Flight International articles from August 2008

Flight International archives from August 2008

ATR faced by Asian training dilemma.(Air Transport)
August 5, 2008... Byline: PARTNERSHIPS LEITHEN FRANCIS SINGAPORE Malaysian and Thai carriers aim to tap manufacturer's expertise by offering partnerships in new simulator centres ATR faces some tough decisions in Asia over what direction to take in...

Emirates comes clean on spa design.(Air Transport)
August 5, 2008... Byline: CABIN INNOVATIONS MAX KINGSLEY-JONES DUBAI Regulators pour cold water on carrier's original plan to recycle using ultra-violet filtration for A380's on-board showers Emirates was forced to drop its initial plan to recycle the...

First Gulf Air A319 ready for duty.(Air Transport)(Airbus provides its transport aircrafts)(Brief article)
August 5, 2008... Byline: delivery The first Airbus A319 for Gulf Air is being prepared for delivery by former operator Skyservice Airlines at its Toronto base. The five-year-old CFM International CFM56-powered, International Lease Finance owned aircraft...

ICAO voices concerns over Australian controller shortage.(Air Transport)(International Civil Aviation Organisation )
August 5, 2008... Byline: air traffic management EMMA KELLY PERTH Requirements for the provision of air traffic services have been outlined in a letter from the International Civil Aviation Organisation to the Australian government. This follows a...

Automatic prosecution under fire.(Air Transport)(International Civil Aviation Organisation )
August 5, 2008... Byline: safety david learmount london Proposals for global 'just culture' relating to incident reporting and accident investigation could be included in ICAO treaty The International Civil Aviation Organisation wants to stop the...

Qantas 747 probe studies oxygen cylinder explosion.(Air Transport)(Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigates explosions)
August 5, 2008... Byline: safety nicholas ionides singapore Investigation into rapid decompression focuses on missing bottle located near rupture Investigators probing the 25 July fuselage rupture and rapid decompression involving a Qantas Boeing...

Titan extends VIP transport presence.(Business Aviation)(Titan Airways Ltd. uses transport aircrafts from Boeing Co.)(Brief article)
August 5, 2008... Byline: LAUNCH KATE SARSFIELD LONDON Titan Airways has unveiled a 44-seat VIP-configured Boeing 737-300QC as the London Stansted-based charter operator to expand their share of the blossoming all-business-class transport market. The...

Ireland urges close look at corporate aviation regulation.(Business Aviation)
August 5, 2008... Byline: PROBE DAVID LEARMOUNT LONDON Fears raised that existing rules allow too much discretion for aircraft to be operated against ad hoc arrangements The European Aviation Safety Agency has been urged to examine corporate aviation on...

Business Aviation.(Embraer Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. provides air taxis to JetBird)(London Executive Aviation uses jet planes from Bombardier)(Grob Aerospace expands its services)(Brief article)
August 5, 2008... OPTIONAL EXTRAS Pan-European low-cost air taxi start-up JetBird has begun exercising its options for the Embraer Phenom 100 very light jet as it set out its plans to operate a 100-strong fleet by 2013. Dublin-based JetBird - Embraer's...

Business.(Ryanair Ltd. reveals its profits)(Financial report)(Brief article)
August 5, 2008... Ryanair After an 85% drop in first-quarter profits knocked a quarter off its share price, the Irish low-cost carrier warned that it may make its first annual loss since 1989. Spiralling fuel prices and the looming recession have forced the...

Business.(European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V. restructures)(Safran reveals its profit)(Embraer Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.'s investments )(Financial report)
August 5, 2008... business briefs EADS TO EXTEND POWER8 PROGRAMME RESTRUCTURING Airbus owner EADS is to extend its cost-cutting programme in a bid to diminish the impact of the weak dollar on its business. When the existing Power8 plan expires in 2010,...

