Flight International articles from January 2002

Flight International archives from January 2002

EHI fights Russians for foothold in South Korea.(helicopters)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... South Korea has narrowed its choice of a new presidential/ VIP helicopter to the EH Ind-ustries (EHI) EH101 and Kazan Mi-17 in a competition which has strategic implications for the Anglo-Italian company EHI as it tries to land a much larger...

Stand-off missiles; US Navy to trial Israeli missile for Seahawks.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The US Navy is considering conducting a risk reduction flight test programme involving the launch of the Israel Military Industries (IMI) Light Defender, stand-off loitering weapon system from a Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk helicopter. The SH-60 is...

Dassault builds unmanned vehicle strategy on Petit Duc combat craft.(unmanned and tactical combat air vehicles)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Dassault Aviation has for the first time outlined a three-phase strategy aimed at the development of an unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) and a tactical unmanned air vehicle (TUAV). The French manufacturer is building its strategy on the...

GAO warns on ageing US aircraft; The US watchdog issues warning over pressing fighter modernisation needs as President Bush orders defence review.(US General Accounting Office budget review)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The US Air Force and US Navy's fleet of tactical fighters will continue to rapidly age unless alternative modernisation plans are adopted, warns the US General Accounting Office (GAO) in a new report, coinciding with the new administration of...

Three-sided targeting pod battle enters final throes; The US Air Force expects to select a contractor for a low-cost target identification system requirement which arose following the Kosovo air campaign.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The three-sided battle between Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon to win the Advance Targeting Pod (ATP) competition is about to enter its final throes. The USAF will now be tasked with selecting an off-the-shelf system...

Northrop Grumman set to reveal 'Pegasus' UCAV.(unmanned combat air vehicles)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Northrop Grumman is expected to unveil its mock-up of an unmanned combat air vehicle demonstrator, dubbed "Pegasus", on 26 February at its El Segundo site in California. Although the company remains coy about the configuration and...

USAF awards $800m for military BBJs.(US Air Force contracts for seven more military versions of the Boeing Business Jet)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The US Air Force has awarded Boeing an $800 million contract to provide up to seven additional C-40 aircraft, military versions of the Boeing Business Jet, and up to 10 years of support services. The deal allows for the incorporation of...

Brazil swoops in on Italian Hercules.(military transport planes)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Brazilian Ministry of Defence has finalised negotiations with Lockheed Martin to purchase 10 C-130Hs operated by the Italian air force. Deliveries will take place over two years, with options for delivery of a further two aircraft. The...

Transcontinental test for X-35.(joint strike fighter demonstrator flown to Maryland)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Lockheed Martin X-35C Joint Strike fighter demonstrator has flown to the US Navy's Patuxent River test centre, Maryland, marking the first transcontinental flight of an X-series aircraft. The flight from the US Air Force Edwards AFB,...

In its first year, Russia's integrated defence exporter, Rosoboronexport, has eliminatedin-house rivalries and exceeded sales targets.
January 1, 2002... In its first year, Russia's integrated defence exporter, Rosoboronexport, has eliminatedin-house rivalries and exceeded sales targets Vladimir Karnozov / moscow Russia's newly merged defence export agency Rosoboronexport recently...

workshop.(for aircraft parts and maintenance)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... n Boeing and KLM Engineering and Maintenance (KLM E&M) have begun implementing the Global Airline Inventory Network (GAIN) at the airline's maintenance facility at Amsterdam Schiphol airport. KLM is the European launch customer for GAIN, for...

First production Eurofighter is ready to fly as test programme looms; Operational test and evaluation and pilot training for first RAF aircraft to take place at BAE Systems' Warton site.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... BAESystems is due to fly the first production standard Eurofighter, IPA 1, next month, with the first aircraft for the UKRoyal Air Force likely to fly in April. IPA1 was due to fly in August 2000 under the terms of the production contract...

HISTORY LESSON.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Over the next 11 pages, Flight International looks at a difficult year ahead. A decade ago the industry was in crisis after the Gulf War and the end of the Cold War - is history repeating itself? Aerospace Alexander CampbellBusiness...

routes.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... n China Airlines (CAL) and SkyTeam member Delta Air Lines have agreed to codeshare on US domestic flights and between Taiwan and the USA from early this year, subject to government approval. Delta will sell seats on CAL's daily flights between...

