Flight International articles from February 2004

Flight International archives from February 2004

strategy; Air France dedicates new service to oil companies; Direct flights launched to offer executives non-stop travel to energy hotspots.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Air France has launched a tailor-made product called Dedicate, which uses five specially configured Airbus A319s flying from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport to destinations to suit major oil and gas corporations. The first flights to...

Aircraft added for quick start.(Air France)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... To enable Dedicate to be launched quickly, Air France has added an A319LR on a three-year contract with French corporate jet operator Aero Services to operate intial services. Paris Le Bourget-based Aero Services, which began flying the A319...

airports ; Radar system set to offer bigger picture.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... A surface movement radar system (SMRS) installed by the UK's Nottingham East Midlands airport is being offered in a higher-resolution form that can detect small pieces of debris on runways and act as a security monitor for airport perimeters,...

markets; Analysts warn that BA pruning is not enough.
February 3, 2004... Analysts have warned that the [pounds sterling]300 million ($550 million) cost- cutting plan rolled out by British Airways last week will not solve its problems unless it can also boost its share of the lucrative European business market. ...

programme; Boeing turns up the heat on Air France 777-300ER in Australia.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... The third and final Boeing 777-300ER test and certification aircraft, destined for Air France, recently visited Alice Springs, Australia as part of evaluations of the interior and environmental control system. The -300ER underwent testing in...

ultra-long-range operations; SIA A340s fly non-stop Singapore-Los Angeles.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Singapore Airlines (SIA) launched its first non-stop flights from Singapore to Los Angeles this week using ultra-long-range Airbus A340-500s. Daily non-stop Singapore-Los Angeles flights began on 3 February, and non-stop services from Singapore...

study; Bombardier cool on 100-seat jet; Manufacturer resists pressure to enter market and focuses on increasing profitability from existing programmes.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Bombardier believes that a viable market for an all-new aircraft in the 100-seat category will not emerge until at least 2008 or 2009 and has no plans to move forward until a formal study is completed in 2005. The Canadian manufacturer's...

expansion; China Southern set for big order.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... China Southern Airlines looks poised to sign a deal for 21 additional Airbus A320 family aircraft, following a recent visit to France by the airline's president Hu Jintao. Meanwhile, the airline has taken delivery of its first of eight Boeing...

regulation; Europe pledges more safety transparency for passengers ; Commission discusses plan to blacklist airlines that fail to meet international standards.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... European transport commissioner Loyola de Palacio has pledged to make a "policy proposal" before the summer to ensure that people know which airline they are using when they book a package tour. There is also discussion about the European...

delivery; KTHY takes first A321.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Turkish carrier Cyprus (Kibris) Turkish Airlines (KTHY) has taken delivery of its first Airbus narrowbody, an A321-200 leased from GE Capital Aviation Services. KTHY, which operates from Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus, also operates two...

marketplace.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... n Mesa Air Group has firmed up 20 of its 40 options for Bombardier CRJ700/900s, for delivery through to the end of 2005. The new CRJs will operate the airline's feeder contracts with United Airlines and America West Airlines. French Polynesian...

regulation; Carriers plan to challenge compensation rules.(European Low Fares Airline Association)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... No-frills airlines are preparing to join forces with full-service carriers in launching a legal challenge against recently passed passenger compensation rules. The newly formed European Low Fares Airline Association (ELFAA) says it expects...

Subsidies; Ryanair to appeal against EC Charleroi probe ruling; Irish carrier required to repay millions of euros after decision on breach of state aid laws.
February 3, 2004... Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair is expecting to launch an appeal against the European Commission's judgement in the Brussels South Charleroi airport investigation. In a ruling to be released this week, the Commission is expected to find the...

agreement; Unions approve 737-600 deal.(Scandinavian Airlines )(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has struck a deal with pilots' unions to enable it to fly its Boeing 737-600 fleet under regional jet operating rules until the carrier acquires sub-100-seat jets. As part of its review of future profitability,...

reorganisation; SAS to concentrate fleet in cost-cutting measure; Tri-national flag carrier's operations to be autonomous by start of 2004 winter schedule.
February 3, 2004... Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) is set to finalise details of its fleet division plan this month, which will see aircraft types concentrated at each of its three bases in an attempt to reduce costs. By its 2004 winter schedule, the tri-national...

