July 19, 2006

Nations ready to deny U.S. of navsat dominance

By Andrew Wood

While it may be hard to believe that the global positioning system (GPS) is already more than a quarter century old, it may be equally difficult to imagine that by 2020 there will be more than 100 navigation satellites crisscrossing in outer space, high above us. Yet the first is true and, barring unforeseen eventualities, the second will also be true.

For most of today’s GPS u more

---

Messier-Bugatti Leads ‘More Electric Aircraft’ Project

Landing gear maker Messier-Bugatti hosted the launch meeting for the distributed and redundant electrical nose gear steering system (DRESS) project on June 26 and 27 at its corporate headquarters in Vélizy-Villacoublay, near Paris. Chosen by the European Commission as part of the sixth framework research and development program, the DRESS project counts as members Messier-Bugatti, Messier-Dowty, A more

---

Landing gear maker Messier-Bugatti hosted the launch meeting for the distributed and redundant electrical nose gear steering system (DRESS) project on June 26 and 27 at its corporate headquarters in Vélizy-Villacoublay, near Paris. Chosen by the European

By Julian Moxon

In the last few years, the development of air traffic management in Europe has been based on the idea of creating a seamless upper airspace zone called the Single European Sky (SES). This, and its operating system, Sesar, are seen as essential to providing the paradigm shift in the way European ATM functions.

Without such a revolution, there is general agreement that Europe’s airspa more

---

Red tape makes Single European Sky look more like pie in the sky

By Juilian Moxon

In the last few years, the development of air traffic management in Europe has been based on the idea of creating a seamless upper airspace zone called the Single European Sky (SES). This, and its operating system, Sesar, are seen as essential to providing the paradigm shift in the way European ATM functions.

Without such a revolution, there is general agreement that Europe’s airspa more

---

Fuel specialist to make coatings for aerospace

Hardide Coatings Ltd. (Hall 4 Stand B5) has made a first step into the aerospace sector with its recent selection by BAE Systems as an approved supplier for the Eurofighter Typhoon. The UK surface engineering specialist is providing an ultra-hard tungsten carbide, chemical-vapor deposition coating for various components, including the canopy. The patented formula combines abrasion-, erosion-, fric more

---

Systems advances key to China’s arms aspirations

By Reuben F. Johnson

Newer and more capable systems are the key to the future of Chinese weaponry, and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is also looking to developments in electronics to upgrade the many Russian-made weapons platforms it has in inventory.

China’s defense industrial complex has most of its individual enterprises organized into large industrial conglomerates along the lines of Russia’s A more

---

Rejuvenated Parker Aero enters show a roll

By Gregory Polek

Parker Aerospace (Hall 4 Stand A16) returns to Farnborough International this year rejuvenated by a string of recent contract signings and the opening of a joint venture with Singapore’s SIA Engineering Co. Christened Aerospace Component Engineering Services (ACE Services), the partnership with SIA was consummated with the opening of an $11.9 million, 32,000-sq-ft facility located at Loyang Aerosp more

---

TAG opens new Farnborough digs

By Charles Alcock

Farnborough Airport sealed its standing as a primary European hub for business aviation in May when TAG Aviation opened its new terminal building. Glance across the main runway from the Farnborough International show site and you will see this gleaming glass-and-metal structure with a crowd of top-of-the-line executive jets parked in front.

The new terminal is more than just a luxur more

---

BA plays villain in Concorde sequel

By Nigel Moll

If Concorde were the child of quarrelsome adults, the tabloids might label this a “tug of love,” but by whatever name it goes, British Airways seems to end up cast as the villain. When BA announced it would retire the supersonic transport in October 2003, Virgin Atlantic proprietor Sir Richard Branson seized the opportunity to embarrass his archrival by offering to buy and continue operating the a more

---

HS merger reaping more tangible rewards

By Charles Alcock

The merger in 1999 of air management and engine control specialist Sundstrand and power systems provider Hamilton Standard has proved to be a prescient move that shrewdly anticipated the aerospace industry’s requirement for companies with sufficient technological capability to take on a systems integration role. And according to Hamilton Sundstrand (HS) president David Hess, the proof of this stra more

---