All aerospace news – Page 1804
-
News
USAF writes off cost of stranded DSP19 loss
Tim Furniss/LONDON The US Air Force has written off $682 million following the loss of the Defence Support Programme DSP19 early warning satellite, which was stranded in elliptical orbit on 10 April. The TRW-built satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, into a low earth orbit (LEO), attached to a ...
-
News
Russian Service Module to roll out this month
The controversial, much delayed, Russian International Space Station (ISS) Service Module will be rolled out by Energia in Moscow on 26 April. Delays to its production have contributed to a two-year hold-up in the ISS programme. Russia says the Service Module will meet its September launch deadline, subject to ...
-
News
Fairchild talks continue as ATR revises Airjet
Andrew Doyle/MUNICH Fairchild Aerospace and ATR partners Aerospatiale and Alenia have failed to resolve the main obstacles to their possible collaboration on a family of regional jets. Talks continue in an effort to find a compromise. While differences remain over the location of final assembly lines, engines and ...
-
News
New breed
Researchers are at work on European comfort and safety Julian Moxon/PARIS It used to be said that a helicopter, with its complex mechanics and whirling, vibration-producing, aerodynamic surfaces, was best described as "a million individual components flying in close formation". While it may be amusing, the image is becoming less ...
-
News
Neighbourly helicopter
Eurocopter's "neighbourly helicopter" programme has given rise to the EC120 and EC135, which have noise levels 6dB lower than the International Civil Aviation Organisation standard, making them the quietest in the business. This year, the work will progress with a demonstration of the EC155 main rotor, fenestron and inlet, ...
-
News
Boeing's helicopter hat trick
The CH-47 Chinook helicopter is threatening to rival the B-52 bomber for endurance Paul Lewis/PHILADELPHIAWhen it comes to aeronautical longevity little equals the B-52 bomber other than perhaps the CH-47 Chinook helicopter from the same Boeing stable. With no successor in sight, 300 of the US Army's tandem-rotor helicopters are ...
-
News
Staying one step ahead
Paul Lewis/STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT Sikorsky has adopted a three-step strategy to keep it at the forefront of the world's helicopter industry. Its immediate goal is to sustain output through US domestic UH-60/CH-60 and international S-70 sales, while continuing to press ahead in the long term with the RAH-66 Comanche. It hopes ...
-
News
Mergers
US engineering giant Eaton has completed its $1.7 billion acquisition of Aeroquip-Vickers, a manufacturer of engineered products for the aerospace and industrial markets. French engine maker Snecma has spun off its Snecma Services division as a 100%-owned subsidiary responsible for overhaul of the CFM56 and other powerplants. Bell Helicopter Textron ...
-
News
SAS outlines fleet-wide renewal plans
Max Kingsley-Jones/STOCKHOLMAirbus Industrie remains favourite to win an order from SAS for its new long-haul fleet, as the carrier evaluates a new larger aircraft type for its European trunk routes. Flight International revealed in January that SAS had chosen Airbus Industrie's package of up to 15 A330-300s and A340-300s over ...
-
News
Bombardier profits rocket but may mask regional venture risk
Brian Dunn/MONTREAL Chris Jasper/LONDON Bombardier's aerospace division is on a high, with revenues for last year rising by 32%, to C$6.44 billion ($4.29 billion), and pre-tax profits leaping by 42% to C$682 million. The Canadian manufacturer forecasts similar growth trends during the current year. Despite this and an order backlog ...
-
News
Crossair chooses ERJ-145 regional jet to replace Saab turboprops
Andrew Doyle/BASLE Crossair has selected the Embraer RJ-145 regional jet to replace its Saab 340 turboprops. It aims to complete negotiations with the Brazilian manufacturer in time for a deal to be announced at the Paris air show in June. The Swiss regional stresses that a final decision ...
-
News
Lucas drive shafts
Lucas Aerospace is to supply high-speed flexible input drive shafts for the Bell Agusta Aerospace AB319 12/15-passenger twin-turbine helicopter. Ten prototype drive shafts will be supplied. Helicopter deliveries will begin in 2002. Source: Flight International
-
News
Link up
US company Spacehab and Germany's OHB-System have signed a memorandum of understanding to provide jointly commercial life sciences services on the Space Shuttle and on the International Space Station (ISS). They will establish a biotechnology business and upgrade the Commercial Biological Research Unit, which is planned for the STS107 mission ...
-
News
Indian light
With first deliveries of HAL's Advanced Light Helicopter imminent, Flight International flew one of the prototypes Peter Gray/BANGALOREHindustan Aeronautics (HAL) plans to certificate and deliver its first Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) this year - although it still needs further development and more equipment, such as a health and usage monitoring ...
-
News
Spring clean
There is no point in an airline carrying out a safety audit unless its employees, from chief executive to check-in clerk, are prepared to hear the truth, to recognise it as the truth, and then implement the findings. That may not be easy. Implementation may demand a total change ...
-
News
Second Nilesat order
Matra Marconi Space (MMS) has won an order from Egypt to build a second Nilesat communications satellite, to be launched next year. The contract covers the satellite, insurance and launch delivery into orbit. The craft will be similar to the 101 model built by MMS. The 1,800kg (3,960lb) satellite will ...
-
News
Berlin gears up for growth
Guy Norris/BERLIN Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services (LBAS) is predicting strong growth in its corporate aircraft activities, following approval by the German Government of financing for the new Berlin Brandenburg International Airport, in the former eastern sector of the city. Berlin Schonefeld-based LBAS was set up in November 1997 ...
-
News
Fractional stake
Bell has bought a fractional stake in Heliflite Shares' Bell 430 programme. The Fort Worth-based company has ordered up to 10 430s and plans to be the first to establish a helicopter fractional ownership programme in Texas, from June. Source: Flight International
-
News
KAL acknowledges damning safety report
Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE David Learmount/LONDON The existence of a damning report of dangerous Boeing 747 operations has been acknowledged by Korean Air (KAL), which has suffered 11 serious accidents since 1990. KAL, however, insists that the report was not part of the safety audit being carried out by Delta ...
-
News
Continental and Boeing perform Y2K flights
Continental Airlines has staged the first flight in a simulated year 2000 (Y2K) environment to test aircraft communication addressing and reporting system (ACARS) compatibility. Boeing, meanwhile, is close to concluding its own flight testing of Y2K modified flight management systems (FMS) and inertial navigation systems (INS). The Continental ...