All air transport news – Page 2222
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News
FAA likely to act on 747 fire-extinguisher alert
The US Federal Aviation Administration is expected to issue an airworthiness directive (AD) calling for inspections of engine fire-extinguishing systems on Boeing 747-400s. It comes after Lufthansa temporarily grounded its fleet following the discovery of a cracked copper hose on an engine. The AD, which was expected to be ...
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Canada ponders CC-130 future
Canada has begun a study to consider alternatives for replacing its Lockheed Martin CC-130 Hercules, or extending the life of the aircraft, some of which are among the highest time C-130s operating. An industry source says the Canadian Forces has had to rethink the future of the aircraft sooner ...
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MiG 1.44 undergoes high-speed runs as MAPO prepares for maiden flight
Alexander Velovich/MOSCOW MAPO's experimental MiG 1.44 advanced fighter is closer to achieving its first flight. The aircraft was airborne for several seconds as it underwent high-speed runs on the runway of LII Gromov Flight Research Institute at Zhukovsky, near Moscow, this month. In line with standard pre-maiden ...
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Datalink deal
Data Link Solutions and ViaSat have won contracts to prepare for competitive production of Multifunction Information Distribution System (MIDS) low-volume terminals. The MIDS Link 16 datalink terminals will be fitted to a range of US and NATO combat and other aircraft. Deliveries against an expected requirement for 8,000 units are ...
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JSF engine thrust beats expectations
Pratt & Whitney's JSF119-611 engine has exceeded the thrust requirements of Lockheed Martin's X-35 short take-off and landing (STOVL) Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) concept demonstrator in ground testing at the company's test site at West Palm Beach, Florida. The engine demonstrated thrust above requirements for short take-off and vertical ...
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On the rack
Flight International flight tests Boeing's latest 757 model, the stretched 240-seat -300 which entered service last MarchPeter Henley/LUTONOne of Boeing's marketing slogans is that it has a family of airliners for every market. The 757 and 767 family members are intended to complement one another in range and capacity. The ...
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Bearing fails in Lockheed Martin JSF STOVL tests
A bearing in the shaft-driven lift fan of the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) propulsion system for Lockheed Martin's X-35 Joint Strike Fighter concept demonstrator has failed during engine ground testing at Pratt & Whitney. The bearing failed after 67h of testing, equivalent to about 18 months of ...
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Ansett leasing arm is sold
Peter La Franchi/CANBERRA Australian aircraft lessor Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services (AWAS) has been bought by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter (MSDW) Aircraft Holdings, accelerating moves by former joint-owner News Corporation to leave the aviation sector after the recent sale of its stake in Ansett Australia to Air New Zealand. ...
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Aerospace companies join e-commerce stampede
A rash of e-commerce initiatives have been announced by airframe and avionics manufacturers, airlines and communication specialists, with SITA, Boeing, Honeywell and British Airways identifying Internet-based business opportunities. Aeronautical communication specialist SITA, already active in Internet developments, is extending its diversification strategy into the e-commerce arena with the launch ...
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KLM cuts routes and aircraft in fight to restore profitability
KLM is pruning its long-haul and short-haul route networks and withdrawing, leasing out and redeploying aircraft as it fights to restore profitability. The move will sweep away the 3-4% capacity growth planned for this year's high season, with capacity now remaining static. From 26 March, KLM will stop long-haul ...
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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 ...