All Safety News – Page 1270
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Modifications delay Japan's XF-2 prototypes
The Japanese Technology Research Development Institute (TRDI) is working on a series of modifications to its four XF-2A/B flight test prototypes, causing further delays to the flight test schedule. Work includes structural reinforcement to the aircraft's wing-tip for rolling pull-out manoeuvres and the reshaping and positioning of underwing missile pylons ...
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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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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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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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Galaxy keeps performance but puts on weight
The Galaxy will meet, and even exceed, its performance specification, despite growing in weight and encountering several handling problems, says Galaxy Aerospace. The aircraft, which had its US premiere at the show, has gained more than 320kg (700lb) as a result of greater allowance for the interior and "more ...
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Certification work will delay Jetcruzer 500 by 12 months
Advanced Aerodynamics & Structures (AASI) says certification work on the Jetcruzer 500 turboprop pusher will not be completed until the "second half of next year", meaning a delay of more than 12 months over the company's original predictions. AASI says the delay is part of a conscious effort to ...
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Airport tag
The US Federal Aviation Administration has awarded a $932,000 contract to Sensis of De Witt, New York, to develop a tagging system for transponder-equipped aircraft operating on airport taxiways and runways. The award could go to $2.5 million if all contract options are exercised. The safety device, which is dubbed ...
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727 shot down
A Congo Airlines Boeing 727-100 (9Q-CSG) crashed on 10 October after take-off from Kindu Airport in the eastern province of Congo after being shot down by unidentified troops. The aircraft was bound for Kinshasa and all 40 passengers and crew on board were killed. Shortly after take-off, the pilot sent ...
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US cargo group members plan ADS-B tests
The US Federal Aviation Administration has issued a supplemental type certification (STC) to II Morrow for installation of equipment to support tests of automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast (ADS-B) systems on several freight aircraft belonging to members of the Cargo Airline Association (CAA) . Three CAA members, Airborne Express, ...
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Pilots' share deal paves way for the privatisation of Air France
Julian Moxon/PARIS Air France's management and pilot unions have finally struck a deal which should end years of dispute and allow the airline to proceed to partial privatisation next year. The agreement, a refined version of the one that ended the crippling pilots' strike in June, is regarded ...
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Lufthansa confirms talks with struggling Air Namibia
Hilka Birns/CAPE TOWN Lufthansa has confirmed that it is negotiating with TransNamib, the state holding company of Air Namibia, which is looking for an alliance partner in order to stem alleged serious financial loses on its intercontinental services. "Talks have taken place. They were held in a positive ...
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JARs could scupper 'virtual airlines' in Europe
British Airways' "virtual airline" arm Airline Management (AML) has been advised by the UK Civil Aviation Authority to make its management structure more accountable. If it cannot do this it will fail to meet European Joint Aviation Requirements-Operations (JARs) Rules when they take effect on 1 April, 1999. The ...
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European free flight demonstrated in Berlin
Chris Yates/BERLIN The first live trial of the prototype Airborne Separation Assurance System (ASAS), jointly developed by the Eurocontrol Experimental Centre as part of the Free Route Experimental Encounter Resolution programme, and Carmenta of Sweden, has been successfully completed. Initial results were demonstrated at the Global Navcom 98 ...
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Sakha ATC update
Airsys-ATM has clinched a deal to modernise and equip the air traffic control (ATC) systems of the Sakha Republic (ex-Yakutia) in north-eastern Siberia, over which many trans-Siberian and planned cross-polar airways are routed. Under the contract, details of which have not been revealed, the joint venture between Thomson-CSF and Siemens ...
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EC eyes tougher noise policy
Alan George/BRUSSELS A significant tightening of European emissions and noise controls is foreshadowed in a European Commission (EC) consultation paper, which is intended to help formulate a new environmental policy while incorporating the decisions of the United Nations Kyoto conference on climate change. The consultation paper, entitled Air ...
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Counting chickens
Manufacturing mergers and corporate consolidations have been dominating the aerospace industry in the USA and, belatedly in Europe, for several years. The amalgamation of Lockheed and Martin Marietta, Boeing and McDonnell Douglas and the continuing debate about an Airbus Industrie single corporate entity had been observed from Asia with apparent ...
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Mooney Eagle programme advances towards its target
Mooney Aircraft's worst fears for development of its new M20S Eagle piston single have failed to materialise, and it is on schedule to begin delivering the entry-level aircraft in January, after US approval around 1 December. Soon after Mooney launched the Eagle early this year, company sources confided that ...
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Bul Aero's all-composite Zulu ultralight enters production
Bul Aero,the Avions Robin sister company, has started production of its Zulu single-engined ultralight aircraft. The Zulu, which achieved French certification in July, has clocked up more than 100h of flight testing at the company's Darois base. The all-composite Rotax 912-powered Zulu offers a maximum take-off weight of 550kg ...
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FAA examines insulation rules after MD-11 crash
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC Within six months, the US Federal Aviation Administration is to produce a tougher burn test specification for aircraft internal insulation blankets. The action results partly from investigations into the 2 September crash of a Swissair Boeing MD-11 off Nova Scotia. Although the cause of the fatal ...