Editor Carl Chance, Wings Over Kansas’ aviation & aerospace correspondent, former news consultant and producer for Wingspan Air & Space Channel.
Our New Cyber Engagement Center: Boeing
by Boeing | October 20, 2011 | Cyber Engagement Center , Kim Hammonds , Roger Krone
Throughout October, we have been discussing the importance of online security and Boeing’s commitment to the cyber mission. On Tuesday, Oct. 25, we are excited to open Boeing’s Cyber Engagement Center, the next step in working with our customers to develop the innovative solutions needed to protect critical networks, infrastructure, and mobile environments. In this article, learn more about the new center from Kim Hammonds, chief information officer of The Boeing Company, and Roger Krone, president of Boeing Network & Space Systems.
Cyber threats are constantly evolving and often come from distant, faceless enemies. At Boeing, protecting our own global network and developing highly secure solutions for our customers provides us with a unique understanding of this challenge. But we know that we don’t hold all the answers and today’s solutions may not be sufficient to protect against tomorrow’s threats.
The Cyber Engagement Center will help us connect the dots between today and tomorrow. We think of the facility as one part cyber town-square, where the brightest minds in the cyber field can connect to discuss challenges; one part digital test range, where we can conduct live-environment experimentation with our customers; and one part operations center, where Boeing’s team will be at work protecting our own network. It is a dynamic space designed to protect against a persistent threat, and we can’t wait to see the solutions that this collaborative environment will deliver.
As a company, we’ve made a significant investment in our cyber business over the last several years in order to continue to build on our experience and expand our capabilities. These investments are paying dividends, both in the protection of our own network and in supporting the delivery of advanced solutions to our customers. As we move forward, we will continue to invest in projects where Boeing can make a difference, and we see the Cyber Engagement Center as a great opportunity for the combined experience of our global company to help deliver results. We are confident the Boeing employees, customers and business partners who utilize the resources available at the Cyber Engagement Center will be as excited about the facility’s potential as we are!
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Kim Hammonds, chief information officer, The Boeing Company, and Roger Krone, president, Boeing Network & Space Systems
Actor William Shatner On Board for 15th Bombardier Safety Standdown
October 19, 2011 — Wichita Aerospace
Bombardier Aerospace announced today that actor William Shatner will join the team in celebrating Safety Standdown’s 15th anniversary. The 2011 U.S. edition will take place from October 24-27, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Wichita, Kansas.
“We are thrilled to have William Shatner join us to celebrate this milestone 15th anniversary as a guest speaker at this year’s dinner banquet,” said Puja Mahajan, Director, Flight Operations, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “Safety Standdown has evolved tremendously since its beginnings as a Learjet Demo Team safety initiative. Now an expanding global force for aviation professionalism and safety education, the Safety Standdown curriculum is offered to over 800 aviation professionals annually in four countries. This year, we have an excellent line up of expert presenters and are gearing up for another successful event.”
The Bombardier Safety Standdown’s pioneering approach to safety training provides pilots, aircrew and flight departments with insight into the events that precipitate errors in judgment and highlights ways to mitigate them. Focusing on the human factors behind safety in the aircraft, the seminar format combines knowledge-based and skill-based training with a line up of internationally recognized speakers and presenters. Safety Standdown enjoys support from the world’s highest regulatory authorities, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the United States, and is offered each year in partnership with the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).
Opening remarks will be delivered by Doug Carr, Vice President, Safety and Regulation, National Business Aviation Association; the Honourable Christopher Hart, Vice Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB); and Hélène V. Gagnon, Vice President, Public Affairs, Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility, Bombardier Aerospace. Amongst the speakers at the general sessions are the Honourable Robert Sumwalt, Member, NTSB; Dr. Tony Kern, Chief Executive Officer and Senior Partner, Convergent Performance; and Rick Rowe, Captain, Bombardier Flight Operations.
"Bombardier is committed to Safety Standdown," said Ms. Gagnon. “Each year, we open our doors to the entire community so we can work together and learn how to make aviation even safer than it already is."
For the first time this year, the Safety Standdown format will combine the general sessions with workshops on a variety of safety-related topics. Participants will be able to choose from
15 optional workshops, including Safety Management System and Safety Culture; presented by the Honourable Robert Sumwalt; and Aircraft Evacuation Procedures, Land and In-flight Fire Fighting, presented by AirCare FACTS Training.
