All air transport news – Page 2326
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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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UK ministers to decide on ASTOR next month
The UK is on the threshold of choosing an Airborne Stand off Radar System (ASTOR), the culmination of a procurement process that began with initial studies almost 20 years ago. The five-aircraft ASTOR programme is under assessment by senior service chiefs and is scheduled to be passed to the ...
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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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Marconi to forgo payments on JORN radar
Peter La Franchi/CANBERRA Marconi Electronic Systems is to forgo payments of at least $A50 million ($32 million) for work on the development of Australia's Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN). A new agreement will transfer the completion of all software tasks on the project to the Australian-based RLM company, a ...
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Boeing studies early first flight for STOVL X-32B
Boeing is considering bringing forward the first flight of its X-32B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) demonstrator by several months, pending the successful completion of engine tests in Florida and final assembly in Palmdale, California. The company is building two X-32s for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) concept demonstration ...
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New levels
Andrew Doyle/DUBROVNIK Airline pleas to Europe's air traffic control authorities for more space in the sky to fly their aircraft could be answered on 23 April. This is the date that Eurocontrol's Provisional Council is due to deliver its judgement on detailed proposals for the introduction of reduced vertical ...
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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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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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TRW's $7 billion bid lands LucasVarity
LucasVarity, the UK-based aerospace and automotive company, is to be bought by TRW of the USA for $7 billion cash - although the deal has been thrown into uncertainty by fellow-US player Federal Moghul, which may increase an earlier offer of $6.4 billion in cash and stock. The open ...
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Euro carriers edge toward privatisation
Julian Moxon/PARIS The French Government has launched the partial privatisation of Air France, with up to 17.4% of the airline's capital due be placed on the stock exchange in February. The much-delayed privatisation will see the Government's 94% stake cut to around 64% initially, diminishing to around 53% ...
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Slump leads to cuts in Air Canada fleet
Air Canada is cutting its fleet because of the slowing economy and the expected slump in airline travel. The Montreal-based flag carrier says it plans to retire most of its older aircraft, return a number of leased aircraft and postpone delivery of several new ones. The net effect will ...
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Damage at Frankfurt
An Air India Boeing 747-400 escaped with minimal damage when it touched down short of runway 07R at Frankfurt Main Airport, Germany, but the event seriously damaged the runway's approach lighting and instrument landing system (ILS) localiser antenna. In the 20 January incident, the aircraft got too low on a ...
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Airbus and P&W order reverser modifications for A300/A310s
Airbus Industrie has issued a safety bulletin ordering rewiring modifications and thorough checks of the thrust reverser systems on Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7R4 and PW4000-powered A300-600 and A310 twinjets, before reactivation of the reversers. The move follows an incident in November when a Korean Air (KAL) A300-600, powered by ...
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SkyWest pursues expansion plans
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC SkyWest Airlines intends to expand its western US regional network further with its newly announced purchase of 25 Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) 200LRs, while longer-term planning is focused on finding a smaller jet or turboprop replacement for its Embraer EMB-120 Brasilias. "We've grown by 35% over ...
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757-300 wins joint certification
The Boeing 757-300 has been awarded its US Federal Aviation Administration type certificate, production certificate, 180 min extended range twin operations (ETOPS) approval and European Joint Aviation Authorities validation. The flurry of clearances for the Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4B-powered version of the aircraft follows a five and a half month flight test ...
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707 re-engining programme gears up for May flight tests
Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON Omega-led Seven Q Seven will begin proof-of-concept flight-testing of its Boeing 707-300 re-engining programme in May, with certification expected by early next year. The Pratt & Whitney JT8D-200 re-engining programme for the 707, first revealed by Flight International in 1997, is being developed by Irish leasing specialist Omega ...
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Boullioun beefs up with Airbus
Boullioun Aviation's order for 30 Airbus A320 family models signals its intent to limit the growth of subsidiary, Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise (SALE), to widebodies. That was its original plan, but the two lessors strayed from it three years ago. Returning to that plan means Boullioun is ending its exclusive ...
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Continental's Latin push gets weaker
Continental Airlines is finding its push into Latin America hampered by the fact that American Airlines has already secured matches with many of the region's flag carriers. Pickings among the second- and third-tier airlines tend to be much smaller, Continental is discovering. Chile's Avant Airlines is the latest example. ...
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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 ...