AMR LOSSES WIDEN IN THE FIRST QUARTER

American Airlines' parent AMR lost $375 million during the first quarter, a 10% increase over the $341 million losses posted a year ago. American's mainline passenger revenues dropped 16% to $3.7 billion. However, "other" revenues characterised by sales of flight changes, buy-on-board and bag fees increased by 6.9% to $558 million. A 37% drop in AMR's fuel prices helped its overall operating expenses drop by 14.5% to $5 billion. But operating losses also grew by 3.4% to $194 million.

JAMMS AND JSF GET ITALIAN GREENLIGHT

The defence committees of the Italian chamber and senate approved two key Italian air force upgrade programmes, the Lockheed Martin F-35 and the Gulfstream G550-based Joint Airborne Multisensor Multimission System. JAMMS is a €280 million ($370 million) programme to replace Alenia G222VS with two new-generation multi-sensor/multi-mission aircraft to be employed in EW/SIGINT/ELINT roles.

FIRST QUARTER DELIVERIES DIP FOR EMBRAER

Embraer in the first quarter delivered 40 aircraft, five fewer than in the first quarter of 2008. The total included 32 commercial aircraft - 17 E-190s, six E-195s, five E-170s, three E-175s and one ERJ-145 produced by Chinese joint venture Harbin Embraer for Hainan Airlines subsidiary Grand China Express - and six Phenom 100 and two Legacy 600 executive jets. At the end of the quarter, Embraer's firm order backlog was $19.7 billion.

BRAZIL OPTS FOR AF-1 FIGHTERS RESTORATION

The Brazilian navy has signed its first-ever deal with Embraer to restore the structure, radar and avionics for nine AF-1 single-seat and three AF-1A two-seat jet fighters. The A-1 is Brazil's designation for the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk.

AIR FRANCE TO SHED UPTO 3,000 MORE JOBS

Air France, which last month warned it would make a €200 million ($264 million) operating loss for 2008-9, is to cut up to 3,000 more posts in the next two years. The French flag carrier had already announced 1,200 cuts by attrition. The carrier says hub, cabin crew and pilots would be affected by the extra cuts, adding: "There is a crisis - if you look at our traffic you will rapidly understand."

BOLTS FROM BLUE CAST LIGHT ON HIRF

A batch of Embraer E-Jets in operation at 10 airlines from around the world are the focus of a 10-year study to determine the effects of ageing and environment on the high intensity radiated fields (HIRF) and lightning protection features of the aircraft. Embraer says the study is timely since the use of composite materials with low electrical conductivity is growing along with digital electronics and automation that increase vulnerability to lightning.

SKYDIVERS ESCAPE FUEL EXHAUSTION CRASH

Irish investigators believe fuel exhaustion on a Cessna U206G caused a power loss that prompted the pilot to order a mid-air evacuation of parachutists at Clonbullogue airfield last month. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and four parachutists when it suddenly lost power while climbing through 9,000ft (2,750m). Its pilot instructed the parachutists to jump before attempting to return to the airfield, but landed in a field short of the runway and flipped over.

Source: Flight International