All news – Page 6444
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Beijing may force merger of Air China and China Southern
Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE The Chinese Government is considering a forced merger between flag carrier Air China and China Southern Airlines, the country's biggest airline. Industry sources in Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai say such a proposal is under study, but that many obstacles - including the airlines' own reluctance - ...
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Israelis take stake in Balkan Bulgarian
Knafaim-Arkia, holding company of privately owned Arkia Israeli Airlines, and the Zeevi investment group have together taken a 75% stake in Balkan Bulgarian Airlines for a bargain price of $150,000 - but have also agreed to invest $100 million in restructuring the airline over the next 10 years. Knafaim-Arkia ...
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Aeroflot continues down recovery road with profit
Paul Duffy/MOSCOW Aeroflot Russian International Airlines says it is recovering from the consequences of last year's economic slide and continues to pay off its debts, including $170 million a year in lease fees on 25 Western airliners. Chief executive Valery Okulov admits that the airline was in danger of ...
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Delta III engine 'exploded'
Tim Furniss/LONDON The failure of Boeing's Delta III launcher to place the Orion 3 satellite into a correct orbit in May was probably caused by an explosion in the combustion chamber of the second stage engine, says Boeing. The stage was powered by a Pratt & Whitney RL-10 Centaur-class ...
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Gulfstream deliveries launch NetJets Middle East
National Air Services (NAS) has taken delivery of its first Gulfstream IVSP core aircraft, launching the NetJets Middle East programme. "The first customer-owned aircraft will arrive at the end of July but, having just received Part 135 approval, which allows us to operate commercially, we are essentially ready to begin ...
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Counter-suit filed in dispute over two-seat sport design
A second law suit has been filed in the continuing clash between US manufacturers Aviat Aircraft and Roy LoPresti over a new two-seat sport aircraft based on a 1946 Globe Aircraft design. The legal dispute began in April, when Aviat filed an infringement suit against LoPresti claiming that LoPresti's ...
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FLSA plans strategic US buy
Chris Jasper/DUBLIN Maintenance specialist FLS Aerospace (FLSA) plans a US purchase by the end of this year as part of a strategy that could see it rival Aviation Sales as the world's largest third-party-only aircraft overhaul provider. The Copenhagen-based company, a division of diversified Danish conglomerate FLS Industries, says ...
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UPS buys cargo carrier in drive for Latin America
United Parcel Service (UPS) aims to improve its position in the Latin American market with the purchase of Challenge Air Cargo (CAC), a freight-only carrier flying to 17 cities in that region from Miami and Dallas. CAC founder and president Bill Spohrer says the deal includes the acquisition of ...
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NATO slams Europe's warfighting capability after Kosovo conflict
Stewart Penney/LONDON NATO's new military committee chairman, Adm Guido Venturoni, and UK defence secretary George Robertson have criticised Europe's ability to support alliance operations such as the recent conflict with Yugoslavia. Both acknowledge that the USA provided the lion's share (70-80%) of air assets in Kosovo. Venturoni says that, ...
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C-27J Spartan drive gathers impetus in Italy
Andy Nativi/GENOA Lockheed Martin Alenia Tactical Transport Systems (LMATTS) is stepping up its C-27J Spartan marketing campaign in Italy as it prepares the first prototype for a maiden flight late next month. Despite Italian air force claims that it has no funds available for even a small batch of ...
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USAF fixes munitions dispenser problem
The US Air Force has successfully tested solutions to a technical problem with Lockheed Martin's Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD) that slowed the project for over a year. Fin flutter at supersonic speeds was discovered during flight testing in November 1997. Lockheed Martin looked at four designs with locking ...
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UK rings Matra BAe for Alarm
Stewart Penney/LONDON Matra BAe Dynamics has won a contract to upgrade the Royal Air Force's Alarm anti-radiation missile with a new solid rocket motor as part of a wider proposal to improve the weapon. The seeker is also being updated as part of a "black" programme. Responsibility for the seeker ...
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Israel serenades Turkey with Guitar
Israeli manufacturers continue to use Israel's growing military relationship with Turkey to pursue requirements from Ankara. Rafael hopes Turkey could be a potential launch customer for the Guitar passive missile warning system. Israel's two leading unmanned air vehicle (UAV) manufacturers are mounting a joint bid for a $350 million ...
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European split on competitor to V-22 tiltrotor
GKN Westland and Agusta are finalising a bid to the European Commission to fund a compound helicopter technology demonstrator. This signals the final break-up of the Eurofar consortium, which was created to develop a rival to Bell-Boeing's V-22 tiltrotor. The UK company is also in discussions with the Ministry ...
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Canadian team
Sikorsky has teamed with Lockheed Martin Canada to offer its S-92 in Canada's Maritime Helicopter Project contest. Canada requires around 35 aircraft to replace Sikorsky CH-124 Sea Kings. Lockheed Martin will be responsible for mission system integration. Source: Flight International
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U-2 improvements take off
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DCThe upgrade of the Lockheed Martin U-2S avionics and principal sensor is gaining momentum with the start of testing of the improved Raytheon Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar System 2 (ASARS-2) and the recent selection and order of improved systems. Flight validation of an improved high-resolution reconnaissance radar has ...
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Sea Launch wins four orders
The Boeing-led international Sea Launch operation has received four confirmed launch orders, valued at about $350 million, from Hughes Space & Communications. This brings to 14 the number of Hughes satellites on the company's manifest. Space Systems/Loral also has five launches booked. The four new firm orders, for launches ...
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Surrey Satellite signs for Dnepr launches
The Russian-Ukrainian Kosmotras company has signed a contract with the UK's Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) for two launches of SSTL mini-satellites on the Dnepr, a converted SS-18 intercontinental ballistic missile booster. The launches are planned to take place in March/April and October/November next year. The first commercial Dnepr launch ...
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X-34 makes first captive flight
The first Orbital Sciences X-34 vehicle made its maiden captive flight beneath a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar on 29 June, from Edwards AFB, California. Captive flights will be made to get US Federal Aviation Administration approval. Next year, another X-34 will fly unpowered glide flights to a runway after being dropped ...
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Heathrow business operators fight on
Kate Sarsfield/LONDON Business Jet operators at London Heathrow Airport have suffered a further setback in their fight for improved treatment at Europe's busiest hub, following the loss of a court appeal against slot co-ordinator Airport Co-ordination (ACL). The Heathrow Executive Jet Operators Association (HEJOA) failed to convince the ...