April 24, 1989

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HEADLINE NEWS

Contractors Charge That Proposed Rules Threaten Procurement System

WASHINGTON The Pentagon is developing strict new procurement regulations that contracting officials fear will impose a drastic cut-off in information shared between government and industry. The proposed regulations put in force amendments to the Federal Procurement Policy Act, which was written to prevent all government contractors from gaining an unfair competitive advantage by buying or otherwise obtaining inside information from government officials.

By MICHAEL MECHAM5 min

LEASING’S NEW AIRLINE INDUSTRY ROLE

Large Leasing Company Orders Restructure Aircraft Acquisition

SAN FRANCISCO The recent emergence of a small group of leasing companies as volume purchasers of commercial air transports is restructuring the airline equipment acquisition process with potential benefits—and some pitfalls—for all segments of the industry.

U. S./KOREAN MILITARY EXERCISES

Tight Budgets, Political Uncertainties Cloud Future of Team Spirit Exercises

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA Shrinking military budgets and uncertainty over the future of U. S. forces in South Korea cast a shadow over this year’s Team Spirit joint U. S.-Korean field exercises. The Mar. 14-23 exercise, which involved some 209,000 U. S. and South Korean troops and cost roughly $33 million, was slightly smaller than in previous years.

AVIATION WEEK FLIGHT REPORT

Avionics System Lets Helicopter Crews Focus on Search, Rescue

NEW YORK Bell Helicopter Textron/Honeywell's avionics system for Bell's 214ST and 412 search and rescue helicopters will give crews a wide range of standard, fully coupled flight director functions as well as several specialized SAR modes.

By NICHOLAS C. KERNSTOCK10 min

AVIONICS

Lockheed Establishes Military Avionics Unit in Sanders Affiliate

NASHUA, N. H. Lockheed Corp. has established a military avionics business unit here in its Sanders Associates, Inc., affiliate, to develop advanced technology systems for use in a variety of aircraft. The avionics initiative, as it is now called, will soon become a division of Sanders and function as a separate profit center.

By DAVID HUGHES8 min

FAIRCHILD C-26A DELIVERIES BEGIN

Fairchild Delivers First Two C-26as to Air National Guard

SAN ANTONIO Fairchi1d Aircraft Corp. has delivered the first two C-26A operational support transport aircraft to the Air National Guard under a contract company officials hope will lead to increased business in the government/military sector.

By CAROLE A. SHIFRIN8 min

SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Magellan Mission to Venus Requires Precise Shuttle Launch Operations

WASHINGTON Launch of the Magellan spacecraft to Venus by space shuttle Atlantis will require the most precise liftoff timing and orbital positioning since the inception of the shuttle program. The shuttle Mission 30 launch, set for 2:24 p. m. EDT Apr. 28, will mark the first time that both manned and planetary requirements are combined in the same flight.

By CRAIG COVAULT8 min

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COMPUTERS IN AEROSPACE

Raytheon Adapts Color Workstations to Meet Requirements of Military Users

BOSTON Raytheon and other aerospace firms are beginning to adapt commercial color graphics workstations to replace specialized military displays that have relied on black and white monitor technology since the early 1950s. The Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command has just awarded a contract with a potential value of more than $100 million for 108 militarized color workstations and options for an additional 159 to Raytheon Co.’s Equipment Div.

By DAVID HUGHES7 min

LEASING’S NEW AIRLINE INDUSTRY ROLE

Gpa Orders 308 Aircraft Valued at $16.8 Billion

LONDON GPA Group, Ltd.’s orders for 308 new turbofan aircraft are intended to provide the Shannon, Ireland, company with a fleet that will enable it to lead the air transport industry into a new era. GPA officials believe the air transport field will, in the next decade, divide into organizations that own aircraft and companies that operate them.

April 171989

May 11989

April 24, 1989

April 24, 1989