Flight International articles from March 2007

Flight International archives from March 2007

Aeroflot to fill in with up to 15 A330s.(Air Transport)(Aeroflot Russian Airlines)(Airbus S.A.S.)(Brief article)
March 6, 2007... Byline: Fleet planning Aeroflot is to acquire up to 15 Airbus A330s as a stopgap measure ahead of its much-delayed order for a new long-haul fleet, writes Tom Zaitsev. Aeroflot's decision marks the latest twist in a long-running and...

EASA next for An-148 after Russian approval.(Air Transport)(European Aviation Safety Agency)(Brief article)
March 6, 2007... Byline: testing David Kaminski-Morrow / LONDON Russia's civil aviation authority has granted type certification to the Antonov An-148, after a test programme covering more than 1,200h and 600 flights. Antonov and Russia's Interstate...

Flybe studies fleet moves after BA Connect deal.(Air Transport)
March 6, 2007... Byline: planning max kingsley-jones / exeter UK regional evaluates combination of Q400s and E-Jets to replace Dash 8s and ERJs Flybe is evaluating fleet-mix options to enable it to replace the BAe 146s, Bombardier Dash 8 Q300s and...

MAS floats five-year network plan.(Malaysia Airlines)(Brief article)
March 6, 2007... Byline: expansion Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is looking to expand its operations from next year following two years of cuts, and is again considering orders for new aircraft, writes Nicholas Ionides. The carrier says in its 2006 earnings...

India's MDLR readies order.(Air Transport)(MDLR Airlines plans to launch services)(Brief article)
March 6, 2007... Byline: start-up Indian start-up MDLR Airlines is preparing to launch services using leased regional jets and plans to order between 10 and 15 turboprops or jets by the end of the year. Nupur Mehta of the chairman's secretariat says...

Business.(investigation regarding lease of fighter aircraft)(Brief article)
March 6, 2007... saab. The Swedish director of public prosecutions Christer van der Kwast has opened an investigation into the lease of Saab Gripen fighter aircraft to the Czech Republic. The UK and Czech authorities are already investigating Saab and BAE...

Business.(GKN Aerospace Services looks forward for increase inits profits)(Doncasters Group Ltd. acquires FastenTech Inc.)(Lockheed Martin Corp., reorganises its business units)
March 6, 2007... Stellex buy boosts GKN's civil business Results UK-based GKN's aerospace division is looking forward to strong growth in civil aerospace in the short term, as well as solid demand for military products, after posting a 30% increase in...

Business.(Smiths Group PLC. Smiths Aerospace to open up a development centre in partnership with HCL Technologies)(Brief article)
March 6, 2007... smiths aerospace. The UK-based manufacturer is pushing forward with plans to boost its presence in India, with the opening of a new development centre in Chennai, in partnership with Indian IT services specialist HCL Technologies. The centre...

Bombardier's bet.(Business)(dialogue with Pierre Beaudoin of Bombardier Aerospace North America)(Interview)
March 6, 2007... Byline: Murdo Morrison / montreal & Helen massy-Beresford / London Having a presence in both business and regional aircraft has helped Bombardier Aerospace ride out rough times in both markets. When the US corporate aviation sector...

Business.(Flight Safety Technologies appoints Wes Cummins)(BAE SYSTEMS PLC appoints Clark Freise)(Beagle Aerospace appoints Claire Partridge)(Brief article)
March 6, 2007... Beagle Aerospace has appointed Claire Partridge(above) finance director and Jane Evans human resources manager. The company has also taken on two new business development executives: Robin Collinson and James Wilson. Airbus and Sita joint...

Business.(Brief article)
March 6, 2007... "Airbus is paying a heavy price for bad governance, a control by governments where one should have had trust in the company." european union transport commissioner jacques barrot, urging airbus to abandon national rivalries

Alpha Aviation's Philippine fillip.(Features)(Alpha Aviation Group inducts its first group of cadets in Philippines)(Brief article)
March 6, 2007... Byline: South-East Asia Nicholas Ionides / Singapore As more flight training schools are established or expanded in South-East Asia, UK-based Alpha Aviation Group recently inducted its first group of cadets at a newly opened pilot school at...

