EUROPE'S AIRPORTS HEAD FOR FUTURE CRISIS
Two separate studies have warned over future European airport capacity. The first, published by Eurocontrol, predicts that by 2030 nearly 17% of the demand for air travel will not be able to be met, because the airport infrastructure will be swamped. The second study, for the London mayor's office, says that London, as a world hub, will be particularly hard hit because Heathrow is already at full capacity and Gatwick is close to it. By 2030 demand for air travel at London's airports will exceed supply by 55 million passenger journeys a year.
CHINESE DEAL TARGETS CSERIES CO-OPERATION
Bombardier is to examine potential co-operation with China on its CSeries programme under a new strategic co-operation agreement with Chinese airframer Comac. The deal will also assess partnership opportunities on the Comac C919 twinjet. Bombardier says the framework agreement will cover prospects for joint procurement and capitalising on commonalities between the two programmes.
FIRST SUPERJET DUE FOR MID-APRIL SERVICE ENTRY
Armenian flag carrier Armavia is intending to put the Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional aircraft into commercial service on 12 April on the Yerevan-Moscow route. The aircraft, registered EK-95015, is being readied at the Zhukovsky flight test centre near Moscow for the handover to Armavia, which has named it after cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. The date of service entry coincides with the anniversary of Gagarin's launch into space in 1961.
EADS NEGOTIATES VECTOR AEROSPACE TAKEOVER
EADS is discussing a possible acquisition of independent Canadian maintenance firm Vector Aerospace, and entered exclusive talks. Vector posted net earnings of $33 million in 2010, has North American, African and UK facilities, and supports commercial and military engines, avionics and structures. It holds approvals from several major fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter manufacturers. "Any transaction is subject to finalisation of due diligence and negotiations with respect to definitive documentation," says EADS.
LOCKHEED'S P-791 GETS SECOND WIND
Less than a year after losing a major US Army order, Lockheed Martin will revive and scale up its P-791 hybrid airship to carry at least 20t of cargo under a contract signed by a Canada-based commercial start-up. Aviation Capital Enterprises of Calgary has ordered the first airship, which is rebranded the SkyTug, for delivery from Lockheed's Skunk Works division in 2012, says founder Kirk Purdy. The first SkyTug will be demonstrated next year under an experimental licence to potential buyers, with a second due for delivery in late 2012.
BOEING LIGHTS FUSE FOR KC-46A DEVELOPMENT
A top Boeing executive has filled in the date for a key milestone in the development of the KC-46A tanker, saying the deadline for completing "firm configuration" is in the third quarter. Pat Shanahan, vice-president and general manager for Boeing commercial airplane programmes, identifies the milestone, which matches requirements with the engineering needs for the final design for the US Air Force's next tanker. "The fuse is lit," Shanahan says. "We're off and running."
Source: Flight International
