All air transport news – Page 2245
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Boeing builds profits and 737s as 747 slips
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC Boeing is to reduce the production rate of the 747-400 from five to three and a half aircraft a month by the second quarter of next year in the face of a continuing soft market, particularly in the Asia region. Company chairman Phil Condit warns that ...
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Snecma snaps up stake in Sabena company
Sabena is to spin off the engine repair and maintenance business of Sabena Technics into an independent business and sell a 50% stake to French engine builder Snecma. The new operation will be based at the Zaventem, Brussels, engine facilities run by the Belgian airline. The partners plan to ...
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Modifications delay Japan's XF-2 prototypes
The Japanese Technology Research Development Institute (TRDI) is working on a series of modifications to its four XF-2A/B flight test prototypes, causing further delays to the flight test schedule. Work includes structural reinforcement to the aircraft's wing-tip for rolling pull-out manoeuvres and the reshaping and positioning of underwing missile pylons ...
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Australian reforms
Paul Phelan/CAIRNS "It is an uncertain market, because there are various people at different levels of desperation as a consequence of their position," warned Qantas managing director James Strong, explaining the impact of the Asian downturn even on carriers indirectly affected. The comment, made in August at the same conference ...
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Transition Planning
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC The US Federal Aviation Administration has produced a new blueprint for modernisation of the country's airspace system, but industry remains far from convinced that the document represents a firm timetable for the introduction of new technologies. Manufacturers have been researching the new communications, navigation, surveillance and air ...
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Big ideas
Julian Moxon/NOORDWIJKERHOUT To a travelling public that sees the occasionally horrific television images of the aftermath of a major air disaster, the idea that they might one day fly on an aircraft capable of carrying up to 1,000 passengers is likely to bring the inevitable thought - what if it ...
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ANA becomes the ninth Star Alliance member
All Nippon Airways (ANA) has finally thrown its hat into the Star Alliance ring to become the ninth full member, adding further pressure to flag carrier Japan Airlines (JAL) to commit to the rival oneworld partnership. Airline president Kichisaburo Nomura announced ANA's intention to join Star during a gathering ...
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China moves in on subcontracting consolation prize
Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE Airbus Industrie is moving ahead with plans to subcontract A320 component manufacturing to China as the first step towards transferring a full wing production capability. At the same time, Boeing has linked its offer on 717 wing work to reaching a settlement with China over the stillborn ...
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More delays hit new UK control centres
David Learmount/LONDON The UK National Air Traffic Services (NATS) is facing further delays to the opening of its new Scottish air traffic control centre (SCATCC) because contract negotiations with the Lockheed Martin-led consortium Sky Solutions have dragged on for at least a year longer than expected. The revelation comes as ...
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Long Beach rethink
The introduction of a second final assembly line for the Boeing Next Generation 737 family at the former Douglas Aircraft plant in Long Beach, California, has been delayed by three months, amid a review which could see the plan abandoned. The new line, which would initially produce specialised 737 variants ...
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Century seeks $48m to fund low-cost twin jet development
Century Aerospace has transformed its Century Jet from a single-engined aircraft to a twin and has replaced the Williams/Rolls FJ44-1 powerplant with "the more advanced" Williams FJ33-1, for which the newly titled Century Jet 100 has become the launch aircraft. According to Albuquerque, New Mexico-based Century: "The Century Jet ...
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Galaxy keeps performance but puts on weight
The Galaxy will meet, and even exceed, its performance specification, despite growing in weight and encountering several handling problems, says Galaxy Aerospace. The aircraft, which had its US premiere at the show, has gained more than 320kg (700lb) as a result of greater allowance for the interior and "more ...
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Certification work will delay Jetcruzer 500 by 12 months
Advanced Aerodynamics & Structures (AASI) says certification work on the Jetcruzer 500 turboprop pusher will not be completed until the "second half of next year", meaning a delay of more than 12 months over the company's original predictions. AASI says the delay is part of a conscious effort to ...
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CAeE MaxVue orders come flooding in
Norwegian airline Braathens ASA has ordered a Boeing 737-800 full-flight simulator from CAE Electronics. The simulator, which is equipped with the CAE MaxVue Plus visual system, is to enter service in August 2000, in the Braathens training centre at Oslo's new Gardemoen Airport. US Airways, meanwhile, has ordered ...
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United's $200m expansion continues with 777 installation
United Airlines has installed its fourth Boeing 777 full-flight simulator, as part of a $200 million expansion of its Denver, Colorado, training centre. All four simulators have been produced by Thomson Training &Simulation (TTS). The latest machine, and a fourth TTS-built Airbus A320 simulator to be installed in March next ...
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PATS Falcon 20 APU
The Dassault Falcon 20 has won US certification for a new tail-mounted auxiliary power unit (APU). The aircraft is manufactured by Columbia-based engineering aviation systems Pats. The tail-mounted unit is powered by the Sunstrand T40C9 APU and its prototype installation was performed at Excel Aviation in Denton, Texas. Source: ...
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UNI expands
UNI Airways, a subsidiary of Taiwan-based EVA Airways, has acquired four more MD-90s from Boeing to expand its regional route network. The aircraft will be delivered by the end of this year, joining 10 MD-90s . At least three of the aircraft are believed originally to have been ordered by ...
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Aeroflot deal gives a boost to Boeing widebody leases
Aeroflot has concluded a deal with General Electric Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) for the lease of four more Boeing 767-300ERs, and has just received its second Boeing 777-200ER on lease from International Lease Finance. The four new 767s will be delivered next year, and replace two 767-300ERs and two Airbus ...
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JARs could scupper 'virtual airlines' in Europe
British Airways' "virtual airline" arm Airline Management (AML) has been advised by the UK Civil Aviation Authority to make its management structure more accountable. If it cannot do this it will fail to meet European Joint Aviation Requirements-Operations (JARs) Rules when they take effect on 1 April, 1999. The ...
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European free flight demonstrated in Berlin
Chris Yates/BERLIN The first live trial of the prototype Airborne Separation Assurance System (ASAS), jointly developed by the Eurocontrol Experimental Centre as part of the Free Route Experimental Encounter Resolution programme, and Carmenta of Sweden, has been successfully completed. Initial results were demonstrated at the Global Navcom 98 ...