Flight International articles from February 2002

Flight International archives from February 2002

security ; Journalists guilty of conspiracy.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... I whole heartedly agree with Andrew Lee's view of the diabolical behaviour of the journalists who appointed themselves aviation security assessors (Flight International, 8-14 January). I find it hard to believe anyone can hold such a foolishly...

Industry must speak out.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Industry must speak out Much is being written about the effects of the 11 September terrorist attacks on the aviation industry. One would have expected to have read official positions taken by representatives of the industry vis-a-vis...

in brief.(aviation news)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... SBirSphase 1 The USAir Force has declared initial operational capability at the new Mission Control Station, base of the USA's missile launch-detection satellites. Developed by Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Northrop Grumman, the ground...

contracts.(aviation industry news briefs)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... n Raytheon will develop a concept demonstrator for the USMarine Corps' highly mobile Multiple Role Radar System under a $16.2 million contract to build and test a prototype Affordable Ground Based Radar (AGBR). Deployed on two Humvees, the AGBR...

routes.(new airline routes)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... n American Airlines is commencing two daily non-stop services between Oakland and New York Kennedy on 2 March, in competition with JetBlue. Aeromexico plans to begin daily Boeing MD-80 service from Mexico City to El Paso, Texas, on 8 July....

workshop.(aircraft maintenance contracts)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... n Rolls-Royce has received a contract from Air Canada for its "Total Care" package for power-by-the-hour maintenance of the Trent 772B engines on its eight Airbus A330-300s. R-R values the deal at $250 million over its 15-year life....

people.(aviation industry executive appointments)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... n Textron has appointed former Cessna chairman Russ Meyer as president of its aircraft segment, which includes Cessna, Bell Helicopter and engine manufacturer Textron Lycoming. Pier Giorgio Romiti has become the new chief executive of Rome...

revolution; on hold.(building an aircraft capable of converting to a helicopter)
February 5, 2002... Despite recent technological advances, obstacles still remain in the way of building a safe, reliable aircraft which is as comfortable with fixed-wing flight as it is with rotary-wing flight paul lewis / washington dc The idea of an...

AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT EMMA KELLY / BRUSSELS; Europe launches congestion fight; Eurocontrol is working to bring airspace capacity in line with traffic demand with the aim of a single European sky.(reduced vertical separation minima system introduced)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Reduced vertical separation minima (RVSM), which was introduced on 24 January in 41 European and NorthAfrican states, is a crucial element in Europe's battle to cope with ever-rising traffic levels. But it is just one step in a three-phase...

CERTIFICATION Justin Wastnage / London; EC145 to get US approval but not UK clearance.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Eurocopter is to receive US Federal Aviation Administration certification for its EC145 at the HAI Heli-Expo next week. The helicopter, however, continues to face hurdles to UK certification. The medium-weight utility twin helicopter, also...

Charter flights; Transjet adds Boeing 747-200.(Sweden's Transjet Airways debuts new 747s)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Swedish charter airline Transjet Airways has introduced the first of three Boeing 747-200s which it will operate on Hajj pilgrimage flights. The first aircraft is scheduled to be joined by a further two examples of the type, both ex-Tower Air...

hybrid; heaven.(Eurocopter and Kawasaki's EC145)
February 5, 2002... The EC145 10-seater helicopter was built to use the best features of two previous models. But has it been a happy marriage? Peter Gray / Donauworth, Germany A manufacturer wanting to enter the 10-seat helicopter market can either start...

AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENT ; Z-400 flight tests to begin.(Moravan Aeroplanes and Letecke Zavody develop utility aircraft)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Czech manufacturers Moravan Aeroplanes and Letecke Zavody (LZ, formerly Let) rolled out the Zl[degree sign]n Z-400 utility aircraft late last month from LZ's Kunovice, Czech Republic, facilities. The eight-seat convertible aircraft will start...

imagING; 3D maps to be kept under wraps.(NASA 's new elevation map of CA created with help of Landsat 7 spacecraft)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... NASA has released high-definition three-dimensional (3D) colour-shaded relief elevation maps of California derived from coverage by the February 2000 Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (STRM). This image of San Diego was also produced using...

