Flight International articles from April 2008

Flight International archives from April 2008

Off the shelf' costs a bomb.(News Analysis)
April 1, 2008... Byline: PROCUREMENT STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC A US task force looks at why attempts to save money by developing military versions of commercial aircraft often fail "What qualitative benefits have been gained, and are the...

Airbus could revisit winglet plan for A320 this year.(Air Transport)
April 1, 2008... Byline: upgrades max kingsley-jones toulouse Airframer says rising fuel prices add impetus to studies into performance improvements Airbus could decide this year to go ahead with a winglet programme for the A320 family as it finalises...

A350 workshare comes together.(Air Transport)
April 1, 2008... Byline: production max kingsley-jones toulouse Bulk of aerostructures to be placed by end of August as Airbus talks to international suppliers about remaining packages Despite the collapse of talks over the sale of its German plants,...

Plant sell-off issue 'will not affect XWB schedule': Airbus.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Byline: divestment david kaminski-morrow london Airbus is confident the collapse of negotiations to divest three German plants will not affect the timetable for A350 development, and indicates it is in preliminary talks with alternative...

First 'Wave 2' A380 nears power-on.(Air Transport)
April 1, 2008... Byline: production max kingsley-jones toulouse Airbus concedes that lead aircraft with redesigned electrical harnesses has reached critical milestone later than planned The first Airbus A380 assembled with redesigned electrical...

Adam Air pilots 'lost control of 737'.(Air Transport)
April 1, 2008... Byline: inquiry nicholas ionides singapore Investigation determines that 2007 crash followed crew's preoccupation with fault on twinjet's inertial reference system A final report into last year's fatal Adam Air Boeing 737-400 crash in...

Australian co-operation move.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Byline: safety emma kelly perth The Australian Transport Safety Bureau and the country's aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, should negotiate a new memorandum of understanding in order to improve the working...

US sites eyed for CSeries work.(Air Transport)(Bombardier Inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Byline: production mary kirby philadelphia Several potential sites in the USA, including Kansas City, Missouri, are being explored by Bombardier for CSeries manufacturing work, but the Canadian airframer continues to see Mirabel, Quebec as...

Sweeping changes proposed to cut delays in Indian airspace.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Byline: air navigation services nicholas ionides singapore A committee tasked with recommending improvements to air navigation services in India is calling for sweeping changes to reduce air traffic delays that would see more airspace...

Cargo conversion set up for Q400.(Air Transport)(Scandinavian Airlines System)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Byline: freight Olivier Bonnassies London Cascade to modify two ex-SAS aircraft for Nord-Flyg The Q400PF will be able to accommodate up to 40 Euro pallets A cargo conversion programme has been launched for the Bombardier Q400...

Ryanair to investigate Limoges 737 overrun.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... inquiry david kaminski-morrow london Ryanair has started an inquiry after one of its Boeing 737-800s skidded off the runway while landing at Limoges in France on 21 March. None of the 175 passengers or six crew members was injured when...

Superjet first-flight delay hits deliveries to Aeroflot.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Byline: production vladimir karnozov moscow Sukhoi expects to fly the first Superjet 100 during April, but the delay in reaching this milestone has pushed back deliveries to launch customer Aeroflot. The SSJ prototype was rolled out in...

Russia's flag carrier withdraws Tu-134s.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Byline: retirements vladimir karnozov moscow Aeroflot has ceased operations of the Tupolev Tu-134 twinjet, which was due to be replaced by its new fleet of Sukhoi Superjet 100s from later this year. However the SSJ delay means that some...

United joins rush to cut capacity.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Byline: narrowbodies lori ranson washington dc United Airlines has become the latest US airline to announce capacity cuts, with plans to shed 15-20 of its older narrowbody aircraft from its fleet by year-end. The move is attributed to...

Embraer in push to launch mid-size jets duo this year.(Business Aviation)
April 1, 2008... Byline: DEVELOPMENT KATE SARSFIELD LONDON New models to fill gap between Phenom 300 light jet and super mid-size Legacy 600 Embraer's Executive Jets division is hoping to get the green light this year from the company board to launch...

