Flight International articles from April 2006

Flight International archives from April 2006

Aeromexico receives first of two 777-200ERs.(Boeing 777 aircraft)(Brief article)
April 4, 2006... Aeromexico has received the first of two Boeing 777-200ERs leased from International Lease Finance. The second will arrive later in April. The 777s will be operated on European routes, replacing 767s that are being returned off-lease....

Rivals pursue different paths for FMS keyboard design.(flight management system)(product development)
April 4, 2006... Airbus and Boeing have again adopted contrasting philosophies for pilot interface systems, this time with control of the flight management system (FMS). On its A380, Airbus has implemented the first major revision of the multipurpose...

Boeing bullish on prospects for 747-8 Intercontinental.(Boeing Co forecasts)(Brief article)
April 4, 2006... Boeing has sales campaigns for its stretched 747 derivatives under way at more than a dozen airlines for a total of nearly 100 aircraft and remains confident of securing its first commitment for the passenger version this year. "We've...

FAA seeks wake research funding.(United States Federal Aviation Administration)(research funding)
April 4, 2006... systems Joe Singleton / Washington DC A senior US Federal Aviation Administration official revealed last week that research funding for a new ground-based wake mitigation system designed for use at airports with closely spaced parallel...

Contract still valid: Gamco.
April 4, 2006... Gulf Air's maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider Gulf Aircraft Maintenance (Gamco) says that despite the airline's decision to team with SR Technics for its future requirements, its current contract still has almost two years to run,...

Udvar-Hazy pushes Airbus on A350 design evolution.(product development)(Brief article)
April 4, 2006... aircraft development Mary Kirby / Orlando Airbus faces a decision on further refining the A350's specification or committing to a thoroughly upgraded design that will serve as the backbone of the manufacturer's future widebody fleet,...

Lufthansa leans hard on regionals to cut costs.
April 4, 2006... Lufthansa Regional is facing a tough cost-cutting regime this year, but partner management chief Jurgen Hild is confident of meeting the target. Airlines operating under the Lufthansa Regional banner comprise Italian carrier Air Dolomiti,...

AirAsia to gain from MAS revamp.(Malaysia Airlines)(Brief article)
April 4, 2006... Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is to reduce its Boeing 737-400 fleet, dispose of all its regional aircraft and cancel its Fokker 50 replacement programme as part of a drastic restructuring of its domestic operation. Malaysian low-cost carrier...

MD-80 noise kit wins FAA approval.(United States Federal Aviation Administration)(approval for aircraft engines)(Brief article)
April 4, 2006... Pratt & Whitney and Renton, Washington-based Aviation Fleet Solutions (AFS) have received US Federal Aviation Administration certification for the QuietEagle noise reduction system for JT8D-200-powered Boeing MD-80s, writes Guy Norris. The...

Northwest regional in pipeline.(Northwest Airlines plans for subsidiary)(Brief article)
April 4, 2006... Northwest Airlines aims to launch a regional subsidiary in June from the remnants of defunct low-cost carrier Independence Air, writes Darren Shannon. The new carrier, which was incorporated as Northwest Airlines Cargo until it was renamed...

Russia defies EC over flight fees.(European Union)(Brief article)
April 4, 2006... Russia will continue to charge Siberian overflight fees in defiance of threats from the European Union to hinder its accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Moscow says. European transport commissioner Jacques Barrot has insisted...

Air Transat scare prompts call for more rudder checks.(checking of aircraft rudders)(Brief article)
April 4, 2006... A better system for checking the structural integrity of composite rudders on Airbus aircraft is needed "urgently", says Canada's Transportation Safety Board (TSB). The agency is still investigating the March 2005 loss of most of the rudder...

New Phoenix to rise in Shanghai.(Phoenix Airline acquired)(Brief article)
April 4, 2006... Chinese conglomerate Junyao Group plans to launch a Shanghai-based passenger carrier in September with leased Airbus A319s and has acquired a stake in existing Tianjin-based carrier Okay Airways. Junyao says Phoenix Airline, formerly known...

