Flight International articles from February 2003

Flight International archives from February 2003

Republican leads key subcommittee.(Trent Lott to lead Senate Subcommittee on Aviation, US)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... A key congressional panel, the Senate Subcommittee on Aviation, will be led by ousted Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott. In a surprise move, the Mississippi Republican used his seniority to take over the panel, displacing incoming chair and...

Aerolineas pulls back from the brink.(emerges from receivership, expects nearly $5 million net profit for 2002, Argentina)
February 1, 2003... Argentina's grand old airline has emerged from court-supervised receivership (or administration) after surviving a two-year drama that almost brought about the carrier's collapse. Aerolineas Argentinas went under court protection in June...

Delta-led alliance faces tough terms.(marketing and codesharing alliance faces limits on joint bids, number of gates)
February 1, 2003... US authorities have proposed placing the most extensive conditions yet on the largest domestic alliance proposed so far: a pact between Continental, Delta and Northwest airlines. However the carriers began a direct challenge to US...

Air Canada eventually sees through Canadian integration three years on.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Three years after its takeover, the integration of Canadian Airlines into Air Canada is effectively done. The merger of those arch rivals stands as an object lesson on how much can go wrong, but the stormy process is now largely history. ...

In brief.(several airline industry news briefs)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Cargo security on the agenda Cargo security will be on the legislative agenda after the congressional investigative agency, the General Accounting Office, concluded that neither the Transportation Security Administration nor the...

In brief.(several airline industry news briefs)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Lapa's border incursion Argentinian airline Lapa went international in December with flights to Santiago and Puerto Montt in Chile, and Sio Paulo, Brazil.It has since added Florianopolis, Brazil, and Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Argentina's...

Unions call for detailed United plan before giving restructure go-ahead.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The era of good relations at United Airlines, which briefly emerged after its bankruptcy filing, seems to have ended. United's union workers, who have taken temporary pay cuts of up to 29%, are showing further signs of frustration. Air...

US Airways plans to exit bankruptcy by summer.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The US Airways plan to get out of bankruptcy protection by summer took a step forward when a judge cleared its reorganisation plan for creditor approval. In the court submission, US Airways estimates that it will earn a $127 million profit...

Downwards shift.(airline traffic forecast for 2003)
February 1, 2003... Economic forecasts may be better for the year ahead, but the the airline industry must still adjust to structural shifts in demand, says Chris Tarry at CTAIRA These are perilous times to be making traffic forecasts. Nevertheless, for an...

Cathay reveals expansion plans for Air Hong Kong.(airline overhaul)
February 1, 2003... nicholas ionides singapore Cathay Pacific Airways has finalised plans for a complete overhaul of all-cargo subsidiary Air Hong Kong that will see the unit acquiring regional freighters for routes within Asia. Cathay has been studying a...

ANZ warns of bleak future without Qantas alliance.(Air New Zealand)
February 1, 2003... Competition regulators face one of their toughest tests in deciding whether to approve the equity alliance between Air New Zealand (ANZ) and Qantas Airways. The airlines warn that without the alliance ANZ could be left as a largely domestic...

China opens market with Singapore and Malaysia.(air travel)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... nicholas ionides singapore China is continuing to open up to more flights by foreign carriers with new liberal, bilateral air services agreements with Singapore and Malaysia. Both new agreements were signed in December during a...

In brief.(Malaysia Airlines orders aircraft from Airbus, Virgin Blue orders aircraft from Boeing)
February 1, 2003... MAScommits to A380 Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has confirmed an order by its parent company for six Airbus A380s for delivery from 2007. The airline's holding company, Pener-bangan Malaysia (PMB), has signed a memorandum of understanding with...

In brief.(AirAsia first half financial year profits)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... AirAsia turns first profits Malaysian carrier AirAsia has reported a profit of 11.8 million ringgit ($3.1 million) for the first half of its financial year from July-December. The airline, which was relaunched as a low-fares carrier a year...

Paradise revives Bali start-up plan.(Air Paradise International service inaugurations to Indonesia)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Bali-based start-up Air Paradise International is again preparing to inaugurate services as travel to the Indonesian resort island slowly starts to pick up after October's terrorist bombings. Air Paradise reopened for bookings early in...

Korean charters let Taipei save face.(to Taiwan)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Taipei is heralding new charters to South Korea and Shanghai as a breakthrough, but in fact they represent a face-saving way for the state to retreat from previous positions. Taiwan halted flights between South Korea and Taiwan by the two...

