Flight International articles from December 2004

Flight International archives from December 2004

Special report.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Airports After some acrimonious disputes, airport and airline bodies are edging closer to a common understanding on charges. The move comes as more airports build low-cost terminals to woo no-frills carriers and the congestion issue...

Washington studies Canadian caps.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The USA is scrutinising the question of non-Canadian ownership of Air Canada, and its decision could spark a conflict in the way the two countries define their foreign caps. Both apply a 25% limit, but Washington considers both ownership and...

Delta buys some time with last ditch pilots deal.
December 1, 2004... Delta Air Lines, locked since summer in a struggle to stave off bankruptcy, has won pilot union agreement for $1 billion in annual pay cuts up to 2009. The pay cuts are part of Delta chief executive Gerry Grinstein's larger strategic plan....

Independence fights to stay afloat.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Unprepared for the strong competitive response it has faced and hobbled by an unexpectedly sharp increase in fuel costs, FLYi Inc, parent of Washington Dulles-based low-cost carrier Independence Air, warns it may be "forced to consider" a...

Conditions for Mexican link.(federal competition commission)
December 1, 2004... Mexico's federal competition commission, the CFC, says it could approve a merger of Aeromexico and Mexicana if they will amalgamate their two main airline subsidiaries into a single, strengthened domestic carrier that is separately owned. ...

In brief.
December 1, 2004... United asks for regional bids United Airlines has asked for competitive bids from its six United Express feeders on routes operated by Air Wisconsin, seeking to cut costs on the only regional contract it has not yet renegotiated in...

In brief.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Northwest may recall pilots Northwest Airlines plans growth, having won $300 million in concessions from the Air Line Pilots Association. The deal will also allow Northwest to add a new feeder carrier to its codesharing stable. It may...

ANZ raises extra capital.(Air New Zealand)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Air New Zealand (ANZ) expects to bolster its balance sheet with a NZ$186 million ($126 million) rights issue to existing shareholders. Its biggest shareholder, the New Zealand government, is taking up its full entitlement with NZ$150 million...

AirAsia moves into Indonesia.
December 1, 2004... Malaysian low-fare carrier AirAsia has signed a conditional agreement to purchase 49% of grounded Indonesian airline AWAIR and relaunch it under AirAsia branding, as it completed its initial public offering (IPO). AirAsia has entered into...

In brief.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Air-India expands with 777s Air-India is to increase services in the coming months to London, in Chicago and Los Angeles as it puts three leased Boeing 777-200ERs into service. The 777-200ERs, which are to brought in from United Airlines,...

Virgin carriers forge Australian links.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The Australian debut in December of Virgin Atlantic Airways will link routes with the domestic network of sister carrier Virgin Blue. When Virgin Atlantic starts its daily London-Sydney service via Hong Kong, the two carriers will...

CANSO calls for Eurocontrol reform.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The trade body for air navigation service providers, CANSO, has called for a redefinition of the role of Eurocontrol, seeking a shift in the balance of power away from the European airspace management agency towards individual air service...

In brief.(Vinci Airports)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Berlin charges unfair Leisure carrier Air Berlin has won a court case against easyJet and Berlin Schoenefeld airport over alleged unfair charges for the UK low-cost airline. Schoenefeld management must now either increase easyJet's charges...

In brief.
December 1, 2004... Icelandair buys into easyJet The Icelandair Group has taken a 10.1% stake in UK-based low-cost carrier easyJet. The move saw easyJet's share price soar. Icelandair says it regards the stake as a long-term trade investment. "Part of the...

In brief.(FlyWest)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Multi-booking with easyJet EasyJet passengers can now book multiple flights in a single transaction with the carrier's updated website. They can also see the cheapest fare across a 15-day window, as with British Airways. MyTravel...

Growth.(Indonesian National Air Carriers' Association)
December 1, 2004... unleashed The massive growth taking place in the Indonesian domestic market, fuelled by a series of new start-ups, shows just how dramatically liberalisation can take hold With so much attention focused on the recent phenomenal growth...

