All air transport news – Page 2399
-
News
Outlook:bright, with some cloud
US general aviation (GA) is poised to grow, and grow steadily - at least to 2008 - in fleet size, pilot population, aircraft use and hours flown. The US Federal Aviation Administration is predicting more than a decade of steady, incremental growth for the market. This should bode well for ...
-
News
Japanese juggling
The Japanese airline industry is facing its biggest shake-up in more than 40 years, as the result of domestic deregulation and growing international competition. In response, the country's two leading carriers, Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA), have unveiled new corporate five-year plans. A combination of ...
-
News
The NERC project
The NERC project was started in 1987, with the establishment of a programme directorate within NATS. The first phase involved the selection of a suitable site for the building which would house the new centre, and in 1990 the current location, at Swanwick, near Southampton, was picked. UK ...
-
News
AlliedSignal Lear 45 engine is approved
The AlliedSignal TFE731-20 turbofan, the third and last model to be developed in the series of new-generation business-aircraft powerplants, has received US Federal Aviation Administration certification. The engine powers Bombardier's Lear 45 and is rated with a take-off thrust of 16kN (3,650lb) at sea level up to 34 ...
-
News
Ayres wants more turboprop power for Loadmaster
AYRES WANTS more powerful engines for the LM200 Loadmaster freighter and it is talking to LHTEC and Pratt & Whitney Canada about how they can satisfy the new requirement. The agricultural-aircraft maker, based in Albany, Georgia, launched the Loadmaster cargo aircraft in November 1996 with an order for ...
-
News
MDC opens MD-17 'window' with two white tails
McDonnell Douglas (MDC) has authorised production of two additional "white-tail" (unsold) C-17 transports in 1998, providing the first opportunity for the sale of a commercial MD-17 or foreign-military-sale C-17 versions. The US company says: "We think there's a good chance we are going to sell them commercially or ...
-
News
Airbus prepares for growth versions of A340-500/600
Airbus is preparing to brief airlines on its plans to develop heavier, longer-range growth derivatives of the A340-500 and -600, as it enters the final phase of commercial negotiations with Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce to decide whose engine will be offered on the baseline aircraft. The growth ...
-
News
AMR regional-jet competitors are running 'neck and neck'
AMR Eagle is due to make a final decision on its choice of regional jet by 23 May, after full evaluation of the two contenders, Bombardier's Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) and Embraer's EMB-145. The result is not expected to be made public until the Paris air show. With ...
-
News
ANA president forced to resign
The president of All Nippon Airways (ANA), Seiji Fukatsu, has been forced to quit after a row with two non-executive members of the airline's board over the pace and style of his reforms. In a move which has surprised many in Japan's airline industry, Fukatsu tendered his resignation, ...
-
News
Singapore's 777-200s start rolling
Singapore Airlines' first 288-seat Boeing 777-200 was delivered on 6 May, and was flown non-stop to Singapore for arrival ceremonies the following day. The airline, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, holds orders and options for a total of 77 Rolls-Royce Trent 800-powered 777s, worth $12.7 billion. Source: ...
-
News
BWA is poised to place order for fleet of new ATPs
British World Airlines (BWA) is about to conclude a deal with Aero International (Regional) for a fleet of British Aerospace ATP turboprops to be introduced later this year on the passenger wet-lease market. The airline is expected to sign a deal imminently for the lease of two of ...
-
News
Chinese 737 hull damaged before crash
The fuselage of the China Southern Airlines Boeing 737-300 which crashed at Shenzhen, China, on 8 May appears to have been severely damaged before the fatal landing. According to sources close to the investigation, the 737's nose landing gear suffered major damage from an initial heavy landing in ...
-
News
Trent 700 shut-downs halt ETOPs flights
Cathay Pacific Airways has suffered a second inflight shutdown of a Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engine in fewer than seven days. As a result, clearance for extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) has been suspended by the Hong Kong authorities. The latest incident, involving an Airbus Industrie A330-300, occurred on 12 ...
-
News
AVIC/Airbus sign AE31X agreement
Aviation Industries of China (AVIC) and Airbus Industrie Asia (AIA) have signed a framework agreement covering the joint development of the proposed AE31X family of regional jets, formerly known as the AE-100/A318. The memorandum, signed in Beijing on 15 May by French president Jacques Chirac and Jian Zemin, ...
-
News
EC Commissioner warns of curbs on 'exclusive' deals
Europe's competition commissioner, Karel Van Miert, has warned that curbs will have to be placed on Boeing's use of "exclusive" aircraft deals as the price of approval for the group's planned merger with McDonnell Douglas (MDC) Van Miert says that the European Commission (EC) will present Boeing and ...
-
News
MMS wins $600 million LEO deal
Matra Marconi Space (MMS) has been awarded a $600 million contract by Constellation Communications of Reston, Virginia, to be prime contractor for the space segment of a low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite system, including delivery in orbit and insurance. The 12-satellite system, operating in 2,000km equatorial orbits, will provide voice, ...
-
News
Lockheed
Aram Mika has become vice-president of business development and advanced programmes and technology at Lockheed Martin in Sunnyvale, California. He replaces John Dietz, who becomes vice-president and general manager of new Lockheed Martin Special Programs division. Source: Flight International
-
News
Garrett
Brendon Docherty has been named avionics sales manager at Garrett Aviation Springfield. Docherty, who has 12 years' experience in avionics sales, was formerly director of sales and marketing and flight operations at Flight Visions, and also spent ten years with engine manufacturer AlliedSignal. Source: Flight International
-
News
Germany certificates Extra E400 tourer
The German civil-aviation authority has awarded type certification to the Extra Flugzeugbau E400 tourer. The certification meets FAR part 23 standards, but does not yet cover the all-composite six-seater's pressurised cabin, or operations under instrument flight rules (IFR)or in icing conditions. These points will be dealt with progressively, ...
-
News
AASI begins revised Jetcruzer stretch
Advanced Aerodynamics and Structures (AASI) has begun work at its Long Beach factory in California on the stretched Jetcruzer 500P, a pressurised high-speed version of the original Jetcruzer 450. "It will be pressurised to 30,000ft [9,150m] with a good high-altitude engine," says AASI executive vice-president Gene Comfort. "We're ...