Safety ; ATSB urges Saab 340 modification.(Australian Transport Safety Bureau)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has recommended that Saab modifies the stall warning system on the Saab 340 fleet to provide sufficient warning of an impending stall during icing conditions, writes Emma Kelly. The...

results; Investor interest grows as US majors cut losses.(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)
February 3, 2004... As major US airlines begin celebrating narrower losses, investors are showing renewed interest in the sector and even sceptics believe that network carriers' chances of survival are now good. American Airlines' parent AMR epitomises the...

Regional aircraft; Surge in jet sales brings back boom ; Orders up and cancellations down n output of regional jets on the increase n turboprop deliveries at lowest since 1950s despite optimism.(Industry Overview)
February 3, 2004... After a disastrous 2002, regional airliner manufacturers last year saw a return to the boom times of the late 1990s. Gross orders in 2003 were above 300 and there was a significant reduction in cancellations. However, overall output has...

Strategy; Saab focuses on commercial sector.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Sweden's Saab Aerostructures plans to expand its risk-sharing activities on commercial aviation projects in a bid to continue the expansion recorded since it ceased production of the Saab 340 and Saab 2000 regional airliners in 1998. The...

EXPANSION; Bookajet relocates to Southampton.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... UK aircraft management company and operator Bookajet has completed a move to Southampton as the company continues to expand. Bookajet, which began operations in June having inherited the assets of defunct Farnborough-based air-taxi operator...

SALE; Flightship assets go up for auction; Three wing-in-ground-effect aircraft, one complete, included in sale after liquidators fail to find buyer for Australian firm.(Flightship Ground Effects )(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Auctioneers will this week sell the assets of Australian wing-in-ground-effect (WIGE) commercial aircraft manufacturer Flightship Ground Effects after liquidators failed to find a buyer for the Queensland-based company. Flightship managing...

performance ; King Air flight tests winglets.(Boundary Layer Research )(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Performance-enhancement specialist Boundary Layer Research (BLR) has begun flight testing winglets on a Beechcraft King Air 200 twin turboprop. US supplemental type certification is expected by October. Everett, Washington-based BLR already...

Upgrade; Raisbeck awaits FAA approval for ZR upgrade to Learjet 35/36s.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Raisbeck Engineering has completed flight tests of its "ZR" upgrade kit for the Learjet 35/36 family, but will not begin taking firm orders for the modification until it secures US Federal Aviation Administration approval. The ZR kit,...

Deliveries; Sikorsky readies first S-92 and sees highest-ever S-76 demand.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Sikorsky saw demand for its S-76 helicopter reach an all-time high last year, with the US manufacturer taking firm orders for 49 aircraft, plus options for an additional 57 helicopters over five years. The company delivered 23 S-76C+ aircraft...

in brief.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... SPARES TEAMWORK Bombardier has moved to improve spares availability by signing a long-term agreement with Caterpillar Logistics Services to manage parts distribution from centres in Chicago and Frankfurt and to help restructure its...

Results ; Revenues grow at US companies.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Lockheed Martin's net earnings more than doubled last year, as sales increased by 20% to a record $31.8 billion on higher military aircraft deliveries, writes Graham Warwick. The company delivered 62 F-16s and 15 C-130Js last year, compared...

RELOCATION; Piaggio's US arm moves to Florida ; Avia Aviation places options on three P180 Avantis and fellow fractional operator AvantAir considers further aircraft.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Piaggio Aero Industries has relocated its US-based subsidiary Piaggio America from Greenville, South Carolina to Jet Aviation's West Palm Beach, Florida facility. The transfer comes as the US company secures three options for the P180 Avanti...

Production; Raytheon in recovery.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Raytheon Aircraft's recovery continues, the company delivering 177 business aircraft last year and projecting deliveries of 211 aircraft this year - including the first two Hawker Horizon super mid-size business jets. While shipments of...

