All aerospace news – Page 1816
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FAA to issue directive on 777-200 tail corrosion
Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE The US Federal Aviation Administration is expected to issue an airworthiness directive in March, recommending inspections to 18 Boeing 777-200s affected by a potential tailplane corrosion problem. Aircraft line numbers 15 to 33, excluding 18, are affected. The aircraft involved are in service with All Nippon Airlines ...
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Sea Launch aims for March take-off
The Boeing-led Sea Launch group is planning the maiden launch of its Zenit 3SL booster, from the Odyssey offshore platform in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, on 15 March. It will carrya dummy satellite to demonstrate geostationary orbit-launch capability. Six Ukrainian-Russian Zenit boosters are complete and three commercial flights are ...
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Tailored training
Paul Phelan/CAIRNS Ansett Australia, the country's principal domestic carrier, believes it has broken new ground in enhancing quality and standardisation in its flight operations. The source of those gains is in aircrew training: under Ansett's system, it more closely matches individuals' needs. The airline's training department assembles a database of ...
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Mars fleet
NASA has awarded the San Diego-based SpaceDev privately operated commercial space exploration company a research contract to study the possible use of a fleet of small spacecraft in Mars orbit. The craft could provide communications and navigation services for future unmanned Mars spacecraft. The SpaceDev craft would use a common ...
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BWIA restructuring sees regional spin-off
Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON BWIA International Airways is poised to undergo a major restructuring, including the setting up of a regional division. The restructuring, which was expected to receive board approval as Flight International closed for press, will see the airline divided into four separate profit centres covering international operations, ...
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Floating airport trials to begin
A consortium of 17 Japanese steel manufacturers and shipbuilders is to start trials next year off the coast of Japan of a technology which could lead to the creation of a floating airport. Mega Float Technology Research Association will complete and test the construction of an off-shore aircraft landing ...
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Marketplace
-US Leasing company Wexford Management has reportedly cut back its Embraer ERJ-145 orders to 10 aircraft and scrapped a letter of intent for another 20 of the smaller ERJ-135s, plus 20 options. The remaining 50-seat aircraft will be placed with its subsidiary US Airways Express Chautauqua Airlines. -Japan Airlines is ...
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Alliance makes its presence felt
The oneworld airline alliance shows its colours starting 1 February, when the five member carriers presented a united passenger service front and the branding is made widely visible for the first time. American Airlines, British Airways, Canadian Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Qantas are launching fully integrated frequent flier programmes ...
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Workshop
-Sabreliner's Dimension Aviation division at Phoenix Goodyear has begun heavy maintenance checks on the first of up to four FedEx McDonnell Douglas DC-10s. Maintenance and modifications will be carried out before the aircraft are converted to freighters. -Air India is reportedly opening up its recently completed R216 million ($5 million) ...
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B/E Aerospace cuts jobs, closes sites
Chris Jasper/LONDON B/E Aerospace is to close seven manufacturing sites and plans to shed 500 jobs as part of a major restructuring that will cost the US cabin interiors specialist $70 million. The Florida-based company revealed details of the move while announcing a deal by which it will ...
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Snecma closes in on airline maintenance contracts
Snecma's Services division is moving to seal its first maintenance deals with three airlines in the first half of the year. The French engine builder expects to create a series of joint ventures with the carriers to expand its maintenance arm into new markets. The company intends to follow a ...
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Euromil Mi-38 signatures wait on Russian cash
Contracts for the launch of the Franco-Russian Euromil Mi-38 medium utility helicopter could be signed in the first quarter of this year, if funding is forthcoming from the Russian Government. Payment for the $500 million project is divided equally between Russia and a group of risk-sharing partners, including Eurocopter, ...
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Darkstar trials
The second Tier III Minus Dark Star unmanned air vehicle (UAV) has completed its first high altitude flight, to 25,000ft (7,600m). The 2h 37m flight, from Edwards AFB, California, included an automated take-off and landing using global positioning navigational data. The mission demonstrated the UAV's ability to update preplanned mission ...
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Aviat revisits the 1940s for aerobatic expansion
Aviat Aircraft is expanding its aerobatic and utility aircraft capabilities with the introduction of two new tailwheel aircraft, dubbed the Millennium Swift and 110 Special. The Millennium Swift is a re-engined version of the 1940s' Globe Swift GC-1B, a sport aircraft designed to appeal to fighter pilots returning from ...
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Rockwell Collins switches on inflight picture
Rockwell Collins has marked its entry in to the business aircraft inflight cabin systems industry, with the installation of its Airborne Satellite television unit on a Gulfstream V business jet. Collins provides the steerable direct broadcast satellite antenna and receiver decoders, while DirectTTV provides the satellite and content package. ...
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UK's Britten-Norman snaps up Romaero
The Romanian Government has sold it largest aircraft manufacturer, Romaero, to UK's Britten-Norman, for a reported $80.5m as part of its long-term policy to dispose of its state-owned assets. The sales were enforced following the breakdown of the former Communist regime in the 1989, but have gained momentum in the ...
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China may use Mir for docking
Tim Furniss/LONDON China Aerospace is considering using Russia's Mir space station as a docking base for its planned first manned spacecraft. Two Chinese astronauts, flying on an uprated Long March 2E booster, will be aboard the spacecraft - based on Russian Soyuz technology - for a launch, possibly at ...
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Israel plans to spy with Eros civilian satellites
Israel is to use three civilian satellites to improve its spy satellite capability. Under a deal signed in late January the Israeli Ministry of Defence will use earth remote observation satellites to be launched by a company known as West Indian Space - a Cayman Islands-registered concern jointly owned by ...
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Airlines face lawsuits for pesticide spraying
Airlines are facing new complaints, union trouble and possible lawsuits over pesticide spraying on aircraft. In the USA, two major lawsuits filed by flight attendants in Louisiana and California against pesticide manufacturers claim that many crew members are suffering chronic illness and multiple chemical sensitivity from long term exposure ...
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Southwest bites the Big Apple
It is the news that other US carriers hoped never to hear. Southwest Airlines is about to take a bite out of the Big Apple and begin operating from New York. Analysts and rival airlines have speculated about the possibility for years, but Southwest has deliberately avoided the New ...