S-76/S-92 relocated.
April 4, 2006... Sikorsky plans to relocate final assembly of S-76 and S-92 civil helicopters from its strike-hit Stratford, Connecticut plant to its recently acquired Keystone Helicopter subsidiary in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. The manufacturer says the...

Rivals race for UAE launch space.(United Arab Emirates)(international trade)
April 4, 2006... Spaceflight Aimee Turner / Dubai Rival space tourism ventures Virgin Galactic and Space Adventures could go head-to-head over plans to launch suborbital flights from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Virgin chairman Sir Richard Branson...

Scaled-back X-37 approach and landing vehicle faces drop test.(testing of spacecraft)(Brief article)
April 4, 2006... A team from Scaled Composites, Boeing and the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) was expected to attempt a drop test of the X-37 approach and landing test vehicle (ALTV) reusable spaceplane over the Edwards AFB test range in...

A320 tests winglets.(A320 aircraft winglets testing)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... Airbus has begun testing winglets on its A320 development aircraft. Two different designs are to be flight tested, with JetBlue Airways providing an additional aircraft for part of the flight-test programme.

High hopes for new eco-friendly fire extinguisher.(environmentally friendly design of fire-extinguishing system )(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... An Airbus-led team of European companies is hoping an environmentally friendly design of fire-extinguishing system for engines and auxiliary power units (APU) will be cleared for use on airliners before the end of the decade, writes Max...

Short-field package for 737NG pulls in orders.(Boeing Co. recieves orders)
April 11, 2006... Nine airlines have placed orders and options for more than 300 Boeing-developed short-field performance improvement packages for installation on 737-800s and -900ERs, the first of which will enter service later this year. The package,...

New BWIA chief plots turnaround.(BWIA West Indies Airways )
April 11, 2006... BWIA West Indies Airways is expecting to post net losses of $25-30 million for the full year 2005, but newly appointed chief executive Peter Davies believes he can turn the airline around to reach break-even in 2008. Davies has submitted a...

Descent method has green appeal.(air traffic to be controlled save the environment)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... Growing interest in employing continuous descent approach (CDA) procedures into airports could lead to a promising operational blueprint for sustainable aviation, says a US environmental chief. Speaking in he UK at the Royal Aeronautical...

Naverus to help China expand RNP.(required navigation performance)(Naverus contracts)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... China has committed to expanding required navigation performance (RNP) operations throughout the country as part of a deal with US company Naverus, writes Bredan Sobie. Naverus says it has forged an agreement with the Civil Aviation...

New cargo carriers boom in China.(Shaanxi Delong United Airlines plans to introduce cargo services)
April 11, 2006... More Chinese start-ups are preparing to launch dedicated cargo operations to capitalise on China's booming trade with the West. Shaanxi Delong United Airlines, a start-up in west China's Xian City, plans to launch in September, operating...

FedEx MD-10 suffers turbine failure.(McDonnell Douglas DC-10/MD-10 accident investigation)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... A FedEx Express McDonnell Douglas DC-10/MD-10 freighter was substantially damaged on 4 April when the low-pressure turbine of the General Electric CF6-6D engine on its right wing disintegrated mid-flight. The aircraft, a Series 10F...

India's state airlines set to merge.
April 11, 2006... India's prime minister has given in-principle approval for a merger between Air India and Indian Airlines and the civil aviation ministry hopes the proposed deal can be completed by year-end, writes Leithen Francis. Prime minister Manmohan...

SIA slips widebody plan.(Singapore Airlines Ltd. to purchase airbuses from Airbus S.A.S and Boeing Co.)
April 11, 2006... Singapore Airlines (SIA) aims to place an order for Airbus A350s or Boeing 787s next month and is considering leasing Airbus A330s or acquiring further Boeing 777s as an interim solution. The Star Alliance carrier initially sought 2008...

TEAM Let L-410 crashes in Brazil.(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... A Let L-410UVP-E operated by Rio de Janeiro-based regional carrier TEAM crashed late last month while en route from Macae to Rio de Janeiro, killing all 19 people on board. The aircraft was flying to Rio's Santos Dumont airport with 17...

