All news – Page 6654
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Israel-sponsored laser weapon nears testing
TRW and the US Army are assembling a prototype tactical laser for a series of live tests beginning early next year. The Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL) advanced concept technology demonstration (ACTD) is designed to test the advanced weapon against rockets. Sponsored by the USA and Israel, the THEL ...
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Lower growth
Lower growth in the air transport market over the next few years is predicted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). It says: "Sentiment about traffic growth prospects among airlines and industry forecasters is becoming more cautious than last year". IATA forecasts a 5.02% annual average growth rate for scheduled ...
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United challenges Boeing to develop 777 freighter
Max Kingsley-Jones/SEATTLE United Airlines has thrown down a challenge to Boeing to offer a freighter version of the 777, as the US carrier ponders its long-term cargo fleet strategy. Speaking at the Cargo Facts '99 conference in Seattle, Jim Hartigan, vice-president cargo at United Airlines, said he expects the ...
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X-34 completes tests
The Orbital Sciences (OSC) A-1 X-34 test vehicle completed its final captive test flight last month, under the belly of an OSC Lockheed TriStar, from the Dryden Research Centre in California. The A-1 vehicle will be upgraded and used next year for 120km/h tow tests on a runway, and ...
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Virgin drops Sun Air plans
Virgin Atlantic Airways has abandoned plans to revive failed South African regional carrier Sun Air, but is chasing a tie-up with another regional, Nationwide Airlines, after winning a weekly frequency to Cape Town ahead of UK rival British Airways. Virgin already flies to Johannesburg and had codeshared on Sun ...
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BA/CityFlyer deal on - but with slot limits
UK trade and industry secretary Stephen Byers has approved the acquisition of CityFlyer Express by British Airways. He has, however, imposed a tougher cap on the number of take-off and landing positions BA can control at London Gatwick Airport, where the carriers are the two biggest slot holders. As ...
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IAI/TAI agree deal
Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) will submit joint bids for contracts in Turkey and in countries where an Israeli company cannot be a prime contractor. The deal stems from good relations between the companies and close defence links between Israel and Turkey. Co-operation is likely ...
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Socata may find new home with Latécoère
Julian Moxon/PARISLatécoère is interested in taking over Aerospatiale Matra's general aviation and aerostructures business, Socata. The subsidiary's future seems to be in doubt following newly merged French giant Aerospatiale Matra's declaration that it is studying "all options" as part of a bid to double operating margins, to 8%, by 2003. ...
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Mergers
Boeing has acquired Australia-based Preston Group, which provides the Total Airspace and Airport Modeller (TAAM) software product for "what if" modelling of air traffic management and airport terminal control. Preston, which has offices in Washington DC and London, also offers a terminal management system day-of-operation planning tool. Diversified technology company ...
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Air Canada partners rally round
Brian Dunn/MONTREAL Air Canada's Star Alliance partners United Airlines and Lufthansa are preparing to bid for a stake in the carrier to fight a hostile takeover by the Onex investment group and American Airlines, which plan to merge it with their oneworld ally Canadian Airlines. Lufthansa president Jurgen Weber ...
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Chinese airline tie-up talks break down
Merger talks between Air China and China Southern Airlines have broken down, Beijing-based industry sources say. Reports say talks failed amid continuing concern over flag carrier Air China's financial shape, with China Southern unsure of the merits of a merger. Flight International sister on-line service Air ...
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US sets Honeywell merger rules
Emma Kelly/LONDON Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES AlliedSignal and Honeywell must shed large parts of their avionics businesses as the price for US regulatory approval of their planned merger, although only in areas of product overlap. While approving the merger in principle, the US Department of Justice says Honeywell must give ...
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Cape Canaveral gets backing for more sounding missions
Spaceport Florida Authority (SFA) is backing plans to allow Cape Canaveral to support major suborbital sounding rocket research missions with the addition of Terrier and Orion sounding rockets to its inventory. At present, SFA operates small Loki sounding rockets. The research missions can be flown for individual experiments, to ...
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Shanghai's new Pudong Airport enters running-in trial period
Shanghai's new Pudong International Airport is to enter a six-month running-in period in November, after completing initial trials, it was revealed at the show. The $1.6 billion airport, which opened on 16 September, will eventually serve all international and most domestic flights, now being transferred in three stages from ...
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Euro ATC delays could rise by 70%
David Learmount/GENEVA The bulk of Europe's air traffic control system will suffer a capacity shortfall of more than 10% by 2005, even if all the national proposals put forward through Eurocontrol are fully implemented, according to International Air Transport Association (IATA) studies. Europe faces a 70% increase in ATC-related delays ...
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Widebody cargo conversion market expands
Max Kingsley-Jones/SEATTLE Airliner freighter conversion programmes have been launched by Lockheed Martin and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa) Airbus, as rivalry continues between Dasa and fellow Airbus partner British Aerospace on an integrated conversion strategy. Lockheed Martin has revived the L-1011 TriStar conversion and has agreed to use Marshall Aerospace's ...
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First flight
Boeing expected to attempt the first flight of its 767-400ER on 8 October as Flight International went to press. The aircraft had earlier successfully undergone high-speed taxi runs and other pre-flight checks. Taxi tests included operations at 30kt (55km/h), 60kt and 90kt at 138,000kg (304,000lb). Source: Flight International
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AVIC shake up leaves crucial questions unanswered
The Chinese Government's recent splitting of colossus Aviation Industries of China (AVIC) into two companies leaves question marks over how the country's huge aerospace industry is to overcome its problems. The companies were present in their new guise as China Aviation Industry I and II (known as AVIC I and ...
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Chinese industry wins more foreign contracts
Airbus Industrie and United Technologies have signed agreements awarding new work packages to China Aviation Industry I (AVIC I). The Airbus agreement allocates $15 million of Airbus A320 wing work from Airbus partner British Aerospace to AVIC I subsidiary Xian Aircraft Industry Group. The work will comprise four packages: ...
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ATC decision close
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC)could choose a contractor early next year to build three new area control centres (ACCs) to cover eastern China. The four competitors for the contract - Airsys ATM, Alenia, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon - have to submit revised proposals at the end of this ...