EUROPE TO OVERHAUL AIRPORT SLOT RULES
REGULATION European transport commissioner Siim Kallas has stated his aim to advance legislation for better slot control after a study suggested Europe's airports could accommodate 28 million each year if the slot allocation system were improved.
RUSSIAN PLANT PLANS TWIN OTTER LINE
PRODUCTION Moscow-based Vityaz Avia intends to assemble DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 turboprops under licence at Ulyanovsk, within an industrial cluster adjacent to airframer Aviastar. Managing director Sergei Antsiferov said the business plan, a partnership with type certificate holder Viking Air, envisages gearing up production in three phases, starting early 2013. The aim is to build 24 a year.
FIFTIETH CHINESE-BUILT AIRBUS DELIVERED
MANUFACTURING Airbus has delivered the 50th A320-family aircraft from its Chinese final assembly line in Tianjin. Shanghai-based carrier Juneyao Airlines received the A320 at a ceremony at the plant's delivery centre. Juneyao operates two A319s and 17 A320s.
BEDEK EXAMINES A330 FREIGHTER POTENTIAL
CONVERSION Israel Aerospace Industries' Bedek division is evaluating the technologies required for converting Airbus A330s from passenger to cargo configuration. Bedek general manager for marketing and business development Jack Gaber said the evaluation is part of the group's preparations for the decision to begin modification of the type: "There is still not enough availability of A330s in the market but this will change and we will be ready to talk with Airbus."
FAA IMPOSES HEAVY FINE FOR LASER ATTACKS
SAFETY Aiming lasers at aircraft is to be made a violation of Federal Aviation Regulations by the US Federal Aviation Administration. Individuals could face a civil penalty of $11,000 per incident. "Shining a laser into the cockpit of an aircraft is not a joke," said FAA administrator Randy Babbit. "These lasers can temporarily blind a pilot and make it impossible to safely land the aircraft." Over 1,100 incidents have been reported so far in 2011, according to the FAA.
POLISH HELICOPTERS FOR PHILIPPINES
ROTORCRAFT AgustaWestland subsidiary PZL Swidnik will supply the Philippine air force with eight W-3A Sokol transport helicopters under a deal worth Ps2.8 billion ($64.4 million). Four will be delivered by November to operate alongside the service's more than 80 Bell UH-1s, with the rest to follow in the second quarter of 2012.
US NAVY SEEKS AIRBORNE JAMMER DEAL
ELECTRONIC WARFARE The US Navy plans to acquire Raytheon's ADM-160 miniature air-launched decoy jammer via a contract valued at up to $12.5 million. The purchase plan was outlined by the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Crane Division, which is often tasked with supporting the electronic warfare community within naval aviation. In development for the US Air Force, the expendable, turbojet-powered system is designed to disrupt flight tracks on enemy radar displays.
BRENDAN GALLAGHER
DEATH NOTICE Brendan Gallagher, a production editor for Flight International in the 1970s, died on 29 May at the age of 60. A fuller remembrance of this popular and talented former staff member and contributor will appear in our 21-27 June issue.
Source: Flight International