Tupolev defines plans for next-generation Tu-204.(Tupolev on its aircraft designs)
April 11, 2006... Tupolev has completed the outline specification of a "next-generation" Tu-204 design for service entry by the end of the decade that features a new wing and structural weight reductions. The programme, which could be the first element of...

EFB is first step in Virgin's technology revolution.(electronic flight bags)(Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd.)
April 11, 2006... Virgin Atlantic Airways has chosen Lufthansa Systems to supply Class 2 electronic flight bags (EFB) for its aircraft fleet, marking the first step in the carrier's plan to roll out technology upgrades across its cockpit, cabin, engineering and...

Volga-Dnepr waits on An-124 cash.(restarting the production of Antonov An-124 and Boeing 747 )
April 11, 2006... Volga-Dnepr Group's ambitious expansion plans are entering a critical phase as the company awaits a decision by the Russian government on whether to provide funds to help restart production of the Antonov An-124 outsize freighter. ...

US-EU open skies 'soon'.(European Union)(Open Skies aviation agreement)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... A top US official says the European Union is expected to issue a definitive ruling on the proposed transatlantic open skies by June. Speaking at the 26th annual New York Airfinance conference, US state department deputy assistant secretary John...

Updated Learjet 60XR completes first flight.(Bombardier Inc. completes its first flight services)
April 11, 2006... Bombardier's updated Learjet 60XR business jet flew for the first time on 3 April from the Cedar Rapids, Iowa facility of Rockwell Collins, responsible for certificating the super-light jet's new Pro Line 21 integrated flightdeck....

TSA opens heliport checkpoint in New York.(Transportation Safety Administration)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... The US Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) has opened its first heliport security checkpoint at the downtown heliport near New York City's Wall Street. The opening coincides with the launch of US Helicopter's Sikorsky S-76-based...

Piaggio studies jet design options.(Ferrari plans to team to develop new aircraft)
April 11, 2006... Piaggio could launch its first business jet as early as this October's National Business Aviation Association show in Orlando, Florida. Senior board members at the Italian manufacturer have confirmed that two concepts are being studied...

Raytheon in China bid.(Raytheon Aircraft Co.)(China. General Administration of Civil Aviation)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... Raytheon Aircraft is seeking to certificate its new Hawker 4000 super mid-size business jet with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in anticipation of sales to Chinese operators. The manufacturer has just begun the process of...

Woolly thinking.(Federal Aviation Administration decision by British Airways )
April 11, 2006... Some woolly thinking is going on at the US Federal Aviation Administration. It is looking to an administrative law judge for an interpretation of one of its own rules. The FAA is making it quite clear it does not like the decision by a...

USAF C-5 in crash landing.(United States. Air Force investigates on aircraft crash)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... The US Air Force is investigating the cause of a 3 April crash in which a Lockheed C-5A Galaxy transport was written off at Dover AFB, Delaware. All 17 crew and passengers aboard the 33-year-old transport survived the crash landing, which...

Chile seeks improved networking for F-16s.(Air Force F-16)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... Lockheed Martin has revealed that the Chilean air force's new F-16C/D Block 50 fighters have been fitted with internal plumbing to support the installation of conformal fuel tanks as a potential near-term upgrade. Meanwhile, the service...

Vikings prepared for Chilean campaign.(FIDAE air show )(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... The US Navy is offering its Chilean counterpart soon-to-be-retired Lockheed Martin S-3B Vikings as a potential replacement for the country's Lockheed P-3B Orion maritime surveillance aircraft. The offer is part of a plan to transfer about...

Dutch C-130H hits the road en route to overhaul in UK.(Lockheed Martin C-130H transports)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... The first of two ex-US Navy Lockheed Martin C-130H transports acquired by the Royal Netherlands Air Force via Derco Aerospace has been shipped to the UK for overhaul by Marshall Aerospace. The aircraft, which had been broken down before its...

Italian industry hits out at JSF technology transfer.(Joint Strike Fighter)(Lockheed Martin F-35)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... With negotiations on participation in production of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) entering a critical phase, Italy's government has come under fire from its industry for taking too soft a position on US technology transfer restrictions....

