Programmes – Page 1144
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News
Family planning
The early successes of regional jet upstart Fairchild Dornier are undoubtedly spurring a surge in excitement among the more established regional players. But perhaps before everyone rushes headlong into launching a raft of new aircraft in response to the market upswing, considerable thought needs to be given to the factors ...
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Single-aisle bonanza
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES CFM International (CFMI) and arch rival International Aero Engines (IAE) are again heading for the record books. After an astonishingly successful year for both in 1997, the orders have continued and, by mid-1998, look as if they might already surpass significantly those of the previous year. ...
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Woomera is reborn
Tim Furniss/LONDON Australia is to join the international space-launch industry by establishing a commercial launch site at Woomera, South Australia, to support flight operations by the US Kistler Aerospace K-1 reusable satellite launch vehicle fleet. Test flights are expected later this year. A capital investment of A$50 million ...
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Boeing refines 777-200X design to tempt launch customers
Paul Lewis/SEATTLE Boeing has reaffirmed its commitment to launching the planned 777-200X/300X derivatives and is undertaking a fresh examination of a range of payload/range performance enhancements to the design. "The programme is still proceeding and there are some opportunities to make improvements to the 777-200X/300X that we are ...
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Westland prepares compound helicopter demonstrator
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC GKN Westland hopes to launch an advanced compound helicopter (ACH) technology demonstration programme by the end of the year. The aircraft, based on a Westland Lynx, will be equipped with wings and modified Rolls-Royce Turboméca RTM322 engines to demonstrate lift and thrust compounding. A compound helicopter uses ...
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A319M5 takes on 717 in tussle for Northwest 100-seat deal
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Airbus Industrie is pitching its proposed A319M5 head-on against the Boeing 717 in the campaign to sell Northwest Airlines up to 100 of the 100-seaters to replace its McDonnell Douglas DC-9s. The US carrier, which is also planning a 30-seater order, could purchase a total of ...
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Airbus plans laminar flow tests in bid to bring down fuel costs
Max Kingsley-Jones/TOULOUSE Airbus Industrie will launch a laminar flow technology flight test later this year as part of its probe into the potential cost and emission reductions resulting from a lessening in aircraft skin drag. The consortium is modifying the tailfin of the prototype A320-100 for tests due to begin ...
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Fairchild Dornier launches 728JET
US-German regional aircraft manufacturer Fairchild Dornier scored the show's most significant coup with the launch of its 528/728/928JET family and the confirmation of conditional orders for 165 aircraft. The announcement came alongside the launch of the 42/44-seat 428JETstretched version of the company's 328JET. Apart from confirmation by Lufthansa CityLine ...
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BMW Rolls-Royce finds cure for compressor blade cracks
BMW Rolls-Royce has resolved a compressor blade cracking problem in the BR715 engine. The problem has delayed the start of flight testing of the Boeing 717 regional airliner for several weeks. According to research and development director Günter Kappler, the cracks arose during altitude chamber tests to determine the ...
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Eurojet aims EJ200 variant at thrust vectored Gripen
Eurojet, the Eurofighter powerplant manufacturer, is offering an uprated version of its EJ200 engine to power a thrust-vectored Saab/British Aerospace Gripen demonstrator. The company says that a 700h flight test programme is being planned to explore thrust vectoring on a standard Gripen airframe for the export market. Eurojet has ...
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Brazil and Canada plan subsidy accord for regional aircraft
Mediation of the regional aircraft subsidy dispute between Brazil and Canada has left both sides claiming victory. Special envoys appointed by the two governments have recommended means for resolving the dispute, but have not ruled on whether support provided to Bombardier and Embraer breaks international guidelines on subsidies. The trade ...
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British Aerospace aims Jetstream 32EP at Mexico
British Aerospace Asset Management is trying to persuade Mexican regional Aerolitoral to replace its fleet of 27 owned Fairchild Metros with 15 leased Jetstream 32EPs. The approach follows BAe's first deal with a Mexican carrier - to lease five 19-seat J32EPs, with seven options, to Aerocaribe. Cancun-based Aerocaribe, like ...
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Saab and BAe remain cautious on leasing tie-up
Saab and British Aerospace are playing down reports that they plan to merge their regional turboprop leasing operations following BAe's decision to buy a 35% stake in the Swedish manufacturer. Instead, the companies say they have begun "benchmarking" their respective asset management operations "-to identify best practices-with a view to ...
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Airbus seeks A3XX commitments
Max Kingsley-Jones/TOULOUSE Airbus Industrie says it is to start seeking launch commitments from airlines for the A3XX large aircraft early next year. One of the key potential customers, British Airways, has already indicated a requirement for up to 23 aircraft. Jurgen Thomas, senior vice-president of Airbus Industrie's large ...
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Air China forges US link
Northwest Airlines, Continental Airlines, Alaska Airlines and America West Airlines have formed a strategic alliance with Air China, representing the first deal of its kind entered into by a Chinese carrier. The move ends speculation, for now, of a potential agreement between Northwest and Cathay Pacific and establishes further ...
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Aer Lingus extends its Airbus fleet at the expense of 737s
Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON Aer Lingus has taken a step closer to operating an all-Airbus fleet with its decision to order six A320s to add to its orders for the larger A321 and its fleet of five A330s. The new aircraft will result in its Boeing 737 fleet being further reduced. ...
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AlliedSignal APU cleared for use on A320 family
AlliedSignal has received US Federal Aviation Administration approval to produce its 131-9(A) auxiliary power unit (APU) for the Airbus Industrie A320 family. Programme manager Lee Jacobs says that deliveries of the 131-9(A) are scheduled to begin in September. "We have firm orders for close to 50 aircraft and ...
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BAe prepares to launch upgraded Avro variant
Julian Moxon/PARIS British Aerospace Regional Aircraft is preparing to launch a re-engined, upgraded "RJX" version of the Avro RJ with 15% lower direct operating costs, reductions in weight and up to 20% less maintenance costs. The company, which is in the process of a divorce with Aero International ...
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Palestinian expands with Boeing 727-200 acquisition
Palestinian Airlines has acquired an ex-Istanbul Airlines Boeing 727-200Adv in a deal arranged by UK consultancy Gamit. The 20-year-old aircraft will be introduced following overhaul in Shannon, joining a fleet of two Fokker 50s and a leased 727-100. The airline, which was set up in 1996, operates regional services from ...
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BMW Rolls-Royce plans for higher pressure ratio core
Andrzej Jeziorski/MUNICH BMW Rolls-Royce is examining the development of a new high pressure (HP) compressor for its BR700 engine family, which will allow it to produce lighter engines at the top of the family's thrust range. Under an agreement with shareholder Rolls-Royce, the company is restricted to the ...