Flight International articles from August 2006

Flight International archives from August 2006

Airbus prepares to fly A380 with full load of passengers.(service introduction of Airbus)
August 1, 2006... Airbus is aiming to undertake the first flight of an A380 with a full load of passengers at the beginning of next month, when it launches the early long flights (ELF) test programme for the ultra-large aircraft. Speaking in Abu Dhabi,...

Aeroflot awaits A350 XWB offer.(Airbus product introduction)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Aeroflot is waiting for Airbus to submit a renewed offer to meet its requirement for a new widebody fleet following the unveiling of the A350 XWB, but the airline's requirements for a smaller aircraft indicate that the Boeing 787-8 is now the...

Chautauqua to fly 50-seat jets for Continental.(airlines contracts)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Continental Airlines is contracting Republic Airways subsidiary Chautauqua Airlines to operate 44 50-seat jets to cover capacity lost in the US major's fleet agreement with primary regional partner ExpressJet. Chautauqua will begin...

Influx of foreign pilots follows Great Wall recruitment ban.(rules for airlines)
August 1, 2006... Chinese aviation authorities have revealed the number of foreign commercial pilots registering in the country. The statistics reveal a huge increase, with a significant proportion coming from Brazil, Singapore and the USA. Since 14 March...

737 short-field upgrade approved.(Federal Aviation Administration certification for aircrafts)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... A package of design enhancements that improve the short-field performance of Boeing's 737 Next Generation family has received US Federal Aviation Administration certification. The package is also expected to be approved shortly by the European...

FAA urged to seek help with NGATS.(Federal Aviation Administration)(next-generation air transport system)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... A preliminary assessment of the progress of the USA's next-generation air transport system (NGATS) has found the US Federal Aviation Administration is failing to provide the expertise required to complete the transition from the ageing national...

Controller error caused O'Hare incursion: FAA.(product development)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) believes a controller error caused a runway incursion at Chicago O'Hare involving a United Airlines Boeing 737-300 and an Atlas Air Boeing 747. According to the NTSB, the 23 July incident...

Market gets glimpse of MD-80 blended winglet.(Comtran and Jet Engineering product development)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Comtran and Jet Engineering, which developed the "Super Q" Chapter 4 modification for the Boeing MD-80, installed their blended winglet concept for the twinjet on Comtran's MD-80 at the Farnborough air show last month. "We expect to be able to...

Offensive forces MEA to relocate.(Middle East Airlines)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Middle East Airlines is operating services from the Syrian capital Damascus in a bid to restore its schedule in the wake of the Israeli offensive against Lebanon, writes David Kaminski-Morrow. The Lebanese flag carrier has been unable to...

Pembroke Group will expand fleet following management buy-out.(acquisitions of aircraft industry)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Irish lessor Pembroke Group's management buy-out will grant the company the freedom to expand its portfolio, with a particular focus on increasing the number of aircraft the company owns. Pembroke was formerly owned by Rolls-Royce and GATX...

Ryanair ordered to pay pilot unions' legal costs.(cases and service introduction of websites)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Dublin's High Court has ordered Ryanair to pay legal costs amounting to over ?1 million ($1.3 million) to two pilot unions following a judge's decision to dismiss the Irish carrier's request to identify certain pilots who had posted anonymous...

Airbus rolls out retro-scheme A319 for SAS.(Scandinavian Airlines)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The first of four Airbus A319s for Scandinavian Airlines has been rolled out at Airbus's Finkenwerder plant, painted in a retro scheme from the 1970s when the airline used its full name - Scandinavian Airlines System.

SIA rules out A340 replacement.(Singapore Airlines)
August 1, 2006... Singapore Airlines (SIA) is no longer considering replacing its Airbus A340-500s with Boeing 777-200LRs and plans to keep the ultra-long-range Airbus aircraft for use on non-stop services to the USA. The confirmation came as the airline...

Israeli air power falls short.
August 1, 2006... LEBANON CRISIS ARIE EGOZI / TEL AVIV Israel's ongoing campaign against Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon has served to illustrate the limitations of air power, with more than 4,500 offensive sorties conducted by the country's air...

DayJet names base.(service introduction of DayJet)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... US air-taxi operator DayJet has named Gainesville in Florida as its first DayBase, where aircraft and crews for its per-seat on-demand service will be based. The city is already one of five Florida locations, or DayPorts, to be served by DayJet...

7X clears ultimate hurdle.(product development of Dassault Aviation S.A.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Dassault has completed ultimate load testing and 16 months of static and fatigue trials on the 7X ultra-long-range business jet. Testing began in March 2005, two months before the 7X made its first flight. Both the static and fatigue testing is...