Raytheon and EADS take Mobile option for JCA bid.(Joint Cargo Aircraft)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... With bids for the US Army/Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) programme to be submitted in mid-May, the Raytheon/EADS Casa Team JCA has chosen Mobile, Alabama as the final-assembly site for CN-235 and C-295 transports sold into North America....

Tokyo delivers budget blows.(purchase of military helicopters )(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... Budget constraints caused by the acquisition of a new ballistic missile defence system have forced Japan to reduce its purchase of military helicopters to just 15 this year, and to abandon plans to acquire additional Shinmaywa US-1A Kai...

Japan starts hunt for fighter replacement.(retirement of fighters)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... Japan's Air Self-Defence Force has issued a letter of request to France, the UK and the USA to provide information on new fighters to replace the service's planned phased retirement of 91 Mitsubishi/McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Kais from 2010,...

Malaysia plans helicopter contests.(helicopters acquisition and funds for the new jet trainers)
April 11, 2006... ROTORCRAFT BRENDAN SOBIE / SINGAPORE Malaysia plans to launch acquisitions for new combat search and rescue (CSAR) and training helicopters as part of its new five-year spending plan, but has delayed several other programmes because of...

Kawasaki to develop new version of OH-1 helicopter.(OH-1 scout helicopter)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... Japan is expected to develop its indigenous Kawasaki OH-1 scout helicopter for utility roles, but is likely to select a Western model for a new training requirement. Sources say the Japan Defence Agency (JDA) aims to secure funds for the...

Lockheed Martin advances Pampa push in Argentina.(AT-63 Pampa jet)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina (LMAA) expects further orders from the Argentinian air force for new-build AT-63 Pampa jet trainers to add to the six aircraft already under contract. Company president Alberto Buthet is also expecting a...

Rockwell reaches next Quint phase.(Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... A Rockwell Collins-led team has won through to the second phase of a technology demonstration that is emerging as a leading candidate to connect precision-guided weapons and unmanned air vehicles to the battlefield network. Collins has...

EADS Casa tests A310 boom.(Airbus A310 )(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... EADS Casa has completed an initial series of six flight tests intended to prove the handling qualities of an Airbus A310 demonstrator equipped with the company's air refuelling boom system. Conducted from Getafe near Madrid on 16-30 March and...

Making the case for change.(System for Earth SAmple Registration)
April 11, 2006... The SESAR Consortium consists of the Air Traffic Alliance (ATA) founder members [degrees] Airbus, EADS and Thales [degrees] plus a stakeholder group comprising providers and users of air traffic management (ATM). The consortium will work with...

defining the sky.(System for Earth SAmple Registration)
April 11, 2006... When Eurocontrol was set up in 1960, its objective was to create a single pan-European block of upper airspace. Last month the project definition phase for just such a programme began [degrees] nearly half a century after the idea was hatched....

lasting legacy.(test flight mission)(adventure in spaceflight)
April 11, 2006... Twenty-five years ago this week, the first Space Shuttle [degrees] Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102 Columbia [degrees] blasted off the pad at Kennedy Space Center. Almost a decade after man's final footsteps on the Moon, the test flight mission...

Australian airports are 'driving out' GA.(government's airport)(fair market rents)
April 11, 2006... Australia's Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) claims the government's airport privatisation programme is not working and that privatised airports are driving out general aviation. In particular, the association cites Sydney's...

Japan to launch helicopter contests.
April 11, 2006... Japan's coastguard will launch a competition this month to select a new medium twin-engine search and rescue (SAR) helicopter, and the national police will soon open a competition for four light twins. Industry sources say the coastguard...

BA goes to court to fight FAA fine.(British Airways)(Federal Aviation Administration fine)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... An appeal by British Airways against a US Federal Aviation Administration fine for "operating an aircraft in the USA in an unairworthy condition" will be heard by an administrative law judge in New York on 16 May. The FAA imposed the...

Race on to fly Alliance A380 as schedule slips.(certification programme for the Engine Alliance)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... Airbus faces a race against time to complete the certification programme for the Engine Alliance (EA) GP7200-powered Airbus A380 to ensure the aircraft remains on schedule for deliveries to launch operator Emirates next year. Installation...

