US Airways announced that it has completed a series of transactions with key business partners designed to improve its near-term and future liquidity. The Company will significantly reduce capital expenditures over the next three years, eliminate the need to access aircraft finance markets in 2010 and extend certain debt maturities. These transactions improve projected year-end 2009 liquidity by approximately $150 million and generate, in aggregate, approximately $450 million of projected liquidity improvements by the end of 2010.

“This is our third major strategic move in the past 100 days, following announcements of our innovative slot transaction with Delta Air Lines and the realignment of our network to focus on our most profitable flying,” said US Airways Chairman and CEO Doug Parker. “These moves are part of our continuing efforts to improve our balance sheet and return the Company to profitability. Our employees are continuing to run a great airline and doing a terrific job taking care of our customers and, with these strategic initiatives behind us, we believe US Airways is well positioned to take full advantage of the recovering economy.”

US Airways Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Derek Kerr stated, “By working with our key business and financial partners, we have structured a series of transactions that improve near-term liquidity by reducing capital spending and deferring certain debt repayments. These transactions also have eliminated the need to fund a fleet replacement program in capital markets that continue to be uncertain and expensive. We appreciate all of the support of our business partners in completing these transactions.”

The Company’s actions include the deferral of 54 Airbus aircraft previously scheduled for delivery between 2010 and 2012 that are now to be delivered in 2013 and beyond. These deferral arrangements will reduce the Company’s aircraft capital expenditures over the next three years by approximately $2.5 billion, and reduce near- and medium-term obligations to Airbus and others by approximately $132 million. In addition, commencement of US Airways’ Airbus A350 XWB operations, with aircraft deliveries originally scheduled to start in 2015, will now be postponed until 2017. These deferrals will not significantly alter the airline’s capacity plans as aircraft originally scheduled to be replaced will be retained until the rescheduled new aircraft delivery dates.

“Although we will slow deliveries during the next three years, over that period we will continue to modernize our fleet, which is already one of the youngest in the United States. The Company will take delivery of two A320 and two A330 aircraft in 2010 and an additional 24 A320 family aircraft in 2011 and 2012,” said Kerr. “We have financing commitments for all 28 aircraft and believe this is a more manageable delivery rate given the current economic environment.”

In addition to the aircraft deferral, US Airways has arranged credit facilities in the amount of $95 million and $180 million of aircraft financing commitments for the 2010 deliveries. Also, the Company has agreed with Barclays to permanently lower the monthly unrestricted cash condition precedent for the advance purchase of frequent flyer miles and defer for 14 months the amortization of $200 million advanced in connection with the previous purchase of miles.

Real-Time Innovations announced that NASA is using RTI middleware to control a fleet of experimental robots. The NASA Human-Robotic Systems Project is developing four prototype robots at four major research centers. The robots share a network data architecture that uses RTI middleware.

The Human-Robotic Systems Project includes four robots with four very different missions. NASA’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., is building a robot called K10. Because it carries an array of cameras and laser scanners, this robot can operate in an unstructured environment by itself or with human oversight. ATHLETE, a large, six-limbed robot built at the Jet Propulsion Lab, is designed to transport large payloads across a wide range of terrain, including steep slopes and rocks. Johnson Space Center has built a Lunar Electric Rover—or LER—that could transport astronauts across long distances on the moon or Mars someday. Finally, Langley Research Center is building a crane-like robot called the Lunar Surface Manipulator System (LSMS) to help with assembly and loading missions on planetary surfaces.

These systems are prototypes for vehicles that will someday operate on extraterrestrial surfaces. Today, the prototypes are being tested in harsh analogue environments. For instance, during the summer, K10, ATHLETE and the LER spent weeks at Black Point Lava Flow in Northern Arizona.

Terry Fong, director of the Intelligent Robotics Group at NASA Ames, said, “Although ATHLETE, K10, and LER have very different designs and are used for different missions, they share common needs. For example, all of these robots will sometimes be “teleoperated” with direct joystick control. This requires high-speed communications with the operator. At other times, these robots will be operated with long transmission delays over low-bandwidth communication links. In addition, each system must integrate many other applications, including sensors, graphical interfaces and navigation. The robots also run a variety of operating systems, including Linux, Mac OS, VxWorks and Windows.”

All the NASA robots are designed to share a common data communications interface. This saves significant deployment costs, reduces training requirements and leverages code and experience between the centers. Someday, when NASA launches the systems, having only one communications architecture will eliminate the need for duplicate testing, simplify operator equipment and reduce ground staffing.

Fong continued, “Getting four complex robots with very different designs to use a common data system was challenging. The Data Distribution Service for Real-Time Systems [DDS] standard supports very flexible service parameters. We found that we could adapt the middleware to the unique needs of each robotic system.”