The American.
December 1, 2004... way A youthful leader sees culture change as the way to find enough savings, and enough unity at long-fractious American Airlines, to weather the crisis When Gerard Arpey "got this job" at American Airlines, as he likes to say of his...

BMed looks to double up by 2010.(British Mediterranean Airways)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... As its celebrates its 10th anniversary, British Airways franchise partner British Mediterranean Airways - now rebranded as BMed - has announced plans to double its business by 2010. The airline, which serves 15 destinations in 14 countries...

Swiss gets cash lifeline.
December 1, 2004... Troubled Swiss has received a major boost with the closing of a SFr325 million ($429 million) credit agreement that has taken over a year to negotiate. Some SFr180 million of the credit facility will be available immediately, with the...

China rejects Taiwan offer.
December 1, 2004... In a major policy shift, the Taiwanese government has offered to discuss cross-strait flights with China, but for now Beijing is rejecting the idea as a political ploy. For years, Taiwan has opposed direct flights, citing concerns about...

Survival of fittest Latins.
December 1, 2004... Consolidation of Latin America's aviation sector is under way through a process of attrition. Five struggling airlines are either in or headed for bankruptcy and only two - Colombia's Avianca and Brazil's Varig - show a strong chance of...

Air Berlin sets growth path.
December 1, 2004... Air Berlin sets growth path Air Berlin sets growth path With a long-awaited order for 70 Airbus A320 family aircraft now placed, German leisure carrier Air Berlin has outlined its growth strategy for the next decade together with a key...

Carriers hover over ATA.
December 1, 2004... The collapse of ATA Airlines, a low-fares network carrier, creates a possible turning point in the evolution of the USlow-cost sector as others eye its most valuable airport slots. Within hours of ATA's late-October bankruptcy filing, both...

SAS fights new class war.
December 1, 2004... A steep decline in business traffic has prompted SAS Scandinavian Airlines to introduce an enhanced economy-class product to help it return to profitability on its European network. SAS has launched a third class on its short-haul services...

India keeps investment ban.
December 1, 2004... India's Cabinet has voted to maintain a controversial ban on investment by foreign airlines in the country's aviation sector, but it is continuing to ease restrictive policies in other areas. While maintaining the ban, the government has...

Cathay move muddies alliance picture.
December 1, 2004... Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways is to acquire 9.9% of Air China during its pending initial public offering in a surprise move that has the potential to change all assumptions about strategic alliance ambitions of the major Chinese carriers....

blue1 looks east for Russian routes.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Finnish regional carrier and SAS subsidiary blue1, which became Star Alliance's first regional member last month, is keen to add services to Russia, in particular to Moscow and St Petersburg. But Sveneric Persson, blue1 chief executive,...

order Nicholas Ionides / Taipei; New A380 customer remains undisclosed.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Airbus appears close to unveiling its third new A380 customer this year, with an unidentified Asian airline having signed a commitment for five A380s. Speaking at the recent Association of Asia Pacific Airlines annual meeting in Taipei,...

development Max Kingsley-Jones / London; Boeing called on to commit to 747 stretched derivative ; Leading operators press manufacturer to make up its mind on variant by early 2005.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Boeing is under pressure from leading 747 operators to decide whether it is going to commit to a stretched derivative of its largest aircraft, which could see it firm up its 747 Advanced plans early next year. Boeing has long been...

schedule Max Kingsley-Jones / London; Launch customers could force earlier debut for 7E7 stretch.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Boeing admits it could be forced to agree to an earlier service entry date for its 7E7-9 stretch than is ideal due to pressure from potential launch customers and the earlier availability of the Airbus A350. Since the launch of the...

regulation ; Canada and EC near deal.(European Commission)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... The European Commission is confident of signing its first mutual recognition of aircraft certification data deal with Canada, aiming to pave the way for an eventual global aircraft standard. Roberto Salvarani, new EC head of aircraft safety...

competition Brendan Sobie / Singapore; JAL casts eye over narrowbodies.(Japan Airlines )(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Japan Airlines (JAL) has begun reviewing proposals from Airbus and Boeing for at least 30 new narrowbody aircraft and is expected to make a selection within the next few months. JAL is planning to replace its fleet of about 40 Boeing...

