All air transport news – Page 2279
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China Eastern nears decision on MD-11 fleet replacement
Chris Jasper/SHANGHAIChina Eastern Airlines is finalising plans to order new long-haul aircraft to replace its Boeing MD-11s, as it agrees a new delivery schedule for 10 A320s with Airbus Industrie. China Eastern operates five Boeing MD-11 passenger aircraft and a single cargo version, but will remove the type from its ...
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Gemini set to double cargo capacity
Gemini Air Cargo plans to double the number of freighters it operates by the end of 2000 from nine aircraft. The increase is the result of major US investor The Caryle Group acquiring a majority stake in the carrier. "Caryle will be an excellent financial partner in the next ...
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IAI snaps up Airborne 767 freighter contract
The Bedek division of Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) has won a contract from Airborne Express for cargo conversions on at least 11 Boeing 767-200s. Airborne is acquiring 22 passenger General Electric CF6-powered 767-200s from All Nippon Airways for its cargo fleet, with the initial conversions being carried out by ...
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Final A3XX decisions loom for Airbus
Julian Moxon/TOULOUSE Airbus Industrie is to take decisions on the final assembly site and technology content of the A3XX in November in preparation for a possible commercial campaign from next January. The European consortium will decide which technologies to use in the 550-seat aircraft to achieve the desired 15% reduction ...
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Marketplace
Cathay Pacific has signed a short-term, wet-lease agreement with Atlas Air for a single Boeing 747 freighter. The deal is the airline's first with the US freight leasing specialist. Denver-based Frontier Airlines has leased two ex-Winnair 737-200 Adv for 51 months and an ex-TACA Boeing 737-300, all from Swedish lessor ...
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Sweden offers loan of Gripen squadron to Polish air force
Andrew Doyle/LONDON Sweden has offered to loan Poland 18 Saab/British Aerospace Gripens for five years from 2001 if the country selects the type for its fighter requirement. The proposals, approved by the Swedish air force, were included in the Saab/BAe response to Poland's request for information (RFI)issued earlier ...
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Landing gear deals clear BFGoodrich/Coltec merger
BFGoodrich and Coltec Industries completed their $2.2 billion merger on 12 July, after agreements were reached with AlliedSignal and Crane to preserve competition in the US landing system industry. The agreements ended lawsuits which had blocked the deal, but left the "strategic and economic fundamentals of the merger completely ...
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Dornier vetoes Astrium alliance
Julian Moxon/PARIS Dornier Electronic & Software owner Claudio Dornier has vetoed the inclusion of Dornier's space activities in the new Astrium space alliance. Astrium, due to be formed by the end of this year, will bring together the space divisions of Aerospatiale Matra, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa) and Marconi Electronic ...
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Teledesic finalises Internet deal
Teledesic has signed a launch contract with Lockheed Martin and concluded a system agreement with Motorola for its global, broadband Internet-in-the-sky satellite communications network. Teledesic's contract with Lockheed Martin calls for the lift-off of three Proton M and three Atlas V launches, carrying multiple Teledesic satellites per mission, with ...
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SabreTech faces ValuJet murder charge
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC SabreTech, the maintenance contractor for the former ValuJet Airlines, says it will "vigorously defend" itself against murder and manslaughter charges brought by Florida state prosecutors. It also faces federal grand jury criminal indictments. The charges relate to the crash of a ValuJet McDonnell Douglas ...
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Boeing tackles winglet erosion in MD-11 modification package
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Boeing plans to complete work by the end of the year on improvements to tackle long-standing operational problems on the MD-11. They include new coatings to prevent excessive erosion to the winglets, modifications to stop skin cracks and changes to system fittings and valves to prevent ...
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Italian Venture
Finmeccanica and UK partner Rolls-Royce have opened a joint turbine blade manufacturing company at Morra de Sanctis in Italy. Europea Microfusioni Aerospaziali is 66.6% owned by Finmeccanica with R-R holding the remainder. Source: Flight International
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Vagabond four-seater aims for home with private operators
Kate Sarsfield/LONDON A four-seat general aviation aircraft aimed at private operators is being developed by Italian design and engineering company Etruria Technology. The Vagabond piston single is in the design phase, says Etruria. "We are about two years away from the maiden flight of the first [of three] ...
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General Electric pushes on with JSF powerplant development
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES General Electric's Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) JSF-F120 engine team has signed a $440 million contract with the JSF programme office covering Phase III of the alternative engine development effort. The contract, consisting of $115 million covering the firm requirement for Phase III and an option ...
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New engines
Reg Technologies has completed a short test run of a new "winged-rotor" diesel engine being developed through NASA's Small Business Innovation Research programme. Vancouver, Canada-based Reg also seeks a $600,000 grant to design, fabricate and test a 185kW (250hp) Rand Cam engine built to power light aircraft. The engine borrows ...
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Mesa's preference for 35-seat regional jet favours Embraer
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTONMesa Air Group wants early delivery of a new 50-seat regional jet. It has an additional requirement for a smaller complementary aircraft, giving the Embraer RJ-145 the edge over the competing Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet CRJ-200. Phoenix, Arizona-based Mesa plans soon to announce the acquisition of up 40 new ...
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BM widens the field for Fokker replacement
British Midland (BM) is widening its evaluation of 100-seat aircraft to replace its Fokker 70/100 and warns that, with the increasing number of new types becoming available, Boeing will have to make a "very attractive offer" to win the UK carrier's order for its 717 twinjet. The airline has ...
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Routes
Japan Airlines (JAL) plans to codeshare with Iberia on Amsterdam-Madrid and Amsterdam-Barcelona routes from October. JAL and KLM co-operate on the Amsterdam-Spain routes, but this would end if the JAL/Iberia link is confirmed. Continental Airlines launched the first non-stop connection between Cleveland, USA, and London Gatwick, UK, on 1 July, ...
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Esprit racer appears at Cranfield
The Esprit VFII experimental homebuilt racing aircraft was on display at the Cranfield, UK, Popular Flying Association rally on 2-4 July. The Rolls-Royce 0200-powered all-composite kit, designed by Switzerland's Valentino Fry, offers a maximum range of 1,000km (540nm) and a maximum speed of 210kt (385km/h). According to Fry, the aircraft's ...
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Resurrected Luscombe heads for approval
Kate Sarsfield/LONDON Renaissance Aircraft's Luscombe 8F light aircraft is on target for certification and first deliveries by the fourth quarter of the year, nearly four decades after production of the piston single was halted. "The first production aircraft is flying and we are taking orders," says Renaissance. Monkton, Maryland, ...