December 15, 1975

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Air Transport

Subsidized Rail Lines Undercut Japanese Air Carriers

Tokyo—Japanese domestic airline operations are feeling the bite of government subsidized high-speed rail extension and low fares, a situation that may be paralleled in the U. S. with expansion of government support for Amtrak.

By William H. Gregory8 min

AVOINICS

French Testing 'Ground-Derived' MLS

Washington—France will propose a basically different type of microwave landing system this month in its submission to the International Civil Aviation Organization. The French MLS is intended to grow into a completely new generation navigation, air surveillance and communications system.

By Philip J. Klass7 min

Special Report: Aerospace Taps Arctic Resources—5

Helicopters Readied for Offshore Effort

Anchorage, Alaska—Helicopter operators here are preparing to support accelerated offshore oil exploration and development as an important source of business that will help keep the energy boom rolling following completion of the trans-Alaska pipeline.

By Richard G. O'Lone7 min

MANAGMENT

Soviets Plan Seven-Satellite Global Communications Net

Washington—USSR has filed advance notification of plans to launch a global satellite communications system consisting of seven geostationary Statsionar spacecraft positioned over the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The notification was presented to the International Frequency Registration Board, an arm of the International Telecommunications Union, by S. Novikov, deputy head of the Dept, of External Relations, on behalf of the USSR Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.

By Katherine Johnsen6 min

Safety

Takeoff Crash Attributed to Control Loss

Analysis. There was no evidence of any failure or malfunction of aircraft structures, systems and controls. The engines, propellers and their components were capable of producing takeoff power. The damage to both propellers and their blade gear segments was apparently caused by repeated rotational contact with the ground.

Aeronautical Engineering

Miniature RPV Passes Air-Launch Tests

Sunnyvale, Calif.—Flight tests have demonstrated that the USAF/Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. Aequare miniature remotely piloted vehicle can be air-launched successfully and controlled remotely at distances approaching 200 mi.

By Benjamin M. Elson6 min

Air Transport

Disputes Mire International Policy Review

Some major issues may be left to Economic Policy Board; profitability expected to be the key to new route authority

By Rosalind K. Ellingsworth6 min

AVOINICS

F-86s Being Converted to Target Drones

Newport Beach, Calif.—Obsolescent fighter aircraft are being converted into relatively inexpensive, realistic target drones by Flight Systems, Inc., guided by a philosophy that stresses the role of engineering test pilots in all aspects of the program.

By Barry Miller5 min

December 81975

December 221975

December 15, 1975

December 15, 1975

Exploitation of SALT Ambiguities Cited

By Clarence A. Robinson14 min