Business.
August 5, 2008... airbus The airframer managed to record a first-half EBIT of [euro]712 million ($1.12 billion), up from just [euro]19 million in the first half of 2007 - despite a [euro]715 million charge incurred as a result of A380 delivery delays. "The...

Business.(Industry overview)
August 5, 2008... ACQUISITIONS NIALL O'KEEFFE & DAN THISDELL LONDON Mergers still in full swing Tough times in aerospace will not dim prospects for investment banking specialists Gloom and doom is not just fashionable in aerospace these days - with...

Silent swansong.(Comment)
August 5, 2008... In one decade, Eclipse president and chief executive Vern Raburn earned fame as a creative genius, a revered change agent for the aviation industry, and in the end, a corporate liability Like Elvis Presley, Raburn and his "band" were...

ICAO takes up the scales of balance.(Comment)(International Civil Aviation Organisation)(Brief article)
August 5, 2008... The "just culture" issue has finally reached the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Why so long? Actually, ICAO's Annex 13, which sets out the standards and recommended practices for accident investigation, has always assumed that...

A400M tests face new engine snags.(Defence)(Airbus S.A.S.)
August 5, 2008... Byline: PROPULSION MAX KINGSLEY-JONES HAMBURG TP400-D6 powerplant suffers two failures - one during water ingestion trials and the other involving a 'gearbox problem' Airbus Military's A400M transport is facing further challenges to...

Alenia and Tata discuss C-27J and ATR link-up.(Defence)
August 5, 2008... Byline: co-operation pino modola genoa Alenia Aeronautica is negotiating a marketing and industrial co-operation agreement with India's Tata Group to promote the possible sale of C-27J Spartan tactical transport and ATR 42/72...

Boeing tackles gaps in Apache performance.(Defence)
August 5, 2008... Byline: ROTORCRAFT JOHN CROFT MESA A host of technologies is set to improve future Apaches Boeing is proposing a host of new performance, survivability and advanced crew station technologies to address performance gaps identified in...

UK's Paveway IV to enter service after testing time.(Defence)
August 5, 2008... Byline: munitions craig hoyle london Precision-guided bomb clears second evaluation attempt The Raytheon Systems weapons were released from a Harrier GR9 Raytheon Systems' Paveway IV precision-guided bomb could enter operational...

RAF to keep Sentries on duty but cut costs by reducing aircrews.(Defence)(Brief article)
August 5, 2008... Byline: SURVEILLANCE DAN THISDELL LONDON The UK Royal Air Force has decided against mothballing two of its seven Boeing E-3D Sentry airborne warning and control system aircraft, and will instead look to cut costs and hours flown by reducing...

FIGHTING TALK.(Features)
August 5, 2008... Byline: craig hoyle LONDON As ageing air force fleets approach their retirement dates, combat aircraft manufacturers are becoming fiercely competitive - and tempers are fraying Rivalry involving Boeing's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (top)...

At the roots of a mighty OAK.(Flight Interview)(Interview)
August 5, 2008... Byline: KIERAN DALY FARNBOROUGH Irkut president Oleg Demchenko says Russia has ambitions in civil aerospace beyond being a mere supplier to the West "I don't think I am an idiot here - I cannot be seriously trying to take...

Features.(Alenia Aermacchi)(BAE Systems)(Northrop Grumman Corp.)
August 5, 2008... STRATEGY aUSTRIA NEARS DECISION ON NEXT ADVANCED JET tRAINER FLEET Austria expects to make a decision on its future advanced jet trainer strategy in late August, with options including a limited avionics upgrade to its Saab 105s,...

Airbus sets sail on A380 build rejig.(This week)
August 5, 2008... Byline: production max kingsley-jones hamburg Interim fix for production hold-up sees tripling of sea journeys for fuselage sections between German and French plants Airbus is undertaking a major short-term reorganisation of the A380...

