TsAGI Starts Design Work On New Supersonic Business Jet. AIAA news

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Flight International (3/15, Trimble) reports, “A major Russian aeronautical research agency has launched preliminary design work for a quiet supersonic business jet that could fly over populated areas.” The Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) is working with Sukhoi and others on the plane that features “four engines mounted on top of the aft fuselage” and “twin vertical tails and long, thin wings” in concept art. With the work, the agency wants Russia to become a “technology leader” in the field.

Malaysia, Japan commemorate 30th anniversary of Look East Policy, The Star,Wednesday March 14, 2012 MYT

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PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda have exchanged special messages to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Malaysia’s Look East Policy.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said both prime ministers described the policy as a testament to the close bond of friendship and partnership between Malaysia and Japan.

“Both sides have also expressed the hope that the recently established Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology in Kuala Lumpur would significantly develop as a centre of excellence in engineering education, not only in Malaysia but also for the Asean region,” it said.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the policy, which was introduced in 1982 by then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The Look East Policy’s main objective was to acquire technological know-how, work ethics and good work values, which are seen to be among of the ingredients for the success of the developed countries in East Asia, especially Japan.

Some 15,000 Malaysians have benefited under the policy, through studies and training at Japanese universities and companies, especially in sectors that require advanced technical skills and technology. – Bernama

Aircraft noise and vibration in helicopter operations create a safety issue. From AIAA news

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Rosekind Says Pilot Fatigue Remains Top Issue. Aviation International News (2/13, Mark) reports the NTSB’s Mark Rosekind told the Heli-Expo audience this weekend, “Fatigue in the aviation industry has been on the NTSB’s Top 10 Most-Wanted list for two decades. … It still makes up six of our top 10 fears today.” Rosekind “dove right into the fatigue issue at the lead-off educational session at Heli-Expo 2012 in Dallas.” He said “aircraft noise and vibration in helicopter operations create special fatigue issues, as does the predominance of single-pilot, on-demand operations, often conducted at night.“

Fruit Fly Study Could Help Astronauts Deal With Microgravity. -AIAA news

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Space (1/4, Choi) reports, “A new study that examines the way magnetic fields that simulate weightlessness on Earth affect how fruit flies walk could help scientists understand microgravity’s influence on humans and other animals in space, researchers say.” Richard Hill of the University of Nottingham led the study that used superconducting magnets to simulate the effects of weightlessness in order to make the experience cheaper and to eliminate factors like G-forces that could have been responsible for any observed changes. Hill said, “It’s also important to remember that, in our endeavors to explore space – setting up permanent bases on Mars, for example, or other planets – it will be crucial to understand the effects of weightlessness on all living organisms.”

Saraan Baru Perkhidmatan Awam 2012 (SBPA)

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Apa nasib tutor IPTA dengan perlaksanaan SBPA.

Isu skim tutor: DA41

Tutor IPTA di Malaysia adalah berjawatan sementara, dan JPA telah mengeluarkan surat pada 15.01.2010 kepada semua IPTA supaya tiada kenaikan gaji kepada tutor apabila tempoh perkidmatan telah melebihi 3 tahun. Di kebanyakan IPTA, mereka tidak layak untuk menjawat jawatan pensyarah walaupun telah mempunyai Sarjana (master), dan hanya akan dipertimbangkan jawatan pensyarah selepas mereka mempunyai Ph.D. Kerja bebanan tutor yang telah mempunyai Sarjana adalah tidak banyak berbeza dengan kalangan pensyarah (DS45) yang lain. Ada juga tutor yang memberi syarahan kuliah untuk pelajar tahun akhir disamping di bebani dengan uruan pengurusan fakulti. Dengan pelbagai komitmen tersebut dan inspirasi serta persiapan untuk melanjutkan pelajaran di peringkat PhD, laporan tahunan mereka biasanya adalah rendah dari 80%. Akibatnya, mereka mungkin dipertikaikan untuk memohon jawatan tetap nanti.

Pembelaan

Sehingga kini, tiada sesiapa yang membangkitkan isu tutor diperingkat atasan pihak universiti secara berterusan dan juga dengan mengambil kira pendapat mereka. Mungkin alasan seperti ‘mereka perlu tahu, semasa memohon jawatan tutor, tugas dan status kerja mereka’ dijadikan sandaran yang utama/solid. Tetapi perlu di ingat, pekeliling pentadbiran universiti yang kerap berubah, menafikan perancangan panjang mereka sebelum itu.

Seterusnya

Nasib skim tutor di Malaysia masih belum jelas sehingga ada wakil di bahagian pentadbiran yang menjaga hal ehwal tutor. Dengan pelaksaan skim saraan baru SBPA pada 2012 nanti, dikhuatiri nasib tutor akan terus dipinggir sekiranya tiada seorang pun yang mahu membangkitka isu sebenar ini di pihak atasan.

Sekadar pandangan dari pengalaman.

Airline Makes First US Carrier Flight Powered By Biofuel. -from AIAA news

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The Houston Chronicle (11/8, Moreno) reports today, a United Continental Holdings Boeing 737-800 “was the first by a US carrier to include passengers on a plane powered by a blend that included algae-based biofuel along with conventional petroleum-based jet fuel.” Solazyme worked with Honeywell to develop the fuel. According to the article, United Continental “estimates that the biofuel blend on the flight Monday reduced carbon dioxide emissions by an amount equal to what would come from the exhaust of a car driven 30,000 miles.” Meanwhile, “Alaska Airlines announced Monday it will power 75 commercial passenger flights with biofuels starting Wednesday.”

Biofuels Still More Expensive Than Conventional Fuels. The Wall Street Journal (11/7, Nicas, Subscription Publication), reporting on the United flight, noted that while airlines are testing the use of biofuels, the economics of scale mean biofuels are still more expensive than conventional fuels despite an 87% increase in cost since 2009. Meanwhile, in order to reduce costs, some are considering developing biofuels based on local feedstocks in order to lower transportation costs.

Report Outlines 13 Design Flaws With F-35. – from AIAA news

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David Axe at the Wired (12/14) “Danger Room” blog writes that the F-35 program is about to become “a lot pricier” because of “13 different design flaws uncovered in the last two months by a hush-hush panel of five Pentagon experts. It could cost up to a billion dollars to fix the flaws on copies of the jet already in production, to say nothing of those yet to come.” Axe adds that on top of this, testing could take longer to complete. The “Quick Look Review” was leaked this past weekend, revealing a “laundry list of flaws,” some previously known and others not. According to Axe, there is not a “worse time” for this news because of criticism from the government and Boeing offering to sell improved F-15s and F-18s. Axe predicts “another ‘rebaselining,’ or restructuring, is likely.”