All news – Page 6362

  • News

    FlightSafety Boeing picks Luton for first European training unit

    1999-11-03T00:00:00Z

    Max Kingsley-Jones/LUTON FlightSafety Boeing Training International (FSBTI) has rethought its European strategy, deciding to set up small training centres across Europe rather than one major hub near London Heathrow. The change of plan comes as the company initiates the development of a £44 million ($73.5 million) training centre, which ...

  • News

    Lufthansa boosts Berlin centre

    1999-11-03T00:00:00Z

    Lufthansa is expanding its Berlin flight training centre by buying two full-flight simulators with visual systems from Canada's CAE Electronics. CityLine Simulator and Training Berlin will take delivery of Europe's first Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jet simulator by the end of next year, while Lufthansa Simulator Centre is acquiring a ...

  • News

    Pan Am starts career training

    1999-11-03T00:00:00Z

    Pan Am International Flight Academy (PAIFA) has entered the ab initio pilot training market by buying Westwind Aviation Academy. Following its acquisition of Phoenix, Arizona-based Westwind, PAIFA has launched a career pilot training programme, under which it will work with airlines to select and train students all the way ...

  • News

    ESA tests weightlessness in A300 flights

    1999-11-03T00:00:00Z

    The European Space Agency (ESA) launched the latest in a series of microgravity parabolic flights using an adapted Airbus A300 in late October. The flights, which involve experiments in weightlessness, test instruments and equipment before they undergo a real spaceflight. The latest series of flights involve nine human respiration system ...

  • News

    Rupture caused Delta III failure

    1999-11-03T00:00:00Z

    A rupture of the combustion chamber in the second-stage RL-10B-2 engine caused the failure of the second Delta III launcher in May, according to an interim report by Boeing. The engine, which was being used for the first time, suffered "a 67in² [43,225mm²] diamond-shaped breach of its combustion chamber" ...

  • News

    ESA issues warning on space debris

    1999-11-03T00:00:00Z

    The European Space Agency (ESA) is calling for the introduction of measures to prevent further space debris accumulating in orbit. ESA warns that there is a 1 in 25 chance of the Hubble Space Telescope being seriously damaged by space debris during its 17-year life. There are 8,000 pieces ...

  • News

    Leo One chooses satellite partners

    1999-11-03T00:00:00Z

    Leo One Worldwide has selected Dasa's Dornier Satellitensysteme, Eurokot and Lockheed Martin Space Electronics to construct and launch its proposed 48 low-earth-orbiting satellites that will provide near real-time store and forward data services. The agreements, valued at more than $400 million each, will involve Dornier Satellitensysteme, Eurokot and Lockheed ...

  • News

    FAME and Swift head search for planets

    1999-11-03T00:00:00Z

    The search for extra-solar planetary systems has begun with the selection by NASA of the Full Sky Astrometric Mapping Explorer (FAME) and the Swift Gamma Ray Burst Explorer as new missions in the space agency's Medium-class Explorer (MIDEX) programme. FAME, to be launched in 2004, will obtain precise position ...

  • News

    NASA releases new services request

    1999-11-03T00:00:00Z

    NASA has released a complicated request for proposals (RFP) for multiple award indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) expendable launch vehicle launch services contracts. The RFP involves heavy, intermediate, medium and medium-light vehicles. Proposals are requested by 7 January. The RFP is open to emerging launchers not available at the ...

  • News

    Australia opts for new Optus satellite series

    1999-11-03T00:00:00Z

    Tim Furniss/LONDON Australia has signed a contract with Cable & Wireless Optus (CWO) to provide the satellite and ground infrastructure for a new $327 million hybrid civil-military communications satellite, Optus C-1. The Optus C-1 is to be launched on an Ariane 5 in 2002, although the contract is ...

  • News

    Thai closes on privatisation

    1999-11-03T00:00:00Z

    Jens Flottau/TOKYOThai Airways International chief executive Thamnoon Wanglee says a decision on the privatisation of the carrier will be taken next March or April, with the choice of investor determining whether the carrier remains within the Star Alliance. Wanglee confirms that British Airways and Qantas have made approaches on behalf ...

  • News

    SAirGroup earmarks cash for stakes in THY and TAP

    1999-11-03T00:00:00Z

    Andrew Doyle/MUNICH SAirGroup is setting aside SFr500 million ($335 million) for its planned acquisition of equity stakes in THY Turkish Airlines and TAP Air Portugal next year. It is also close to finalising its new US airline alliance strategy. The Swiss company plans to bid for a 20% equity ...

  • News

    US DoD stalls on establishing its new transatlantic mergers policy

    1999-11-03T00:00:00Z

    Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC Chris Jasper/LONDON The US Department of Defense (DoD) says it needs more time to establish a new policy on transatlantic defence mergers. Deputy defence secretary John Hamre warns that it is "probably premature" to expect any major deals, despite merger pressures coming from Europe. Europe's ...

  • News

    Fessler loses partner Ryan but goes ahead with Walter purchase

    1999-11-03T00:00:00Z

    US investor Robert Fessler has signed a framework agreement to buy 94% of Czech aero-engine manufacturer Walter, despite a decision by his would-be joint venture partner Tony Ryan, the founder of Irish low-cost airline Ryanair, to withdraw from the takeover deal at the last minute. The pair had planned ...

  • News

    Hard to digest

    1999-11-03T00:00:00Z

    Whether it is clever politics, a knee-jerk reaction or just well-meant advice, the "closed" sign has gone up in the window of the transatlantic merger diner at which Europe has been trying to book a table since merger-mania gripped the industry earlier this year. Clever politics, perhaps, because Washington ...

  • News

    A400M nations to use new Euro procurement agency

    1999-11-03T00:00:00Z

    Andrew Doyle/TOULOUSE The seven countries evaluating the Airbus Military (AMC) A400M for their airlifter requirements have agreed to buy the aircraft through the OCCAR (Organisme Conjointe de Co-operation en matiere d'Armament) international armaments agency. The procurement agency is being set up by potential buyers France, Germany, Italy and the ...

  • News

    BAe Australia ties up OTHR support contract with RAAF

    1999-11-03T00:00:00Z

    British Aerospace Australia (BAeA) has finalised negotiations for a A$40 million ($26 million) five-year support contract for the Royal Australian Air Force's 1RSU operational over-the-horizon radar (OTHR). BAeA was selected as the preferred supplier for the requirement in May. The contract includes options for three extensions of two years ...

  • News

    Belgium updates Alpha Jet fleet

    1999-11-03T00:00:00Z

    Stewart Penney/LONDON The Belgian air force is upgrading its Dassault/ Dornier Alpha Jets in a bid to reduce the maintenance requirements for its advanced trainers. Maj Ronnie Vaerten, Belgian air force Alpha Jet test pilot, says older equipment with a high maintenance burden, such as the manual gunsight and ...

  • News

    Brazil to investigate air force upgrade

    1999-11-03T00:00:00Z

    Brazil's Attorney General's office has appointed an investigator to look into the air force's planned upgrade of the avionics in its Northrop F-5E/F fighters for alleged tendering and programme irregularities. The probe is intended to determine whether there is sufficient cause to launch a wider investigation by the Justice ...

  • News

    USA set for new powerplant

    1999-11-03T00:00:00Z

    Paul Lewis/WILLIAMSBURG The US Army is set to sign an initial agreement with the US Navy to move forward with a requirement for an all new 2,230kW (3,000shp) common engine programme (CEP) to power the Boeing AH-64 and Sikorsky H-60 series helicopters. An operational requirements document (ORD) has been drafted ...