All air transport news – Page 2416
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France spells out the details of Thomson-CSF's flotation
The French Government has published the timetable and conditions for the privatisation of defence-electronics giant Thomson-CSF, including a surprise ban on Aerospatiale from joining the bidding. Under the timetable, all candidates must present initial propositions for their interest in Thomson by 28 March, with the deadline for depositing ...
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US watchdog wants to delay production of F-18E/F
THE US GENERAL Accounting Office (GAO) is urging US defence chief William Cohen to postpone the low-rate initial production (LRIP) decision on the McDonnell Douglas F-18E/F programme until Congressionally ordered studies on the multi-billion-dollar weapons programme are completed in the next several months. The Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) ...
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Rocketplane aims for 'smallsat' boom
PIONEER ROCKETPLANE is planning to fly its Pathfinder transatmospheric launch vehicle in three years time, to be available for initial deployment of the proposed Teledesic constellation of some 840 small communications satellites. Denver, Colorado-based Pioneer is seeking $6 million in funding for detail design of the Pathfinder and will need ...
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NASA plans to retire Pioneer 10 shortly
The legendary NASA Pioneer 10 has passed its 25th year in space and is now 9.76 billion kilometres from Earth. The satellite will be retired on 31 March. The TRW-built Pioneer made the first fly-by of Jupiter in 1973, and was also the first man-made object to leave ...
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Alcatel asks for US SkyBridge approval
Alcatel Espace has applied to the US Federal Communications Commission to launch and operate a 64-satellite, low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation to provide high-speed, broadband, interactive services to business and private users worldwide, at a data rate of up to 60 million bits/s. The $3.5 billion system, called the ...
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The big question
Given the highly public differences between Airbus Industrie and Boeing over the existence, or otherwise, of a multi-billion-dollar market for a new large airliner, you could be forgiven for thinking that a yawning gulf exists between long-term forecasts from the two manufacturers. In fact, this is not so. ...
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Struggle for success
There have been recent airline casualties in the South American commercial air-transport industry's struggle to find its feet - a scrap which continues today. Although traffic is growing fast in this market, there is a clear need for restructuring what has traditionally been a fragmented and unprofitable airline sector. According ...
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Forbes calls for Government marketing aid
GAMTA CHIEF executive Graham Forbes is calling for the UK Government to take a more active role in the marketing of UK general-aviation (GA) products. He says that, compared to other countries in the industry, UK-based aircraft manufacturers suffer from a lack of up-front Government or military orders. ...
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Tarom discusses MD-11 acquisition with MDC
Romanian flag carrier Tarom is talking to McDonnell Douglas (MDC) about a possible MD-11 purchase as it awaits Government clearance to buy next-generation Boeing 737s and AI(R) ATR 42 turboprops. A delegation from McDonnell Douglas visited Romanian capital Bucharest in February to discuss the potential acquisition by Tarom ...
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Deutsche BA orders seven more 737-300s to replace Fokker 100s
The airline, British Airways' German subsidiary, says that the contract is worth $287 million, and that deliveries of the 136-seat aircraft will start in August. Deutsche BA's present 737-300 fleet, which consists of nine leased aircraft, will be boosted to up to 18 737s by the end of ...
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JAL spins off new domestic subsidiary
Japan Airlines (JAL) has announced that its planned new domestic subsidiary carrier, JALEXPRESS, will be formally incorporated from 1 April and begin operations in 1998. The new 100% JAL-owned airline is being established to compete with Japan's proliferating number of planned low-cost start-up carriers, following partial liberalisation of ...
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Kenya Airways pursues plan to expand Nairobi into a hub
A year on from its successful privatisation, Kenya Airways plans to launch the first phase in the development of Nairobi Airport as a hub. Managing director Brian Davies reveals that the airline has ordered a third new Boeing 737-300 and will reconsider its long-haul fleet structure. Davies says ...
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Sabreliner moves cargo conversions to boost capacity
Dimension Aviation, the new modification centre set up recently by Sabreliner, has taken over all McDonnell Douglas (MDC) US widebody cargo-conversion work from sister company SabreTech, and could eventually have the capability to convert up to 12 aircraft simultaneously. Sabreliner established Dimension in February as part of a ...
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IPTNcalls in Europeans on N250
IPTN has enlisted a team of European aerospace consultants to try to help secure Joint Airworthiness Authorities (JAA) type certification of its N250 regional turboprop. Jakarta-based consultancy Bramadi Pratama has recruited a group of former British Aerospace employees, ex-JAA officials and test pilots to assist IPTN and the Indonesian Directorate ...
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Snecma is 'positive' about R-R's plans for A340-600
French engine manufacturer Snecma is in "very positive" negotiations with Rolls- Royce on taking a stake in the UK company's proposed engine for the Airbus Industrie A340-600. The move follows the failure of talks between Airbus and General Electric on a suitable engine for the stretched, ultra-long-range, 375-seat ...
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SAA closes in on long-awaited 777 purchase
South African Airways (SAA)is working to finalise its delayed order for Boeing 777s by the end of March, following the US manufacturer's offer of revised delivery positions. The move comes as SAA is undergoing a major management restructuring to prepare it for privatisation. The carrier and Boeing announced ...
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BA suspends 777IGW ETOPS operations
British Airways has suspended extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) flights using its three Boeing 777-200 increased-gross-weight aircraft after metal was found in the chip detectors of two engines. The problem was discovered during a routine inspection on 21 February, and three days later a Boston-bound 777-200IGWreturned to London after a cockpit ...
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Boeing completes first 737-800 fuselage assembly
Boeing is close to completing assembly of the first Boeing 737-800 fuselage at its Wichita, Kansas plant. Following the application of final protective finishes, the 39.5m-long body will be shipped by rail to the company's Renton, Washington, factory for final assembly. The first 737-800, the largest member of the next-generation ...
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MTU tests transonic LP turbine
Daimler-Benz Aerospace (Dasa)engine subsidiary MTU has successfully completed the first round of altitude tests on its transonic low-pressure (LP) turbine for an advanced ducted-propulsor (ADP) engine. The tests were performed in Stuttgart University's high-altitude testing centre, as part of the Engine 3E (environment, efficiency and economy) research programme ...
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Ultra-led team to study advanced control systems
A research project aimed at developing advanced control systems for large-aircraft landing gear has been launched by Ultra Electronics, in conjunction with Messier-Dowty and British Aerospace Airbus. The 30-month UK Government-sponsored research programme will cover areas such as active bogie trimming, damping control, steering control and intelligent gear-sequencing. ...