ATM ModernizationScan Thales on Watchkeeper The UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) recently selected a Thales UK-led team for the next phase of the acquisition cycle for its Watchkeeper unmanned air vehicle (UAV) program. The…
MilitaryB737 Joins the Navy The U.S. Navy's new Multimission Maritime Aircraft (MMA), a modified Boeing 737-800, is touted as a significantly enhanced mission platform, compared with the venerable P-3C it will replace. Prime contractor Boeing and…
Editor's NoteCalendar September 21-24 ION GNSS, Long Beach, Calif. New this year is a classified session cosponsored by the GPS Joint Program Office. Contact the Institute of Navigation (ION), phone 703-383-9688, e-mail meetings@ion.org or…
ATM ModernizationQ&A: Russ Chew A little more than a year ago, in June 2003, Russell Chew became a pioneer in the annals of U.S. aviation history by becoming the first chief operating officer (COO) of the…
Editor's NoteSystem Design: Forged and Counterfeit Parts (Part II) My first encounter with forged parts was almost 40 years ago. I discovered that some U.S. surplus dealers would strip the markings from expensive tantalum capacitors and connectors, and then select or…
CommercialSafety: Getting the Lead Out Tin whiskers on plated electrical leads and printed circuit boards (PCBs) pose a threat to component reliability and safety. They can cause circuit failures, intermittent upsets and electrical arcing. Tin whiskers are…
Business & GAHuman Factors in Avionics Certification Recognizing the role that design-related human error plays in aviation accidents, regulators are placing greater emphasis on human factors in avionics certification. To strengthen the regulatory basis for addressing human factors in…
MilitaryEditor's Note: Lead-Free Avionics? It's hard to believe that something as small as solder on a circuit board can cause a stir in a multibillion-dollar industry that builds and operates fast-moving, multiton vehicles. But it has.…
MilitaryNetwork Centric, Rush to Connect Weaving military systems into a seamless "network of networks"--an enterprise known as the Global Information Grid (GIG)--promises to speed access to critical data, sharpen situational awareness and shorten the "kill chain." As…
Business & GAPerspectives: New Direction Sought For TSA In the last two and a half years, the U.S. government has made progress in fortifying U.S. airports and airways against terrorism. However, despite the billions of dollars spent on federalized passenger…