All aerospace news – Page 1780
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Boeing is considering 'shrunk' 767-400ER for long range role
Guy Norris/SEATTLE Boeing is considering a possible shrink of the 767-400ER as an alternative to meeting the long range requirement of the proposed 767-300ERX with discrete upgrades from the stretched twin-aisle development. The move would be a subtle but distinct change in direction for the 767 programme and ...
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Atlantic seeks to end limit on regionals jets
Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA) is pressing United Airlines for unlimited use of regional jets under 50 seats as it places a conditional order with Fairchild Aerospace for up to 110 328/428JETs to replace British Aerospace Jetstream 32 and Jetstream 41 turboprops. The United Express carrier wants to phase out ...
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Star Alliance pursues French and German rail options
Julian Moxon/PARIS French railway company SNCF is considering a move that could see it become the first "non-airline" member of the Star Alliance - although it has not yet dismissed alternative options which could see it do a "train/plane" deal with a single airline, or open its route network ...
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IAI snaps up Airborne 767 freighter contract
The Bedek division of Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) has won a contract from Airborne Express for cargo conversions on at least 11 Boeing 767-200s. Airborne is acquiring 22 passenger General Electric CF6-powered 767-200s from All Nippon Airways for its cargo fleet, with the initial conversions being carried out by ...
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Airports
Aeroports de Paris, the operator of Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, has signed a partnership agreement with Chateauroux-Deols Airport to study the potential of the latter to handle increased freight traffic. Chateauroux-Deols is located in the Paris area and offers a 24h operation. Passenger numbers at London Luton Airport ...
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Final A3XX decisions loom for Airbus
Julian Moxon/TOULOUSE Airbus Industrie is to take decisions on the final assembly site and technology content of the A3XX in November in preparation for a possible commercial campaign from next January. The European consortium will decide which technologies to use in the 550-seat aircraft to achieve the desired 15% reduction ...
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US AOPA warns on safety after Loran delays
The US Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has warned that general aviation safety will be seriously undermined by any further delay in the decision on the continuation of the Loran-C navigation system and any plans to bring forward the shut down of Loran-C transmitters in the USA. AOPA ...
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UK ambulance service expands
The National Association of Air Ambulance Services (NAAAS) is extending its operational coverage within the UK and has issued a tender for two new helicopters to cover two key regions. "The minimum requirement will be for twin-engined helicopters with the ability to transport two patients and two attendants as well ...
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Landing gear deals clear BFGoodrich/Coltec merger
BFGoodrich and Coltec Industries completed their $2.2 billion merger on 12 July, after agreements were reached with AlliedSignal and Crane to preserve competition in the US landing system industry. The agreements ended lawsuits which had blocked the deal, but left the "strategic and economic fundamentals of the merger completely ...
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Teledesic finalises Internet deal
Teledesic has signed a launch contract with Lockheed Martin and concluded a system agreement with Motorola for its global, broadband Internet-in-the-sky satellite communications network. Teledesic's contract with Lockheed Martin calls for the lift-off of three Proton M and three Atlas V launches, carrying multiple Teledesic satellites per mission, with ...
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Solar array joints delivered
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space has delivered to International Space Station prime contractor Boeing the solar array rotary joints and the second of two thermal radiator rotary joints for the station. The 3m (10ft)-diameter solar array joints are "the largest mechanisms ever designed to operate in a space environment", says ...
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Shuttle could fly until 2030
NASA predicts that its Space Shuttle could still be flying up to 2030 unless the US Government helps to fund new reusable launch vehicle projects. The Space Shuttle programme's four orbiters are a quarter of the way through their lifetimes, says Richard Stephens, vice-president and general manager ...
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Spain joins Argentina for Cesar project
Spain and Argentina are working together on the Cesar satellite, planned for launch in 2003. Cesar, which will be developed by Spain's Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial (INTA) and Argentina's space agency CONAE, will transmit 5m (16ft)-resolution images of the earth. A launcher for the 400kg (880lb) spacecraft has ...
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Boeing tackles winglet erosion in MD-11 modification package
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Boeing plans to complete work by the end of the year on improvements to tackle long-standing operational problems on the MD-11. They include new coatings to prevent excessive erosion to the winglets, modifications to stop skin cracks and changes to system fittings and valves to prevent ...
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High endurance rotorcraft set to fly
The Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Frontier Systems this year plan to flight-test a revolutionary unmanned helicopter that can remain airborne for up to 48h and achieve an unrefuelled range of 5,550km (3,000nm). Neither DARPA nor Abraham Karem, Frontier president, will disclose details of the research ...
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Vagabond four-seater aims for home with private operators
Kate Sarsfield/LONDON A four-seat general aviation aircraft aimed at private operators is being developed by Italian design and engineering company Etruria Technology. The Vagabond piston single is in the design phase, says Etruria. "We are about two years away from the maiden flight of the first [of three] ...
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Eurotilt consortium drives for tiltrotor funding from EC
A consortium of European companies led by Eurocopter has requested funding from the European Commission (EC) for a new 19-seat tiltrotor ground test programme. The consortium comprises 33 companies from nine countries, including Spain's CASA and Fiat Avio of Italy. The European rotorcraft technology integration for a long-range transport ...
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Pop-out floats
The US Federal Aviation Administration has approved Robinson R44 emergency pop-out floats, allowing the pilot to resume flying, without noticeable loss of airspeed, once a cause of an emergency is corrected. Robinson says the $22,000 floats are lightweight, durable and inflate in about 2s. The company has delivered the first ...
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Diesel Air sets sights on general aviation piston engine market
As the potentially lucrative piston engine replacement market emerges, UK manufacturer Diesel Air has entered the fray, with plans to produce a diesel engine family aimed at the general aviation market. The 75kW (100hp) DAIR 100 is the first in a 75-450kW engine range. It has completed more than ...
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Digital data network software progresses
Aeronautical Communication International (ACI) has completed the first of three phases of aeronautical telecommunications network software for the communications, navigation and surveillance/air traffic management environment. The software will determine the routing of digital data messages between aircraft and air traffic control. ACI, which comprises Airsys ATM, AlliedSignal, Honeywell, Sextant ...