Flight International articles from June 2008

Flight International archives from June 2008

Airbus uses wiring delay to advance plans for Hamburg.(Air Transport)
June 3, 2008... Byline: PRODUCTION Max Kingsley-Jones Toulouse Complete subassemblies to be delivered to Toulouse to cut 'inefficient' travelled work Airbus will use the latest programme delay to the A380 to bring forward the target date for...

BMI values its 11% share of Heathrow slots at [pounds sterling]770 million.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: airlines victoria moores london EU/US open skies has boosted the value of BMI's slot holding BMI has added [pounds sterling]770 million ($1.5 billion) to its balance sheet by revaluing its London Heathrow slot holdings. The...

Canada, EU near to open skies.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: negotiations Canada and the European Union have moved closer to forging an open skies-type air transport agreement, following an initial meeting between negotiators in Leipzig, Germany. Canada's minister of transport,...

Chinese A320 assembly line set for production.(Air Transport)
June 3, 2008... Byline: MANUFACTURING MAX KINGSLEY-JONES TOULOUSE Components will be transported by container ship Airbus is preparing to ship sections for the first Chinese-built A320 to the assembly line in Tianjin, with production scheduled to begin...

Embraer targets Israeli short-haul carriers.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: fleets arie egozi tel aviv Israel's two domestic and regional carriers, Arkia and Israir, have been briefed by Embraer on its 175 and 190 regional jet types as possible replacements for their ATR 42/72 and Bombardier Dash 8 fleets....

Bombardier delivered Air Central Q400 with crucial bolt missing.(Air Transport)
June 3, 2008... Byline: ACCIDENT LEITHEN FRANCIS SINGAPORE Japanese safety investigators concluded that work done by Bombardier on a Q400 turboprop before delivery to All Nippon Airways subsidiary Air Central caused a 13 March 2007 incident in which the...

Serbia ready to sell Jat Airways.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: PRIVATISATION IGOR SALINGER BELGRADE Serbia is poised to begin the tender process to privatise flag carrier Jat Airways, as soon as details of the privatisation strategy are finalised. Efforts to find a private partner for the...

BAE collaboration to offer faster VIP modifications.(Business Aviation)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: completions BAE Systems Regional Aircraft is stoking what it claims to be rising interest in its BAe 146/Avro RJ business jet by teaming up with a pair of completion and interior design firms that the airframer believes will help...

Florida cash means PiperJet can be built on home turf.(Business Aviation)(Piper Aircraft Corp.)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: PRODUCTION JEFFREY DECKER OSHKOSH Single-engined personal aircraft gets new facility at airframer's historic Vero Beach site After spending more than a year considering alternatives including Albuquerque and Oklahoma City,...

In-flight detection system keeps an eye on ice.(Business Aviation)(SWAN International Inc.)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: safety emma kelly perth Australian company Swan International is aiming for certification in the third quarter of this year of an in-flight ice detection system that uses optical technologies to detect ice. The Sydney-based...

Comment.
June 3, 2008... It is difficult for the parents that nurtured it, but Europe's airliner manufacturer is all grown up and needs to make its own way in the world, even if that means setting up home elsewhere Airbus can no longer be considered the...

No argument: Cranfield challenge is toxic.(Comment)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Commissioned by the UK Department for Transport, Cranfield University is carrying out scientific tests to establish what contaminants are occasionally released into airline cabins in the engine bleed air feed to the air conditioning system. ...

Boeing, Alenia Aermacchi join forces to sell M-346 to non-US customers.(Defence)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: trainers stephen trimble washington dc Boeing and Alenia Aermacchi have joined forces to offer two of the Italian company's jet trainer products to non-US customers, forming a potent new team in an increasingly competitive and...

STOVL F-35B completes hover pit tests.(Defence)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: engines stephen trimble washington dc Hover pit tests completed on 25 May moved the first short take-off and vertical landing example of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to within days or weeks of its first flight. ...

Fire Shadow success boosts UK complex weapons initiative.(Defence)(Lockheed Martin Corp.)(QinetiQ Inc.)(Thales S.A.)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: testing The UK's delayed Team Complex Weapons initiative is expected to move beyond its planning stage within the next two months, while one of its signature programmes has already advanced into its flight test phase. ...

