All news – Page 6631
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Australian reforms
Paul Phelan/CAIRNS "It is an uncertain market, because there are various people at different levels of desperation as a consequence of their position," warned Qantas managing director James Strong, explaining the impact of the Asian downturn even on carriers indirectly affected. The comment, made in August at the same conference ...
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Transition Planning
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC The US Federal Aviation Administration has produced a new blueprint for modernisation of the country's airspace system, but industry remains far from convinced that the document represents a firm timetable for the introduction of new technologies. Manufacturers have been researching the new communications, navigation, surveillance and air ...
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Striking possibility
Howard Gethin/LONDON Long-range precision strike remains an ability all commanders desire, but the cost and complexity remain high. Using manned strike aircraft allows a man-in-the-loop and lots of firepower, but is expensive and vulnerable, especially over a battlefield. Artillery cannot strike in depth beyond about 40km (25 miles), even with ...
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Diminishing returns
Paul Phelan/WELLINGTON For almost 10 years Chief of Air Staff Air Vice Marshal Carey Adamson watched the stature of the Royal New Zealand Air Force's (RNZAF) being steadily diminished by successive waves of political negativity, before its future was tenuously stabilised in 1996. At that point, a defence assessment ...
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Space Shuttle
Tim Furniss/LONDON John Glenn has made it in the nick of time. The STS95/Discovery mission due to launch the 77-year-old former astronaut into orbit on 29 October, it turns out, is his last realistic chance to return to space. The fifth Shuttle launch this year, STS88, is scheduled ...
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Big ideas
Julian Moxon/NOORDWIJKERHOUT To a travelling public that sees the occasionally horrific television images of the aftermath of a major air disaster, the idea that they might one day fly on an aircraft capable of carrying up to 1,000 passengers is likely to bring the inevitable thought - what if it ...
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ANA becomes the ninth Star Alliance member
All Nippon Airways (ANA) has finally thrown its hat into the Star Alliance ring to become the ninth full member, adding further pressure to flag carrier Japan Airlines (JAL) to commit to the rival oneworld partnership. Airline president Kichisaburo Nomura announced ANA's intention to join Star during a gathering ...
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South Korea eyes Beriev Be-200 amphibian
South Korea is talking to IAPO Beriev over the possible sale of "several"Be-200 amphibian aircraft for the country's maritime patrol force, according to IAPO president Alexei Fedorov. If the deal is completed, South Korea would probably be the export launch customer for the aircraft, which would be accepted in ...
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China moves in on subcontracting consolation prize
Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE Airbus Industrie is moving ahead with plans to subcontract A320 component manufacturing to China as the first step towards transferring a full wing production capability. At the same time, Boeing has linked its offer on 717 wing work to reaching a settlement with China over the stillborn ...
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France rethinks on FLA finance decision
France has made a partial U-turn over its refusal to provide pre-launch funding for the Future Large Aircraft (FLA) military transport programme by offering to finance "at least half" of the country's share. The programme has been embroiled in controversy as various nations, including France, have withdrawn funding or, ...
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More delays hit new UK control centres
David Learmount/LONDON The UK National Air Traffic Services (NATS) is facing further delays to the opening of its new Scottish air traffic control centre (SCATCC) because contract negotiations with the Lockheed Martin-led consortium Sky Solutions have dragged on for at least a year longer than expected. The revelation comes as ...
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Northwest/Continental alliance showdown looms
Northwest Airlines' plans to take a controlling shareholding in Continental Airlines could be thrown into jeopardy because of concerns by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) over the proposed link-up. The two airlines confirm that they are negotiating with the DoJ to resolve unspecified differences over Northwest's plan to ...
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Thomson expands on Australian simulation
Thomson-CSF is to acquire Australian simulation firm Wormald Technology, as part of moves to secure a strategic foothold with which to contest increasing Australian Defence Force requirements for computer-based training and mission rehearsal systems. The acquisition, which was announced on 13 October, will see the French company take over ...
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Ariane 5 cleared for commerce
Tim Furniss/PARIS The successful third European Space Agency-funded demonstration flight of the Ariane 5 on 21 October has cleared the way for Arianespace to start commercial operations of the booster around next March, with two communications satellites. Arianespace also revealed that it may order further Ariane 4 vehicles to extend ...
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Long Beach rethink
The introduction of a second final assembly line for the Boeing Next Generation 737 family at the former Douglas Aircraft plant in Long Beach, California, has been delayed by three months, amid a review which could see the plan abandoned. The new line, which would initially produce specialised 737 variants ...
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Dasa steps up pressure over European restructuring
Julian Moxon/PARIS Attempts by France to prevent a possible merger of British Aerospace and Daimler-Benz Aerospace (Dasa) without including Aerospatiale have been undermined by Dasa president Manfred Bischoff. In an interview with the French newspaper Les Echos on 22 October the Dasa boss refused to rule out the possibility ...
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AlliedSignal plots targets for AS907
AlliedSignal's next generation AS907 business aircraft and regional engine will begin test runs in mid-1999, says the company as it completes negotiations with risk and revenue partners on the $300 million development programme. The AS907 is the first member of a new engine family that was formerly launched with ...
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Avro joins corporate aircraft business
British Aerospace has joined the growing number of regional aircraft manufacturers in the corporate aircraft business by announcing plans to develop a variant of its Avro Regional Jet (RJ). The Avro Corporate Jet will be offered with seating for up to 60. "We will offer the interior of a ...
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Century seeks $48m to fund low-cost twin jet development
Century Aerospace has transformed its Century Jet from a single-engined aircraft to a twin and has replaced the Williams/Rolls FJ44-1 powerplant with "the more advanced" Williams FJ33-1, for which the newly titled Century Jet 100 has become the launch aircraft. According to Albuquerque, New Mexico-based Century: "The Century Jet ...
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P&WC unveils light jet study
Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) has revealed studies of a new family of light jet engines for general aviation and super light business jets, while Williams International has launched a similarly targeted small jet family on the back of the Century Aerospace Century Jet. Announcing the initiative, P&WC president, ...