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Aviation History
2004
2004-00 - 0007.PDF
HEADLINES AIR TRANSPORT DAVID LEARMOUNT / LONDON Sky marshal plan riles governments Despite defiance, countries look set to comply with request Several governments have reacted defiantly to the US request that for eign carriers field armed sky mar shals on selected flights to the USA, but look like complying. Mean while, the gap between onboard security policies in Europe and the USA remains wide, with European pilot unions making it clear they are unhappy about having guns on board, and US unions voting for pilots to be armed. On 21 December, the US Depart ment of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary Tom Ridge raised the nation's threat advisory level from Code Yellow - "elevated risk of ter rorist attack" - to Code Orange, "high risk". All the onboard security proposals are related to the undis closed intelligence that led to the threat upgrade. Increased security, said Ridge, would extend "around the holiday period and beyond". On 24 December, Air France can celled six flights to and from Los Angeles, but would not say whether the flights had been refused entry, or whether the French government had been supplied with intelligence that led to the cancellations. Non-US airlines await guidance from their governments on the res ponse to US requests that any US- bound flight should, on advice from Washington, have an armed secu rity guard on board. The govern ments' responses have varied, but all suggest they will comply if the USA provides credible intelligence on which to base their decision. The UK, which has had trained police prepared for armed onboard security duties since December 2002 - and may have used them covertly in the meantime - has indicated compliance with the US requests. But the Department for Transport made clear: "Only the UK can authorise the placing of air marshals on UK carriers." The German government autho rised Lufthansa to carry armed sky marshals on some flights soon after the 11 September attacks. The British Air Line Pilots As sociation (BALPA) would rather not have guns on board. But if this is to happen, it wants the government to discuss the rules of engagement and inform the aircraft's captain when armed security staff are on board. On 30 December BALPA advised its members not to fly with marshals on board until agreement is reached with the government. Policing the skies Security development since 11 September 2001 • 2001 September: US sky marshals concept put forward • October: Australia, Canada and Germany prepare sky marshal plans • December: Reinforced cockpit doors planned. US sky marshal pro gramme announced • 2002 June: US Department of Homeland Security created by Congress. Congress approves guns in cockpit • December: UK announces armed police ready for deployment • 2003 April: Deadline for cockpit doors in US registered and US- bound aircraft to be reinforced • 16 December: Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wins agreement from European Commission on Named Passenger Record in return for limited use guarantees • 21 December: DHS upgrades US threat assessment level from Code Yellow to Code Orange • 24 December: Air France cancels six flights to and from Los Angeles • 29 December: USA requests foreign carriers to field armed sky marshals on notified flights to USA Briefing Improved Su-27s delivered UPGRADE The Russian air force's first five modernised Sukhoi Su-27SM multirole fighters were flown to the service's training centre in Lipetsk on 25 December, following their upgrade from the Su-27UB configuration at KnAAPO's plant in Konsomolsk-on-Amur. The Su-27SM's final configuration will be established during 2005, says the service. Meanwhile, an Indonesian air force official has confirmed that this year the service plans to buy a further six Su-27SKs and two Su-30MKKs from Russia. SAA chooses V2500 engine for A320s SELECTION South African Airways has selected International Aero Engines V2500 powerplants for its 26 Airbus A320 family aircraft on order. The Johannesburg-based carrier ordered 15 A320s and 11 A319s in March 2002, but has only now firmed up its engine choice. The airline will take deliv ery of its first A319, which will replace its Boeing 737-200s, this year. IAE values the order at more than $350 million. Business aviation legend dies PEOPLE Harry Combs, who founded premier US fixed-based operator (FBO) network AMR Combs and was president of Gates Learjet from 1971 to 1982, died on 26 December aged 90. Combs formed his first FBO, Mountain State Aviation, in Denver in 1938. Renamed Combs Aviation, it expanded to other locations and eventually was acquired by American Airlines' parent AMR, which ultimately sold the FBO chain to Signature. In December, Combs donated a $1 million Wright Flyer replica to the US National Park Service for display at Kill Devil Hills in North Carolina. First part of UK radar network goes live IN STA L L AT IO N The UK's newest radar station went live last week, in Burrington, Devon completing the first stage of National Air Traffic Services' (NATS) £127 million ($221 million) programme to replace its entire UK radar network by 2012. Over the proceeding nine years, 19 other radar installa tions covering the UK will be replaced to provide a "higher standard of information, greater reliability, and a platform for future collaborative develop ments. They will also be compatible with future datalinking developments when they enter service later in the decade," says NATS. US nears missile defence award PROGRAMME The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) will early this month select a winner for its Miniature Kill Vehicle contest, which aims to develop and demonstrate a system to tackle sophisticated ballistic missile threats in the 2010 timeframe. Contenders for the award are thought to include teams from Lockheed Martin, Schafer and Science Applications International. The deci sion follows the award of contracts for the MDAs associated Kinetic Energy Interceptor and an array of related target and countermeasure systems. Ethiopian Airlines hires consultants BUSINESS Ethiopian Airlines has hired US consulting firms Ernst & Young and SH&E to develop an in-depth business plan to achieve sustained profitability at the flag carrier. This is the first time in Ethiopian Airlines' 58- year history that the carrier has secured outside management consultants to assist with its business strategy. Ethiopian chief executive Bisrat Nigatu says Ernst & Young and SH&E will "develop and implement a medium-term five- year plan as well as a long-term 15-year strategic plan that is coherent with the airline's vision and mission". Israel launches communications satellite SPACE Israel's second communications satellite, Amos 2, was launched by a Starsem-operated Soyuz Fregat launcher on 28 December from Baikonur, Russia. Co-located with Amos 1, launched in 1996, at 4° west over the Gulf of Guinea, Amos 2 will provide additional high-power transmission capacity for Europe, the Middle East and the East Coast of the USA. www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 6-12 JANUARY 2004 5
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