Fuel tank option to stretch A318 Elite range.(Business Aviation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Byline: UPGRADES MAX KINGSLEY-JONES TOULOUSE Airbus has launched an extended-range option for the A318 Elite through the installation of auxiliary fuel tankage in the cargo hold, which will be available from the middle of next year. ...

NetJets link-up targets lucrative Indian market.(Business Aviation)
April 1, 2008... Byline: FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP SIVA GOVINDASAMY SINGAPORE KATE SARSFIELD LONDON "We have identified around 1,000 potential customers on our initial list." Ashish Chordia Shreyans chief executive NetJets is hoping...

SATSair rolls out wireless data transfer for Cirrus fleet.(Business Aviation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Byline: air taxi john croft washington dc US air taxi operator SATSair by year's end will have its entire fleet of 26 Cirrus SR22s equipped for wireless transfer of predictive flight data collected onboard with a flight data monitoring...

PW810 to share GTF's all-axial core.(Business Aviation)
April 1, 2008... Byline: powerplants graham warwick east hartford Commonality means same product family will power both Cessna's Columbus business jet and Mitsubishi Regional Jet Pratt & Whitney Canada's PW810 engine for the Cessna Citation Columbus...

Boeing urges MDA to keep focus on Airborne Laser.(Defence)
April 1, 2008... Byline: missile DEFENCE stephen trimble washington dc Manufacturer favours 747-8F as new host aircraft, while Japan will increase participation Only months after rescuing the YAL-1 Airborne Laser from potentially fatal budget cuts,...

Defence.(military helicopters to be used by Australian military)(Israeli air force to use military aircrafts)(Rolls-Royce Honeywell engines approved)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... in brief SEASPRITE SAVING Australia hopes to recoup up to A$150 million ($139 million) of the A$950 million spent on a cancelled deal for 11 SH-2G(A) Super Seasprite helicopters. "The government will receive at least 50% of the...

Chetak-based UAV planned.(Defence)(unmanned aerial vehicle)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Byline: testing arie egozi tel aviv Israel Aerospace Industries' Malat division and Hindustan Aeronautics are working on a prototype unmanned helicopter for the Indian navy based on the locally made Chetak airframe. The aircraft's flight...

GE/R-R turns up the heat over alternative JSF engine.(Defence)
April 1, 2008... Byline: powerplants graham warwick washington dc P&W also to test instrumented F135 to address low-pressure turbine blade failure "We intend to show we can turn the phenomenon on [vibration], and prove we can turn it...

HPW3000 powers to US Army award.(Defence)
April 1, 2008... Byline: rotorcraft GRAHAM WARWICK EAST HARTFORD Partners to battle General Electric for re-engining contract "Losing ADVENT in the greater context of the US industrial base should create pause and consideration" ...

Israel spells out requirements for future fleet of four C-130J transports.(Defence)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Byline: airlifters arie egozi tel aviv The Israeli air force has revealed first details of the unique configuration sought for its future fleet of four Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transports, a contract for which could be signed by May....

New Zealand transport and surveillance aircraft delayed.(Defence)(Royal New Zealand Air Force )(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Byline: upgradessiva govindasamy singapore Problems encountered during a NZ$700 million ($562 million) package of upgrades to New Zealand's Boeing 757-200 and Lockheed Martin C-130H transports and Lockheed P-3K Orion surveillance aircraft...

Poland's Bryza gains anti-submarine capability.(Defence)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Byline: maritime patrol BARTOSZ GLOWACKI & GRZEGORZ SOBCZAK WARSAW The Polish navy has received its first of three PZL Mielec M28 Bryza-1R bis maritime patrol aircraft also capable of conducting anti-submarine warfare tasks - a new...

Last Tranche 1 Typhoon delivered.(Defence)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Byline: fighters Germany has received the last of 148 Eurofighter Typhoons to be built for the nation and programme partners Italy, Spain and the UK under a Tranche 1 production order for the type. Delivered to Neuberg air base from EADS's...

