This week, Aviation Week publishes two editions. The cover on the left shows Sikorsky's latest update of the venerable S-76, in this Sikorsky photo by Dean Sfikas. For our pilot's evaluation of the intermediate-size S-76D and a special report on the helicopter industry, see page 40. Other articles featured on the cover include pieces on Global Hawk (page 22), Washington gridlock (pages 27 and 58), Piaggio's UAV (page 25) and Beechcraft (page 32). Our Defense Technology Edition includes additional articles. Its cover features a Mirage 2000D in Mali.
I agree with Mark Albrecht's statement In “Stuck in Orbit” (AW&ST Feb.11, p. 35) that before partnering, the U.S. must determine both our strategy and China's. China plans its destiny in 5-, 10-, 50- and 100-year increments. It is not championing a race. Nor is it expending its budget on liberalist causes.
Veronica McGregor (see photo), manager of news and social media at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has been selected to receive the 2013 Space Communicator Award, given by the Houston-based Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Foundation.
Roger Franklin, president and CEO of Crystal Solutions, has been named to the board of directors of New York-based World Teleport Association. Other new directors are: Richard Hadsall, chief technology officer of MTN Government Services; Scott Sprague, chief operating officer of Asia Broadcast Satellite; and James Trevelyan, sales director at Arqiva.
Robert Burke (see photo) has been named to lead Northrop GrummanAerospace Systems' strategy and business development organization, based in Redondo Beach, Calif. He was VP and deputy general manger for the Space Systems division. Dale Burton has become chief technology officer, leading the Research and Technology organization. He was VP and program manager for Joint Stars. Art Lofton will lead the global quality organization. He was VP-Information Technology Solutions and chief information officer.
One of my chief frustrations in advancing a broad industry coalition against indiscriminant sequestration budget cuts is that some critics say we are only out to defend the defense budget and defense industry. That could not be further from the truth. But even if it were, what would be so bad?
NASA's Kepler planet-hunting mission has located the smallest planet yet discovered, orbiting a star 210 light years from Earth that is slightly smaller and colder than the Sun. Called Kepler-37b, the planet circles its star, Kepler-37, in just 13 days. That puts it so close that its surface temperature is 800F. That's about the same as the hottest days on Mercury, the Solar System's smallest planet, which orbits the Sun in 88 days. But Mercury has an erratic orbit that causes temperature swings to as low as -280F. Kepler-37b's orbit is more regular.
I applaud the apt call by USAF Gen. (ret.) Charles F. Wald, expressed in a recent Viewpoint, to “regard the [fiscal] crisis as an opportunity . . . to reform our defense establishment” (AW&ST Feb. 4, p. 59).
Roy Foreman (see photos), electrical engineering manager in Falls Church, Va.-based Northrop Grumman's Information Systems sector, has received the company's Industry Professional Achievement award for development of key programs supporting U.S. Defense Department customers. Omar Thompson, a senior reliability engineer in the company's Electronic Systems sector, has received a Special Recognition for his work on NASA's space shuttle program.
Often faulted for failing to meet science project cost and schedule targets, NASA seems to be following an effective strategy with the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Project, or Maven. The $453 million mission, scheduled for launch Nov. 18, is expected to study climate-influencing changes in the Martian upper atmosphere. If the mission is successful, Maven's development could become a case study for other science mission projects, according to NASA's inspector general (IG).
Bombardier expects to build 20-30 CSeries aircraft in the program's first year of production and gradually increase this rate over 3.5 years to 120. The manufacturer's chief executive, Pierre Beaudoin, cautioned during the company's 2012 earnings conference call that the rates “were not at an exact point” but that his guidance indicates the production rates are envisioned when both the baseline CS100 and stretched CS300 are in service. Beaudoin said he is “very confident” that the CS100's first flight will still occur in late June.
The unique design of Piaggio Aero's P.180 Avanti business turboprop has always turned heads. With its unusual blend of three-surface configuration and pusher propellers, the aircraft is well-known for its performance and Italian flair. But the type has never sold as well as competitors such as Beechcraft's King Air. So now Piaggio is exploring new markets for the Avanti, hoping that its latest development can secure a niche that has until now been dominated by products from Israel and the U.S.
Eurocopter has been building a relationship in Mexico for 30 years. So in 2010, when the government here asked for an offset agreement as a condition for selling 15 EC725 long-range tactical transports to the Mexican air force and navy, the company readily agreed. “At Eurocopter, proximity [to our markets] is a key word, part of our DNA,” President/CEO Lutz Bertling said at the opening of a $100 million factory here last month that is the offset payoff for that contract.
A year ago or so ago I wrote to Aviation Week voicing my discomfort with most major airlines opting to depend on Chinese companies for scheduled routine aircraft maintenance and modifications. Bill Sweetman's Commander's Intent “Learning Chinese” (AW&ST Feb. 11, p. 14) underscores my original concerns.
Jeffrey S. Tenen has become a partner in the aviation practice of Miami-based Hughes Hubbard, and Israel I. Sanchez joined the group as counsel. Both lawyers were shareholders at Greenberg Traurig.
W ith deep, indiscriminate cuts to U.S. government spending on defense, space and civil aviation looming, a sensible observer might expect lawmakers in Washington to be pulling all-nighters to find a way to stanch the flow of red ink in federal budgets in a manner less damaging to the nation's security and economic vitality. But as the clock ticked down toward the March 1 deadline when the meat ax of “sequestration” is to fall, Congress adjourned for a week and President Barack Obama jetted off to Florida to play golf with Tiger Woods.
A disadvantage of trying to develop and field new technology rapidly to meet urgent operational requirements in wartime is that there is not much leeway when things do not go as planned. Now the U.S. Army has canceled Northrop Grumman's Long-Endurance Multi-intelligence Vehicle (LEMV), because technical and performance problems and budget constraints meant the 300-ft. surveillance airship could no longer provide an operational capability in Afghanistan in the timeframe required.
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Dave Pflieger has become president of and CEO of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Silver Airways, succeeding Darrell Richardson, who has retired. Pflieger will remain CEO and managing director of Air Pacific until May 1.
The merger of AMR Corp.'s American Airlines with US Airways is poised to create the world's largest airline. On the domestic front, however, the pairing of two of the remaining four legacy carriers marks something else: the continued consolidation of the U.S. airline industry. With just Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and a new American Airlines left—should the latest legacy merger receive regulatory approval—consolidation could be nearing the end of its 35-year run since deregulation in 1978.
Michael Hardesty has become corporate VP, controller and chief accounting officer in Falls Church, Va., for the Northrop Grumman Corp., succeeding Kenneth L. Bedingfield, who has been appointed VP-business management and CFO for the company's Aerospace Systems sector.
NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has collected its first sample from the interior of a rock on the red planet, marking a major milestone for the Mars Science Laboratory project and the achievement of what the agency says is a historic moment for robotic space exploration. The tablespoon-sized sample is already causing excitement among scientists because it is of a different gray color than the usual rust-tinted terrain seen up until now. The drill sample was taken from a spot in the bedrock which appears to be “fine-grained rocks like a siltstone or mudstone.
Pat Pearse (see photo) has been named managing director of Dallas-based BBA Aviation Flight Support. He has held executive positions with British Airways, British Airways Regional Cargo and MK Airlines. Honors And Elections