budgets; ISS is 'inefficient and wasteful'.(International Space Station, a wasteful program, according to U.S. Office of Management and Budget)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... The International Space Station (ISS) has come under fire again, this time from the US government's Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The ISS is one of the government's "most inefficient and wasteful programmes", says Mitch Daniels,...

subsidies TIM FURNISS / LONDON; USAF may have to fund launch vehicles ; Slump in commercial market could mean Boeing and Lockheed Martin having to seek government assurances.(Boeing and Lockheed Martin may get aid for Delta IV and Atlas V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 5, 2002... The US Air Force may have to subsidise Boeing and Lockheed Martin to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars to ensure the new Delta IV and Atlas V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles (EELVs) will be available for government missions. The...

LAUNCHERS; Arianespace performs first mission of the year.(India's Insat communications satellite launched)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Arianespace completed its first launch of 2002 with the flight from Kourou of an Ariane 42L booster in late January carrying India's 2,750kg (6,100lb) Insat 3C communications satellite. Flight F147 was launched after the ignition sequence was...

Procurement ; Poles to acquire German Fulcrums.(MiG-29s to replace MiG-21 fleet)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Poland is to take over Germany's 23-aircraft RSKMiG-29Fulcrum fleet to part-replace ageing MikoyanMiG-21 Fishbeds. Warsaw meanwhile continues to discuss the purchase of new fighters. A "preliminary" deal signed by Polish defence minister...

coming; of age.(Helicopters air transport role expanding)(International Pages)
February 5, 2002... Thanks to advances in navigational technology, helicopters, long operationally restricted, are about to take a fuller role in air transport Nick howarth / london Imagine an air transport-licensed, instrument-rated pilot flying a...

certification: the tiltrotor challenge ; Staying flexible - and safe.(BA609 combines helicopter and airplane)(Product Development)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... The BA609 may combine the characteristics of both helicopter and aeroplane, but Bell will have to certificate not two, but effectively three flight modes. This is because of the tiltrotor's unique ability to vector the thrust of its proprotors....

charter airline ; UK start-up Astraeus aims for late March launch.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... A new UK charter airline will launch services from London Gatwick and Manchester at the end of March with the first of five Boeing 737s. Named Astraeus, the airline is eyeing a niche for 150-seater capacity in the UK contract charter market....

AIRLINE ALLIANCES ALEXANDER CAMPBELL / LONDON; BA/American's transatlantic vision shattered by US DoT; Carriers are told to surrender 224 slots at London Heathrow to UScarriers, which they reject as unacceptable.(British Airways and American Airlines transatlantic partnership)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... British Airways is once again pondering its future without a full-scale transatlantic partnership following the collapse of its second attempt at securing an alliance with American Airlines. In the end, the price American and BA would have...

MIXED message.(Civil helicopter industry benefits from homeland security market)(Government Activity)(International Pages)
February 5, 2002... After 11 September, the civil helicopter industry may benefit from the heightened security environment paul lewis / washington dc data compiled by brandon nothnagel The catastrophic events of 11 September have reverberated across the...

Safety David Learmount / London; FAA waits for outcome of bogus parts investigation; US National Transportation Safety Board denies link with American Airlines A300 crash.
February 5, 2002... Italian authorities are investigating an alleged bogus parts deal involving three Italian spares suppliers, but the US Federal Aviation Administration denies reports that it has issued any warnings to the industry about the companies concerned....

concepts Guy Norris / Los Angeles; US Army to test inflatable aircraft prototype this year; Successful small-scale trials claimed to have increased customer confidence in concept.(aircraft developed by Vertigo)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... The US Army plans to flight test an inflatable aircraft this year whichis ultimately intended to glide autonomously to remote locations after being dropped from aircraft such as the Lockheed Martin C-130. Development of the extended range...

airline STRUCTURe Nicholas Ionides / Singapore; MAS faces major rejig.(Malaysia Airlines restructured by government, cargo operations spun off)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is to undergo sweeping restructuring that will see the government taking over all its assets and its loss-making domestic passenger operations. Cargo and international operations will be spun off as a new company,...

RESTRUCTURING; China to free up rules on foreign investment.(foreign ownership of airlines restrictions loosened)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... China is to allow up to 49% foreign ownership of the country's airlines in a sweeping industry overhaul. Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) minister Liu Jianfeng says the agency is seeking to have the limit eased from the current...

