All news – Page 6602
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Astro chiefs
Two European astronauts have been given key positions in the European Space Agency's (ESA) European Astronaut Centre. Ernst Messerschmid, who flew as a German payload specialist on the Spacelab D1/Space Shuttle mission 61A in October 1985, becomes chief of the centre, while French astronaut Jean-Pierre Haignere becomes chief of ESA's ...
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Airbus flying-wing studies
Alongside immediate plans on the A3XX, Airbus Industrie and its partners are looking at configurations that could lead to the introduction of radical airliner designs further into the 21st Century. The first of a series of meetings to consider future concepts took place in November at Airbus Toulouse headquarters. Airbus ...
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Ariane launches Helios 1B
Arianespace launched an Ariane 40 booster from Kourou on 3 December, carrying the 2,500kg Helios 1B "spy satellite" into 700km sun-synchronous orbit. It was the 50th consecutive successful launch of an Ariane 4 model and the eighth successful Ariane launch for the year. The $1 billion two-satellite Helios 1 ...
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New angle on Quiet Wing system for 727
Duganair Technologies (DTI) has received US Federal Aviation Administration approval for a version of its Quiet Wing System Stage 3 modification that allows the use of 40° flap settings on the Boeing 727. DTI says the clearance allows operators to regain the 727's original short field performance capabilities that ...
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Aeroflot agrees to lease six Ilyushin Il-96-300s
Aeroflot Russian International Airlines has signed an agreement with Ilyushin's finance arm to take delivery of six Ilyushin Il-96-300s on lease. Production of the 240-seat Il-96-300, powered by the Aviadvigatel PS-90A, has been running at a trickle at the VASO Voronezh plant, where unfinished aircraft have been stockpiled. ...
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German leasing new entrant to acquire A320/737 portfolio
Deutsche Operating Leasing (DOL) expects to order a mix of 18 Airbus A320 family aircraft and Boeing Next Generation 737s early next year and to bolster its fledgling regional jet portfolio with a series of airline sale and lease-back deals. The company, set up by Germany's BfG Bank in ...
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JetBlue ready as first A320
New York-based low-fare startup JetBlue Airways has taken delivery of the first of at least 32 International Aero Engines V2500-powered Airbus A320s. The airline has received one of seven aircraft to be taken on operating lease - two from Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise and five from International Lease Finance - ...
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Crossair gears up for ATM-2000+
Andrew Doyle/SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS Crossair aims to become the first regional airline to have aircraft compliant with Europe's future communications, navigation and surveillance/air traffic management (CNS/ATM) operating environment when it begins taking delivery of a fleet of 15 Embraer ERJ-145s in February. The carrier says it decided ...
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USA reveals plan to beat congestion
NASA administrator Daniel Goldin has revealed a new joint programme with the US Federal Aviation Administration, the US Department of Defense and industry to establish a top-level technology roadmap for the US and global air transport system. The national research and development plan is co-ordinated by the US National ...
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Europe may go it alone on environment
David Learmount/LONDON The European Commission (EC) has threatened to enforce its own environmental standards for the aviation industry if the international community fails to agree action. The new EC document Air Transport and the Environment was released almost unnoticed on 1 December by Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio and ...
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US political pressure forces El Al to delay Airbus and R-R plans
Arie Egozi/TEL AVIV El Al has firmed up its planned purchase of three Boeing 777s, but its acquisition of up to four Airbus A330s is still in the balance amid a tense row between the airline's management and Israel's minister of transport. The airline is also understood to have ...
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Next-generation datalink held up
Efforts by the US Federal Aviation Administration to develop and deploy the next-generation digital air-to-ground communications system could be delayed by budget cuts, US aviation agency officials have warned. For now, controller pilot datalink communications (CPDLC), a key element of the FAA's "free flight" programme, remains on track despite ...
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Bell awaits Air87 decision
A review of the Australian Army's Project Air 87 armed-reconnaissance helicopters tendering process is to be handed to Australian defence minister John Moore. An announcement on the outcome is expected before the end of this month. The move follows a protest from Bell Helicopter Textron. Australia's new head ...
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Belgium will decide on JSF by year end
The Belgian Government is expected to decide on whether to join the international Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme by the end of this month. Although the Belgian air force's 90 Lockheed Martin F-16A/B fighters are not due to be replaced before 2010, an early decision is necessary if Belgian ...
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USA urged to review missile ban
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC The US Government is likely to be forced shortly to review its ban on the sale of actively guided beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missiles to South America as French, Israeli, Russian and Taiwanese suppliers line up to fill emerging requirements in Chile, Brazil and Peru. ...
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New roles considered for Global Hawk
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC Northrop Grumman is beginning to look at developments of its RQ-4A Global Hawk high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air vehicle that could include stealth features for the airframe and payloads that would allow it to perform nearly 20 more operational roles. Plans are also being developed to deploy Global Hawk ...
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USN says door is 'still open' to BROACH
The US Navy says that despite of the US Air Force's rejection of the BAE Systems BROACH, the door is still open to fitting the multi-warhead penetrator to the Raytheon AGM-154C Joint Stand Off Weapon (JSOW), provided that the UK manufacturer can achieve a significant cost reduction. Raytheon, meanwhile, ...
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MiG 1.42 fighter poised to take to the air
The MiG 1.42 multifunction lightweight fighter prototype could fly within two months if no further problems arise, according to the Russian combat aircraft developer. Meanwhile, MiG's parent organisation, VPK MAPO, has been transformed into the Russian Aircraft Building Corporation MIG (RSK MIG). MiG 1.42 chief constructor and director Yuri ...
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Sentry refit
Boeing has started upgrading the first NATO-operated E-3 Sentry. The $450 million engineering, manufacturing and development contract includes improvements to the E-3's computers, displays, communications, navigation and identification systems. Installation is due to be finished in the middle of next year and qualification testing completed by spring 2001. Retrofit of ...