Flight International articles from February 2005

Flight International archives from February 2005

Regional aircraft Max Kingsley-Jones / London; Turboprops turn the corner ; In an otherwise flat 2004, ATR and Bombardier's Q Series businesses began a gradual recovery in market ruled by jets.(Avions de Transport Regional, Bombardier Inc.)
February 1, 2005... The past 12 months have witnessed the beginning of a recovery in turboprop airliner sales, albeit in a market that is still dominated by the regional jet. ATR and Bombardier's turboprop orders are the healthiest they have been for a number of...

Upgrades Guy Norris / Los Angeles; APB nears Chinese 737 winglet retrofit deal.(Aviation Partners Boeing)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) is optimistic of winning 737 Next Generation winglet retrofit orders in China, following the award of a Chinese supplemental type certificate (STC) that allows the modification to be performed within the country....

aircraft development Guy Norris / Seattle; Boeing completes 777 freighter definition.(Boeing 777-200LR )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Boeing is completing product definition work on the proposed freighter variant of the 777-200LR to enable it to finalise the configuration this year. If launched before mid-2005, it could fly by the end of 2007 and enter service a year later....

accident; Atlas Air 747-200 damaged in Dusseldorf landing mishap.(Atlas Air Boeing 747-200 freighter)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... This Atlas Air Boeing 747-200 freighter (N808MC), inbound to Dusseldorf, Germany from Dubai, overran runway 23L when it landed in snow. The No 2 cowling and engine suffered severe damage, apparently from impact with an obstacle in the overrun,...

settlement Nicholas Ionides / Singapore; Cathay pilots' deal vote.(Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways is offering a multi-million-dollar out-of-court deal aimed at settling a dispute caused by the sacking of pilots during an industrial dispute in 2001. The offer provides for a cash settlement or the...

Development Stephen Trimble / Washington DC; Embraer boosts 190/195 range; move designed to increase appeal of small airliner family.(Embraer Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.)
February 1, 2005... Embraer is developing extended-range variants of its large regional jet family as it undertakes an aggressive campaign to secure the first customer for the 195 model early this year and boost sales prospects for the 190. Although the...

Legislation Justin Wastnage / London; airport security funds move up EC agenda.(European Commission)
February 1, 2005... The European Commission has released its aviation agenda for the year and indicates it will investigate the funding of airport security, prompting hopes that some of the burden could shift from airlines back to governments. The Commission...

expansion; Flybe signs major Q400 deal.(Flybe British European contracts with Bombardier Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Flybe has placed a major re-order with Bombardier for the Dash 8 Q400, firming up its 20 options to become the largest customer for the turboprop. Deliveries of the $485 million order to the UK low-cost operator will take place over the next...

How TMR confused the case.(TMR Energy)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The Canadian federal court of appeal ruled last week that Cypriot company TMR Energy had no grounds to request the seizure of the Antonov Airlines An-124 at Goose Bay airport in June 2003, since an alleged debt owed to TMR by the State Property...

Legal row Justin Wastnage / London; Antonov liberates seized An-124; Ukrainian airline counts cost of Canadian court battle as it aims to get its outsize cargo business back on track.
February 1, 2005... Ukraine's Antonov Airlines has won a lengthy legal battle in Canada to free a seized An-124-100 Ruslan, enabling it to begin actively marketing its outsize cargo charter business again. The aircraft is the second of seven Ruslans operated...

modifications ; GAMECO broadens IAI link to 747.(Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The Bedek division of Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) plans to increase its co-operation with China's Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (GAMECO), under which the latter would become an Asian modification centre for IAI's Boeing...

fares; IATA abolishes fare calculation rules as business travellers rebel.(International Air Transport Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has scrapped fare calculation rules it considered incompatible with its stated aim of all-electronic ticketing by 2007 and in the face of mounting opposition from business travellers. In...

low-cost carriers LEITHEN FRANCIS / SINGAPORE; India prepares for new era in aviation as market opens up ; Government readies policy blueprint with range of proposals for liberalising industry.
February 1, 2005... India's aviation market is transforming rapidly, with at least four new carriers aiming to launch this year, and the government is introducing reforms. "A national civil aviation policy is in the final stages of drafting and will be...

