UK EYES 2015-20 TIMELINE FOR THIRD RUNWAY
UK secretary of state for transport Geoff Hoon has approved plans for a third London Heathrow runway and called for delivery as soon as possible in 2015-20. But the project remains mired in uncertainty as the opposition Conservative party has vowed to axe the scheme if elected. Hoon abandoned proposals for a switch to "mixed-mode" operations allowing departures and arrivals on the same runway. Heathrow is operating at 99% of maximum capacity.
EASYJET CONFIRMS TEST FLIGHT INCIDENT
UK budget carrier EasyJet has confirmed that one of its Boeing 737-700s was involved in an incident on 12 January over the North Sea during a test flight ahead of the aircraft's return to its lessor. The US National Transportation Safety Board says the aircraft, registered G-EZJK, suffered a "violent pitch down during flight".
CREW KILLED AS IL-76S COLLIDE ON GROUND
Four members of the seven-strong military crew of an Ilyushin Il-76 transport died on 15 January after the cockpit of their aircraft caught fire after being struck by the wingtip of another Il-76 that was taxiing at Makhachkala airport in southern Russia. Weather data indicates freezing fog at the time of the collision.
FUNDING SHORTFALL HITS ESA PLANS
An €80 million ($105 million) funding shortfall is threatening to reduce the capability of the European Space Agency's planned European Data Relay Satellite System, a constellation of three geostationary satellites designed to relay data during French Guiana rocket launches. The agency had requested €230 million, but its member states will give only €150 million.
USAF SEEKS ENHANCED JAMMER
Raytheon has won a $12.2 million US Air Force contract to study the feasibility of adding a radio frequency datalink and increased power output for a possible Block II version of its developmental miniature air launched decoy jammer, with roughly 925km (500nm) range for service entry in fiscal year 2013.
AVICOPTER TO BUILD HELICOPTER PLANT
China Aviation Industry Corporation's Avicopter unit is to establish a factory in the Tianjin free trade zone to make civil helicopters. Avicopter's main helicopter factory, Harbin Aircraft, makes military and civil rotorcraft, including civil models with Eurocopter.
BOEING AND GE SLASH WORKFORCES
Boeing and General Electric are to slash their workforces in the face of a deepening economic crisis. Boeing is to lay off around 4,500 employees in its commercial airplanes division this year. GE is cutting 1,000 jobs mostly "through attrition, retirements and voluntary packages", the company says.
ADS-B TESTING TO BEGIN BY YEAR-END
Tests of the GPS-based automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast air traffic control system on US Airways Airbus A330s could begin later this year as the carrier takes delivery of the first of 17 new aircraft to be equipped with ACSS-supplied "SafeRoute" software to test ADS-B operations at Philadelphia International airport. UPS has been testing ADS-B for about year.
Source: Flight International
