Robert Ferrante (see photo) has been tapped to become VP of Microwave Solutions of the Electronics Group of Crane Aerospace & Electronics, Redmond, Wash. He was VP and general manager for ITT Exelis Airborne Electronic Attack Div.
Using cockpit simulators for a Brazilian air force F-5 in Porto Alegre and an F/A-18E/F at its military aircraft headquarters in St. Louis, Boeing has demonstrated how it can link a network of simulators across distances as great as 5,000 mi. Boeing has been strengthening its manufacturing and technology ties with Brazil for several years in a number of areas, but nowhere more so than in its drive to demonstrate advanced systems capabilities and win the Brazilian air force's F-2X fighter competition.
Boeing is exhausting its management reserve on the U.S. Air Force KC-46A aerial refueler program faster than expected, and the program management team is investigating the cause as it assembles a revised cost estimate for Congress, says a senior Air Force official. Program overseers use management reserve funding to solve problems that typically crop up during development. Boeing officials say they expedited risk-reduction efforts on the program.
Most defense company executive teams are spending a lot of sleepless nights these days. Their worry: how to create shareholder value in a market with a gloomy long-term outlook. Defense and security budgets are heading south. “Sequestration” looms large on Capitol Hill. New program starts are few and far between. Internally, most companies' cost structures are bloated from a 10-year growth cycle, and organizational complexity is rampant.
The A340 is a four-engine, intercontinental, widebody commercial transport aircraft. A prototype flew in October 1991, and deliveries began in January 1993. The A340-200 and -300 were certificated by the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) in December 1992 and FAA in February 1993. Both are powered by four 31,200-34,000-lb.-thrust CFM56-5C4 turbofan engines. Two newer models, the longer-range A340-500 and the stretched -600, are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines. Typical seating for the -200, -300, -500 and -600 is 262, 295, 313 and 380 passengers, respectively.
Currently in development, the A350 is a twin-engine, widebody jetliner intended to compete with Boeing's 777 and 787. The A350 will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines rated at 74,000-92,000 lb. thrust and have a cruise speed around Mach 0.85. Three basic versions are being marketed: the -800, -900 and -1000. Depending on version, the A350 will seat between 270 and 350 passengers and have a range of 8,000-8,500 nm. An ultra-long-range version, the A350-900R, and a freighter, the A350-900F, are also planned.
The Australian company GippsAero is developing a 10-seat turboprop aircraft, dubbed the GA10, that is powered by a Rolls-Royce 250-B17F engine. The aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 2,154 kg (4,750 lb.). First flight of a GA10 developmental prototype occurred in May 2012, with Australian type certification planned by mid-2013. GippsAero is also developing the GA18 twin turboprop, which is based on the N24A Nomad.
C. D. “Dan” Mote, Jr., has been nominated to become president of the Washington-based National Academy of Engineering for a six-year term. He is a past president and regents professor of the University of Maryland.
Launched in July 2008, Bombardier's CSeries family includes two basic models: the CS100 version, which is designed to carry 110 passengers, and the larger CS300 model, seating 130. The aircraft will be powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW1500G geared turbofans producing 21,000-22,900 lb. thrust each. Both the CS100 and CS300 are to be available in standard and extended-range versions, with the CS300 as an “extra-thrust” version as well. CS100 service entry is planned for late 2013, and the CS300 is to arrive about a year later.
Researchers from industry, academia and government agencies now have access to the Space Communications and Navigation (SCAN) testbed on the International Space Station (ISS). NASA's Glenn Research Center hopes to begin demonstrations as early as late next year of new waveforms and software designed to enhance data delivery from scientific spacecraft. Announcements of opportunity to use SCAN are on the street, with industry and government researchers invited to enter Space Act agreements, and academic researchers to propose cooperative agreements.
The A330 twin-engine, widebody commercial passenger transport was developed by Airbus to replace aircraft such as the A300, DC-10-10 and L-1011. An A330 prototype first flew in November 1992, with deliveries following in December 1993. Customers have a choice of turbofan engines in the 64,000-72,000-lb.-thrust class: the General Electric CF6-80E1, Pratt & Whitney PW4000 or Rolls-Royce Trent 700. Three A330 models are available. The A330-300 seats 335 passengers in two classes or 295 in three classes. The -200 seats 293 in two classes or 253 in three classes.
Kurt Edwards has been appointed director general of the Washington-based National Business Aviation Association. He has held positions in the FAA's international affairs and environmental offices.