Features.
April 1, 2008... Air traffic service providers in Asia are helping to improve aviation's environmental profile in the region Air traffic management Managing change It is a recognised fact that an efficient air traffic management (ATM) system can...

Features.
April 1, 2008... smart fixed wing aircraft Step change European airframers are looking for a technological leap in aircraft wing design that will yield major cuts in carbon dioxide emissions Aimee Turner London While a major reduction in...

Features.
April 1, 2008... Byline: The Eco-Design ITD focuses on the life-cycle of an aircraft, from early design and raw materials to its retirement from serviceMartin Fendt London airframes Sixth sense Eco-Design is the sixth category in the European...

Features.
April 1, 2008... "There is simply no understanding of aviation's business model" Koen Vermeir IACA policy Carbon trade-off While European aviation sorts out the details of joining the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, there are...

spoilt for choice.(Features)
April 1, 2008... As the latest innovations in cabin design are trumpeted at this week's Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Airbus has re-invented how it works with suppliers to improve service readiness, lower costs and slash lead times "We are securing...

Features.
April 1, 2008... Avionics boeing takes uncommon approach Boeing's CH-47F and MH-47G are leading an unprecedented effort to field a common glass cockpit across a range of helicopters operated by the US Army and other services. Called the Common...

Features.
April 1, 2008... Most US Army CH-47Fs will combine new airframes and avionics with refurbished drive systems What began as another remanufacture of the US Army's long-serving CH-47 Chinooks has evolved into a programme that will keep the heavylift...

chinook aiming for seventh decade.(Features)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... history In the late 1950s, Vertol Aircraft began developing two tandem-rotor helicopters, the Model 107/YHC-1A and Model 114/YHC-1B. The smaller -1A became the US Marine Corps' CH-46 Sea Knight assault transport the larger -1B was selected...

Features.(Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative )
April 1, 2008... Byline: AIMEE TURNER BRUSSELS Europe's Clean Sky initiative represents a unique clean sheet approach with an unprecedented level of co-operation between competitive rivals both great and small set to rewrite the rules of industrial...

call waitinG.(Features)
April 1, 2008... Byline: graham dunn london The age of in-flight phone use has been a long time coming, mainly due to the aeronautical certification and telecom regulatory minefield that had to be negotiated "We have seen a lot of enthusiasm from...

Czech light sport aircraft makers battle weak dollar.(General Aviation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Byline: exchange rates LUBOMIR SEDLAK PRAGUE Steadily appreciating local currency means that components and materials must be acquired abroad Czech manufacturers of light sport aircraft are losing money due to the steadily appreciating...

General Aviation.
April 1, 2008... AVIONICS STC Avidyne and Southern Star Avionics have received supplemental type certification to retrofit the Envision integrated flight deck on the Cessna 400 series of piston twins. The aircraft becomes the fourth twin-engine model to be...

Smolensk steps up Yak-18T output.(General Aviation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Byline: production Russia's Smolensk aircraft plant plans to build up to 40 Yakovlev Yak-18T light aircraft this year as demand for the four-seat piston engine aircraft grows. The plant, which delivered 13 new aircraft and two upgraded...

D-Jet gets unmanned treatment.(This week)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Byline: UAVs ARIE EGOZI TEL AVIV Israel's Aeronautics Defense Systems plans to conduct the first flight of its Diamond Aircraft DA42-derived Dominator 2 strategic unmanned air vehicle in May, while first details have emerged of its work to...

'White list' points to ICAO black sheep.(This week)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Byline: safety david learmount london More than 140 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation's 190 member states have agreed that ICAO may publish the results of the organisation's universal safety oversight audit programme (USOAP)...

MRJ takes off with 15-aircraft ANA order.(This week)
April 1, 2008... Byline: development leithen francis singapore Regional jet will go head to head with China's ARJ21-700 The P&W GTF-powered MRJ will enter service with ANA by early 2014 Competition between Asia's heavyweights China and Japan is...