Service resumption Nicholas Ionides / Singapore; New Delhi/Kabul airlink is reopened; Regular flights between Afghanistan and India to restart as UN Security Council lifts sanctions on flag carrier Ariana.(United Nations lifts sanctions against Ariana Afghan Airlines)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Afghanistan and India are to resume regular flights between the two countries following Ariana Afghan Airlines' return to international flying after more than two years. Ariana's first international flight touched down in the Indian...

consolidation ; Major cost savings expected from merged Japanese carrier.(Japan Airlines and Japan Air System merger)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 5, 2002... Japan Airlines (JAL) and Japan Air System (JAS) are predicting savings of [acute accent]73 billion ($548 million) in the first full year of their planned merger. The enlarged carrier will operate as the Japan Airlines Group. By October...

noise reduction; Really Quiet Gulfstream II/III Stage 3 hushkit wins US certification.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... After a two-year development effort, Really Quiet has received US certification for its Stage 3 hushkit for Rolls-Royce Spey-powered Gulfstream II, IIB and III business jets. The first modification of a GII is under way at the company's...

ENVIRONMENT; Boeing works on 'green' technology.(Quiet Technology Demonstrator being tested)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Boeing and Rolls-Royce will conduct the next phase of Quiet Technology Demonstrator (QTD) tests in the second quarter, after which Boeing will start looking for applications. QTD is part of wider environmental technology programmes being...

partnership Guy Norris /LOSANGELES; Boeing signs up Japanese for Cruiser development; Ground-breaking deal paves way for involvement in other advanced aircraft projects.(Boeing's deal with Japan Aircraft Development and Japan Aircraft Industries)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Boeing, Japan Aircraft Development (JADE) and Japan Aircraft Industries (JAI) have concluded a long-expected agreement on research and development for the Sonic Cruiser and other advanced commercial aircraft projects. It will be the first...

ANNUAL SALES PAUL LEWIS / WASHINGTON, DC; Output slumps as economies slow ; Eurocopter and Robinson Helicopters stay top of turbine and piston charts, but Bell sees market share fall.(510 civil turbine helicopters produced in 2001)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 5, 2002... Eurocopter and Robinson Helicopters have further consolidated their respective positions at the top of the civil turbine- and piston-powered rotorcraft markets, as overall output of Western-built commercial helicopters declined in the wake of...

AIR TRANSPORT Graham Warwick / Washington DC; US carriers turn corner as traffic starts to recover.(American Airlines cuts capacity by 20%)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 5, 2002... American Airlines has begun a cautious restoration of capacity to its network, encouraged by indications that traffic is recovering. The second largest US airline will restore 41 round-trip flights from its Dallas/Fort Worth hub to 37 cities by...

SALES GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC; Orders for USbusiness aircraft start to stabilise ; Raytheon is hardest hit manufacturer, but signs of improvement begin to emerge.(Raytheon Aircraft delivers 411 aircraft in 2001 compared to 525 in 2000)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 5, 2002... US business aircraft manufacturers report the decline in orders stabilised towards the end of 2001, but a recovery is not anticipated before the second half of this year. As a result, orders are set to be flat and deliveries down this year. ...

development; T-50 airframe testing starts.(Development of A-50 fighter trainer/light-combat aircraft)(International Pages)(Product Development)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Korea Aerospace Industries and Lockheed Martin have started static load testing of a T-50 airframe to validate the computerised structural model used in the design of the advanced trainer. The supersonic aircraft is due to fly for the first...

air transport; ASA starts CRJ700 service.(Delta Connection buys 70-seat Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Delta Connection will launch services with the 70-seat Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet in April. The first of 57 aircraft on order was delivered to Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) on 29 January. On 7 April, ASA will...

Start-up; Slovak low-cost airline takes to domestic skies.(Slovak Republic launches low-cost airline)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Sky Europe Airlines, a new low-cost airline in the Slovak Republic, is preparing to launch operations with a 30-seat turboprop on domestic services. The airline is owned by Sky Europe, a joint Slovak/Belgian company, which holds a 50.25%...