Under new ownership.(air transportation as a global industry)
February 1, 2003... Nearly a decade after it last convened a world summit on liberalisation, ICAO will again gather the nations in March to address the issue. This time, perhaps, it could just provide the necessary momentum to get the debate moving on an end to...

Dutch launch 'virtual' low-cost airline.(Airtrade teams up with Virgin Express to offer low-cost services)
February 1, 2003... Dutch travel group Airtrade has teamed up with Brussels-based Virgin Express to introduce low-cost services from Amsterdam to Rome, with the prospect of more routes to come. The two companies will initially co-operate on a new Virgin...

Lufthansa trims first-class service.(Deutsche Lufthansa AG reduces first-class cabin flights)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Lufthansa is starting to reduce the number of flights it operates with a first-class cabin on two transatlantic routes, and is considering moving to a two-class service in other markets in Africa and the Middle East. The carrier has...

In brief.(various airline news)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Low-cost in Iceland A new low-cost carrier will commence daily services from Iceland's Reykjavik airport to London Stansted and Copenhagen from the end of February. The operation will use a 148-seat Boeing 737-300 supplied by UK charter...

In brief.(services of various airlines)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Cheap Swiss at Geneva Swiss is fighting back against low-cost carriers by seeking to match easyJet at Geneva with its Easy Savers range of fares. It will offer the product on routes from Geneva to London, Paris, Barcelona and Nice at...

European carriers warn on outlook.
February 1, 2003... There are worrying signs that the fragile recovery in the European airline sector petered out towards the end of 2002, with British Airways, KLM and Lufthansa all sending downbeat messages to investors. KLM warned of "deteriorating economic...

Privatisation continues as Russian carriers come up for auction.(Sibir, UT Air, and Omskavia)
February 1, 2003... The Russian government is ploughing on with efforts to reduce its holdings in several airlines and is auctioning its remaining shares in three carriers - Sibir Siberia Airlines, UT Air and Omskavia. It is expected to sell its controlling...

Parliament anti-subsidy bill faces stiff opposition.(European Parliament proposal for airline carriers outside of the European Union)
February 1, 2003... The European Parliament has passed the first reading of a proposal that would punish carriers from outside the European Union (EU) which are deemed to have benefited from subsidies. However, the plans will have to overcome strong opposition...

Budget.(Scandinavian Lite)
February 1, 2003... options The entry of SAS into the low-cost sector is just the latest response by north European carriers to the no-frills threat Ever since the emergence in Europe of the low-cost sector in the late 1990s, the continent's full service...

Nicholas Ionides Singapore; Poor relations.(Cathay Pacific's poor relations with its pilots)
February 1, 2003... Cathay Pacific's relationship with its pilots, which relates to issues that have gone unresolved for a decade, surely ranks as one of the most fractious in the industry today. Over this period, Cathay has been branded as arrogant in its...

Uneasy.(at United Air Lines)
February 1, 2003... truce While USairline management and their pilots come to terms with the new market conditions, unions continue to develop links within the global alliances as both parties seek the structures needed to frame their future relationship. ...

European court ruling felt in Asia...
February 1, 2003... Ripple effects from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling on air service agreements have already reached Asia.Uncertainty about that decision has created a stumbling block in Singapore-Australia talks over a new air accord. In...

... while Lufthansa and United seek to take advantage of new freedoms.(Deutsche Lufthansa AG, United Air Lines Inc., company services information)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Lufthansa has apparently ruled out any direct financial assistance for its Star partner United Airlines, but this will not stop the two carriers strengthening their relationship during 2003. They are investigating the possibility of expanding...

War. .(financial impact on airlines)
February 1, 2003... In the event of another Gulf conflict, the signs are that there will be little financial assistance for carriers on either side of the Atlantic One issue now tops the agenda for any airline boardroom: what are the implications of a US-led...

Special report.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Finance & leasingWith the world economy poised to slow in 1999 Having weathered the worst of the immediate storm, most lessors are preparing to ride out the downturn. Others see opportunities to expand, offering new financing services and...

The only way is up.(lessors find new opportunity)
February 1, 2003... After emerging from the crisis of the last year, leading lessors are finding new business opportunities for themselves in the downturn After the roller-coaster of the past 18 months, the world's major lessors at last appear to be catching...

