All articles by David Kaminski-Morrow – Page 167
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NewsAirbus to test laser-based communications on airborne platform
Airbus is aiming to integrate a laser-based communications demonstrator on an aircraft for flight testing by the middle of next year. The project, known as UltraAir, is intended to demonstrate high-speed data rate communications with geostationary satellites. Airbus and the Dutch applied scientific research organisation TNO will jointly design and ...
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NewsVinci secures concession for Manaus and other Brazilian airports
Seven Brazilian airports, including Manaus Eduardo Gomes, are to be operated by French firm Vinci Airports following a call for tenders by the South American state’s civil aviation regulator. Alongside the 30-year concession for Manaus the company has secured the management of six other northern airports at Porto Velho, Rio ...
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NewsA350 to be converted into Lufthansa’s latest atmospheric research platform
One of Lufthansa’s Airbus A350-900s is undergoing an extensive conversion programme, being fitted with equipment to enable the twinjet to operate as the carrier’s latest climate research platform. The aircraft (D-AIXJ) was delivered to the German flag-carrier three years ago, in May 2018. Lufthansa says it will be transformed into ...
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NewsMC-21 back in Moscow after completing natural icing tests
Source: United Aircraft Flight-test aircraft 73051 was transferred to Arkhangelsk for the natural icing tests
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NewsA380 caused conflicts after wrong turn during go-around
Pilots of a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 incorrectly acted on a turn instruction during a go-around at Sydney, turning left instead of right and creating conflicts involving other traffic, investigators have determined. The aircraft (9V-SKQ) had aborted an ILS approach to runway 16R at about 1,000ft owing to windshear, as ...
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NewsAirbus switching A320neo family from mechanical to electronic rudder control
Airbus is aiming to replace the mechanical rudder controls on A320neo-family aircraft, switching to a full electric rudder system by early 2024. The modification will coincide with the entry into service of the long-range A321XLR which is being developed with the ‘E-rudder’ architecture in mind. While the initial delivery had ...
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NewsRyanair plays down ‘optimistic’ analysts’ forecasts for 2021 performance
Irish budget carrier Ryanair is playing down analysts’ expectations over financial performance for the 2021-22 full year, despite trimming its loss forecast for 2020-21. Ryanair says it “does not share the recent optimism of certain analysts”, stating that it believes the outcome for 2021-22 is “currently close to break-even”. But ...
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NewsEASA validates 737 Max 8-200 certification
European safety regulators have granted type certificate validation to the Boeing 737 Max 8-200, new high-density variant of the re-engined twinjet. In a certification document revision the European Union Aviation Safety Agency lists a validation date of 6 April, following US FAA certification on 31 March. The 8-200 has been ...
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NewsEtihad Airways conducts first scheduled Israeli flight
Middle Eastern carrier Etihad Airways has carried out its first scheduled flight to Israel, following the diplomatic normalisation agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The Boeing 787-9 (A6-BLA) touched down on Tel Aviv Ben Gurion airport’s runway 12 at about 12:20 after arriving from Abu Dhabi, via northern ...
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NewsAeroflot identifies initial routes for new Krasnoyarsk international hub
Russia’s Aeroflot Group is intending to open its new international hub at Krasnoyarsk in June, after the expansion was delayed by over a year by the air transport crisis. Aeroflot’s board has decided that the hub will open on 1 June with a summer schedule including flights to Sochi, Krasnodar, ...
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NewsPilots back global campaign to cut excessive NOTAM burden
Cockpit crew representatives are backing efforts to overhaul of the NOTAM system this year, claiming that the repository of aeronautical information has become cluttered, inefficient and burdensome. Some 1.7 million NOTAMs were published in 2020. Even though this was a 5% reduction on the previous year, as a result of ...
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NewsFlydubai fixes date for 737 Max re-introduction
Middle Eastern carrier Flydubai is intending to restart Boeing 737 Max flights on 8 April, following approval by United Arab Emirates regulators and updating of the fleet. Flydubai will operate the initial flight from Dubai to the Pakistani city of Sialkot, but the aircraft will subsequently be used for other ...
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NewsAirbus shapes A321XLR systems layout with low-tech and hi-tech mock-ups
One of the Airbus A321neo fuselage sections previously intended for delivery to South American operator LATAM has instead been supporting the A321XLR development programme as a system integration platform. Originally a standard A321LR centre and aft section, the fuselage of MSN8531 was withdrawn from the Hamburg Finkenwerder production line and ...
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NewsMNG opts for A330-300 freighter conversions after dropping A330-200Fs
Turkish carrier MNG Airlines has signed up for two Airbus A330-300 converted freighters, having previously abandoned orders for new-built A330-200Fs. MNG Airlines has contracted with joint-venture conversion specialist EFW for the two passenger-to-freighter aircraft, the first of which has been newly inducted to EFW’s Dresden facility for modification. This aircraft, ...
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NewsDutch private investor Panta to acquire Fokker support divisions from GKN
Strategic investment firm Panta Holdings of the Netherlands is to acquire the aftermarket companies Fokker Services and Fokker Techniek. The acquisition will take effect from 1 April. GKN Aerospace took over Fokker Technologies – which included Fokker Services and a number of other divisions, among them Fokker’s aerostructures, landing-gear and ...
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NewsRomanian budget carrier Blue Air starts receiving 737 Max 8s
Romanian operator Blue Air has started taking delivery of Boeing 737 Max jets, with the first of a batch introduced from US lessor Air Lease. Blue Air unveiled an order for six 737 Max 8s during the Paris air show in 2017 and, at the time, stated that it would ...
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NewsMid-2030s zero-emission aircraft horizon 'credible': Airbus chief
Airbus chief Guillaume Faury insists a 2035 entry-into-service horizon for zero-emission aircraft is “credible”, given the advancing work on hydrogen power. Six months ago the airframer unveiled proposed designs for zero-emissions aircraft, including a blended-wing body concept alongside more conventional twinjet and turboprop configurations. “We think it’s going to happen,” ...
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NewsUnited Aircraft restarts flight-testing of Il-112V military transport
Source: VASO Flight-testing of the light military transport resumed at Voronezh on 30 March
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NewsUK signs up to co-operate with EU ramp inspection programme
Under a new post-Brexit agreement the UK Civil Aviation Authority is to be considered a full participating member of the European Union ramp inspection programme. The CAA had been part of the programme up to 31 December 2020, after which the UK completed its withdrawal from the EU. But it ...
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NewsAirbus explores cryogenic superconducting powertrain for electric thrust
Airbus has embarked on a programme to build a powertrain demonstrator showing the potential of cryogenically-cooled superconducting materials to reduce weight and improve the efficiency of power conversion for electric propulsion. Electric propulsion prospects have focused on light and regional aircraft because the power demanded for larger, longer-range types cannot ...