All news – Page 6891
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Bombardier aims FlexJet plan at Europe
Canadian aerospace group Bombardier will expand its FlexJet fractional ownership programme to Europe from January. The company will begin operations with three core-fleet aircraft, a light Learjet 31A, mid-size Learjet 60 and large Challenger 604. Negotations are under way with potential partners which have the operating certificate needed to ...
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Luscombe looks at overseas production
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Luscombe Aircraft is "in talks" with aircraft companies in Europe, South America and Australia over the possible establishment of licensed overseas production of the Spartan 185 four-seater. The Oklahoma-based manufacturer hopes to achieve US Federal Aviation Administration type certification for the Spartan "as early as ...
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PT6A-42A certification
Pratt & Whitney Canada's PT6A-42A turboprop for the New Piper Malibu Meridian and Aero Vodochody Ae270 has received Transport Canada type certificate approval. The engine, thermodynamically rated at 1,029shp, first flew in late August with the maiden flight of the Meridien and first deliveries are due to begin in early ...
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Orenda reveals plans for V-6 aero-engine study
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC Orenda Recip is studying a smaller derivative of its new 450kW (600hp) OE-600A V-8 aero-engine for potential re-engineing of the Piper Malibu piston single and piston twins such as the Beech Duke. The proposed liquid-cooled V-6 would deliver between 225kW (normally aspirated) and 370kW (turbocharged). ...
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Assembly delays push back Sino Swearingen's SJ30
Manufacturing delays have pushed back certification of the Sino Swearingen SJ30-2 light business jet to "early 2000", says the company. Production of the wing and fuselage for the first certification-test aircraft is behind schedule at Gamesa, in Spain, and the first flight has been delayed to the second quarter of ...
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VisionAire reviews Vantage certification schedule
VisionAire is reviewing the cost and schedule for development of its Vantage single-engined business jet, and expects to announce a "more definitive" date for certification. The company has been aiming for certification in the fourth quarter of 1999, "-but we know that's a stretch", says chairman Jim Rice, who ...
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Boeing tests 747-X trailing edge wedge
Boeing has begun flight tests of a trailing-edge wedge wing modification on a 747-400 as the first element of a potential package of changes that could be applied to future 747 derivatives. The modification consists of a triangular-shaped wedge on the lower surface of the wing trailing edge, and ...
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UK halts Air Atlanta leasing in parts maintenance inquiry
David Learmount/LONDON In a surprise move, the UK Civil Aviation Authority suspended operating permission for five days for UK airlines to lease aircraft from Air Atlanta Icelandic. The issue, says the CAA, was the manner in which Air Atlanta was using an out-of-service Boeing 747 to supply parts for ...
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BA closes on RB211 'hybrid' retrofit deal
Andrew Doyle/SEATTLE Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON British Airways is finalising a deal with Rolls-Royce to upgrade the engines on half of its 50-strong fleet of RB211-powered Boeing 747-400s, as it finalises a plan to phase out the remainder of its "classic" 747 variants within the next four years. The proposed contract, which ...
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British Midland to outline fleet expansion for long haul services
Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON British Midland (BM) will this week outline plans to acquire a fleet of long-haul aircraft, as well as new deals for additional short-haul aircraft. In February, the UK airline unveiled plans for transatlantic services from London Heathrow in anticipation of a UK/US "open skies" accord, and ...
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Glenn blasts off into history
John Glenn, the USA's first man in orbit, returned to space aboard the SpaceShuttle Discovery STS95 mission on 29 October. At 77, the former Mercury astronaut and pilot of the Friendship 7 mission on 20 February, 1962, became the oldest person in space. The Discovery may have to land after ...
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US Airways takes first of up to 400 Airbuses
US Airways has begun operating its first of up to 400 Airbus Industrie A320 family aircraft, an A319. The airline selected the type for its future short-haul fleet, and holds firm orders for 124 aircraft and options on another 276. All the aircraft will be powered by CFM International CFM56-5 ...
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Japan Air Lines ramps up efficiency plan
Japan Air Lines plans to accelerate efficiency improvements across the airline including a reduction of up to 10 aircraft in its fleet acquisition planning. Measures in the new"strategic business plan" include: achievement of a 10% cost reduction is to be brought forward from March ...
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South Korea sets deadline for manufacturers' mega merger
Paul Lewis/SEOUL The South Korean Government has stipulated that Daewoo Heavy Industries (DHI), Hyundai Space & Aircraft and Samsung Aerospace have until the end of the year to overcome debt and conflicting programme hurdles and formulate a plan to form a single corporate entity. Following the submission of ...
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LOCAAS missile scores in test firing
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC The US Air Force is preparing to award contracts to demonstrate a powered development of the Low-Cost Autonomous Attack System (LOCAAS), after successful research flights with the original unpowered version of the self-guided mini-missile. In the third and final flight of the unpowered LOCAAS, built ...
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Air Canada loss
Air Canada suffered a net loss of C$61 million ($40 million) during the third quarter, down C$242 million on the same quarter in 1997. The airline warns that the worsening performance of certain international and domestic routes will require fundamental changes to its business plan for 1999, possibly including order ...
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PAL resumes service as courts order aircraft to be returned
Brent Hannon/TAIPEI Philippine Airlines (PAL) was able to relaunch international flights on 29 October, following a US court decision ordering the US Exim bank to return its seized Boeing 747-400s to the struggling carrier. The airline has also received approval from Manila's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to return ...
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Qantas suspends regional services
Paul Phelan/CAIRNS Australian flag carrier Qantas suspended regional services to several eastern New South Wales provincial centres on 30 October, because of safety concerns over a trial of proposed new flight information and communication rules in uncontrolled "Class G" airspace. Up to 41 incidents reported in the first ...
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SAA secures bilaterals ahead of sell-off
Hilka Birns/CAPE TOWN South African Airways (SAA) has secured bilateral agreements with Swissair and Singapore Airlines (SIA) and has extended its alliance with Lufthansa as part of its streamlining process ahead of privatisation. The airline is also negotiating similar alliances in the Middle East, North America, South America ...
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Army offered combat 427 variant
Samsung Aerospace is studying development of a new multirole combat version of the SB427 commercial helicopter to offer to the South Korean army to replace its Boeing MD500s. The proposed SB427M derivative of the co-developed Samsung/ Bell twin-engine helicopter is being aimed at the army's future Korean Multi-purpose Helicopter ...