Fleet of foot.(plans of International Lease Finance Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... With founder and chief executive Steve Udvar-Hazy at the helm, leasing giant ILFC aims to continue forging ahead as it looks beyond the current downturn The small staff of International Lease Finance Corp (ILFC), which numbers only 135...

Covering up.(airline insurance)
February 1, 2003... The airline insurance picture - last year's nightmare - is looking considerably brighter. Questions remain, however, about the most practical way to insure against terrorism and the role government should play in this little-understood sector...

A free world.(regulation of airlines)
February 1, 2003... world At its conference in March, ICAOwill once again play host to a drive to free air transport from the national regulation which has prevented it from emerging as a truly global industry At no time in the history of civil aviation...

Executive appointments.
February 1, 2003... Singapore Airlines Chew takes top job at SIA Singapore Airlines (SIA) has named 30-year veteran Chew Choon Seng as chief executive-designate to take over from Cheong Choong Kong after he retires in June. Chew's appointment marks...

Feedback.
February 1, 2003... Airports call for coherent debate over charges Philippe Hamon, director general, ACI Europe, argues that IATA's criticism of airport charges is unwarranted and says it is imperative that processes used to set charges are both recognised and...

REGIONALAIRCRAFT MAX KINGSLEY-JONES/ LONDON; Cancellations exceed orders; Ten-year regional jet boom collapses as demand slumps further and analysts predict another grim 12 months ahead.
February 4, 2003... Last year was a watershed for the regional aircraft industry in more ways than one. Not only did it see the demise of another key jet manufacturer and an important new airliner programme, but it represented the end of the regional jet boom that...

AIRCRAFTPROGRAMMES ; A340-500 slip slows Emirates plan.(Emirates Airlines delays United States services launch due to Airbus Industrie aircraft delivery delays)
February 4, 2003... Emirates is the latest A340-500/600 customer to suffer a delivery delay with the arrival of its first ultra- long-range -500 postponed by around four months to September. The slip has been partly responsible for the Dubai-based airline's...

SAFETY David Learmount / London; Taiwan says turboprop pilots need icing training; Investigators probing ATR 72 loss warn airlines to review instructions given to crews.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... A safety recommendation from Taiwan's Aviation Safety Council (ASC) following the 21 December TransAsia Airways ATR 72 freighter crash urges all airlines operating turboprop aircraft to "review their training programmes" to ensure that they...

FLEET DEVELOPMENT NICHOLAS IONIDES / SINGAPORE; Air Tahiti studies A340-500 buy ; Long-range derivative being considered for direct Papeete-Paris services, which would push it to the limit of its range.(Air Tahiti Nui emerges as potential customer for Airbus A340-500)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... French Polynesian flag carrier Air Tahiti Nui has emerged as a potential customer for the ultra-long-range Airbus A340-500, which it is considering for proposed non-stop services between Paris and its Papeete base. The fast-growing...

AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENT; AirTran looks at stretched 717.(AirTran Airways launches new evaluation of longer-range aircraft for its expected westward expansion)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... US low-cost carrier AirTran Airways has launched a new evaluation of longer-range aircraft to support expected westward expansion plans which could lead to diversification of its fleet or prompt Boeing into launching the first derivative of the...

ORDERS; Air India's fleet renewal plans creep forward.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... Air India is moving ahead with its long-delayed fleet modernisation by confirming its intention to order 18 narrowbody aircraft and up to 17 widebodies. The state-owned carrier's board has decided to formally shortlist the Airbus A321 and...

ASSETMANAGEMENT; Airbus remarketing trade takes off.(Airbus Asset Management, aircraft remarketing firm, had its busiest year in 2002)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... ASSETMANAGEMENT Airbus remarketing trade takes off Airbus Asset Management (AAM), the aircraft remarketing arm of the European manufacturer, had its busiest year in 2002 largely due to work generated by airline bankruptcies and is...

FREIGHT; Cargo airline introduces 737QC for China flights.(Yangtze River Express receives its first dedicated cargo aircraft, Boeing 737-300QC )(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... New Chinese cargo airline Yangtze River Express is the latest operator to take advantage of the rapid growth in demand for freight carriage in the region. Established by fast-expanding Hainan Airlines a year ago, it has received its first...

