Flight International articles from March 2003

Flight International archives from March 2003

fleet replacement Brendan Sobie / Washington DC; Aeromexico rejects bank finance and forges lease deals for new jets.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... Aeromexico has rejected US Export-Import Bank funding for 15 new Boeing 737-700s and has sealed a mix of operating lease deals with International Lease Finance (ILFC) and Lombard Aviation Capital. After selecting the 737-700 to replace its...

EXPANSION; Africa One eyes 767 lease deal.(for Boeing 767 aircraft from Boeing Capital)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... Africa One is negotiating the lease of a Boeing 767 from Boeing Capital, which financed the Uganda-based airline's fleet of three McDonnell Douglas DC-9s and one DC-10-30. According to the airline's chief executive Fredrick Ochieng Obbo,...

LOW-COSTGROWTHDavid Fullbrook / Bangkok; AirAsia readies 737 fleet expansion.(AirAsia to triple investment in Boeing 737-300 aircraft fleet)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... Malaysian no-frills carrier AirAsia is to triple its Boeing 737-300 fleet to 21 aircraft over the next two years to provide capacity for its growing domestic network that will focus on point-to-point services. AirAsia has six 737-300s in...

Aircraft development Guy Norris / Seattle; Redesign boosts 737-900X seats; Modifying bulkhead to flat structure increases capacity and competitiveness with rival Airbus A321, says Boeing.(Boeing 737-900X product development)
March 4, 2003... Boeing is studying a radical flattened aft pressure bulkhead design for the 737-900X which could increase seating capacity and help launch the project by mid-2003. The flat bulkhead would replace the bowl-shaped structure as part of a...

aircraft development; Boeing plans 777-300ER flight test ramp-up after smooth start.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... Boeing's second 777-300ER test aircraft is expected to join the certification effort in the first week of April. The programme made a smooth start with the initial test aircraft's first flight on 24 February. During the 3h sortie the aircraft...

launch ; Bali takes road to recovery with Air Paradise.(Air Paradise International launches services)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... New Bali carrier Air Paradise International has launched services from the island's Denpasar Airport to Jakarta, Melbourne and Perth with an ex-Singapore Airlines Airbus A310-300. Set up by Bali entrepreneur Kadek Wiranatha, the airline will...

Expansion ; Caribbean Star plans St Kitts hub.(Caribbean Star Airlines to relocate)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... Antigua-based regional Caribbean Star Airlines is moving its headquarters to St Kitts and will develop a new hub on the island as it continues to expand its fleet and network. Over the next three months, the Bombardier Dash 8 operator will...

air traffic management David Kaminski-Morrow / Maastricht & David Learmount
March 4, 2003... Pilots could easily take over the task of airborne separation from air traffic controllers, even in high-density airspace, according to research from the Dutch aerospace research laboratory (NLR). Speaking at the Jane's ATC Maastricht...

Interiors Michael Phelan / Hamburg; Boeing and EADS unveil cabin comfort concepts; Move aimed at differentiating first-class from latest generation business-class products.(EADS Sogerma Services and Boeing Co. aircraft product development)
March 4, 2003... Boeing and EADS Sogerma Services unveiled concepts aimed at distinguishing elite first class from business class at last week's Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany. Sogerma's Bordeaux-based cabin interiors and completion division...

Co-operation Jackson Flores / Rio de Janeiro; Link with Aerosur bolsters LAPA.(LAPA operational alliance with Aerosur)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... Argentinian carrier LAPA is slowly recovering lost ground in the domestic market after one of the most difficult periods of its 27-year history, as it bids to expand its international route network. LAPA has recently sealed an operational...

air traffic management; North Atlantic ATC capacity set to be boosted.(Gander and Shanwick to be given new equipment)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... Oceanic controllers of the North Atlantic flight information regions (FIR) Gander and Shanwick will be given new equipment to upgrade surveillance quality, communications and capacity. UK National Air Traffic Services (NATS) is to buy Nav...

