The ability to deliver the first shot and then put distance between you and your adversary is a key survival tactic in beyond-visual-range air-to-air combat.
A micrometeoroid might be the culprit for an abrupt attitude problem that halted the flow of critical weather-prediction data for the U.S. East Coast from a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellite.
USAF Lt. Gen. John E. Hyten has been appointed commander of the Fourteenth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) of Air Force Space Command/commander of the Joint Functional Component Command for Space of U.S. Strategic Command, Vandenberg AFB, Calif. He has been vice commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo. He is swapping positions with Lt. Gen. Susan J. Helms.
After two years of rapid growth, Airbus's air traffic management unit is carving itself an increasingly prominent role in the global ATM industry. The Airbus ProSky subsidiary is already one of the few companies to be deeply involved in both the U.S. NextGen initiative and its European equivalent, Sesar. Now, with a new management team in place, it is aiming to more closely align its disparate pieces and bring more-integrated products to market.
The first major airframe parts for Boeing's KC-46A tanker are due to enter the final assembly line in Everett, Wash., on June 26, the company says. The airframe will be completed and certificated to civil standards as a 767-2C “provisioned freighter” on the two-station Everett final assembly line, which has a capacity of 20 aircraft per year, and will make its first flight in that form in the third quarter of 2014.
Alenia Aermacchi, General Dynamics Canada and DRS Technologies Canada have firmed up their agreement on the C-27J as Canada prepares to release the long-delayed request for proposals for new search-and-rescue aircraft. Under the agreement, GD Canada would act as mission system integrator if the C-27J is selected for the Fixed-Wing Search And Rescue program. Alenia, as prime contractor, would supply green aircraft to be missionized and supported by GD in Atlantic Canada. DRS, Alenia's sister company within Finmeccanica, would provide long-term training.
Planetary Resources, which has been busy developing an initial prototype of its prospective space telescope, the Arkyd-100, is going public with a pitch for public donations. The group has unveiled a $1 million fund-raising campaign to launch the telescope, set up a user interface system, “cover fulfillment costs for all of the products and services in the pledge levels” and fund the “immersive” education program the company is promising.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is holding its annual general assembly in Cape Town, South Africa, this week. And, it is certainly time that the high-profile event is being staged in Africa. Economic growth is beginning to change some parts of the continent, and air transport is beginning to benefit. Africa will always be a small part of the global air transport market regardless of how much change is coming, but given new trade links and a willingless to loosen regulation, there will be growth potential.
Allen A. Arata of Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems has won The Engineers' Council's Jack Northrop Spirit of Aviation Award. Based in the company's flight-analysis department in El Segundo, Calif., Arata received the award for his aerodynamic design work, which has enhanced “all aspects of aerodynamic design for present and future manned and unmanned military aircraft, especially flying-wing designs such as the B-2 stealth bomber.” The award commemorates the vision, perseverance and engineering prowess reminiscent of aviation pioneer Jack Northrop.
Sept. 9-11—NextGen Ahead. Washington. Sept. 19-21—MRO IT Conference & Showcase. Miami. Sept. 24-26—MRO Europe. London. Oct. 29-31—MRO Asia. Singapore. Nov. 12-14—A&D Programs. Phoenix. Jan 21-23—MRO Middle East. Dubai. May 7-8—CAM Conference. Charlotte, N.C. You can now register ONLINEfor Aviation Week Events. Go to www.aviationweek.com/events or call +1 (212) 904-4682.
A letter to the editor in Feedback in the April 15 edition (page 10) had an incorrect date for the recent global economic recession. It began in 2007 and accelerated in September 2008.
Scott Gunnufson (see photo) has been appointed vice president-sales, marketing and support for Rockwell Collins Commercial Systems, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was vice president/general manager of service solutions in the International & Service Solutions unit. Gunnufson has been succeeded by Thierry Tosi, who was IS&S vice president-strategy. Alan Prowse (see photo) has been named vice president/managing director for the Americas. He was senior director of government systems sales and business development operations.
Globally, aerospace and defense merger and acquisition activity has been slow for quite awhile, but Curtis Reusser and Mike Dumais have had plenty to do. They have been heading integration teams for the exception to that rule—the new business unit created by United Technologies' $18.4 billion purchase of Goodrich Aerospace last September.
Flybe used to be among the most innovative regional carriers in Europe. But a combination of market trends and regulatory measures is threatening its business model, yet again forcing the company to make deep cuts. The airline is selling its entire slot portfolio at London's Gatwick Airport and is deferring about half of its outstanding order for Embraer 175s for several years. These measures have been taken in order to fund an extensive restructuring plan which was launched last year.
Carl Dietrich, CEO/Chief Technology Officer (Woburn, Mass. ), Terrafugia Inc. (Woburn, Mass. )
In the absence of reader John A. Eney's clarification of his concerns with the TF-X concept (AW&ST May 27, p. 12), I am left to speculate on his objections.
Regarding the editorial, “The High Costs of Washington Inertia” (AW&ST May 6/13, p. 74), the situation we face with Congress is simple: The founders did not provide enough checks and balances in the Constitution to prevent the development of an elite political class, which is what the U.S. has today in its government and is how senators and congressmen view themselves.
Toru Yunoki has become business development manager for the telecommunications products of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., Guildford, England. He was deputy general manager of the Civil and Commercial Space Department at Mitsubishi Electric Corp.
USN Rear Adm. William A. Brown has been nominated for promotion to vice admiral and assignment as deputy commander of U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill. He has been the command's director of strategic policy, programs and logistics. Rear Adm. Troy M. Shoemaker has been named commander of the Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, Va. He has been commander of Carrier Strike Group Three, Bremerton, Wash. Honors And Elections
The U.S. Navy says it will issue a contract to Bell Boeing to engineer, integrate, qualify and flight test traffic-alert and collision avoidance systems (TCAS) in two MV-22 tiltrotors. The test is part of an effort to bring TCAS to the broader fleet.
