October 16, 2000

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WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Gaping Weapons Shortfall Apt to Persist ’Til 2010

Absence of a political mandate and political will is viewed as the underlying cause of the inability to dramatically revamp military institutions

By PAUL MANN8 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

New Models for Jet Market

NEW ORLEANS The lively business aircraft market is encouraging manufacturers to bring out new wares, with Raytheon announcing an all-new Hawker 450 jet for the light-medium segment, Dassault creating a Falcon 2000EX version with different engines and more range, and Gulfstream bringing out the GV-SP with a new cockpit and more high-speed range and usable cabin volume.

By MICHAEL A. DORNHEIM7 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Eclipse Presses Ahead Amid Wide Skepticism

NEW ORLEANS Eclipse Aviation Corp. is expressing increased confidence that it will be able to build an entry-level business jet priced at $837,500, although many industry veterans continue to believe the goal is unattainable. Several factors are behind the company’s heightened optimism, including: The decision to use friction stir welding to replace traditional riveting and bonding processes.

By ANTHONY L. VELOCCI6 min

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WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Booming Bizjet Market Tied to Practical Benefits

NEW ORLEANS Business aviation appears to be closing in on what may be the Holy Grail of this industry sector: a quantifiable, direct relationship between the use of business aircraft and a company’s operational and financial performance. The consulting firm of Arthur Andersen will soon complete an analysis comparing business aircraft operators and nonoperators among Standard & Poor’s 500 Index companies in 14 industries, with an eye toward key drivers of shareholder value.

By ANTHONY L. VELOCCI6 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

New Owners Commit Piaggio to U.S. Market

NEW ORLEANS Piaggio is aggressively staging a comeback of the P.180 Avanti business turboprop, and has established a Piaggio America subsidiary in Greenville, S.C., for product support, sales and corporate operations in the prime U.S. market.

By MICHAEL A. DORNHEIM5 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Advisers to Pentagon: Fix Technology Program

WASHINGTON The Pentagon needs to reorganize its science and technology spending and organization to fix short-falls that have emerged in recent years, a high-level panel has found. A Defense Science Board (DSB) assessment urges the Defense Dept. to increase its use of nongovernmental research and development institutions and boost its S&T funding.

By ROBERT WALL4 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Congress Heightens Scrutiny of China

WASHINGTON Congress is stepping up its monitoring of Chinese military developments, as President Clinton last week signed landmark legislation granting Beijing permanent normal trade status. A provision in the Fiscal 2001 National Defense Authorization Act establishes a U.S./China Security Review Commission, directed to keep an eye on the national security implications of America’s expanding trade and economic ties with Beijing.

By PAUL MANN4 min

U.S. ARMY AVIATION

Black Hawk Modernization to Boost Performance, Cut Costs

NEW YORK The U.S. Army and Sikorsky Aircraft expect to convert some 1,217 aging UH-60A and UH-60L aircraft to the upgraded UH-60M standard, with induction of the initial prototype aircraft expected in the second quarter of 2001. Conversion of the Black Hawk will improve its high-altitude/hot-day lift capability, reduce pilot workload and increase flight crew situational awareness.

By STANLEY W. KANDEBO8 min

October 92000

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October 16, 2000

October 16, 2000