This week.(Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp. provides missiles to Iraqi air force)(Embraer Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. reports sales growth)(Eclipse aircraft accident investigation)(Financial report)
August 5, 2008... IRAQ SEEKS NEW ARMED HELICOPTER FLEET ACQUISITIONS Efforts to develop the new Iraqi air force have gathered pace, with Baghdad seeking to buy 24 Bell 407 or Boeing AH-6 Little Bird armed helicopters. To form part of a wider armaments...

NASA set to sign propulsion system deal.(This week)(Brief article)
August 5, 2008... Byline: iss rob coppinger oshkosh NASA expects to sign an agreement to test a new propulsion system on the International Space Station, according to the US space agency's administrator Michael Griffin. At the AirVenture show in Oshkosh...

RR500 engine on trial at Mooney.(This week)(Brief article)
August 5, 2008... Byline: pOWERPLANT rob coppinger oshkosh Versatile new turboprop launched at AirVenture show in Oshkosh will be tested on M20 airframe and Bravo aircraft Mooney Airplane is to flight test the new Rolls-Royce RR500 turboprop engine to...

Board ejects Eclipse founder Vern Raburn.(This week)
August 5, 2008... Byline: reshuffle jeffrey decker oshkosh kate sarsfield london Unanimous decision makes Roel Pieper chief executive Eclipse opened the orderbook at AirVenture for its Eclipse 400 Vern Raburn, founder and chief executive of very...

Cobra crashes during evaluation.(This week)(Raytheon Aircraft Co. into investigation)(Brief article)
August 5, 2008... Byline: unmanned vehicles JOHN CROFT WASHINGTON DC A Raytheon Cobra unmanned air vehicle crashed at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado on 28 July as school administrators evaluated it for use in its advanced airmanship...

WhiteKnightTwo sees the light of day.(This week)(Virgin Galactic )(Brief article)
August 5, 2008... Byline: roll-out WK2 was rolled out of its hangar at Mojave air and spaceport on 28 July Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft for its SpaceShipTwo suborbital vehicle was rolled out of one of Scaled Composites' hangars at...

Scaled tests solid fuels for SS2 rocket motor.(This week)(Virgin Galactic)(Brief article)
August 5, 2008... Byline: space tourism rob coppinger mojave Paraffin- and asphalt-based solid fuels for the SpaceShipTwo (SS2) rocket motor have been tested by Virgin Galactic's prime contractor Scaled Composites. Speaking at the roll-out of SS2...

Light aircraft builders put latest products aloft.(This week)
August 5, 2008... Byline: first flights jeffrey decker oshkosh kate sarsfield london Light aircraft builders Piper Aircraft and Comp Air had important firsts last week, with their latest products completing their maiden flights. The prototype...

Use the in-flight telephone.(Letters&Flannel&Blogs)(Letter to the editor)
August 5, 2008... I would suggest if Maj Dave Buck ("Ban mobiles? Flight International, 22-28July) needs to be "on-call 24/7", then he uses email, or the in-flight telephone located away from the seating area, which most international carriers provide. ...

Take a grip on mobile use.(Letters&Flannel&Blogs)(Letter to the editor)
August 5, 2008... Maj Dave Buck (Flight International, 22-28 July) thinks people are so important they need to be at the beck and call of others 24/7. The modern world needs to get a grip on the aspect of "instant gratification" caused by modern communications....

GE and R-R fuel turboprop revival with engine updates.(Show Reports)
August 5, 2008... Byline: propulsion Manufacturers aim to improve efficiency to combat high prices and LL100 Avgas shortages Evidence that exorbitant oil prices are spawning a resurgence of the turboprop was reinforced at AirVenture following the launch...

Chinese Vanguard deal on hold until OlympicsLSA designs unveiled in thriving market.(Show Reports)(Liberty Aerospace Inc.)(Brief article)
August 5, 2008... Byline: GROUNDING Liberty Aerospace displayed its updated XL2 Vanguard two-seat trainer at the show and declared that a deal to build and sell 600 airframes to the Chinese government at a new Liberty-run factory in Anyang is on hold. ...

