All aerospace news – Page 1980
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Unwanted demands
According to the FAA, flight-deck automation confuses pilots too often. David Learmount/LONDON HIGHLY AUTOMATED aircraft with digital flight-management systems (FMS) often surprise pilots and sometimes leave them dangerously confused. This is the basic conclusion of the US Federal Aviation Administration from its two-year review of modern airline flight-decks. ...
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AlliedSignal Engines
AlliedSignal Engines revealed earlier this year that it is studying the economic feasibility of regional jets with fewer than 50 seats. The company hopes that its LF507, the AS309 derivative, or a new-centre-line engine, could potentially find applications in this sector of the market. Meanwhile, AlliedSignal is involved ...
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Allison Engines
Allison Engines, acquired by Rolls-Royce in 1995, is studying a growth version of the AE3007 turbofan which powers the Embraer EMB-145 regional jet and Cessna Citation X business jet. Designated the AE3012, the engine would be offered as a potential power plant for the planned Aero-International (Regional) 70-seater. ...
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Aviadvigatel
The Aviadvigatel/Perm Motors PS-90A turbofan programme has been severely crippled because of a lack of funding, which has severely compromised the manufacturer's ability to overcome technical problems which have left the engine with a reputation for poor reliability. Series production of the engine was conditionally approved by the ...
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Saab to take 340 finishing in-house
Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON SAAB AIRCRAFT is working on a programme to take all Saab 340 painting and interior finishing work in-house, from its UK subcontractor Hunting Aviation, by the end of this year. This marks the end of 13 years of subcontracting this activity in the UK ...
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CFM International
CFM International (CFMI) is working to get its CFM56-7 series turbofan certificated on schedule before the beginning of November. The latest version of the successful CFM56 family, the -7 is being developed to power the new-generation Boeing 737. The 737-700 is due to have its maiden flight in ...
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Changzhou Lan Xiang Machinery Works
Changzhou Lan Xiang Machinery Works, also known as Jiangxi Helicopter Engine Factory, manufactures the WZ6 turbo shaft derived from Turboméca's Turmo IIIC. Source: Flight International
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Sabena replaces noisy 737s
SABENA IS examining Airbus Industrie A320s as possible replacements for some of its Boeing 737s. One possibility being considered by the Belgian carrier is to acquire the aircraft on operating leases from US lessor International Lease Finance (ILFC). The airline and its regional subsidiary, Delta Air ...
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Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries IHI
Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI) manufactures the two-shaft F3-30 turbofan for the Japan Air Self-Defence Force's Kawasaki T-4 trainer. The first production engine was delivered in 1987. IHI is expected to be responsible for about 40% of the work on the General Electric F110-129 engine which powers the Mitsubishi ...
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Klimov
Klimov, now part of VPK MAPO, is developing thrust-vectoring-modified RD-33s for the Mikoyan MiG-35, a derivative of the MiG-29M. Klimov is also understood to be proposing development of the RD-333, a "fifth-generation" design. The low-bypass RD-33 turbofan powers all versions of the MiG-29, and some upgraded MiG-21s. The ...
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Pratt & Whitney Canada
Two new applications for Pratt & Whitney Canada's (P&WC) best-selling PT6 turboprop/turbo shaft engine have been announced in 1996. The PT6B-37 turbo shaft has been selected by Agusta for its A119 Koala single-engined helicopter. Certification of the PT6B-37 is scheduled for late-1996, with production engine deliveries beginning during early 1997. ...
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Turbomeca
Turboméca manufactures Arrius turbo shaft engines for a wide range of helicopters, including the Eurocopter AS355N (Arrius 1A), EC135 (2B) and EC120 (2F) and McDonnell Douglas MD901 (2C). The engine has an electronic control system for twin-engined helicopters, and hydro-mechanical control for singles. The Arriel 2 engine powers the Eurocopter ...
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WSK PZL-Rzeszow
WSK PZL-Rzeszow of Poland has introduced an up-rated version of its popular GTD-350 turbo shaft engine, which powers the Mil Mi-2 helicopter. The GTD-350W offers improved compressor efficiency, resulting in an increase in take-off power of 18kW, to 315kW. The improvements are also available as a retrofit for existing engines. ...
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Mesa plans Texas regional
US REGIONAL carrier Mesa Air Group plans to begin a high frequency, low-fare jet service from Fort Worth's Meacham Airport in Texas on 5 May, 1997. The service, which will be operated as Mesa Airlines, will use 13 of the 16 Bombardier Canadair Regional Jets ordered in August and will ...
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Simulator helps students
A LOW-COST simulator, aimed at helping aeronautical- engineering students understand the mechanics of aircraft flight, is being used at London's City University, in the UK. The MP520-T, developed by UK-based Merlin Products, includes an enclosed, single-seat cockpit mounted on a three-axis hydraulic, or two-axis pneumatic, motion system. ...
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Arianespace will order extra Ariane 4s after Ariane 5 delay
Tim Furniss/LONDON ARIANESPACE HAS been forced to order up to another six Ariane 4 launchers to compensate for further delays in the introduction of the Ariane 5 vehicle to commercial service. The first flight of the European Space Agency's (ESA) new booster failed on 4 June, ...
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Cathay Pacific boss heads for Ansett Australia
Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE Cathay Pacific Airways managing director Rod Eddington has been named as the new executive chairman at Ansett Australia, charged with seeing through a major shake-up at the loss-making carrier. The announcement, which comes in the wake of the Air New Zealand (ANZ) acquisition of ...
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Documentation shortfalls force IPTN to delay certification N250
Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara (IPTN) has been forced to delay the maiden flight of its first N250-100 certification prototype, as the result of component documentation falling below US Federal Aviation Administration requirements. The second prototype N250, had been due to fly in May, but ...
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NASA starts work on Space shuttle privatisation plan
NASA BEGAN a new era in Space Shuttle operations on 1 October with the formal award of a six-year, $7 billion space-operations contract to the United Space Alliance, a partnership of Rockwell and Lockheed Martin. The privatisation will consolidate ground processing and in-flight operations with a single company, ...
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Japan sounds off with fifth TR-1A launch from Tanagashima
JAPAN'S NATIONAL SPACE Development Agency launched the fifth TR-1A solid propellant sounding rocket from Tanegashima on 25 September, carrying 750kg of science experiments to an altitude of 100km (55nm) during a sub-orbital flight in which they were exposed to 6min of micro-gravity conditions, to qualify technology for use on the ...