This week.(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Politicians push for UK inquiry Three UK politicians have called for a public inquiry into toxic air in airline cabins, among them Liberal Democrat shadow transport secretary Norman Baker, who says: "There is now overwhelming evidence that...

'Flawed' test still detects toxic air.(This week)
April 1, 2008... Byline: SAFETY DAVID LEARMOUNT LONDON Methods used by UK working group to collect samples of airborne chemicals 'questionable", says toxicologist Methods chosen by a UK Department for Transport (DfT) working group to identify toxic...

Wet-leasing may speed open skies progress.(This week)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Byline: liberalisation KERRY EZARD LONDON As the first phase of the European Union/US open skies agreement comes into effect on 30 March, attention is turning to second-stage negotiations, which begin in May and will attempt to tackle the...

Reusable Lynx will support USAF research.(This week)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Byline: SPACEFLIGHT ROB COPPINGER LONDON Mojave, California-based Xcor Aerospace has unveiled the design for its reusable horizontal take-off and landing Lynx vehicle that it aims to fly in 2010. The Lynx has been in development for over...

ATV: an automatic success.(Spaceflight)
April 1, 2008... Byline: SPACE STATION ROB COPPINGER LONDON Five of Europe's fully automated expendable space freighters will service the International Space Station before 2016 "We are looking forward to an excellent first docking...

Features.
April 1, 2008... Byline: ICAO is set to launch a calculator that aims to end passenger confusion about measuring their environmental impact John Croft Washington DC carbon footprint Counting the cost The International Civil Aviation Organisation...

Coming back down to earth.(Working Week)(Interview)
April 1, 2008... What goes up must come down, and aircraft come down safely after Boris Popov proved that an airframe parachute works. His drive to prove it, design it and market it followed a hang-gliding accident and fall into a lake "We have a group of...

Mitsubishi takes aim for 1,000 sales.(News Analysis)(Japan Airlines)(All Nippon Airways Company Ltd.)(Mitsubishi Aircraft International Inc)
April 8, 2008... Byline: market siva govindasamy singapore Airframer looks to Japan's other carriers and the Asian market to build orders beyond ANA's commitment for 25 aircraft Mitsubishi may project a demand for about 1,000 of its new regional jet...

Will MRJ change the game?(News Analysis)(Mitsubishi Regional Jet )
April 8, 2008... Mitsubishi Regional Jet and its P&W geared turbofan must deliver on promises if they are to unsettle the incumbents aircraft development max kingsley-jones london The launch of the Mitsubishi Regional Jet, backed by a 25-aircraft order...

ARJ21 faces six month wait for maiden flight.(Air Transport)(AVIC I Commercial Aircraft Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
April 8, 2008... Byline: testing leithen francis singapore China's ARJ21 regional jet has become the latest new airliner programme to suffer a delay to its first flight, with the maiden sortie of the initial -700 variant slipping six months to allow systems...

Continental crew wrongly identified landing lights.(Air Transport)
April 8, 2008... Byline: investigation David Kaminski-Morrow London Incident report says confusion between parallel taxiway and active runway was 'central to incident' involving 757 "The flight crew's misidentification of the parallel taxiway...

First CRJ1000 comes together.(Air Transport)(Bombardier Inc. )(Brief article)
April 8, 2008... Byline: assembly Bombardier is completing assembly of the first CRJ1000 at its plant in Montreal, by converting the CRJ900 prototype airframe. The 100-seater, which is the latest member of the CRJ family, incorporates a 2.95m (9.7ft)...

Could Eurocontrol rethink SES plan?(Air Transport)
April 8, 2008... Byline: air traffic management david learmount brussels Service providers and states may sidestep functional airspace block concept en route to a network-centric system The creation of functional airspace blocks (FAB), officially the...

FAA certification for 787's GEnx.(Air Transport)(Federal Aviation Administration certifies General Electric Co.'s engine)(Brief article)
April 8, 2008... Byline: approval The General Electric GEnx-1B engine that will power the Boeing 787 has received US Federal Aviation Administration certification. The engine's two-year test programme "involved eight engines and two flight-test programmes...