Stan Schneider, CEO of RTI commented, “NASA Ames was our first middleware customer in the early 1990s. The advances in the NASA robotics program are striking; we are proud to be a part of it.”

AeroVironment has announced that the Military Aviation Authority of the Netherlands (MLA-NLD) has issued a Military Type Certificate (MTC) for the Raven B NLD MUAS, the first such certificate issued in the Netherlands in the Micro-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle category. This certificate permits Dutch military personnel to operate Raven systems in designated Dutch airspace.

The AeroVironment Raven B system was selected by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence, acting through its Defence Materiel Organization (DMO), after performing an open competition in 2007. Key elements resulting in its selection were hand-launchability, reliability, ease of use, robustness, and demonstrated in-theater operational performance and logistics support. The DMO subsequently purchased Raven B systems and support services, including training of military users.

“Receiving this MTC validates the Raven system’s airworthiness and reliability, but also represents an important step toward the operation of small UAS in our national airspace,” said Dick Goedhart, head section type management unmanned aircraft, DMO. “This MTC also makes it possible for us to use Raven for non-military applications, though for those activities segregation of airspace must still be managed by procedures.”

The Raven unmanned aircraft is a 4.2-pound, backpackable, hand-launched sensor platform that provides day and night, real-time video imagery for “over the hill” and “around the corner” reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition in support of tactical units. U.S. armed forces use Raven systems extensively for missions such as base security, route reconnaissance, mission planning and force protection.

In addition to the Raven system, AV’s small UAS include Puma AE and Wasp, which are also hand-launched and controlled by AV’s hand-held ground control station. AV’s UAS logistics operation supports systems deployed worldwide to ensure a consistently high level of operational readiness. AV has delivered thousands of small unmanned aircraft to date. In addition to the Netherlands, international purchasers of Raven systems include Italy, Denmark, and Spain.

SpaceX announced this past week that Colonel Scott Henderson has joined the company. He will serve as the director of Mission Assurance and Integration and will also handle Florida external relations, assisting with state and local governmental, customer and media relations. Henderson will primarily support former astronaut Ken Bowersox, vice president of SpaceX’s Astronaut Safety and Mission Assurance office, working out of the company’s Florida office.

Henderson joins SpaceX after 25 years in the United States Air Force (USAF), an experience that began by earning a degree in Astronautical Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy. His prestigious career in the USAF included assignments in a wide variety of high level space operations and acquisition positions. A certified acquisition professional, Henderson has also earned a masters degree in Engineering Management from the Florida Institute of Technology and was a National Defense Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Prior to SpaceX, Henderson held the position of Commander with the 45th Launch Group at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) in Florida. His responsibilities in this position focused on Department of Defense (DoD), civil and commercial space launch-related activities. Henderson joins SpaceX just as the company is preparing for the first Falcon 9 launch from CCAFS.

“Scott Henderson brings a great deal of operational launch experience and technical expertise to our company,” said Bowersox. “As we begin the first flights of the Falcon 9/Dragon system, Henderson will serve as a critical link between the SpaceX Safety, Mission Assurance, Operations and Integration teams.”

Engineers at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) in Mountain View, California are driving remote simulation visualizations at 20Gbits/s directly from the Columbia supercomputer by extending the machine’s InfiniBand fabric to the SC|09 show floor in Portland, OR using Obsidian Longbow E100 devices.

“NASA’s high-end computing users are distributed across the country,” said Alan Powers, HPC Technical Director, CSC, at the NASA Advanced Supercomputer (NAS) facility at Ames, “so it is highly advantageous to be able to share access to supercomputing resources and provide secure high speed data transfers —including remote real-time visualization—without compromising fidelity or security.”

Obsidian’s Dr. David Southwell observes “Remote visualization applications are very demanding on the network, being bandwidth intensive and sensitive to latency, loss, arrival time jitter and quality of service. NASA’s InfiniBand-based supercomputers interface naturally to Obsidian’s Longbow E100 products, which transparently extend InfiniBand over 10 GbEthernet WAN connections in a manner that preserves all of InfiniBand’s properties (such as determinism and lossless flow control) while simultaneously applying standards-based AES-192-GCM cryptography”.

In the demonstration, a pair of 10 GbEthernet circuits are used to carry 20Gbits/s of visualization traffic from supercomputers in Mountain View to a multi-paneled display wall in Portland, while the data and assets at either end of the link are protected by the Longbow E100′s authentication and encryption functions, which operate at full line rate.

InJet members and charter clients can now choose the best of the best when it comes to private jet travel. Through its management company ACP Jet Charters, InJet has added the new 2009 Hawker 900XP to its fleet.

