THREE KILLED IN ANZAC DAY UH-1 CRASH
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is investigating the cause of a Bell UH-1H crash that killed three military personnel and injured another on 25 April. One of three UH-1s from Ohakea-based 3 Sqn due to take part in Anzac Day commemorations, the helicopter crashed just north of Wellington in heavy cloud and fog.
MARCH TRAFFIC UP BUT ASH-RELATED DIP EXPECTED
International scheduled passenger traffic grew 10.3% in March but will take a dip in April due to the six-day shutdown of European airspace resulting from Icelandic volcanic ash cloud, according to the International Air Transport Association.
ISRAEL, USA SEEK TO END JSF STALEMATE
Israeli and US officials will resume talks in May over a proposed deal for around 20 Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. Two recent rounds of talks ended in stalemate, with Israel seeking greater industrial participation and the inclusion of its own electronic warfare systems. Its air force also objects to plans to send systems or complete aircraft to a support centre in Europe.
NANOPARTICLE BOOST FOR COMPOSITE STRENGTH
Adding surface-treated nanoparticles based on tungsten disulphide to the epoxy resin used to bind carbonfibres can triple the resin's impact strength and increase tenfold its resistance to crack propagation with only a 0.5% increase in weight, according to two Israeli researchers, Professor Reshef Tenne of the Weitzman Institute of Science and Professor Hanna Dodiuk, head of plastics engineering at Shenkar College of Engineering.
ANTONOV AN-158 MAKES EARLY MAIDEN FLIGHT
Antonov flew its new An-158 regional jet on 28 April, nearly two weeks earlier than originally expected. The twin engine stretched variant of the baseline An-148 flew for 1h 30min.
ICELANDAIR SHIFTS HUB BACK TO REYKJAVIK
Icelandair is relocating its hub operation back to Reykjavik from Glasgow, where it temporarily moved to escape the volcanic ash from south-west Iceland. April disruption to European airspace included the closure of Reykjavik's Keflavik airport.
FRENCH UNION PROTESTS HIT AIRBUS PRODUCTION
Airbus A320, A330, A340 and A380 production was disrupted in late April by a series of strikes over pay at plants in Toulouse, Nantes and Saint Nazaire. Parts manufacturing operations, the design office and headquarters were also hit. As part of annual pay talks, Airbus is offering rises of between 0.9% and 1.9%, but unions are demanding a 3.5% increase and recruitment of 1,000 extra workers for the French production sites.
JETREADY WINS FIRST EASA ECLIPSE CERTIFICATION
Valencia air taxi operator JetReady and Eclipse Aerospace have completed the first European Aviation Safety Agency certification for the Eclipse 500 very light jet. EASA requirements include modifications to avionics, altitude and airspeed indicators, a dual diversity transponder, bilingual placards and bias ply tyres. JetReady plans to acquire 23 Eclipse 500s within the next four years and begin operations in spring.
Source: Flight International