Acclaim is Mooney's fastest.(M20TN Acclaim)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... Mooney has introduced the M20TN Acclaim high-performance piston, an upgrade of the Bravo, production of which was halted this year because of declining demand. With a cruise speed of at least 230kt (425km/h) at 25,000ft (7,600m), the Acclaim is...

EADS vows UK Airbus jobs secure.(European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company)
April 11, 2006... Business Murdo MOrrison / London The likely effect on UK jobs of BAE Systems' decision to sell its 20% stake in Airbus to EADS is being hotly debated, with the Franco-German giant insisting that becoming 100% owner of Airbus will...

BAE to use funds to build up US defence.
April 11, 2006... BAE Systems is expected to use the proceeds from selling its Airbus stake to finance further defence acquisitions in the USA. Speculation has centred on L-3 Communications, but some reports suggest BAE believes such a deal would not be...

USMC orders CH-53K.(Sikorsky received contract to develop the CH-53K )(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... Sikorsky has received a $3 billion contract to develop the CH-53K shipborne heavylift helicopter [degrees] a growth version of the CH-53E [degrees] for the US Marine Corps. First flight is scheduled for 2011, with service entry planned for...

Predator price thwarts UKNimrod shows flare in test.(Nimrod MRA4 )(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... A BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 maritime reconnaissance and attack aircraft recently released 50 flares in a test flight over the Aberporth range in Wales. The trial of the defensive aids subsystems was part of the MRA4's mission system test...

UK to unify SAR helicopter service.(search-and-rescue)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... A competition to select a service provider to operate the UK's search-and-rescue (SAR) helicopter force is to be launched next year. The unique cross-department project will replace military helicopters from the RAF and Royal Navy, as well...

V-22 FADEC fix follows uncommanded take-off.(modify digital engine control in Bell Boeing V-22)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... Rolls-Royce is to modify the full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) software in the Bell Boeing V-22 tiltrotor after a FADEC failure resulted in an uncommanded take-off and hard landing during post-maintenance checks. The cause of...

What about wheelchair users?(Letter to the editor)
April 11, 2006... I was interested to read of Kieran Daly's experience during the A380 evacuation test (Flight International, 4-10 April). My son is a 34-year-old wheelchair user and has limited mobility. Just supposing we were seated in Mr Daly's row...

International accident board.
April 11, 2006... With regards to your report about the Flash Airlines accident investigation (Flight International, 4-10 April) and the different opinions on the cause of the accident: enough already! The USA and France say that pilot disorientation was the...

Differences in design.(Letter to the editor)
April 11, 2006... I was surprised to read that cases are now going to court over the Airbus A320 flight control unit design 20 years ago (Flight International, 21-27 March). This made me think: Airbus appears to design the A320 unit with no research to...

Surveillance of the future.(Letter to the editor)
April 11, 2006... The future of intelligence surveillance reconnaissance (ISR) is taking shape in the Asia-Pacific region. Your report on the Australian government's Project Air 7000 (Flight International, 7-13 March), notably the deployment of a Northrop...

NASA deputy allows two years for Vision.(National Aeronautics and Space Administration)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... NASA and its contractors have until 2008 to prove that the USA's Vision for Space Exploration and its new transport systems are viable, says NASA deputy administrator Shana Dale. The significance of 2008 is not technical but political [degrees]...

Flying wing's engines could detach and become MAVs.(micro air vehicles)(Avid)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... US design consultancy Avid is seeking a partner to develop an unusual unmanned air vehicle comprising a flying-wing mother ship powered by ducted-fan engine modules that can detach to operate autonomously as micro air vehicles (MAV). ...

Folding tiltrotor in tunnel test.(Mono Tilt Rotor)(design patented by Baldwin Technology)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... Windtunnel testing of the Mono Tilt Rotor (MTR) concept has demonstrated aerodynamic deployment of the folding wing, a key feature of the design patented by Baldwin Technology. Tests in a University of Maryland tunnel of a parametric research...

Split-cycle design promises fuel efficiency and fewer emissions.(Scuderi Air-Hybrid Engine )(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... Gasoline and diesel versions of an internal-combustion engine that promises 60% fuel efficiency and an 80% reduction in emissions are being built in preparation for demonstration next year. The split-cycle Scuderi Air-Hybrid Engine is being...