Pumped up.(AirTanker)
February 3, 2004... Despite AirTanker's victory in the UK's tanker contest, the consortium faces a number of challenges in making the deal work AirTanker's success last week in beating off the consortium led by rival Boeing for the UK's Future Strategic Tanker...

in brief.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... INDIANFIGHTER India and Russia will jointly develop a new fifth-generation fighter aircraft, under an agreement concluded during Russian defence minister Sergei Ivanov's recent visit to New Delhi. India's Hindustan Aeronautics and Russia's...

competition; CAE keeps up hopes of winning in US market ; Canadian company remains optimistic of becoming prime contractor south of border.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Canadian-owned CAE is backing away from a contention that the US Army rejected its bid for a $1.1 billion training services contract last September because the company was based on foreign soil. CAE filed a protest after the Flight School...

in-flight refuelling ; Decision could boost A330 bid in Australia.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... AirTanker's win in the UK's Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft contest is expected to bolster the prospects for the Airbus A330-200 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT)in Australia's Project Air 5402 in-flight refuelling competition. EADS Casa...

contract CRAIG HOYLE / LONDON; EADS team wins RAF tanker deal; Exact composition of fleet still to be determined as Ministry of Defence concedes "important issues" need resolving.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... The final piece of the UK's air transport and inflight refuelling puzzle has emerged at last, with the Ministry of Defence opting for the Airbus A330-200 as its Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA). To enter service in January 2008, the...

deployment; Harrier GR7s head to Norway for Exercise Snow Falcon.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Seven UK Royal Air Force BAE Systems GR7 ground-attack aircraft from RAF Cottesmore were deployed to Bardufoss in northern Norway on 23 January for Exercise Snow Falcon 1. The aircraft were drawn from the RAF's 1 and 4 Squadrons, but were...

joint strike fighter; Israel's industry seeks out JSF role; Lockheed Martin in talks to harness country's expertise in system development and demonstration phase of F-35.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... The Israeli ministry of defence and Lockheed Martin are making a joint effort to allow Israel's defence industry to participate in the current system development and demonstration phase of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme. Israel's...

munitions STEPHEN TRIMBLE / WASHINGTON DC; Integration glitches cast cloud over JASSM tests ; Pentagon report shows design recorded six mission failures in 15 live-launch trials.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... A new US Air Force assessment shows the Lockheed Martin AGM-158 JASSM cruise missile is moving into full-rate production despite a 40% failure rate during a year-long series of tests. The stealthy missile, which weighs about 1,000kg...

investigation; Boeing back in spotlight after losing UK order.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Boeing's 767 tanker programme is bracing for fresh scrutiny from US lawmakers, following its exclusion from the UK's Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft contest. A report by the US Department of Defense Inspector General will be released...

unmanned air vehicles; Demonstrator makes first flight with BWB control software.
February 3, 2004... An industry team has conducted the first flight of a new unmanned air vehicle technology demonstrator that builds on 25 years of flight control research conducted by Cranfield Aerospace. Pictured here for the first time, the Mino is an...

flight testing; Sixth Raptor set to join USAF test squadron.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Lockheed Martin is preparing to rush a sixth F/A-22 Raptor to a US Air Force operational test squadron that is voicing concerns about sortie generation rates less than two months before the next critical phase of test flights begin. Brig...

visual data; Tamam Sky Spy payload set to provide close-up intelligence.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... So-called "over the hill" battlefield intelligence can be delivered using a series of small, cheap payloads that will supply visual infrared to frontline army units, says Israel Aircraft Industries division Tamam. The company has developed...

training; UK MoD learns lessons.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... The UK Ministry of Defence is to place increased emphasis on combined training between its air and land forces as a result of lessons learned during last year's US-led Operation Iraqi Freedom, where Royal Air ForceBAE Systems Harrier GR7...

approval; Aviant gets go-ahead for Ruslan sale.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... The Aviant state aviation plant in Kiev has received permission from the Ukrainian government to sell a newly completed Antonov An-124-100 Ruslan transport aircraft to the United Arab Emirates, according to Ukraine's ministry of industrial...

modernisation; Brazil discusses Skyhawk update ; Navy considers upgrade as air force delays F-X BR again.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... The Brazilian navy is in talks with Embraer on the possible modernisation of its 23 McDonnell Douglas A-4KU/TA-4KU Skyhawks. After gaining initial day- and night-time operational capability with its first fixed-wing aircraft for nearly 40...

