All articles by Greg Waldron – Page 96
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InterviewHanwha Aerospace powers up engine capabilities
As the country’s only producer of gas tubine engines, South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace has become an integral part of Seoul’s ambitions in the sector, with involvement in several key propulsion programmes.
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NewsSuper Hornet celebrates ten years in Australia
The Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet is poised to reach the ten-year mark since its arrival in Australia. The fighter first arrived in Australia on 26 March 2010, with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) fleet growing to 24 examples, says Boeing. The type became operational in RAAF service in December ...
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NewsBeijing moves to beef up air cargo capacity
Beijing will take steps to bolster domestic and international air cargo capacity amid the global coronavirus pandemic, including support for air freight companies and logistics firms. The official China Daily newspaper quotes premier Li Keqiaing as stating that the massive reduction in global air traffic has created issues for supply ...
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NewsAirbus beefs up finances to weather coronavirus
Airbus has announced measures to support its financial position in light of the economic challenges presented by coronavirus. The measures comprise a new €15 billion ($16.1 billion) credit facility, withdrawal of its 2019 dividend proposal, and suspension of top-up pension funding, says Airbus in a 23 March statement. The withdrawal ...
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NewsVietJet suspends Southeast Asia flights
Low-cost carrier VietJet Air will temporarily suspend services on its Southeast Asian network. The suspension will commence from 20 March and affect services to Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar and Indonesia. The decision comes amid the global coronavirus outbreak, and follows Vietnam’s decision to grant no visas for a month. ...
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NewsAAPA calls on governments to help struggling airline sector
The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) has called on the region’s governments to “take immediate action” to help airlines amid the coronavirus pandemic. It notes that travel bans, border closures, lockdowns, quarantines, and other measures will see Asian airlines suffer revenue shortfalls of $60 billion in 2020. “By the ...
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Airline BusinessAll tunnel, no light for Asia-Pacific airlines
The Asia-Pacific is seen as the engine of future aviation growth, but the coronavirus pandemic has brought its airline sector to its knees. Recent days have seen a collapse in air travel demand in the region. When news of coronavirus first emerged in Wuhan, China during January, comparisons were quickly ...
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NewsVietnam to cease visa issuance for one month
Vietnam will cease issuing visas for incoming visitors over the next 30 days as the country seeks to prevent the spread of coronavirus. According to a government web site, exceptions include overseas Vietnamese and their spouses and children, but only if they can submit papers that prove they have not ...
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NewsL-39NG passes key fuselage strength test
Aero Vodochody’s L-39NG has passed fuselage strength tests, as the company works towards certification of the advanced jet trainer. Using the fuselage of aircraft 7002, which is earmarked for static trials, the test saw the structure initially taken to the limit load, which corresponds to the maximum possible load during ...
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NewsAC-130W demonstrates maritime attack role
The US military has demonstrated the use of a Lockheed Martin AC-130W Stinger II gunship in a new naval support role. The work took place from 8-9 March in the Arabian Gulf and involved AC-130Ws, a Boeing P-8A Poseidon, and a US Navy Cyclone class patrol vessel, says the US ...
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NewsVietnam Airlines to take major precautions on European services
Vietnam Airlines has decided it will carry passengers from Europe, but will take significant precautions amid the global coronavirus outbreak. Passenger services from London, Paris, and Frankfurt are part of what the carrier says is an effort “to uphold its national responsibilities.” Source: Vietnam Airlines A Vietnam Airlines ...
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In depthBeijing plugs away at naval airpower ambitions
While Beijing’s anti-access/area-denial strategy will shape the USA’s aircraft carrier operations in the decades to come, the People’s Liberation Army Navy remains committed to building a viable capability of its own. The commissioning of CNS Shandong in December 2019 saw China join the elite group of countries to have built ...
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NewsUK still in the game for Japan fighter partnership
Tokyo has yet to decide on its future international partner for the country’s ambitious FX Future Fighter programme to replace the Mitsubishi F-2. “The [Japanese Ministry of Defense] is in discussion with the U.S. and the UK from the viewpoint of ensuring interoperability, cost effectiveness and technical reliability,” says Japan’s ...
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NewsAsia-Pacific February deliveries collapse amid coronavirus
Deliveries of new aircraft to Asia-Pacific collapsed in February, with only 11 aircraft delivered to the region out of the global total of 77. According to Cirium fleets data the Asia-Pacific, consistently the leader in aircraft deliveries, trailed both Europe, which saw 29 new aircraft delivered, and North America, where ...
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NewsKorean Air grounds A380 fleet until 25 April
Korean Air has grounded its entire fleet of 10 Airbus A380s amid the traffic slump caused by the coronavirus outbreak. The 10 A380s will be grounded until 25 April, says the airline. Out of the airlines’ 145 aircraft, 100 grounded. South Korea has emerged as a major ...
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NewsCoronavirus to keep M90 FTV10 first flight a quiet affair
Mitsubishi Aircraft is planning for a low-key first flight of the SpaceJet M90 Flight Test Vehicle 10 (FTV10), owing to government policy to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The company adds that the aircraft is “in final preparations for its first flight, which we will announce in the coming weeks.” ...
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NewsThai A330 shears tail off Gulfstream IV in Vientiane
A Thai Airways A330-300 has nearly ripped the tail off a Gulfstream IV private jet during a taxiing accident in Vientiane, Laos. The accident occurred in darkness on 9 March as the A330 (HS-TEU) prepared to operate flight TG575 on the Vientiane-Bangkok Suvarnabhumi route, according to Thai Airways. ...
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NewsNorthrop turns to Canberra to shore up Triton production
Northrop Grumman says Australia should consider advancing its acquisition of the US Navy’s MQ-4C Triton UAV following the Trump administration’s proposal to pause production for the programme in FY2021 and FY2022. While pausing production, the administration wants instead to focus on the MQ-4C’s improved multi-intelligence configuration, designated IFC-4. The budget ...
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NewsCanberra to sell remaining “Classic" Hornets to US training firm
Canberra plans to sell 46 Boeing F/A-18 A/B “Classic” Hornets to Air USA, a firm that provides tactical airpower training services to the US military and international customers. The aircraft are being retired as Canberra takes delivery of up to 72 Lockheed Martin F-35As, which are replacing the Hornet in ...
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NewsLockheed delivers 500th F-35
Lockheed Martin has delivered the 500th F-35 fighter, with the fleet also surpassing the 250,000 flight hour mark. The 500th example delivered is an F-35A that will serve with the Vermont Air National Guard, says Lockheed. An image of the jet shows it bears the registration number AF5343. ...