Flight International articles from February 2006

Flight International archives from February 2006

EASA may ease parts approval rules.(European Aviation Safety Agency)(licensing approval)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2006... Aircraft equipment suppliers could be given the autonomy to approve component designs without recourse to either the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) or the aircraft manufacturer under a review of Design Organisation Approval (DOA) rules,...

JetBlue wrestles with E-190 snags.(product development)
February 7, 2006... Delays in delivery, software "glitches" and other operational issues related to JetBlue Airways' less than stellar roll-out into service of its Embraer 190s are in the process of being hammered out with the Brazilian regional jet manufacturer...

KAL compares freighters as cargo unit looks for growth.(Korean Air Lines Company Ltd.)(planning)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2006... Korean Air's (KAL) cargo division is evaluating the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8 freighter as an alternative to acquiring more 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF). KAL sources say the carrier has launched a study into A380,...

Airbus, Lufthansa Systems finalise e-route manual deal.(product development)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2006... Lufthansa Systems has finalised an agreement with Airbus under which the information technology specialist will provide its electronic route manual product across the Airbus range. The A380 will be the first to use the product in a Class 3...

United drives efficiency.(United Airlines overhauls asset use)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2006... United Airlines is implementing an efficiency programme that could effectively add the same capacity as 10 narrowbodies. The plan, which comes as the airline exits Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, will reduce average turnaround time, "de-peak"...

P&W secures geared-fan funding.(Pratt & Whitney funding for aircraft engine research)
February 7, 2006... Pratt & Whitney has won additional funding from its United Technologies (UTC) parent company to sustain research and development work on its geared turbofan (GTF) next-generation engine aimed at future Airbus and Boeing narrowbodies, in the...

NTSB calls for reverser ruling.(National Transportation Safety Board)
February 7, 2006... Airlines should be banned from assuming thrust-reverser deployment when calculating runway stopping distances, according to the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). In a letter to the US Federal Aviation Administration, the NTSB...

Citation Mustang engine approval is major landmark for very light jets.(certification for aircraft engines)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2006... Pratt & Whitney Canada's PW615F engine for Cessna's Citation Mustang received Transport Canada type certification on 30 December 2005. It is the first of the company's new generation of very-light jet (VLJ) engines to be certificated. ...

Cessna denies breaching regulations.(regulations in aircraft industry)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2006... Cessna has rejected claims by the US Federal Aviation Administration that it failed to comply with the agency's regulations in the manufacture last year of 42 piston-single aircraft at its Independence, Kansas facility, writes Kate Sarsfield....

Russian merger aims to spark industry revival.(mergers in aircraft industry)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2006... Russia's civil aircraft industry will focus on the development of two airliner types [degrees] the Sukhoi Russian Regional Jet (RRJ) and the MS-21 narrowbody [degrees] following the consolidation of the industry into a single entity. ...

MD-82 crash clues in bulletin.(Comite de Investigacion de Accidentes Aereos of Venezula)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2006... A Boeing service bulletin (SB) issued in 2002 may provide clues to the engine power reductions that triggered the accident sequence for a West Caribbean Airways MD-82 that crashed in Venezuela last August. An initial report by the Venezuelan...

Revenues and profits up for US aerospace companies.(industry sales report)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2006... Making the most of a burgeoning commercial market and still-strong defence sales, US aerospace companies have reported higher revenues, and even bigger gains in profits, for the year just ended. While firms with predominantly commercial...

USAF to spend $2bn on next unmanned bomber.(United States. Air Force)(investments in aircraft industry)
February 7, 2006... The US Air Force has set aside $2 billion over the next several years to launch the accelerated development of a next-generation bomber that is almost certain to be unmanned and unlike anything on the ramp today. At the same time, the air force...

Europe and USA trade fresh blows on subsidies.(United States of America)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2006... European Union accusations that the USA is withholding data on state and federal subsidies to Boeing in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute over aircraft subsidies have been countered with a US complaint over fresh subsidy support for...

Old aircraft not to blame.
February 7, 2006... In "Africa stirs" (Flight International, 31 January[degrees]6 February) you made a pejorative statement about "ancient Antonov turboprops", which does not become Flight International's reputation for objectivity. There are many, far older...

USAF missions and the F-22A.(Letter to the Editor)
February 7, 2006... In Comment "F-22A: bad timing" (Flight International, 20 December 2005[degrees]2 January), you criticise the US Air Force's procurement priorities and strategic focus. The USAF is contributing to current operations with investments in airborne...