CONTROL SYSTEMS CHRISTINA MACKENZIE / PARIS; Fly-by-light EC135 helicopter makes first flight.(Eurocopter's EC135 has fiber optic-based flight control system)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Eurocopter conducted the first flight of an EC135 featuring a fibre optic-based flight control system late last month. The system is being tested on an EC135 designated the Active Control Technology demonstrator/Flying Helicopter Simulator...

Missile defence Graham Warwick / Washington DC; SMD system makes first hit-to-kill.(Sea-Based Midcourse Defence ballistic missile defense system)(Government Activity)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... The first successful hit-to-kill intercept by the Sea-Based Midcourse Defence (SMD) system has boosted the USNavy's chances of playing a key role in the Bush administration's plan for a layered ballistic-missile defence system. The...

Co-operation; France seeks armaments/ technology tie-up with UK.(France's defence procurement agency coordinates meeting with UK, French government bodies and industry leaders)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... France's senior defence procurement official has called on UKcompanies to respond to more French tenders and to increase their investment in France. Yves Gleizes, director of France's defence procurement agency DGA, told representatives of...

TRANSPORTS; C-17 returns F3 to Falklands.(Falkland Islands gets Panavia Tornado F3 fighter aircraft)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... The UK RoyalAir Force has used one of its four Boeing C-17Globemaster transports to move a dismantled Panavia Tornado F3 fighter to the Falkland Islands. The Tornado is part of the RAF's 1435 Flight , which provides air defence for the south...

SPACE PROPULSION GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON dc; Fuel cell technology is key to water rocket system success; DARPA research programme aimed at refuelling rather than replacing satellites.(Hamilton Sundstrand and Proton Energy Systems get fuel cell technology contracts)(Government Activity)(Product Development)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Development of a reversible high-pressure fuel cell is the key to a space transportation architecture based around using water for fuel, says the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Under its Water Rocket programme, the agency...

SAFETY ; TAME 727 crashes into high ground.(TAM Ecuador Boeing 737-100 crashes near Quito, Ecuador)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... A TAM Ecuador (TAME) Boeing 737-100 crashed into high ground around 20min after take-off on the 40min flight from Quito, Ecuador to Tulcan on 28 January. It was one of a number of events last month, with incidents in Anchorage and Omsk. ...

BMI calls on government to restart Bermuda II talks.(BMIBritish Midland asks UK's government to start open-skies negotiation)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... BMIBritish Midland has called on the UKgovernment to resume open-skies negotiations with the USA to end their Bermuda II bilateralagreement as soon as possible, in the belief that a deal allowing BMIto fly transatlantic from London Heathrow is...

consolidation; Rebranded Airtours rolls out A320 in new MyTravel colours.(MyTravel Group repaints aircraft fleet)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... UK tour operator MyTravel Group, previously called Airtours, has begun repainting its fleet into its new brand identity MyTravel Airways. The move has involved the consolidation of UK airline arm Airtours International with Scandinavian...

CANCELLATION Max Kingsley-Jones / london; RJX grounded as Avro decides test aircraft fate.(BAE Systems ends Avro RJX program)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... BAE Systems has suspended flight-testing of the Avro RJX following last month's termination of the programme, pending a decision on the fate of the three test aircraft. Although an announcement about the cancellation was originally made...

roger.bacon@flightinternational.com Straight & Level.(Blackhawk Down film)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Monty goes to Hollywood Our very own film critic, Monty Orangeball, was among defence hacks invited recently by Whirlybirdski to a private screening of Blackhawk Down - the gritty portrayal of a Special Forces operation in Somalia that...

HELICOPTERS Paul Lewis / Washington DC; Kaman plans SH-2G(A) recovery programme ; The operationally compliant Super Seasprite should be delivered to the RAN by 2004.(Kaman's Super Seasprite helicopter for Royal Australian Navy)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Kaman has mapped out a three-phase recovery programme that promises to deliver an operationally compliant SH-2G(A) Super Seasprite helicopter to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) by the end of 2004, addressing in the process software problems...

propulsion paul lewis / washington dc; P&WC aims to expand its military helicopter role; Engine manufacturer seeks defence growth to compensate for decline in civil sector.(Pratt & Whitney Canada pursues military helicopter sales)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 5, 2002... Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) is looking to broaden its turboshaft business by pursuing more military helicopter sales as the civil sector faces uncertainty. The United Technologies-owned company has enjoyed major success in the civil...