FLIGHT-testing; Russian-engined An-38 makes debut.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The first Russian-engined versionof the Antonov An-38, the -200, began flight-testing last month at the Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association (NAPO)plant in Novosibirsk, Siberia. The 27-seat twin turbopropdiffers from the earlier...

BUSINESS; US investors bid for Ansett.(David Bonderman and Bill Franke)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Two high-profile US investors have joined the take-over bid for bankrupt Australian airline Ansett. Chairman of low-cost Irish carrier Ryanair and Continental Airlines director David Bonderman, along with former America West Airlines chief...

AIRCRAFT DELIVERY JUSTIN WASTNAGE / LONDON; Boeing BBJ2 derivative lands first European sale; Charter company Multiflight buys corporate aircraft in estimated $60 million cash deal.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Multiflight has become the first European customer for Boeing's 737-800 corporate jet derivative, the Boeing Business Jet 2 (BBJ2). The aircraft was delivered from the Boeing-General Electric joint venture's headquarters in Seattle, late last...

safety David Learmount / London; CAA warns engines must be more resistant to birdstrikes ; Threat posed by flocking birds to aviation is on the increase worldwide, says UK body.(Civil Aviation Authority)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... Certification requirements demanding higher levels of birdstrike resistance for new aircraft engines are on the cards because the risk of serious birdstrikes is growing, says the UK Civil Aviation Authority. The risk of danger to aircraft...

CLOSURE COSTS Graham Warwick / Washington DC; Manufacturers remain bullish despite losses.(plant closings and layoffs influence B/E Aerospace and Goodrich revenues)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... Aerospace component manufacturers B/E Aerospace and Goodrich have revealed how much recent job cuts and factory closures have cost them (Flight International, 30 October - 5 November 2001). But despite the deepening downturn, both issued...

In brief.(various news items)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... INDIAN TRAINING Deccan Aviation is planning to open India's first private helicopter flying school in Bangalore in March with three Bell LongRanger and JetRanger helicopters which will caterfor students from India and neighbouring South...

ENGINE DEVELOPMENT; TECH56 in compressor test success.(CFM International Inc. developing new jet engine)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... CFM International's (CFMI) TECH56 new technology effort for the CFM56 is moving to the next phase following completion of full-scale rig tests of a low-parts-count, high-pressure compressor (HPC). The latest tests were key to developing and...

privatisation; El Al union debates Sharon plan.(Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon proposes privatization of El Al Israel Airlines)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon has set up a committee to prepare for the privatisation of the national airline El Al. The El Al workers union is against the privatisation, but has promised to co-operate with the government if it returns...

air transport; A330 joins Air France.(introduces eight Airbus A330-200 aircraft into service)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Air France has introduced into service the first of eight Airbus A330-200s it has on order, initially on flights from Paris to Boston and Toronto. The General Electric CF6-80E1-powered aircraft features new seats, a lounge area and equipment...

RECAPITALISATION; Government bolsters Air NZ.(New Zealand government to buy NZ$885 million (US$370 million) worth of Air New Zealand shares)(Brief Article)(Bibliography)
January 1, 2002... Air New Zealand shareholders have approved a move by the New Zealand government to buy NZ$885 million ($370 million) worth of shares to save the airline from insolvency. The airline will repay a NZ$300 million government loan with new...

SAFETY PAUL PHELAN / CAIRNS; Piper crash linked to engine failures.(Piper Chieftan aircraft crash in May 2000)(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)(Bibliography)
January 1, 2002... The fatal crash of a Piper Chieftain in Spencer Gulf near Whyalla, South Australia, in May 2000 is being linked by Australia's airworthiness body to a series of engine bearing failures. Seven passengers and the pilot died when the Whyalla...

LAUNCHERS Tim Furniss / London; ILS venture and Sea Launch chosen for new Intelsat 10s ; Eurostar 3000 buses scheduled for launch on Proton and Zenit 3SL boosters in 2003.(International Launch Services and Sea Launch get contract)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... International Launch Services (ILS) and Boeing-led company Sea Launch have been selected to launch the first two of a new generation of Intelsat 10 series satellites to be built by Astrium . The Eurostar 3000 buses will be launched in 2003...

satellites; Alcatel and Loral pick up new satellite contracts.(Alcatel Space and Space Systems/Loral Inc. get contracts)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Alcatel Space and Space Systems/Loral (SSL) have won contracts to build three more commmunications satellites. The larger of the deals will see SS/L build two high-power SS/L 1300 spacecraft, bus-based communications satellites for the...

international space station ; Escape vehicle tests remote landing.(space station crew return vehicle tested)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The eighth glide and landing test flight of the NASA X-38 Crew Return Vehicle (CRV) prototype was completed at the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California last month. The vehicle, designed as the forerunner of a lifeboat for the...

