All news – Page 6720

  • News

    US cargo carriers ready to launch ADS-B tests

    1999-07-07T00:00:00Z

    UPS Aviation Technologies and the US Cargo Airlines Association will start flight trials of their automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) technology on cargo aircraft this month. A dozen freighters, operated by FedEx, UPS and Airborne Express, have UPS Aviation Technologies' datalink technology to allow them to broadcast real-time position information, ...

  • News

    Swissair sued over IFE system

    1999-07-07T00:00:00Z

    Emma Kelly/LONDON Swissair will not reactivate the in-flight entertainment (IFE) system on its Boeing MD-11s and 747s until the investigation of the crash last year of the MD-11 flight SR111 off Nova Scotia is complete. The airline had hoped to restart the system in October during maintenance downtime. ...

  • News

    JAA addresses in-seat power problem

    1999-07-07T00:00:00Z

    Europe's Joint Aviation Authorities will complete guidance material for airlines this month on the installation of in-seat power supply systems for portable electrical devices (PEDs). The material, compiled with the US Federal Aviation Administration, will be passed to the JAA's Requirements Committee for approval and publication at the end ...

  • News

    GTE to sell in-flight telephone business

    1999-07-07T00:00:00Z

    GTE is to sell its in-flight communications division, GTE Airfone, as part of ongoing efforts to divest itself of "non-strategic operations". At the same time, new satellite system operator Iridium has pulled out of plans to acquire fellow in-flight telephone service provider Claircom Communications from AT&T and Rogers Cantel. ...

  • News

    SIA adds audio/video to long-haul

    1999-07-07T00:00:00Z

    Singapore Airlines (SIA) intends to have audio- and video-on-demand (A/VOD) service available on all of its long-haul flights by the end of next year. The airline's A/VOD service, dubbed Wisemen, was introduced in the first and business class cabins on a Boeing 747-400 last month. Wisemen, which runs off Matsushita ...

  • News

    Globalstar finds funds as Iridium struggles

    1999-07-07T00:00:00Z

    While questions remain about the survival of Iridium's mobile communications satellite system, competitor Globalstar has arranged a further $500 million credit facility. This brings to $3.8 billion the amount raised to set up the system. Initial Globalstar commercial services will start in September, with 32 operational satellites and nine ...

  • News

    Second test for Vega's Zefiro

    1999-07-07T00:00:00Z

    The second test firing of the Zefiro engine for the European Space Agency's (ESA) proposed Vega small satellite launcher has been completed in Sardinia, Italy. The Vega will be able to place 1,000kg (2,200lb) payloads into low earth orbit (LEO) at between $10 million and $25 million a launch, ...

  • News

    Box blamed for WIRE breakdown in orbit

    1999-07-07T00:00:00Z

    NASA's Wide Field Infrared Explorer (WIRE) satellite failed in orbit because of an incorrectly designed electronics box that prematurely fired explosive devices, says the space agency. The failure caused the early ejection of the satellite's telescope cover. The box's design did not take into account the start-up characteristics of ...

  • News

    Chandra Observatory is joined to Columbia

    1999-07-07T00:00:00Z

    The Chandra X-Ray Observatory (foreground) was delivered in its canister to Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 29 June, to be inserted into the payload bay of Space Shuttle Columbia. The observatory is due to be deployed into orbit shortly after the launch of the ...

  • News

    X-38 schedule doubts

    1999-07-07T00:00:00Z

    As NASA prepares for another drop test of the X-38 prototype space station crew emergency return vehicle (CERV) at Edwards AFB, California, there are doubts about the schedule for the full scale version. There are indications that this version will not serve the International Space Station until 2005, rather than ...

  • News

    Eurowings aims to finance new regional aircraft with flotation

    1999-07-07T00:00:00Z

    Andrew Doyle/NUREMBERG Eurowings is reining in capacity to bolster its bottom line ahead of an initial public offering (IPO),aimed at helping finance a $1 billion fleet renewal. The carrier could order up to 40 new regional jets before the end of the year. Dortmund-based Eurowings is to replace most of ...

  • News

    Start-ups look to profit from AeroPeru gap

    1999-07-07T00:00:00Z

    Two foreign-backed Peruvian start-up airlines are preparing to fill the domestic and international void left by AeroPeru, as time runs out to rescue the bankrupt national carrier. Chilean-backed LanPeru aimed to start scheduled services on 5 July and will be joined shortly by Central American-supported TransAm. The carriers have ...

  • News

    Routes

    1999-07-07T00:00:00Z

    Yugoslavia's JAT resumed some international flights from Belgrade on 25 June. All flights had been suspended since 24 March, when NATO bombing of the country started. By 9 July, JAT expects to be flying to Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Tunisia and China, the airline says. Most of Europe may remain ...

  • News

    Japanese majors cut fares

    1999-07-07T00:00:00Z

    Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE Fare cuts by Japan's "big three" airlines have taken their toll on the country's two new domestic carriers, Skymark and Air Do. The start-ups, which challenged All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines and Japan Air System on high-density domestic routes, have suffered falling load factors since April and ...

  • News

    US firm develops Jetstream cargo conversion

    1999-07-07T00:00:00Z

    US cargo specialist Murray Aviation is carrying out the first cargo conversion of a British Aerospace Jetstream 31 (J31), and is aiming to secure a supplemental type certificate early next year. The Detroit-based company has bought a 13-year-old ex-US Airways Express J31, which is undergoing conversion at its base. ...

  • News

    European Union ministers get tough on air traffic delays

    1999-07-07T00:00:00Z

    European Union (EU) transport ministers have requested that the European Commission (EC) provide details as soon as possible on measures aimed at reducing air traffic delays and congestion in Europe. The situation is "of serious concern", and is "becoming more intolerable", says the EU Transport Council. At their meeting ...

  • News

    Marketplace

    1999-07-07T00:00:00Z

    Regional start-up Shuttle America plans to grow its 50-seat Bombardier Dash 8-300 fleet from three aircraft to six by the end of the year. The airline, which operates three secondhand aircraft leased from the manufacturer, holds lease options for 18 more Dash 8-300s. Atlas Air has signed a long-term lease ...

  • News

    Turkey joins JSF programme and Denmark extends commitment

    1999-07-07T00:00:00Z

    Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC Turkey has signed to join the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme during the concept demonstration phase and JSF partner Denmark has signalled its intention to extend its participation into the key follow-on engineering manufacturing development (EMD) phase. The JSF programme office (JPO) confirms that Turkey signed a ...

  • News

    Sweden's armed forces close purse strings on Meteor

    1999-07-07T00:00:00Z

    The Swedish military has removed funding for the Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile in an effort to overcome a shortfall in the armed forces' budget. The missile is a collaborative project proposed by the industries of the four Eurofighter nations, Sweden and possibly France. The Swedish air force ...

  • News

    Atlantic ADS

    1999-07-07T00:00:00Z

    A trial of automatic dependent surveillance (ADS) will be launched across the North Atlantic on 15 July. The trial, in the Gander and Shanwick Oceanic Control Areas, will involve the use of ADS for waypoint position reporting. More than 50 Future Air Navigation System (FANS-1)-equipped Boeing 747-400s and 777s operated ...