All Airframers articles – Page 1544
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News
The big question
Given the highly public differences between Airbus Industrie and Boeing over the existence, or otherwise, of a multi-billion-dollar market for a new large airliner, you could be forgiven for thinking that a yawning gulf exists between long-term forecasts from the two manufacturers. In fact, this is not so. ...
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Kenya Airways pursues plan to expand Nairobi into a hub
A year on from its successful privatisation, Kenya Airways plans to launch the first phase in the development of Nairobi Airport as a hub. Managing director Brian Davies reveals that the airline has ordered a third new Boeing 737-300 and will reconsider its long-haul fleet structure. Davies says ...
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Rocketplane aims for 'smallsat' boom
PIONEER ROCKETPLANE is planning to fly its Pathfinder transatmospheric launch vehicle in three years time, to be available for initial deployment of the proposed Teledesic constellation of some 840 small communications satellites. Denver, Colorado-based Pioneer is seeking $6 million in funding for detail design of the Pathfinder and will need ...
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777 airframe undergoes longest-ever fatigue test
Boeing's 777 full-scale fatigue-test airframe had undergone 120,000 simulated flights between January 1995 and 13 March this year, representing double the aircraft's 30-year design service objective, and making this the most extensive fatigue test to be carried out by the company. Boeing structural engineers are "very pleased" with ...
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SAA closes in on long-awaited 777 purchase
South African Airways (SAA)is working to finalise its delayed order for Boeing 777s by the end of March, following the US manufacturer's offer of revised delivery positions. The move comes as SAA is undergoing a major management restructuring to prepare it for privatisation. The carrier and Boeing announced ...
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BA suspends 777IGW ETOPS operations
British Airways has suspended extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) flights using its three Boeing 777-200 increased-gross-weight aircraft after metal was found in the chip detectors of two engines. The problem was discovered during a routine inspection on 21 February, and three days later a Boston-bound 777-200IGWreturned to London after a cockpit ...
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Boeing completes first 737-800 fuselage assembly
Boeing is close to completing assembly of the first Boeing 737-800 fuselage at its Wichita, Kansas plant. Following the application of final protective finishes, the 39.5m-long body will be shipped by rail to the company's Renton, Washington, factory for final assembly. The first 737-800, the largest member of the next-generation ...
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FLS completes first 727 cargo conversion
FLS Aerospace has completed its first freighter conversion of a Boeing 727, and the aircraft has now entered service with TNT Express Worldwide on its European network. The aircraft, a -200 Adv, was modified at FLS' Stansted, UK, centre, using the Aircraft Engineering & Installation Services (AEI), Miami, supplemental type ...
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Snecma is 'positive' about R-R's plans for A340-600
French engine manufacturer Snecma is in "very positive" negotiations with Rolls- Royce on taking a stake in the UK company's proposed engine for the Airbus Industrie A340-600. The move follows the failure of talks between Airbus and General Electric on a suitable engine for the stretched, ultra-long-range, 375-seat ...
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US watchdog wants to delay production of F-18E/F
THE US GENERAL Accounting Office (GAO) is urging US defence chief William Cohen to postpone the low-rate initial production (LRIP) decision on the McDonnell Douglas F-18E/F programme until Congressionally ordered studies on the multi-billion-dollar weapons programme are completed in the next several months. The Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) ...
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Tarom discusses MD-11 acquisition with MDC
Romanian flag carrier Tarom is talking to McDonnell Douglas (MDC) about a possible MD-11 purchase as it awaits Government clearance to buy next-generation Boeing 737s and AI(R) ATR 42 turboprops. A delegation from McDonnell Douglas visited Romanian capital Bucharest in February to discuss the potential acquisition by Tarom ...
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Deutsche BA orders seven more 737-300s to replace Fokker 100s
The airline, British Airways' German subsidiary, says that the contract is worth $287 million, and that deliveries of the 136-seat aircraft will start in August. Deutsche BA's present 737-300 fleet, which consists of nine leased aircraft, will be boosted to up to 18 737s by the end of ...
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Tyrolean adds GPS/FMS
Austria's Tyrolean Airways is to retrofit its 17 Bombardier de Havilland Dash 8s with Universal Avionics' UNS-1C global-positioning/flight-management system, beginning in April, to meet European basic area-navigation requirements. Source: Flight International
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Marketplace
++ China Southern Airlines has taken delivery of its first General Electric GE90-powered Boeing 777-200IGW, which brings its 777 fleet to five aircraft. Late this year, the airline will become the first to operate the 777 across the Pacific, on the 12,560km (6,800nm) route between Guangzhou and Los Angeles. ++ ...
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SAA prepares for privatisation with management restructure
South African Airways (SAA) is undergoing a management restructuring, as part of its move towards privatisation. Talks have been under way for several weeks between SAA, its parent company, Transnet, and the trade unions, which are understood to have produced broad agreement on the main issues involved. "The ...
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Indonesians propose to start Myanmar regional
Indonesia's Triputra Unggul Utama has become the latest South-East Asian company to announce proposals for a start-up joint-venture airline in Myanmar, following similar moves by Malaysian, Singapore and Thai investors. The Indonesian and Myanmar Governments have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to set up a new domestic ...
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TNT looks at large freighters
TNT Express Worldwide is aiming to introduce its first large freighter aircraft in 1998, if a strategic analysis of the market which it is now undertaking concludes that such a move is required. The express-parcel company, acquired by Dutch postal company KPN late in 1995, is timing the ...
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Embraer
Peter Obeysekere has been named vice-president for Asia, the Far East and the South Pacific for Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer. He was formerly a regional director at Fokker Aircraft of the Netherlands and, before that, was with British Aerospace in the UK. Source: Flight International
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Mesa consolidates regional operations
US REGIONAL MESA Air Group has re-organised into four operating divisions, aligned with its codesharing partners. The move comes as Mesa consolidates flight and maintenance operations to comply with regulations upgrading US regionals from Part 135 to Part 121 certification. Four operating divisions and two subsidiaries have been ...
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Chicken or egg?
AIRBUS INDUSTRIE MAKES A compelling case for a developing market for a very large airliner - not least that its rival, Boeing, obviously thought it worthwhile spending so long trying to convince the airlines to launch its own big airliner, the 747-500/ 600. No matter how compelling the manufacturer's case, ...