February 5, 1979

View Full Issue Table of Contents

Management

Research Funding Proposed for Defense Dept.

Washington—Funding for Defense Dept. research, development, test and evaluation programs in President Carter’s proposed Fiscal 1980 budget, in millions of dollars, follows, except for Air Force programs, which were listed in AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY Jan. 29, p. 18:

Aeronautical Engineering

Civil Use Stressed at Helicopter Show

Las Vegas —Growing foreign competition, increasing commonality of full instrument flight rules avionics and a strong thrust by all helicopter manufacturers into traditional fixed-wing business aircraft markets were evident here during the recent Helicopter Assn, of America’s 31st annual meeting, convention and industry showcase.

By Robert R. Ropelewski8 min

Management

Air Force Procurement Policies Revised

Washington—U. S. Air Force Systems Command is revising its source selection and procurement policies to meet new budget stringencies and to put more emphasis on commercial practices, including the controversial “past performance” system in source selection.

By Herbert J. Coleman5 min

Space Technology

Viking Mars Data Yield No Sign of Life

Pasadena, Calif.—Exhaustive analysis of data returned by the twin Viking landers on Mars has supported initial conclusions that the craft failed to find signs of life on the planet, but scientists continue to debate whether some type of microorganisms now exist or were able to survive at some time in the harsh Martian environment.

By Jeffrey M. Lenorovitz5 min

Editorial

National Security Call

The Department of Defense is huge in terms of its technical challenges. The Defense research and development budget alone is over $11 billion. More importantly, technology is the American crown jewel. We have a clear, definable 10-year lead in most areas of technology.

January 291979

February 121979

February 5, 1979

February 5, 1979