Airframers – Page 1372

  • News

    Tailored to fit

    1999-10-13T00:00:00Z

    Airbus has developed a flexible aircraft system, reducing lead times, cutting costs and trimming parts inventories Julian Moxon/TOULOUSE Until recently, the manufacture of aircraft was driven by forces that had little in common with the markets into which the resulting products were sold. Lead times were long and out of ...

  • News

    Pylons for all

    1999-10-13T00:00:00Z

    Aerospatiale Matra's St Eloi factory in suburban Toulouse is notable for one thing - the manufacture of engine pylons for all aircraft models built by the consortium, today numbering 13, but soon to be 15. St Eloi is a good example of lean manufacturing: flexibility and ever-shorter production cycles. Airbus' ...

  • News

    Airbus closes on Libya deal

    1999-10-13T00:00:00Z

    Andrew Doyle/MUNICH Airbus Industrie is set to clinch a major aircraft order from Libyan Arab Airlines (LAA) as the carrier prepares to relaunch its international network after the lifting of United Nations sanctions on Libya. The Libyan flag carrier has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with European ...

  • News

    Rockwell wins

    1999-10-13T00:00:00Z

    Rockwell Collins has been selected over Honeywell to supply a new digital flight control system (DFCS), with Category IIIb automatic landing capability, for the Boeing Next Generation 737 family. Boeing's long-awaited move brings the aircraft into line with the Airbus A320 family, which already has full Cat IIIb automatic landing ...

  • News

    Disorientating drug found in pilot's blood

    1999-10-13T00:00:00Z

    The captain of an Air Fiji Embraer EMB-110 which crashed in July, killing 17, had at least triple the normal dose of a disorientating antihystamine in his blood, according to toxicological test results. A report released by Fiji's aviation minister reveals that blood tests on the captain detected a ...

  • News

    Air Kenya freezes expansion

    1999-10-13T00:00:00Z

    Air Kenya's international expansion plans are on hold following Tanzania's announcement that it plans to withdraw from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) economic grouping of 21 sub-Saharan African states. Air Kenya had hoped to inaugurate flights to Kilimanjaro and Mwanza in Tanzania, from Nairobi, with ...

  • News

    Routes

    1999-10-13T00:00:00Z

    Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has signed its first commercial co-operation agreement with a US carrier, forming a partnership with Northwest Airlines. The agreement entails codesharing on MAS services between Kuala Lumpur and Los Angeles, and on Northwest's Kuala Lumpur-Detroit flights. The carriers say they plan to increase co-operation to US and ...

  • News

    Boeing close to decision on 757-200X launch

    1999-10-13T00:00:00Z

    Max Kingsley-Jones/SEATTLE Board level go-ahead for Boeing's extended range 757-200X could be in place by the end of this year, enabling the company to sign launch orders for the new model next year. Meanwhile, the manufacturer has secured the first commercial orders for the cargo version of the 737-700 ...

  • News

    China maintenance market attracts joint ventures

    1999-10-13T00:00:00Z

    New Chinese maintenance company Shandong TAECO Aircraft Engineering (STAECO) plans to expand its capabilities and customer base by mid-2000. The move is part of a wide-ranging expansion of maintenance capacity in China as established companies increase facilities and new entrants join the fray. STAECO carries out maintenance below D checks ...

  • News

    BWIA poised for major share sale

    1999-10-13T00:00:00Z

    Paul Lewis/MIAMI BWIA International Airways is to move ahead with share offerings on stock markets in the Caribbean and USA in an effort to raise up to $100 million in capital to underwrite the acquisition of replacement widebody jets. The Trinidadian carrier plans to make an initial public offering ...

  • News

    Boeing launches turnkey initiative with DHL freighter conversion contract

    1999-10-13T00:00:00Z

    Max Kingsley-Jones/SEATTLE Boeing has raised its interest in aircraft remarketing and support to a new level following the launch of a far-reaching package of services covering DHL International's acquisition of converted 757 freighters. The "turnkey" deal is a departure for US manufacturer Boeing and is expected to be followed ...

  • News

    Rockwell secures HGS approval in UK

    1999-10-13T00:00:00Z

    Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics has secured UK Civil Aviation Authority approval for its head-up guidance system (HGS) on easyJet Boeing 737-300s and added new business with an order for 25 systems for Air Canada's Bombardier CRJ-100 and -200 regional jets. Low-cost scheduled carrier easyJet is the 17th airline to ...

  • News

    BMW R-R refocuses development work

    1999-10-13T00:00:00Z

    AndrewDoyle/DAHLEWITZ BMW Rolls-Royce is to lead technology acquisition for future two-shaft aero engines developments in the R-R group as it awaits a German Government decision on funding for the next stage of the "Engine 3E" research programme. The revised BMW R-R strategy, agreed by parent companies BMW and ...

  • News

    United challenges Boeing to develop 777 freighter

    1999-10-13T00:00:00Z

    Max Kingsley-Jones/SEATTLE United Airlines has thrown down a challenge to Boeing to offer a freighter version of the 777, as the US carrier ponders its long-term cargo fleet strategy. Speaking at the Cargo Facts '99 conference in Seattle, Jim Hartigan, vice-president cargo at United Airlines, said he expects the ...

  • News

    Socata may find new home with Latécoère

    1999-10-13T00:00:00Z

    Julian Moxon/PARISLatécoère is interested in taking over Aerospatiale Matra's general aviation and aerostructures business, Socata. The subsidiary's future seems to be in doubt following newly merged French giant Aerospatiale Matra's declaration that it is studying "all options" as part of a bid to double operating margins, to 8%, by 2003. ...

  • News

    Air Canada partners rally round

    1999-10-13T00:00:00Z

    Brian Dunn/MONTREAL Air Canada's Star Alliance partners United Airlines and Lufthansa are preparing to bid for a stake in the carrier to fight a hostile takeover by the Onex investment group and American Airlines, which plan to merge it with their oneworld ally Canadian Airlines. Lufthansa president Jurgen Weber ...

  • News

    Widebody cargo conversion market expands

    1999-10-13T00:00:00Z

    Max Kingsley-Jones/SEATTLE Airliner freighter conversion programmes have been launched by Lockheed Martin and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa) Airbus, as rivalry continues between Dasa and fellow Airbus partner British Aerospace on an integrated conversion strategy. Lockheed Martin has revived the L-1011 TriStar conversion and has agreed to use Marshall Aerospace's ...

  • News

    First flight

    1999-10-13T00:00:00Z

    Boeing expected to attempt the first flight of its 767-400ER on 8 October as Flight International went to press. The aircraft had earlier successfully undergone high-speed taxi runs and other pre-flight checks. Taxi tests included operations at 30kt (55km/h), 60kt and 90kt at 138,000kg (304,000lb). Source: Flight International

  • News

    Chinese industry wins more foreign contracts

    1999-10-13T00:00:00Z

    Airbus Industrie and United Technologies have signed agreements awarding new work packages to China Aviation Industry I (AVIC I). The Airbus agreement allocates $15 million of Airbus A320 wing work from Airbus partner British Aerospace to AVIC I subsidiary Xian Aircraft Industry Group. The work will comprise four packages: ...

  • News

    US Airways increases Airbus order

    1999-10-13T00:00:00Z

    Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC US Airways has confirmed orders for another 26 Airbus Industrie A320s and an additional three A330s as the carrier continues to expand its domestic and international services. The latest aircraft order tally released by Airbus shows unannounced orders for 26 CFM56-5-powered A320s and three Pratt & Whitney ...