Show Reports.(Mooney Airplane Co. to recieve distribution license)(Garmin AT Inc. recieves approval for installing aircarft navigation systems)(Hawker Beechcraft Corp. introduced inflatable restraint system )
August 5, 2008... LIGHTING COSTS Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is developing a low-cost lighting system designed to increase the safety and cut running costs of general aviation airports with no access to an electrical grid. The system uses LED...

Show Reports.
August 5, 2008... More than 650,000 visitors and exhibitors and 10,000 aircraft gathered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin from 28 July to 3 August for the world's largest general aviation show - AirVenture. From jumbos to jetpacks, this annual event, hosted by the US...

Show Reports.(Cessna Aircraft Co. production reports)
August 5, 2008... Byline: development Clutch of new aircraft and upgrades revealed at show Cessna has chalked up more than 1,000 orders for the SkyCatcher Cessna introduced the first production 162 SkyCatcher light sport aircraft at AirVenture,...

Sherpa reveals K650T utility aircraft designed for medevac duties.(Show Reports)(Brief article)
August 5, 2008... Byline: PROTOTYPE Sherpa unveiled the latest variant of its jumbo-tyred tail dragger prototype - the K650T - for which it has begun taking orders. The Scappoose, Oregon-based company spent seven years working with a Russian firm to...

Altair lunar landing abort fears after fuel tank study.(Spaceflight)
August 5, 2008... Byline: propulsion rob coppinger hartford Work simulating propellant tank conditions for a 210-day mission reveals pressure worries NASA's Altair lunar lander ascent engine is facing the challenges of not having enough propellant tank...

Augmented PSLV for Chandaryaan-1 comes together.(Spaceflight)(Brief article)
August 5, 2008... Byline: moon mission Assembly of the augmented version of the Indian Space Research Organisation Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle has begun for the expected September launch of the Chandaryaan-1 mission from its Satish Dhawan Space Centre on...

Ares I drogue parachute in test success.(Spaceflight)(Brief article)
August 5, 2008... Byline: launch vehicle The Ares I crew launch vehicle first-stage solid rocket motor's 20.7m (68ft)-diameter drogue parachute was successfully drop tested on 24 July at the US Army's Yuma proving ground by NASA and its contractors. ...

Features.
August 5, 2008... flying in NeuTRAL CRAIG HOYLe ZELTWEG AIR BASE Austria's single-seat Eurofighter Typhoons have survived repeated threats from politicians and auditors and began air policing duties over the country in early July To describe...

Lockheed pushes networking strategy.(This week)
August 5, 2008... Byline: HELICOPTERS sTEPHEN TRIMBLE SUFFOLK, VIRGINIA Airframer believes situational awareness datalink could be major factor in US Air Force's three-way CSAR-X contest As the three competitors last week finalised their latest proposals...

Changes to JSF fee structure could add billions.(This week)(Joint Strike Fighter industry)
August 5, 2008... Byline: FIGHTERS STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC Lockheed Martin is proposing to modify the financial structure of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter industry team in a way that could add billions of dollars to the cost of the overall programme,...

Why prosecute these men?(Letters&Flannel&Blogs)
August 5, 2008... I am curious to know why two former members of the Concorde programme, chief engineer Jacques Herubel and programme director Henri Perrier, are to stand trial over the 25 July 2000 Air France Concorde crash (Flight International, 8-14 July)....

Authorities must do a lot more.(Letters&Flannel&Blogs)(Brief article)
August 5, 2008... You report (Flight International, 17-23 June) a London Heathrow-Warsaw LOT flight in June 2007 had apparently incorrect co-ordinates typed into the computer before take-off, leading to a horrendous mix-up. In addition, the poor standard of...

A feel for flying over London.(Working Week)
August 5, 2008... The first woman to pilot a Zeppelin is this month taking the giant airship across the skies overthe UK's capital. Working Week finds out how this pioneering aviatrix found herself in the role With up to nine flights a day, the Zeppelin NT...

