All news – Page 6435
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US AOPA warns on safety after Loran delays
The US Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has warned that general aviation safety will be seriously undermined by any further delay in the decision on the continuation of the Loran-C navigation system and any plans to bring forward the shut down of Loran-C transmitters in the USA. AOPA ...
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UK ambulance service expands
The National Association of Air Ambulance Services (NAAAS) is extending its operational coverage within the UK and has issued a tender for two new helicopters to cover two key regions. "The minimum requirement will be for twin-engined helicopters with the ability to transport two patients and two attendants as well ...
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Boeing plans reduced supplier base in bid to improve finances
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC Boeing plans to cut its supplier base from over 31,000 companies to just 18,000 as part of a "managing for value" programme to improve the company's financial performance. The supplier base size is a key measurement in a "value scorecard" Boeing will use to track its progress. ...
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ICO sets $1 billion goal for new issue
New satellite system operator ICO Global Communications is hoping to raise up to $1 billion from its current rights issue as it attempts to reach the $4.5 billion target required to allow the launch of commercial operations next year. The rights issue is due to be completed at the ...
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Landing gear deals clear BFGoodrich/Coltec merger
BFGoodrich and Coltec Industries completed their $2.2 billion merger on 12 July, after agreements were reached with AlliedSignal and Crane to preserve competition in the US landing system industry. The agreements ended lawsuits which had blocked the deal, but left the "strategic and economic fundamentals of the merger completely ...
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US advances Euro-merger policy
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC Signals are emerging of the stance the US Government is likely to take on major transatlantic mergers. Senior US Department of Defense officials are saying they will not stand in the way of mergers if the security of key US weapons technology is not at risk. ...
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Balkan faces Arab boycott
Acquisition of a 75% stake in Balkan Bulgarian by Israeli investors has run into problems after Arab countries threatened to boycott the carrier. Lebanon and Syria say that Balkan flights will be banned from landing in Beirut and Damascus because the airline is owned by Israeli interests. Knafaim ...
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SAA's cost cutting turns loss into profit
South African Airways (SAA) has revealed a R51 million ($8.32 million) profit for the 12 months to the end of March. The state-owned airline, which last month agreed to sell a 20% shareholding to SAirGroup of Switzerland, recorded a R244 million loss the previous year. The turnaround in fortunes ...
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Dornier vetoes Astrium alliance
Julian Moxon/PARIS Dornier Electronic & Software owner Claudio Dornier has vetoed the inclusion of Dornier's space activities in the new Astrium space alliance. Astrium, due to be formed by the end of this year, will bring together the space divisions of Aerospatiale Matra, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa) and Marconi Electronic ...
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NASA zooms in on telescope team
A Lockheed Martin-led team has been awarded a design contract by NASA for the Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST). The NGST, part of NASA's Origins programme, will be launched in 2008 and will help NASA observe the first stars and galaxies formed in the universe. The Lockheed Martin team, ...
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Teledesic finalises Internet deal
Teledesic has signed a launch contract with Lockheed Martin and concluded a system agreement with Motorola for its global, broadband Internet-in-the-sky satellite communications network. Teledesic's contract with Lockheed Martin calls for the lift-off of three Proton M and three Atlas V launches, carrying multiple Teledesic satellites per mission, with ...
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Solar array joints delivered
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space has delivered to International Space Station prime contractor Boeing the solar array rotary joints and the second of two thermal radiator rotary joints for the station. The 3m (10ft)-diameter solar array joints are "the largest mechanisms ever designed to operate in a space environment", says ...
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SabreTech faces ValuJet murder charge
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC SabreTech, the maintenance contractor for the former ValuJet Airlines, says it will "vigorously defend" itself against murder and manslaughter charges brought by Florida state prosecutors. It also faces federal grand jury criminal indictments. The charges relate to the crash of a ValuJet McDonnell Douglas ...
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ESA looks ahead to replace Ariane 5
Tim Furniss/LONDON The European Space Agency (ESA) plans to start development of a new reusable or partly reusable launcher in 2007, with service entry planned for 2015. The vehicle will replace the Ariane 5, which is to make its first commercial launch this summer. The development work will ...
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Shuttle could fly until 2030
NASA predicts that its Space Shuttle could still be flying up to 2030 unless the US Government helps to fund new reusable launch vehicle projects. The Space Shuttle programme's four orbiters are a quarter of the way through their lifetimes, says Richard Stephens, vice-president and general manager ...
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Spain joins Argentina for Cesar project
Spain and Argentina are working together on the Cesar satellite, planned for launch in 2003. Cesar, which will be developed by Spain's Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial (INTA) and Argentina's space agency CONAE, will transmit 5m (16ft)-resolution images of the earth. A launcher for the 400kg (880lb) spacecraft has ...
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Boeing tackles winglet erosion in MD-11 modification package
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Boeing plans to complete work by the end of the year on improvements to tackle long-standing operational problems on the MD-11. They include new coatings to prevent excessive erosion to the winglets, modifications to stop skin cracks and changes to system fittings and valves to prevent ...
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Imaging system promises to break through the cloud
Thomson-Thorn Missile Electronics (TTME)is developing an imaging system that uses reflected millimetre wave (MMW)energy to form a picture in conditions such as smoke and dust that would obscure infrared systems. Using technology developed with the UK Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) at Malvern, the system is passive, relying ...
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BASE tests Terprom on a helicopter
Stewart Penney/PLYMOUTH British Aerospace Systems and Equipment (BASE) is preparing for flight trials of a helicopter version of its Terprom digital terrain avoidance and navigation system. Terprom - which recently added US Air Force Boeing C-17 airlifters to its list of applications - will be evaluated on a ...
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Italian Venture
Finmeccanica and UK partner Rolls-Royce have opened a joint turbine blade manufacturing company at Morra de Sanctis in Italy. Europea Microfusioni Aerospaziali is 66.6% owned by Finmeccanica with R-R holding the remainder. Source: Flight International