All news – Page 6443
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Globalstar finds funds as Iridium struggles
While questions remain about the survival of Iridium's mobile communications satellite system, competitor Globalstar has arranged a further $500 million credit facility. This brings to $3.8 billion the amount raised to set up the system. Initial Globalstar commercial services will start in September, with 32 operational satellites and nine ...
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Second test for Vega's Zefiro
The second test firing of the Zefiro engine for the European Space Agency's (ESA) proposed Vega small satellite launcher has been completed in Sardinia, Italy. The Vega will be able to place 1,000kg (2,200lb) payloads into low earth orbit (LEO) at between $10 million and $25 million a launch, ...
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Box blamed for WIRE breakdown in orbit
NASA's Wide Field Infrared Explorer (WIRE) satellite failed in orbit because of an incorrectly designed electronics box that prematurely fired explosive devices, says the space agency. The failure caused the early ejection of the satellite's telescope cover. The box's design did not take into account the start-up characteristics of ...
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Chandra Observatory is joined to Columbia
The Chandra X-Ray Observatory (foreground) was delivered in its canister to Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 29 June, to be inserted into the payload bay of Space Shuttle Columbia. The observatory is due to be deployed into orbit shortly after the launch of the ...
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X-38 schedule doubts
As NASA prepares for another drop test of the X-38 prototype space station crew emergency return vehicle (CERV) at Edwards AFB, California, there are doubts about the schedule for the full scale version. There are indications that this version will not serve the International Space Station until 2005, rather than ...
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Eurowings aims to finance new regional aircraft with flotation
Andrew Doyle/NUREMBERG Eurowings is reining in capacity to bolster its bottom line ahead of an initial public offering (IPO),aimed at helping finance a $1 billion fleet renewal. The carrier could order up to 40 new regional jets before the end of the year. Dortmund-based Eurowings is to replace most of ...
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Start-ups look to profit from AeroPeru gap
Two foreign-backed Peruvian start-up airlines are preparing to fill the domestic and international void left by AeroPeru, as time runs out to rescue the bankrupt national carrier. Chilean-backed LanPeru aimed to start scheduled services on 5 July and will be joined shortly by Central American-supported TransAm. The carriers have ...
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Routes
Yugoslavia's JAT resumed some international flights from Belgrade on 25 June. All flights had been suspended since 24 March, when NATO bombing of the country started. By 9 July, JAT expects to be flying to Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Tunisia and China, the airline says. Most of Europe may remain ...
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Japanese majors cut fares
Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE Fare cuts by Japan's "big three" airlines have taken their toll on the country's two new domestic carriers, Skymark and Air Do. The start-ups, which challenged All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines and Japan Air System on high-density domestic routes, have suffered falling load factors since April and ...
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US firm develops Jetstream cargo conversion
US cargo specialist Murray Aviation is carrying out the first cargo conversion of a British Aerospace Jetstream 31 (J31), and is aiming to secure a supplemental type certificate early next year. The Detroit-based company has bought a 13-year-old ex-US Airways Express J31, which is undergoing conversion at its base. ...
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European Union ministers get tough on air traffic delays
European Union (EU) transport ministers have requested that the European Commission (EC) provide details as soon as possible on measures aimed at reducing air traffic delays and congestion in Europe. The situation is "of serious concern", and is "becoming more intolerable", says the EU Transport Council. At their meeting ...
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Marketplace
Regional start-up Shuttle America plans to grow its 50-seat Bombardier Dash 8-300 fleet from three aircraft to six by the end of the year. The airline, which operates three secondhand aircraft leased from the manufacturer, holds lease options for 18 more Dash 8-300s. Atlas Air has signed a long-term lease ...
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Turkey joins JSF programme and Denmark extends commitment
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC Turkey has signed to join the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme during the concept demonstration phase and JSF partner Denmark has signalled its intention to extend its participation into the key follow-on engineering manufacturing development (EMD) phase. The JSF programme office (JPO) confirms that Turkey signed a ...
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Sweden's armed forces close purse strings on Meteor
The Swedish military has removed funding for the Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile in an effort to overcome a shortfall in the armed forces' budget. The missile is a collaborative project proposed by the industries of the four Eurofighter nations, Sweden and possibly France. The Swedish air force ...
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Atlantic ADS
A trial of automatic dependent surveillance (ADS) will be launched across the North Atlantic on 15 July. The trial, in the Gander and Shanwick Oceanic Control Areas, will involve the use of ADS for waypoint position reporting. More than 50 Future Air Navigation System (FANS-1)-equipped Boeing 747-400s and 777s operated ...
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Dassault independence hopes fade after shareholder shock
Julian Moxon/PARISDassault Aviation's battle to remain an independent element of the restructured French aerospace industry is in tatters after its major outside shareholder, Aerospatiale Matra, blocked its plans to create separate civil and military divisions. At a meeting on 30 June of the strategic committee that manages the two entities, ...
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Airports
Little Cayman Island in the Caribbean will be able to take larger aircraft from next year after the completion of a new 1,220m (4,000ft) runway. The Cayman Ministry of Transportation recently approved the development and expects to pick a contractor in time for work to begin late this year, to ...
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Lockheed Martin sharpens knife
Chris Jasper/LONDONLockheed Martin has launched a sweeping review of its entire business portfolio and will decide in a few months on the possible disposal of some of its assets. Industry sources suggest the US giant is prepared to shed $1 billion-worth of assets as it fights to reverse a sharp ...
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BA confirms ambitions for domestic Italian carrier
Andy Nativi/GENOA Jens Flottau/BERLIN British Airways has confirmed that it is continuing to study the launch of an airline to compete in the Italian domestic market. It plans to decide on the venture shortly. The UK carrier originally considered establishing an Italian franchise operation this year, but was forced ...
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Lufthansa takes on PAL restructure
Andrew Doyle/MUNICH Lufthansa Consulting, a subsidiary of the German flag carrier, has signed a two-year contract with Philippine Airlines (PAL), which should see it play a major role in the restructuring of the struggling Asian carrier. The move effectively kills plans for Regent Star, a consultancy formed by ...