Air traffic management David Learmount / London; Americas transition 'smoothly' to RVSM.(reduced vertical separation minima)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The world's biggest single transition to a reduced vertical separation minima (RVSM) upper airspace environment has gone "quite smoothly", according to the US Federal Aviation Administration. During the night of 19/20 January the whole of...

fleet planning ARIE EGOZI / Tel Aviv; Door re-opens for Airbus deal at El Al; Israeli flag carrier's new owner looks to replenish its fleet.
February 1, 2005... A new window of opportunity has opened for Airbus at El Al, as the Israeli airline's new owner prepares to begin negotiations with suppliers about replacing part of its all-Boeing fleet. Knafaim-Arkia Holdings - parent of Arkia Airlines -...

Legislation Justin wastnage / London; EU compensation fight gains pace ; Battle lines drawn in forthcoming court case as airlines bid to overturn new passenger assistance regulations.(European Union)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Lawyers representing the main airline industry groups have focused their challenge to new European Union passenger compensation and assistance rules on two main areas, including claiming a key EU body abused its power. UK-based Beaumont &...

Low-cost carriers; Shine comes off Southwest and AirTran.(Southwest Airlines Co., AirTran Airways Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Not even the darlings of the US industry, the low-fares, low-cost carriers (LCC), are immune to industry woes, and 2005 will be a major challenge for the sector. Consider the case of Southwest Airlines, the carrier with 32 straight years...

US majors David Field / Washington DC; Who will be the first to go? ; After another grim year for US mainline carriers, many think it is only a matter of time before a major collapses.(United States)
February 1, 2005... After a year in which US majors posted a collective loss of more than $7.5 billion and are about to enter an equally gloomy 12-month period in which the predicted break-even has been postponed for at least a year, some players will be hoping...

Strategy Peter La Franchi / London; UAVs could 'revitalise UK industry'; Unmanned Air Vehicle Systems Association chairman highlights new opportunities in global civil marketplace.
February 1, 2005... The emergence of a global marketplace for civil unmanned air vehicles has the potential to revitalise the UK aerospace industry as well as a variety of associated technical sectors, according to the chairman of the UK Unmanned Air Vehicle...

Results Helen Massy-Beresford / London & Graham Warwick / Washington DC; exports dominate as Eurocopter raises revenues and drives R&D.(Eurocopter International Pacific Ltd.)
February 1, 2005... Eurocopter's revenues climbed to c2.78 billion ($3.61 billion) in 2004, 7% higher than the previous year. Orders were booked for 322 civil and military helicopters last year, up from 293 in 2003. But deliveries slipped from 297 helicopters in...

growth; Embraer boosts sales at Latecoere.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... French aerospace manufacturer Latecoere saw its 2004 revenues jump to g260.3 million ($338 million), a third higher than the previous year. The growth "reflects stepped-up production across all programmes, especially for Embraer, despite...

Production Graham Warwick / Washington DC; Gulfstream sees its orders soar.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Gulfstream plans only a modest production increase this year, despite booking a record number of non-fractional business jet orders in 2004. The company secured 95 net orders in 2004, 36 more than a year earlier, but 43 of them came in the...

Prototype Guy Norris / Los Angeles ; Javelin almost ready to soar.(Aviation Technology Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Aviation Technology Group (ATG) is preparing to transport the Javelin demonstrator to its newly expanded headquarters at Centennial Airport in Englewood, Colorado in preparation for first flight. The first aircraft is undergoing engine and...