Australia.(Features)(Indian students' flight training in Australia)
March 6, 2007... A passion for cricket is one reason why many Indian students prefer Australia to the USA for their training Emerging markets such as India are proving good business for several Australian training providers, with companies promoting...

Graduating in the Gulf and filling a gap.(Features)(pilot training)(Cabair College of Air Training)(Fujairah Aviation Academy)(Brief article)
March 6, 2007... Byline: MIDDLE EAST MURDO MORRISON / LONDON At Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, a group of aspiring airline pilots from the Middle East and Indian subcontinent are taking their first steps towards a career in an industry that urgently...

New approach.(Features)(multi-crew pilot licences)
March 6, 2007... Byline: Kerry Ezard & David Learmount / London & Leithen Francis / Singapore Chinese students are the first to undergo training for the new multi-crew pilot licence Six student pilots from two Chinese carriers are on course to be...

North America.(Features)(training Indian and Chinese students in North American flying schools)
March 6, 2007... Byline: Jeffrey Decker / Oshkosh China and India rely heavily on North American flying schools - but do they get value for money? With burgeoning airlines in China and India hiring every available pilot, and local instructors too few...

Eager to Learn.(Features)(training of aircraft-pilots)
March 6, 2007... Byline: Helen MASSY-BERESFORD / LONDON From China to the Middle East, the aviation boom has set off a skills scramble as countries struggle to find and train thousands of new pilots. We look at how flying schools in China and India, as well...

CAE works to get the mix right.(Features)(training services provider focuses on China, India, and Middle East)
March 6, 2007... Byline: Simulation Graham Warwick / Washington DC Training systems and services provider CAE sees the emerging markets of China, India and the Middle East as having different characteristics, requiring a different mix of solutions. ...

China.(Features)(flying schools)
March 6, 2007... Byline: LEITHEN FRANCIS / SINGAPORE Can China open enough flying schools - and, until it does, can overseas trainers manage the demand? China has been turning to overseas ab initio training schools to help meet its demand for new...

India.(Features)(training aircraft-pilots)
March 6, 2007... Byline: SIVA GOVINDASAMY / BANGALORE There has never been a better time for aspiring young pilots in India - if they can find and afford training Kunal Gupta is in the second year of a four-year mechanical engineering degree course....

Are ANSPs listening?(Letters and Flannel)(Letter to the editor)
March 6, 2007... Your Comment (Flight International, 20-26 February) raised the issue of the implementation of strategic lateral offset procedures (SLOP). At present, the International Civil Aviation Organisation leaves it to individual states and air...

Too much luxury.(Letters and Flannel)(Letter to the editor)
March 6, 2007... While the Airbus A380 is impressive, there is something obscene about having 12 first-class seats taking up 25% of the main deck (Flight International, 13-19 February). The space could be occupied by 110 economy passengers. The 64...

Rich and powerful.(Letters and Flannel)(Letter to the editor)
March 6, 2007... Your article on the market share of each of the engine makers (Flight International, 20-26 February) perfectly illustrates the benefit of having a rich parent - in the case of General Electric, probably the richest one in the world and one that...

R&D: just a political tool?(Letters and Flannel)(research and development)(Brief article)
March 6, 2007... Byline: Research I have watched with increasing disillusionment the way in which research funding has become nothing more than a subsidy to enormous companies that do not need such funding, but are simply determined that no-one else gets...

EU poised to investigate as Galileo faces further delay.(Spaceflight)(Galileo satellite navigation system)
March 6, 2007... Byline: navigation rob coppinger / london Study likely to highlight failure of industrial partners to agree management structure European transport commissioner Jacques Barrot has asked the European Union's German presidency to...

Russia may find role in replacement of Ariane.(Spaceflight)(Brief article)
March 6, 2007... Byline: launchers rob coppinger / sinnamary Russia's Federal Space Agency (FSA) is studying possible collaboration on the European Space Agency's planned future launcher programme. The ESA has studied a range of options for an Ariane...

