January 26, 1987

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SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Space Station Eva Simulation Demonstrates Orbital Assembly

Los Angeles—NASA space station and U. S. Air Force contractors studying space-based assembly are making increased use of manned underwater zero-gravity simulations to assess extravehicular activity tasks planned for astronauts during the 1990s.

By Craig Covault12 min

BUSINESS FLYING

Charter Company Expanding Medevac Operations with Bk. 117 Fleet

Washington—U. S. Jet is capitalizing on its experience in operating Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm/Kawasaki BK. 117 helicopters for medical evacuation to expand further into rotary and fixed-wing medevac missions and other operations centered on corporate-class aircraft.

By Paul Proctor6 min

Air Transport

Federal Express Plans New Hub, Buys McDonnell Douglas Freighters

Memphis, Tenn.—Federal Express is planning to establish a new Midwest-based national hub for its air express business in addition to its Memphis facility, and is acquiring McDonnell Douglas wide-body freighters for their versatility in domestic and expanding international operations.

By James Ott6 min

Air Transport

Wide-body Aircraft Operating Costs

Third Quarter 1986 BOEING 747 Pan American Northwest Trans World Flying Tiger United People Express BOEING 767 American United Delta Trans World SCHEDULED PASSENGER SERVICE Revenue Miles (000,000) Revenue Passenger Miles (000) Available Seat Miles (000)

SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS

Gte Transmits Messages By Bouncing Voice Signals Off Meteor Trails

Washington—Strategic Systems Div. of GTE Government Systems Corp. has transmitted spoken messages more than 800 mi. by bouncing radio signals off meteor trails in the ionosphere. The division compresses a speaker’s voice into digital bursts short enough to reach the receiver before ionized gas trailing a meteor can dissipate.

By Jay C. Lowndes5 min

January 191987

February 21987

January 26, 1987

January 26, 1987

Ntsb Determines Probable Causes of Delta Accident