Aerion refines business case for supersonic jet.(Aerion Corporation)
August 1, 2006... Supersonic business jet (SSBJ) designer Aerion has completed an initial round of meetings with potential manufacturing partners and is refining its business case for further discussions, including development cost, partnership structures and...

TAG aims to crack China market.(jointventure partnerships)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Swiss business aviation services company TAG Aviation is hoping to begin charter operations within China by the end of the year as demand for business aircraft soars throughout the region. "We are hoping to sign a letter of intent within...

Bad week for...(lockheed martin contracts )(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... lockheed martin, whose potential multi-year deal to supply 60 F-22s to the US government is under threat after accusations of a conflict of interest. The impartiality of the head of the government think-tank that is backing a three-year deal -...

Good week for...(sales and earnings of the company)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... precision castparts, whose shares have surged after stronger than expected first quarter results were posted on the back of growth in engine component sales and the acquisition of Special Metals earlier in the year. Shares were trading at over...

Giants measure up.(sales and earnings of aircraft industry)
August 1, 2006... As Airbus emerged from its worst crisis to convincingly win the orders race with Boeing at Farnborough, last week provided an opportunity to compare the recent financial performance of its parent EADS with its US rival. With the European...

Europe's first A400M comes together in Bremen.(product infromation of A400M)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The fuselage for Airbus Military's first A400M transport is taking shape, with four major sections delivered to Airbus Deutschland's Bremen site from plants in Germany, South Africa and Turkey. The completed 32m (105ft)-long fuselage - which...

F/A-18E/F to use AESA as jammer.(active electronically scanned array)
August 1, 2006... Boeing's F/A-18E/F Block 2 Super Hornet is set to become the first fighter to use its active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for electronic attack, with a planned software upgrade to allow its array of transmit/receive (T/R) modules...

Boeing reassures Seoul on AEW&C credentials.(airborne early warning and control )(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... With a decision imminent, Boeing has moved to ensure that delays to its 737 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) programmes for Australia and Turkey will not affect its ability to meet South Korea's requirements if selected. A decision on...

Fresh sales prompt MB-339 advanced jet trainer revival.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Alenia Aermacchi is to re-open its production line for the MB-339 advanced jet trainer, in anticipation of fresh business for the 30-year-old aircraft, says chief executive Carmelo Cosentino. Announced during last month's Farnborough air...

Portuguese air force receives final EH101.(Portuguese air force contracts)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The Portuguese air force has received the last of its 12 EH101 multirole helicopters ordered from AgustaWestland, having already amassed over 2,000 flight hours on the 15t aircraft. One of four EH101s configured for combat search-and-rescue...

Northrop eyes E-2D release.(Northrop Grumman and the US Navy product developments)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Northrop Grumman and the US Navy are working on exportability of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, as India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) move towards airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) competitions. "We are working the process," says...

UK, USA to link trainers.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Eight aircrews from the UK Royal Air Force and US Air Force will participate in a Red Flag-style exercise in October under a demonstration of experimental networked simulation techniques. Four Panavia Tornado GR4 cockpit simulators will be...

Features.(Farnborough International's air show )
August 1, 2006... Business aviation Business class Improved aircraft park broadly welcomed as organiser chases general aviation Kate Sarsfield Business and general aviation will never be a conspicuous feature of the Farnborough air show....

Features.
August 1, 2006... Airliners Back to form Airbus regains confidence as new A350 is well received Max Kingsley-Jones Farnborough week was a bit of a slow burner for Airbus. But after a self-conscious start the company received a major shot in the...

Features.(radio frequency identification)
August 1, 2006... business Bigger is better SMEs are starting to see the benefit of going global Helen massy-beresford The increasing trend towards globalisation of the industry was reflected this year in the increased interest in forming...

Features.(Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT))
August 1, 2006... air shows Horses for courses While on the face of it RIAT and Farnborough compete, they have different strengths CRAIG HOYLE This year's Farnborough air show was the fourth to go back-to-back with the more...

Canberra action plan to halt sector decline.(action agenda)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The Australian government plans to launch an industry-government action agenda for the general aviation industry this month in an effort to identify the problems facing the sector and reverse its decline, writes Emma Kelly. Action agendas...

Ground runs start for second tiltrotor prototype.(product development of BA609 )(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Bell/Agusta Aerospace has begun ground runs of the second of four BA609 tiltrotor prototypes at joint venture partner AgustaWestland's facility in Cameri, Italy, in preparation for the aircraft's first flight in the third quarter of this year....