Misleading statistics.(Letter to the Editor)
February 7, 2006... I take exception to John Faulkner's statement (Flight International, 31 January[degrees]6 February) when calling a rate "the best (so far) way to measure flight safety". He seems to fall in precisely the trap he wants to avoid: use of...

Get real when making plans.(Letter to the Editor)
February 7, 2006... I tend to agree with J T Morgan (Flight International, 24-30 January) that it's hard to see where the fuel is going to come from for a doubling of air traffic. However, the business plan for the expanded London Luton airport predicts a trebling...

Spanish start-up Air Asturias poised to launch operations.(Javier Taibo)(Airbus A320s)(Boeing 767-300ER.)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... Spanish low-fare start-up Air Asturias plans to begin operations to several European and Latin American destinations on 1 June using a leased fleet of two Airbus A320s and one Boeing 767-300ER. Air Asturias executive vice-president Javier...

Avianca looks to renew jet fleet.(Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia S)(Airbus S.A.S)(Boeing Co)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... Avianca is set for a major fleet renewal and has issued requests for proposals (RFP) to Airbus and Boeing for up to 56 aircraft. The Colombian carrier declines to comment on the RFP, but manufacturing sources say it comprises up to 42...

Boeing 747-8 windtunnel testing gathers momentum.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... Boeing's 747-8 is to undergo four major windtunnel test campaigns in the USA and at Qinetiq in the UK. The stretched, General Electric GEnx-powered aircraft's aerodynamic noise characteristics are being evaluated in low-speed tests in the...

FAA seeks to end 757 roll oscillations.(Federal Aviation Administration)
February 14, 2006... Boeing 757 operators will have to install control wheel damper assemblies and leading-edge vortex generators, or vortilons, to prevent roll oscillations near touchdown, under a proposed US Federal Aviation Administration ruling. The agency...

CFMI tests advance.(CFM International Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... Certification of CFM International's Tech Insertion package for the CFM56-5B and -7B is on schedule for June, following the completion of a 63h flight-test programme on General Electric's Boeing 747 testbed. Flight tests on the Airbus A320 and...

767s to go as Gulf Air recapitalises.
February 14, 2006... Gulf Air is nearing a fleet-renewal agreement that will involve the replacement of its Boeing 767 fleet as part of a wider strategic plan that also includes recapitalising the carrier. The Middle East carrier revealed parts of the new...

JAL prunes international routes in bid to stem losses.(Japan Air Lines Company Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... Japan Airlines (JAL) is cutting more international services and stepping up aircraft retirements to curb growing losses from overseas operations. Asia's largest airline group has seen its financial position deteriorate this year, as it has...

Ex-EasyJet 737s join Virgin.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... Virgin Nigeria is poised to introduce the first six ex-EasyJet Boeing 737-300s to supplement four Airbus A340-300s already operated by the airline. The carrier was formed last year, following the collapse of Nigeria Airways, as a joint venture...

Nigeria to open 24h weather centre as part of safety drive.
February 14, 2006... Nigerian meteorological agency NIMET is to oversee a substantial upgrade of its facilities in an effort to improve the quality of weather forecasting and briefing following two fatal accidents where bad conditions proved critical. The...

P&W and MTU link for new compressor design.(Pratt and Whitney, MTU AG)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... Germany's MTU and Pratt & Whitney are partnering to develop a high-pressure compressor for the next generation of narrowbody jet engines. "Development of a whole new generation of single-aisle, medium-range aircraft will depend to a large...

Qatar reopens widebody contest.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... evaluation Mark Pilling / Doha Despite announcing at last year's Paris air show that it had selected the Boeing 777 for its new large widebody fleet, Qatar Airways has reopened the evaluation to include the Airbus A340-500/600 for an order...

Italian deal set to net e300m cash boost for RRJ project.(Alenia Aeronautica S.p.A., Finmeccanica S.p.A.)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... Finmeccanica should finalise its planned acquisition of a 25% stake in Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCAC) for its Alenia Aeronautica division by mid-year in a move which Russia says will see at least [euro]300 million ($360 million) invested by the...

Shorts 360s collide.
February 14, 2006... The fatal mid-air collision last week of two Shorts 360 freighters near Milwaukee, Wisconsin was caused by a misjudged, but intentional turn by one of the two aircraft during a low-level air-to-air photographic sortie. Following the collision,...

SAA to end Air Tanzania interest.(South African Airways to divest)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... The South African and Tanzanian governments have agreed to end South African Airways' participation in Air Tanzania (ATCL), the carrier in which it took a minority stake and helped relaunch three years ago. Talks will begin soon to...

