September 8, 2008

September 8, 2008

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Departments

WHO'S WHERE

Departments

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK

By Patricia J. Parmalee

Departments

AIRLINE OUTLOOK

By Frances Fiorino

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More Features
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Departments

WHO'S WHERE

Andrea L. Amram (see photos), Glenn A. Davis, David S. Eccles, S. Scott Gustafson, Sumner S. Matsunaga and William F. Tosney have been appointed general managers at The Aerospace Corp. Amram has been promoted to head the Developmental Planning and Architectures Div. in the Systems Planning and Engineering Group in El Segundo, Calif., from principal director of the Architecture and Design Subdivision of the Engineering and Technology Group. Davis has been promoted to head the Imagery Programs Div. of the National Systems Group, based in Chantilly, Va., from principal director of the Space Radar Directorate within Systems Planning and Engineering.
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Departments

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK

The U.S. Army plans to complete testing for a new digital data link for its hand-held Raven UAV by the end of Fiscal 2009, says Tim Owings, deputy project manager for unmanned aviation systems for the Army. Interference with the existing data link was tied to a series of “fly-aways,” which sometimes resulted in loss of the aircraft. Of more than 1,000 Ravens in Afghanistan and Iraq, about 30 have been lost.

By Patricia J. Parmalee

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Departments

AIRLINE OUTLOOK

High energy prices, inflation tendencies, declining stock markets and the slowing economy account for the contraction in world domestic traffic in July, according to Airports Council International (ACI). Total global traffic was flat compared to the same month in 2007, with international traffic growing only 1% and domestic traffic contracting 1.4%, the second consecutive month of decline—results that ACI notes are below average for the season. In the U.S., nearly every major airport felt the impact of route and frequency cuts, according to ACI. Meanwhile, in Europe, decreased demand and alternative transport modes continue to affect domestic traffic.

By Frances Fiorino

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Departments

IN ORBIT

Steven G. MacLean, Canada’s chief astronaut and one of the first six Canadian astronauts chosen, will take over the helm of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) following his appointment last week by Industry Minister Jim Prentice. A physicist, MacLean has flown in space twice—on STS52 on board Columbia in 1992 and on Atlantis in 2006 for the STS-115 International Space Station assembly flight.
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Departments

EUROPE

The U.K. is considering contingency options in attempting to cover the risk of an increasing capability gap in tactical lift as Airbus Military partner nations wait to find out the actual extent of delays to the A400M tactical military airlifter.
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Departments

WASHINGTON OUTLOOK

The shooting may be over for now in and around Georgia, but political fireworks are expected to continue in and around Capitol Hill for the foreseeable future. The Senate Armed Services Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee scheduled hearings this week with Pentagon and State Dept, personnel on the Russia-Georgia conflict’s implications for U.S. defense and foreign policy. President Bush has promised $1 billion in humanitarian—but not military—assistance for the war-racked former Soviet republic, with the blessings of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Vice President Dick Cheney’s remarks during a visit to the region have irked the Russians, who claim the U.S. is smuggling armaments into Georgia along with relief supplies.
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WORLD NEWS& ANALYSIS

REOPENING CHINA

China and the U.S. 'return to the altar' to consummate space ties, as imaging constellation and new Shenzhou debut

By CRAIG COVAULT

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WORLD NEWS& ANALYSIS

Great Wall Sanctions Lifted

CAPE CANAVERAL The U.S. has quietly lifted sanctions against China Great Wall Industry Corp., the Chinese government's international aerospace trading company accused by the Treasury Dept, in 2006 of supplying ballistic missile technology to Iran.

By CRAIG COVAULT

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WORLD NEWS& ANALYSIS

Shuttle Deadlines Debated

Flights to ISS might be extended, but hardware to support them remains a big problem

By CRAIG COVAULT

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WORLD NEWS& ANALYSIS

Candidates in Agreement

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER Both U.S. presidential candidates, Sens. Barack Obama (D-lll.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), support extension of the space shuttle program by one or more additional flights to limit the gap in U.S. manned launches after 2010. During recent campaign stops in Florida to discuss their aerospace positions, they also called for an acceleration of the Ares/Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) development.

By CRAIG COVAULT

AUGUST 18/252008 September 292008