SR TECHNICS TO CLOSE DUBLIN MAINTENANCE BASE
SR Technics is to close its Dublin base, which employs 1,135 personnel and is one of its three main European maintenance stations, as a result of decreased business. The facility has six hangars and bays for four widebody and nine narrowbody aircraft.
UK INVESTIGATES RAF GROB COLLISION
The UK Ministry of Defence is investigating the cause of a mid-air collision near Porthcawl in south Wales involving two Grob 115E Tutor primary trainers that killed two Royal Air Force pilots and two Air Training Corps cadets on 11 February during an air experience flight being conducted from the MoD's St Athan base.
CESSNA CHALLENGES BUSINESS AVIATION CRITICS
Cessna is hitting back at business aviation critics with an advertising campaign to address what it calls "misinformation on the business use of general aviation aircraft". The move follows a wave of public vilification sparked by US car industry bosses, who flew corporate jets to Washington DC to plead for government aid.
HELICOPTER CRASH REPORT PUBLISHED
The Eurocopter AS350B2 Squirrel (G-CBHL) flown by former world rally champion Colin McRae that crashed in the UK on 15 September 2007 was manoeuvring fast and low in a narrow wooded valley when it struck trees and was destroyed. According to the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch, the cause of the crash, which killed McRae and his three passengers - including two children, one of which was his son - cannot be determined with certainty.
ROLLS-ROYCE ENGINE DELIVERIES UP IN 2008
Rolls-Royce secured orders for 408 Trent powerplants last year, helping underlying civil revenues rise 11% to £4.5 billion ($6.4 billion) though operating profit was nearly level at £566 million. The division delivered 987 engines during the year, up from 851 in 2007. Looking forward, it expects stable Trent deliveries but lower volumes in the narrowbody, regional and corporate sectors.
INDIA ISSUES RFI FOR STRATEGIC TRANSPORTS
India has surprised defence suppliers by issuing a request for information for strategic transport aircraft despite sealing a deal for six Lockheed Martin C-130Js last year. Boeing offered its C-17 and Ilyushin is likely to offer an upgraded Il-76.
JETBLUE TO TEST 'NON-EDIBLE' FUELS
JetBlue Airways is preparing to operate by spring 2010 an Airbus A320-200 on a trial of a second-generation biofuel, made from non-food feedstock.
SUPERJET 100 PRODUCTION MOVES FORWARD
Sukhoi's civil aircraft division has completed fuselage mating and wing assembly of the first production example of its Superjet 100. Four others are in early stages of assembly.
FLIGHT CORRESPONDENT DIES
Tony Lucking, a 1960s Flight International correspondent and industry commentator, has died aged 83. Known as Citizen Lucking, Tony was an independent voice for the UK's air transport consumers and staunch campaigner for competitive and efficient air services, which he backed up with his heavily researched data.
Source: Flight International
