All articles by David Kaminski-Morrow – Page 116
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NewsFirst Russian-built collision-avoidance system to be fitted on Superjet
Russian avionics specialist Navigator is aiming to deliver the country’s first domestically-built collision-avoidance system later this year. Navigator says the system – known as SPSV – has passed the third of four certification stages for aviation equipment under Russian standards. The fourth stage will finalise the process and confirm that ...
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NewsIsrael’s El Al receives long-deferred final 787-8
Israeli flag-carrier El Al has finally taken delivery of the last Boeing 787 from its original order, bringing its fleet of the twinjets to 16. The aircraft is s 787-8 variant (4X-ERD) and arrived in Tel Aviv from Seattle on 31 July. It was subsequently put into operation on routes ...
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NewsIsrair Group agrees six-month extension to Smartwings negotiations
Israeli operator Israir Group has agreed a six-month extension to the deadline for completing negotiations over its proposed acquisition of Czech carrier Smartwings. Israir Group says the 180-day extension – which commences on 4 August – has been agreed with Smartwings shareholders. The negotiations between the parties concern particular aspects ...
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NewsShimmy dampers examined after Red Air MD-82 gear collapse
US investigators have been scrutinising shimmy damper mechanisms from a Red Air Boeing MD-82 which suffered a main landing-gear collapse and runway excursion after touching down at Miami. The aircraft – arriving from Santo Domingo on 21 June last year – touched down on runway 09 but, some 1,300ft into ...
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NewsLosses spur Air Belgium to seek capital injection from new investor
Air Belgium has been holding discussions with a new investor after turning in a full-year loss of €44.6 million ($49 million), nearly four times deeper than the previous deficit. The airline’s auditor, Mazars, points out that cumulative losses have reached €91.6 million, and remarks that uncertainty exists which could present ...
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NewsUS lessor Azorra finds avenue to widebodies with absorption of struggling Voyager
US-based lessor Azorra Aviation is to acquire the leasing firm Voyager Aviation Holdings through a $743.5 million agreement which involves Voyager’s filing for US Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Azorra, which has its headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, will acquire substantially all of Voyager’s assets. The Voyager portfolio includes a fleet of ...
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NewsCroatia Airlines edges into first-half profit as fuel costs fall
Croatia Airlines’ passenger numbers over the first half of the year were still nearly 20% down on the pre-crisis level, but the carrier has claimed a net profit for the period. The operator states that it transported 773,000 passengers over the six months to 30 June – up by nearly ...
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NewsAzerbaijan Airlines to merge operations with budget arm Buta
Azerbaijan Airlines is to merge its operations with its subsidiary operator Buta Airways, and unify them under the main carrier’s AZAL brand. Buta Airways was established as a low-cost division in late 2016 and has been serving a network comprising several destinations in Russia, as well as Turkey and the ...
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NewsPlay looks to expand fleet and network as first half exceeds expectations
Icelandic budget airline Play is extending its network to the German hub of Frankfurt later this year, as it turns in an improving first-half performance. Play is to open the Frankfurt service on 14 December, operating the route four to five times weekly over the winter season. Frankfurt will be ...
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NewsProspective A380 start-up Global Airlines plans initial New York and Los Angeles routes
Prospective UK long-haul start-up Global Airlines is intending to configure its Airbus A380s with 450-470 seats, and initially operate to New York JFK and Los Angeles from London Gatwick. The would-be carrier is promising a three-class service – first, business and economy – as it looks to obtain an air ...
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NewsSafran chief reveals previous CFM engine issue with contaminated powder metal
Safran chief Olivier Andries has disclosed that its CFM International engine venture experienced its own issue with powder metal contamination two years ago. Andries mentioned the situation during a half-year briefing on 27 July, days after rival Pratt & Whitney’s parent company revealed a powder metal contamination problem affecting in-service ...
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NewsMC-21 manufacturer Irkut to rebrand under prominent Yakovlev name
Russian airframer Irkut is to be rebranded with the Yakovlev name, with the migration taking place by the end of August. Irkut is the manufacturer of the MC-21 and also produces the Superjet 100 and its successor, the SSJ-New. Yakovlev design bureau is already a part of Irkut but the ...
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NewsUS-Bangla steps up to widebodies with A330 leases
Bangladeshi carrier US-Bangla Airlines is to step up to widebody operations by leasing a pair of Airbus A330-300s from Irish-based supplier Avolon. The airline, based in Dhaka, is intending to use the twinjets for medium-haul route expansion to destinations in the Middle East – including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain. ...
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NewsSafran expects progress towards interiors profitability this year
Safran is confident that it will restore profitability to its aircraft interiors division following efforts to transform the business and given the returning market interest in seat products. The aerospace company turned in a first-half operating loss of €100 million ($111 million) for its interiors division – contrasting with its ...
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NewsSafran raises full-year outlook on back of strong civil engine aftermarket
Civil aftermarket activity has helped drive a strong performance in Safran’s propulsion business over the first half of the year. Safran delivered 785 Leap engines over the six months to 30 June, including 419 in the second quarter, compared with the previous half-year figure of 465. The Leap powers the ...
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NewsAirbus drops interim A320neo rate references to focus on 75-per-month target
Airbus has dropped references to an interim monthly production-rate target of 65 aircraft for the A320neo-family programme, to focus instead on its ambitions to reach the higher output of 75 per month. The airframer had been looking to achieve the figure of 65 by the end of 2024, and 75 ...
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NewsAirbus explores options to offset weight penalty of A321XLR’s reinforced fuel tank
Airbus is exploring options to ensure modifications to the A321XLR’s fuel tank do not impose a weight penalty that will significantly affect the aircraft’s range. The A321XLR – which is scheduled to enter service in the second quarter of next year – is intended to offer carriers the ability to ...
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NewsNo short-term production disruption from latest P&W engine snag: Airbus chief
Airbus is confident that the latest snag to affect Pratt & Whitney PW1000G engines will not disrupt A320neo-family production this year, but the airframer has yet to assess potential effects further out. Pratt & Whitney parent RTX disclosed on 25 July that a “rare condition” in powder metal used for ...
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NewsAirbus maintains ramp-up schedules and full-year delivery target
Airbus is maintaining its ramp-up schedule targets as the airframer turns in flat adjusted earnings of €2.26 billion ($2.5 billion) for its commercial aircraft division for the half-year. Revenues for the six months to 30 June increased by 16% to €20.3 billion as the company achieved higher deliveries of 316 ...
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NewsITA and MedSky A320 flights mark reinstatement of Italy-Libya air links
Italian and Libyan carriers have conducted services between their countries’ respective capitals, to mark a reinstatement of air links absent for a decade. ITA Airways operated the Rome Fiumicino-Tripoli route with an Airbus A320 on 24 July, while Libya’s MedSky Airways carried out a reciprocal service on the same day, ...