Airframers – Page 1489
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Alberta gets cash for FanJet
Canadian company Mill City Gold Mining has agreed to advance Alberta Aerospace (AAC) the C$5 million ($3.5 million) required to complete certification of the Phoenix FanJet single-turbofan trainer. Calgary-based AAC is working to certificate the two-seat FanJet, which is based on the Promavia Jet Squalus military trainer, by mid-1998. ...
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Airbus and Boeing take course for record production figures
Kevin O'Toole/LONDON Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC Airbus and Boeing are on course for record production levels in 1998, with the two manufacturers gearing up for a combined output of 785 aircraft. If achieved, production would improve on the peak of the last boom in 1991, when, along with McDonnell Douglas, the ...
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MD-95 re-emerges as Boeing 717
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Boeing has finally committed to the future development of the 100-seat MD-95, renaming the twinjet as the 717, to bring it within the expanded Boeing airliner family. The "birth" of the 717 follows an extended phase of the post-merger strategy review of McDonnell Douglas (MDC) products, during ...
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JCAB drops plans to order Saabs
The Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) has scrapped plans to order further Saab 2000 flight-inspection aircraft in response to the Swedish manufacturer's recent announcement that it is to halt civil-turboprop production. Japan is scheduled to take delivery of the first two Saab 2000s already on order at the end ...
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FAA orders 737 checks after wrecked tail find
Precautionary checks on certain Boeing 737-300s, -400s and -500s have been ordered by the US Federal Aviation Administration following the discovery of tailplane wreckage from the crashed Silk Air 737-300. Fasteners are missing from sections of the horizontal stabiliser, and bolts from elevator attachments. The accident occurred on 19 ...
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Boeing firms up the flightdeck design of stretched 767-400
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Boeing has completed the firm design configuration of the stretched 767-400ER, revealing an upgraded flightdeck and a new-look cabin based on the 777 interior design. The bulk of the design was fixed by September 1997, but airline pressure drove Boeing to conduct trade studies on the additional ...
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Kelly Space completes Eclipse tow-launcher demonstration
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Kelly Space & Technology (KST) has completed the first large-scale demonstration of its "Eclipse" tow-launch technique at Edwards AFB, California using a US Air Force-supplied Lockheed C-141A and QF-106A. KST is developing a family of low-cost re-usable space launchers which will use the Eclipse technique ...
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Air Madagascar aims to replace 747
Air Madagascar will phase out its Boeing 747 in April, and replace it on international routes with a Boeing 767. The national carrier has been operating the 747, a -200 Combi configured in an all-passenger layout, on routes to Europe since 1979. Fortis Aviation has been contracted to remarket the ...
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Embraer orders
Trans States Airlines has firm orders for seven Embraer RJ145 regional jets and options on a further 18, an application by the airline for slot exemptions at Chicago's O'Hare Airport has revealed. The St Louis-based carrier wants to serve three Appalachian region cities from Chicago. First delivery of the aircraft ...
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First Boeing 737-600 is rolled out of Renton
Boeing rolled out the first 737-600 at its Renton, Washington, factory in December 1997. The aircraft, which is the smallest member of the Next Generation 737 family, is the first of three 737-600s which will be involved in the flight-test and certification programme. Delivery to launch customer SAS is scheduled ...
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CFMI/Rybinsk discuss CFM56
Julian Moxon/PARIS CFM International (CFMI) and Russian engine manufacturer Rybinsk Motors are discussing the setting up of a production line for CFM56-3s, which power Boeing 737-300s. Rybinsk, which already builds some CFM56 components, is said by CFMI president Gerard Laviec to be a "good candidate" for such a ...
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DHL-Europe boosts fleet of A300B4 freighters
The European arm of US express-parcels carrier DHL has increased its Airbus A300B4-200F freighter acquisition programme to nine aircraft. The airline has also received its first Daimler-Benz Aerospace Airbus (Dasa Airbus)-converted aircraft, following certification of the cargo conversion. The aircraft, one of three ex-Egyptair A300B4s being leased from ...
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BA outsources maintenance of A320/DC-10 in FLS deal
Andrew Chuter/LONDON British Airways is to outsource maintenance and component support for the airline's entire fleet of Airbus A320s and McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30s to FLS Aerospace. A contract is due to be signed later this month. The tie-up with BA will be the culmination of a hectic month ...
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ACA wants O'Hare
Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA) is seeking to establish a major presence at Chicago O'Hare Airport, using its recently acquired Bombardier Canadair Regional Jets. It aims to compete against American Eagle, which will operate its Embraer ERJ145s at O'Hare. ACA also maintains a major hub at Washington Dulles International where it ...
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Olympic signs up for Next Generation
Olympic Airways has finalised its order with Boeing for the Next Generation 737, and concluded a $408 million deal for eight 737-800s. The Greek flag carrier, which revealed its fleet-renewal plans in August 1997, will begin receiving the new 737s in early 2000. Olympic now operates a short-haul fleet ...
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Proteus bolsters Beech 1900 fleet for franchise operations
Julian Moxon/PARIS Proteus Airlines is set to more than double the size of its Raytheon Beech 1900 fleet with a $50 million order for ten 20-seat 1900Ds. The airline has also taken options on a further ten aircraft. The French regional carrier already has eight 1900s in service, ...
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Forecasts 98': Air transport
Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON It was back to the boom for Airbus Industrie and Boeing in 1997, as each manufacturer returned to record production levels. Despite some local difficulties in attempting to keep pace with the surge in demand, both are cautiously optimistic of a more settled 1998. Boeing's highly publicised and ...
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First Boeings delivered to Saudi Arabian
Saudi Arabian Airlines received its first Boeing 747-400, 777-200, MD-11F and MD-90 during a ceremony in Seattle on 22 December. The $7.5 billion order, placed in 1995, for up to 61 aircraft, includes 23 777-200s, five 747-400s, four MD-11Fs and 29 MD-90s. Delivery has been delayed by several months while ...
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Airbus loses as El Al takes cut-price 737s
El Al will introduce the first of five Boeing Next Generation 737s on its services to Europe in early 1999, following the airline's selection of the 737 over the rival Airbus A320 family. Although the Israeli airline's traditional preference has been for Boeing aircraft, the Airbus A319 and A320 ...
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MD-10 conversions for FedEx remain on track
The McDonnell Douglas (MDC) DC-10 freighter/upgrade programme for FedEx is on schedule, according to the carrier's chairman, Frederick Smith. The project to rework the aircraft, known as the MD-10, has been unaffected by Boeing's recent take-over of MDC. The two-phase programme, which first involves the freighter conversion, and later ...