Fleet development Max Kingsley-Jones / Muscat; Oman Air mulls options for next growth phase; Gulf carrier plots regional or long-haul expansion following fleet-restructuring effort.(Oman Air to decide expansion plans)
March 4, 2003... Oman Air will decide later this year the next stage of its expansion, with a plan to add widebody aircraft for long-haul services or small jets for regional operations under evaluation. The majority privately owned airline completed the...

Regional expansion ; PIA closes on ATR deal to replace F27s.(Pakistan International Airlines product upgrade plans)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is finalising plans to upgrade its ageing domestic turboprop fleet as it prepares to acquire ATR 42s. PIA operates 11 Fokker F27s with an average age of around 40 years, and says it is in negotiations...

start-up ; Carrier joins Palau fight.(Palau Trans Pacific services information)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... A second airline is being established in the Pacific Island of Palau to follow Palau Trans Pacific's effort to break Continental Micronesia's market hold. Palau Trans Pacific started flying between Palau and Taipei in November using a...

ATMDAVIDKAMINSKI-MORROW / MAASTRICHT& David Learmount / London; Arinc/Sita collaboration stalls amid internal issues; Potential anti-trust contentions seen as stumbling block for deployment progress.(Sita and Arinc collaboration potential)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... Prospects of a potential collaboration between global air/ground communications network providers Arinc and Sita on the deployment of the digital VHF datalink Mode 2 (VDL-2) technology are fading fast. Sita vice-president of aircraft...

air navigation Carroll McCormick / Montreal; FAA approves display combining air traffic with collision avoidance.(UPS Aviation Technologies' cockpit display system certified by U.S. Federal Aviation Administration)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... An integrated anti-collision cockpit display system developed by UPS Aviation Technologies (UPS AT) has been certificated by the US Federal Aviation Administration. The system fuses automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data with...

Workshop.(Dragonair contract with Rolls-Royce)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... n Dragonair has placed a long-term services contract with Rolls-Royce worth $160 million for a TotalCare programme for the Trent 700 engines powering five Airbus A330s. The Hong Kong carrier has signed a five-year agreement with SR Technics for...

Business model Justin Wastnage / Brussels; European majors study 'third way' hybrid service; New approach would integrate low-fare point-to-point services with long-haul networks.
March 4, 2003... Several mainline European airlines are working on a "third way" business model that would enable them to connect low-fare point-to-point flights with existing long-haul networks. Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus, secretary general of the...

DEVELOPMENT; G150 service entry target moves closer.(Israel Aircraft Industries and Gulfstream speed up development of G150 business jet)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... Gulfstream and Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) have decided to speed up development of their G150 mid-size business jet. The two manufacturers plan to complete the development phase within two to three years, with a joint investment of $70...

Charter; OurJet plans business aircraft one-stop shop.(OurJet Ltd. operations)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... UK start-up charter company OurJet has begun operating from Farnborough Airport using the three business jets previously owned by defunct air taxi operator Chauffair, which went into receivership a year ago (Flight International 22-28 January...

evacuation; H&P in rapid response agreement.(Hunt and Palmer International alliance with Control Risks)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... UK charter broker Hunt & Palmer International (H&P) has signed an alliance with hostage risk-avoidance consultancy Control Risks to provide emergency evacuation from international hotspots. Under the deal, H&P is to become the air transport...

Personal jets Graham Warwick / Washington DC; Safire and Eclipse in race for first delivery landmark; After selecting Williams FJ33 powerplant, S-26 manufacturer hopes to beat rivals to market.(Safire Aircraft selects Williams International's turbofan)
March 4, 2003... Safire Aircraft has selected Williams International's FJ33 turbofan to power its S-26, and claims it will be first to market with a personal jet. US certification has been set for the end of 2005, with deliveries to begin in the first quarter...

market GRAHAMWARWICK / WASHINGTONDC; NetJets sees its success rub off ; Fractional ownership and charter operators enjoy growth as customers seek lower-cost access to business aviation.(growth of Marquis Jet Partners and Executive Jet Management)
March 4, 2003... Two companies closely associated with fractional-ownership leader NetJets are experiencing growth as customers seek lower-cost access to business aviation. NetJets subsidiary Executive Jet Management (EJM) is expanding its aircraft management...