Expansion Kate Sarsfield / London; Jet Aviation prepares for Moscow ; Swiss services company hopes to overcome bureaucracy to become first non-local fixed-base operator in Russia.(Jet Aviation Zurich)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Jet Aviation is hoping to establish its first fixed-based operation (FBO) in Moscow by the end of the third quarter, in a move that could see the Swiss business aviation services company become the country's first non-Russian FBO provider. Jet...

in brief.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... CHINA FIRST Hangzhou Daoyuan Chemical Fibre Group has acquired China's first privately owned Beechcraft Premier I light business jet. It will be used for personnel transport throughout China and the Pacific Rim and managed by indigenous...

Strategy Justin Wastnage / London; ExecuJet 'dips toe' in east Europe.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... South African business aviation services company ExecuJet has taken a step towards its stated aim of expanding into eastern Europe with the addition of a Bombardier Global Express ultra-long-range jet to be operationally based in the Ukrainian...

Freedom to fly.(Asian airlines)
February 1, 2005... Asian low-cost carriers are itching to start flying - and it is time their governments helped by ditching outdated bilateral agreements Investors' money is pouring into new low-cost Asian airlines. With the region's population rapidly...

Next week.
February 1, 2005... Flying the president We look at the winner in the $1.6 billion contract to build the next US presidential aircraft fleet. Plus: NASA research into personal air vehicles and can the USA's business aviation community keep up with initiatives...

re-engining STEPHEN TRIMBLE / WASHINGTON DC; USAF changes mind on A-10s.(United States Air Force)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The US Air Force has effectively reversed a year-old commitment by senior leaders to re-engine its 356-strong fleet of Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt IIground-attack aircraft. The service's A-10s will now not be fitted with new engines, but the...

in brief.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... A400M METAL CUT The first metal for the Airbus Military A400M transport aircraft was cut at Airbus's Varel production plant in Germany during a ceremony on 26 January. Seven European nations have signed up to take delivery of 180 A400Ms...

contracts.(meshed brief)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... nBoeing is to remanufacture 12 CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters to the MH-47Gconfiguration under a USArmy contract worth $195 million. The modifications will be completed by July 2006. nSweden's Defence Materiel Administration is to place an...

UNMANNED SYSTEMS; Watchkeeper UAVticks on.(Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Thales UK is to extend assessment phase activities related to the UKMinistry of Defence's future Watchkeeper unmanned air vehicle system under a [pounds sterling]6 million ($11.2 million) contract announced late last month. The MoD in December...

DEMONSTRATION CRAIG HOYLE / LINKOPING; Saab begins testing stealthy UCAV for first flight this year; Filur demonstrator's characteristics will be evaluated against air defence systems.(Saab Aerosystems, Dassault Aviation S.A.)
February 1, 2005... Saab Aerosystems has completed initial radar cross-section testing of its stealthy Filur unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator, and expects to fly the aircraft for the first time later this year. The project recently entered its...

Safety Lucaperuzzi/ Genoa; Italy to certificate laser system.(Marconi Selenia Communications)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The Italian defence ministry will complete certification of Selenia Communications' (formerly Marconi Selenia Communications) laser obstacle avoidance and monitoring (LOAM)system this year for initial use on its NHIndustries NH90 and...

Sensors Stephen Trimble / Washington DC; Raytheon lands future radar demonstration.(Raytheon Aircraft Co.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The US Air Force has selected Raytheon's candidate for a next- generation airborne radar technology to undergo a basic demonstration later this year. The USAF's X-band Thin Radar Aperture (XTRA) programme is intended to develop and prove...

Unmanned systems Peter La Franchi / Canberra; Elbit doubles Australian UAV bid; Israeli manufacturer offers Hermes 450 medium-endurance vehicle for army project and backs it with smaller 180.(Elbit Systems Ltd.)
February 1, 2005... Elbit Systems has submitted two separate bids for the Australian Army's Joint Project 129 (JP129)tactical unmanned air vehicle requirement, including an offer to supply its Hermes 450 medium-endurance UAV as a candidate in its own right. The...

