All articles by Greg Waldron – Page 121
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NewsSIA to move a fifth of A380 fleet to desert storage
Singapore Airlines (SIA) will shift four Airbus A380s to long-term storage at Alice Springs airport in central Australia. The first of four double-deckers arrived on 26 April, according to a Facebook post by Alice Springs airport; the jets will be stored at Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage. Video: A380 ...
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NewsVietnam domestic market shows signs of life
Vietnam’s domestic air travel market is taking tentative steps back to normality with the country’s airlines adding flights as the coronavirus pandemic ebbs. Vietnam Airlines has started operating four to six flights daily on the key Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City route, with this to grow to 11 flights daily in ...
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NewsUSAF B-1B stars in Asia-Pacific show of force
The US Air Force (USAF) and Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) have mounted a show of force intended to demonstrate a doctrine for quickly deploying combat assets to the Asia-Pacific region. The activity involved a Boeing B-1B bomber operating a 30h sortie from Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, to Japan’s Draughon ...
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NewsUSA, Norway to continue THOR-ER hypersonic work
The USA and Norway will continue research work into solid fuel ramjet technologies, with an eye to developing affordable full-sized prototypes with high-speeds and long ranges. The Tactical High-speed Offensive Ramjet for Extended Range (THOR-ER) is an Allied Prototyping Initiative (API) under the USA’s Directorate for Advanced Capabilities. ...
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NewsAVIC AG600 testing moves to the sea
The AVIC AG600 amphibian has moved to a new stage in its testing campaign, operating flights over the sea. Later in 2020, the aircraft is scheduled to conduct its first takeoff from the ocean surface, according to a China Daily report quoting the aircraft’s manufacturer. Video: China’s AG600 ...
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NewsFirst Nigerian Super Tucano conducts maiden sortie
The first A-29 Super Tucano due for delivery to the Nigerian air force has conducted its maiden flight from Jacksonville, Florida.
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NewsAVIC FTC-2000G snags first export order
The AVIC Guizhou FTC-2000G has bagged its first export deal to an unnamed Southeast Asian country. The order was revealed in a report by the state-run Global Times newspaper that was also posted on the website of the Chinese defence ministry. Source: Greg Waldron The FTC-2000G made its ...
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Airline BusinessAir Astana’s Foster eyes tricky return to normalcy post coronavirus
Air Astana chief executive Peter Foster is upbeat about the airline’s future in the post-coronavirus world, but sees a number of challenges before normalcy returns.
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NewsAH-64E hits 500th delivery, as Boeing eyes more Apache exports
Boeing has celebrated the 500th delivery of an AH-64E Apache attack helicopter, as it eyes opportunities for additional international sales.
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NewsU-2 to get avionics, mission computer update
Lockheed Martin recently secured a $50 million US Air Force contract to update the venerable U-2 spy plane. The project involves three elements: a new avionics suite, a new mission computer, and modern cockpit displays, says Lockheed. Source: Lockheed Martin The U-2S spyplane Designed to the new ...
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NewsUS government clears Harpoon, Torpedo deal for India P-8Is
The US government has approved to separate deals to sell India anti-ship missiles and air-launched torpedoes for its fleet of Boeing P-8I Neptune maritime patrol aircraft. The first possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) covers 10 Boeing AGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles and related services and equipment for around $92 million, ...
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NewsUSA approves $675 million support package for Korean F-35s
The US government has cleared a potential $675 million deal for the sustainment of South Korea’s fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35A fighters. The Foreign Military Sale package includes follow-on support for the aircraft, engines, weapons, spare parts, software, training, and other elements. It follows a request from the Seoul. ...
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Airline BusinessCoronavirus slashes Asia-Pacific deliveries in March
Carriers in the Asia-Pacific received 14 of the 49 new airliners delivered in March 2020, as airframers and countries continued to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic. The region trailed North America, where carriers took 17 new aircraft, but led Europe, which saw just 13 deliveries. Source: Cirium ...
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AnalysisATR confronts big order overhang in Asia-Pacific
As Asia-Pacific airlines endure the existential coronavirus pandemic, regional aircraft manufacturers are due to deliver 73 new aircraft to the Asia-Pacific before the end of 2021, of which 61 aircraft are to come from turboprop maker ATR. The overall delivery number and schedule is based on estimates by Cirium and ...
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NewsANA in talks for Y1.3 trillion in liquidity: reports
All Nippon Airlines (ANA) is reportedly exploring options for credit lines that would furnish approximately Y1.3 trillion ($11.9 billion) in liquidity to see it through the coronavirus pandemic. Japanese news outlets, originating with the Nikkei Asian Review, report unamed sources as saying that the airline is looking for Y1 trillion ...
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NewsVietnam Airlines restricts load factors into Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam Airlines will restrict passenger loads on services to Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport so as not to stress the airport’s mandatory coronavirus testing. Its Boeing 787s and Airbus A350-900s will be restricted to 180 passengers, says the carrier. Cirium fleets data shows that the airline’s ...
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NewsH225 bags follow-on order from Japan Coast Guard
The Japan Coast Guard has ordered two additional Airbus Helicopters H225s. The two new rotorcraft will bring the service’s fleet of the type to 15 examples, says Airbus Helicopters. Source: Airbus The new order will take the Japan Coast Guard H225 fleet to 15 examples “We thank ...
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NewsUS awards Lockheed $512 million for Bulgarian F-16 production
The US government has awarded Lockheed Martin $512 million to produce eight F-16 Block 70 fighters for Bulgaria. The project is expected to be completed by 31 January 2027, says the US Department of Defense in a contract announcement. The work will take place in Fort Worth, Texas and at ...
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NewsAirAsia’s Fernandes skeptical about deliveries any time soon
AirAsia Group chief executive Tony Fernandes is skeptical about the possibility of airlines taking new aircraft given the coronavirus epidemic’s impact on growth. During an interview on Bloomberg TV, Fernandes was asked about his orders with Airbus. “We have a large order book with Airbus…we have an interesting relationship with ...
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NewsNAVAIR fast tracks technology to help CH-53E in ‘brownouts’
The US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is expediting the development of a system that improves low-speed performance of the Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter in poor visibility conditions. US Marine Corps (USMC) operations in the Middle East have showed that in “brownout” conditions caused by sand billowing up from ...