All Systems & interiors articles – Page 752
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Midland determined on long haul
Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON British Midland (BM) is adamant that it will begin long-haul services next year, but is tight lipped about its contingency plans should it not receive clearance for transatlantic flights. The airline had expected to be in a position to detail its plans for transatlantic flights from London Heathrow ...
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NASA details ISS price list
Tim Furniss/LONDON Users of the US share of International Space Station resources will be charged a standard price of $20.8 million a year, according to a preliminary price structure released by NASA. The charge is quoted for use of each of two typical "bundles" of equipment, excluding transportation ...
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On-time software keeps FAA datalink on track
Key software for the US Federal Aviation Administration's controller-pilot datalink communications (CPDLC) programme has been delivered to prime contractor Computer Sciences (CSC). The on-time delivery of router software for the aeronautical telecommunications network (ATN) keeps the CPDLC programme on track as the FAA struggles with budget and schedule problems ...
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Data overload
Current flightdecks can reduce pilot situational awareness David Learmount/LONDON Flightdeck avionics are supposed to give pilots "situational awareness", but there is evidence that modern systems can reduce it. Situational awareness is the pilot's mental picture of the aircraft relative to its three-dimensional operational environment, including navigation and terrain, the ...
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Swissair to hand over most Geneva flights to Crossair
Andrew Doyle/MUNICH Swissair is transferring the bulk of its Geneva-based services to regional subsidiary Crossair in a bid to cut costs and allow frequencies to be boosted on a large number of routes through the use of smaller aircraft. From the start of this year's summer timetable, Crossair ...
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CAT detector ready for tests
Flight tests of the first predictive warning system for clear air turbulence (CAT) are set to begin by the middle of this year on a Honeywell-owned Boeing 720 testbed. The tests, if successful, will pave the way for eventual series production of a hybrid weather radar/infra-red (IR) laser radar warning ...
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Star seeks busier fleet
Julian Moxon/PARIS French charter carrier Star Airlines has isolated improved aircraft utilisation as the key to matching 1999's financial performance during the current year. Star posted an after-tax profit of Fr11.72 million ($1.75 million) last year, up 128% on 1998, with operating profit up even more sharply, increasing to ...
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Boeing unwraps avionics upgrade technique
Boeing has demonstrated a low-cost avionics upgrade technique that allows existing software to run unmodified on new commercial processors. The technique involves a computer program which "wraps" around the legacy software and allows it to operate with new commercial software and hardware. Boeing's demonstrations involved the C-17 Globemaster ...
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What's so special?
Passenger service levels are back on the agenda, with major airlines on both sides of the Atlantic under customer pressure to raise their game. But that may be only a symptom of a deeper need for airlines to look again at what differentiates their product. What is the difference ...
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Passenger Priorities
ANNIE REDMILE LONDON Corporations may be forcing their employees towards cheaper travel options, but business passengers remain attached to perks. They are also increasingly online savvy In the latest round of business travel surveys airlines have been sent mixed signals - some sobering, others encouraging - about the concerns, ...
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Raising the meal ticket
DENNIS BLANK ORLANDO After a lean few years in which US majors slashed catering costs, feeding passengers is back on the menu in the hope that a decent meal will win back customers Spending on onboard food service by the major US carriers is up and the trend is expected ...
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Freedom's paths
CHRIS LYLE AT ICAO MONTREAL The debate on liberalisation no longer centres on whether it will happen, but on how. Should the air transport industry continue to steer its own path or hand over the process to the World Trade Organisation? When the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) hosted its ...
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Domestic fares fall as Japan deregulates
NICHOLAS IONIDES ATI SINGAPORE Japan's major carriers are to introduce new discount fares for domestic travel from April following a revision to Japanese aviation laws. The changes to aviation laws were made official on 1 February, when the current approval system for domestic fares was replaced with a filing ...
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Drafting a new contract
TOM GILL LONDON Europe is rapidly catching up with the USA with its own passenger rights proposals First it was the turn of US politicians to get fired up about passenger rights. In fact, it looks as though the major US carriers have pre-empted that initiative with ...
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Threat to single cargo platform
A three-year initiative aimed at developing a seamless, door-to-door system for conventional air cargo could be in jeopardy if a meeting in Los Angeles on 24 February votes as expected. At stake are plans by the International Air Transport Association's special interest group, Cargo 2000, to create a ...
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Virgin's Brisbane choice revives terminal debate
Virgin Australia's selection of Brisbane as its operations centre raises questions about the airline's strategy and revives the debate over airport terminal access. Brisbane is the smallest of Australia's three big cities and it handles the smallest share of their air traffic. Statistics show that 51% of all domestic ...
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Maverick in Brazil
BRIAN HOMEWOOD RIO DE JANEIRO TAM has grown out of its regional status to become Brazil's second biggest airline. Its chief executive wants greater competition, although not an open skies deal with the USA. Every weekday morning between 06.00 and 07.00, TAM president Rolim Amaro can be found on ...
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Out of the blue
CAROLE SHIFRIN NEW YORK New York's new start-up carrier gets off the ground, boasting an impressive management team, some attention-grabbing innovations and a sizeable sum of money. Does it also have staying power? David Neeleman, the 40-year-old founder and chief executive of JetBlue Airways, exudes confidence that the newest low-fare ...
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Legend take-off renews Love battle
CAROLE SHIFRIN WASHINGTON DC Legend Airlines, a new business-traveller oriented airline, has been cleared for take-off by a US Circuit Court of Appeals after a two-year wrangle over its plan to operate from restricted Dallas Love Field. The carrier's services, which will bring long-haul scheduled flights to Love ...
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BA gambles on business class seating strategy...
COLIN BAKER LONDON The bloodletting on the North Atlantic has forced British Airways to take a gamble with a radical alteration of seating plans in favour of business class. An average of 15%of economy seats will be taken out of BA's transatlantic fleet to give more space for a ...