Takeovers Pino Modola / Genoa; Carlyle enters race to buy FiatAvio.(Carlyle Group bid for Fiat Group's FiatAvio)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... US private investment company Carlyle Group has tabled an offer to the Fiat Group for FiatAvio, the turbine engine division of the financially struggling automotive-focused Italian company. The Carlyle bid is reported to be worth c1.6 billion...

Cutbacks; EasyJet and Swiss suffer as yields fall further.(Swiss International Air Lines and EasyJet finances decrease)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... European carriers are warning of falling yields and the need for more cutbacks as signs of economic recovery fail to materialise. Swiss International Air Lines is blaming "a worsening economic situation" for falling load factors, and will...

Analysis Alexander Campbell / London; Second-tier suppliers ride storm; Results show Europe's smaller manufacturers faring better than primes in downturn, boosted by defence spending.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... Europe's second-tier aerospace contractors appear to be weathering the industry downturn better than their larger counterparts. Although many smaller manufacturers have been hit by the slump in civil aircraft deliveries, a series of results...

Restructuring Karen Walker / Washington DC; USmajors slip deeper into crisis as labour cost-cutting moves slowly.(Cost cuts are slow at American Airlines and United Airlines)
March 4, 2003... Fears continue to grow for the future of American Airlines and United Airlines as desperately needed cost cuts at both airlines remain slow in coming. Speculation that American could follow United into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection...

trade Sanctions; Tax dispute threatens USexports.(taxation in the aerospace industry)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... Aerospace companies could be among the victims of the US tax haven dispute as the European Union (EU) prepares a final target list for punitive sanctions. The list has not yet been published - it needs to be cleared by EUmember states - but...

Dominant force.(U.S. government security measures)
March 4, 2003... Many US security measures are politically determined, inconsistent and ineffective, and their main effect will be industry damage It is understandable that the US government should want to provide the best security for its air travellers...

Surface-to-surface missiles; Lockheed Martin aims for greater penetration.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... Lockheed Martin plans to test fire the first army Tactical Missile System (TACMS) equipped with a penetrator re-entry vehicle later this year as the company looks for development work to sustain the programme following cancellation of the...

Maritime patrol ; EADSedges closer to Deepwater.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... EADS Casa's long-awaited order for the first of 35 CN235ER Persuaders as part of the US Coast Guard's Deepwater programme has progressed with the US Congress earmarking $147 million for the maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). The money, however, is...

Testing Paul Lewis /WashingtonDC; DoD 'encouraged' by V-22 results.(Department of Defense)
March 4, 2003... The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey integrated test team is nearing the end of the initial phase of high rate of descent (HROD) testing, drawing a positive response from the US Department of Defense (DoD). The next focus is on expanding the machine's...

Stand-off missiles; JASSM deliveries to start as ER award expected.(Lockheed Martin expects extended range contract)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... Lockheed Martin is expecting a US Air Force contract later this year to develop the extended range (ER) version of the AGM-158 JASSM stand-off missile. Initial deliveries of the standard missile are due to begin next month, while the US Navy...

development PaulLewis / Fort Worth; JSF set to enter 10,000htest programme in 2005; Plans include 14 aircraft in three versions, drawing on lessons from concept demonstration.(F-35 Joint Strike Fighter )
March 4, 2003... Lockheed Martin is laying out plans for a 10,000h flight-test programme for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), starting in August 2005. This will involve 14 conventional (CTOL), carrier (CV) and short take-off vertical landing (STOVL)...