SAFETY; Crash leads to weight checks for passengers.(US Federal Aviation Administration to review its average passenger weight assumptions for small commuter aircraft)
February 4, 2003... Following the 8 January Air Midwest Beech 1900D crash in Charlotte, North Carolina, the US Federal Aviation Administration has issued an emergency airworthiness directive (EAD) concerning control rigging and simultaneously announced a review of...

REGULATION JUSTINWASTNAGE / MAASTRICHT; Dutch urge joint accident inquiries; Meeting with Eurocontrol this week could lead to establishment of combined bureau for Benelux nations and Germany.(Netherlands to recommend creation of combined air accidents investigation authority with Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg )
February 4, 2003... The Netherlands is to recommend the creation of a combined air accidents investigation authority with Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg at a meeting with Eurocontrol this week. The four countries currently cede control of parts of their air...

Cargo Brendan Sobie / Washington DC; Boeing readies 747-400 conversion with TAECO ; US manufacturer determined to beat IAI to launch after losing 737 and 767 race.(Boeing selects Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering as modification shop for its 747-400 Special Freighter conversion programme)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engin-eering (TAECO) has been selected by Boeing as the modification shop for its 747-400 Special Freighter (SF) conversion programme and expects to have a customer in place to allow a launch by the end of March. ...

PROGNOSTICS; Delta TechOps steps up health management.(Delta Air Lines to broaden its use of prognostic health management technology)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... Delta Air Lines is to broaden its use of prognostic health management technology beyond real-time engine condition monitoring to other critical systems including auxiliary power units (APU) and flight controls. Delta's Technical Operations...

LOW-COSTcarriers; Delta offers travel for a Song.(Delta Air Lines' new low-fare division, Song, has ambitious in-flight entertainment offering)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... Delta Air Lines' new low-fare division, Song, aims to tackle rivals with an ambitious in-flight entertainment offering. Delta intends to hit back at JetBlue and to a lesser degree rival AirTran Airways on routes between the north-east of...

Entertainment; AIRI Aready to switch on TV trials.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... Inflight television provider AIRIA is finally moving ahead with plans to launch on-aircraft trials in 2003, after experiencing more than a year of setbacks. AIRIA, a joint venture between Inmarsat and APR - the latter formerly known as...

REGULATION JUSTINWASTNAGE / BRUSSELS; Slot action likely despite wrangling; Coordinator's Association wants code of conduct to prevent secret trading between alliance partner airlines.
February 4, 2003... European slot co-ordinators are to forge ahead with European Commission guidelines on allocation, despite transport ministers stalling progress on the measure's approval. The European Airport Coordinator's Association (EACA) is drawing up a...

systems; Smiths lands A380 video contract.(Smiths Aerospace to supply video management unit for Airbus' A380 airliner)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... Smiths Aerospace is to supply the video management unit that is key to Airbus plans to equip the A380 large airliner with cockpit door and cabin surveillance systems. The concentrator and multiplexer will allow video from various sources to be...

ACCIDENTS JACKSON FLORES / RIO DE JANEIRO; VASP 737 in narrow escape in Rio Branco fog.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... A VASP Boeing 737-200 hit trees on approach and then slid offthe runway while landing at Presidente Medici International Airport, Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil, in fog on 26 January. According to local sources, the aircraft (PP-SPJ) performed a...

marketplace.(includes multiple records)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... Interlease Avia, a subsidiary of St Petersburg's International Bank, is acquiring three of the seven whitetail Tupolev Tu-154Ms stored at the Aviakor factory in Samara for lease to an unnamed Russian airline. Nigerian carrier Sosoliso Airlines...

ANALYSIS ALEXANDERCAMPBELL& DAVIDLEARMOUNT / LONDON; Can airlines survive a Gulf conflict? ; Security specialist warns industry of dangers of "over-reaction or paralysis" as prospect of war in Iraq intensifies.
February 4, 2003... After the worst two years in their history, airlines around the world are preparing themselves for the unknown effect of a new war in the Gulf. They face harm to both their operations and commercial pros-pects and the indirect impact of the war...

PRIVATISATION ARIE EGOZI / TELAVIV; Election could kickstart El Al sale.
February 4, 2003... A new coalition government in Israel may open the way for the long-awaited privatisation of national airline El Al. With a more secular government likely afterlast week's election, religious objections to flights on the Sabbath would no longer...

