December 31, 1979

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Air Transport

Airlines Determining Impact of Coupon Program

Los Angeles—Wrap-up of the United Airlines and American Airlines half-fare discount coupon program this month saw a final push by travel agents, brokerage firms and individual passengers to utilize their coupons before the Dec. 15 deadline.

By Jeffrey M. Lenorovitz9 min

Air Transport

Competitive Drive Shifts to Bilaterals

Washington—U. S. drive for a more competitive international air transportation system is focusing on first-quarter negotiations to continue the spread of the U. S. deregulation doctrine now that foreign opposition has forced Civil Aeronautics Board abandonment of efforts to curtail International Air Transport Assn. rate-making procedures.

January Action Expected in On-time Rule Proposal

Washington—Civil Aeronautics Board is expected to decide in early January whether to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking that would redefine and make more stringent on-time performance standards for domestic carriers. Details of the proposal are not yet available, but previous drafts of the proposal would have required that to be considered as on-time performance, 75% of all domestic flights by a carrier over a three-month period arrive at their destinations within 15 min. of the published arrival time.

By Michael Feazel5 min

Space Technology

European Space Agency Planning New Telecommunications Satellite

Paris—European Space Agency plans to develop what is believed to be the heaviest dedicated telecommunications satellite in the Western world, a multipurpose vehicle that includes a direct television broadcasting payload package. “Very preliminary” cost to completion estimates put the price at $200-250 million in 1979 dollars, one ESA official said.

By Edward W. Bassett5 min

Missile Engineering

Mx Proposed Legislation Stirs Strong Opposition

Initial Air Force draft legislative proposal aimed at insuring the MX intercontinental ballistic missile system meets its 1986 initial operational capability (IOC) date by expediting certain processes involved in deployment site development has received stiff opposition from two representatives from Nevada and Utah.

By Bruce A. Smith5 min

Message From the Publisher

As 1979 draws to a close, the aerospace industry completes its seventh consecutive year of growth since the recession of 1970, 1971 and 1972. Western aerospace equipment sales should exceed $60 billion, an all time record. The U. S. portion of that should be in the vicinity of $45 billion.

By James R. Pierce4 min

Aeronautical Engineering

Rfp Heats Up Navy Trainer Competition

Washington—U. S. Navy issuance this month of a request for proposals on its advanced pilot training system (VTXTS) has increased pressure on competitors to complete teaming arrangements to bid for the award. The trainer picked by the Navy for its Training Command requirement of up to 350 aircraft also has the potential for replacing the Northrop T-38 in the U. S. Air Force Training Command (AW&ST Dec. 17, p. 20).

Air Transport

Stricter Tire Standards Will Tax Test Equipment

Washington—New, strict Federal Aviation Administration standards for aircraft tire manufacture, effective Dec. 31, likely will require design of new high-speed tires that will tax current test equipment to near capacity, according to officials of three major U. .S. tire companies.

By James Ott4 min

Transport Reengining Programs Boosting Cfm56 Engine Sales

Seattle—Orders, options and letters of intent for the 24,000-lb.-thrust General Electric/Snecma CFM56 high-bypass turbofan engine have surpassed 100 aircraft and 400 engines, but program officials said about 2,000 more engines will have to be sold before the two industrial partners recover the nonrecurring costs of the CFM56 project.

December 171979

January 71980

December 31, 1979

December 31, 1979