Working Week.(Correction notice)
March 6, 2007... Correction: It is the Asian Aviation Centre in Sri Lanka that has adopted the Newcastle Aviation Academy's foundation degree in aeronautical engineering, not the Sri Lankan Aviation Academy, as stated by Jeff Watson in Working Week (Flight...

Looking for a first command at 20.(Working Week)(Oliver Craig speaks on his career )(Interview)
March 6, 2007... Oliver Craig, 20, is a first officer with Astraeus, flying Boeing 737-700s from London Gatwick airport. He describes how he was bitten by the flying bug at the age of 16 and his ambitions to progress to a command on 757s What attracted you...

News Analysis.
March 13, 2007... AIRBUS AND BOEING LARGE FREIGHTER OFFERINGS Max payload Range* Service entry Airbus A330-200F 69t 5,930km Q4 2009 Airbus A350-900F 90t 9,250km 2015? Airbus A380-800F 152t ...

Boeing prepares to cash in.(Airbus A330-200F)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: large freighters Although the 64-69t payload Airbus A330-200F is launched and in full development - with service entry set for late 2009 - and there are long-term plans for an A350-900F, Bob Dahl, project director at consultancy...

Back to the drawing board.
March 13, 2007... Byline: cargo Max Kingsley-Jones / London The A380 Freighter may be in limbo, but Airbus could ultimately return to the market with a much improved design The decision by United Parcel Service (UPS) to turn its back on the A380...

What the enhancements add.(US airlines)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... "Safe harbours" for European Union investment in US airlines. EU stock ownership under 50% will not automatically be deemed control while ownership of 50% or more of total equity is not automatically presumed to constitute control and be...

Open Skies rewrites rules.
March 13, 2007... Byline: liberalisation Aimee Turner / London Proposed EU-US agreement could redefine Europe's airline industry, but access to congested Heathrow is an issue A new Open Skies era of increased opportunities for competition and innovation...

APB adds 737-500 to blended winglet retrofit.(Air Transport)
March 13, 2007... Byline: upgrades guy norris / los angeles Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) and Continental Airlines have launched the retrofit of the blended winglet on the Boeing 737-500 and the Seattle-based joint company plans to bring a second supplier...

Major 787 subsections take shape.(Air Transport)
March 13, 2007... Byline: production Guy Norris / Los Angeles 747 Dreamlifter to fly Alenia-built fuselage sections for integration with other components at Charleston plant The first shipset of Alenia Aeronautica-built fuselage sections for the Boeing...

Embraer tackles JetBlue E-190 software glitches.(Embraer Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. services JetBlue Airways Corp.'s aircraft )
March 13, 2007... Byline: upgrade Mary Kirby / Washington DC Manufacturer begins work on upgrade and prepares to talk to other operators Embraer has begun upgrading software on JetBlue Airways' fleet of 26 E-190s, as persistent glitches continue to be...

US domestic debut for E-175.(Air Transport)(Embraer 175)(contracts of Embraer Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. and Republic Airlines Inc.)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: delivery The Embraer 175 has made its US domestic debut, with the delivery of the first aircraft to Republic Airlines last week. The company has orders for 30 E-175s, which will be operated in an 86-seat layout under the US Airways...

Alcoa picks AEI for 757 conversion.(Air Transport)(Aeronautical Engineers)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: cargo Alcoa has selected Miami-based modification specialist Aeronautical Engineers (AEI) to perform its Boeing 757-200 passenger to cargo conversions, writes Guy Norris. Alcoa's first "14Plus" 757 conversion, which was...

Finnair stays with A350.(Air Transport)(Finnair Oy buys Airbus S.A.S. products)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: Order Finnair is the first Airbus A350 customer to reconfirm its order as the new XWB variant. The airline has increased its commitment to 11 of the type, and is ordering six Airbus A330/A340s as part of an accelerated replacement...