Prospect of more A380 delays looms.(Air Transport)
August 12, 2008... Byline: production max kingsley-jones hamburg Biggest customer Emirates philosophical as ex-programme manager Jurgen Thomas casts doubts on 2009 delivery plan Emirates is being philosophical about the prospect of further A380 delays...

Australia prepares ground for MPL implementation.(Air Transport)
August 12, 2008... Byline: flightcrew LICENsing EMMA KELLY PERTH Notice of proposed rule making comes as first batch of students reaches final stage of Alteon's beta test training Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority has released a notice of...

Qantas standards under spotlight.(Air Transport)
August 12, 2008... Byline: safety NICHOLAS IONIDES SINGAPORE Review follows spate of high-profile operational incidents Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority has launched a special review into Qantas's safety standards following several...

ST Aero adds conversion lines for FedEx 757 order.(Air Transport)
August 12, 2008... Byline: freighterS BRENDAN SOBIE LONDON FedEx put its first converted Boeing 757-200SF into service last month Singapore Technologies Aerospace has set up five Boeing 757 passenger-to-freighter cargo conversion lines to meet the...

'Export-import' plan for Brazil's pilots.(Air Transport)
August 12, 2008... Byline: EMPLOYMENT JACKSON FLORES RIO DE JANEIRO DAVID LEARMOUNT LONDON Deal being discussed to let expatriates working for India's Jet Airways provide flightcrew and instruction services to TAM More than 200 Brazilian airline pilots...

Timor requests foreign help on safety oversight.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
August 12, 2008... Byline: services LEITHEN FRANCIS DILI Timor Air will launch with a 737-200 wet-leased from Australia's OzJet Timor-Leste (formerly East Timor) will ask overseas governments to help its civil aviation authority with safety oversight now...

United A320 order cancellation will cost $91m in lost deposits.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
August 12, 2008... Byline: capacity cuts laura mueller london United Airlines is likely to cancel the remaining 42 Airbus A319/A320s it has on order, a decision which will cost the carrier more than $90 million in lost aircraft deposits. The airline,...

Air Transport.(Airbus S.A.S. provides aircrafts to Emirates Airline and Qantas Airways Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 12, 2008... 2008 A380 delivery plan Customer Numbera Schedule Total deliveredb Emirates 3 September, October, December 4 Qantas 3 September, late 2008 3 SIA 1 December 6c Total 7 13c a Deliveries remaining in 2008 b by end of...

Air traffic service providers aspire to cut carbon use with 'green flights'.(Air Transport)(Airservices Australia, Airways New Zealand and Federal Aviation Administration teams up)
August 12, 2008... Byline: environment emma kelly perth Airservices Australia, Airways New Zealand and the US Federal Aviation Administration will conduct a series of "green flights" with airline partners from the end of August as part of the service...

CASA launches cabin air quality study.(Air Transport)(Michael Bollen appointed at Australia Civil Aviation Safety Authority )(Brief article)
August 12, 2008... Byline: environment emma kelly perth Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority has appointed a chairman to lead a new group to study the issue of cabin air quality. Dr Michael Bollen, a general practitioner for 25 years who has...

Cirrus steps up SJ50 test effort.(Business Aviation)
August 12, 2008... Byline: personal jets JON OSTROWER OSHKOSH Early flights used to eliminate bugs from electronics, verify data acquisition systems and familiarise pilots Certification and first delivery of the Cirrus SJ50 jet is due by 2011 Having...

Dexter set to add PC-12NGs to fleet.(Business Aviation)
August 12, 2008... Byline: AIR TAXI KATE SARSFIELD LONDON GEOFF JONES GUERNSEY Russian operator expanding operations, targeting businesess, high net-worth individuals and government officials Russian operator Dexter Air Taxi is preparing to take delivery...