Investigation David Learmount / London; PC-21 grounding lifted after crash.(Swiss federal office for civil aviation imposes grounding orders for Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The Pilatus PC-21 single turboprop-powered military trainer has been cleared to resume flying following the removal of a grounding order imposed after a 13 January fatal crash at Buochs aerodrome, Switzerland while the company's two PC-21...

Strategy Stephen Trimble / Washington DC; Raytheon turns up the network-centric power.(Raytheon Aircraft Co.'s public-awareness campaign)
February 1, 2005... Raytheon has unveiled a new vision for conducting network-centric operations that seeks to elevate the company's role from bystander to power-broker in an emerging and increasingly lucrative market sector. Raytheon has quietly briefed US and...

procurement Brendan Sobie / Singapore; Sri Lanka seeks transports to build disaster relief capability; Colombo learns lesson from tsunami and aims to get grounded aircraft flying again.(Sri Lankan air force)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Sri Lanka hopes to acquire several additional transport aircraft to improve its future ability to respond to natural disasters such as December's tsunami. The Sri Lankan air force's two Lockheed Martin C-130Ks have been grounded for the last...

acquisitions Brendan Sobie / Singapore; Taiwan delays P-3C, Patriot orders; Despite approval last year, budget request must be resubmitted to new legislature and could be pushed back to 2006.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Taiwan has delayed by at least several months its planned purchase of 12 Lockheed Martin P-3C anti-submarine warfare aircraft and three Raytheon/Lockheed Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) air defence missile systems. The cabinet early...

strategy Tolga Ozbek; Turkey revives helicopter contest.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Turkey will relaunch its stalled attack helicopter procurement process by issuing a fresh request for proposals late this month for the direct purchase of 50 aircraft. Details of the renewed programme were announced following a 19 January...

Ruling; Italy faces EC wrath over contractors.(European Commission )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The European Commission has rejected the Italian government's justification for awarding helicopter contracts directly to AgustaWestland and failing to open the procurements to competitive tendering. The acquisition of Agusta A109s and...

Development Brendan Sobie / Singapore; Western firms scramble to board Chinese project; partners sought to help develop twin-engined helicopter in 2,500-4,000kg range.(China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... China is seeking to manufacture a civil twin-engined helicopter in the 2,500-4,000kg (5,500-8,800lb) category to fill the gap between its new Eurocopter HC120 and AgustaWestland A109E programmes. Industry sources say China National...

EXPANSION; Deccan adds second 206.(Deccan Aviation Sri Lanka partners with Evergreen International Aviation Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Deccan Aviation Sri Lanka has added a second Bell 206 JetRanger to its fleet following a sharp increase in flights in response to the 26 December tsunami disaster. Colombo-based Deccan, which began operations six months ago, has joined...

Proposal; NZ air ambulances due for surgery.(New Zealand)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... New Zealand has proposed centralising its emergency air ambulance service in a move that would see the number of bases and helicopters used reduced. The draft national air ambulance strategy has received a mixed response, welcomed by some,...

Certification; Iranian authority ready to ratify Shahed-278.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Iran's civil aviation authority is poised to award type certification for Aviation Industries Research Centre's Shahed-278 helicopter. The aircraft, which made its first flight in 2001, is powered by a single Rolls-Royce Model 250-C20, although...

Briefing.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Patrick launches Virgin Blue takeover bid OFFER Virgin Blue majority owner Patrick Corporation has made a cash takeover offer for the Australian low-cost airline. The logistics group, which holds 45.5% of the carrier, says it has not...

Air transport Justin Wastnage / London; A380 carriers seek $3bn risk cover.
February 1, 2005... Future operators of the Airbus A380 are starting negotiations with aviation insurers to find inexpensive ways to raise the current passenger liability cover limit to $3 billion, rather than risk being forced to pay out in the event of a fatal...