US Airways revamps Embraer ?jet orders.(Embraer Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... US Airways has firmed up a deal that will see it acquiring 99-seat Embraer 190 regional jets, after reaching agreement with the Brazilian manufacturer to convert undelivered E-170 orders for the larger variant. "Under this agreement, the...

A700 very-light jet takes off on flight-test journey.(developed by Adam Aircraft Industries)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... Adam Aircraft flew the first of three certification-conforming A700 very-light jets for the first time on 2 February at the manufacturer's Centennial airport base in Englewood, Colorado. The 34min maiden flight of the Williams FJ33-powered A700...

Kennedy helicopter service to start.(US Helicopters to launch the sevice to Kenndy and contracts with American Airlines Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... For the first time in over 20 years, New Yorkers are to have access to an hourly helicopter service between Manhattan and Kennedy airport. Flights are scheduled to begin on 13 March, when privately owned start-up US Helicopters puts three...

South Korea agrees $12m Encore deal.(contracts with Cessna Aircraft Co.)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... South Korea has agreed to acquire a Cessna Citation Encore with a flight inspection system supplied by Okalahoma-based NXT. Industry sources say a $12 million contract was tentatively awarded at the end of December to South Korean agent DM...

FAA budget to spark user fee fight.(Federal Aviation Administration)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... A plan to overhaul how the US Federal Aviation Administration is financed will be presented to Congress in March or April, kicking off what is likely to be a major battle between commercial airlines and private operators over user fees. ...

Sweden gets first A109s.(Defence Materiel Administration contracts with AgustaWestland)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... Sweden's Defence Materiel Administration has accepted its first two of 20 A109 light utility helicopters from AgustaWestland, ahead of the type's scheduled entry into service as the Hkp15A/B on 28 March. Twelve Hkp15As and eight maritime...

First pictures emerge of Barrakuda UCAV.(unmanned combat air vehicle)(EADS Aerospatiale Matra Missiles)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... Images of EADS's Barrakuda unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator have emerged on the internet, while the company remains tight-lipped about the status of its classified project. Pictured at the company's Manching site near Munich last...

First USAF C-17 arrives at Hawaii base.(Boeing Co.)(Boeing: C-17)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... The US Air Force's first Boeing C-17 strategic transport to be permanently based outside the continental USA arrived at Hickham AFB, Hawaii last week, as air force planners confirmed their intention to cease acquiring the type after a fiscal...

India details wide-ranging wishlist.
February 14, 2006... India has opened competitions for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters and long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft and is expected by April to issue a highly anticipated tender for next-generation fighters. Industry sources say the...

Little Bird demonstration to grow.
February 14, 2006... Boeing Phantom Works plans to demonstrate in-flight control of its optionally piloted MD Helicopters MD530F-based Unmanned Little Bird helicopter from the cockpit of a US Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk. The demonstration will reuse systems...

EADS to shift Air Systems focus to Manching.(EADS Military Air Systems)
February 14, 2006... EADS Military Air Systems is to centralise its activities at Manching in Bavaria within the next three years in a bid to win new business, including a substantial share of maintenance work to support Europe's future fleets of Airbus Military...

Aerovironment details new Global Observer variants.
February 14, 2006... Aerovironment plans a military version of its Global Observer high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned air vehicle to compete with the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Predator B and Mariner...

Rivals eye navy deal.(unmanned air vehicle development)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... Royal Australian Navy interest in a patrol boat-launched and recovered short-range unmanned air vehicle to support maritime and fisheries patrol duties has spurred interest from manufacturers including Aerosonde/Lockheed Martin, Aerovironment...

Singapore decides not to firm up Seahawk options.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... Singapore has decided against exercising options for additional Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters. Air force chief Maj Gen Lim Kim Choon says the six S-70Bs acquired last year "are sufficient to...

Slovaks look for new fleet.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... The Slovak air force plans to acquire a new fleet of transport aircraft within the next five years, as its remaining three Antonov An-24/26s are nearing the end of their operational lives, the country's defence ministry says. The ministry has...

Features.
February 14, 2006... While the Boeing sales team strives to sign a launch customer for the passenger version of the 747-8, design engineers are busy working towards a firm configuration of both passenger and freight models in October. "These are quite...

Features.(A380, 747-8)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... A380 vs 747-8: the manufacturers' claims ****The Airbus view****The Boeing view ****A380 vs 747-8****747-8 vs A380 Passenger aircraft Cost per seat****-9%****-6% Cost per trip****+12%****-22% Fuel burn per...