Gripen Demo put through its paces.(Defence)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: first flight Saab performed the first flight of its Gripen Demo fighter on 27 May, just over a month after unveiling the future capabilities demonstrator at its LinkA[paragraph]ping site in Sweden. Performed by company test pilots,...

Italy nears key F-35 JSF milestones.(Defence)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: development luca peruzzi genoa Final assembly and test phase role to be approved as air force determines required mix of CTOL and STOVL models Italy's involvement in the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme will...

Thales reveals new multirole missile.(Defence)
June 3, 2008... Byline: weapons CRAIG HOYLE LONDON Lightweight air-launched weapon will offer low-cost precision-guided strike capability for helicopters and UAVs Thales is developing a new lightweight multirole missile (LMM) it says will offer a...

'SwiftFuel' Avgas replacement hopes to beat 2011 US ban on leaded fuel.(General Aviation)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: ALTERNATIVE FUELS JEFFREY DECKER OSHKOSH US researchers claim to have come up with a renewable replacement for leaded avgas 18 months ahead of its final US ban. Researchers from Swift Enterprises, based at Purdue University in...

AgustaWestland makes bid for Russian venture.(General Aviation)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: co-operation VLADIMIR KARNOZOV MOSCOW AgustaWestland and Oboronprom have taken the first step towards strategic co-operation with a five-year deal to make Oboronprom the Russia/CIS distributor for AgustaWestland. Sales worth e450...

Moscow show highlights high-speed helicopters.(General Aviation)
June 3, 2008... Byline: ROTORCRAFT VLADIMIR KARNOZOV MOSCOW New concepts in drive to match technologies being developed in Europe and USA Russia is pushing to keep pace with the USA and Europe in high-speed rotorcraft technology development, with the...

Bombardier to move production of Learjet 85 from Grob to Queretaro.(This week)
June 3, 2008... Byline: DEVELOPMENT STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC MARY KIRBY PHILADELPHIA Bombardier will shift structural manufacturing for the all-composite Learjet 85 from Grob Aerospace in Germany to the Canadian company's two-year-old factory in...

Europe to close helicopter gap by sharing forces.(This week)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: PEACEKEEPING AIMEE TURNER LONDON Franco-British move could overcome persistent shortfall More co-operation is needed in difficult theatres such as Afghanistan Europe's defence ministers have signed up to a Franco-British...

Dutch join JSF test phase and near purchase.(This week)(Joint Strike Fighter)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: fighters STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC The Dutch parliament has approved participating in initial operational test and evaluation of the Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighter, and making a 10% down payment on two aircraft. ...

MEPs maintain tough line on emissions scheme.(This week)(Member of the European Parliament)
June 3, 2008... Byline: ENVIRONMENT GRAHAM DUNN LONDON Environment committee urges earlier start date for aviation and more stringent criteria The European Parliament's environment committee last week voted to hold its original tough line on bringing...

This week.
June 3, 2008... DISCOVERY TO DELIVER LARGEST EVER ISS PAYLOAD LAUNCH NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery was expected to launch at 17:02 local time on 31 May from Florida's Kennedy Space Center for its mission STS-124 to the International Space Station. The...

'Finest hour' Spitfire: Michael Foale.(This week)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: flight 100 greatest To mark Flight International's centenary we are undertaking a worldwide survey to find the 100 most popular aviation personalities, moments and civil and military aircraft from the past century. British-born...

How will the study be carried out?(This week)(United Kingdom's Department for Transport cabin air sampling study)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... The purpose of the UK DfT cabin air sampling study is "to detect a spectrum of compounds in the cabin environment", concentrating on volatile organic compounds and semi-volatile organic compounds collected at all phases of flight and on the...

UK flight trials to test for contaminated cabin air.(This week)
June 3, 2008... Byline: SAFETY DAVID LEARMOUNT LONDON Five airlines taking part in study will complete 20 sectors with detector-equipped aircraft The UK's Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority are to carry out a formal study into...

Suborbital travel is greener option.(This week)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: environment rob coppinger arcachon Suborbital flights could have a better carbon footprint per passenger than transatlantic airline travel, a preliminary European Space Agency study has found. The preliminary work examined...