Air transport; Tiger goes on prowl for partners.(Tiger Airways partners with AirAsia Sdn. Bhd.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Singapore Airlines' low-cost carrier Tiger Airways may establish offshoots in other Asian countries as a way of getting around Asia's restrictive regulatory regime, writes Leithen Francis. Tiger chief executive Tony Davis says, in relation...

Air transport Stephen Trimble / Washington DC; Bombardier fleshes out design for new jet family ; Albuquerque is the US location shortlisted as potential assembly line for CSeries.
February 1, 2005... Bombardier has begun clarifying plans for the proposed new CSeries narrowbody family, settling on a precise seat configuration, a core group of suppliers, and the shortlist of potential assembly line locations. Details of the CSeries...

Air transport Guy Norris / Los Angeles; 7E7 becomes 787 as China buys 60 ; Commitments also include country's first deal for A380s.(Boeing Co. get contracts from China)
February 1, 2005... China gave Boeing a major boost last week when it confirmed the biggest deal so far for the 7E7 - now designated the 787 - as part of a major widebody aircraft buying spree. The commitments, which also include five Airbus A380s for China...

Business Aviation Kate Sarsfield / London; charter operations merged.(Skyjet International)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Bombardier has consolidated its non-US charter programmes into a single entity called Skyjet International. In a simultaneous move, the Canadian manufacturer has launched a charter programme in the Middle East under the same banner, with...

General Aviation ; Private UAV certification on offer.(Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems association to set unmanned aerial vehicle certification company)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The UK-based Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems (UAVS) association is to set up the world's first unmanned air vehicle certification company as a commercial operation under devolved responsibility arrangements now being negotiated with the UK...

Defence Stephen Trimble / Washington DC; US101 snatches presidential prize.(Lockheed Martin-led US101 team)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The Lockheed Martin-led US101 team, offering a helicopter based on the Anglo-Italian aircraft EH101, has captured the highly prized $1.6 billion contract to develop and build the next US presidential aircraft. The US Navy's announcement on...

Defence Craig Hoyle / Linkoping ; Hungary ready for NATO as its first Gripen rolls out ; As training starts, defence minister says Swedish fighter will set new air force standards.(North Atlantic Treaty Organization)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Hungary has taken a major step towards meeting its future NATOcommitments with the roll-out last week of its first of 14 Saab Gripen C/D fighters and the start of training activities for its first five pilots. The Hungarian air force's...

cover story Peter Gray / Torrance, California; Robinson stays single-minded; US manufacturer's founder is in no hurry to develop larger machine as R22 and R44 pistons break sales records.(Robinson Helicopter Co. )
February 1, 2005... Robinson Helicopter outdid itself, and the rest of the industry, last year by delivering a record 690 aircraft. That is as many piston singles as Cessna usually produces in a year, and is substantially ahead of the company's previous record -...

Transmission; Titan data is recovered with radio telescope.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Short-term data loss has not hindered analysis of the findings of the European Space Agency's Huygens Titan probe, and the moon of Saturn is now known to have a methane-based meteorology, with a history of fluid erosion of its landscape similar...

Imagery; SMART-1 spacecraft focuses on lunar surface.(European Space Agency)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The European Space Agency's SMART-1 spacecraft captured its first close-range images of the Moon in January, during a sequence of test lunar observations from an altitude between 1,000km (620 miles) and 5,000km above the lunar surface. The...

In brief.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Boeing award Boeing has been awarded two GPS IIF contracts by the US Air Force, valued at $172 million, for production of satellites 7, 8 and 9 by June 2008, and long-lead procurement for vehicles 10-12. CEV Teaming Northrop...

Launchers Tim Furniss/London; South Korea plans booster family.(Korean Aerospace Research Institute develops launch vehicles )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... South Korea plans to develop a family of launch vehicles based on Krunichev's Angara booster, according to Russian reports. The Korean Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) plans to produce up to 10 Angara-derived KSLV-1 boosters, including two...