Instruction Stewart Penney / London; RAF to select new trainer in effort to meet targets; Technical problems with Jetstream could lead to shortage of multi-engine pilots.(Royal Air Force)
March 4, 2003... The UKMinistry of Defence is due to decide this month on a possible interim replacement for its 11 BAeJetstream T1 multi-engine trainers. Technical problems with the Jetstream mean the Royal Air Force is unable to train the required number of...

Trainers; Production Yak-130 set for first flight.(Yakovlev plans 11/03 launch of advanced trainer)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... Yakovlev has targeted November for the maiden flight of the production-standard Yakovlev Yak-130 advanced trainer. The production Yak-130 has a narrower fuselage, reduced wing areaand empty weight, a weapons system compatible with precision...

contracts.(contracts in aviation industry)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... n Switzerland has selected the Raytheon AIM-9X short-range air-to-air missile and has set aside SFr115 million ($84.5 million) in its 2003 defence budget for the acquisition. UK company Aerosystems International (AeI),teamed with Boeing, has...

pilot schools; Finns propose interim Eurotraining.(Finland offers air academy for proposed Eurotraining project)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... Finland has offered use of its air academy as an interim solution for the proposed Eurotraining project. The country is one of 12 nations signed up tostudy the possible joint advanced pilot training programme. Finnish air force chief of...

warfareCHRISTINA MACKENZIE / PARIS; Intelligence a key lesson of Afghanistan for French ; Strategic transport, bad-weather targeting and communication with allies also difficulties.
March 4, 2003... The French air force says the principal lesson it learned from coalition operations in Afghanistan is that it must improve its capacity to acquire and handle intelligence. GenPatrice Klein, French air force deputy head of operations, says...

BudgetsJustin Wastnage / London; Germany seeks operational cost cuts to offset shortfall; Defence ministry prepares review as part of budget deficit reduction plans.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... The German defence ministry is to launch a review of operational costs in an attempt to offset shortfalls in its defence budget. The plan to reduce non-procurement spending, which could lead to a reduction in training and domestic deployment,...

resources; Europe urged to match US homeland security funds.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... European aircraft manufacturers are to submit proposals for European Commission-funded research into internal security projects in a bid to replicate US Department of Homeland Security funding. European aerospace association AECMAwill finalise...

EXPANSION; Cirrus targets emerging markets as it builds worldwide agent network.
March 4, 2003... Cirrus Design is to strengthen and expand its agent and product support network in the second half of the year in an effort to penetrate emerging markets and widen the appeal of its SR20/22 piston single line within more mature regions. ...

BORDERPATROL EMMAKELLY / PERTH; Customs gets real-time data boost; Australian Eye in the Sky communications/surveillance system claimed to be first of its kind in civil maritime use.
March 4, 2003... Australia's customs service will have all five of its Bombardier Dash 8 turboprops equipped with a high-speed satellite communication system capable of transmitting real-time video, still images, voice and data by the end of March. The...

Air Transport David Learmount / London; Hijack transponder 'no longer needed'; Pilots may be reluctant to use emergency code says AEA.
March 4, 2003... The Association of European Airlines (AEA) has told the US Federal Aviation Administration that it radically disagrees with the agency's proposal for continuous, uninterruptible transponder operations. It says the FAA's notice of proposed...

Briefing.(aviation industry briefs )
March 4, 2003... Fuel prices reach almost pre-Gulf War highs OIL PRICE Rising oil prices drove the cost of jet fuel to near-record levels last week. New York kerosene prices reached 32.7o/litre ($1.24/USgal) last week, compared with 38.6o/litre in October...

Air Transport Paul Lewis / Washington DC; Troubled Swiss to delay 170 order; Launch customer for 70-seater set to put back delivery of 20 aircraft as it battles to restructure regional operations.
March 4, 2003... Embraer is again having to negotiate revised delivery schedules for 170 launch customer Swiss International Air Lines. Swiss wants to delay the entry into service of 20 of the new aircraft in the face of reduced operations and cuts to its fleet...