A320 freighter's cargo door moves.(Show Reports)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: CONVERSIONS Airbus Freighter Conversion revealed at the show revised designs for its proposed A320/A321 passenger-to-freighter aircraft, which now feature large cargo doors located in the aft- rather than forward-fuselage (see...

Airbus has got to go global: Enders.(Show Reports)(Thomas Enders)
June 3, 2008... Byline: MANUFACTURING murdo morrison Airframer looks away from Europe as stakeholder governments highlight need to preserve jobs and technologies at home Airbus chief executive Thomas Enders has talked of the "natural tension" between...

Delivery delay to Ukraine's An-70s.(Show Reports)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: funding Delivery of the first two Antonov An-70 transports to the Ukrainian air force has slipped to 2010 after Russia effectively suspended project funding three years ago. "We are back in negotiations over the resumption of...

NATO plans pooled fleet as C-17 comes back in favour.(Show Reports)(North Atlantic Treaty Organization)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: transports CRAIG HOYLE $700 million, three-aircraft deal will see strategic transports based at Papa in Hungary Fifteen NATO and Partnership for Peace members will sign a memorandum of understanding later this month for a...

Diamond and TAE lawyer trade blows.(Show Reports)(Thielert Aircraft Engines and Diamond Aircraft)
June 3, 2008... Byline: insolvency murdo morrison Tempers flare as engine supplier administrator accuses aircraft manufacturer of carrying out a 'disinformation campaign' Their chalets at ILA may have been next-door but one, but as they traded...

Eurofighter urges swift agreement on Tranche 3 order.(Show Reports)
June 3, 2008... Byline: fighters craig hoyle Consortium warns that compensation could be demanded if planned purchases cut or cancelled by member nations Germany remains fully committed to acquiring its total planned fleet The Eurofighter...

Fuel cell could debut on A320 replacement.(Show Reports)
June 3, 2008... Byline: AUXILIARY POWER ANDREW DOYLE Technology may ultimately replace auxiliary power unit Airbus aims to prove it can replace the ram air turbine with a fuel cell Airbus aims to decide by around 2015 whether on-board fuel-cell...

P&W looks for more GTF partners.(Show Reports)(MTU Aero Engines GmbH)(Pratt and Whitney)
June 3, 2008... Byline: propulsion ANDREW DOYLE Engine manufacturer signs up MTU for stake in geared turbofan and holds talks with other potential risk sharers Pratt & Whitney is holding talks with other potential risk-sharing partners for its geared...

Heron TP and Predator B face up in German contest.(Show Reports)(Israel Aerospace Industries)
June 3, 2008... Byline: surveillance Israel Aerospace Industries' Heron TP unmanned air vehicle will compete against the General Atomics Predator B to meet a German surveillance requirement, after the nation's BWB armaments agency requested the two...

Members reaffirm commitment to IAE for single-aisle.(Show Reports)(International Aero Engines)(Pratt and Whitney)(Rolls-Royce AB)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: coNSORTIUM Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce continue to focus on the International Aero Engines consortium as their preferred route to market for a next-generation single-aisle powerplant, despite some fundamental differences over...

Mistral targets 2009 approval for general aviation powerplant.(Show Reports)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: ROTARY POWER A new name in general aviation engines says it is on track for US certification by early next year for the first of a planned family of multi-fuel rotary powerplants. Geneva-based Mistral Engines, which was founded...

Rolls-Royce may keep 747-200 testbed for RB282 engine trials.(Show Reports)(Rolls-Royce Aero Engine Services Ltd.)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: FLIGHT TESTS Rolls-Royce is considering retaining its Boeing 747-200 testbed aircraft for flight trials of its new RB282 engine, destined to power Dassault's future super-mid-size Falcon business jet. "The customer has asked...

Show Reports.(Sukhoj Civil Aircraft plans testing)(Russia. Air Force demands more fighter planes)(Russia to add power platforms)
June 3, 2008... SUPERJET PREPARED FOR CERTIFICATION TRIALS FLIGHT TESTING Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCAC) plans to ferry the prototype Superjet 100 (SSJ100) from the KnAAPO factory in Komsomolsk-on-Amur to the company's flight-test base in Zhukovsky near...

