Programmes – Page 1108
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News
Kourou studied for Soyuz
Julian Moxon/PARIS Arianespace is close to deciding whether to extend its launcher base at Kourou, French Guyana, for use as a second pad for the Russian Soyuz launcher. Arianespace chairman Jean-Marie Luton says that a political decision is likely "later this month".The Russian launcher forms the basis of ...
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Continental Express aims for all-ERJ fleet within five years
Paul Lewis/SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS Continental Express is committed to replacing its entire fleet of 98 turboprop aircraft with new Embraer ERJ-135/145 jets within five years, but has ruled out a near-term requirement for a larger 70-seat regional transport. The Continental Airlines subsidiary has ordered 75 ERJ-145s and ...
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Horizon brightens orderbook for CRJ-700 with $580 million deal
Paul Lewis and Ramon Lopez/ WASHINGTON DC The Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) Series 700 orderbook has been given a major end-of-year boost with the $580 million sale of 25 aircraft to US domestic carrier Horizon Air. The Canadian manufacturer has also secured another order for the smaller CRJ-200ER ...
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European creditors throw out Philippine Airlines rescue plan
Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE Troubled Philippine Airlines (PAL) has suffered a fresh blow with the rejection of its rehabilitation plan by European creditors. One local creditor, the Philippine International Commercial Bank (PCI Bank), has suggested changes to the plan, meanwhile. The European creditors control the leases on 12 Airbus ...
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SilkAir probe 'may prove inconclusive'
Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE Twelve months after the crash of a SilkAir Boeing 737-300 on 19 December 1997, officials investigating the accident admit that "human factors" are the only avenue of investigation which remains open. But they add that it is difficult to assess accurately the state of mind of ...
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Cathay seeks higher productivity in costs drive
Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE Cathay Pacific Airways has agreed on productivity increases with ground staff as it negotiates with cabin crew and begins early talks with pilots' unions, as part of its drive to improve efficiency and cut costs. According to the airline, the productivity gains are being rewarded with ...
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Crossair predicts big profit for 1998 but warns on ATC delays
Andrew Doyle/MUNICH Swiss carrier Crossair is forecasting bumper results for 1998 on the back of a 26% surge in scheduled passenger traffic. But the SAirGroup regional subsidiary complains that European air traffic control (ATC) delays reached their worst ever level last year - a situation it describes as ...
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Jet airliner sales flat for the third year, but shipments are up
Jet airliner sales recorded a third consecutive flat year in 1998, with Airbus Industrie and Boeing together taking 1,100 orders worth $75 billion. Shipments have continued to increase, with the 780 aircraft delivered representing a 40% increase on 1997. Provisional figures compiled by Flight International show orders split roughly ...
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Sikorsky S-92A Helibus completes maiden flight
Flight testing of the Sikorsky S-92A Helibus medium helicopter began on 23 December. With its maiden flight successfully concluded, attention has now switched to a final decision by the company on a production go-ahead later this year. The first General Electric CT7-6D-powered prototype S-92 made its inaugural flight from ...
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RTIP deal agreed
Northrop Grumman's bid to win the UK's Airborne Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR) has been strengthened by a contract to begin development of an upgrade for the US Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System. An advanced active-array radar to be developed under the Radar Technology Insertion Programme (RTIP) forms the basis ...
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Sundstrand boosts Airbus APU life
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Sundstrand's Auxiliary Power International (APIC) plans to boost the in-service life of its APS 3200 auxiliary power unit on the Airbus single-aisle aircraft family with a block upgrade in the next few months. APIC is confident of growing business on the 100-seat A318 after being selected ...
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P&W sketches out PW6000 test plan
Pratt & Whitney plans to run the first engine tests of its PW6000 turbofan in July 1999, and will flight test the initial engine on powerplant manufacturer Pratt & Whitney Canada's Boeing 720 testbed in early 2001. The timescale depends partially on Airbus giving the go-ahead for the formal ...
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Changes at Aerolineas
American Airlines' purchase of an 8.5% stake in Aerolineas Argentinas has started the Argentinian carrier on a major restructuring. Promptly after the $25 million purchase closed, Aerolineas ordered 12 Airbus A340s as the first step of its new business plan to refleet and expand. Delayed for months by regulatory ...
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News in Brief
Japanese start-up - Japanese startup Amakusa Airlines has ordered one 39-seat Bombardier de Havilland Dash 8-100Q in preparation for its launch in the spring of 2000. The airline, which follows Symark and Air Do into Japan's newly opened domestic market, is majority owned by a local government interests. Money ...
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Jet Airways expansion questioned
The 25 aircraft expansion programme of Jet Airways, India's largest independent domestic carrier, has run into trouble. The finance ministry has requested details from its civil aviation counterpart on why the Tata-Singapore Airlines (SIA) joint venture was rejected while approval was given for Jet Airways ...
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News in Brief
Short and wide - British Midland has ordered 10 50-seat Embraer RJ-145 regional jets and is seeking six long-haul aircraft for its proposed US routes. A choice is expected to be made soon between the Airbus A330-200 and the Boeing 767-300. City Bird cargo - City Bird of Belgium has ...
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Italy phases in open skies
This January the Italian Government will select the first carriers to fly to the USA under the first stage of the phased open skies agreement signed between the two countries in November. The new air services agreement allows for one daily return service out of the USA and another ...
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Debonair broadens its horizons
The last few months of 1998 have been a busy time for ambitious UK low-fare airline Debonair. First came the regional frequent flier initiative, followed by approval from above for an extensive air-bridge operation for pilgrims travelling to the religious sanctuary of Lourdes from 10 European cities. Then came ...
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Is Europe ready for recession?
Europe's major airlines are faced with the prospect of falling profits and traffic in 1999, but are they doing enough to limit the damage? If current traffic predictions hold true, then Europe should have a relatively easy ride over the coming year or so, despite the spectre of a ...
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Global outlook
With the world economy poised to slow in 1999, the airline industry may finally get the chance to show whether it has learned the lessons of the last recession. Even the most experienced of forecasters has been forced to admit that 1998 was a difficult year to call. As ...