Air Transport Justin Wastnage / London; EC seeks right to probe international alliances.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... The European Commission is proposing changes to competition laws to give it power to rule over international airline alliances as part of a wider air transport policy. The EC says that air transport alliances involving a non-EU carrier is...

Business aviation; 767 choice opens airline market to Max-Viz.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... The Max-Viz EVS-2500 enhanced vision system (EVS) has been selected by a private Boeing 767-200 operator, prompting hopes by the Oregon-based company that the win represents a possible breakthrough into the commercial airline market. The...

BUSINESS AVIATION; Indigo to restart public charter service with new business jet.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... Business aircraft operator Indigo was poised to kick-start its public charter service on 3 March with two of the 25 Embraer Legacy business jets it has on order. The Chicago-based company became the US launch customer for the ERJ-135 regional...

Defence Paul Lewis /WashingtonDC; Northrop Grumman flies first X-47A demonstrator; DARPAcontract for yet-to-be unveiled follow-on naval vehicle also expected.
March 4, 2003... Northrop Grumman is anticipating a contract shortly from the US Navy and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to begin developing the X-47B naval unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV-N) demonstrator. It follows a successful...

Spaceflight; ISS crew to return by early May.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... The International Space Station's (ISS) sixth expedition crew will return to Earth in late April or early May using the docked Russian Soyuz TMA. A two-person maintenance-only crew comprising astronaut Ed Lu and cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko will...

Straight & Level roger.bacon@flightinternational.com.
March 4, 2003... 7E7 suggestions And the to answer to what the "E" in 7E7 stands for? Eight, of course. Thanks to all concerned. Flightdeck diplomacy Q: How did an F28 first officer on finals tell his CRM paranoid captain that his superior had...

LAUNCHES; Safety checks further delay Ariane 5 lift-off.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... Arianespace's next launch of the basic Ariane 5, carrying the Galaxy 12 and Insat 3A communications satellites and planned for 31 March, has been delayed by a further 20 days for more checks. The launch had been put back from 28 February for...

Expendable vehicles; First Atlas EELV launch confirmed under seven-flight USAF contract.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... International Launch Services (ILS) has received confirmation of its first Atlas V launch under a seven-flight US Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) contract. Atlas V will carry the Boeing-built Wideband Gapfiller Satellite 2...

in brief.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... BOEING RESHUFFLE Randy Brinkley, president of troubled Boeing Satellite Systems, has resigned and will be replaced by Dave Ryan, deputy general manager of the company's space and intelligence systems division. IRAN SATELLITE Italy...

Boosters Tim Furniss / London; Europe starts Vega development; Italy has 65% of funding with six nations sharing the rest, but there are concerns about demand for the launcher.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2003... Contracts for development of the Vega small satellite launcher have been signed by the European Space Agency and CNES, the French space agency. ELV, a joint Italian Space Agency and FiatAvio organisation, has received c211 million (pound...

Investigation Tim Furniss / London & Graham Warwick / Washington DC; Recovered Columbia tiles point to breach of thermal protection ; Heat shield parts shed before orbiter disintegrated show "very unusual" deep scoring and pitting of surface.
March 4, 2003... Evidence continues to indicate that a breach in the thermal-protection system led to break-up of the Space Shuttle Columbia during re-entry, but efforts of isolate the source of the breach are still under way. Investigators are being helped by...

soft target?(The USA has been unflagging in its efforts to improve aviation security since 11 September 2001. But is it paying enough attention to freight? )
March 4, 2003... Aaron Karp / Washington DC The USA has spent billions of dollars revamping aviation security since the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, federalising passenger screeners and mandating that all checked baggage be screened for explosives....

silver lining.(The economic climate in the airline market is not all bad news - cargo converters expect the downturn to make 2003 their best year ever)
March 4, 2003... Brendan sobie / washington DC If an ever-growing diverse group of aerospace firms looking for a ray of light in a depressed market is to be believed, 2003 will go down as the year of the cargo conversion. Plummeting aircraft values, a...

new for old?(training equipment )
March 4, 2003... Over-capacity in a market where older systems are not being phased out is hurting simulator sales. But there is better news on the horizon Old aircraft never die, they simply get parked. Old simulators, unfortunately, are not even parked....