UK report highlights value of GA.(general aviation)
August 1, 2006... The UK Civil Aviation Authority has published its first analysis of the state of the country's general aviation industry. The strategic and regulatory reviews, described by the CAA as "a fundamental turning point in its relationship with...

Airbus coy on A330-200 Freighter.(product introduction of A330-200 )(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Airbus made a last-minute decision to postpone an announcement of the A330-200 Freighter programme launch during the Farnborough air show despite receiving a commitment for 30 aircraft from an undisclosed customer. Although Airbus declines...

Airbus offers Emirates A350/A380 mix in place of A340-600s.(product introduction of A340-600 )(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Airbus is hoping for closure on the long-running Emirates A340-600 saga by the end of the year, and is discussing a deal to swap the order, substituting A350 XWBs and additional A380s. Emirates, the largest A380 customer with 43 aircraft on...

'Lack of airmanship' doomed 737.(product information of Boeing 737-200 )
August 1, 2006... Peruvian investigators have uncovered a catalogue of appalling airmanship that resulted in the 23 August 2005 fatal loss of a Transportes Aereos Nacionales de Selva (TANS) Boeing 737-200 as it attempted to land in a storm. Despite being...

France eyes Libyan deal.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... France is in the early stages of considering a proposal to sell Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopters to Libya, subject to approval by French inter-ministerial commission CIEEMG, which advises on the authorisation of arms exports. The French...

Australia opens talks with USA to join BAMS UAV project.(Broad Area Maritime Surveillance)(Unmanned aerial vehicles)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Australia is to slow its planned project Air 7000 multi-mission unmanned aerial system acquisition and seek to link its requirement with the US Navy Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) programme, writes Peter La Franchi. The national...

EADS warns on A350.(European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... EADS has warned that it faces having to write off costs relating to the redesign and late delivery of the A350 widebody family. Announcing a "solid" set of half-year results last week, EADS said that, following the high-profile relaunch of...

Eclipse wins FAA certification as very light jets come of age.(Federal Aviation Administration)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Eclipse Aviation has received provisional certification for its Eclipse 500, the first very light jet (VLJ) to obtain US Federal Aviation Administration approval, but will not begin customer deliveries until it obtains full type certification,...

P&WC line powers up.(Pratt and Whitney Aircraft of Canada Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Pratt & Whitney Canada is accelerating production of the PW610F turbofan powering the Eclipse 500 following Transport Canada certification, and plans to deliver around 500 PW600 family engines in 2007 from its newly completed production line in...

Raytheon aims to offload GA arm.(general aviation)(Raytheon Aircraft Co.)
August 1, 2006... Raytheon is looking to sell or spin off its general aviation and business aircraft manufacturing division as it scales back delivery plans for the Hawker 4000 because of continuing delays in certificating the super mid-size jet. The US...

EADS Casa sale fails.(European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Washington's attempts to block the sale of 12 new tactical transport and maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) to Caracas appear to have succeeded, with a member of the Venezuelan military command confirming the cancellation of a $590 million deal...

Russia ignores US objections to seal Venezuela arms deal.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Venezuela last week signed a $1.3 billion arms deal with Russia, under which it will acquire 24 Sukhoi Su-30MKI multirole fighters and 30 Mil helicopters. Moscow approved the sale despite last-minute pressure from the USA to reconsider. ...

Yak-130 prototype crashes.(accidents)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Yakovlev's third prototype of the Yak-130 advanced jet trainer crashed on 26 July while undergoing state acceptance trials from the company's flight-test centre in Zhukovsky near Moscow. The two-seat aircraft was destroyed after its crew...

Disaster monitoring constellation to expand.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Talks are under way to replenish the international low-Earth-orbit Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) as the multinational consortium prepares to announce new members. The DMC provides Earth observation data comprising 640km (400...

Things to do with a mobile.
August 1, 2006... Your correspondent Andrew Gilbey of New Zealand asks two questions (Flight International, 27 June-3 July): firstly, what can be done on a phone in non-transmitting mode? On mine I can check my diary, look up contacts, write memos, compose...

Green with amazement.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... At the Farnborough air show I visited all of the major engine manufacturers that I could to ask for information about their programmes for developing cleaner, more environmentally acceptable aircraft. I am working for a number of airports that...

Too much for an air show?(Farnborough air show )(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... I am a fan of the Farnborough air show and hope it continues to succeed, but on what grounds can the organisers justify the ?27 ($50) entry fee for public visitors? Compare this with a more modest ?9 charge for the Paris air show and then...

