All news – Page 7073
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Helicopter DGPS trial progresses
A team of Honeywell, Sikorsky and Universal Avionics has completed the first phase of test flights to develop precision approach procedures for helicopters using differential global positioning system (DGPS) guidance. "We're very encouraged," says Sikorsky engineering test and project pilot Dave Wright. "Now we have a very good handle ...
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Thai decision made
The US Government has agreed to buy the eight Boeing F/A-18C/Ds that Thailand has ordered but can no longer afford because of its economic downturn. The aircraft are to be delivered to the US Marine Corps, but may yet be made available for resale to a third country. The deal ...
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Engine contest begins for A319 shrink
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELESEngine makers have started a three way fight to provide the powerplant for Airbus Industrie's proposed shortened 100-seat A319, amid growing indications that the consortium is searching for a sole source supplier. The Airbus study is one option being pursued by the European consortium as it seeks to ...
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Alitalia gears up for renewal of long haul fleet
Alitalia's board has approved the lease of three more Boeing 767s in what is understood to be an interim measure as the carrier develops a full blown competition for a long haul fleet renewal plan. The Airbus A330/ A340 and Boeing 777 families are in the contest. The airline ...
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Boeing makes cuts
Boeing plans to cut 8,200 jobs and eliminate 15% of its facilities as a result of the merger with McDonnell Douglas. Most of the job cuts come from the previously announced decision to end MD-80/90 production: 6,200 jobs will go at Douglas Products division in Long Beach, California, and 800 ...
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Control of Dassault Electronique will go to Thomson-CSF
Ian Sheppard/PARIS Further details have emerged of the French defence electronics restructuring, with Dassault Electronique confirming that it expects to become a fully owned subsidiary of Thomson-CSF. Board approvals for the move are expected to be made by the end of next month. Dassault Electronique general secretary François ...
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FAA reviews DC-8 freighter safety
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC The US Federal Aviation Administration has launched a review of McDonnell Douglas DC-8 cargo conversions to determine whether safety concerns exist similar to those it believes affect some Boeing 727 freighter modifications. Reviews of freighter conversions ranging from the Boeing 737 to the Lockheed L-188 Electra ...
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FAA proposes to spin off air traffic services unit as business
The US Federal Aviation Administration plans to run its air traffic services (ATS) division as a business, funded largely by user fees, beginning in January 1999. FAA Administrator Jane Garvey says that draft legislation is being drawn up to convert the ATS operation into a "performance based organisation", as ...
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Russia faces new threat to ISS share
Tim Furniss/LONDON NASA is threatening to drop Russia from the International Space Station (ISS) programme after it was revealed that late arrival of Russian equipment could cause new delays. Joseph Rothenberg, the US space agency's associate administrator for spaceflight, has told Congress that NASA will decide on 15 ...
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Formosa crash
Taiwan-based Formosa Airlines suffered a fatal Saab 340 accident shortly after take-off on a domestic flight from Hsinchu to Kaohsiung. The Taiwan Civil Aeronautics Administration says that the wreckage has been located in the sea 10km (5nm) south-west of Hsinchu. All four crew and nine passengers are believed to have ...
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LHTEC bids to power the Tiger
LHTEC's T800-801 turboshaft is being proposed to Eurocopter as an alternative powerplant for export versions of the Tiger attack helicopter. "We're in the process of responding to a request for proposals," says Fred Dickens, T800 business development manager for the AlliedSignal/Allison joint venture. "We are not being considered for the ...
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Virgin doctors aircraft with medical links
David Learmount/LONDON medical diagnosis by satellite datalink promises to make flying safer for sick passengers on Virgin Atlantic flights. The airline is to fit new equipment originally designed to monitor the health of Virgin chief Richard Branson's crew during their attempts to circle the world in a hot air balloon. ...
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Aerospatiale defines future common Airbus flightdeck
Ian Sheppard TOULOUSE Airbus Industrie partner Aerospatiale has launched a major product improvement programme to develop a retrofittable, "freeflight" ready common flightdeck. Also included will be a switch to flat panel liquid crystal displays. The upgraded Airbus flightdeck will be designed for the A320/ A330/A340 range and future ...
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New Canadian system quietens Dash 8 cabin
Canada's National Research Council (NRC) is seeking an industrial partner with which to complete development of an active cabin-noise control system now under test. The NRC hopes to "commercialise" the technology during a third phase of the development programme, which would include flight tests on a Bombardier de Havilland Dash ...
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Mercury Systems introduces real time crew scheduling
Mercury Scheduling Systems is to release the "Beta" version of its Magellan airline management system to its launch customers at the end of this month. The new software allows real-time management of crew scheduling for the first time, claims the company, giving airlines a dynamic picture of their operations. ...
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Open skies hostility
Kevin O'Toole/LONDON The tussle between the European Commission (EC) and the member states over who has the right to negotiate transatlantic air agreements has just become more interesting. In the words of one Brussels insider, it is shaping up as one of Europe's "big political games". Legal threats are ...
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Space lifeboat aims for space test
An unmanned scale model of the X-38 Crew Emergency Return Vehicle "space lifeboat" for the International Space Station will be deployed from the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2000 to conduct an automatic re-entry and landing. The first demonstrator glide test was on 12 March at 23,000ft (7,010m). Tests from ...
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Russia gets go-ahead for new communications satellites
Tim Furniss/LONDON European, Japanese and US companies are to assist Russia in building 11 new communications satellites, beginning the replacement of an ageing fleet of spacecraft which have been kept in service for several years longer than planned because of severe budget restraints. The Russian Energia company will ...
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Loral selects Long March booster
Loral Space and Communications signed an agreement with China Great Wall Industry on 16 March for five launches by 2002 of company-built satellites on the Long March 3B. The LM3B, the most powerful booster in China's fleet, with a geostationary transfer orbit capability of 5,000kg, clocked up two successful ...
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Comets raised
Japan's National Space Development Agency has raised the perigee of the orbit of the Comets communications technology satellite stranded by an H2 launch mishap on 21 February, from 248km to 390km. The 1,884km apogee remains unchanged. A further series of firings of the satellite's engine is hoped to place the ...