Noise control DAVID LEARMOUNT / LONDON; Ultra hopes system will hush Hercules cockpit; Successful system tests in C-130H will lead to 10 months of human factors assessment.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... An active noise control system (ANCS) tested in a US Air National Guard (ANG) Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules cockpit has completed the first part of its test programme successfully, says UK-based Ultra Electronics Controls. Launched...

contracts.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... n Northrop Grumman will produce seven RQ-8B Fire Scout vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicles for the system development and demonstration phase of the US Army's Future Combat Systems' Class IV UAV project. The work is valued at...

Product development; Bell increases JetRanger weight.(Bell Helicopter Textron Inc)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Bell Helicopter has increased the maximum gross weight of its Model 206B-3 JetRanger to make it more competitive in the light helicopter market. The company has received supplemental type certification for a 70kg (150lb) increase in gross...

Re-engining Kate Sarsfield / vienna; Diamond waits to offer ab initio DA42 to USA.(Diamond Aircraft Industries)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Austria's Diamond Aircraft Industries is evaluating the market for a Textron Lycoming-powered version of its DA42 Twin Star as it heads toward European certification of the four-seat diesel twin in April. "We will make a decision in...

Relocation Christina Mackenzie / Paris; EADS Socata set to transfer sales operations to cut costs; Company also aims to earn more euros and spend more dollars to trim exchange losses.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... EADS Socata is to transfer its sales and marketing operations in March from Paris to its manufacturing site in Tarbes in south-west France to cut costs. Chief executive Stephane Mayer says the company also aims to increase its income in euros...

Air Transport Guy Norris / Los Angeles; Stretched 7E7 may be first to arrive; Promising economics and performance attract interest.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Boeing may launch a stretched 7E7 before the baseline and related short-range (SR) variants because of a slowdown in interest in the latter from Japanese carriers and apparent growing enthusiasm for the former from international airlines. ...

Air Transport ; Eurocontrol near to airspace deal; CEATS project receives a boost as fifth central European country prepares to swing majority by ratifying agreement.
February 3, 2004... Eurocontrol has drawn up a revised schedule for launching the long-delayed joint upper airspace control unit for central Europe and insists the project can overcome its final political hurdle. The Central European Air Traffic Services...

air transport; Military compromise reached.(Single European Sky )(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... European transport ministers have reached a compromise with the European Parliament over military use of airspace. The controversial issue had been delaying the implementation of the Single European Sky (SES). Ministers have now dropped...

Business Victoria Moores / London; Air Littoral takeover stalls again.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Air Littoral was last week left facing fresh uncertainty after a commercial court once again delayed the selection of a winning bidder to take over the struggling French carrier, which has been in administration since 21 August 2003. ...

Business Graham Warwick / Washington DC; Stonecipher stands by strategy.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Boeing's business strategy will not change, says new chief executive Harry Stonecipher, after a turbulent year in which Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) delivered "solid" profitability and Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) achieved strong...

Business Aviation Guy Norris / Los Angeles; Eclipse replaces BAE as Avio system supplier.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Eclipse Aviation has named another six suppliers to its Avio systems team, replacing BAE Systems on the Eclipse 500 as it prepares for the start of assembly of the first batch of conforming aircraft in May. The six suppliers join Avio...

General Aviation; Mooney looks for light-sport aircraft candidate.(Polish Aero AT-3)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Mooney Airplane is evaluating the Polish Aero AT-3 two-seater as a potential offering in the light-sport aircraft market expected to be created by the impending release of the US Sport Pilot rule. The company flight tested the aircraft in...

Defence Stephen Trimble / Washington DC; US DoD set to raise spending in 2005; Budget plan gets overhaul with creation of two-year cycle.
February 3, 2004... The US Department of Defense (DoD) is proposing to raise total spending by 7% next year to $402 billion and is forecasting a 21% growth in defence spending by fiscal year 2009, approaching the half-trillion dollar mark. The FY2005 budget...