The midsized jet, which won the Best of the Best Award by Robb Report for its spacious design, fuel efficiency and high-standard performance, will service all major Northeast U.S. airports.

“The addition of the Hawker 900XP to our managed fleet underlines InJet’s commitment of aircraft variety and five-star service to our clients,” said Suran Wijayawardana, chief operating officer of InJet and vice president of flight operations for ACP Jets. “This aircraft can accommodate nine passengers comfortably and comes with state-of-the-art systems that maximize passenger safety, comfort and aircraft performance.”

The Hawker 900XP is the latest evolution of the world’s best selling midsize business jet providing superior payload capabilities, extended range, superb reliability and unsurpassed comfort. The Hawker 900XP features enhanced winglets and powerful new Honeywell TFE731-50R engines enabling increased hot/high altitude takeoff, climb and cruise performance as well as coast-to-coast range capabilities any time of the year.

The APA put this statement out last week discussing the delay in the Anti-Trust for American Airlines: The Allied Pilots Association (APA), certified collective bargaining agent for the 11,500 pilots of American Airlines, voiced its support for the delay in the issuance of a final ruling by the Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding American Airlines’ application for worldwide antitrust immunity.

“The DOT no doubt had its reasons for choosing to waive its stated deadline of October 31 for issuing a final ruling in American Airlines’ application,” said APA President Captain Lloyd Hill. “We welcome the delay, which will afford airline industry regulators at home and abroad more time to scrutinize the airline’s claims. Policymakers must have a clear picture of the intended and unintended consequences of permitting ever more collusive behavior in the industry. We suspect that there is increasing concern about what could go wrong if American Airlines is permitted to proceed.”

American Airlines filed its application for worldwide antitrust immunity with other oneworld Alliance carriers nearly 15 months ago. Last month, the DOT’s European counterpart, the European Commission (EC), announced that American Airlines’ plans may violate rules governing restrictive business practices. The EC also announced that it has been investigating the oneworld Alliance and the Star Alliance for possible illegal conduct.

Since American Airlines first announced its plans, APA has been citing concerns about the negative impact on the airline’s workers, the inherently anti-competitive nature of antitrust immunity and the implications for national security. APA announced its unequivocal opposition to the deal last month based on American Airlines management’s refusal to provide basic, industry-standard job protections. At that time the union reiterated its concerns about the risks of good U.S. jobs being permanently outsourced as a result of the deal. APA also cited the EC’s stepped-up scrutiny as further evidence that regulators should refrain from authorizing what amounts to a cross-border virtual merger.

“We urge policymakers to be mindful about the damage that our nation’s airline industry could sustain as a result of American Airlines’ plans,” Hill said. “Their decision will help determine, for better or for worse, the future of this vital component of the United States’ transportation infrastructure.

“In addition, their decision could well have an impact on our nation’s economic future. With the high rate of unemployment widely acknowledged as an impediment to sustained economic recovery, policymakers must take care to safeguard existing U.S. jobs.”

eSpace: The Center for Space Entrepreneurship, a non-profit business incubator and workforce development organization for aerospace companies, announced that it is seeking a second round of aerospace entrepreneurs to participate in the eSpace incubator. The move reflects the industry’s demand for eSpace services as well as the success of the incubator model created by eSpace and its potential for replication to cultivate space entrepreneurs in other regions of the country.

By opening its first center in Colorado, eSpace has placed itself in the middle of the nation’s second largest aerospace economy. The demand for eSpace and space entrepreneurs in Colorado is highlighted by the following statistics, furnished by the Colorado Space Coalition:

• 176,930 – number of people employed in Colorado in space-related jobs
• 25.7 – percent growth in private aerospace employment in Colorado, from 2003-2008 (compared to 11.5 percent nationally)
• 130+ – number of aerospace companies operated in Colorado during 2008 (half of these companies employ fewer than 10 people)
• 9.2 – approximate percent increase in number of aerospace companies in Colorado from 2003-2008 (compared to approximately one percent nationally)
• 7 – number of major aerospace contractors that have significant presence in Colorado (Ball, Boeing, ITT Corp., Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, United Launch Alliance)

“The statistics speak volumes about the opportunities in aerospace,” said Scott Tibbitts, executive director for eSpace. “Larger aerospace companies are coming to eSpace, actively seeking out innovations and technologies being cultivated by new, smaller companies that are participating in the eSpace incubator. That success demonstrates the viability of the eSpace model, so we’re expanding the program to include more participants in Colorado and working to develop a program that can be replicated in other regions in the U.S.”

Successful Launch Leads to Expansion

eSpace is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating new entrepreneurial space companies, commercializing aerospace technologies created within these companies and developing the aerospace workforce to support them. The organization is once again actively seeking space entrepreneur candidates regardless of company size, maturity and technology sector; however, candidates for this second round must be Colorado-based companies.

