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In this Policy Review Section Keith Hayton of the Centre for Planning at Strathclyde University examines the consequences for local economic development policy of three major pieces of legislation which the government is currently in the process of introducing. The Local Government and Housing Bill sets out for the first time a clear and unambiguous power for local authority economic development, and also includes sections to bring under the scope of local government legislation various types of local authority company which have been increasingly used in recent years as a vehicle for economic development, perhaps the best known examples being enterprise boards.Keith Hayton also considers the content of two White Papers which herald far reaching changes involving the setting up of employer led, locally based bodies that are to be responsible for planning and delivering training and enterprise development services, including the Youth Training Scheme and Employment Training. In England and Wales over 100 Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) are to be established with an initial emphasis on the delivery of Training Agency schemes. In Scotland, a new body - Scottish Enterprise, whose board will be dominated by businessmen appointed by the Secretary of State - is to be formed from the merger of the Training Agency and the Scottish Development Agency. This new body will oversee the work of twenty-two local agencies whose activities will encompass a wide range of economic development activities.Keith Hayton, in presenting a critique of these various developments, highlights the increased level of control that the government will be able to exercise over local authority economic development and the concomitant loss of flexibility and scope for local action. He also stresses the manner in which the private sector is increasingly being asked to provide the lead in the formation and implementation of local economic policy. These themes are explored further in the article by Mike Danson of Paisley College and Greg Lloyd and David Newlands of Aberdeen University who consider the problems which are likely to arise following the implementation of the Scottish Enterprise proposal. They point out that much of the thinking underlying the government's proposals draws from the American experience, specifically the Private Industry Councils which are regarded as having played a major role in the regeneration of American cities. However, they point out that, unlike the American model, the British proposals do not espouse collaboration with local government, moreover there is a failure to recognize the significance of public sector investment in the success of the United States model. Danson et al. point out that PICs have not always succeeded in addressing the problems of the most disadvantaged groups in the labour market and along with Hayton believe that the British proposals may suffer a similar fate. Both articles also query whether there will be an adequate supply of able businessmen to run the schemes and question the wisdom of marginalizing the input of local government.In the next issue of the Policy Review Section, Bob Bennett of the London School of Economics will edit a special issue on TECs based on papers presented at an Institute of British Geographers Industrial Activities Study Group Conference.

The Fourier spectral estimates of machined surface roughness data are investigated in detail, and, in particular, the shape of these estimates is examined. From these assessments, a parameter is derived which enables a description to be produced of the underlying form of spectral estimates of machined surface roughness data, without the requirement for a stylus instrument operator to select a standard cut-off filter.

The orthogonal transforms most commonly used in engineering applications are compared in their ability to characterize surface texture data. The results suggest that, for this application, the Fourier and cosine transforms are to be preferred because of their ability to model the data more precisely and because of their relatively rapid rates of convergence.

The spectral analysis of surface texture data is extended so as to include the longer wavelength ‘waviness’ features in addition to the ‘roughness’ aspects. This results in the identification of an underlying form in the spectral estimates of engineering surfaces whose complete description requires only two parameters. Also, by showing that the spectral estimates converge to a final steady value at the longer wavelengths, the need to select and apply a standard cut-off filter is avoided.

This paper gives a linear analysis for the steady motion of a flexible two-axle railway truck on curved track. Most existing truck designs are too rigid to be self-steering, but provided that the primary suspension is sufficiently flexible, it is shown that a truck can negotiate main line curves without slipping or flange contact. Results are obtained for the maximum rolling displacement of the wheelsets (the tracking error), Fig. 8, and the minimum radius of curvature for no slipping, Fig. 10, expressed as a function of the suspension stiffness. It is shown that lateral loads due to superelevation deficiency have only a small effect on the motion of the truck, which is mainly determined by creep forces arising from the geometric inability of the four wheels to roll freely on curved track.

Centrifugal pendulums have been used for many years to limit the torsional vibration of reciprocating engines. Recently small pendulums, designed to swing through amplitudes of about 45 deg, have been tested for lightweight aircraft engines. These have not functioned properly, and have been found to swing through much larger angles than expected, damaging the stops limiting motion of the pendulum counterweight. This paper investigates the large-amplitude motion of centrifugal-pendulum vibration absorbers.

Presents letters to the editor referencing articles and topics discussed in previous issues. Relationship between pilot stress and performance; Significance of experienced employees to airlines; Contrast between civil and military certification of airplanes.

Presents letters to the editor referencing articles and topics discussed in previous issues. Analysis of the U.S. National Transportation Board papers on the American Airlines AA87 accident; Implementation of the European action plan for the prevention of runway incursions; Significance of the cancellation of the Comanche program to existing programs with cost overruns and technical problems; Advantages of the traffic information services of the U.S.

Presents letters to the editor referencing articles and topics discussed in previous issues. Comments on the introduction of air marshals in commercial aircrafts; Remarks on computer complacency and cockpit resource management highlights in the tailscrape report of Singapore Airlines; Reaction to the Luxair crash report.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including "Aviation Is Good for Mankind" in the September 18-24, 2007 issue, "Latin Love Affair" in the August 7-13, 2007 issue, and an article relating to open compressor or open rotor designs.

This section presents letters to the editor referencing articles and topics discussed in previous issues including an essay on Generation X in the June 12, 2006 issue, a write-up on twin-engine operations in the January 16-22, 2007 issue and an essay on the shortcoming of Gol Airlines Boeing 7937.

Letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including one on the Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft in the November 28-December 4, 2006 issue and the Airbus A350 XWB aircraft in the December 12-18, 2006 issue.

Several letters to the editors are presented in response to articles in previous issues including one about the Airbus A380, another one about the progress of General Electric's GEnx power plant design and the investments of BAE Systems at Airbus.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles about the hazards of aircrafts' non-precision approaches, the lack of training provided to air pilots, the decision of the British Airways to fly with three engines only on an intercontinental flight and the three-engined incident involving the Boeing 747.

Presents letters to the editor about aeronautics. Analysis of the description by the British Air Accident Investigation Board of the Airbus A340-600's fuel management on the Virgin fuel diversion; Proposal made by Lufthansa to acquire Swiss; Failure of pilots to follow simple air traffic control instructions.

Presents letters to the editor referencing articles and topics discussed in previous issues of "Flight International." Suggestion of using a British Aerospace 146-100/RJ70 for the heavy vertical takeoff and landing transport program of the U.S.; Effect on productivity caused by excessive duty hours and creative crewing concerning European flightcrew duty limitation; Opinion on D-Star's nested gas turbine.