Show Reports.(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... ILA may not have the global reach of Paris or Farnborough, but the Berlin show is a key platform for Germany's aerospace industry and a favourite of emerging countries like Russia this year, India was official partner. Military procurement...

Lockheed unveils new C-130J variant.(Show Reports)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: spEcial operations JON LAKE & KELLEY MALCHER Aircraft developed with company funds to replace transports used by the US Air Force's Special Operations Command Lockheed Martin used the show to reveal a new variant of its C-130J...

Show Reports.
June 3, 2008... on the web messY LANDING To view a dramatic video of an historic Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter suffering a landing gear failure at last week's ILA show in Berlin visit flightglobal.com/bf-109crash

Robotic Moon landings to test navigation technologies.(Spaceflight)
June 3, 2008... Byline: EXPLORATION This year could see the signing by the world's major space agencies of a charter for the joint robotic exploration of the Moon, with landers reaching the lunar surface by the middle of the next decade. The charter,...

Lightweight air bags to cushion Orion touchdowns on both land and sea.(Spaceflight)(National Aeronautics and Space Administration)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: CREW VEHICLES ROB COPPINGER LONDON NASA's Orion crew exploration vehicle landing work has produced a 180kg (400lb) airbag system for emergency onshore touchdowns, replacing a 680kg design originally for nominal land landings that...

Agencies tune in to communications.(Spaceflight)(National Aeronautics and Space Administration)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: MOON MISSION ROB COPPINGER LONDON High-definition television is key to scientific and public outreach work, requiring data rates of 250Mbits/s and more The telecommunication and navigation infrastructure for the Moon's...

DARPA pushes on with flapping wing.(Technology)(Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: NANO AIR VEHICLES Bio-inspired design heralds 'revolutionary' aircraft The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has contracted AeroVironment to design and build a flying prototype 75mm (3in) flapping-wing air vehicle...

Automated carbonfibre lay-up beats hand work.(Technology)(GKN Aerospace Services)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: MANUFACTURINGDAN THISDELL LONDON GKN Aerospace has optimised automated technology to speed up carbonfibre tape lay-up on the Airbus Military A400M primary wing spar it makes by up to 40 times compared with hand methods. According to...

HEETE is on for detailed design phase.(Technology)(Air Force Research Laboratory)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: PROPULSION ROB COPPINGER LONDON Rolls-Royce's Indianapolis, Indiana based-Liberty Works has successfully completed conceptual and preliminary design reviews for the US Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Highly Efficient Embedded...

Panda prototype takes to the sky.(Technology)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Byline: UAVS ARIE EGOZI TEL AVIV Urban Aeronautics' prototype ducted fan Panda unmanned air vehicle has successfully completed its first series of test flights, with testing to resume once flight-control computers are adjusted. The...

Technology.(Boeing Co. Boeing Integrated Defense Systems tests chemical lasers)(Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. develops helicopter rotor)(Defense Advanced Research Projects enhance Spacedev Inc.'s contract)
June 3, 2008... SPACEDEV AWARDED DARPA SATELLITE EXTENSION PROPULSION The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has extended Spacedev's High Delta-V (HiDVE) satellite programme contract with a $3.6 million option following a successful critical...

AFRL starts building firstX-51A ramjet demonstrator.(Technologyp)(Air Force Research Laboratory )
June 3, 2008... Byline: HYPERSONICS ROB COPPINGER LONDON First flight test planned for August 2009 powered by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne SJX61-2 Its critical design review complete, the US Air Force Research Laboratory has begun fabrication and...

Business.(Snecma Services)
June 3, 2008... Snecma Services spans the globe Opening of new Mexican facility provides a foothold in the Americas Taking its strategy of partnering with an established local company to spread its commercial aircraft engine overhaul business across...

Business.(Northwest Airlines Corp.'s staff number falls)(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Northwest staff The carrier saw the most dramatic drop in maintenance workers among US network airlines since 2000, from 5,852 (13.9 per aircraft) to 255 (0.8 per aircraft). Other carriers now have 8.3 per aircraft, against 13 in 2000. Total...