Briefing.
February 3, 2004... India set to sign for threePhalcons PROCUREMENT The Indian ministry of defence and Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) have finalised the commercial agreement for the sale of three Phalcon-type airborne early warning systems to the Indian air...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
February 3, 2004... Quality control How good are inspections? Comment (Flight International, 13-19 January) calls for a more open approach to the work done the national authorities and European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) countries under the safety...

mars lander; Hopes fade as attempts to find Beagle 2 fail.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... UK Open University professor Colin Pillinger, creator of the missing Mars lander Beagle 2 , admits "we have to begin to accept that, if Beagle 2 is on the surface, it is not active". This follows a further search for signals from the lander by...

international Space Station; Bush's space initiative shelves ISS Research Institute plans; NASA expected to request 5.6% increase in budget to kick-start manned Mars project.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... NASA's second major loss as a result of President George Bush's new space initiative is the plan to establish an International Space Station Research Institute, which has been "postponed", the agency says. NASA has already been forced to...

in orbit.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... n India and Brazil have signed a framework agreement for space co-operation, beginning with the launch of a Brazilian microsatellite on India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. The first European/Chinese Double Star science satellite, launched...

Mars exploration; Second lander ready to go as Spirit is restored.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... NASA's second Mars exploration rover, Opportunity, was expected to roll off its lander as early as 1 February after a successful touchdown in Meridiani Planum on 25 January. On the other side of Mars, meanwhile, the Spirit rover should resume...

contract; Lord wins Dhruv active vibration control deal.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Lord has received its first production contract for active vibration control systems on the Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter. The first production helicopter with the anti-vibration system is scheduled to enter...

certification; Northwest DC-9 ready to test structural monitoring; Comparative vacuum technology able to detect and measure sub-1mm cracks in metal.(Structural Monitoring Systems)
February 3, 2004... Structural Monitoring Systems (SMS) will install its comparative vacuum monitoring (CVM) technology on a Northwest Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-9 in early February as part of a US Federal Aviation Administration certification programme for the...

Inspection and repair; Vicon visualises in-orbit inspection.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... NASA is evaluating potential in-orbit inspection and repair techniques for the Space Shuttle using a 10-camera motion capture system developed by OMG subsidiary Vicon Motion Systems. The system consists of high-resolution, high frame-rate...

falling numbers.(military aircraft in service )
February 3, 2004... Military aircraft in service are dwindling, with fourth-generation fighters like the Raptor and Typhoon slowly replacing their obsolete predecessors Tim Ripley / London The world's fleet of military aircraft continued to decline...

polished; player.(Bombardier's Challenger 300)(Product/Service Evaluation)
February 3, 2004... Bombardier is giving its super mid-size competitors run for their money with the Challenger 300, which offers good value and spacious cabin with low operating costs Michael Gerzanics / Wichita When formally launched at the Paris air...

Technology; Boeing and Qinetiq sign windtunnel contract.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Boeing has signed a 10-year deal with UK research agency Qinetiq to use its 5m (16.5ft)-diameter windtunnel in Farnborough. The UScompany has been the principal user of the pressurised tunnel for several years and will have guaranteed access to...

Straight & Level roger.bacon@flightinternational.com.(Column)
February 3, 2004... Litmus test? General Strike: "So what's all this about a wearable system to detect stress levels of soldiers in combat? It all sounds rather far-fetched to me." Captain Slog: "Not at all sir, it's simple: it works on a colour coding...

survey; Manufacturers maintain optimism; Our fourth quarterly poll of the Top 100 companies finds confidence holding up as the global economy strengthens.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... The world's leading aerospace companies ended 2003 in optimistic mood, continuing an upswing that began halfway through the year. At that time, the Iraq war had ended, the SARS outbreak had peaked and the world economy had started to show signs...