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
March 4, 2003... Columbia accident Would a different approach help? While Columbia's loss is a tragedy, the ensuing debate about funding and NASA's purpose highlights new opportunities. Maybe it's time to consider different approaches to operations...

Alliances Pino Modola / Genoa; Alitalia dumps Volare for Meridiana.(Volare Group, Merdiana; Alitalia partnership plans)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2003... In a surprise move, Alitalia has abandoned plans to form an alliance with Volare Group in favour of a possible partnership with Sardinian carrier Meridiana. Although the Italian flag carrier has been engaged in long-running talks with...

Interiors Michael Phelan / Hamburg; Amsafe Aviation predicts bigger market for inflatable seatbelts.(aircraft)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2003... Amsafe Aviation is targeting the Airbus A380 with a lightweight version of its Amsafe Aviation Inflatable Restraint (AAIR) system. The company expects to see an increase in row-to-row applications of its inflatable seatbelt if the US Federal...

restructuring; Atlas offloads senior staff.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2003... US cargo carrier Atlas Air has shed four senior executives as it fights to overcome a financial crisis. The Boeing 747 freighter wet-lease operator last week replaced chief executive Richard Shuyler with former president John Blue in what it...

Aircraft Development Guy Norris / Long Beach; Star interest in 717 deal spurs on stretch efforts; Boeing ponders launch of larger model as it considers ramping up production.(Boeing Co., 717-300X commercial jet; marketing)
March 11, 2003... The marketing drive to launch the stretched Boeing 717-300X has shifted to Asia and Europe, aimed largely at airlines in the Star Alliance, some of which are studying a possible group purchase. "The -300 seems to be the focus of most...

development Guy Norris / Los Angeles; Boeing simulates Tibetan hazards; Project designed to demonstrate new safety features to Chinese airlines and help to overcome landing risks.(737 jet aircraft)
March 11, 2003... Boeing engineers are developing a highly accurate simulation of narrow Tibetan valleys to help demonstrate the enhanced safety of new 737 flightdeck displays as part of a sales drive to the newly consolidated China National Aviation (CNAC)...

Delivery; First 737 arrives at Eurocypria Airlines.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2003... Eurocypria Airlines has taken delivery of its first Boeing aircraft, one of four 737-800s that the Cyprus Airways charter arm will receive this year on lease from International Lease Finance. The 189-seaters will replace the four Airbus...

launch; Start-up eyes low-cost long-haul sector.(Belegian Universal Airways)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2003... Former Delsey Airlines and Sabena employees are setting up a Belgian long-haul operator called Belgian Universal Airways (BUA) which will operate Airbus A340s on low- fare services. The carrier, which will be 49% owned by L-Air Holding of...

Incident; 747 nose gear collapses.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2003... A Boeing 747-200 freighter operated by Israeli freight carrier Cargo Air Lines was damaged on 5 March when its nose gear collapsed during routine pre-flight maintenance at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport. The incident happened as...

safety; Australia sets 2005 date for reform of regulations.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2003... The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) of Australia is confident that its latest attempt at regulatory reform will be successful despite numerous failed attempts over the past 10 years and the concerns of some in the industry that they have...

navigation; EC to widen satellite aid.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2003... The European Commission is to widen the use of its satellite navigation air traffic management (ATM) aids to North Africa. Following the first EuroMediterran- ean Global Satellite Navigation Systems (GNSS) seminar in Cairo last month, the EC...

avionics; Xian Aircraft selects Rockwell Collins for MA60 upgrade.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2003... China's Xian Aircraft (XAC) has launched an avionics upgrade programme for its MA60 turboprop aircraft and selected the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 integrated system. Deliveries of initial shipsets are due to begin this year and aircraft...

