world, drawing more than 20,000 attendees. Manufacturers, suppliers and service companies typically use the show as a platform for news. A sampling follows. Additional coverage appears on pages 26-30.
USAF Maj. Gen. (ret.) Douglas Raaberg (see photo) has become the Northrop Grumman Corp.'s chief executive for the United Arab Emirates. He was director of the battle management command and control campaign within Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems Sector.
The Mexican air force has a follow-on order for a second batch of six Beechcraft T-6C+ turboprop trainers to continue replacing its Pilatus PC-7s. An initial six aircraft ordered in January 2012 are to be delivered soon, pending export licenses. The T-6C+ has a glass cockpit and wing hardpoints for external stores and practice weapons.
Orbital Sciences Corp.'s Cygnus demonstration resupply capsule departed the International Space Station (ISS) and returned to Earth with 2,850 lb. of trash, concluding a 24-day stay that brings the Dulles, Va.-based company's participation in NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Systems (COTS) program close to its conclusion. Orbital plans to begin regular cargo deliveries to the ISS in December under the terms of a $1.9 billion, eight-flight Commercial Resupply Services contract signed with NASA in late 2008. The resupply ship carried out a delayed berthing on Sept.
The last-minute Oct. 16 law to restart U.S. government spending and debt authority mentioned few programs specifically, but did aim to protect two weather satellites that are nearing key phases of development. Since Congress could only pass a stopgap measure, which continues funding at fiscal 2013 levels until Jan. 15, 2014, the law does not allow necessary approvals for changes to programs, or new ones to start.
Norwegian Air Shuttle is slowly lifting the veil on its global expansion plans, and the next steps are bold. Just months after beginning long-haul operations from its bases in Scandinavia to Bangkok and the U.S., the Oslo-based low-cost carrier (LCC) confirmed it will launch transatlantic services from London Gatwick Airport next summer. Norwegian was the first of the current generation of European LCCs to enter the long-haul market, and now will be the first to do so from a base outside its home market.
If GE Aviation's use of direct metal laser melting is any indication of how additive manufacturing could radically change parts production and supply chains, the industry should be on alert. GE has used additive manufacturing technologies over the years, but its purchase of Morris Technologies and Rapid Quality Manufacturing (RQM) in November 2012 provided a quantum leap into direct metal laser melting (DMLM), which it views as a disruptive manufacturing technology.
Jerome Bendell (see photo) has been appointed CEO of ThalesRaytheonSystems France in Massy. He succeeds Philippe Duhamel, who is now CEO of international joint venture ThalesRaytheonSystems. Bendell was director of naval communication systems for Thales and had been vice president-defense and security strategy for the Alcatel-Lucent Group.