Accident highlights need for terrain awareness.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... The crew of the Avro RJ100 was carrying out a VOR/ DME non-precision approach to runway 28 at Zurich Kloten airport at night in poor visibility and low cloud. The pilot of an aircraft that had just landed from the same approach reported to...

safety; Zurich crash report slams captain; Crossair pilots are faulted for sinking below minimum descent altitude, while carrier is accused of negligence.
February 10, 2004... The captain of the Crossair BAE Systems Avro RJ100 that crashed on the approach to Zurich Kloten airport on 24 November 2001 "deliberately descended below the minimum descent altitude [MDA]" without being able to see the runway or approach...

security; Washington to raise DHS spending to reinforce US airport defences.
February 10, 2004... Bolstering awareness and defences at US airports and borders accounts for the bulk of a White House proposal to raise the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) budget to $40.2 billion, or 10% in fiscal year 2005. The DHS spending package...

avionics; Boeing to remedy flight bag snags.(electronic flight bag )(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... Boeing and subsidiary Jeppesen are working on a software upgrade for its electronic flight bag (EFB) which has encountered "teething problems" on trial with KLM, and plan to deliver the finalised package to Pakistan International Airlines to...

programme; Eurocontrol to clamp down on airport delays.
February 10, 2004... Eurocontrol has launched a programme to increase runway capacity at 10 second-tier European airports as studies show around two-thirds of delays to be airport-related. Last year, Europe had the fewest en route delays ever, despite record...

Funding; FAA cash cut to hit ATM upgrades ; Agency draws in purse strings on series of projects after White House imposes a near $500 million cut in R&D budget.
February 10, 2004... The US Federal Aviation Administration is deferring three major air traffic management programmes in response to a near $500 million cut in its 2005 research and development funding. The knife will fall on controller-pilot datalink...

strategy; Hainan set to rival China's big three airline groups; Carrier plans change of name and base in effort to become a major player by 2010.
February 10, 2004... China's three main airline groups are to face increased competition from fast-growing Hainan Airlines, which is working to cement its status as the country's fourth airline grouping, and Shanghai Airlines, which is also planning long-haul...

expansion; Jetsgo adds American Fokkers.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... Canada's Jetsgo is to more than double the size of its fleet with the purchase of 18 Fokker 100s from American Airlines. The low-cost airline will take delivery of the first seven Fokkers immediately and plans to have three in service by...

cargo; Lufthansa eyes 747-400 freighter; Boeing widebody could help airline's cargo arm meet growth needs, despite recent decision to move to an all-MD-11 fleet.
February 10, 2004... Lufthansa Cargo says it could return to the Boeing 747 freighter for its expansion needs despite the recent decision to phase out its 747 Classics as part of an all-Boeing MD-11 fleet. The revelation comes as the airline agrees a major network...

in brief.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... Czech low cost The Czech Republic will have its first low-cost airline from May, when SmartWings will start operations with a Boeing 737-400/500 fleet. Run by charter operator Travel Service, the airline will fly daily to Amsterdam,...

renewal; NCA looks to modernise fleet.(Nippon Cargo Airlines)(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... Japan's Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) is looking to modernise its ageing fleet with Boeing 747-400 Special Freighters (SF) after signing a firm order for three new-build 747-400Fs. The all-cargo carrier, which is part-owned by All Nippon...

strategy; PIA could ditch 737-300s in favour of turboprops; Boeing narrowbodies could be on their way out as Pakistan carrier looks to revamp fleet.(Pakistan International Airlines)
February 10, 2004... Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) says its short-haul fleet revamp could see it replace its Boeing 737-300s with turboprops as it evaluates the future of its regional operations. The airline has just started the renewal of its widebody...

maintenance; FLS denies paint-strip damage led to Ryanair aircraft retirement.
February 10, 2004... FLSAerospace and Ryanair are embroiled in a dispute over maintenance performed on six of the airline's Boeing 737-200s, which the Irish carrier claims it was forced to retire early due to damage caused during paint removal. The aircraft...

dispute; US Airways wins battle over Airbus maintenance.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... USAirways has won a battle with its mechanics union over subcontracting Airbus heavy mainten- ance to an outside company. The US Court of Appeals lifted the October 2003 injunction obtained by the International Asso- ciation of Machinists...