Briefing.(British Airways buys London Heathrow slots from Balkan Airlines)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Global Hawk programme proceeds unmanned air vehicles Northrop Grumman has received two USAir Force contracts for further work on the RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air vehicle (UAV). The company has received...

BIPLANES; Vietnamese delivery marks end of An-2 Colt line.(PZL Mielec delivers 4 An-2 Colt single-engine biplanes to Vietnamese government)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... PZL Mielec delivered four An-2 Colt single-engine biplanes to the Vietnamese government late last month. The An-2 has been out of production for more than a decade and PZL had to call back some retired staff to complete the order. PZL...

airline sale; Tesna faces 30-day deadline after Ansett creditors say yes.(Australian regional carrier's assets may be liquidated)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Creditors of the Australian regional carrier Ansett cleared its sale to the Tesna syndicate on 29 January - but delays in settling terminal leases have prevented Tesna announcing a start-up date. It has 30 days from the day of approval to do...

PROPULSION ; AL-31F engine variant makes first flighton Su-27.(Salyut's new AL-31F jet engine)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... MMPP Salyut has successfully undertaken the first flight of its own variant of the AL-31F engine. The company is hoping to find applications for the AL-31FN on new versions of the Sukhoi Su-27 family and the Chinese Chengdu J-10 fighter. ...

expansion; Ryanair spreads wings.(Will offer 7 new European routes from London)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Irish no-frills airline Ryanair is tightening the squeeze on its rivals with seven new European routes from London Stansted. They include Rome Ciampino and Milan Bergamo, as well as Eindhoven - its first service to the Netherlands. The carrier...

AIR TRANSPORT Alexander Campbell / London; Europe looks set for bilaterals shake-up; Individual deals now give US airlines an unfair advantage.(European Commission case on bilateral aviation treaties)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... The European Commission (EC) is expected to strip European Union(EU) member states of the power to negotiate bilateral aviation treaties with non-EU states, after the European Court of Justice's advocate general issued a statement favouring the...

Restructuring Tom Gill / BasLE; New airline Swiss emerges from ashes of flag carrier ; Slimmed down operator will combine low-cost elements of Crossair with quality of Swissair.(Swiss Air Lines starts up)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Swiss, the merged, slimmed-down carrier born from the former Swissair and its subsidiary Crossair will come into being in April. The airline, which aims to retain Crossair's low-cost element, and what it describes as Swissair "quality", will...

DEFENCE SALES Graham Warwick / Washington DC; US industry eyes defence growth ; Aerospace manufacturers look forward to a bumper year, with the promise of substantial military spending increases.(U.S. defense aerospace industry will benefit from military spending increases)(Government Activity)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 5, 2002... The US defence aerospace industry emerged from 2001 well placed to benefit from US military spending increases, after shaking off the ill-effects of its late-1990s consolidation binge. With USdefence spending up $55 billion since 11 September,...

AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING Paul Lewis / Washington DC ; Singapore starts search for E-2 upgrade or replacement ; A new turbofan platform is preferred although Hawkeye 2000 update is an option.(Republic of Singapore Air Force to buy new fighter aircraft)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has begun a new airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system to replace its Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeyes. The emerging need is seen as a follow-on to the RSAF's purchase of new fighters. ...

HELMET DISPLAYS Paul Lewis / Washington DC; BAE stops work on Striker as marines reconsider.(Integrated Helmet Display and Sighting System for Striker IHDSS development to be recompeted)(Government Activity)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... The US Marine Corps is recompeting the Integrated Helmet Display and Sighting System (IHDSS) for the Bell AH-1Z after ordering BAE Systems to stop Striker IHDSS development work. The move comes as the marines work to re-baseline the programme,...

Fleet renewal Hilka Birns / Cape Town; BA's Comair buys 737s in southern Africa move.(Comair gets 5 second-hand Boeing 737-400s)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Comair has taken delivery of the first of five second-hand Boeing 737-400s, enabling it to expand into southern African markets. The Johannesburg-based British Airways franchise has acquired two aircraft from the UKcarrier. The 737-400s...