The first three companies selected to participate in the eSpace incubator were chosen from a wide-ranging applicant pool of more than 30 companies. The selected organizations typically receive $20,000 or more in seed grant funding and enjoy access to a broad range of eSpace resources, including physical space, access to successful entrepreneurs as mentors, access to investment capital, and access to aerospace infrastructure, manufacturing facilities and relationships. eSpace also helps incubated companies with operational basics such as website development and government accounting systems.

For the first three eSpace incubator participants, the benefits of working with eSpace have included:

• Zybek Advanced Products, Inc., has established a business model for its “lunar simulant,” or synthetic moon rock. Zybek is thinking strategically about its lunar simulant, derivative technologies, and talking to potential customers who were introduced by eSpace. Exciting terrestrial applications for the technology are being developed for diverse areas such as ground water remediation and lithium ion battery performance.
• Space Awareness Services has quickly connected with potential partners and investors, opening up paths to both business and investment. “eSpace introduced us to very senior people at some of the larger aerospace companies, and those connections helped us avoid a lot of the bureaucratic roadblocks that can impede progress at lower levels,” said Chris Franz, vice president of Space Awareness Services.
• Net-Centric Design Professionals designs and develops complex computer networks used for command, control and communications between spacecraft and end-user organizations on Earth and is expanding its base of customers, partners and business opportunities to move beyond government programs to pursue commercial projects. Such prospects include working with eSpace and the University of Colorado to present NASA with a proposal for making the Internet accessible from lunar outposts.

Tibbitts said, “The aerospace industry faces a critical workforce issue over the next 10 years as aerospace veterans of Apollo and Shuttle retire. It is a telling fact that in the 60’s the average aerospace engineer age was in the mid-twenties. Now it is the early 50’s. Many students in engineering want to work in dynamic, entrepreneurial environments, and they don’t perceive traditional aerospace in this light. We are showing them that space can be entrepreneurial and exciting. Our participants are paving the way to that future, helping to develop the next generation of aerospace companies and their workforce.”

Nextant Aerospace announced lowered entry level pricing for the 400NEXT Beechjet 400A/XP modernization. The new price of $3.9 Million is a $1.0 Million reduction from the previous published price.

“The dramatic reduction in the value of a pre-owned aircraft over the past 12 months has allowed us to reevaluate the pricing for the base model 400NEXT. It is unfortunate that lower aircraft values have negatively affected so many but Nextant is fortunate to be able to turn that into a positive offering to our customers,” said Kenn Ricci, CEO of Nextant Aerospace.

The Nextant Aerospace 400NEXT was designed to overcome significant limitations to the popular Hawker Beechjet 400A/400XP. By replacing the existing out dated Pratt & Whitney JT15D engines with the new modern fuel efficient Williams International FJ44-3AP computer controlled engines and incorporating the new Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21™ avionics suite, the range of the 400NEXT will be increased from 1333 nautical miles to over 2000 nautical miles (4 passenger, NBAA IFR range). In addition to a 30% reduction in operating costs based on fuel savings alone.

Nextant Aerospace announced today that all requirements have been completed for issuance of an STC for the Beechjet 400A/XP Rockwell Collins Pro Line 4 to Pro Line 21 Flight Deck Upgrade.

The Pro Line 21 upgrade program combines one of the most popular avionics suites available with one of the most popular light/medium business jets. “We are excited to have completed the requirements for this STC. Not only does it mark the first certification of Pro Line 21 in a Beechjet it also concludes an important milestone in the development of the 400NEXT aircraft. Pilots and owners like the increased safety and reliability this upgrade brings to the Beechjet 400A/XP in addition to the decreased maintenance and weight.” said Mark O’Donnell, VP of Manufacturing for Nextant Aerospace.

Base price for the Beechjet 400A/XP Pro Line 21 upgrade, consisting of three displays, is $390,000. Additional options are available for four displays, IFIS (Integrated Flight Information System) and XM Satellite NEXRAD Radar. Orders placed before the end of year can include the fourth display at 50% off.

The Pro Line 21 avionics upgrade is key element of the complete 400NEXT program. The Nextant 400NEXT is designed to overcome significant limitations to the popular Hawker Beechcraft 400XP/400A by replacing the existing Pratt & Whitney JT15D engines with the new modern Williams International FJ44-3AP computer controlled engines along with the new Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics. The range of the 400NEXT will be increased from 1333 nautical miles to over 2000 (4 passenger, NBAA IFR range) with a 30% reduction in operating costs based on fuel savings alone. The 400NEXT will be offered as a remanufactured serially produced aircraft as well as a modification retrofit program.