EMPLOYMENT: Alexander Campbell / London; Airbus calls for job and hours cuts.(Airbus Industrie must handle personnel cuts differently in various countries)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Differing redundancy legislation in the four countries in which Airbus has plants has led to job cuts in the UK while workers in France, Germany and Spain have had hours slashed. Around 500 jobs at Airbus UK plants in Broughton and Filton...

fleet expansion graham warwick / WASHINGTON DC; Avolar announces Gulfstream deal; United Airlines subsidiary also signs letters of intent with Bombardier and Raytheon to complete fleet by 2009.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... United Airlines' fractional ownership subsidiary Avolar has confirmed an order for 24 Gulfstream 200 super mid-size business jets, plus options for another 43. The deal, including a long-term maintenance agreement, is valued at more than $2...

Light aircraft; Liberty completes design of its XL-2.(Liberty Aerospace)(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2002... Liberty Aerospace has finished the design of its XL-2 light aircraft, introducing a number of refinements to the all-composite two-seater, which is derived from the popular Europa kitplane. US certification is set for the third quarter, says...

Helicopter ; Bell UH-1H upgraded to Huey II.(for New York state police)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The first Bell UH-1H upgraded to Huey II configuration (picture shows test-flight version) for a USoperator has begun flight testing at Helipro inWappingers Falls, New York. The upgraded helicopter is the first of three for the New York state...

[0] In brief.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... EXPLORER DEPOSITS Explorer Aircraft is taking deposits for its single-turboprop Explorer 500T, deliveries of which are planned to begin in 2004. Level 1 and 2 buyers can make a refundable initial deposit while Level 3 requires a...

fbos; Global network established for service firms.(Universal Weather and Aviation establishes worldwide network to improve ground services)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Universal Weather and Aviation has formed a worldwide network of independent ground service providers in a bid to improve and standardise the handling ofbusiness aircraft. UVGlobal Network members will be required to meet consistent...

Flight-tests Max Kingsley-Jones / Toulouse; A340-600 closes on certification ; Airbus expects approval for new long-range model in May but has not yet finalised route proving plans with customers.(Airbus Industrie)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Airbus is about to enter the final stages of certification trials ofthe Rolls-Royce Trent 500-powered A340-600, as the manufacturer prepares to begin flight-tests on its ultra-long-range sister model, the A340-500, next month. ...

in brief.(includes, NASA Space Launch Initiative hot fire tests engine)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... LASER IMAGE The European Space Agency (ESA), French space agency CNES and satellite manufacturer Astrium have for the first time transmitted an image by laser link between two satellites. The transmission between ESA's Artemis satellite,...

distribution; Aviall gains finance for R-R parts deal.(Rolls-Royce North America Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Parts distributor Aviall has secured new financing to underwrite a 10-year, $3 billion deal with Rolls-Royce to provide aftermarket parts support for the T56/501-D family of turboprop engines. The exclusive contract, which starts on 2...

FINANCIAL RESCUE Jackson Flores / Rio de Janeiro; Boeing and Varig sign rescue deal; Aircraft manufacturer comes to aid of stricken Brazilian flag carrier with $370 million buy and lease-back.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Boeing has signed an agreement providing Brazilian flag carrierVarig with urgently needed respite from its worsening financial situation. The $370 million deal will see Boeing buy and lease back four Boeing MD-11s and two Boeing 737-300s...

ALLIANCES David Field / Washington DC; American and BA ties now depend on EC/UK.(European Commission to decide on merger of American Airlines Inc., British Airways PLC)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... British Airways' plan to expand its link-up with American Airlines into a full alliance is in the hands of the European Commission (EC) and UK authorities after it emerged that the most serious objection from the USA was surmountable. ...

electronic warfare ; Growler funds sought.(Boeing Co., Northrop Grumman Corp. seek funds from U.S. Navy)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Boeing and Northrop Grumman are asking the US Navy to contribute pre-development funds to the proposed EA-18 electronic attack aircraft programme so that risk-reduction and flight validation can continue using a modified F/A-18F. The USN...

SAFETY; FAA slammed over its maintenance monitoring.(Federal Aviation Administration)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... US auditors have slammed the Federal Aviation Administration's monitoring of airlines' maintenance and inspection programmes. This latest audit stems from concerns raised after the Alaska Airlines Boeing MD-80 crash on31 January 2000. The...