Features.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... candidate asian 747-8 customers 747 fleet Airline****In service****On order Air China****12****- Air China Cargo****6****1 All Nippon Airways****24****- Asiana****13****1 Cathay Pacific Airways****21****- ...

Features.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... Boeing's view of the 747-8's efficiency versus the A380 Aircraft design efficiency measures****747-8****A380****Advantage Aerodynamic efficiency****Significantly enhanced wing****All-new wing*****A380 Propulsion efficiency****Next...

Features.
February 14, 2006... A380 and 747-8: how they compare ****A380-800****747-8I****A380-800F****747-8F Length (m)****72.7****74.3****72.7****76.3 Wingspan (m)****79.8****68.5****79.8****68.5 Height (m)****24.1****19.4****24.1****19.4 Maximum...

titanic tussle.(trends of aircraft)
February 14, 2006... With Asia set to be a key driver of ultra-large-aircraft demand, Airbus and Boeing will be using next week's Asian Aerospace as the ideal showcase for their offerings. Until the emergence of Boeing's 747-8 as a firm programme last year, Airbus...

road to riches.(aircraft industry trends)
February 14, 2006... In the tradition of Marco Polo, Europe's aerospace adventurers are plying a trade route to the Far East that promises riches and rewards, but also comes with risks. The commercial trail blazed by Airbus and Eurocopter looks to be lucrative, but...

Australia tightens safety after Piper crash probe.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... Australian air traffic services provider Airservices Australia has implemented a range of safety improvements after the investigation into the controlled flight into terrain crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne in Victoria in July 2004 uncovered a...

Branson sets sights on air taxi business using Eclipse 500s.(Branson Airlines)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... Having courted success in various transport-based ventures including airlines, space tourism and balloon travel, Virgin Group chairman and entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson is turning his attention to business jets. Branson is mulling a...

Production begins of first major ARJ21 components.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... Production is under way of the first major components for the AVIC I Commercial Aircraft ARJ21 regional jet. Xian Aircraft is responsible for building the ARJ21's fuselage and wing, while Shanghai Aviation will carry out final assembly the...

A380 comes into the cold.(services of airbus)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... Airbus last week flew A380 test aircraft MSN004 to Iqaluit [degrees] Canada's northernmost city [degrees] for cold weather tests. After its return to Toulouse, the aircraft was expected to have Singapore Airlines' colours applied ahead of...

E&S sells visuals arm.(Evan & Sutherland)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... Rockwell Collins' agreement to acquire Evan & Sutherland's (E&S) visual systems business for $71.5 million in cash will boost the US avionics giant's move into the simulation and training market, begun with its 2003 acquisition of simulator...

CAE's axe falls on Maastricht centre.(facility closed)
February 14, 2006... CAE's Maastricht centre has become the first European casualty of the Canadian commercial pilot training provider's drive to rationalise its global simulator network. Two of CAE's Fokker 50 simulators based at Maastricht in the Netherlands...

NASA examines Space Shuttle tiles for CEV.(crew exploration vehicle, National Aeronautics and Space Administration)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... NASA is investigating the use of Space Shuttle tile material for the Block 1A Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) in case an ablative thermal protection system (TPS) is not ready by the 2012 deadline for the transport of crew to the International...

DoD asks for $439bn.(Department of Defense)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... The US Department of Defense has submitted to US Congress a fiscal year 2007 budget request for $439 billion and a new capabilities planning document called the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR). Both documents seek to continue the status...

US lobby fights to save F136 engine.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... Several US lawmakers have launched a campaign to restore funds for the General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136 engine that now faces a termination threat, but still unclear is the impact of the budget cut on the international partnership developing...

France signs delayed deal for Neuron UCAV demonstrator.(unmanned combat air vehicle)
February 14, 2006... Dassault has at last signed a deal to co-ordinate a six-nation programme to design, build and fly an unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) technology demonstrator, with France's DGA procurement agency last week awarding the company a contract...

A318 orders shrink.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... The orderbook for Airbus's smallest model, the 107-seat A318, has contracted to just over 80 aircraft following the switching of 15 orders by two customers to other A320 family types. The development comes as assembly begins of the last example...

EASA orders A340-600 generator checks.(European Aviation Safety Agency)(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued an emergency airworthiness directive requiring Airbus A340-500/600 operators to inspect auxilliary power unit (APU) generators after two uncontained failures. Both events occured on the...

