Systems & interiors – Page 797
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Niche accidents
David Learmount/LONDON Despite a worldwide campaign to reduce it, controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) increased in 1998 for the second year running, both among jet and non-jet flights, confirming the reversal of a previously favourable trend. There were five jet CFIT accidents and eight involving propeller-driven commercial aircraft. This ...
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Orenda wraps up Turkish deal
Canada's Orenda Recip has clinched its first original equipment manufacturer contract after a multimillion dollar deal with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). Orenda will supply and install its OE-600 V-8 piston engine for a multimission aircraft, under development at TAI's Ankara, Turkey-based factory. "The agreement is expected to result in ...
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Bring back Loran C
US Federal Aviation Administrator Jane Garvey says the global positioning system (GPS) "-is probably going to be the primary means" of navigation within the USA, requiring "some form of backup system" - which might be Loran C. The FAA has commissioned the John Hopkins University to report on the risks ...
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Economic crisis hits Russia's commercial traffic
Russia's Federal Aviation Service (FAS) expects its 1998 passenger traffic levels to be about 10% down because of the country's economic crisis. FAS director Gennady Zaitsev says results for the first 10 months of 1998 show a 10% drop in passenger and 20% in cargo air traffic. To combat ...
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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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So near, so far
Tim Furniss/LONDON The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft has been thwarted in its attempt to make interplanetary history on 10 January by becoming the first craft to enter orbit around an asteroid. The NEAR, the first craft in the NASA Discovery programme to be launched - on ...
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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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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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Alcatel and Loral plan joint
Alcatel and Loral Space and Communications are planning to form a new company, EuropeStar. Initially, it will operate two Alcatel-built communications satellites co-located at 45í in geostationary (GEO) orbit. Launches are scheduled to take place in 2000 and 2002, and the satellites will serve Europe, the Middle East, South ...
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Rivals act on SAA's domestic fares
South Africa's three independent airlines, BA-Comair, Sun Air and Nationwide, have lodged an urgent complaint to the Competition Board claiming South African Airways is charging fares that are "below cost and therefore constitute predatory behaviour on the part of the dominant carrier". The board's chief director support ...
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New commission cap sparks fury
United Airlines has capped commissions on international tickets at $50 one-way and $100 roundtrip, setting off a furore in the US travel agency community. The move has prompted the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) to put together plans to file a complaint to the US Department ...
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Light beckons in Japan
Both of Japan's major carriers sense the worst could be over for their national economy. A sign of confidence perhaps, is that Japan Airlines (JAL) is expecting to pay its long-suffering shareholders their first dividend for seven years when this 1998/9 financial year ends in March. All ...
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BA takes over CityFlyer
News that British Airways would take over CityFlyer Express finally came as little surprise. The regional airline was its first franchise partner back in 1993 and has thrived from flying in the BA colours. In the process CityFlyer has built up a valuable block of slots at London Gatwick, integral ...
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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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Crises contained?
Fears of an outright recession have begun to recede, but world economic growth is still expected to slow in 1999 and serious risks remain. Concerted action by the world's economic policy makers appears to have paid off. The threat of global recession that loomed during the crises of 1998 ...
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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 ...
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The rise of the global super brands
Global alliances are attempting to build and enhance new common brands, while protecting the core products of their members. It felt like a delayed reaction. Some 18 months ago Lufthansa, United Airlines, Air Canada, SAS and Thai International, later joined by Varig, jumped feet first into the branding game ...
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Economy challenge
Rising numbers of frequent business travellers fly in economy class and the trend is intensifying. By Doug Cameron. Business class seats may be getting flatter and IFE screens even bigger but the battle for premium passengers is moving inexonerably towards the back of the aircraft. For all the product upgrades ...
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TAM seeks foreign fish
Transportes Aereos Meridionais (TAM) of Brazil, which has seen profitability fall at home following a fare war and recession, was to launch its first international flights on 28 December with a daily Sao Paulo-Miami service. "It's much easier to tap a lake with fish than an empty lake," says Rolim ...
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Could you please confirm
No-one can hope to predict when a crisis will strike but you can be ready to limit the damage to brands and reputation It is the moment every airline executive dreads. To be woken in the early hours of the morning by the insistent summons of the telephone and ...