REMARKETING GUY NORRIS / seattle; Boeing Aircraft Trading negotiates to place next batch of ex-SIA A340s; Manufacturer also looks for home for ex-Air China and Malaysia Airlines 747s and 737s.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Boeing Aircraft Trading (BAT) is "beginning intensive" talks with prospective customers to sell the next batch of five ex-Singapore Airlines (SIA) Airbus A340-300s, following the recent completion of deals for the first five with Cathay Pacific...

training graham warwick / washington DC; CAE focuses on training centres with SimuFlite buy; Company is now second largest in hardware terms after FlightSafety International.(GE Capital)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Canadian simulator manufacturer CAE is to buy SimuFlite Training International from GECapital for $247 million, making it the second largest provider of third-party flight-training services. The deal will be financed by the sale and leaseback...

cuts nicholas ionides / singapore; Cathay grounds aircraft in new cost-cutting bid.(Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Cathay Pacific Airways has expanded capacity-reduction plans by parking aircraft. It will have seven widebodies on the ground from early this year. The plans were unveiled as pilots voted to restart industrial action over pay and rostering...

ENGINETESTING; EADS Casa opens 'hush-house'.(opens hanger)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... EADS Casa has opened a new "hush-house" hangar to test military aircraft engines at Getafe, Spain. The hush-house, which is part of EADS Casa's investment in the Eurofighter programme, features acoustic treatments, which allow engine tests to...

Safety; NTSB heads up transatlantic co-operation on A300 crash.(US National Transportation Safety Board)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Airbus, French accident investigators, NASA Langley and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are to work together on the 12 November crash of an American Airlines A300-600R, Flight 587, soon after take-off from New York Kennedy....

capacity growth Paul Lewis / Washington DC; Southwest to add 737s.(Southwest Airlines Co.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Southwest Airlines, encouraged by the resurgence in passenger traffic, is to begin adding small numbers of 737-700s to its fleet, bucking the trend set by other major US carriers, which are drastically cutting back capacity and deferring...

helicopters; First flight for re-engined UH-1Y.(Bell)
January 1, 2002... Bell's first remanufactured UH-1Y utility helicopter made its maiden flight on 21 December at the firm's flight research centre in Texas. The helicopter is now scheduled to move to the US Navy's Patuxent River test centre, and join the first...

AIR TRANSPORT GUY NORRIS / SEATTLE; Boeing to propose Quiet 747 family ; Customer surveys and postponed 747X prompt new plan.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Boeing plans to begin formally offering airlines new 'quiet' versions of the 747-400 and -400ER families early this year for possible first deliveries as soon as late 2003. The move comes in the wake of intensive customer surveys and the...

military transport; Italy bows out of A400M deal.(Silvio Berlusconi ends Airbus agreement)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Italian participation in the Airbus A400M military transport programme has been killed off by prime minister Silvio Berlusconi after he sided with the defence and industry ministries in a battle with other government factions that supported the...

Testing shows performance has bettered design target.(Airbus Industrie finalizes A340-600 aerodynamic configuration)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The eight months of testing to date has allowed Airbus to finalise the A340-600's aerodynamic configuration, and confirm that the aircraft has similar handling qualities to the smaller A340 models. Approach speeds are higher than the...

inertial guidance GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC; 'Nevatron' atom ring offers ultra-accurate gyroscopes; Technology is aimed at increasing sensitivity of systems which currently use laser gyros.
January 1, 2002... US researchers have demonstrated that ultra-cold atoms can be stored in a ring, paving the way for the development of highly accurate gyroscopes. Georgia Institute of Technology, which developed the 20mm- (0.8in-) diameter device - dubbed...

DEFENCE; Boeing and IAI seal Arrow deal.(Israel Aircraft Industries to allow Boeing to build Arrow missiles in US)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) has agreed that the Israeli-developed Arrow anti-tactical ballistic missile can be built by Boeing in the USA, with a deal due to be signed in the next few weeks. The firms have spent months negotiating...

