September 9, 1996

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HEADLINE NEWS

No Clear Winners Emerge From U.S.-Iraq Clash

WASHINGTON The U.S. claimed early success in its latest skirmish with Iraq, but it is not yet clear whether Saddam Hussein’s strategic position has been weakened, as the Administration asserts. Hussein’s air defense forces moved quickly to test U.S. enforcement of an enlarged no-fly zone with the launch of a fighter patrol along the new barrier and the radar tracking of an F-16.

By DAVID A. FULGHUM,PAUL MANN6 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Sanders Wins $97.6-million Missile Warning Contract

BOSTON Lockheed Martin's Sanders unit will develop production versions of the next-generation missile warning and infrared counter-measures system designed for use on 25 types of Army, Navy and Air Force aircraft. The $97.6-million Army contract just awarded, plus about $50 million in options, will allow Sanders to develop and test production versions of an advanced threat infrared countermeasures (ATIRCM) system primarily for U.S. Army helicopters.

By DAVID HUGHES4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Cruise Missile Production Faces Funding Uncertainties

Washington Long-term defense funding issues swirl in the background of the cruise missile raids on Iraq. As in three earlier attacks beginning in 1991, the Pentagon used cruise missiles last week to attack Iraqi targets and to avoid the possibility that U.S. aircrews could be shot down and captured.

By David A. Fulghum3 min

ARIANE FAILURE REPORT

Ariane 5 Report Details Software Design Errors

On the basis of the documentation made available and the information presented to the board, the following has been observed: The weather at the launch site at Kourou on the morning of June 4, 1996, was acceptable for a launch that day and presented no obstacle to the transfer of the launcher to the launch pad.

SAFETY

Recovered Fmc Memory Puts New Spin on Cali Accident

LOS ANGELESE Recovery of an intact flight management computer has helped change the course of the investigation of the American Airlines Boeing 757 crash near Cali, Colombia, on Dec. 20. The new data confirm an earlier suspicion that the Flight 965 crew mistakenly told the computer to fly to Romeo, a nondirectional beacon (NDB) located at Bogota, about 130 naut. mi. to the northeast, and 120 deg. off the desired path.

By MICHAEL A. DORNHEIM11 min

Seoul Air Show ’96

South Korean Aerospace Aims High

South Korea’s effort to become a major aerospace power will mark an important milestone next month with the opening of the country’s first international air show. The seven-day Seoul Air Show ’96, which begins Oct. 21, is to become a biennial event at the air force base in Sungnam City, which is located 15 mi. from the capital city of Seoul.

1996 FARNBOROUGH REPORT

U.k. Prods Partners on Eurofighters Fate

FARNBOROUGH The next few months will be critical for the future of the Eurofighter 2000 as the U.K. awaits word on whether its partners in the four-nation program will follow its lead and endorse moving into production. The U.K. started the ball rolling on the opening day of Farnborough ’96, committing to spend 1.5 billion pounds ($2.3 billion) to prepare for production.

By JOHN D. MORROCCO8 min

SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Atlantis Flight Readied for Ambitious Mir Resupply

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER Space shuttle Mission 79, set for liftoff in mid-September on a flight to Mir, will involve the largest logistics transfer ever conducted with the station and perform the first direct orbital exchange of NASA long-duration mission astronauts.

By CRAIG COVAULT8 min

1996 FARNBOROUGH REPORT

Boeing, Airbus Differ on Large-aircraft Issues

FARNBOROUGH Boeing Commercial Airplane Group launched the Boeing 757-300 and disclosed orders for 80 jetliners valued at more than $8.4 billion—but it did not launch the stretched 747-500X or -600X. It is getting closer, however, according to Ron Woodard, president of Boeing Commercial Airplane Group.

By CAROLE A. SHIFRIN,PIERRE SPARACO6 min

1996 FARNBOROUGH REPORT

Regional Aircraft Market Comes Alive

FARNBOROUGH Continental Express, the regional airline partner of Continental Airlines, has become the first North American customer for the EMB-145 with a firm order for 25 of the 50-seat Embraer regional jets. It also took options for a staggering 175 more.

By CAROLE A. SHIFRIN,PIERRE SPARACO6 min

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September 9, 1996

September 9, 1996