Returning presenters include Captain Gene Cernan, United States Navy (ret.) and Commander Apollo 17; the Honorable Dr. Mark Rosekind, Member, NTSB; Colonel Steve Nagel, NASA (ret.); and Dr. Jerry Berlin, Ph.D, Aviation Psychologist.
Bombardier pioneering safety worldwide The annual Safety Standdown event in Wichita, Kansas, is firmly established as an aviation industry pillar. Bombardier is keen to spread its safety initiative worldwide through seminars in Europe, Latin America and Asia. Over the years, the program quickly gained a reputation for excellence throughout the aviation community. As of August 2011, more than 5,000 pilots, crew members, safety specialists and industry officials have graduated from Safety Standdown. Additional information on Safety Standdown is available at www.safetystanddown.com.
About Bombardier A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011, were $17.7 billion, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). Bombardier is listed as an index component to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. News and information are available at www.bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.
Light Attack AT-6 Successfully Deploys Precision-Guided Munitions
AT-6 Weapons Launch
TUCSON (Oct. 11, 2011) – Hawker Beechcraft Defense Company (HBDC) today announced the completion of a series of successful deliveries of precision-guided munitions from the AT-6 Light Attack and Armed Reconnaissance (LAAR) aircraft. During weapons tests at the Barry M. Goldwater Range in Southern Ariz., HBDC pilots in the AT-6 dropped four USAF GBU-12 500 lb Paveway II laser guided bombs and four of Raytheon’s GBU-58 250 lb Paveway II laser guided bombs. All eight weapons scored hits on their intended targets. The weapons delivery events, which were conducted between Sept. 28 and Oct. 5, were part of an ongoing operational assessment by the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center (AATC).
“The weapons deployment was a huge success thanks to the teamwork of Hawker Beechcraft, Lockheed Martin, CMC Electronics, L-3 WESCAM, Raytheon Missile Systems and, of course, the Air National Guard,” said Jim Maslowski, president, Hawker Beechcraft Defense Company. “This testing is another major step in the evolution of the AT-6 and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results. The 100 percent precision weapon hit rate was no surprise to anyone who has watched the AT-6 team in action. The aircraft continues to perform as well or better than we anticipated and is ready for production.”
During the two week deployment, the AT-6 typically flew three sorties per day employing approximately 60 BDU-33, BDU-50, GBU-12, and GBU-58 general purpose and precision munitions. The AT-6 also successfully performed .50 caliber machine gun air-to-air gunnery using its integrated lead computing gun sight against a towed target. Lockheed Martin Mission Systems & Sensors integrated the mission capabilities into the AT-6 using only minor modifications to the combat proven A-10C mission system. The AT-6 leverages prior DoD investment by integrating proven capabilities from the T-6A/B/C, A-10C and MC-12W to achieve efficiencies in mission capability, training and logistics that no other competitor can match.
Building on its successes as a supplier to militaries around the globe, HBDC has developed the AT-6 Light Attack and Armed Reconnaissance aircraft to be purpose-built to provide advanced training, light attack and armed reconnaissance capabilities required to meet the Department of Defense’s Building Partnership Capacity needs. The AT-6 is outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment such as the powerful Pratt and Whitney Canada PTA-68D turboprop engine, CMC Esterline’s mission-modified Cockpit 4000, Lockheed Martin’s A-10C-based mission system and L-3 WESCAM’s MX-15Di day/night-capable sensor pod. The aircraft is also equipped with an ALQ-213 Electronic Warfare Management System, advanced ARC-210 radios with secure voice/data and SATCOM capabilities, a variety of air and ground datalinks and the weapons capability required to excel in meeting irregular warfare mission requirements.
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation is a world-leading manufacturer of business, special mission, light attack and trainer aircraft – designing, marketing and supporting aviation products and services for businesses, governments and individuals worldwide. The company’s headquarters and major facilities are located in Wichita, Kan., with operations in Salina, Kan.; Little Rock, Ark.; Chester, England, U.K.; and Chihuahua, Mexico. The company leads the industry with a global network of more than 100 factory-owned and authorized service centers.
For access to information on the T-6 Texan II, please click on, www.wingsoverkansas.com/legacy/article.asp?id=979.