Launch; Low-cost Jetstar Asia is cleared for take-off.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Singapore's newest low-cost airline, Jetstar Asia, launches services this month with Airbus A320s to seven Asian cities - Hong Kong, Jakarta, Manila, Pattaya, Surabaya, Shanghai and Taipei. The airline will fly to three of the destinations in...

accident; KLM Boeing damaged after swerving off runway.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... A KLM Boeing 737-400 was severely damaged when it swerved left off runway 25R on landing at Barcelona, Spain on 28 November, after a flight from Amsterdam, confirms the Spanish air accident investigation authority CIAIAC. The 140 passengers and...

accident Leithen Francis / Singapore; Investigators focus on spoilers in Lion Air crash; MD-82's recorders sent to USA for analysis after fatal accident in Indonesia.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... The flight data and cockpit voice recorders from the Lion Air Boeing MD-82 that crashed on landing in Indonesia last week are to be sent to the USA for analysis, as early attention by investigators focuses on the aircraft's spoilers. The...

Assessment Nicholas Ionides / Taipei; PAL poised for narrowbody choice.(Philippine Airlines)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Philippine Airlines (PAL) expects to decide in the coming months on an order for around 15 new Airbus A320s or Boeing 737-800s to replace its existing narrowbody fleet. President and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista told Flight...

systems Vladimir Karnozov / Moscow; RRJ unveils Airbus-style cockpit; CIS certification authority approves Sukhoi-led programme after examining mock-up of aircraft's flightdeck and cabin.(Russian Regional Jet)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... The recently completed mock-up of the flightdeck of the Russian Regional Jet (RRJ) reveals the Airbus-like sidestick controller (SSC) layout that has been adopted for the all-new 60- to 95-seat family. Following an inspection of the cockpit...

production Paul Duffy / Moscow; Major Ilyushin-Finance order pumps up Russian industry; Lessor commits to 36h spare parts guarantee as it sets up initial deal for 24 aircraft.
December 7, 2004... Leading Russian leasing company Ilyushin-Finance (IFC) has given Russian industry a major shot in the arm with what it says is the largest order for Russian aircraft factories since the demise of the Soviet Union. The deals for Antonov,...

entertainment; SIA tunes to Connexion TV.(Singapore Airlines )(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Singapore Airlines (SIA) will be the first airline to have live television from Connexion by Boeing, which has secured a contract to provide a broadband internet service on more than 40 of the carrier's aircraft. SIA senior vice-president...

competition; Airline group claims rail is run unfairly.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... A group of European airlines have teamed to oppose what they see as unfair competition from national railways using taxpayers' money to drive carriers out of the short-haul market, writes Herman de Wulf. The move follows the announcement by...

security Emma Kelly / Perth; Australia to look at stun guns for air marshals.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... The Australian government says it will consider arming air marshals on domestic and international flights with Taser stun guns after a six-month trial of the equipment by police forces on the ground. A ready response unit of the Federal...

order Nicholas Ionides / Singapore; Tiger signs letter of intent for eight extra A320s.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Singapore-based low-cost carrier Tiger Airways has signed a letter of intent with Airbus, covering the planned purchase of eight new A320s. Industry sources say the letter of intent calls for deliveries in 2005 and 2006. The aircraft would...

Consolidation Julian Moxon / London; Aerostructures shake-up looms; Report predicts imminent consolidation, driven by falling numbers of new aircraft, price pressure and technology.
December 7, 2004... The long-awaited consolidation of the $22 billion global aerostructures industry is on the verge of taking off and will leave around eight "Super Tier 1" suppliers, according to a new report by UK-based consultancy Counterpoint Market...

launch Justin Wastnage / London; DVB Bank sets up unit to finance jet engine leases ; Firm foresees change in future market and is confident of securing 5-10% of business.
December 7, 2004... Transport financing specialist DVB Bank envisages jet engine funding being split from airframe deals in future as more players enter the engine finance market. DVB Bank launched its own Aero Engine Finance Unit last month, joining a sector...

