August 9, 1999

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HEADLINE NEWS

Kosovo Reveals Nato Interoperability Woes

LONDON The air war in Yugoslavia under-scored the effectiveness of a new generation of advanced systems and weapons, including precision munitions, but also raised serious concerns about interoperability and the growing technological mismatch between the U.S. and its European allies.

By JOHN D. MORROCCO4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Thaad at Crossroads After Intercept

WASHINGTON The second successful intercept of a target by the Army's Theater High Altitude Area Defense system has drastically changed the way some Defense Dept, officials view the program and could result in the Pentagon’s jump-starting the next phase.

By ROBERT WALL4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Iridium Races Against Bankruptcy Deadline

WASHINGTON It’s D-Day for Iridium. This week, the $4.85-billion global satellite venture must reach a debt restructuring agreement with its investors, lenders and bondholders. Without one, Iridium likely would have to file for bankruptcy protection or, at the extreme worst, liquidate and sell off its constellation of 66 low-Earth orbit satellites.

By JOSEPH C. ANSELMO4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

AIM-9X Fault Prompts Changes

WASHINGTON Development problems have forced the Pentagon to restructure the AIM-9X Evolved Sidewinder heat-seeking missile program but so far the fielding of the dogfight weapon hasn’t been delayed. Problems with the missile’s control actuation system have caused the development program to be extended and resulted in the schedule for Initial Operational Test and Evaluation slipping 15 months and full-rate production being moved from 2002 to March 2003.

By ROBERT WALL4 min

AIR TRANSPORT

Airport Moves City Away From Noise

LOUISVILLE, KY. Like the mythical bird Phoenix that perished and resurrected to fly again, Minor Lane Heights, a suburb of Louisville International Airport, will dissolve in coming months and reemerge as a new town far away from aircraft noise. More than 450 families have signed up to swap their homes for new houses on spacious lots in the rising subdivision of Heritage Creek, 11 mi. away in Jefferson County.

By JAMES OTT5 min

SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Shuttle, EL Engines Cleared

CAPE CANAVERAL Rocket propulsion teams are this week implementing changes affecting the Delta, Atlas, Proton and space shuttle programs after isolating the engine, electrical and manufacturing problems that have forced the lengthy grounding of commercial vehicles and threatened shuttle delays.

By CRAIG COVAULT5 min

AIR TRANSPORT

717 Delivery Nears as Boeing Targets Assembly Cost-cutting

LOS ANGELES Basic certification flight testing could end as early as this week on the 717-200 program, as Boeing officials push to cut production costs for the twinjet in an increasingly competitive 100-seat transport market. The 717 is expected to achieve initial joint FAA/JAA certification in early September, while the initial delivery of the twinjet is set for later that month to Air-Tran Airways, the launch customer.

By BRUCE A. SMITH4 min

AIR TRANSPORT

Etops Procedures Build Short-haul Reliability

SEATTLE An increasing number of airlines are adopting the stricter maintenance and operating practices set out under FAA’s Extended Range Twin-engine Operations rules to improve the reliability and flexibility of their non-ETOPS and four-engine transport fleets.

By PAUL PROCTOR4 min

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August 161999

August 9, 1999

August 9, 1999

F-22 Headed for Reprieve From Congressional Ax

By DAVID A. FULGHUM7 min