CEATS: what happened?(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... I am deeply disappointed with the fact (Flight International, 21-27 February) that ?40 million ($50 million) has been spent on the Central European Air Traffic Services (CEATS) programme with no results. It is evident that some people acted...

Cessna reveals two new designs.
August 1, 2006... Unveiling Cessna unveiled not one, but two new aircraft on the first day of AirVenture 2006, with a surprise fly-past by the company's new piston replacement adding to the excitement of the unveiling of its entry into the fledgling light...

Garmin's G1000 glass cockpit goes retro.(AirVenture that its G1000 integrated avionics suite)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The most sought-after flightdeck in general aviation is now available for retrofit. Garmin International announced at AirVenture that its G1000 integrated avionics suite will be certificated in the Beechcraft King Air C90 in the second quarter...

Honda plans US production for very light jet by 2010.
August 1, 2006... Japanese car maker Honda revealed plans to enter the very light jet (VLJ) market by formally launching sales of its HondaJet at the US Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Honda aims to complete...

NASA prepares ground for CEVs.(National Aeronautics and Space Administration )(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... NASA is preparing for the shift in ground operations from the Space Shuttle programme to the architecture needed for the Crew Exploration Vehicle, its Ares I launcher and the Ares V heavylift cargo booster. The US agency has awarded its...

ESA offers space tourism help with business plans.(European Space Agency)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The European Space Agency is offering to help the continent's space tourism companies develop credible commercial plans by awarding three ?150,000 ($190,300) contracts under its survey of privately funded human spaceflight vehicles. ...

Orbital joins COTS bid.(International Space Station )(Commercial Orbital Transportation Services)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Orbital Sciences has joined the Rocketplane Kistler (RpK) team bidding for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) demonstration programme, and will invest $10 million in the company if its bid is successful. A downselect...

Certification service offered for providers.(International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety)(Hubble Space Telescope)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Senior space agency and industry members of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS) have established the Independent Space Safety Board (ISSB) to offer non-profit commercial spaceflight vehicle certification...

Japan and Airbus in joint study.
August 1, 2006... A Japanese government-funded research institute is to conduct a joint study with Airbus focusing on the development of technologies to evaluate the robustness of carbonfibre composite structures. Airbus says it will work on the study with...

NASA ER-2 returns to flight.(calibrate and validate data from sensors)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... One of NASA's two Lockheed Martin ER-2 high-altitude research aircraft has returned to flight after a lengthy overhaul. The aircraft, a civilian U-2, will be used to calibrate and validate data from sensors on the recently launched Calipso and...

Nano air vehicle to fly like seed.(Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency )(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... A 38mm (1.5in), 9g (0.32oz) reconnaissance nano air vehicle (NAV) with a single rotating wing is to be designed by Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories (ATL) under a $1.7 million, 10-month Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency...

UK's green aviation study begins.(Aviation Administration-funded study)
August 1, 2006... A ?5 million ($9.3 million) joint UK academic-industry study into aviation's environmental challenges has begun. After a six-month key issues analysis, a two-year search for solutions will begin in January. The project, called Omega...

Quickstep takes major stride with composites process.(Spirit AeroSystems)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Australian technology company Quickstep has moved closer to adoption of its composite manufacturing process by the aerospace industry with the expansion of a testing programme with the UK's Spirit AeroSystems (Europe). The Quickstep...

Knowledge shortage.(North West Aerospace Alliance)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The rapid move to carbonfibre composites as a building material for aircraft has meant that the necessary skills base in working with the new materials has not kept pace with the growth in their use, UK research has found. The North West...

New arrivals for scheme.(Doncasters' Group Ltd. graduate training scheme)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The first 10 entrants for UK components manufacturer Doncasters' graduate training scheme will join this summer. They will undertake four six-month projects in different areas of the business, such as commercial, manufacturing and...

UK industry and MPs discuss MRO's training 'time bomb'.
August 1, 2006... Representatives of leading aerospace companies visited the UK's Houses of Parliament to take part in a discussion and ideas forum on the skills needs of the aviation industry, at the invitation of Liberal Democrat leader of the House of Lords,...

Features.
August 1, 2006... defence Taking the fifth Lockheed Martin found itself having to argue the case for its F-22 and F-35 GRAHAM WARWICK Lockheed Martin laboured at Farnborough to convince a sceptical European aerospace press corps of the...