Briefing.(multiple topics)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Passenger packs shoe with explosive SECURITY A passenger on an American Airlines Paris-Miami Boeing 767 flight on 22 December allegedly tried to detonate explosive packed into one of his shoes, but was restrained by other passengers and...

rocket engines; NASA backs air-breather.(Rocket Based Combined Cycle Consortium wins NASA contract to develop rocket engine)
January 1, 2002... A Rocketdyne-Aerojet-Pratt & Whitney venture dubbed the Rocket Based Combined Cycle Consortium has won an initial $16.6 million contract from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center to start developing a new rocket engine that could power a Space...

leasing Nicholas Ionides / Singapore; MIAT seeks to secure Boeing lease; But rival Airbus tries to thwart Mongolian carrier's bid to revamp ageing fleet with GATX deal.(MIAT-Mongolian Airlines)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... MIAT-Mongolian Airlines, badly in need of fleet modernisation, is working to finalise a deal with GATX covering the lease of Boeing 737-800s, as Airbus attempts to overturn any agreement, andpersuade the airline to switch to the A320. ...

attack helicopters; Australians complete Tiger deal amid slack-contract allegations.(Eurocopter Pacific)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Eurocopter Pacific has finalised a A$1.3 billion ($700 million) contract with the Australian government to supply Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters for the Australian army. The deal, signed on 21 December, follows a fast-track contract...

FIGHTER PROCUREMENT Paul Lewis / Washington DC; Kuwait targets Super Hornet; Short-term plans include phased avionics and structural upgrades to F/A-18C/Ds.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Kuwait is looking to acquire up to 20 Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters around 2005 and beyond, while embarking on a near-term two-phase structural and avionics enhancement of its air force's fleet of 40 F-18C/D Hornets. The Kuwait...

business aviation Graham Warwick / Washington DC; Fractionals see birth of new giant ; Merger of Flight Options and Raytheon Travel Air is set to reduce costs and offer stronger competition to rivals.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Flight Options and Raytheon TravelAir are to combine, creating the second largest business aircraftfractional-ownership firm. Privately owned Flight Options will hold 50.1% of the new entity, and Raytheon 49.9%. The company, still to be called...

BUSINESS Graham Warwick / Washington DC; Aloha and Hawaiian unite as competition fears fade; Merger to create 10th biggest US airline follows coming together of Colombia's big two.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Airline mergers are moving ahead as competition concerns take second place to survival instincts amid the financial crisis following 11 September. Just days after Colombia cleared the way for its two largest carriers, ACES and Avianca, to...

BUSINESS & GENERAL AVIATION; Industry suggests ID checks for pilots.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... A coalition of industry associations has presented several recommendations on improving generalaviation (GA) security to the new USTransport Security Administration (TSA). The move is aimed at positively identifying pilots and passengers...

in brief.(includes, Turbomeca launches new helicopter turboshaft engine)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... NEW TURBOSHAFT French powerplant makerTurbomeca has launched a new light helicopter turboshaft engine, dubbed the Ardiden. The 895kW (1,200shp) turboshaft has already been chosen to power the new Hindustan Aeronautics Advanced Light...

Poor profile.(revisions needed to airplane passenger profiling)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Passenger profiling, an essential building block in the post-11 September security system, will fail unless carried through properly Security's credibility took another serious knock when a passenger at Paris was able to get on board an...

funding; Congress OKs $318bn budget.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The US Congress has passeda $318 billion fiscal year 2002 defence budget.The defence appropriations, which President Bush is expected to sign into law, fully funds 48 Boeing F/A-18E/Fs for the US Navy costing $3 billion, another $2.7 billion...

Irresponsible journalism?(Brief Article)
January 9, 2002... Recently two UK journalists boarded a British Airways shuttle flight between Heathrow and Manchester and concealed three knives disguised as a comb, pen and credit card. Gloating later on national television, they stressed how easy it is to...

Protection not consolidation.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2002... houldn't American Airlines flight AA587 have been much higher than the Japan Airlines Boeing 747 and its wake (Flight International, 27 November - 3 December)? Granted that flight AA587 flew a shorter path, still, a twin-engined aircraft...

consolidation ; We need our national airlines.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2002... In your editorial (Flight International, 18 December 2001) you say that the airline industry will recover by "cool heads" and the termination of subsidies to "flabby national airlines". This is in sharp contrast to US thinking and is...

Tunnel vision.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2002... The termination of BAE Systems' RJX programme, ending decades of production of indigenous UK commercial jet designs, is but one example of the progressive withdrawal of the UK from the forefront of aerospace developments. Mindful of the...

Alms for ailing airlines.(Congress's Stabilisation Act)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2002... The StabilisationAct was passed by Congress after 11 September to offer state financing to carriers unable to obtain credit in the free market. Critics are concerned, however, that the guarantees will prop up airlines which were already...

