News from FlightGlobal – Page 2290
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News
Boeing enters UPS bidding with 767 'Special Freighter'
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELS A "special Freighter"(SF) conversion of the 767-200, along with the MD-10, is being offered by Boeing to UPS for its ongoing McDonnell Douglas DC-8 replacement competition. Boeing is offering these aircraft against freighter conversions of the Airbus Industrie A300B4 and Lockheed L-1011 TriStar for the ...
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IAI closes on partners for FedEx Airtruck project
Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) is in talks with potential partners in Europe and Asia over its Airtruck project for a small turboprop cargo aircraft, and is expected to decide within the next few weeks whether it is able to present formal proposals to customer FedEx. FedEx has a requirement ...
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Thai/Garuda firm up fleet plans as Qantas eyes up Asian 747s
Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE Paul Phelan/CAIRNSThai Airways International has been given approval to take delivery of 17 new aircraft over the next three years, despite Thailand's economic difficulties. Financial problems elsewhere are forcing Garuda Indonesia to seek an early return of six leased Boeing MD-11s, while Qantas is seeking to acquire surplus ...
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Carriers form a queue to take advantage of North Korea FIR
Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE Eight Asian, North US and Russian airlines have signalled their intent to launch up to 16 flights a day through North Korea's Pyongyang Flight Information Region (FIR), once it opens to international traffic on 23 April. Following the successful conclusion of week long flight trials in ...
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TWA offers stay of execution for MD-80 production line
Trans World Airlines is negotiating with Boeing for up to 24 new MD-83s, which could keep the endangered Long Beach production line open until 2000. The line was scheduled to shut down in mid-1999 with the delivery of the last MD-83 to TWA. All eight of the current backlog ...
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Sabbath flights issue is high on El Al privatisation agenda
Arie Egozi/TEL AVIV As the Israeli Government attempts again to thrash out agreement on privatising national carrier El Al, the thorny political issue of whether to end its costly ban on Sabbath flights remains high on the agenda. A decision on the long delayed privatisation was due to take ...
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Drawing a line
In the next few days, a US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) delegation will walk into an ICAO conference chamber and prepare to put their arguments over a key element of the Future Air Navigation System (FANS). The case that they plan to make may look like genuine concern with smooth ...
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High fidelity pays off
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC Simulator manufacturers have started 1998 as they ended 1997 - busy. As expected, orders for commercial flight simulators are tracking closely the recent surge in airliner sales. At least 45 full flight simulators were sold last year, short of the last peak of 55 in 1989, but ...
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Europe and USA on course to clash over FANS datalink
Kieran Daly/LONDON Europe and the USA are once again set for a clash of wills over a key component of the technology to be used in the satellite based Future Air Navigation System (FANS). At an International Civil Aviation Association (ICAO) panel meeting starting this week, European interests ...
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Japanese aircrew strike grinds into its second week
The strike by pilots and flight engineers over salary cuts at All Nippon Airways (ANA)is moving into its second week with no sign of an end to what is an almost unprecedented level of industrial action for Japan. By 17 April, the twelfth day, the number of cancelled international flights ...
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AMR's Crandall is set for May retirement
Robert Crandall, the combative airline chief of AMR/American Airlines, has announced his retirement after 25 years with the carrier. Crandall hands over control of American on 20 May to Donald Carty, who was named company president three years ago. Crandall joined American in 1973 as senior vice-president for finance, ...
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JAT signs deal for eight A319s
Andrzej Jeziorski/MUNICH JAT Yugoslav Airlines has signed a preliminary agreement for eight Airbus A319s in anticipation of the end of trade embargoes with the rump of Yugoslavia. JATsays that contracts will be signed only when the embargoes are lifted, but anticipates delivery of the first two aircraft in ...
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Virgin group and Sabre Airways discuss link-up at Gatwick
Speculation is growing that the Virgin group is close to a deal with UK charter carrier Sabre Airways to form the basis of Virgin Sun, a new European holiday airline venture. Details of the new airline, being set up by Virgin Holidays, are expected to be unveiled at the ...
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LTU drops long range services for winter season
LTU is planning to drop some of its long range services to the USA and Asia during its next winter season because of a fall-off in loads. The German charter airline says it will stop operating to Los Angeles, Denver and Phoenix, as well as Bangkok, although this service ...
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Qantas lines up Asian 747s to counter -400IGW launch delay
Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE The Qantas board is to decide shortly on a deal to purchase three surplus 747-400s from Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and Asiana, in lieu of Boeing's failure so far to give a firm commitment to launch development of an increased growth weight (IGW) version of the aircraft. ...
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Japan strike chaos
Japanese air travel was hit last week when pilot unions at three main airlines - Japan Airlines (JAL), All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Air System (JAS) - called strikes over wage negotiations. Some 50 international ANA flights were affected, while 60% of JAS domestic flights were hit. JAL managers ...
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Industry funding will pay for LAAS system
Industry will fund development of the global positioning system (GPS) local area augmentation system (LAAS), the US Federal Aviation Administration has decided. LAAS is a ground-based system which checks and corrects GPS signals, allowing precision approach and landing. Teams certificating next-generation landing systems will get FAA help, which ...
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Air Niugini nears collapse after Qantas is ignored
Papua New Guinea (PNG) flag carrier Air Niugini continues to edge closer to complete collapse, with the Government apparently setting aside salvage proposals put forward by Qantas. The airline was temporarily rescued from insolvency on 13 March when PNG Prime Minister Bill Skate compelled the country's main bank, PNGBC, ...
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Air New Zealand adds first 737-300
Air New Zealand has introduced the first of three Boeing 737-300s acquired on operating lease, mainly for trans-Tasman services from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The first aircraft, leased from GE Capital Aviation Services, began flights at the end of March. It is painted in a "millennium" scheme, incorporating the colours ...
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SIA wants more time to study 777-200X long haul proposal
Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE Singapore Airlines (SIA) has again postponed a decision on purchase of a new ultra long haul aircraft. The airline wants more time to evaluate a Pratt & Whitney PW4000-powered Boeing 777-200X engine/airframe proposal. US carrier Tower Air, meanwhile, looks likely to be the next airline to ...