All aerospace news – Page 1815

  • News

    Fairchild/ATR close to marketing pact

    1999-02-17T00:00:00Z

    Jens Flottau/MUNICH Fairchild Aerospace and ATR are in final negotiations over a regional jet alliance and setting up a jointly owned company to market their regional jet and turboprop ranges. The two are discussing development of the entire 528JET, 728JET and 928JET family along with joint marketing of ...

  • News

    Starsem blasts off with four Globalstars

    1999-02-17T00:00:00Z

    Tim Furniss/LONDON Russian-Franco commercial launch consortium Starsem completed its first mission on 9 February when a Soyuz booster lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, carrying four Globalstar satellites. Starsem, a joint venture involving Aerospatiale, Arianespace and Russian Soyuz builder Samara, plans to launch 20 more Loral Globalstar ...

  • News

    Alliance becomes SA Alliance

    1999-02-17T00:00:00Z

    Michael Wakabi/Kampala Alliance Air has acquired a Boeing 767-200ER on a three-year renewable lease from shareholder South African Airways (SAA), replacing the ageing 747SP the Uganda-based carrier has operated for the past four years. The two airlines also started a codesharing agreement with effect from 6 February. ...

  • News

    Help sought to bolster Belize with national carrier

    1999-02-17T00:00:00Z

    As part of a programme to boost the economy of Belize, the Central American country's recently elected government is seeking a European carrier to help set up a national airline. Belize does not have a home-grown international operator, and the only major carriers serving the country include American Airlines, ...

  • News

    Europe navigates independent satellite route with Galileo

    1999-02-17T00:00:00Z

    The European Commission (EC) has proposed development of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) independent from the US global positioning system (GPS) as the second stage in Europe's satellite navigation programme. The Galileo project, announced by EC transport commissioner Neil Kinnock on 10 February, will require funding of up ...

  • News

    US Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel warns on Shuttle danger

    1999-02-17T00:00:00Z

    The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel has warned NASA that its workforce has been so reduced by redundancies and a hiring freeze that Space Shuttle safety could be jeopardised. If new engineering and other staff are not employed, it could create a crisis over the next five to 10 years, ...

  • News

    Embraer reveals additions to regional jet family

    1999-02-17T00:00:00Z

    Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC Embraer has unveiled plans for 70 and 90-seat additions to its family of regional jets. The surprise move is designed to signal to potential customers and risk-sharing partners the Brazilian manufacturer's firm intent to compete in this market. The company has announced the "pre-launch" of ...

  • News

    Marketplace

    1999-02-17T00:00:00Z

    Gemini Air Cargo has acquired three British Airways Boeing DC-10-30s in a deal arranged by Curtis and Xavian. The aircraft will be converted by Alenia's Aeronavali facility in Naples. The Italian company is also expected to convert an ex-Varig DC-10-30 acquired by Belgium-based Skyjet from Mitsui. Aerospatiale's Sogerma Maintenance ...

  • News

    Twin tune-up

    1999-02-17T00:00:00Z

    Paul Lewis/FORT WORTH Bell's new Model 427 is in development flight testing. The eight-seat, light twin turbine has gained weight, hover, speed and range since its maiden flight in December 1997, but the manufacturer aims to reduce the weight by May      Bell is fine-tuning the performance of its ...

  • News

    CFMI changes software to tackle Next Generation 737 engine snag

    1999-02-10T00:00:00Z

    Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES CFM International hopes to receive approval next month for changes to the CFM56-7 engine that will provide a long term solution to problems experienced in the first full year of service on Boeing's Next Generation 737. The issues were related to the engine's hydro-mechanical unit ...

  • News

    Airlines taste chips in bid to solve lost baggage problem

    1999-02-10T00:00:00Z

    British Airways is trying to overcome the problems of lost bags by using radio frequency identity (RFID) baggage labels. Several US airlines may commit themselves to trials with the new system, says the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The "smart" labels have embedded semiconductors (silicon chips) that emit identity ...

  • News

    FAA may get $300 million bonus in Transport budget

    1999-02-10T00:00:00Z

    A planned $300 million budget increase for the US Federal Aviation Administration on top of the $9.8 billion it received in the 1998 financial year is in the pipeline from the Department of Transportation (DoT). The DoT's requested total budget of $51 billion this financial year includes $10.1 billion for ...

  • News

    Routes

    1999-02-10T00:00:00Z

    - All Nippon Airways (ANA)has applied for a Government go-ahead for its planned codeshare partnership with Varig, in the run-up to joining the Star Alliance by October. The two airlines plan to begin codesharing on two Varig-operated services from Rio de Janeiro to Nagoya and Tokyo, starting on 28 March. ...

  • News

    Clipped wings

    1999-02-10T00:00:00Z

    NASA's decision to slash its funding for aeronautics research should be seen as a warning cry for the US aircraft industry- and as a clarion call for its European counterpart. The agency was only able to transfer funds from aeronautics research to the Inter-national Space Station because it was ...

  • News

    Bell sets deadline for tiltrotor workshare

    1999-02-10T00:00:00Z

    Paul Lewis/FORT WORTH Bell Helicopter and Agusta hope to finalise a manufacturing workshare agreement within 12 months to co-produce the new BA609 civil tiltrotor and AB139 medium helicopter in the USA and Europe. The two companies are establishing a joint venture structure, following their tie- up announced at ...

  • News

    AAG purchase edges Sikorsky towards fractional ownership

    1999-02-10T00:00:00Z

    Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC Sikorsky has taken a step towards launching a helicopter fractional ownership programme by agreeing to acquire New York-based charter operator Associated Aircraft Group (AAG) for an undisclosed sum. The company will become a subsidiary of Sikorsky. The US manufacturer refuses to speculate on when it ...

  • News

    NASA transfers aeronautics research funding to space

    1999-02-10T00:00:00Z

    Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC NASA has slashed funding for aeronautics research and transferred the money to the International Space Station (ISS) programme. The shift poses a question about the government's role in funding 'conventional' aerospace research, says NASA's financial controller, Mal Peterson. Compared to this year, funding for aeronautical ...

  • News

    India plans ocean-monitoring launch

    1999-02-10T00:00:00Z

    India will launch its first dedicated ocean-monitoring satellite, Oceansat 1, aboard a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle in April. The spacecraft will carry an ocean colour-monitor and multi-frequency-scanning microwave radiometer. A "fully fledged" ocean satellite, Oceansat 2, will be launched in 2002, says India's Department of Ocean Development. The ...

  • News

    Lockheed Martin to build second Garuda

    1999-02-10T00:00:00Z

    Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems has received an order to build a second A2100 satellite for the Asia Cellular Satellite Systems (ACeS) company. The US concern has also landed a deal with GE Americom to build four satellites. Lockheed Martin is a member of the ACeS consortium, which owns ...

  • News

    NASA budget hit by space station needs

    1999-02-10T00:00:00Z

    NASA's budget is to be reduced for the sixth year running, with more money than ever going towards the International Space Station (ISS). The agency's fiscal year 2,000 budget request of $13.58 billion, which represents a slight decrease on the FY1999 funding level, includes $2.48 billion for the ISS, ...