A smooth transfer.(National Air Traffic Services' plan to handle RVSM)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2002... Knowing that RVSM would start in Europe around Swanwick's operational launch, National Air Traffic Services (NATS) implemented the new separation system in UK airspace on 19 April 2001 so that the two events would not clash. Because it was not...

Aerobatic flying solution.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2002... While I agree with Mr Shroder on the training issues concerning recovery from unusual attitudes (Flight International, 11-17 December), I believe that aerobatic and/or glider flying during initial flight training could be part of the solution....

airports.(News Briefs)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2002... n AirTrain Newark, the new direct rail link from New York Newark airport to New York City and points across New Jersey, has been averaging 1,500 passengers a day since its opening three months ago. Two million passengers are expected to use the...

PRODUCT SUPPORT; Mitsubishi adds service centres.(Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America )(Brief Article)
January 9, 2002... Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America (MHIA) is adding two service centres for its Mitsubishi MU-2 utility turboprop aircraft and is undertaking a feasibility study into a life extension programme. MHIA took back productsupport for the...

AIRLINE START-UP; Delayed Africa One prepares for long-haul launch with DC-10-30.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2002... Africa One, the start-up airline owned by Uganda's Das Air and Tanzania's Infra Investments, expects to be ready to launch next month after acquiring an ex-African Safari Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 for international services. The...

northrop grumman alan george / london; A mutually beneficial alliance.(EADS, DaimlerChrysler, and Northrop Grumman)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2002... None of EADS' DaimlerChrysler collaborations has been more fruitful than that with US aerospace company Northrop Grumman. Originating with an April 2000 Memorandum of Understanding between the US company and the German EADS founder...

the partner's view; A marriage made in heaven?(BAE Systems and EADS)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2002... BAE Systems chief operating officer Mike Turner says he's "very comfortable" with the relationship between his company and EADS as partners in the Airbus integrated company. Even as the civil aircraft manufacturing sector faces up to a...

AIRcraft PRODUCTION; Boeing plans second moving 737 line this year.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2002... Flow time for Boeing 737s through the company's Renton assembly site in Washington has been cut from 23 to 18 days with the application of a moving production line, and is expected to reducefurther to 17 days by the end of January, says Boeing....

workshop.(new aviation contracts)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2002... n Rolls-Royce has signed a 15-year, $400 million contract to maintain the Tay 650 engines powering Brazilian airline TAM's fleet of 50 Fokker 100s. The company has also signed a 10-year, $50 million agreement to maintain AE3007 engines powering...

Force restructuring Herman De Wulf / Brussels; Belgian air force loses independence.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2002... Belgium's air force ceased to be an independent service on 2 January, becoming the army air component or COMOPSAIR (Command Operations Air). The air force has been shrunk progressively over the past decade with its combat fleet reduced to six...

the analysts' view; An achievable target?(EBIT target for EADS and business units)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2002... A big question for European aerospace analysts is whether EADS and its business units can achieve the 10% EBIT target by the end of 2004. Charles Burrows, aerospace analyst with HSBC Investment Bank in London, says that the events of 11...

CARGO Vladimir Karnozov / Moscow; East Line again considers Il-76TF rather than Il-96; Grounding and financial losses following contraband investigation scupper original plan.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2002... East Line Airlines is again seeking to acquire the Ilyushin Il-76TF - the stretched, Aviadvigatel PS-90-powered version of the four-engined Russian freighter - after dropping plans to acquire Ilyushin Il-96 freighters. According to airline...

tiltrotors Paul Lewis / WashingtonDC; US DoD gives provisional go-head for Osprey flights; Resumption of Bell Boeing V-22 testing subjected to tough two-year objectives.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2002... The US Department of Defense has allowed Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey test flights to resume, but is setting strict criteria which must be met over the next two years before a decision on full-rate production. Meanwhile, low rate initial production...

going; global.(European Aeronautic Defence and Space)
January 9, 2002... Eighteen months after its inception, EADS is looking outside Europe in its quest to become a truly global industry player DeeDee Doke / Munich, Paris, Toulouse & London The end of the beginning of the vast merger integration of European...

the supplier's view ; Fewer companies, greater responsibility.(European Aeronautic Defense and Space's effect on the market)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2002... EADS' new procurement procedures promise to significantly alter the supplier set-up in Europe. First, it may fuel further consolidation of the first-tier supplier industry. Second, EADS' larger contracts will incorporate more elements and hand...