All aerospace news – Page 1805
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Manufacturers' perspective
Production, reliability and certification issues have dominated the 737's debut Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Between them, Boeing and CFM International faced the fastest ramp-up in production and delivery of any commercial airliner with the 737NG. Since delivery of the first aircraft to Southwest Airlines in December 1997, some 250 examples ...
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HOPE-X test flights delayed by redesign and budget factors
Andrzej Jeziorski/TOKYO Test Flights of the H-II Orbiting Plane-Experimental (HOPE-X) reusable space vehicle have been postponed from February 2001 until February 2004 because of a redesign and budget restrictions. The HOPE team, led by Japan's National Space Development Agency and National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL), is carrying out a ...
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Lockheed Martin reviews operations
Tim Furniss/LONDON Lockheed Martin has formed an independent panel of experts to conduct a comprehensive review of programme management, engineering, manufacturing processes and quality control procedures at its space divisions following a series of recent launch failures. In addition, the US Air Force is conducting a broad area review ...
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NASA sets date for X-34 captive-carry flight tests
NASA and Orbital Sciences plan to begin captive-carry flight tests of the X-34 reusable launch vehicle (RLV) technology demonstrator on 18 June, marking the start of an ambitious programme aimed at achieving the first of 27 powered test flights in January next year. The captive-carry flights, using the Virginia-based ...
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German CH-53 tanks
Derlan has shipped the first external fuel tanks to Eurocopter Deutschland for Germany's Sikorsky CH-53 helicopter range-extension programme. Delivery of 21 shipsets, each of two filament-wound composite tanks, will be completed by year-end. Source: Flight International
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Robinson clipper
Robinson Helicopters has delivered four R44 Clippers to the State of Alaska Department of Public Safety. The four-seat piston-engined Clipper, so called because of its ability to land on water, will be deployed on fishery and wildlife patrols and will complement the department's single two-seat R22 Mariner helicopter. Source: Flight ...
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Police patrol
American Eurocopter has delivered a third AS350B2 AStar to the Ohio State Highway Patrol for traffic enforcement, emergency transport and surveillance. The single-turbine helicopter was purchased with forfeited funds from drug couriers. Source: Flight International
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Fairchild wraps up 328JET testing and confirms stretch plans
Andrew Doyle/OBERPFAFFENHOFEN Fairchild Aerospace has almost completed flight-testing its 328JET30-seater and expects to receive certification from the European Joint Aviation Authorities and the US Federal Aviation Administration by 1 July. First deliveries to US carrier Skyways will take place that month. Meanwhile, the US company claims to have ...
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Boeing maintains 717 campaign
Andrew Doyle/MUNICH Boeing aims to boost sales of its 717 regional jet by taking a role in maintenance support and certificating a "Lite" version that could cut airport and navigation charges for airlines. The move comes as Greek flag carrier Olympic signs as the type's first European airline operator. Its ...
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Launch Services wins $24m West Indian contract
Russian commercial launch company Launch Services, which markets launches of the Cosmos 3M and Start 1 boosters, has been awarded a $24 million contract by the West Indian Space company to launch three Israeli-built satellites. The 300kg (660lb), high-resolution remote-sensing Eros satellites will be boosted into orbit by Start ...
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Russia completes ISS Service Module
Tim Furniss/LONDON Russia's International Space Station (ISS) Service Module was rolled out at RSC Energia's factory in Moscow on 26 April for its shipment to the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The Module is most likely to be launched in November, almost two years behind schedule. Russia says it is aiming for ...
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WAEA aims for DVD specification
The World Airline Entertainment Association (WAEA) aims to have a final specification for digital versatile disk (DVD) by the end of the third quarter, paving the way for the technology to be introduced in flight. DVD is the latest consumer technology to have captured the imagination of the in-flight ...
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US Airways joins the P@ssport providers
Emma Kelly/LONDON Sony Trans Com has secured a third customer for its P@ssport interactive in-flight entertainment system, with US Airways ordering the equipment for an initial seven Airbus A330-300s. The P@ssport order could increase, as the carrier holds options on a further 30 A330s. The first A330, which will ...
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Lufthansa agrees to buy up to 120 Fairchild 728JETs
Andrew Doyle/FRANKFURT Fairchild Aerospace has secured a major breakthrough in its bid to develop the 728JET - Lufthansa's supervisory board has decided to approve the purchase of up to 120 of the regional airliners by its CityLine commuter subsidiary. The German flag carrier has signed a firm order for 60 ...
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CFMI lobbies Airbus on A318 powerplant
Julian Moxon/PARIS Guy Norris/LOS ANGELESCFM International is in talks with Airbus to try to get its CFM56-5A engine included as a powerplant for the newly launched Airbus Industrie A318. But the European consortium is sticking to its position that it is "offering only the Pratt &Whitney PW6000". Air France, Lufthansa, ...
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Iridium looks for avionics supplier as AlliedSignal quits
Emma Kelly/LONDON Iridium is in talks with avionics manufacturers following AlliedSignal's decision to drop its involvement in the new satellite system operator's aeronautical services for airlines. AlliedSignal is the sole supplier of avionics for Iridium's aeronautical services for the airline and general aviation markets. The manufacturer's single-channel Iridium ...
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Marconi expects in-flight TV to go global in 2002
Canadian Marconi (CMC) expects to have avionics equipment available for airlines to receive the global AirTV in-flight television service in the second quarter of 2002. The Canadian manufacturer, best known for its satellite communication antennas and flight management systems, is the exclusive antenna supplier to AirTV, which aims to ...
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Shorter story
Smaller may not always be better, but for Embraer it is a route to further success Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DCIt seems a simple, sensible approach: take a proven airframe, shorten the fuselage to produce a smaller aircraft, leave the rest unchanged, and avoid the time and cost of developing a new ...
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The big squeeze
European regional aviation is coming under pressure, and airlines are pessimistic about future expansion Chris Jasper/LONDONOn the face of it, the story of regional aviation in Europe is one of unparalleled success. The sector was the first in Europe to be liberalised, with the 50 and 70-seat markets freed to ...
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Scope for change
Pressure is mounting for the reform of regional airline pilot scope clauses Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC The simmering debate over regional airline pilot scope clauses is slowly coming to the boil. With most labour agreements due for renewal from next year, pressure is building from a range of sectors - airlines, ...