All news – Page 6821
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CFM prepares advanced fan for new tests
CFM International plans to begin crosswind tests of its experimental swept fan blade design in June, as it approaches the half-way point of its three-year Tech56 advanced technology development effort. Tech56 is aimed at improving the CFM56 engine family across the full 20,000-35,000lb thrust (89-156kN) range, as well as ...
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Airbus counts cost of short-haul price war with Boeing
Chris Jasper/LONDON Airbus Industrie has made provisions for losses totalling £400 million ($650 million) as a result of the mid-90s price war with Boeing over shorthaul airliner sales, the European manufacturer has revealed. Around £200 million of the charge was absorbed last year, resulting in a loss to the ...
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US carriers optimistic as market shows recovery
ChrisJasper/LONDON The USA's major carriers are suddenly more bullish about their financial prospects for the rest of the year following a modest improvement in overall market conditions and better than expected performance in the first quarter. Most of the country's big airlines expressed serious concerns about their likely fortunes ...
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JAL to concentrate on high-profit routes
Japan Airlines (JAL) is to transfer low-profit operations to its subsidiaries in an effort to cut costs under a new business plan running to 2001. JAL plans to rename Japan Air Charter and transform it into a scheduled carrier operating short-haul flights to mainland Asia, Hawaii and Oceania, while ...
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Deep Space 1 on course for asteroid fly-by
The ion engine on board NASA's Deep Space 1 spacecraft has again fired successfully, placing the $152 million New Millennium spacecraft en route for a 13km fly-by of the asteroid 1992 KD in July. The ion engine - one of several new technologies being demonstrated on the mission - ...
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Sea Launch sets off on maiden voyage
Tim Furniss/LONDON The Sea Launch offshore launch platform Odyssey has left Long Beach, California, for an equatorial position in the Pacific Ocean 2,253km south of Hawaii, to launch the first Zenit 3SL booster on 26 March. The historic Sea Launch flight will demonstrate a new commercial launch system ...
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First 767-400 wing shapes up at Everett
Assembly work on the left wing of the first Boeing 767-400 has begun at the company's Everett site. The 23.5m (77ft) long rear spar was loaded into the wing major jig assembly on 11 March and construction is expected to be essentially complete by the end of the month. The ...
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Russian warning
Modernise former Soviet Union defence equipment without Russia's participation, and modernise at your own risk, warned Grigori Rapota, director-general of Russia's state armament corporation Rosvoorouzhenie at the IDEX '99 show. Recent contracts issued to countries to upgrade military equipment originally produced under the auspices of the Soviet Union, such as ...
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Heathrow T5 inquiry
A public inquiry into plans to construct London Heathrow's Terminal 5 (T5) has finished after four years of taking evidence. The inquiry inspector is not expected to file a report for two years, with another six to 12 months before the UK Government gives its verdict. If it goes ahead, ...
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Turnaround target
Turboméca says overhaul and repair turnaround times on its Arriel 1 turboshaft - averaging 89 days last year against a target of 28 days - are reducing as it increases capacity and overcomes parts shortages. The company was shipping at least 20 engines a month by the end of last ...
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Engine control
AlliedSignal Aerospace and Altair Avionics have introduced the IntelliStart Plus+ engine control unit, intended to reduce helicopter operating costs by preventing hot starts. Available initially for the Rolls-Royce Allison 250, and later for the AlliedSignal LT101 and Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T, the system can be installed in about 5h. ...
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BBJ supplier
Raytheon Systems has chosen IEC International to supply the in-flight entertainment and cabin management system (CMS) for the Boeing Business Jet demonstrator. This follows a contract with IEC to equip the first nine BBJs with its integrated CMS. The demonstrator will have a 106cm (42in) plasma bulkhead monitor, IEC's touchscreen ...
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Pakistani pilot deal linked to US block on UAE technology release
Plans by the United Arab Emirates air force to contract up to 200 Pakistan air force fighter pilots to fly F-16D Block 60 fighters it has ordered from Lockheed Martin are at the heart of the US Government's decision to block the release of sensitive technology to the Gulf state, ...
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Transparent benefits
PeterLaFranchi/CANBERRA Australian acquisition of strategic unmanned air vehicles may raise the stakes in South-East Asia, but could help develop military transparency in the region if surveillance data is shared A new study of how unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) might fit into the Australian Defence Force structure cautions that strategic ...
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Safety in numbers
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC Despite a strong 1998, US carriers are cautious about the outlook for the year ahead The US airline industry is preparing for a period of turbulence. A combination of stagnating yields, stalling traffic growth and stiffening competition has sparked a fresh round of corporate mergers and acquisitions. ...
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AeroPeru suspends flights while debt renegotiations take place
Troubled Peruvian carrier AeroPeru has suspended flights for 60 days while it attempts to renegotiate its $174 million debts. Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori says his government, which holds a 20% stake in the carrier, may bail it out if the debt is restructured, while the carrier's legal advisor Raul ...
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SR Technics targets Thai joint venture
SR Technics of Switzerland is talking to Thai Airways International about creating an aircraft maintenance joint venture, and hopes to wrap up a deal by the end of the year. This would be a major step towards globalising SAirGroup's overhaul business, following similar moves by its rivals, including Lufthansa ...
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Bombardier signs UK training deal
Bombardier has signed a 10-year, £101 million ($161 million) contract to provide primary flying training for the UK Royal Air Force. Under the UK's Private Finance Initiative, the company will provide a fleet of about 100 Grob 115E light aircraft (to be known as the Tutor in RAF service) ...
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CASA chosen for final assembly of Airbus Military transporter
Julian Moxon/TOULOUSECASA of Spain has been nominated to carry out final assembly of the seven-nation A400M transporter if Airbus Military Company (AMC) secures an order from European governments to develop and build the aircraft. The assembly decision is part of a series of workshare agreements surrounding the A400M, formerly the ...
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Boeing tests BK27 as sidearm for Joint Strike Fighter
Firing tests of the 27mm cannon that Boeing is proposing for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) were scheduled to begin in the USA by 12 March. The gun is based on the BK27 cannon developed by Germany's Mauser for the Eurofighter Typhoon. The cannon is being offered to both ...