All air transport news – Page 2120
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Conceptual aircraft
Safire S-26 Safire Aircraft of West Palm Beach, Florida, is developing a six-seat "personal" jet, powered by Williams FJX-2 turbofans. The $800,000 all-composite aircraft will offer a maximum range of 2,600km (1,400nm) and a maximum take-off weight of 2,050kg (4,500lb). First flight of the production aircraft is planned for 2001, ...
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Fairchild slips 728JET schedule
Fairchild Aerospace has reached agreement with 728JET launch customer Lufthansa CityLine to slip certification and first deliveries of the 70-seater by six months to November 2002. The delay will enable it to increase the size of the passenger cabin by relocating the rear doors. Fairchild says the decision to ...
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Boeing studies cockpit and cabin upgrade for 747-400
Boeing may offer an upgraded 777-style cockpit and passenger cabin on its proposed higher gross-weight 747-400. The derivative, likely to be called the -400ER if launched, would increase maximum take-off weight to 413,500kg (910,000lb) and provide airlines with more range or cargo-carrying capacity compared with the standard version. The ...
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Airbus accelerates plans to bring A330-100 into service
Airbus Industrie has brought forward its target entry-into-service date for the A330-100 to 2003. The move is an apparent effort to accelerate development of an A300/A310 replacement to meet Singapore Airlines' aircraft requirement, dubbed "W". Speaking at the show, Airbus senior vice-president commercial John Leahy confirms that the shortened, ...
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Airbus stands by timetable for A3XX commercial launch
Airbus Industrie is sticking to its claim that it will be able to generate enough airline interest in the A3XX to achieve a commercial launch by mid-year, despite sceptical comments by some key potential customers and a pessimistic forecast from the US consultancy, the Teal Group. The consortium plans ...
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Marketplace
St Petersburg-based Pulkovo Airlines is acquiring two additional Tupolev Tu-154s and two Tu-134s, increasing its fleet of the two types to 21 and 10 aircraft, respectively. The airline plans to begin phasing out its Tu-134s from 2002 and replace them with new Tupolev Tu-334s. Evergreen International Airlines has placed a ...
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Routes
Ryanair will expand its network from London Stansted this summer with new services to Lübeck (Hamburg), Malmö, Sweden, Nimes and Perpignan in France, and three Italian points: Brescia (Verona/Milan), Lamezia and Alghero (Sardinia). A new Prestwick-Hahn (Frankfurt) service is also starting. Portugalia is introducing three new routes from Lisbon and ...
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WestJet agrees deals for up to 70 Boeing 737NGs
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC Canadian low-fare carrier WestJet Airlines is to acquire and lease up to 70 Boeing Next Generation (NG) 737s to re-equip and expand its fleet. The selection of the 737 follows an evaluation which included the Airbus A318/A319. The Calgary, Alberta-based airline has placed a firm order ...
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BFGoodrich lands alliance deals
Chris Jasper/LONDON Supply-sector heavyweights BFGoodrich Aerospace (BFG) and Rockwell Collins have agreed a strategic alliance to jointly market equipment, parts and maintenance services worldwide, with the aim of providing "single-stop" solutions. BFG has also tied up a major deal with Boeing for joint provision of overhaul activities on a global ...
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Mergers
Smiths Industries has bought the actuation systems arm of BAE Systems North America for $100 million. The unit is non-core to BAE, but strengthens Smiths' position as a provider of non-cockpit-based control equipment for aircraft "utilities", ranging from electrical power generation to environmental controls, a competency further enhanced by the ...
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Tushav lets go of remaining Piaggio interest
Andy Nativi/GENOA Turkish state holding company Tushav is to surrender its interest in Piaggio Aero Industries, the Italian general aviation specialist has revealed. Tushav once held 51% of Piaggio, but this was reduced last year when a group of Italian investors bought 16% to take its share to 60%. ...
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TAESA declared bankrupt
Mexican carrier TAESA (Transportes Aereos Ejecutivos SA), once the country's third-largest airline, has been declared bankrupt. Privately owned TAESA provided the main competition to Mexicana and Aeromexico, which, although committed to rival global alliances, are both controlled by state holding company Cintra. TAESA's demise can be traced to the crash ...
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AE207 flight slipped
Ibis Aerospace has delayed the first flight and certification of its Ae270 Ibis single utility turboprop, and is reviewing whether to proceed with the proposed Walter M601 F-powered, unpressurised version. The aircraft is now due to fly by the "beginning of April", while certification for the Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42A-powered ...
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Embraer aims to step up production
Embraer aims to boost production of its RJ-135/145 after a decision by Continental Express to accelerate acquisition of the regional jet with an order for 100 additional aircraft. The Brazilian company will decide within the next 60 days on whether to ramp up production to 16 aircraft a month. ...
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Hong Kong carriers review fleets as plans for expansion make progress
Cathay Pacific Airways is expected to announce a sizeable order for new widebody jets by mid-year, as rival Dragonair enhances its position as a competitor for business from Hong Kong. Dragonair has revealed plans to double the size of its Airbus A330 and A320 fleet and is to launch a ...
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Alliance outlines GP7200 plan
The General Electric/Pratt & Whitney Engine Alliance joint venture has outlined a development schedule for the proposed GP7200 powerplant. Engine Alliance and Rolls-Royce have begun talks with potential A3XX launch customers as the two rival engine suppliers position to be the lead certification engine on the planned new ultra-large ...
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SAA favours 737-800
South African Airways' (SAA) is to recommend to its parent company Transnet this week that the Boeing 737-800 is selected for its new short-haul fleet. Deliveries could begin this year. The airline, 20% owned by Swissair parent SAirGroup, with the rest held by state-owned Transnet, has studied offers from ...
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F-16 upgrades herald business boom
The fast-developing market for updating cockpits of early model Lockheed Martin F-16s sparked two leading upgrade companies to display programmes at the show. Singapore Technologies Aerospace's (STAe's) Falcon ONE package made its debut and Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) displayed its Air Combat Enhancement (ACE) package. Meanwhile. Lockheed Martin is developing ...
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Photo first for largest commercial satellite
Hughes Space and Communications has released an image transmitted from its first HS-702 spacecraft, Galaxy XI, in geostationary orbit showing the deployment of the spacecraft's solar panels. When extended, the wingspan of the satellite - 34m (111ft) - is equivalent to the wingspan of a Boeing 737. The 30min sequence ...
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South Korea begins missile project study
South Korea has launched a project-definition study for a medium-range surface-to-air missile system which it intends to develop indigenously as part of the country's modernisation of its air-defence network. The study, known as K-MSAM, is a follow-on programme to the K-SAM Pegasus (or Shunma) short-range air-defence system, entering production ...