Australia to implement sweeping reforms.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is making sweeping changes to improve aviation safety and its own performance after several years of criticism. CASA's headquarters is moving from Canberra to Brisbane, while the stalled...

Give credit to Africa's best.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... I agree with your assessment of the well-below-average aviation safety levels being achieved in Africa in your editorial (Flight International, 10-16 January). However, while you were concentrating on the safety record achieved by Ethiopian...

Competition leads to innovation.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... I could not hide a smile when I read the letter "No sympathy for Toulouse" from Stiophan O'Morain (Flight International, 31 January[degrees]6 February). All those pro- and anti-Airbus letters remind me of letters one can find in car magazines...

Ethiopian's progress.(Ethiopian Airlines)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
February 14, 2006... In your editorial (Flight International, 10-16 January) you express surprise at how advanced and professional Ethiopian Airlines is compared with other African carriers. In the mid-1980s the carrier embarked on a huge new fleet acquisition...

Going through the motions.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... The article on the Bond simulator (Flight International, 24-30 January) reminds me of when I was in charge of pilot training for a large helicopter operator. We were spending huge amounts using the helicopters to give pilots instrument training...

NASA juggles funds for ISS flights.(National Aeronautics and Space Administration, International Space Station)
February 14, 2006... NASA has been forced to shift $4.6 billion from its space science and exploration budgets for 2007-11 to cover a shortfall in funding for the remaining Space Shuttle flights to complete assembly of the International Space Station. "I wish we...

Engine coating is a Gem for UK Lynx operations.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... The UK Ministry of Defence has borrowed a Russian innovation to improve the operational availability of the Rolls-Royce Gem engines that power the British Army's Westland Lynx battlefield utility helicopters. A titanium nitride coating...

Semi-solid parts could fly with thixoforming.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... The Boeing Advanced Manufacturing Research Center (AMCR) at UK's University of Sheffield expects to confirm later this year that a manufacturing process known as thixoforming can be used with aerospace alloys. Already used by the...

Farnborough and AIR head for arbitration showdown.(Farnborough Aircraft)(Aircraft Investor Resources)
February 14, 2006... UK start-up manufacturer Farnborough Aircraft (FACL) and US firm Aircraft Investor Resources (AIR) are heading for arbitration on 20 March to try to settle a bitter legal dispute over a collapsed manufacturing joint venture to develop their...

first in freight.(Boeing Co. contracts with asian airlines )
February 14, 2006... Boeing is relying almost entirely on Asian airlines and maintenance companies to back its new 747-400 cargo-conversion programme, which entered production at the end of December following delivery of the prototype to launch customer Cathay...

Features.
February 14, 2006... The 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) will give Asian operators the ability to meet fast-growing demand for cargo services and an opportunity to phase out older 747 models. Launch customer Cathay Pacific Airways is already using its...

Features.(Brief Article)
February 14, 2006... 747-400BCF orders Guggenheim Aviation Partners Seven firm modifications Air France Three firm modifications Singapore Airlines* (SIA) Eight firm kits Japan Airlines (JAL) Eight firm modifications, four options Korean Air*...

Chinese turn.
February 14, 2006... Chinese state-owned manufacturer AVIC 1 Commercial Aircraft (ACAC) has made major changes to its ARJ21-700 regional jet aircraft, which is expected to enter service in late 2009, to meet regulatory requirements. The original design was for...

blocked charter.
February 14, 2006... Barriers impeding growth of north Asia's fledgling business aviation market are starting to lift but, for manufacturers and operators, the pace in most countries is painfully slow. China and Taiwan are leading a movement to rewrite...

basic instinct.
February 14, 2006... Four aircraft manufacturers are battling to win a competition in Singapore that could prove to be an important turning point in their drive to establish their new basic trainers worldwide. Singapore is evaluating this month the Aermacchi...

Features.
February 14, 2006... fleet renewal brendan sobie / manila Philippines left to fly solo Singapore's retirement of its Aermacchi S211 fleet will leave the Philippines air force as the only military operator of the basic jet trainer from 2008. Philippines air...

moving upwards.(research spending by government of China, Asia and Europe on satellite industry)
February 14, 2006... Spaceflight Asia's growing economies are poised to combine their lower labour costs with advancing spacecraft and launcher know-how to threaten the historical market leaders in Europe and the USA. "Today we are shocked in Europe that...

All eyes on asia.
February 14, 2006... Those visitors battling with the familiar traffic jams, security queues and humidity during next week's Asian Aerospace may be comforted by the fact that this is the last year the event will be staged at the rather cramped, largely open-air...