Dresden to probe new materials for R-R.(University of Dresden )(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... Germany's University of Dresden is to investigate lightweight materials for use in engines following its appointment as a Rolls-Royce university technology centre (UTC). Studies will analyse the properties of hybrid structures, research...

Embraer plans to increase VLJ production rate.(very light jet)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... Less than a year after launching its six-seat Phenom 100 very light jet (VLJ), Embraer is already planning to increase its production rate. In an interview with Flight International, senior vice-president for executive aviation Luis Carlos...

Business aviation careers get boost from industry body.(business aviation careers scholarship programmes )
April 11, 2006... The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has announced details of forthcoming scholarship programmes aimed at promoting business aviation careers. Six scholarship programmes have been confirmed, benefiting about 70 students, in...

Regional jet for Brazil's police.(ex-Rio Sul EMB-145ER)(Brief article)
April 11, 2006... Brazil's federal police force has taken delivery of an ex-Rio Sul EMB-145ER regional jet from Embraer. The aircraft will be deployed on major police operations throughout the country, and will join an expanding fleet, which includes Cessna...

Near-misses occur as pilots make ACAS reaction errors.(how to react to Airborne Collision Avoidance System)
April 25, 2006... Eurocontrol has reissued advice to pilots on how to react to airborne collision avoidance system (ACAS) resolution advisories (RA) following a series of recent events in which crews have failed to follow procedures correctly and avoided...

Common system drafted for European ATM user charges.(user charges changed)(Brief article)
April 25, 2006... European air traffic service providers have agreed a draft proposal for a pan-European charging scheme. The main change will be in making the system transparent by opening the books of the air navigation service providers (ANSP), says the Civil...

Aeroflot joins SkyTeam.(SkyTeam alliance's partnerships)(Brief article)
April 25, 2006... Aeroflot has become the tenth member of the SkyTeam alliance. "The Russian airline has boosted service quality for customers throughout its network, including in-flight service, and harmonised its flight system with that of SkyTeam," says the...

Boeing looks to secure its titanium.(joint venture of Asmpo and Boeing)(Brief article)
April 25, 2006... Russian titanium miner VSMPO-Avisma is to partner in a c60 million ($73 million) joint venture to machine parts for Boeing's 787 as the US manufacturer bids to counter a six-fold surge in titanium prices since 2002. The agreement to launch...

CSA faces shake-up.(restrructuring Ceskoslovenske Aerolinie)(Brief article)
April 25, 2006... New CSA Czech Airlines boss Radomir Lasak has overhauled the carrier's management structure and outlined a three-year turnaround plan designed to restore profitability at the SkyTeam carrier. Turnaround and restructuring specialist Lasak...

Freight start-up Cargoitalia takes road to Delhi.(Cargoitalia S.p.A's service introduction)(Brief article)
April 25, 2006... Italian-based freight airline start-up Cargoitalia is this week due to launch flights from its Milan Malpensa base to Chennai and Delhi in India using a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 freighter. The Indian route will be operated twice-weekly and...

Aviastar rolls out first Tu-204 freighter for Chinese airline.(orders for aircraft industry)(Brief article)
April 25, 2006... Russian airframer Aviastar has rolled out the first of five Rolls-Royce RB211-powered Tupolev Tu-204-120C freighters ordered by Air China and China Eastern Airlines. The Ulyanovsk-based manufacturer says the aircraft will enter service in...

Chautauqua deal threatens ExpressJet fleet.(Brief article)
April 25, 2006... US regional carrier ExpressJet could lose its entire fleet under a feeder deal unveiled last week by Continental Airlines and Republic Airways Holdings subsidiary Chautauqua Airlines. The new contract is contingent on ExpressJet's own...

Two categories of aircraft structural degradation.(flight development)(Brief article)
April 25, 2006... Widespread fatigue damage can take two basic forms as defined by the US Federal Aviation Administration: multiple site damage (MSD), which is "the simultaneous presence of fatigue cracks...in the same structural element such as a large skin...