All air transport news – Page 2342
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News
Flutter success
The Boeing F-18E/F Super Hornet integrated test team has completed the aircraft's engineering and manufacturing development flutter flight test programme. The culmination of the programme was a 1.7h flight carrying two AIM-7 Sparrow missiles, two AGM-65 Maverick missiles and AGM-154s, in which the aircraft was dived to limit speed. ...
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Common theme
Graham Warwick WASHINGTON DC Can airlines agree to buy a standard aircraft, in the hope of reducing costs, or will each continue to demand hundreds of custom changes that set its aircraft apart from any other carrier's? That is the question facing an airline task force which is to ...
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First 777 for private operator
Boeing has completed work on the first private 777. The aircraft, a -200ER powered by General Electric GE90s, has a VIP interior and is expected to be operated by Mid East Jet. Although Boeing declines to confirm the identity of the owner, Mid East Jet is the most likely ...
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Order boost for Italy's General Avia
The Italian Aero Club has ordered 12 single-engined General Avia F.22B Piguinos for basic training and 3 F.22Cs for instrument flight rules (IFR) training. Deliveries will run from April 1999 to the end of the year. Designed by Stelio Frati, the F.22B has fixed gear and a 160hp (120kW) Textron ...
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Raytheon teams with Angel on HALO-Proteus
Raytheon has signed a teaming agreement with St Louis-based Angel Technologies to develop stratospheric broadband wireless services, using the High Altitude Long Operation (HALO) aircraft. The prime electronics systems integrator will be Raytheon, with responsibility for the airborne and ground segments of the HALO network. Angel will deliver fixed and ...
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FAA gives Luscombe interim certificate for Spartan 185
The US Federal Aviation Administration has awarded Luscombe Aircraft an airworthiness certificate for its Spartan 185 preproduction model 11E. The ticket falls short of full approval, however, and is "for sales and marketing purposes", says Luscombe. The Oklahoma-based company is still targeting April 1999 as the earliest date for ...
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Airbus may ditch A3XX thrust reversers to slow down costs
Andrew Doyle/LONDON Airbus Industrie is discussing with airlines a plan to remove the thrust reversers from its A3XX ultra-high capacity airliner design as part of efforts to further reduce the aircraft's direct operating costs. Airlines have generally reacted favourably towards the idea of dropping the system from the outboard engines ...
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Dasa reviews Mako after BAe protests
Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa)is reviewing its participation in the Mako advanced trainer/light combat aircraft programme after objections were raised to its involvement by British Aerospace. BAe was concerned by a memorandum of understanding signed at the Seoul Air Show in South Korea at the end of October, ...
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MD-11 switch change
Boeing MD-11 operators are to replace or modify two dimmer switches in the cockpit, according to a US Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness directive. The switches must be replaced or modified within a month of inspection. Source: Flight International
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A330s head for Brazil after currency hiccup
Joe Sims/MIAMI TAM expects to take delivery of its first two Airbus A330s by the end of the month after a delay of over a month caused by a currency crisis in Brazil. The carrier, based in Sao Paulo, had been due to receive its first of five Pratt & ...
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Boeing aims to fund F/A-18 active array work for the US Navy
Boeing plans to co-fund initial development of an active-array radar for the F/A-18E/F, in the absence of US Navy funding. The move will bridge the gap until the navy can find funding and "...get the radar into the fleet as early as possible," says Paul Summers, manager F/A-18 new product ...
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Tupolev carries on with cryogenic fuel research
Tupolev is continuing research on cryogenic fuel tanks for its Tu-204 and Tu-334 twinjet airliners. It is also researching an innovative design of a twin-turboprop Tu-136 transport, with the layout determined by cryogenic fuel considerations. It is planned to conduct aerodynamic tests of the Tu-136 model in the TsAGI ...
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PanAmSat and Iridium satellites launched
An ILS International Launch Services Proton booster was launched from Baikonur on 4 November carrying the PanAmSat 8 communications satellite into orbit. It was followed by a Boeing Delta II, from Vandenberg AFB, California, on 6 November, carrying five more Motorola Iridium satellites. The five Iridium satellites comprise one replacement ...
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High band testing
TRW's prototype High Band subsystem, part of the US Joint Signal Intelligence Avionics Family (JSAF), has completed domestic flight testing and will be deployed internationally for more tests. The JSAF, which incorporates a Lockheed Martin Sanders Low Band subsystem, will be used to upgrade US signals intelligence aircraft. Source: ...
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IAE president
International Aero Engines (IAE) has appointed Mike Terrett president and chief executive. Terrett joins from IAE shareholder Rolls-Royce, where he was director and senior vice-president for the RB211 and Trent 700 engines. He replaces Barry Eccleston, who has joined Fairchild Aerospace. Source: Flight International
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717 initial tests reveal unexpected benefits
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Early results from the Boeing 717-200 flight test effort are indicating "nominal or better" drag and specific fuel consumption (sfc) performance, leading to expectations that the baseline range and payload may be increased, says the company. The build-up of 717 test hours and sorties is ...
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Airports
-The long-awaited start of construction of the Guangzhou New Airport in China has moved closer with the award of the initial design contract for the passenger terminal to Parsons Greiner of the USA. The deal, worth about $10 million, represents one of the first significant contracts to be awarded since ...
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British Midland goes regional with ERJ-145s
Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON British Midland (BM) has confirmed its expected move into regional jet operations, with a $200 million order for up to 15 Embraer RJ-145s. The airline, however, has not yet finalised its fleet plans for long haul aircraft, but has held delivery positions with Airbus Industrie and Boeing ...
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First Tu-204s delivered to Air Cairo
New Egyptian carrier Air Cairo became the first airline to take delivery of the RB211-535E4-powered Tupolev Tu-204-120 on 2 November. Two aircraft were delivered to Cairo - one passenger model and one freighter - at the start of a seven-year lease. They are the first new generation Russian aircraft ...
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China Airlines shares will go on the market
Taiwan's state-controlled China Aviation Development Foundation (CADF) has approved the proposed sale of half of its 71% majority stake in China Airlines (CAL) to yet to be identified local or foreign investors. CADF plans to reduce its holding in CAL to 35.5%, as part of a move to revamp ...