Gippsland aims for 10-seat Airvan.(Business Aviation)(Brief article)
August 12, 2008... Byline: STRETCH KATE SARSFIELD LONDON Gippsland Aeronautics is planning to offer a more powerful, stretched version of the eight-seat single-engined GA8 Airvan designed to fill a niche between the Cessna 206 and 208 Caravan single-engined...

New contracts goad Hawker Beechcraft employees into strike vote.(Business Aviation)(Brief article)
August 12, 2008... Byline: labour relations JEFFREY DECKER OSHKOSH KATE SARSFIELD LONDON Trade union workers at Hawker Beechcraft took to picket lines on 4 August following their rejection of a new employment contract offered by the Wichita, Kansas-based...

Business.(Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. in loss)(Financial report)(Brief article)
August 12, 2008... CATHAY PACIFIC The Hong Kong airline posted a rare loss for the first half as soaring operating costs and a provision to settle US cargo price fixing charges left it HK$663 million ($85 million) in the red, after making HK$2.58 billion in the...

Business.(Airbus S.A.S. reveals its turnover)(BAE SYSTEMS PLC suffers loss)(Aeroflot bids for Jat Airways )
August 12, 2008... business briefs AIRBUS SEALS LAUPHEIM SALE, 'CLOSE' TO FILTON RESTRUCTURING Airbus has finalised the sale of its [euro]240 million ($373 million) annual turnover Laupheim cabin interiors plant to its preferred bidder, a partnership...

Business.(cellphones to be banned in flights)(Brief article)
August 12, 2008... Peace and Quiet Members of the House of Representatives transport committee passed a bill to ban cell phone use in US airspace. If passed by Congress the legislation - dubbed the "Halting Airplane Noise to Give Us Peace Act (Hang Up)" - would...

Speculators escape the rap.(Business)
August 12, 2008... Byline: MARKETS LORI RANSON WASHINGTON DC US Congress believes supply and demand is the explanation for rocketing oil prices Members of the US Congress left for their August recess without passing significant energy legislation despite...

Business.(James Keenan appointed at United Airlines)(Kenneth Gile appointed at Skybus Airlines)(Dave Prater appointed at ITT Communications Services Inc.)(Brief article)
August 12, 2008... PEOPLE moves Flydubai operations, ITT radio systems, Aerion supersonics Keenan: United maintenance James Keenan has joined United Airlines parent UAL as senior vice-president maintenance, from Pratt & Whitney. Former US Marine...

Business.
August 12, 2008... Quote of the week "We'd prefer to go with whoever's going to sell them to us 10 bucks per seat cheaper" Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary, demonstrating that the carrier will not necessarily stay loyal to Boeing for the next phase of its...

Grumman Super Goose revival receives FAA nod.(Business Aviation)(Brief article)
August 12, 2008... Byline: SEAPLANES STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC A North Carolina-based firm owning the type certificate for the Grumman G-21 amphibian has received an initial US Federal Aviation Administration go-ahead to restart production of an improved...

Economic flotsam.(Comment)(Industry overview)
August 12, 2008... Global business slowdown has prompted a traditionally panicky airline reaction as strategy is abandoned and survival becomes the aim. But there is a human price to pay Pilots who lose their jobs become gypsies again, travelling to...

Restructuring for Boeing Australia.(Defence)(Jeff Worley, Scott March and David Withers appointed at Boeing Co. Boeing Integrated Defense Systems)(Brief article)
August 12, 2008... Byline: BUSINESS EMMA KELLY PERTH Boeing has restructured its Boeing Integrated Defense Systems business in Australia in a move that sees the departure of David Withers, who has headed Boeing Australia as managing director for the past two...

F-117's final fling heading.(Defence)(Lockheed Martin Corp. tests its planes)(Brief article)
August 12, 2008... Byline: STEALTH What was possibly the final formation flight of Lockheed Martin F-117 Nighthawks took place on 6 August from Palmdale's US Air Force Plant 42 in California. After the USAF formally retired the F-117 in ceremonies at...