ACQUISITIONS; L-3 snaps up Goodrich unit.(Goodrich to sell Avionics Systems business to L-3 Communications for $188 million in cash)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... Goodrich is to sell its Avionics Systems business to acquisitive L-3 Communications for $188 million in cash. The net proceeds of around $134 million will be used to repay the balance of a $1.5 billion bridge loan used to finance Goodrich's...

US carriers KARENWALKER / WASHINGTONDC; Stricken majors brace for war.(losses rise in fourth quarter of 2002 for US major airlines)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... US major airlines are preparing for conflict in the Gulf as losses mounted in the fourth quarter of 2002. The only exception was Southwest Airlines, which marked its 30th successive year of profits with net earnings of $241 million. News from...

contractors; Defence sales increase but charges hit profits.
February 4, 2003... US defence manufacturers saw sales rise last year, but industry profits were hit by charges against failed diversification efforts. The troubled business aviation market also dragged down results, with no improvement expected this year. ...

CONSOLIDATION IVAN CASTANO / MADRID; Squabble over ownershipdooms Spanish merger; Attempt to forge country's largest aerospace group stalls over share structure.(Gamesa, Sener and SEPI will not form proposed new conglomerate Alerion)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... Spanish aerospace companies Gamesa and Sener and state holding company SEPI have dropped plans to form proposed new conglomerate Alerion after failing to agree on its ownership structure. Announced last March, Alerion would have combined...

people.(includes multiple records on personnel appointments)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... Ansett is to create a new Singapore office, headed by vice-president (VP) sales Jon O'Connell. It also plans a new strategic development group, to be headed by Crispin Maunder, who is promoted to executive VP strategic development from...

General apathy.
February 4, 2003... One small step forward to free Europe's talented but often ignored general aviation (GA) sector from restraint is not enough If the "final draft" of the notice of proposed amendment (NPA) on commercial single-engined instrument flight rules...

PROCUREMENT; Spotlight falls on Austria.(fighter producers hope change of government in Austria will give them chance to overturn country's selection of Eurofighter Typhoon )(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... Fighter manufacturers are again focusing their attention on Austria where they hope a change of government will provide an opportunity to overturn the country's selection of the Eurofighter Typhoon last year. In what was considered a...

cockpits GRAHAMWARWICK / WASHINGTON DC; KT-1 deal bolsters CMC's upgrade market position ; Canadian company building presence following last year's acquisition of Flight Visions.
February 4, 2003... CMC Electronics' selection as avionics integrator for the armed export version of Korea Aerospace Industries' (KAI) KT-1 turboprop trainer has reinforced the company's position in the glass cockpit upgrade market. The Canadian company was...

RESTRUCTURING; Czech air force slashes personnel.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... The Czech Republic is to make swingeing cuts to its air force, with personnel numbers to be slashed from 13,000 to 8,000. The other armed forces will also be affected, with army numbers to be cut over the next four years from 63,200 to...

demonstration; EADStests EuroHawk ELINT.(demonstration of using Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned air vehicle as electronic intelligence platform )(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... A German programme to use the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawkhigh-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air vehicle as an electronic intelligence (ELINT) platform has moved a step closer with a demonstration in the USA. During trials by the US...

AIR DEFENCE PAULLEWIS /WASHINGTONDC; US Navy picks Raytheon to build anti-air missile; Decision vindicates company's acquisition strategy and deals blow to Lockheed Martin.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... Raytheon's strategy to leverage different elements of its defence portfolio to improve competitiveness has paid dividends with the US Navy's decision to select the company to develop the Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM) as an eventual...

PROCUREMENT; Russia links with China and India for arms deals.
February 4, 2003... Russia has completed a series of deals with its traditional customers China and India. China is to acquire additional Sukhoi Su-30MKs while India will participate in development of a fifth-generation fighter. China's $1 billion deal for...

UNMANNED SYSTEMS guy norris / los angeles; Boeing readies ScanEagle for tests.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... Boeing is preparing to fit a pre-production version of the low-cost ScanEagle unmanned air vehicle (UAV) with a more efficient four-stroke piston engine, and expects to start flight tests before June. Work on the re-engined UAV, developed...

