All news – Page 6636
-
News
Explorer gets JAA go-ahead
The European Joint Aviation Authorities has recommended that its 27 member nations certify MD Helicopters' MD Explorer for Category A single pilot, instrument flight rule (IFR) operations. The recommendation follows the JAA's recent validation of the eight-seat, twin-engined helicopter. MD Helicopters was awarded single pilot IFR approval from the US ...
-
News
Jet completions
Jet Aviation's Basel completion centre has delivered its first Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) and a Boeing 767. The BBJ, which was also the first model to be outfitted in Europe, has a VIP interior with seating for up to 18 passengers. Features of the 767, which was transformed from an ...
-
News
Italian amphibians
Italy's Civil Protection Department has ordered a further two Bombardier CL-415 amphibians. The order will take the department's fleet of the type to 15. Italy now has five CL-415s due for delivery, following an order for three aircraft placed in September last year. One aircraft will arrive in January, two ...
-
News
Pilatus expands fractional ownership network in USA
Kate Sarsfield/LONDON Pilatus PC-12 fractional ownership provider Alpha Flying is expanding its Plane Sense network to cover the south east and mid-west regions of the USA. "Responding to demand from potential customers across the US, we have decided to set up operating bases in Atlanta, Georgia by December and in ...
-
News
India orders Shadows
CFM Aircraft of the UK has clinched an order for 24 Shadow microlight trainers from the Indian air force, marking what is believed to be the largest single order for microlights in the aviation industry. The 60kW (80hp) four-stroke Rotax 912-powered aircraft will be delivered over 15 months, starting immediately. ...
-
News
ViperJet kit aircraft makes maiden flight
Viper Aircraft flew its ViperJet kitplane for the first time in late October. The two-seat Turboméca Marbore 6-powered prototype flew a 15-minute test flight from its base at Pacso, Washington. The composite ViperJet has dual controls and is targeted at the training and private flying markets. Performance projections ...
-
News
IAE puts turbofan back on the drawing board
Andrew Doyle/MUNICH International Aero Engines (IAE) has dropped plans to launch a higher-thrust variant of its V2500 turbofan by the end of this year after failing to develop a satisfactory business case. It has refocused studies of the proposed "-A7" version of the engine, unveiled at the Paris ...
-
News
Programme focus is key to BAe merger plan
British Aerospace and Marconi Electronic Systems (MES)have unveiled a radical programmes-led management restructuring as they prepare to merge by the end of this month. The overhaul will see BAe's Aerostructures and Military Aircraft divisions replaced by 11 programme-specific units, each with its own managing director. The aim is ...
-
News
Regional deal heralds China breakthrough
Andrew Doyle/MUNICH Paul Lewis/WASHINGTONBombardier has signed a breakthrough deal with China's Shandong Airlines to supply five Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) series 200s. It will also look at establishing a dedicated training centre as local interest in regional aviation picks up. The Jinan-based provincial operator is the first Chinese carrier to ...
-
News
Recorders may solve EgyptAir crash riddle
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hopes the impending recovery of EgyptAir flight 990's cockpit and data recorders will shed light on the Boeing 767-300ER's rollercoaster plunge into the sea on 31 October. NTSB investigators were waiting for a break in stormy weather last week ...
-
News
Germany is close to joining FOAS project
The German Government is negotiating with the UK and France to join the Future Offensive Air System (FOAS) project. It hopes to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) early next year. The move will clear the way for DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa) - to become part of the European Aeronautic, ...
-
News
Teledesic chief in ICO rescue
Emma Kelly/LONDON Teledesic chairman Craig McCaw is leading a rescue package for ICO Global Communications. It is designed to provide the bankrupt mobile satellite communications company with $1.2 billion so that it can launch services in 2001. McCaw and his affiliated companies, Teledesic and Eagle River Investments, will lead ...
-
News
Intertechnique to stay in French hands
Intertechnique is to be taken over by another French aviation equipment company, Zodiac, ending speculation of a takeover by a US or UK bidder. The move signals a further consolidation of the French equipment industry, following the merger of Latécoère and Hurel-Dubois in August. The deal, valued at around ...
-
News
Mergers
Kaman Aircraft Products has been sold to Wesco Aircraft Hardware of California. The Kaman Industrial Technologies subsidiary distributes bearings to the airline industry. BF Goodrich has purchased the ACES II ejection seat product line from Boeing. The operation becomes part of BF Goodrich's Aerospace Safety Systems division. Hawker Pacific Aerospace ...
-
News
AlliedSignal and R-R in takeover successes
The consolidation of smaller US aerospace businesses continues with AlliedSignal's $291 million acquisition of parts distributor TriStar Aerospace and the completion of Rolls-Royce's $73 million acquisition of National Airmotive. Dallas-based TriStar recorded more than $185 million in sales last year and managed more than 100,000 different parts. Its takeover ...
-
News
France beefs up its Asian connections
A joint defence electronics venture is to be formed between Thomson-CSF and South Korea's Samsung Industries. This will extend the French company's reach into Asia and consolidate Samsung's leadership in the area. French landing gear specialist Messier Dowty is also moving into Asia with a joint venture in Singapore. ...
-
News
Raising cain
The paperless cockpit and passenger cabin will soon be a reality if the Rockwell Collins/Condor-led Integrated Information System (I²S) programme shows the future of airline communications. A marvellous but obvious idea - applying the universal components of the ground-based computer industry to airline communications. Such information management systems linking ...
-
News
Bell challenges Australian Army's helicopter shortlist
Peter La Franchi/CANBERRA The Australian Army's Air 87 armed reconnaissance helicopter project is being reviewed by the Australian Defence Inspector General following a Bell Helicopter Textron challenge to the shortlist process. The 88-point challenge, lodged with Australian defence minister John Moore at the beginning of October, alleges that the ...
-
News
Arrow 2 anti-ballistic missile passes test
Arie Egozi/TEL AVIV Israeli Aircraft Indus-tries and the Israeli air force successfully performed their first full system test of the Arrow 2 anti-tactical ballistic missile on 1 November. During the trial, an Arrow 2 launched from the Israeli air force Palmachim test site destroyed a missile launched from a ...
-
News
Australia looks at splitting defence purchases
A draft paper being circulated within the Australian Department of Defence is proposing a shift to "block buys" for new major equipment orders. This is expected to directly affect the Project Air 6000 replacement for the Royal Australian Air Force's Boeing F/A-18 Hornets. A separate issues-paper dealing with the ...