CHARTER; Air China lengthens GIV lease.(Gulfstream IV)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Air China has extended the lease on its Gulfstream IV until early 2006 as market conditions in China and across Asia show signs of improvement. Air China opened its business jet charter division in October 2003 with one GIV on a one-year...

Investigation; Challenger 600 crashes.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... A Bombardier Challenger 600 crashed on 28 November on take-off at Montrose, Colorado in weather conditions conducive to icing, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has confirmed. The NTSB says it has established no de-icing was...

DELIVERY Brendan Sobie / Singapore; Global Wings ready for VIP launch.
December 7, 2004... Japan's Global Wings is poised to take delivery this week of its first business jet, a new Bombardier Learjet 45XR, and plans to launch VIP charter services in the second half of January. Global Wings chief executive Tak Masamura says the...

development kate sarsfield / London; Bombardier to review Learjet 60.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Bombardier has launched an internal review to examine the future of the Learjet 60 business jet programme. The initiative comes as the Canadian manufacturer confirms it has received significant interest in the revamped standard production...

EXPANSION Kate Sarsfield / London; PrivatAir carves out role in aircraft management; Charter operator aims to draw on US sister company's experience as it looks for growth.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Switzerland's PrivatAir is expanding its business aviation services portfolio with a move into aircraft management. The Geneva-based company will take delivery of its first managed aircraft, a Bombardier Global Express, in January. "This...

STRATEGY Graham Warwick / Washington DC; Raytheon pares Hawker Horizon 2005 deliveries; US manufacturer plans gradual introduction in effort to avoid service-entry problems.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Raytheon Aircraft (RAC) plans to deliver only three Hawker Horizons next year, in a bid to avoid entry into service problems with its new super mid-size business jet. "We will manage the ramp-up and introduction very differently to other...

in brief.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... EMBRAER PREDICTS Embraer estimates an overall demand for 7,560 business aircraft in the next 10 years. The super mid-size business jet segment is expected to reach 1,485 units and business jets in the large segment should reach 945 units...

Forecast Graham Warwick / Washington DC; Second cut in CRJ200 production reflects swing to larger aircraft.
December 7, 2004... Bombardier has cut CRJ200 production for the second time in two months, and reduced its forecast demand for 50-seat regional jets as the market swings towards larger aircraft. The Canadian manufacturer will produce 54 CRJ200s in its 2005-6...

Takeover ; Intelsat deal under threat.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Intelsat has warned that the sudden failure of its Americas-7 communications satellite on 28 November could have an impact on the planned $3.1 billion takeover by private equity group Zeus Holding. Zeus has the right to pull out of the sale,...

maintenance Helen Massy-Beresford / London; R-R finishes Trent overhaul jigsaw.(Rolls-Royce)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Rolls-Royce and Lufthansa Technik are to locate their c100 million ($133 million) Trent engine overhaul facility near Erfurt in the central German state of Thuringia. Construction is set to begin at the end of next year and the two companies...

in brief.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... CJ3 SIMULATION Just weeks after certification of the Cessna Citation CJ3, FlightSafety International has received Level D approval for the aircraft's first full-flight simulator at its Cessna training centre in Wichita, Kansas.

trials; Boeing tests MMA in windtunnel.(multimission maritime aircraft )(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... trials Boeing tests MMA in windtunnel Boeing's 737-800-based Multimission Maritime Aircraft (MMA)will complete high-speed windtunnel stability and control testing at the company's Philadelphia site later this month. Initial windtunnel...

propulsion; Europrop records first with IPC run on A400M engine.(intermediate pressure compressor )(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Europrop International (EPI)last week ran the intermediate pressure compressor (IPC)of the TP400-D6 turboprop engine under development for the Airbus Military A400Mtransport for the first time. The MTU-supplied five-stage IPC, incorporating...

strike aircraft; Colombian programme takes off ; Eleven bidders set to compete for $235m contract to replace air force's Cessna A-37Bs and Rockwell OV-10As.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Eleven companies competing to equip the Colombian air force with a fleet of light strike aircraft will submit bids by 20 December, after the release of a request for proposals late last month. The responses will be followed by an evaluation...