Promoting the appliance of science.(Rolls-Royce North America Inc.'s science prize)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Rolls-Royce is encouragingscience teachers from the UK and Ireland to enter the Rolls-Royce Science Prize and win prizes worth thousands of pounds, as well as a day with world-famous aerobatic team The Red Arrows. The competition is...

Navigation Rob Coppinger/London; SSTL investigates GPS for satellite docking.(Surrey Satellite Technology, Global Positioning System)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Demonstration of orbital rendezvous and docking of micro-satellites using satellite navigation is being planned by Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) for 2007. Use of the US global positioning system or other constellations would remove the...

maintenance Justin Wastnage/London; researchers aim to halve costs of aircraft overhauls.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Around 60 manufacturers involved in a research project to halve aircraft maintenance costs over 20 years plan to publish a preliminary list of current failings by the middle of this year. The TATEM (technologies and techniques for new...

Propulsion Rob Cooper/London; stowable powerplant under study in silent aircraft project ; transmission complexity could impede progress as researchers bid to reduce noise.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Engine-driven fans that would only be operated during take-off and then stowed for cruise flight is one propulsion solution being studied for an ultra-quiet blended wing body (BWB) airliner. As part of the Silent Aircraft Initiative project...

Design concept ; helicopters get in a flap.(Delft University of Technology develops helicopter flapping blades)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... A radio-controlled tailless model helicopter will be used later this year to test a "flapping blades" propulsion concept that avoids generating the torque associated with conventional rotors. In a traditional helicopter torque from the...

Gulf recruitment.(demand for qualified airline staff in the Gulf)
February 1, 2005... Demand for skilled engineering and operations crew in the Arabian Gulf has never been stronger. Can supply keep pace? Increased competition sees growing demand for staff A spate of new operators and record yields among established...

Flight Testing; Eclipse 500 testing to shift into higher gear.(Eclipse Aviation)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The Eclipse 500 flight-test effort is expected to move into high gear shortly with the introduction of the second test aircraft, N502EA, at the company's Albuquerque, New Mexico base. By late January eight test sorties had been amassed by...

Regulations Brendan Sobie / Singapore; Taiwan to relax rules on owning business aircraft ; Charter market expected to take off as regulations free airspace for private owners.(Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration)
February 1, 2005... Taiwan is preparing to ease at the end of this year regulations restricting business aircraft operations, prompting two local helicopter operators to plan the acquisition of fixed-wing aircraft. Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration...

middle ground.(Cessna Aircraft Co.'s Gulfstream G150 )
February 1, 2005... The Gulfstream G150 is out to steal a larger slice of the lucrative mid-sized business jet cake, but it faces tough competition GRAHAM WARWICK / TEL AVIV After years of relative stability, the mid-size business jet market is getting a...

hitting a peak.(Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.)
February 1, 2005... Sikorsky has spent almost three decades polishing its S-76 to address shortfalls and keep it competitive. We spoke to operators to judge how successful it has been ANDREW HEALEY / LONDON D emand for Sikorsky's sleek and stylish S-76 is...

budget ROB COPPINGER / LONDON; Technology benefits as ESA increases spending; But telecommunications and navigation satellite programmes miss out in budget rise.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Technology, launchers and human spaceflight are the main beneficiaries of the c2.9 billion ($3.77 billion) European Space Agency (ESA) budget for 2005, with increases in funding of 39%, 44% and 22%, respectively. Overall, ESA has been...

Straight & Level roger.bacon@flightinternational.com.
February 1, 2005... Savvy traveller? Following a record rush to book tickets on its website for a newly announced route from London to Santiago for only c15.99 ($21), Ryanair has asked passengers to note that: "Contrary to some incorrect media reports about...

