All Airframers news – Page 1471
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PAL probe finds faulty reverser
Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE Asymmetrical thrust is emerging as the most likely cause for the crash of a Philippine Air Lines' (PAL) Airbus Industrie A320 at Bacolod, after the pilot attempted to land with only one of the aircraft's two engine thrust reversers serviceable. Flight International understands from investigators in ...
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P&W recalls blades after cleaning blip
Pratt & Whitney has been forced to recall thousands of high pressure turbine (HPT) blades and remove eight engines from service after a new ultrasonic cleaning device caused microscopic cracking of the blades. The company declines to comment on the cost of the problem, but it is known to ...
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Reorganised Qatar prepares to revamp short haul fleet
Qatar Airways is in negotiations to acquire a fleet of modern narrowbodied aircraft to replace its Boeing 727s as it prepares to take on the role as designated national carrier. The airline underwent a re-organisation early in 1997 which saw it boosting its long haul operations from Doha and ...
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Air France introduces Boeing 777 between Paris and New York
Air France is introducing the first of 10 270-seat, General Electric GE90-powered Boeing 777-200ERs between Paris and New York, replacing Boeing 767-300ERs. The aircraft are among the first to have the "ER" (extended range) designation, rather than the "IGW" (increased gross weight) suffix. The 777 also has the new increased ...
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Garuda Indonesia
Cash-strapped Garuda Indonesia, meanwhile, is seeking to renegotiate the financing for the 12 737-300/500s it is due to receive in 1998, plus a $660 million operating lease agreement on six Airbus A330-300s in service. The airline was only able to take delivery of a batch of five 737-500s late last ...
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Air Namibia switches from four engines to twinjet
Air Namibia has introduced a Boeing 767-300ER twinjet on its long haul services between Windhoek and London Heathrow, replacing a leased Boeing 747SP. The airline says that the move has enabled it to operate on a more cost-effective basis, and to introduce a first-class cabin for the first time. A ...
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CAL rethinks orders after crash
Brent Hannon/TAIPEI China Airlines (CAL) is considering deferring aircraft orders because of a 10-15% drop in load factors after one of its Airbus A300s crashed at Taipei in February, killing over 200 people. CAL is considering the deferral of two Airbus A300-600Rs due for delivery this year, say ...
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Air Canada expands fleet hushkit plans
Air Canada is to expand its hushkitting programme to keep its older and noisier aircraft in service beyond the USA's final Stage 3 noise compliance deadline of 31 December, 1999. The carrier will use the refurbished McDonnell Douglas (MDC) DC-9s to expand services to the USA. When the airline ...
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Russian regional tender fails to find a winner
The Russian Aviation Consortium (RAC) has declared that there will be no winner in its tender for delivery of 50 regional airliners for three Russian airlines. The deals will now be negotiated independently. Last year the RAC revealed that it was seeking bids from manufacturers to supply aircraft for ...
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Lockheed Martin gears up F-22 fuselage line
Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems is gearing up production of the F-22 mid-fuselage manufacturing line - the largest and most complex of the new fighter assemblies. Five mid-fuselages are now in production at Fort Worth, Texas - only one of which is not for delivery this year - as the ...
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Go confirms routes and May launch
Go, the UK low fare spin-off of British Airways, has revealed its initial route network and confirmed plans to launch in late May with a simple fare pricing structure. Sales and marketing director David Magliano says that services will be launched on 22 May from London Stansted with three ...
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Edelweiss to replace MD-80s with A320s
Swiss charter operator Edelweiss Air has ordered three new Airbus A320s to replace its Boeing MD-80 fleet. The Zurich-based carrier, which operates three 162-seat MD-83s, two on operating lease from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) and the third on financial lease from Credit Agricole, will take delivery of the ...
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Air Lanka orders A330-200s following Emirates stake
Air Lanka has placed orders for six Airbus A330-200s, after Emirates Airlines agreed to take a 40% stake in the Sri Lankan flag carrier. The Dubai based airline will manage Air Lanka for 10 years, says the Sri Lankan Public Enterprises Reform Commission (PERC). Emirates has also agreed to ...
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Middle East Airlines prepares fleet strategy
Julian Moxon/BEIRUT Middle East Airlines (MEA) is to drop all long haul routes and consolidate its fleet around short and medium range Airbus types, as part of its plan to move into profit within three years. The airline is under new management appointed by its 99.9% owner, the ...
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Airbus in AE31X dilemma
Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE Airbus Industrie is looking for a collaborative programme to substitute for the AE31X to placate its Chinese aerospace industry joint venture partners in the regional jet project. The Chinese are increasingly irritated that the proposed 100-seat A319M5 derivative is gaining momentum as a quick fix alternative to compete ...
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Crossair and CityLine move closer to 728JET launch order
Andrzej Jeziorski/BASLE Crossair and Lufthansa CityLine have signed letters of intent (LoI) with Fairchild Dornier to continue work on the manufacturer's proposed 55-90 seat family of regional jets. Swiss-based Crossair may place a major launch order by the end of this year (Flight International, 25-31 March). According to ...
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Shake-out time on the horizon for European low fare operators
Kevin O'Toole/LONDON Europe's low-cost airlines could be heading for a shake-out within the next year warns airline veteran British Midland (BM) chairman Sir Michael Bishop, highlighting a slowdown in growth and the prospect of a steep rise in airport charges. "Some of the special advantages that low cost carriers have ...
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Domestic upheavals
Brent Hannon/TAIPEI A series of fatal accidents has halted 11 years of rapid expansion by Taiwan's second-tier airlines, and an era of mergers and consolidation is at hand. The nine commercial airlines than once flew Taiwan's domestic skies will soon be cut to five, with further reductions likely. EVA Airways ...
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Hispano-Suiza takes new angle on gearbox
Ian Sheppard/PARIS Hispano-Suiza has carried out new extreme attitude tests on the BMW Rolls-Royce BR715 engine accessory/transfer gearbox assembly for the Boeing 717. The tests are designed to ensure that the aircraft can cope if it encounters an abrupt drop in air density. Jean-Luc Doublet, vice-president of Hispano ...
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Marketplace
++ Australia's biggest independently-owned regional carrier, Brisbane-based Flightwest Airlines, will buy at least four 19-seat British Aerospace Jetstream 32EP (enhanced performance) to replace Raytheon Beech King Airs on routes to remote-areas. The airline has also upgraded several regional routes formerly flown by Embraer EMB-120 Brasilias, with the acquisition of a ...