Procurement; Bogot. revives signals intelligence contest.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Colombia's defence ministry is believed to have revived plans to buy a dedicated signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft for the Colombian air force, reversing a decision from earlier this year to defer the procurement. The increased...

Development CRAIG HOYLE / HAIFA; Elbit offers improved Hermes 450; Enhanced unmanned air vehicle surpasses 20,000 flight hours and supports Israel Defence Force missions over Gaza Strip.
December 7, 2004... Elbit Systems has completed flight testing its Hermes 450 tactical unmanned air vehicle with a satellite communications payload and under-wing fuel tanks, as the type achieves a high operational usage rate in support of the Israel Defence Force...

in brief.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... AFGHAN WINGS An initial four Afghan air force pilots have received their wings after completing a flight training course at Italy's Frosinone air base. The students received instruction using Italian air force NH500E helicopters as part of...

contest STEPHEN TRIMBLE / WASHINGTON DC; DARPA narrows bids for ducted fan-based UAV down to three.(Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)(unmanned air vehicles)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has narrowed to three the number of contractors bidding to supply a ducted fan-based unmanned air vehicle, marking the first step in a four-year effort. Aurora Flight Sciences, BAE...

Engines; IHI to power Japan's P-X.(Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries)(Kawasaki P-X maritime patrol aircraft)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Japan has selected the Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI) XF7-10 engine to power its new Kawasaki P-X maritime patrol aircraft, ending an almost two-year delay. The indigenous design was the only candidate to power the four-engined P-X,...

Procurement STEphEN TRIMBLE / WASHINGTON DC; USAF ponders two-for-one buy ; Requirement for personnel recovery vehicle could be split.(US Air Force)
December 7, 2004... The US Air Force may seek to buy two vastly different aircraft types under one contract when a solicitation for its next-generation personnel recovery vehicle (PRV) is issued next month. The programme seeks to buy 132 aircraft to replace an...

helicopters Brendan Sobie / Singapore; Taiwan seeks extra Black Hawks; Contract for more search and rescue helicopters to be issued next year if legislature approves budget.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Taiwan is planning to acquire three additional Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk search and rescue helicopters, before deciding on larger programmes for new attack, utility and minesweeping helicopters. Industry sources say the defence ministry has...

Contest Peter La Franchi / Canberra; High costs reduce TUAV bids to three; Initial large field for Australian programme dwindles.(tactical unmanned air vehicle)
December 7, 2004... Bids for the Australian Department of Defence's Joint Project 129 tactical unmanned air vehicle (TUAV)competition closed on 23 November, with just three bids submitted due to the high programme costs. The offer from French firm Sagem and...

Procurement Tim Ripley / London; UK helicopter fleet plan moves on.
December 7, 2004... Efforts to revitalise the UK's battlefield helicopter fleet gathered momentum late last month, when an initial report from the Future Rotorcraft Coherency forum was forwarded to government ministers for consideration. The document seeks...

Unmanned systems Peter La Franchi / Canberra; WEU calls for more UAV/UCAV harmony.
December 7, 2004... A new Western European Union Assembly report on unmanned air vehicle and unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV)programmes says a proliferation of development activities among European countries is undermining the potential for increased...

THREAT; More details on Hezbollah UAVscare.(unmanned air vehicle)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Islamic resistance movement Hezbollah has provided more information on the unmanned air vehicle it flew into Israeli airspace early last month (Flight International, 16-22 November). A version of the Iranian-developed Mohadjer 4 air...

procurement; Two share Irish helicopter win.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Bell/Agusta Aerospace and Eurocopter appear set to share the spoils in the Irish defence ministry's up to c50 million ($66.3 million)military helicopter contest, following an announcement on 26 November . Four AB139s and two EC135s have...

terror; shields.(countermeasures equipment )
December 7, 2004... Israeli companies are leading the way in developing countermeasures equipment to protect airliners from terrorist missile attacks Craig Hoyle / Ashdod, Haifa, Ramat Hasharon & Tel Aviv Israeli industry has for many years developed...

airports Kate Sarsfield / London; Greeks plead for wider GA access; Aircraft owners and pilots association calls for former Athens international airport to be reopened for general aviation.(general aviation)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Greece (AOPA Hellas) is calling on the country's government to reopen a general aviation (GA) airport in Athens and expand general aviation access throughout the country. AOPA Hellas president...