Features.(Russia's Federal Space Agency)(International Space Station)
August 1, 2006... spaceflight Moon gazing International lunar co-operation is advancing, but faces obstacles of its own ROB COPPINGER Farnborough air show this year witnessed more announcements from the world's major space agencies about...

Features.
August 1, 2006... Russia Moscow mission Russia's efforts to streamline its industry are advancing VLADIMIR KARNOZOV The thrust-vectoring MiG-29 twisting and turning in the skies over Farnborough was a showpiece of Russian technology. Now...

Features.
August 1, 2006... environment Cleaning the sky Manufacturers have taken the first step towards making aerospace greener aimee turner Europe's ?1.6 billion ($2 billion) bid to speed up the entry into service of greener aircraft received a...

Features.(Unmanned vehicles programme)
August 1, 2006... Unmanned vehicles MALE supremacy Euromale is virtually dead - but what will Europe put in the UAV programme's place? Peter La Franchi For the first time in at least three years, the EADS stand at a major international...

Features.(engine agreement)
August 1, 2006... Civil Engines Reverse thrust New A350 heralds change for General Electric and Rolls-Royce Guy Norris What a difference a year can make in the big commercial engine world. At the Paris air show in June 2005, General Electric...

Features.
August 1, 2006... Unmanned systems Pilot optional US industry leans toward solutions that can switch from manned to unmanned Graham Warwick A new word is entering the aero?space lexicon as the US Air Force analyses its long-range strike...

Toulouse A380 workforce boosted.(Airbus S.A.S. increasing its workforce)(Brief article)
August 8, 2006... Airbus has increased the workforce on the A380 assembly line by 50% to 3,800 people as it battles to overcome production delays. Technicians are working flat out through France's traditional August break on the already assembled A380s in...

Mooney takes reins at 747 office.(new appointment of Dan Mooney at Boeing Co.)(Brief article)
August 8, 2006... Dan Mooney, Boeing Commercial Airplanes' vice-president for product development, is now head of the 747 programme. Mooney began assuming his new responsibilities in mid-June, but the new appointment took full effect on 1 August when Jeff...

ATK clinches 747-8 GEnx fan case deal as it expands into civil market.(Alliant Techsystems enters into contract with General Electric)(Brief article)
August 8, 2006... Alliant Techsystems (ATK) has been selected by General Electric to produce the fan composite containment case for the GEnx engine adopted by Boeing as the exclusive powerplant for its stretched 747-8. The five-year contract is worth "tens...

787 camber tests take off on 777.(Boeing Co begun initial flight tests)
August 8, 2006... Boeing has begun initial flight tests of the trailing-edge variable camber (TEVC) system in development for the 787, using the concept validation and risk-reduction (CV/RR) 777-200ER testbed. The tests include simulation of the 787's...

Etihad weighs up options for new widebody types.(freight arm Crystal Cargo)
August 8, 2006... Rapidly expanding Gulf carrier Etihad Airways expects to implement the next round of its fleet-acquisition plans by early next year as it evaluates orders for various widebody types including the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787. The Abu...

Airbus to carry on in Japan.(Japanese heavy industry )
August 8, 2006... Airbus says it remains committed to working with Japanese heavy industry despite confirmation last week by Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) that it will stop producing Airbus parts in March, writes Aimee Turner. KHI has been producing the...

Eurocontrol pleased with rise in incursion reporting.(Brief article)
August 8, 2006... There was an increase in the number of reported runway incursions in 2005, according to Eurocontrol. Last year there were 611 compared with 550 in 2004, reveals the head of the agency's airports unit Paul Wilson. Europe sees slightly fewer...

Evasive action averts Los Angeles accident.(Air traffic controllers )(Brief article)
August 8, 2006... An evasive manoeuvre by a SkyWest Airlines Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia pilot appears to have averted a crash at Los Angeles airport. According to an initial US Federal Aviation Administration report, the incident, which occurred on 26 July,...

Chinese turboprops in demand.(Xian Aircraft sells more Xian MA60 and Harbin Y-12 turboprops)(Brief article)
August 8, 2006... China's state-owned aircraft manufacturing sector has sold more Xian MA60 and Harbin Y-12 turboprops to the country's overseas allies, writes Leithen Francis. Xian Aircraft, part of China Aviation Industry I (AVIC I), has sold two MA60s to...

DHS says more counter-Manpads work needed.(Department of Homeland Security)(military directional infrared countermeasures)
August 8, 2006... Laser-based counter-Manpads (man-portable air defence systems) can protect airliners from missile attacks, but prototypes have so far only partially met US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) performance requirements and show limitations when...