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Aviation History
1985
1985 - 2216.PDF
WORLD NEWS Bush warns USSR LONDON US Vice-President George Bush wrapped up his seven- nation European tour by issu ing an ultimatum to the Soviet Union to stop contravening the ABM and Salt II treaties. Bush accused the USSR of placing a shadow over the Geneva arms talks by violating the treaties on anti- ballistic missile capabilities and on Salt offensive forces agreements. "The USA will continue to abide by that agreement, but we will closely monitor the Soviet behaviour. We will study the Soviet response through mid- November. Then we'll decide our next step," he said. Bush's end-of-tour speech was originally billed as an attempt to clarify the Reagan Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI) to doubting European allies, but turned out to be a wider-ranging address. Bush called for Nato to work towards greater strategic, economic, and political unity. "Our governments must work together to meet this challenge," he said, "but beyond that, we must agree on a central, basic principle: we will not knuckle under to terrorism; we will not give in to the demands of terrorism; we are determined to defeat terrorism." Among the "concrete steps against terrorism" recommen ded by Bush were tighter airport ground security and pre-emption of attacks. The latter would be achieved through sharing intelligence, perhaps through Interpol. Bush's message on SDI was pure Reagan. "The Strategic Defence Initiative is purely and simply a research programme designed to explore whether a more stable basis for deterrence exists." While acknowledging that the US Government's various SDI spokesmen had conveyed a "diverging" image of SDI, Bush emphasised that the programme would not proceed without consultation with European allies. "When and if deployment occurs, we would work with our European partners to ensure that the Alliance as a whole benefits. That is why SDI is focusing on short- and medium-range missiles, as well as the intercontinental threat." TWA unions turn to Icahn NEW YORK Just two months after Trans World Airlines employees supported the carrier's efforts to fight off a takeover bid by corporate "raider" Carl Icahn, the unions are turning to Icahn to rescue them from what they regard as an even worse fate—the $793 million purchase of TWA by the Texas Air Corporation, headed by Frank Lorenzo, the tough anti-union boss of Continental Airlines. The Airline Pilots Associ ation (Alpa), which feared Icahn would divide and sell off America's fourth largest carrier, has already agreed to a package of pay cuts over the next three years in return for an equity stake and profit- sharing arrangement in TWA, should Icahn win control. For Alpa, engaged in a bitter 18-month dispute with Lorenzo at Continental Flight, May 18), the prospect of a Texas Air buy-out is alarming. At Continental in EAP takes shape British Aerospace's Experimental Aircraft Programme is moving ahead to the first flight, scheduled for the end of May or early June 1986. The aircraft will be essentially complete before the end of 1985, and is expected to make its public debut at next year's Farnborough Air Show. 1983 Lorenzo cancelled contracts with the pilots'- union and rehired new pilots at half the previous wage. Icahn is now hoping ther other unions have the same fears, and he is seeking agree- j ments with them along the lines reached with Alpa before launching a new attack on TWA. TWA only accepted the' Texas Air bid to thwart Icahn's first challenge, and is _ unlikely to give in to him now. Its best weapon is the option given to Texas Air to buy 6 • 425 million common shares while the takeover is pending.,. A310-300 takes flight j TOULOUSE ~j The Airbus A310-300 made its maiden flight on July 8, begin ning its 220hr flight-test programme. Airbus Industrie is aiming for December certi fication for the aircraft. The A310-300 offers a range of 4,600 n.m. with 218 passengers in two-class con figuration, compared with a maximum range of 3,800 n.m. for the -200 marque. The increased range is provided by an increased take-off weight and greater fuel capacity. The five tons of extra fuel capacity 1 is in the tailplane, which I allows e.g. control in flight^ The aircraft has wingtip^ fences for aerodynamic effi ciency and a carbon-fibre fin. Omani Martello confirmed CHELMSFORD" " Marconi Radar has confirmed an order worth £38 million v from Oman for Martello long range radars plus other air defence equipment (Flight,'' June 1, page 52). The contract covers two--, Martello S713 three-dimen sional air-defence radars, their associated Mace display and data handling systems, communications equipment, and software. The deal includes the updating and extension of the existing sector operations centre and subordinate control and reporting centres (CRCs plus the provision of a new1 CRC. FLIGHT International, 13 July 19SS
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