Top guns line up for shot at Indian combat aircraft tender.(Defence)(Brief article)
August 12, 2008... Byline: INDUSTRY SIVA GOVINDASAMY SINGAPORE Bidders for India's $12 billion multi-role combat aircraft competition have submitted their offsets proposals. The Boeing F/A-18E/F, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin F-16,...

Japan to delay fighter RFP again.(Defence)(Japan Air Self-Defence Force orders military aircrafts)
August 12, 2008... Byline: PROCUREMENT SIVA GOVINDASAMY TOKYO Defence ministry seeking funds to speed F-15J upgrade Japan is likely to delay a request for proposals for its F-X competition to 2009, with the ministry of defence seeking funds to accelerate...

Serbian air force has fleet modernisation in sights.(Defence)(Brief article)
August 12, 2008... Byline: update IGOR SALINGER BELGRADE The Serbian air force intends to modernise up to 15 Soko G-4 Super Galeb trainers, and is making plans for the purchase of a new multirole helicopter type. The "G4-MD" upgrade is aimed at extending...

AMRAAM variant hits key milestone.(Defence)
August 12, 2008... Byline: MISSILES STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC AIM-120D fired by US Navy Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet shoots down a QF-4 target drone in delayed programme Raytheon has completed a key step in developing the latest variant of the AMRAAM...

Australia signs for more Skylarks.(Defence)(Elbit Systems provides unmanned air vehicles )(Brief article)
August 12, 2008... Byline: unmanned vehicles arie egozi tel aviv The Australian Army has ordered more Skylark 1 unmanned air vehicles from Elbit Systems. This multi-million dollar deal is the third from the Australian Department of Defence for the compact,...

RNZAF modernisation gathers pace.(Defence)(Lockheed Martin Corp., NH Industries and Boeing Co. provides military aircrafts to Royal New Zealand Air Force)
August 12, 2008... Byline: upgrades BRENDAN SOBIE LONDON Delivery of first of two modified Boeing 757 multi-mission aircraft marks latest milestone in six-tier update programme The Royal New Zealand Air Force received the first of two newly modified...

New Zealand to open fixed-wing training competition.(Defence)(Royal New Zealand Air Force )(Brief article)
August 12, 2008... Byline: simulation New Zealand is preparing to release a long-planned request for proposals covering new fixed-wing air force training aircraft and simulators. Assistant secretary of defence Kevin McHamon says the New Zealand...

A SUBSIDY CULTURE RECEDES.(Features)(Denel )(Company overview)
August 12, 2008... Byline: PROFILE DENEL Hit hard by cuts in defence spending, South African equipment manufacturer Denel is pursuing a long-term recovery plan focused on rationalisation and industry collaboration. Its appearance in the Top 100, albeit at...

AIRBUS boom sweetens Diehl.(Features)(Company overview)
August 12, 2008... Byline: PROFILE DIEHL Diehl Aerospace is the result of a 2006 merger of Diehl's avionics unit and its electronics unit. As part of the deal, France's Thales Aerospace transformed its 49% stake in Diehl Avionik Systeme into an equivalent...

DUBAI DOLLARS PROPEL PROFITABILITY DRIVE.(Features)(Doncasters Group Ltd.)(Financial report)
August 12, 2008... Byline: PROFILE DONCASTERS Placed at number 87 in this year's Top 100, The Doncasters Group has had deep pockets to draw on since May 2006, when its acquisition by Dubai International Capital (DIC) was completed. It flexed its financial...

POWERING UP ITS AEROSPACE ACQUISITIONS.(Features)(Eaton Aerospace)(Company overview)
August 12, 2008... Byline: PROFILE EATON From Aeroquip hoses to Vickers pumps, the long list of brand names under which Eaton trades illustrates how acquiring specialist engineering companies and bundling their technologies has been a key part of its...