accidents Vladimir Karnozov / Moscow; CIS achieves 'slight improvement' in safety.
March 11, 2003... CIS member states suffered 24 air transport accidents in 2002, 40% fewer than the previous year, according to the Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK). These included eight "catastrophes" or serious accidents in which a total of 175 people died,...

orders Leithen francis / singapore; Shenzhen poised to acquire 737-900s and A300 freighters.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2003... China's Shenzhen Airlines is awaiting government approval to acquire 10 Boeing 737-900s as it looks to establish a separate cargo business and seeks rights to operate international passenger services. Vice-president of operations Zhang Pei...

Expansion Max Kingsley-Jones / Liege; TNT sees JAA approval as vital for Tu-204 selection; Russian airliner is candidate to meet the express package carrier's growth plans.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2003... Express package carrier TNT Express is finalising expansion plans for its European air network and hopes to decide on its long- running fleet evaluation by the end of this year. The Tupolev Tu-204 is among the candidates being evaluated, but...

modifications Paul Duffy / Moscow; Tu-154M hushkit promises to offer European compliance.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2003... A new hushkit modification for the Tupolev Tu-154M is due to become available this year which will enable the Russian trijet to comply with noise legislation stricter than Chapter 3 to be implemented in Europe. A Chapter 3 hushkit is...

Regulation Jackson Flores / Rio de Janeiro; TAM/Varig merger advances.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2003... Brazilian regulators supervising the proposed TAM/Varig merger have cleared the two airlines to codeshare on domestic flights from Sio Paulo Congonhas Airport, enabling them to reduce services by 30%. Brazil's anti-trust agency CADE cleared...

Air traffic management Graham Warwick / Washington DC; FAA signs satellite lease agreement for WAAS; Lockheed Martin team to provide GPSaugmentation under $597 million contract.
March 11, 2003... A Lockheed Martin-led team is to provide leased satellite communications services for the US Federal Aviation Administration's GPSwide-area augmentation system (WAAS). The contract, potentially worth $597 million, includes a third geostationary...

Safety; EADSSocata TBM 700 crashes in Virginia fog.
March 11, 2003... The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)confirms that it is investigating a fatal accident to an EADS Socata TBM 700 single-engined turboprop that crashed on 2 March on approach to Virginia Leesburg Executive Airport. The weather was...

Part privatisation; El Al set to remain majority state-owned.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2003... Israel's new coalition government will allow only a partial privatisation of the country's national carrier El Al, which means that the ban on the airline flying on the sabbath will remain in force (Flight International, 4-11 February). ...

Leasing Maria Wagland / London; Lessors see competition easing; ILFC, GATX predict sluggish economy will force some smaller players without wealthy parents to leave market.(International Lease Finance, GATX Air)
March 11, 2003... US lessor International Lease Finance (ILFC) expects to ride out the current market downturn but believes some of its competitors will bow out as the global economy limps towards recovery. ILFC vice-president marketing Philip Scruggs says:...

First Flight; Ibis flies production prototype.(Ibis Aerospace)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2003... Ibis Aerospace flew for the first time on 25 February the production- conforming prototype Ae270 Spirit single-engined turboprop. The eight-seat pressurised aircraft flew for 1h from the company's Prague base, powered for the first time by a...

Fractional ownership Kate Sarsfield / London; NetJets Europe changes tack in bid to make profit; Switch in focus from wealthy individuals to corporations aimed at exploiting slow economy.
March 11, 2003... NetJets Europe says it expects to report an annual profit for the first time late next year as it starts to reshape its core customer base. "Turning a profit depends on our very aggressive targets being met," says NetJets Europe director...

In brief.(miscellaneous brief articles)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2003... kelley goes Jet Aviation's US president and chief operating officer Terrance Kelley has stepped down after more than nine years with the company. Theo Staub, vice-president of strategic planning and business development at Jet Aviation's...