All aerospace news – Page 1774
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Mil, Kazan and Eurocopter sign Mi-38 deal
The MVZ Mil design bureau, Kazan Helicopter Plant, Eurocopter and Euromil (a joint venture between Mil and Eurocopter) have signed two memoranda covering the development and production of the Mil Mi-38 multipurpose helicopter. Eurocopter will act as avionics integrator. Kazan general manager Alexander Lavrentyev says the first Mi-38 fuselage ...
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Too late
Iridium's project for a constellation of satellites providing a global telephone service seemed to have real credibility in the late 1980s/early 1990s. Unfortunately, as is often the case with pioneering high technology, high investment schemes, it took too long to materialise, rendering the company a legend even before its own ...
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Kazan's Ansat makes first flight
The Kazan Ansat helicopter had its first flight on 17 August, marking the manufacturer's debut as a helicopter designer. Kazan is better known as the major maker of Mil helicopters, having produced more than 11,000. The 3,000kg Ansat, powered by a pair of Klimov-built Pratt & Whitney Canada PK206C ...
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Iridium seeks rescue package as it files for bankruptcy
Tim Furniss/LONDON Mobile satellite communications company Iridium is striving to put together a financial rescue plan after filing for bankruptcy protection from its creditors on 13 August. As the Motorola-led company works on the plan, fellow start-up mobile satellite communications (satcom) company ICO Global Communications is feeling the "Iridium ...
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Mergers
Ground services provider Worldwide Flight Services of the USA is to buy Miami Aircraft Support for $66.4 million, giving it a presence at a total of 82 airports. Worldwide was previously owned by American Airlines parent AMR, but was bought by private investors in March. US third-party maintenance provider Aviation ...
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Embraer chooses Latecoere to supply fuselage for new jet
Andrzej Jeziorski/TAIPEI Embraer has chosen Latecoere to manufacture fuselage components for the ERJ-170/190 , making it one of the first major suppliers to be signed up for the new regional aircraft family. Although the selection of the French structures specialist has not been announced formally, sources close to the ...
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Marketplace
Finnair will cease its Saab 340 services from October, with the cancellation of wet-lease operations, as it concentrates on services with its fleet of nine ATR 72s. China Airlines has grounded its four remaining Airbus A300B4s and is offering them for sale. The airline is still searching for buyers for ...
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KLM-Continental row hits Wings alliance
Chris Jasper/LONDON The planned launch of the so-called Wings alliance is in doubt after a disagreement between Dutch flag carrier KLM and Continental Airlines of the USA - two of the four major airlines that had been expected to launch the grouping this year. Sources close to the pair ...
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Strategic stretch
More than a long-range niche filler, Boeing's 767-400ER promises to bring new life to the entire big twin family Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Boeing's big twinjet strategy takes another important step forward on 26 August when the 767-400ER is officially rolled out of the company's Everett assembly site in ...
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Chinese launch
China's state media has reported that the country plans to launch an orbital test of a crewless spacecraft by the end of the year and put a person into orbit in about 2005. A Space Shuttle-type vehicle is also planned, but its development will depend on a new Long March ...
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Asteroid target
NASA's Discovery programme spacecraft - the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) - is on course for a close encounter with the asteroid 433 Eros on 14 February, 2000, following a 2min burn of its hydrazine engine. NEAR will spend a year orbiting Eros and sending back data and images. Source: ...
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US export changes hit Canada
Canadian industry is struggling to cope with changes to US export controls which have curtailed its access to US technology and markets. The special status previously accorded to Canadian companies has been removed following changes to US International Trade in Arms Regulations (ITARs). As a result, US companies now ...
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A300 autopilot checks ordered after approach yaws
Uncommanded rudder inputs on final approach traced to a faulty Airbus A300-600 autopilot have caused the US Federal Aviation Administration to issue an airworthiness directive (AD) requiring autopilot checks on the entire A300B, A310 and A300-600 fleet. The unidentified incident is still under investigation by the French civil aviation ...
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Association broadcasts live TV plan
The World Airline Entertainment Association's (WAEA) technical committee will turn its attentions to live broadcast satellite service once it completes the specification for the in-flight use of digital versatile disk (DVD) next month. With several airlines interested in offering passengers live television services, the WAEA is keen to resolve ...
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Malaysia launches audio/video on demand, plans e-mail service
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) launched audio- and video-on-demand (A/VOD) capability on one of its Boeing 777s this month. It is the first stage of a programme that will see the airline's entire 777 and Boeing 747-400 fleet equipped with the latest in-flight entertainment (IFE) feature. A/VOD, which allows passengers to ...
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Matsushita prepares for deliveries of System 3000
In-flight entertainment (IFE) system supplier Matsushita will be ready to deliver its new interactive IFE hardware - the System 3000 - early next year. The first phase of the fully interactive system designed for widebody aircraft will be available in the first quarter, with full system functionality in the ...
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First AS355N goes to Massachusetts
McAlpine Helicopters has shipped the first of two Eurocopter AS355N helicopters to American Eurocopter in Texas for delivery to the US Massachusetts State Police. The helicopter, which was completed at McAlpine's centre at Oxford Airport, UK, features police mission equipment, including Inframetric's MK3 sensor turret. The Turboméca Arrius-powered AS355N is ...
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Smart card paves way for trouble-free travel
Passengers holding a multifunction smart card which operates as a passport, visa, and biometric identity tag "could enjoy a truly hassle-free experience from check-in to final clearance at destination", predicts International Air Transport Association (IATA) director general Pierre Jeanniot, speaking at the Aerovision 2000 Symposium in Vancouver, Canada. Effective ...
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Marketplace
Fairchild Aerospace has delivered the first two 328JETs to launch customer Skyway Airlines. Skyway has five aircraft on firm order with 10 options. It will put the 32-seat regional jet into revenue service following completion of pilot training in San Antonio, Texas. Continental Airlines has revised its fleet retirement plan, ...
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FAA orders insulation to be replaced on 700 aircraft
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC Thermal insulation on all McDonnell Douglas DC-10s and Boeing MD-80s, MD-90s and MD-11s must be replaced within four years, the US Federal Aviation Administration has ordered. The regulation has been under consideration for more than a year, but has become mandatory just as the Transportation ...