Boeing tests of a range of advanced technologies to improve fuel burn, noise and efficiency are nearing completion with its 737-800 EcoDemonstrator, the company's first such dedicated flying testbed. The aircraft is on loan from American Airlines, which partnered with Boeing on the effort along with the FAA. The agency is providing $125 million over five years toward the EcoDemonstrator under its Cleen (Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise) environmental program.
This is a family of twin-engine, 70-122-seat regional jet aircraft. The 70-80-passenger 170 made its first flight in February 2002, while the 78-88-seat 175 flew for the first time in June 2003. The 170 and 175 share the 14,200-lb.-thrust General Electric CF34-8E engine. The 94-114-seat 190 made its initial flight in March 2004, while the 106-122-passenger 195 first flew in December 2004. Additionally, Embraer has created the Lineage 1000, a business-jet version of the 190 that began delivery in 2009.
An item in The World in the Sept. 17 issue (page 18) incorrectly stated the speed at which NASA's Mars Curiosity rover will travel. It will travel as much as 40 meters (130 ft.) per Martian sol.
The prototype 767 twin-engine, widebody commercial transport aircraft rolled out in August 1981, with first flight the following month. Through 2011, Boeing produced 1,014 of this commercial transport aircraft. Current models include the 767-200ER, -300ER, -400ER and -300F freighter. Typical two-class seating layouts are 224 seats for the -200ER, 269 for the -300ER and 304 for the -400ER. All three models are sold with a choice of GE CF6-80C2 or Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines. The 767 has found a new lease on life due to the U.S.
The CRJ series is a family of twin-engine, 44-100-seat regional jets. The initial model was the 50-seat CRJ100. It first flew in May 1991, and deliveries started in October 1992. The CRJ100 was replaced by the 50-seat CRJ200, which is powered by a pair of 9,220-lb.-thrust GE CF34-3B1 turbofans. Other variants have included the 44-seat CRJ440, which is also powered by CF34-3B1s; the 64-78-seat CRJ700, powered by two 13,790-lb.-thrust CF34-8C5 turbofans; and the 86-90-seat CRJ900, powered by two 14,255-lb.-thrust CF34-8C5s.
Industry's game of musical chairs around the Pentagon's restaged competitions for presidential-transport and combat-rescue helicopters may have reached a conclusion, with AgustaWestland teaming with Northrop Grumman to once more offer the AW101 for both requirements. Lockheed Martin won the original U.S. Navy VXX presidential helicopter contest with a version of the AW101, but the program was canceled in 2009 following massive budget overruns. Lockheed lost the U.S.
The ERJ 135/140/145 family is a series of twin-engine, 37-50-seat regional jets. The initial model was the 50-seat ERJ 145, which first flew in August 1995; deliveries began in late 1996. The next model was the 37-seat ERJ 135, which made its initial flight in July 1998; deliveries began in July 1999. The 44-passenger ERJ 140 first flew in June 2000, with initial deliveries in July 2001. All models use variants of the Rolls-Royce AE 3007 turbofan.
Linda Celestino of Oman Air is the new president of New York-based Apex. Other new board members are: VP, Alfy Veretto of Virgin America; treasurer, Joan Filippini of Paramount Studios; Ingo Wuggetzer of Airbus; and Ashley Woodall of JetBlue Airways.
Kim Graven-Nielsen has been promoted to CEO from adviser and vice chairman of Nordic Aviation Capital, Billund, Denmark. Soren Overgaard is the new CFO, following a tenure as CFO of Damco Europe and senior positions at the AP Moller Group.
Ryanair is facing an increasingly hostile debate in Spain about alleged safety lapses after the airline was recently forced to divert several flights inbound to Spanish destinations. Its CEO, Michael O'Leary, is fighting back. Spanish Transport Minister Ana Pastor contacted the European Commission to call for more national oversight competencies within the EU. Pastor says “it is good to have lower fares, but we must not have lower safety standards.” The transport ministry added that the regulation should be changed within weeks.
A business aviation-related article in the Sept. 17 issue (page 62) incorrectly identified which Bombardier Global model will offer a 7,300-nm range at Mach 0.85 cruise when it becomes available in 2016. It is the Global 7000.
The 747 is an intercontinental widebody commercial transport aircraft powered by four turbofan engines. First flight and certification occurred in 1969. In February 2010, Boeing first flew aircraft in the new 747-8 series: the 747-8 Intercontinental and 747-8 Freighter. Both versions feature four General Electric GEnx-2B engines rated at 66,500 lb. thrust each. The 747-8I is stretched 5.6 meters (18.4 ft.) compared to the 747-400 to accommodate 467 seats in a three-class configuration.