Late design changes for Xian's MA60 turboprop.(Air Transport)(Xian Aircraft International Corp.)(Brief article)
April 8, 2008... Byline: aircraft development leithen francis singapore Xian Aircraft is making major changes to the design of its latest turboprop, which had been dubbed the MA60 but will now be called the MA600. The 48- to 60-seater is an updated...

MAS pushes back A380 deliveries to 2011 and orders 737-800s.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
April 8, 2008... Byline: delay leithen francis singapore Malaysia Airlines has substantially pushed back the delivery dates for the six Airbus A380s it has on order. Originally due for delivery between January 2007 and December 2008, delays in the A380...

Raytheon pitches follow-on test for Vigilant Eagle.(Air Transport)(L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace L.L.C.)(Brief article)
April 8, 2008... Byline: countermeasures Stephen Trimble Washington DC A Raytheon and Rafael team is to propose to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) a $10 million, live-fire test of a scaled-down version of a ground-based defensive system to...

Airbus in talks to create airliner recycling network.(Air Transport)
April 8, 2008... Byline: retirements max kingsley-jones toulouse Airframer outlines strategy for managing 'end-of-life' ahead of retirements surge from 2016 Facing the prospect that about one-quarter of the 6,000 airliners destined for the scrapheap...

Northrop winds down Guardian work.(Air Transport)
April 8, 2008... Byline: countermeasures John Croft Washington DC Move follows completion of US Homeland Security counter-Manpads demonstration for commercial aircraft "It's time to see if the DoD should take on a similar project to the ...

Project Phoenix to convert CRJ200 for Ritz Pacific.(Business Aviation)
April 8, 2008... Byline: corporate jets siva govindasamy singapore After refurbishment jet will be a 'Global Express look-alike' Ritz Pacific, a Hong Kong-registered company specialising in the purchase and sale of refurbished business jets, has...

FAA challenges reliever airport on access for business jets.(Business Aviation)(Federal Aviation Administration )(Brief article)
April 8, 2008... Byline: legal battlejohn croft washington dc The US Federal Aviation Administration and the City of Santa Monica, California, are heading for a legal battle over a new city ordinance that will effectively ban larger business jets from using...

Power loss downs Cessna Citation I on final approach.(Business Aviation)
April 8, 2008... Byline: accident david learmount london Crash occurred during attempted emergency landing just after departure from Biggin Hill The Cessna Citation I that crashed near Biggin Hill airport south east of London, UK on 30 March was...

TAECO to become first Asian Airbus corporate jet completion centre.(Business Aviation)(Taikoo Aircraft Engineering )(Brief article)
April 8, 2008... Byline: maintenance, repair and overhaul Chinese maintenance, repair and overhaul company Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering (TAECO) is working to become Asia's first approved cabin completion centre for Airbus corporate aircraft. It...

Deccan to expand with business jet purchases.(Business Aviation)(Brief article)
April 8, 2008... Byline: charter Deccan Charters, which will soon be divested from India's Deccan Aviation, plans a spending spree to establish itself as a leading provider of corporate aviation in the country. Deccan Aviation, parent of low-cost...

USAF reveals C-17 cracks as production debate heats up.(Defence)
April 8, 2008... Byline: TRANSPORTS stephen trimble washington dc Details of fuselage wear emerge officials differ on need to keep assembly line open Boeing is fixing new fuselage cracks found on US Air Force C-17s, while senior commanders have made...

Lockheed checks F-35 navigation systems up to scratch with CATBird.(Defence)(Brief article)
April 8, 2008... Byline: fighters The CATBird emulates the F-35's power, cooling and cabling infrastructure The Co-operative Avionics Test Bed is a heavily modified Boeing 737-300 Lockheed Martin has flight-tested the F-35 Joint...

Another delay for CSAR-X decision.(Defence)(AgustaWestland, Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp. supplies military helicopters)
April 8, 2008... Byline: helicopters graham warwick washington dc Service expected to issue sixth amendment to request for proposals in April, pushing capability date back to 2014 Reselection of the US Air Force's $15 billion CSAR-X combat...