DEFENCE Peter La Franchi / Sydney; Australia and USA firm up partnership; Countries seek to build on established co-operation.(Australian and US departments of defense hold talks)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Australia and the USA are exploring a direct linkage of their defence requirements, including aerospace systems, with co-operative acquisition programmes, as a means of improving interoperability between the countries. Senior officials...

awards; Awards finalists fight it out.(Flight International Aerospace Industry Awards' finalists)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... A total of 31 finalists will fight it out in 10 categories for this year's Flight International Aerospace Industry Awards, to be held during Asian Aerospace in Singapore on 27 February. The finalists were chosen from dozens of entries by a...

AIR TRANSPORT Paul Lewis / Washington DC; Alliance tipped to win Emirates deal ; An order for rival GE/P&W powerplant would knock Rolls-Royce from dominant position on Airbus A380.(Emirates Airlines edges towards deal with General Electric/Pratt Whitney joint venture)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... Emirates is leaning towards the General Electric/Pratt & Whitney joint venture Alliance GP7200 engine to power the airline's recent large order of Airbus A380-800s, in a surprise move that could topple Rolls-Royce from its dominant market...

DEFENCE; Airbus A400M goes on for now despite German funding blow.(Airbus Military Co.)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... The fate of Airbus Military Company's (AMC)A400Mtransport remains in the balance after Germany's failure to fund fully its planned 73 aircraft procurement. Germany has budgeted enough for 40 A400Ms, and the remaining partners - Belgium,...

Rational thinking.(Europe's airline industry could benefit from failed British Airways and American Airlines alliance)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2002... The failed BA/American alliance and the subsequent cancellation of the UK/US open skies talks could work to Europe's advantage The European airline industry took two important steps towards a more rational business environment last week....

air traffic services; AEA slams 'monopoly' price rises.(Association of European Airlines)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 12, 2002... Price rises imposed by monopoly-holding air traffic services (ATS) providers on airlines already in financial trouble are unacceptable, the Association of European Airlines (AEA) says. Average ATS price rises throughout Europe for this year...

FLEET EXPANSION; AirJet builds up Saab fleet.(high-speed turboprop aircraft)(Brief Article)
February 12, 2002... Privately owned AirJet, a French charter and freight airline, is building up a fleet of Saab 2000s in a bid to capitalise on a growing market for the high-speed turboprop. The airline's first Saab, leased from Jean-Paul Dubreuil, the...

Airline development Justin Wastnage / Bangkok; Bangkok Airways adds flights from neighbouring countries; Four-nation pact allows subsidiary to operate new routes in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.(Brief Article)
February 12, 2002... Bangkok Airways is set to take advantage of its fifth freedom rights through Cambodia to operate flights originating in four neighbouring countries. The airline, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Siem Reap Airways, plans to add flights from...

Fleet expansion Nicholas Ionides / Singapore; China Eastern seeks state approval for A320 deal; Civil Aviation Administration warns carriers not to place large orders to avoid overcapacity.(Civil Aviation Administration of China enters deal between China Eastern Airlines, Airbus)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
February 12, 2002... China Eastern Airlines has signed a conditional agreement with Airbus on the purchase of 20 more A320 family aircraft, lifting expectations that a sizeable Chinese deal with the European aircraft manufacturer may be forthcoming. The news...

PROPULSION; GE90-115B icing tests back on track after redesign of hot section baffles.(General Electric redesigns new engine's deflectors)(Brief Article)
February 12, 2002... General Electric plans to begin icing tests this month on the GE90-115B engine for Boeing's longer-range 777 family as part of efforts to recover from a two-week delay caused by the redesign of hot section baffles on the first test engine. ...

