All news – Page 6640
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NASA releases new services request
NASA has released a complicated request for proposals (RFP) for multiple award indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) expendable launch vehicle launch services contracts. The RFP involves heavy, intermediate, medium and medium-light vehicles. Proposals are requested by 7 January. The RFP is open to emerging launchers not available at the ...
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Australia opts for new Optus satellite series
Tim Furniss/LONDON Australia has signed a contract with Cable & Wireless Optus (CWO) to provide the satellite and ground infrastructure for a new $327 million hybrid civil-military communications satellite, Optus C-1. The Optus C-1 is to be launched on an Ariane 5 in 2002, although the contract is ...
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Thai closes on privatisation
Jens Flottau/TOKYOThai Airways International chief executive Thamnoon Wanglee says a decision on the privatisation of the carrier will be taken next March or April, with the choice of investor determining whether the carrier remains within the Star Alliance. Wanglee confirms that British Airways and Qantas have made approaches on behalf ...
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SAirGroup earmarks cash for stakes in THY and TAP
Andrew Doyle/MUNICH SAirGroup is setting aside SFr500 million ($335 million) for its planned acquisition of equity stakes in THY Turkish Airlines and TAP Air Portugal next year. It is also close to finalising its new US airline alliance strategy. The Swiss company plans to bid for a 20% equity ...
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US DoD stalls on establishing its new transatlantic mergers policy
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC Chris Jasper/LONDON The US Department of Defense (DoD) says it needs more time to establish a new policy on transatlantic defence mergers. Deputy defence secretary John Hamre warns that it is "probably premature" to expect any major deals, despite merger pressures coming from Europe. Europe's ...
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Fessler loses partner Ryan but goes ahead with Walter purchase
US investor Robert Fessler has signed a framework agreement to buy 94% of Czech aero-engine manufacturer Walter, despite a decision by his would-be joint venture partner Tony Ryan, the founder of Irish low-cost airline Ryanair, to withdraw from the takeover deal at the last minute. The pair had planned ...
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Hard to digest
Whether it is clever politics, a knee-jerk reaction or just well-meant advice, the "closed" sign has gone up in the window of the transatlantic merger diner at which Europe has been trying to book a table since merger-mania gripped the industry earlier this year. Clever politics, perhaps, because Washington ...
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A400M nations to use new Euro procurement agency
Andrew Doyle/TOULOUSE The seven countries evaluating the Airbus Military (AMC) A400M for their airlifter requirements have agreed to buy the aircraft through the OCCAR (Organisme Conjointe de Co-operation en matiere d'Armament) international armaments agency. The procurement agency is being set up by potential buyers France, Germany, Italy and the ...
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BAe Australia ties up OTHR support contract with RAAF
British Aerospace Australia (BAeA) has finalised negotiations for a A$40 million ($26 million) five-year support contract for the Royal Australian Air Force's 1RSU operational over-the-horizon radar (OTHR). BAeA was selected as the preferred supplier for the requirement in May. The contract includes options for three extensions of two years ...
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Belgium updates Alpha Jet fleet
Stewart Penney/LONDON The Belgian air force is upgrading its Dassault/ Dornier Alpha Jets in a bid to reduce the maintenance requirements for its advanced trainers. Maj Ronnie Vaerten, Belgian air force Alpha Jet test pilot, says older equipment with a high maintenance burden, such as the manual gunsight and ...
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Brazil to investigate air force upgrade
Brazil's Attorney General's office has appointed an investigator to look into the air force's planned upgrade of the avionics in its Northrop F-5E/F fighters for alleged tendering and programme irregularities. The probe is intended to determine whether there is sufficient cause to launch a wider investigation by the Justice ...
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USA set for new powerplant
Paul Lewis/WILLIAMSBURG The US Army is set to sign an initial agreement with the US Navy to move forward with a requirement for an all new 2,230kW (3,000shp) common engine programme (CEP) to power the Boeing AH-64 and Sikorsky H-60 series helicopters. An operational requirements document (ORD) has been drafted ...
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Onex raises offer for Air Canada
Brian Dunn/MONTREAL The Onex investment group has improved its takeover offer for Air Canada in response to Star Alliance's bid to keep the carrier in the airline grouping, but there appears to be no quick end in sight to the Canadian airline industry's nine-week old merger battle. Onex ...
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New Zealand F-16 costs will be doubled
The total costs of New Zealand's Lockheed Martin F-16 lease from the USA is expected to top NZ$1.2 billion ($618.6million) over the next 10 years, nearly double previous disclosures on the value of the contract. The deal, however, is expected to save the country NZ$831 million over the lease ...
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US Government wants cash for NASA
The Clinton Administration is to request money in next year's budget for NASA to start a five-year programme to develop technology for a next-generation reusable launch vehicle (RLV). NASA has concluded that "the current commercial market and the state of technology are not sufficiently favourable to enable private-sector development of ...
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Supersonic jet plan lands cash hand-out
Money has been included in the fiscal year 2000 US defence budget that could kick-start a programme to demonstrate technology for a quiet supersonic business jet. The US Congress added $15 million to the Department of Defense budget to fund a research project into "supersonic aircraft noise mitigation". ...
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FAA proposes new rules to ensure fuel tank safety after TWA crash
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC The US Federal Aviation Administration is proposing a new regulation that will have an impact on airliner manufacturers. Under the new rule, they will have to conduct design reviews and develop new, compulsory maintenance programmes for fuel tank systems on existing aircraft to ensure that ...
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Breitling Orbiter 3 tops GAPAN Awards
Achievements in ballooning, increasing the safety of escape and survival from helicopters ditching in water and the design and development of autogyros were among the aviation accomplishments of 1998-9 honoured by the UK's Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators (GAPAN) at its annual awards presentation on 27 October at London's ...
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Dragonair hunts A320 customers
Andrzej Jeziorski/HONG KONGHong Kong-based Dragonair expects to sign the first contracts with customers for its new Airbus A320 flight training centre in January. General manager Felix Hart says the centre should become operational next June. The company is in talks with A320 operators in the Asia-Pacific region, with possible customers ...
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Zvezda launch in doubt after latest Proton failure
The launch schedule of the International Space Station Zvezda service module is threatened again following a Russian Proton K launcher failure on 27 October. The booster, which was carrying the domestic Express A-1 communications satellite, was the second Proton launch failure from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome in four months. The ...