UPGRADES; Sukhoi wins Polish Su-22 contract.(Sukhoi and WZL-2 sign agreement covering overhaul and upgrade ofSu-22M4/UM3K Fitter fighter bombers)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... Sukhoi and Polish military aviation works WZL-2 at Bydgoszcz have signed an agreement covering the overhaul and upgrade ofSu-22M4/UM3K Fitter fighter bombers in Polish air force and air defence service. Poland operates80 single- and...

special missions GUYNORRIS/ LOSANGELES ; King Air 350 offers low-cost security.(Commuter Air Technology developing enhanced special missions derivative of Raytheon Beech King Air 350 )(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... Commuter Air Technology is developing an enhanced special missions derivative of the Raytheon Beech King Air 350 aimed at surveillance, maritime patrol, search and rescue, counter-terrorism and electronic reconnaissance roles. The...

contracts.
February 4, 2003... n Boeing has received a $748 million contract modification from the USMissile Defense Agency to develop a test X-band radar (XBR) to support the Ground-Based Midcourse defence programme. The MDAsays the modification is necessary to ensure a...

EXPORTS CHRISTINA MACKENZIE / PARIS; Singapore unlikely to be offered revamped Rafale ; Funding issues mean industry cannot justify development of alternative export version.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... Singapore will probably be offered a basic Dassault Rafale fighter incorporating the upgrades planned for the French air force and navy because the industrial team developing the multirole aircraft believe it will be too expensive to develop...

wake-up; call.(civil helicopter industry needs consolidation or innovation to grow)
February 4, 2003... US rotorcraft manufacturers are feeling the squeeze from growing European competition. Without consolidation or innovation, the only way for the industry will be down Paul lewis / washington dc There is no disputing that the latest...

bigger; brother.(Sikorsky's S-92 medium helicopter)
February 4, 2003... Having overcome problems with the S-92's design, Sikorsky has created a machine that has a high level of safety features and is also pilot friendly PETER GRAY / STRATFORD, connecticut US certification of the S-92 in December was a...

eye on; crime.(law enforcement market is one growing market in economically depressed civil helicopter market)
February 4, 2003... Bucking the trend of the civil helicopter sector, the law enforcement market is flourishing in Brazil and China to combat escalating crime Jackson Flores / Rio de Janeiro & Nick Farina / Beijing The one growing market in an...

in-flight simulation ; The real thing.(DLR evaluating Eurocopter EC135 technology demonstrator fitted with fly-by-light primary flight controls)
February 4, 2003... German research agency DLR is evaluating a Eurocopter EC135 technology demonstrator fitted with fly-by-light (FBL) primary flight controls. Dr Ulrich Butter of Eurocopter says the helicopter, handed over in November, is being groomed for the...

survival factors.(safety becomes major selling point in rotorcraft design)
February 4, 2003... With safety now a major selling point in rotorcraft design, developments such as air bags and GPS tracking have placed the focus on maximising survivability rather than minimising risk Andrew Healey / London A conventional helicopter...

market; misery.(civil helicopters)
February 4, 2003... Deliveries of new machines have reached a 10-year low but the US Homeland Security Department and the offshore oil industry offer some hope paul lewis / washington dc The past 12 months have proved to be another miserable year for the...

PRODUCTION GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC; Build rates tumble again as recovery fails to materialise; Orders held up last year but demand for 2003 business jet deliveries remains weak.
February 4, 2003... Business jet manufacturers are again reducing production in the absence of any sign of a market recovery in 2003. Cessna has cut planned Citation production from 250 to 220 aircraft, despite taking orders for 600 business jets last year....

DELIVERIES; Large-cabin G300 wins approval as Gulfstream continues revamp.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... Gulfstream has received US certification for the G300 large-cabin business jet, a derivative of the GIV. Both the G300 and the G400, which replaces the GIV-SP in the company's expanded, rebranded line-up, are scheduled for delivery from June....

AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENT ; Ae270 certification gathers pace.
February 4, 2003... Ibis Aerospace is set to start flight testing its first production-standard Ae270 Spirit single-engined turboprop at the end of the month and says it is on target for Czech Republic certification in the fourth quarter. "The aircraft is the...

CHARTER; LEA to make first Excel steep approach into City.(London Executive Aviation will become first charter operator to fly Cessna Citation Excel's newly certificated steep approach into London City Airport )(Brief Article)
February 4, 2003... London Executive Aviation (LEA) is to become the first charter operator to fly the Cessna Citation Excel's newly certificated steep approach into London City Airport. LEA was the first UK operator to receive an updated flight safety manual from...