December 17, 1984

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AUTOMATED TESTING

Navy Weapon Support System Nears Full-Scale Development

Arlington, Va.—U. S. Navy’s comprehensive consolidated support system (CSS) is moving into Phase 2 full-scale engineering development, with four industry teams poised to respond to a request for proposals targeted for release this month by Naval Air Systems Command here.

By Kenneth J. Stein

Space Technology

NOAA 7 Back in Service After Tumbling

Washington—The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration nearly lost its $50-million NOAA 7 weather spacecraft Dec. 5 when a ground controller sent improper commands to the satellite, tumbling it out of control and creating an emergency that took controllers 40 hr. to correct.

AVIONICS

F-16 to Test Computer System For Terrain-Following Navigation

Bristol, England—Flight development work with a British Aerospace Dynamics Terprom navigation system installed in a General Dynamics F-16/79 fighter is expected to begin in January. A similar program has been proposed using a McDonnell Douglas F-15 fighter.

AIR TRANSPORT

Delta Puts Third PW2037-Powered 757 Transport in Scheduled Service

Atlanta, Ga.—Delta Air Lines last week put its third Pratt & Whitney PW2037powered Boeing 757 jet transport into scheduled service, after it was flown here from Boeing Field, Seattle, Wash., by two pilots who had not previously flown the type.

By Herbert J. Coleman

Management

Exchange Rate May Slow British Defense Plans

London—Declining value of the British pound sterling relative to the U. S. dollar has forced defense costs in Britain to rise to the point where the country may have to cancel or delay several planned conventional weapon systems so that it may fund the U. S.-built Trident submarinelaunched ballistic missile, which is being acquired as the nation’s next-generation nuclear deterrent.

By David A. Brown

December 101984

December 241984

December 17, 1984

December 17, 1984

British Urge Common International Approach Rules After DC-8 Incident