Business.(Aero Vodochody Ltd.'s sales on rise)(European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V. restructures)(Israel Aerospace Industries's revenue increases)(Financial report)
June 3, 2008... AERO VODOCHODY SOARS INTO PROFIT RESULTS Czech aircraft maker Aero Vodochody turned a CKr236 million ($14.6 million) profit last year after several years of losses, including a 2006 deficit of CKr964 million. Sales in 2007 were up 47% to...

Business.
June 3, 2008... Bombardier Belfast The airframer will recruit 100 new employees over the next few months for its growing Northern Ireland plant. The recruitment drive comes two weeks after Bombardier unveiled a [pounds sterling]70 million ($136 million)...

Business.(Snecma Sabena Engine Services)
June 3, 2008... engine maintenance lori ranson queretaro, mexico Joining the Mexican wave Local partner, able workforce and economics draw Safran engines group to the Americas The search for extra overhaul capacity has taken France's Snecma...

Business.(Elizabeth Lund appointed as chairman at Boeing Co.)(John Lambert appointed at Aurora Flight Sciences Corp.)(Wolfgang Kurth appointed at Air Berlin )(Brief article)
June 3, 2008... Safran, Boeing Commercial, Rockwell Collins, Air Berlin Safran communications: Dubois Pascale Dubois started on 26 May as communications vice-president at Safran, replacing FranAs.oise Descheemaeker, who is now chairman and chief...

Straight and Level.
June 3, 2008... Lost in translation Those unsung heroes and heroines of international press conferences, the simultaneous translators, pride themselves on finding the mot juste, often turning a speaker's mangled native syntax and stuttering sentences into...

Fuel dries up merger frenzy.(Air Transport)
June 10, 2008... Byline: AIRLINES MARY KIRBY PHILADELPHIA US carriers looked to follow the Delta-Northwest example but rising oil prices have forced a search for other strategies "This is not the time to merge. The airlines have got to get...

IAI set to ramp up production of G150 and G200.(Business Aviation)(Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd.)(Brief article)
June 10, 2008... Byline: MANUFACTURING arie egozi tel aviv Expansion may also include VLJ and regional aircraft Israel Aerospace Industries is ramping up production of the G150 and G200 business jets that it manufactures for Gulfstream at its Tel Aviv...

Business.(Diehl-Thales acquires Airbus S.A.S.'s plant)(Bombardier Aerospace reports its earnings)(Thales S.A. restructures its division)(Financial report)
June 10, 2008... business briefs AIRBUS SELECTS DIEHL-THALES FOR LAUPHEIM SITE OUTSOURCING Airbus has selected the Diehl-Thales partnership as its preferred bidder to take over its plant at Laupheim in Germany, which specialises in cabin interiors. The...

Business.(Company overview)
June 10, 2008... carbonfibre dan thisdell london Umeco has composites mix UK carbonfibre specialist is cashing in as airframers move from all-metal construction Mention composites in aerospace circles and you will spark off talk about...

Business.(John McCullough appointed at National Aeronautics and Space Administration)(Sean O'Keefe appointed at GE Aviation)(Neil Getter appointed at Willis Group )(Brief article)
June 10, 2008... PEOPLE moves NASA flight directors, OpenSkies staffs up, GE Washington Ground control: Horlacher John McCullough is now NASA's chief flight director he has chosen former flight controllers Gary Horlacher, Jerry Jason, Michael...

UK starts Chinook reversion work.(Defence)
June 10, 2008... Byline: HELICOPTERS CRAIG HOYLE FLEETLANDS New work on aircraft in storage since 2001 will bring them close to RAF's current HC2/2A configuration Qinetiq has begun modifying the first two of eight Boeing CH-47 Chinook HC3 transport...

USN accepts first operational EA-18G.(Defence)
June 10, 2008... New software and other modifications transform Super Hornet-based aircraft into 'next generation jamming platform' ELECTRONIC WARFARE STEPHEN TRIMBLE NAS WHIDBEY ISLAND, WASHINGTON Boeing delivered the first operational EA-18G Growler...

Defence.
June 10, 2008... Boeing on 6 June launched the next major upgrade for the US Air Force's Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor aboard the programme's previously retired flying testbed. The heavily modified Boeing 757, featuring a canard-mounted wing and the F-22's...

