ASD&M
News
The
following are news links relevant to quality, safety, and regulatory
matters in the Aviation, Space, Defense and
Maritime industries. These are events which have been
recently reported in the media and have been selected as relevant
reading for busy professionals. As a professional, to continue
to provide value, it's your
responsibility to remain relevant. Click the links for the
entire story.
Workforce
Study concludes aerospace
industry must evolve new ways to recruit and retain future engineers
(USA)
Aerospace companies must consider offering newly
recruited workers flexible job assignments and a variety of projects
to remain competitive with other scientific fields of employment.
Obama calls for
federal government hiring reform (USA)
President Barack Obama signed a memorandum calling
for a sweeping overhaul of federal government recruitment and hiring
practices and creating a "historic opportunity" for the
Defense Department to revamp its outdated hiring system.
Boeing says tanker would
bring jobs to Michigan (USA)
The aerospace company said its proposed plane, based on a
military variant of the 767 passenger jet, would include components
made by companies with manufacturing facilities in Michigan. Those
include Eaton, GE and Honeywell.
DOT convenes first meeting
of new aviation panel (USA)
The committee is charged with providing information,
advice and recommendations to the secretary on ensuring the
competitiveness of the U.S. aviation industry and its capability to
address the evolving transportation needs, challenges and
opportunities of the U.S. and global economy.
Regulatory & Safety
FAA gives
Alaska millions for airport improvements (USA)
Airports around Alaska are in line for improvement
projects, thanks to nearly $91 million from the federal
government.
FAA to require
Boeing 737 inspections (USA)
The
Federal Aviation Administration is expected to issue a new safety
directive as early as Monday that requires inspections of the
mechanisms that control part of the elevators on about 125 of
Boeing's aircraft.
FAA launches a
new information system for pilots (USA)
The
Atlantic City International Airport, located at the Federal Aviation
Administration's (FAA's) Technical Center, is the first in the
national airspace system to deliver digital notices to airmen
(NOTAM).
FAA seeks input on aircraft
design rules (USA)
"Specifically, we would
like feedback from manufacturers, pilots, owners, mechanics,
instructors and anyone else with an interest in the small airplane
industry,"
Europe warming
to aftermarket parts system (EU)
EASA
had considered creating new rules to allow PMA-like manufacturing in
Europe, but "this idea has been abandoned in favor of working
within the existing regulatory framework.
FAA proposes to fine Atlas
Air (USA)
FAA alleged that Atlas Air incorrectly installed a
replacement cockpit window on a Boeing 747F, then operated the
aircraft on 49 flights between April 4 and April 27, 2009, when it
was not in compliance with FAA regulations.
Transportation
safety chiefs meet in Taipei (Taiwan)
Senior transportation safety officials from major
countries around the world, including 13 nations that do no maintain
diplomatic ties with Taiwan, met in Taipei to share experiences
and technologies related to traffic accident probes.
House
transportation head sees FAA Bill by July 4 (USA)
According to GovernmentExecutive.com, congressional
aides are meeting informally to reach agreement on some lesser
differences between House and Senate versions of FAA bills.
FAA says: Replace old mufflers
(USA)
If the muffler on your reciprocating aircraft engine is
more than 1,000 hours old, you should replace it to help minimize the
chance of getting carbon monoxide in the cockpit, according to a
Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin released by the FAA.
FAA proposes $1.55
million civil penalty against FedEx (USA)
The FAA has proposed a $1.55 million civil penalty
against Federal Express for allegedly failing to revise its
Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program in accordance with FAA
regulations.
Civil Aviation
General aviation industry
prepares for an unleaded fuel (USA)
The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has formally begun the
regulatory process required by the Clean Air Act that may ultimately
result in standards mandating the industry's transition
to unleaded aviation gasoline (avgas).
Libya crash plane passed
European spot-checks (Libya)
The checks include three recent inspections carried out
on the crashed plane, an almost brand-new Airbus A330.
Airbus limits A350
customization, avoid A380 pitfall (EU)
Airbus SAS is putting stricter controls on how airlines
can custom-design the cabins of A350 widebody planes after a
multitude of requests for different interiors for the A380 led to
cost overruns and delays.