UK MoD tackles collision threat to its rotorcraft.(Defence)(Ministry of Defence )(Brief article)
April 8, 2008... Byline: safety craig hoyle london Merlin HC3As entering front-line use this year already have TCAS devices Concerned over the potential for mid-air collisions involving its rotorcraft, the UK Ministry of Defence is to contract Qinetiq...

Raytheon gets contract for jamming version of air-launched decoy.(Defence)
April 8, 2008... Byline: electronic countermeasures stephen trimble washington dc Raytheon is to launch the second phase of development for the US Air Force's first stand-in jammer platform, after receiving an $80.2 million risk-reduction contract for the...

New Zealand to seek spares from Australia's axed Super Seasprites.(Defence)(Brief article)
April 8, 2008... Byline: helicopters siva govindasamy singapore New Zealand is keen to buy the spare parts that will become available from the sale of Australia's cancelled Kaman Aerospace SH-2G(A) Super Seasprite helicopters. Although it is not keen on...

P&W proves F135 for STOVL JSF.(Defence)(Lockheed Martin Corp.)(Pratt and Whitney)
April 8, 2008... Byline: engines graham warwick washington dc 'Up-and-away' flight clearance expected next month Pratt & Whitney has completed durability and performance testing of the short take-off and vertical landing version of its F135 engine, as...

Bell Boeing gets order for 167 V-22 Ospreys.(Defence)(Brief article)
April 8, 2008... Byline: rotorcraftgraham warwick washington dc Bell Boeing has received a five-year contract worth $10.4 billion to produce a further 167 V-22 Osprey tiltrotors, with the order representing the US military's first multi-year order for the...

Features.(Bahrain Air Bahrain)(Brussels Airlines Belgium)(AirAsia X Malaysia)(List)
April 8, 2008... Arrivals (Started ops in the past year) Airline Country Aerolinea Principal Chile Aerolineas Sudamericanas Bolivia Aerosur Paraguay Paraguay Air Bee Italy AirAsia X Malaysia BA CityFlyer UK Bahrain Air...

Features.
April 8, 2008... Departures (ceased ops in the past year) Airline Country ADC Airlines Nigeria Aero Airlines Estonia African Safari Airways Kenya Air Adriatic Croatia Air Asturias Spain Air Sofia Bulgaria Airlink Papua New...

Is this the ultimate military aircraft?(This week)(Brief article)
April 8, 2008... Byline: flight 100 greatest As the UK Royal Air Force celebrates its 90th anniversary, few would disagree that the Supermarine Spitfire was one of its finest fighters, but was it the greatest military aircraft ever built? AirSpace forum...

Barrier to better incident reporting.(This week)(Brief article)
April 8, 2008... Eurocontrol's head of airport operations and environment Paul Wilson says he believes that for every ATM incident reported by a controller, probably more than 10 go unreported. And Marc Baumgartner, president of the International Federation...

Controller errors biggest cause of ATC incidents.(This week)
April 8, 2008... Byline: SAFETY DAVID LEARMOUNT BRUSSELS Eurocontrol publication says automation will increase but sector to remain "human-centric" for foreseeable future Eurocontrol says controller mistakes are the biggest single cause of air traffic...

US military begins talks forair-launched anti-ballistic missile.(This week)(Brief article)
April 8, 2008... Byline: technology STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC The US military has begun talks with contractors to potentially acquire, after 2010, the first air-launched weapon for shooting down ballistic missiles, say industry officials. Lockheed...

Emirates' first A380 breaks cover.(This week)
April 8, 2008... Byline: delivery Preparations for the delivery of Emirates' first Airbus A380 in July are gathering pace at Hamburg, with the aircraft having undergone cabin interior installation and painting. The Engine Alliance GP7200-powered A380 is...

FAA oversight role slammed.(This week)
April 8, 2008... Byline: SAFETY John Croft Washington DC Southwest Airlines compliance lapse raises critical issues about administration's treatment of airlines as 'customers' "FAA properly recognises that AD compliance is a ...