All news – Page 6358
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US rotorcraft plans emerge
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DCThe US military and industry have begun to grapple with the definition of the future Joint Transport Rotorcraft (JTR) as they try to reconcile requirements for heavier lift capability with the promise of new technology and available funding. The US Army recently hosted its first JTR integrated concept ...
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Raytheon preferred for P-3 update
Raytheon Systems has been selected to upgrade mission systems aboard the Royal New Zealand Air Force's six Lockheed Martin P-3K Orions. The company has defeated rival proposals by Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Raytheon was advised by the New Zealand Ministry of Defence of its preferred status at the end of ...
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British Aerospace reins in Nimrod work
British Aerospace is concentrating structural work on the troubled Nimrod MRA4 maritime patrol aircraft at its Woodford factory. The move follows an announcement in March that the aircraft's in-service date has slipped from April 2003 until 2005. As a result Cobham subsidiary FR Aviation (FRA) will lose a contract ...
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Germany wants shared transports
Germany is urging its European partners to enter into discussions over pooling their transport aircraft fleet requirements. This is to cut costs as seven countries gear up for a decision on the possible joint procurement of up to 288 Airbus Military Company A400Ms. The idea was put forward by German ...
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UK nears decision on airlift programmes
Stewart Penney/LONDON A UK Ministry of Defence Equipment Approval Committee (EAC) meeting scheduled for 6 December is to consider options to meet the Royal Air Force's Short Term Strategic Airlift (STSA) requirement, the Future Transport Aircraft (FTA) competition and the beyond visual range air-to-air missile contest. The STSA and ...
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USA outlines follow-up to IHPTET
Paul Lewis/WILLIAMSBURG The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has outlined conceptual plans for a follow-on to the Integrated High Performance Turbine Engine Technology (IHPTET) initiative. It could be the basis of a new, lower cost family of military engines. IHPTET is scheduled to achieve its main goals ...
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Bids are in for VTOL competition
The US Navy's multi-million dollar contest to acquire a vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicle (VTOL UAV) generated up to three bids. Bidding for the programme, which includes 12 systems for the US Navy and 11 for the US Marine Corps, closed on 1 November. The USN ...
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Spaceport Australia
Efforts to establish commercial launch facilities in Australia may deliver results, but the economics are harsh Peter La Franchi/CANBERRAThree decades ago, the former European Launcher Development Organisation walked away from the Woomera Rocket Range. Now, the re-emergence of Australia as a portal to space depends on the success of four ...
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Explorer gets JAA go-ahead
The European Joint Aviation Authorities has recommended that its 27 member nations certify MD Helicopters' MD Explorer for Category A single pilot, instrument flight rule (IFR) operations. The recommendation follows the JAA's recent validation of the eight-seat, twin-engined helicopter. MD Helicopters was awarded single pilot IFR approval from the US ...
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Jet completions
Jet Aviation's Basel completion centre has delivered its first Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) and a Boeing 767. The BBJ, which was also the first model to be outfitted in Europe, has a VIP interior with seating for up to 18 passengers. Features of the 767, which was transformed from an ...
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Italian amphibians
Italy's Civil Protection Department has ordered a further two Bombardier CL-415 amphibians. The order will take the department's fleet of the type to 15. Italy now has five CL-415s due for delivery, following an order for three aircraft placed in September last year. One aircraft will arrive in January, two ...
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Pilatus expands fractional ownership network in USA
Kate Sarsfield/LONDON Pilatus PC-12 fractional ownership provider Alpha Flying is expanding its Plane Sense network to cover the south east and mid-west regions of the USA. "Responding to demand from potential customers across the US, we have decided to set up operating bases in Atlanta, Georgia by December and in ...
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India orders Shadows
CFM Aircraft of the UK has clinched an order for 24 Shadow microlight trainers from the Indian air force, marking what is believed to be the largest single order for microlights in the aviation industry. The 60kW (80hp) four-stroke Rotax 912-powered aircraft will be delivered over 15 months, starting immediately. ...
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ViperJet kit aircraft makes maiden flight
Viper Aircraft flew its ViperJet kitplane for the first time in late October. The two-seat Turboméca Marbore 6-powered prototype flew a 15-minute test flight from its base at Pacso, Washington. The composite ViperJet has dual controls and is targeted at the training and private flying markets. Performance projections ...
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IAE puts turbofan back on the drawing board
Andrew Doyle/MUNICH International Aero Engines (IAE) has dropped plans to launch a higher-thrust variant of its V2500 turbofan by the end of this year after failing to develop a satisfactory business case. It has refocused studies of the proposed "-A7" version of the engine, unveiled at the Paris ...
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Programme focus is key to BAe merger plan
British Aerospace and Marconi Electronic Systems (MES)have unveiled a radical programmes-led management restructuring as they prepare to merge by the end of this month. The overhaul will see BAe's Aerostructures and Military Aircraft divisions replaced by 11 programme-specific units, each with its own managing director. The aim is ...
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Regional deal heralds China breakthrough
Andrew Doyle/MUNICH Paul Lewis/WASHINGTONBombardier has signed a breakthrough deal with China's Shandong Airlines to supply five Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) series 200s. It will also look at establishing a dedicated training centre as local interest in regional aviation picks up. The Jinan-based provincial operator is the first Chinese carrier to ...
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Recorders may solve EgyptAir crash riddle
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hopes the impending recovery of EgyptAir flight 990's cockpit and data recorders will shed light on the Boeing 767-300ER's rollercoaster plunge into the sea on 31 October. NTSB investigators were waiting for a break in stormy weather last week ...
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Germany is close to joining FOAS project
The German Government is negotiating with the UK and France to join the Future Offensive Air System (FOAS) project. It hopes to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) early next year. The move will clear the way for DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa) - to become part of the European Aeronautic, ...
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Teledesic chief in ICO rescue
Emma Kelly/LONDON Teledesic chairman Craig McCaw is leading a rescue package for ICO Global Communications. It is designed to provide the bankrupt mobile satellite communications company with $1.2 billion so that it can launch services in 2001. McCaw and his affiliated companies, Teledesic and Eagle River Investments, will lead ...