DEVELOPMENT; Grob slows G140 as it hunts orders.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Grob Aerospace is slowing development of its G140TP four-seat high-performance light turboprop until it can secure a significant launch order. The German company, based in Tussenhausen-Mattsies outside Mindelheim, says it has not begun taking...

Security; Total's Schweizers to monitor UK gas pipelines.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... UK engineering and training company Total Air Management Services (TAMS) has acquired four Schweizer 333 light turbine helicopters that will be used from early next year to patrol the country's gas pipelines in support of a recently awarded...

in brief.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... SMART BELL Bell Helicopter has introduced the Fly Smart membership programme in a bid to help customers manage operating costs, initially by providing fixed monthly parts costs based on flight hours. SKYLANE added The University...

Spaceflight ; Decision on Galileo near.(European satellite navigation system Galileo)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... The European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Union will decide this week whether to go ahead with the next stage of the European satellite navigation system Galileo. Industry negotiators were late last week confident that a deal could...

Briefing.(aircraft industry)
December 7, 2004... Boeing set to replace top salesman Bright DEPARTUREBoeing chief salesman Toby Bright is to be replaced as part of a shake-up of the company's sales force, the Wall Street Journal reported late last week. The newspaper, quoting "people...

Air Transport Leithen Francis / Singapore; Chinese directive may hit imports; Instructions to airlines on pilot training and maintenance threaten to hold up airliner purchase and lease approvals.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... The Chinese authorities have issued a sudden directive, in the wake of last month's fatal Bombardier CRJ200 crash, to address pilot shortages that could limit the importation of commercial aircraft into the country. "If [Chinese airlines]...

Defence Graham Warwick / New York; EADS proposes split air force tanker deal.
December 7, 2004... EADS has floated the possibility of splitting a US Air Force tanker purchase between the Airbus A330 and Boeing 767 to maintain competition over the potential 20-year life of the procurement programme. The concept "deserves analysis", says...

Air transport David Learmount / London; EASA slammed for slow take-off ; CAA chief says European agency is not delivering value.
December 7, 2004... The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is taking too long to become the effective organisation that the European Union's national aviation authorities (NAA) hoped it would be, says the UK Civil Aviation Authority chairman Sir Roy McNulty....

Air transport Darren Shannon / Washington DC; 767 deal signals Iraqi expansion; Baghdad carrier expects to put ex-Air Canada twinjet into service this month as it prepares major growth plan.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... Iraqi Airways is set to take delivery of a leased Boeing 767-200 this week, and could add at least seven more Boeing aircraft to its fleet, including a 747, by the end of 2005. The 767 is at Timco Aviation Services in Phoenix, Arizona,...

Defence Brendan Sobie / Singapore; Europe urges South Korea to think again on VIP helicopter purchase.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... South Korea is under political pressure from Europe to delay or reverse an expected purchase of three Sikorsky S-92 VIP helicopters. Industry sources say the air force has rated the S-92 over the AgustaWestland EH101 and will brief its...

Business Helen Massy-Beresford / London; USA pulls back from calling for WTO subsidies investigation.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... The USA will hold off from seeking a World Trade Organisation (WTO) investigation into Airbus subsidies before the end of the year to allow new European trade commissioner Peter Mandelson time to "review the issues", a US trade official...

More funding for training in France.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... French aerospace training centres will receive g9.5 million ($12.6 million) this year from apprenticeship levies, a tax paid by all French employers. The sum is 9% more than was received in 2003 from the levies, which are collected and...