October 27, 1986

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AVIONICS

Defense Dept. Pushes Phase 1 Vhsic for Developmental, Existing Systems

Washington—Defense Dept. is taking steps to accelerate the introduction of very high speed integrated circuit Phase 1 microcircuits into systems that will be going into full-scale development as well as into existing hardware. These steps include: New policy statement for defense system program managers offering guidelines for when to specify that VHSIC Phase 1 microcircuits be used for full-scale development hardware, to assure that appropriate vintage technology be used.

By Philip J. Klass8 min

AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

Nasa/douglas Team Studies Fly-by-wire Control Concepts

Moffett Field, Calif.—A study being conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Ames Research Center and Douglas Aircraft Co. to explore fly-by-wire control concepts is one of many planned investigations aimed at early incorporation of human factors in the design of transport aircraft for the 1990s.

By John T. Merrifield8 min

SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS

Companies Vie for Share of South Pacific Market

Vancouver—Pan Am Pacific Satellite Corp. has joined a number of satellite marketers attempting to connect island nations of the South Pacific in a further escalation of competition with the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Intelsat).

By Jay C. Lowndes7 min

Editorial

Pork-barreling the T-46a

The U. S. Senate’s handling of the USAF/Fairchild Republic T-46 trainer issue in the waning hours of the recently completed congressional session did not mark one of that body’s finer moments. Blatant pork barrel politics at its worst seemed the order of the day as Senators Alfonse M. D’Amato (R.-N. Y.) and Dennis DeConcini (D.-Ariz.) staged a mini-filibuster in support of the primary trainer program which the Air Force canceled late last year.

By DONALD E. FINK4 min

October 201986

November 31986

October 27, 1986

October 27, 1986

Ntsb Urges Improved Training for Fire Detection, Control