FAA proposes $5.2
Billion airport expansion for Philadelphia International (USA)
The FAA proposed a $5.2 billion expansion plan for
Philadelphia International Airport, aimed at improving capacity and
reducing flight delays.
French group urges new
search of crash site (France)
An
association representing families of some of the 228 people who died
aboard an Air France jet that crashed in the mid-Atlantic last year
urged the French government on Tuesday to conduct a new search for
the bulk of the plane after the latest one failed to find any trace
of the wreckage.
Maritime
European maritime transport policy
until 2018 (EU)
This Communication defines the main strategic objectives
of the European maritime transport policy until 2018 and recommends
actions to increase the competitiveness and sustainability of this
sector.
Chevron USA v. Aker Maritime
(USA)
The Genesis Spar, an oil production facility, sits 150
miles south of New Orleans in the Gulf of Mexico. A riser system
attaches the floating spar to the ocean floor, 2,600 feet below. The
hub of this appeal, indeed of this entire multiparty dispute, is the
failed bolts used to secure the riser system.
Defense
North Korea
torpedoed South's navy ship (S. Korea)
South
Korea's military believes a torpedo fired from a North Korean
submarine sank its navy ship last month, based on intelligence
gathered jointly with the United States.
Gates tackles the
quantity vs. quality issue in military procurements (USA)
Defense Secretary Robert Gates believes quantity
has an inherent value and that the Defense Department struggles to
take advantage of it.
Russian tank falls victim to
intrigues (RUS)
The
Corporation "Uralvagonzavod" intends to feature the new
T-95 tank at the Russian Expo Arms-2010 Exhibition. The plans can be
thwarted by the RF Ministry of Defense whose representatives
announced winding up R&D efforts in this field.
Unmanned
planes could begin flying over Texas in a matter of months (USA)
After
years of political pressure from Texas politicians, U.S. Rep. Henry
Cuellar said Monday that he expects the federal government to deliver
unmanned aircraft to watch over the border with Mexico by this fall.
Oshkosh Corp
receives $410 Million delivery order for family of medium tactical
vehicles (USA)
Oshkosh
Corporation received a delivery order valued at more than $410
million from the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) for the
production and delivery of 2,634 Family of Medium Tactical
Vehicles (FMTV) trucks and trailers for the U.S. Army.
Textron
Marine & Land Systems to deliver 423 additional armored security
vehicles to U.S. Army (USA)
Textron Systems announced the signing of a new base
contract award for the M1117 Armored Security Vehicle (ASV) and M1200
Armored Knight with the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments
Command (TACOM).
Navy to launch
Preferred Supplier Program (USA)
Navy contractors that cut costs, boost quality, get their
work done on time and are energy efficient would get preferential
treatment under a pilot program.
Space
Hubble
space telescope turns 20 (USA)
Since
its launch into space on April 24, 1990, the telescope has changed
astronomers' understanding of how the universe formed and how
it is evolving.
Senate appropriators give
little support to new space policy (USA)
"I need to know more," was as supportive as
Senate Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee Chair
Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) could be about the Administration's new space
exploration policy at a hearing on the FY 2011 NASA request.
Scientists seek greater
funds for space research (USA)
NASA's ability to explore the outer planets and the
beginnings of the universe are seriously jeopardized by a significant
decrease in research capabilities, according to a report released by
the National Research Council.
Obama names Space
Coast task force (USA)
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Commerce Secretary
Gary Locke will co-chair a Cabinet-level task force to construct
"an economic development action plan" for Florida's Space
Coast.
U.S. space industry may lose edge (USA)
Strengthening the
industry will require export control, allowing U.S. firms to more
easily sell products abroad. Export controls have been a concern of
the U.S. space industry as trade laws, such as the International
Traffic in Arms Regulations, restrict overseas sales of commercial
communications satellites and related technology.
Air Force launches first
Next-Gen GPS satellite (USA)
"These
next-generation satellites provide improved accuracy through advanced
atomic clocks; a more jam-resistant military signal and a longer
design life than earlier GPS satellites; and a new civil signal that
benefits aviation safety and search-and-rescue efforts"