Insitu ditches Boeing for US tri-service contract.(Defence)
June 10, 2008... Byline: UNMANNED SYSTEMS STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC The Insitu Group has confirmed plans to offer independently the Integrator unmanned aircraft system for a major contract to supply hundreds of vehicles to the US Department of Defense....

Italian NH90s keep on flying despite fatal crash.(Defence)(Brief article)
June 10, 2008... Byline: ACCIDENT Luca Peruzzi Genoa No grounding or flight restrictions have been introduced by the Italian army aviation command to its remaining fleet of NH Industries NH90 tactical transport helicopters after a 1 June fatal crash during...

Lockheed unveils Norway C-130J.(Defence)(Brief article)
June 10, 2008... Byline: TRANSPORTS Lockheed Martin has revealed its first of four C-130Js in Royal Norwegian Air Force colours, ahead of delivering the tactical transport later this year. Aircraft 5601 will partially replace Oslo's previous six C-130Hs,...

Fire Bosses take control in Croatia.(General Aviation)(Brief article)
June 10, 2008... Byline: FIREFIGHTING Croatia has significantly improved its aerial firefighting capability with the recent acquisition and service entry of three Air Tractor AT-802A Fire Boss amphibious firefighting aircraft. The contract for three...

Flight instructor shortage tackled.(General Aviation)(Brief article)
June 10, 2008... Byline: TRAINING EMMA KELLY PERTH Indian investor to establish school in Western Australia A former Indian air force wing commander with a history of establishing successful flight training schools in Australia is setting up a flight...

UK's E-Borders goes too far.(Letters&Flannel&Blogs)(Letter to the editor)
June 10, 2008... The ALAE 1981 (Association of Licensed Aircraft Engineers) argued powerfully (Flight International, 13-19 May) against its members being compulsory guinea pigs for the intrusive UK identification card scheme. However, the airline community...

Will economy policy work?(Letters&Flannel&Blogs)(Letter to the editor)
June 10, 2008... Scandinavian airline SAS's think-tank has suggested changing its cruising policy from the recommended altitude/cruise speed into long-range speed to economise on fuel. At first sight the adoption of such a policy to counter rising fuel...

News Focus.(Ministry of Defense's contract with Ascent and Lockheed Martin-VT joint venture)
June 10, 2008... outsourcing andrew doyle london UK deal seals training future Lockheed Martin-VT joint venture award kicks off first element of [pounds sterling]6bn radical overhaul of tri-service aircrew pipeline UK armed forces aircrew training...

Tardy Angara rocket could launch CSTS spacecraft.(Spaceflight)(Crew Space Transportation System)(Brief article)
June 10, 2008... Byline: manned missions VLADIMIR KARNOZOV berlin Several candidates for 2015 test of four-to-six crew conical capsule and service module The Khrunichev State Space Research and Production Centre's in-development Angara rocket could...

Five-unit Merlin 1C test keeps Falcon 9 on track.(Spaceflight)(Brief article)
June 10, 2008... Byline: PROPULSION Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has completed the latest in a series of increasingly powerful test firings of its Falcon 9 booster. The test of the five Merlin 1C engines, arranged in a cross pattern like the...

UK urged to 'regulate in phases' to boost tourism.(Spaceflight)(Brief article)
June 10, 2008... Byline: PERSONAL SPACEFLIGHT ROB COPPINGER ARCACHON, FRANCE Regulation of suborbital and orbital tourism should be developed in phases so the UK government can facilitate the new space industry's growth, according to the UK's Science and...

Letters&Flannel&Blogs.
June 10, 2008... Production Managers should face reality Your headline to the article on Airbus's revised delivery scheduling was entirely appropriate ("Airbus faces reality", Flight International 20-26 May). Personal experience with a major...

Air Transport.(Brief article)
June 17, 2008... Electrical structure adds mass Several elements have contributed to the rise in the manufacturer's weight empty, says A350 chief engineer Gordon McConnell: "This was the first sizing of the electrical structural network [needed to provide...

Air Transport.
June 17, 2008... aircraft development Max Kingsley-Jones Toulouse Airlines calm about A350 weight despite fuel penalty MTOW increase to maintain payload/range performance results in 1% rise in consumption A350 XWB customers are taking a fairly...