August 28, 2000

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WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Details Emerge of Earlier Fuel Tank Penetrations

LOS ANGELES As the investigation of the July 25 Air France Concorde crash continues, the record shows that fuel tank penetrations had occurred about twice as frequently as was generally thought at the outset of the accident. Investigators’ reports of the first such incident in 1979 suggest that the approach used to protect Concorde against tire bursts may not have been completely valid.

By MICHAEL A. DORNHEIM7 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Franco-british Team Plans Concorde Modifications

PARIS France and the U.K. are working to devise technical and operational changes that could lead to reinstatement of the Concorde’s airworthiness certificate and resumption of supersonic transport service. Following a Franco-British meeting in London, the two countries’ transport ministers stressed their “determination to find a solution that will allow Concorde to return to service in safe conditions.”

By PIERRE SPARACO5 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

NMD Flight Testing Slows; Boost-Phase Intercept Bolstered

HUNTSVILLE, ALA. The National Missile Defense program is finding its test pace slowed again as a result of the failure on the last intercept attempt. At the same time, boost-phase intercept missile defense schemes that some see as an alternative to the land-based system appear to be gaining momentum.

By ROBERT WALLI4 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Delta III Succeeds, But Will It Sell?

CAPE CANAVERAL The Boeing Delta III has scored its first successful mission after back-to-back failures and two years of exhaustive reviews, but it remains to be seen whether the heavy booster will be a commercial success. Boeing was forced to absorb the $8 5-million cost of the Aug. 23 test flight with no paying customer to demonstrate that the 128-ft. Delta III is now safe to fly.

By CRAIG COVAULTI4 min

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WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Darpa Envisions New Supersonic Designs

WASHINGTON In a bid to develop a quiet supersonic aircraft, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency plans to discard traditional design approaches that officials believe have stifled innovation and marginalized such airplanes.

By ROBERT WALL4 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Alpa Rejects Merger of Pilots at Delta Connection Carriers

CINCINNATI Pilots of two Delta Connection carriers are reviewing options now that the executive council of the Air Line Pilots Assn, has rejected their petition calling for merger of the regional pilot unions with that of mainline Delta Air Lines.

By JAMES OTT3 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Cargo Squeeze on Asian Tires

SAN FRANCISCO One more hurdle for Bridgestone/Firestone to overcome in its recovery from a recall of 6.5-million suspect auto tires will be finding available air freight cargo space from Japan to the U.S. Firestone’s recall hit Ford’s popular Explorer sport utility vehicle so hard that the automaker ordered an Aug. 28-Sept. 8 shutdown of three truck assembly plants to free up some 70,000 tires as replacements for tires that had been recalled.

By MICHAEL MECHAMI3 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Australia Defers AEW&C Buy

PERTH, AUSTRALIA Australia's defense credibility may have suffered a blow with a decision to defer purchase of up to seven E-737 Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft for its Wedgetail program. Observers think the government decision last week may be the first step in a slow death for Wedgetail.

By GEOFFREY THOMAS3 min

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August 28, 2000

August 28, 2000