Letters.
February 1, 2005... Safety Pilots need go-around practice Flightcrew error was cited as the primary cause of the Bombardier CRJ100 accident at Brest (Flight International, 18-24 January), with the French air accident investigation office the BEA...

ringing changes.
February 1, 2005... Bell Helicopter is now the underdog in its battle with rival Eurocopter. Can its aggressive plans for the next decade recapture lost ground? STEPHEN TRIMBLE / FORT WORTH Bell Helicopter is manoeuvring to reclaim the perch on top of the...

turboprops Max Kingsley-Jones / Paris; ATR confident as orders for turboprops recover; Weak dollar mars regional manufacturer's optimism as it looks to reduce costs.
February 8, 2005... ATR is confident that the recovery of the turboprop market is well under way after a 25% increase in revenues and a strong start to its 2005 sales drive. However, the Franco-Italian regional manufacturer remains concerned over the weakness of...

competitions Nicholas Ionides & Brendan Sobie / Singapore; CFMI wins battle with IAE to power AirAsia's A320 fleet; Local rival MAS meanwhile solicits bids for replacement of 737-400s and Fokker 50s.(CFM International Inc., Malaysia Airline System Bhd., AirAsia Sendirian Berhad)(Brief Article)
February 8, 2005... AirAsia has selected the CFM International CFM56 to power its new fleet of Airbus A320s, while rival Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has finally moved forward with its own evaluation of new narrowbodies by requesting bids for Boeing 737-400...

production Guy Norris / Los Angeles; Boeing halves 737 assembly time with its moving production line.(Brief Article)
February 8, 2005... Boeing has achieved an 11-day assembly flow for the first time on the 737 line at Renton, Washington, marking the culmination of production improvements that began in late 1999. The major change was the introduction of the moving line,...

fleet plan Nicholas Ionides / Singapore; Six Chinese airlines allocated 787s.(China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Corp. signs contract with Boeing Co.)(Brief Article)
February 8, 2005... Chinese airlines have detailed the allocation of Boeing 787s from the 60-aircraft deal signed by the Beijing government on 28 January. Under the agreement - signed in Washington DC by China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Group (CASGC)...

Procurement; All Nippon orders four more Boeing 777-300ERs.(All Nippon Airways Company Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 8, 2005... All Nippon Airways (ANA) is to order four more Boeing 777-300ERs, lifting its commitments for the extended-range type to 10. ANA says that "10 777-300ER derivatives, as opposed to the originally planned six, will be brought into service for use...

cargo conversions Brendan Sobie / Singapore; IAI beats Pemco to China 737 deal ; Israeli specialist's Guangzhou-based partner GAMECO to carry out freight modification of 737-300s in third quarter.(Israel Aircraft Industries wins contract from China Postal Airlines )(Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering)
February 8, 2005... China Postal Airlines has selected Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) to convert into freighters at least three Boeing 737-300s now operated by sister company China Southern Airlines. Chinese industry sources say the first 737-300s will be...

Services Nicholas Ionides / Singapore; Historic flights link China to Taiwan.(Brief Article)
February 8, 2005... Chinese and Taiwanese airlines have made history with the first non-stop flights between the rival territories in 55 years. The first flight across the Taiwan Strait (excluding those by hijacked aircraft) since 1949 was a charter operated...

communications ; Germany signs Sita VHF deal.(DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH )(Brief Article)
February 8, 2005... German air navigation service provider (ANSP) DFS has purchased 27 communications network groundstations from communication services provider Sita in a deal worth g1.4 million. The VHF air-ground communications stations, all based at German...

restructuring; Regulator reorganises.(France's General Directorate of Civil Aviation)(Brief Article)
February 8, 2005... France's civil aviation authority, the DGAC, is about to have its reorganisation plan ratified by the government. The change, fundamentally a separation of regulation from service provision, will definitely proceed, the DGAC says - the...

Pressure for safety.(amendment for aircraft safety)(Brief Article)
February 8, 2005... The amendment was triggered by a series of events in 1995 involving the Boeing 777 twinjet, the first of which occurred on 2 February, when a test aircraft suffered a sudden cabin-depressurisation during a rapid descent from 43,000ft (13,100m)...