FLEET DEVELOPMENT David Fullbrook / Singapore; First Indian CRJ buy nears ; Bombardier leasing deal seen as route into potentially lucrative Asian regional jet market.(Brief Article)
February 12, 2002... Bombardier is set to beat its competitors by winning the first order for modern regional jets from an Indian carrier, with Air Sahara poised to sign a deal for 12 leased Bombardier CRJs this month. Bombardier's coup gives it a head start in...

counter-terrorism; Israel moves against foreign airlines with lax security.(Brief Article)
February 12, 2002... Foreign airlines serving Tel Aviv will not be allowed to continue operating to the Israeli city unless they implement a policy of locking cockpit doors during the flight. The Israeli transport minister Ephraim Sne says that, according to a...

air traffic management; David Morrow / MAASTRICHT; European study to answer datalink questions.(Brief Article)
February 12, 2002... The European Commission (EC) has initiated a wide-ranging study which aims to bring a decision on the most appropriate type of datalink for key air traffic management (ATM) applications closer. Designated the "datalink roadmap", the...

ETOPS David Fullbrook / Singapore; IATA expresses concern as Midway Island operator plans withdrawal.(extended range twin-engine operations will lose an emergency landing airport on Midway Island)(Brief Article)
February 12, 2002... The International Air Transport Association and airlines are expressing concern about the future of alternate runways used for extended range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) in the Pacific following the operator of Midway Island airport's...

ENVIRONMENT Vladimir Karnozov / Moscow; Russia/EU noise negotiations falter; Chapter 3 noise regulations will outlaw a clutch of aircraft from April including Ilyushin Il-86 and Tupolev Tu-134.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 12, 2002... Russian aviation authorities failed to reach a compromise with the European Commission (EC) during the latest round of negotiations in Brussels last month on the operation of noisy Russian airliners into the European Union from April. The...

Leasing; Vietnam opts for GE power on latest 777s.(Vietnam Airlines to use General Electric Co. engines on leased aircraft)(Brief Article)
February 12, 2002... In an unexpected twist, Vietnam Airlines has selected the GE90-94B engine to power two Boeing 777-200ERs it is leasing from International Lease Finance. The move comes despite the fact that late last month Vietnam chose the Pratt & Whitney...

FORECASTs; PAUL LEWIS / WASHINGTON DC; R-R/Teal predict shift towards military helicopters.(Rolls-Royce and Teal Group issue forecast for helicopter industry)(Brief Article)
February 12, 2002... Rolls-Royce and the Teal Group's latest turbine helicopter forecast points to a shift in demand away from civil rotorcraft towards more military machines over the next 10 years. But the overall picture shows no increase in total deliveries for...

resultS; US aerospace suppliers look set for tough half.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 12, 2002... Aerospace system and service suppliers warn of a difficult six months as falling commercial aircraft deliveries exacerbate the slump in aftermarket sales since 11 September. Goodrich saw aerospace sales grow 13% in 2001, to $4.2 billion,...

security ; DoT asks Congress for $5bn to fund air security.(Department of Transportation)(Brief Article)
February 12, 2002... USCongress has been asked to approve $4.8 billion for the new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) under the Bush administration's fiscal year 2003 budget request. This is nearly $3.5 billion more than Congress allocated in 2002...

consolidation; Nicholas Ionides / Singapore; China finally rejigs airline industry.(China plans consolidation of its airline industry)(Brief Article)
February 12, 2002... The Chinese state council has finally given the go-ahead to a plan to reorganise the financially troubled national airline industry. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has been planning for two years for three of China's...

INSURANCE ; EC calls for introduction of mutual fund.(airlines would pay into new insurance fund)(Brief Article)
February 12, 2002... The European Commission (EC) plans to introduce a mutual insurance fund for airlines to replace government emergency schemes due to expire at the end of March. The fund, financed by passenger payments, would work alongside government guarantees...

PRIVATISATION ANDREW DOYLE / BANDUNG; IAe launches survival plan; Indonesian manufacturer in bid to reverse fortunes ahead of public offering next year.(Indonesian Aerospace)(Brief Article)
February 12, 2002... Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) is implementing a "survival and recovery" plan to reduce potentially crippling losses in time for its planned privatisation next year. Forced to drop ambitious plans to certificate the indigenously developed...

airline results; Rebecca Rayko / FLORIDA; Worst could be over for US majors after dreadful 2001; Recovery in sight after top eight carriers end year with combined net losses of $3.2bn.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 12, 2002... The common theme to the latest round of earnings reports from the major USairlines was that after an abysmal year, the industry is now starting a gradual recovery. Losses were expected given the huge drop in air travel last year, but...