All air transport news – Page 2419
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UPS closes on widebody freighter selection
UPS is expecting to finalise its choice of widebody aircraft to replace its fleet of Douglas DC-8-70 freighters by the end of March, to enable the first to enter service in 1999. The Louisville, Kentucky-based freight carrier revealed in October 1997 that it was examining various aircraft to replace a ...
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Belgium's VLM gears up to enter millennium with Fokker 70 fleet
Herman De Wulf/ANTWERPIN a bid to boost services and spread its business, Belgian regional airline VLM, of Antwerp is seeking to move up to a jet-powered fleet with the acquisition of Fokker 70s by 2000. The carrier has a fleet of four Fokker 50 turboprops, and new managing director Christian ...
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Pan Am runs short of cash but Frontier hopes for better times
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC Financial problems continue to mount for the US low fares airlines, with the new Pan American World Airways warning that it is short on cash and could face bankruptcy. Frontier Airlines also reported big losses in the third quarter, but faces improving prospects with the demise of ...
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Swissair keeps appetite to take Sabena majority
Sabena president Paul Reutlinger has again confirmed that Swissair is ready to take a 67% majority share in its Belgian partner, provided that Switzerland is able to join the European Union (EU) single skies agreement. The Belgian Government sold Swissair a 49.5% stake in its national carrier in mid-1995, ...
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TWA cuts deficit and stays optimistic
Despite posting another year-end loss, Trans World Airlines ended 1997 optimistic that its turnaround is finally beginning to gather momentum. As expected, the carrier ended the year with a net loss, but had managed to cut the deficit to $90 million (before a tax writedown), compared with the $275 ...
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One of the family
Peter Henley/TOULOUSE Airbus Industrie views its present commercial success - 1997 was its best ever year, with 671 sales and commitments worth $44.2 billion, 15 new customers, new derivatives launched, 182 aircraft delivered and a turnover of $11.6 billion - as a resounding endorsement of its family policy. This has ...
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Nine killed as Pilatus PC-12 crashes in Kenya
A Pilatus PC-12 crash in Kenya on 13 February claimed the lives of all nine people on board, including Flight International contributing photographer Herman Potgieter. The aircraft, one of two being delivered to a South African safari company by the Stans, Switzerland-based manufacturer, had just been flown on an ...
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French state holding is key to European consolidation
Kevin O'Toole/LONDON Consolidation of the European aerospace industry will not go ahead without a clear solution to the issue of French state ownership, warns British Aerospace chief executive Dick Evans. Speaking as BAe unveiled a strong set of annual results, Evans cautioned that there is still a gulf ...
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CAL A300 crashes at Taipei
Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE A China Airlines (CAL) Airbus Industrie A300-600R crashed next to Taipei's international airport in Taiwan on 16 February as the crew was apparently initiating a go-around. There are indications that the aircraft may have stalled in the attempt. The seven year old aircraft, aiming for runway 05L, ...
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P&W plans PW8000 first run for 1999
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Pratt & Whitney's new PW8000 geared turbofan is expected to make its first run in early 1999, with an entry into service date as early as 2002, says the company, which formally announced the three year development programme on 17 February (Flight International, 18-24 February). ...
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USA blocks Gripen sale to South Africa
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC Efforts by Saab and British Aerospace to sell the JAS39 Gripen combat aircraft to South Africa have been blocked by the USA. The companies remain optimistic that continuing negotiations on the resolution of a wider weapons dispute between the USA and South Africa will result in lifting ...
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C-27J deal awarded
Alenia Aerospazio has selected APPH of Bolton, UK, and Magnaghi of Naples, Italy, to supply the landing gear and associated hydraulics for the Lockheed Martin/Alenia C-27J Spartan tactical transport upgrade of the G222. APPH will manufacture the main gear, while Magnaghi will construct the nosegear. Source: Flight International
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Boeing/Hexcel in second Asian venture
Boeing and Hexcel have signed a deal with Sime Darby and Malaysian Helicopter Services to establish a composite parts manufacturing joint venture in Malaysia, in the second such deal of its type to be reached in Asia by the two Western companies. The agreement, signed on 14 February, calls ...
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SIA/R-R centre gets go-ahead
The new Singapore Airlines (SIA)/Rolls-Royce engine maintenance joint venture is to open for business in March, following certification by the European Joint Airworthiness Authorities and local authorities. International Engine Component Overhaul's (IECO) newly completed $15.7 million facility based in Singapore has been designed primarily to support R-R's family of ...
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Eurocopter aims to break into US market with new EC155
Eurocopter has launched its EC155 in the US market, eight months after the twin engined medium helicopter was unveiled in Europe. The aircraft, which will be marketed by American Eurocopter (AEC), is a modified and stretched variant of the AS365 Dauphin medium twin, boasting a 40% increase in cabin size. ...
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Helipro sets April date for first flight of Offshore S-61 Short
Helipro is nearing completion of its first S-61 "Short" conversion for the offshore market, and aims to fly the helicopter for the first time in April. The Offshore S-61 Short, as its name suggests, is a modified version of the original Sikorsky S-61N with a 1.23m fuselage plug removed ...
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Allison unwraps 'World Engine'
Allison Engine has revealed plans to run a new powerplant core by the end of this year, which it hopes could provide the basis for a low cost "World Engine" family of turboshafts and turboprops in the 220-820kW (300-1,100shp) power range. The emphasis is on affordability and low acquisition ...
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AlliedSignal APUs for Chinese A320s
China Eastern Airlines has become the launch customer in Asia for AlliedSignal's 131-9(A) APU for its order of ten Airbus A320s. AlliedSignal's Rom Johnson, vice-president commercial auxiliary power, says: "This will give the airline commonality with their existing fleet of MD-90s. Our APUs will give China Eastern significant improvements ...
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Putting customers first pays off for AlliedSignal
Karen Walker AlliedSignal executives can point to one product in particular on their Asian Aerospace stand (Stand A712) and see proof that an ongoing campaign of culture change is bearing fruit. That product is the 331-500 auxiliary power unit (APU) which equips the Boeing 777 and was produced in partnership ...
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UK CAA will not revise requirements
The UK CAA will not revise requirements governing the location of key electronic equipment in airliners after completing a review in response to recommendations made by the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). The AAIB recommendations followed its investigation into an incident involving a British Airways Boeing 737 which experienced ...