All Systems & Interiors news – Page 799
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Low cost is key for regional jet, airlines tell Bombardier
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC Bombardier has launched technology cost/benefit studies after the first meeting of its BRJ-X airline advisory council confirmed that potential customers for the 90-seat regional jet are looking for the lowest possible operating cost. The council conducted preliminary talks on fly-by-wire versus conventional flight controls, steel ...
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Austria favoured for Ceats ATC centre
An independent report has come out in favour of Austria as the location for a new air traffic control centre for the central European area. While there is still some dissent on the findings of the report, there is, say industry sources, "considerable optimism" that the findings will be ...
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Star picks managers as it gears up for fight
Andrew Doyle/MUNICH The six airline members of the Star Alliance have appointed a dedicated management team to take over the day-to-day running of their operation in a bid to achieve more effective co-operation in key areas. The move forms part of aggressive plans by Star, the largest members ...
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The spectrum challenge
Chris Yates/MANCHESTER The aeronautical community must pool its resources and protect its strategic interests if it is to avoid losing the hundreds of millions of dollars invested in satellite navigation. The threat comes from an Inmarsat-sponsored proposal, currently before the International Telecommunications Union-World Radio Council (ITU-WRC), to share frequencies ...
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International Space Station opens for work
The doors of the International Space Station opened for the first time on 10 December after astronauts from the STS88/Endeavour Space Shuttle mission bolted the first two modules together in space. Although the completion of the work marked the start of a new era in space exploration, full operations will ...
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Landing gear deal
Hindustan Aeronautics and Boeing have signed a contract under which the Indian company will manufacture the main landing gear uplock box for the 777 landing gear assembly. The deal, for 300 shipsets, will be worth $4.5 million, says Boeing. Source: Flight International
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Oneworld infrastructure begins to take shape
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC Airline efforts to establish working arrangements for the recently unveiled oneworld alliance are intensifying, with the first meeting of chief executives from the five founding members and the proposed creation of a new common ground-handling operation in Europe. The heads of American Airlines, British Airways, ...
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Somchem unveils warhead
Peter La Franchi/PRETORIA Denel's Somchem division has unveiled a concept demonstrator for a new type of anti-shipping missile warhead, designed to enhance the effect of impact shockwaves in causing structural damage. Somchem is now seeking a development partner to enable full development of the warhead to proceed. The ...
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Stretching out in the Enstrom 480 Turbine
Peter Gray/SHOREHAM The Enstrom 480 Turbine is a classic example of how a good original design can be adapted and modified for the demanding modern operating environment. It is also remarkably flexible for its size. At its maximum capacity, one passenger occupies the front right-hand seat next to ...
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The precision approach
David Learmount/CAPE TOWN Learning only from serious accidents and incidents is a flawed way of advancing flight safety. It took until the 1990s to create a system which is more effective and workable, and until now to persuade most of the world's regions to consider adopting it. The system ...
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African dawn
Lois Jones/DAKAR David Learmount/CAPE TOWN Air traffic services (ATS) in many parts of Africa are already unable to cope with current traffic levels, never mind increased demand. Meanwhile, wars and political instability raging in parts of the continent mean that basic air traffic control (ATC) is often neglected and ...
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New Piper boosts light aircraft production
New Piper Aircraft is to increase production by almost 10% next year, as its recovery continues to track that of the overall US general aviation industry. The company is scheduled to produce 329 light aircraft in 1999, up from 303 this year. The company plans to build 25 Warrior ...
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Helibus nears first flight
Sikorsky has completed initial main transmission and drive train testing of the S-92 Helibus ground test vehicle, clearing the way for the inaugural first flight of the new medium-size helicopter by the end of December and an anticipated production decision in 1999. The manufacturer has completed around 200h of ...
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Swissair reveals Express brand
Swissair is introducing an Express brand to coincide with the launch on 5 November of wet-lease services by Debonair of the UK on behalf of the Swiss flag carrier and Italian independent airline Air One. Debonair will operate one of its British Aerospace 146-200s, painted in Swissair Express colours, ...
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FAA reassures over data use as it launches quality programme
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC With the launch of a long-awaited airline flight operations quality assurance (FOQA) programme, the US Federal Aviation Administration has guaranteed that data obtained from aircraft flight data recorders (FDRs) will not be used against carriers or pilots. So far the programme has been limited to ...
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Aer Lingus will sign up strategic partner 'by the first half 2000'
Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON Aer Lingus should be ready to decide on its strategic partner by the end of the first quarter of 1999, enabling a firm agreement to be finalised during 2000. The airline's executive vice-president for Europe, Richard Luchente, says that the carrier is discussing a strategic partner ...
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Air France plans US link to pave the way toward a global alliance
Julian Moxon/PARIS Air France expects to join a global airline alliance based on an agreement with one of its two US partners, "before the end of 1999", according to the airline's president Jean Cyril Spinetta. The signing of the co-operation pact between KLM and Alitalia on 27 November ...
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Triana camera
Lockheed Martin has been selected by the University of California to design and build the Earth polychromatic imaging camera for NASA's Triana mission, the deep space Earth observer proposed by vice president Al Gore to return daily images of the globe from the camera, via the Internet. Source: Flight ...
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UK promises action to crack down on airline violence
Action to stamp out violent behaviour on aircraft has been promised by the UK transport minister, but he has handed to the airlines the task of organising research into the growing phenomenon of "air rage". Following a meeting with airlines and interested organisations in London on 25 November, transport ...
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Raisbeck wraps up study into recertification of DC-9s
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Raisbeck has completed a feasibility study into a Stage 3 recertification of McDonnell Douglas DC-9s and is canvassing operators before committing to launch the programme. The aerodynamic modification kit, if given the go-ahead, would be available "on or before 1 January, 2000", says James Raisbeck, ...