How new tool will operate.(Swanwick Area Control Centre uses iFACTS)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... iFACTS is designed to go active as Swanwick ACC changes over from using paper flight progress strips to electronic ones. The system continuously monitors the progress of all flights according to their flight plan, or their latest ATC clearance...

iFACTS poised to transform ATC.(Air Traffic Control automation software by National Air Traffic Control Services Ltd)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: air traffic management David Learmount / Swanwick NATS demonstrates support system that can check for potential conflicts and will speed up decision-making UK air navigation service provider NATS has demonstrated a new...

UPS eyes freighter options.(Air Transport)(United Parcel Service of America Inc.)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: capacity Mary Kirby / Philadelphia Cargo operator considers 747-400 conversions after abandoning A380F order The acquisition of converted Boeing 747-400 freighters is one of several options being studied by United Parcel...

Business.(France's Aerospace Valley centre of excellence)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... midi-pyrenees and aquitaine The French regions forming the Aerospace Valley centre of excellence have hit out at plans to give the same status to other locations. They say while they are ready to co-operate with other regions, officially...

Business.(Bombardier Inc.)(Kaiser Aluminum Corp.)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... BOMbardier The Canadian aircraft maker has cut its exposure to the risk of rising raw material prices by securing a greater supply of aluminium plate and sheet products used in the manufacture of components until 2012. The company has extended...

Business.(briefs)(appointments)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Bruce Peddle (above) is taking over the role of vice-president marketing and sales at Embraer's airline management division, with responsibility for Canada, the Caribbean and the USA. The company has also appointed Orlando Jose Ferreira Neto...

GoJet reveals Australian ambition.(Business Aviation)(services under planning)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP EMMA KELLY / PERTH Start-up believes VLJ-based scheme will succeed in country where fractional ownership has so far failed to take off New Australian business jet company GoJet plans to launch a fractional...

A first for Flightline.(Business Aviation)(Flightline International's Boeing MD-83 gets certified)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: Delivery UK charter and maintenance company Flightline has taken delivery of its first UK-registered Boeing MD-83. Certification work was carried out at Nottingham East Midlands airport before it joins the operator's BAe 146s.

Eclipse covers Avidyne avionics gap.(Business Aviation)(Eclipse Aviation Corp.)(Avio NG)
March 13, 2007... Byline: manufacturing John Croft / WASHINGTON DC Enhanced package to be retrofitted to existing 500s by year-end and will have 'no impact' on delivery schedule Eclipse Aviation, builder of the Eclipse 500 very light jet (VLJ), has...

DayJet adds more funding as it lines up for take-off.(Business Aviation)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: Funding John Croft / WASHINGTON DC Florida-based air taxi start-up company DayJet, which is to acquire hundreds of Eclipse 500s, has obtained $50 million in capital after completing its third round of private equity financing,...

Charter consultancy targets eastern Europe.(Business Aviation)(Euro Avia)
March 13, 2007... Byline: Development Kate Sarsfield / London Romanian aviation consultancy Euro Avia is seeking to set up a dedicated business jet charter company to exploit the booming demand for private aircraft travel in the former Eastern Bloc country....

Time to change.(Comment)
March 13, 2007... Indonesia has had one of the world's worst domestic airline safety records for 30 years, but it has the power to alter that No country is stuck with a record like that unless its government doesn't care Garuda Indonesia Airlines has a...

US Aircraft's new-look A-67 Dragon borrows from design of Tucano.(Defence)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: COUNTER-INSURGENCY GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC Start-up US Aircraft has changed direction in its plans to develop a low-cost counter-insurgency aircraft for use in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere. After funding design of the A-67...

Revolutionary engine up to speed.(Defence)(Adaptive Versatile Engine Technologies (Advent) programme)
March 13, 2007... Byline: PROPULSION GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC US Air Force heralds advent of transformational design that could power service's future long-range strike missions US Air Force researchers are targeting 2012 to demonstrate...

Typhoons near UK air defence duty.(Defence)(Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: Operations Craig Hoyle / London Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons are to provide air policing duties over the southern UK from mid-year, following the recent conclusion of missile test firings by 3 Sqn, its first frontline unit...

GAO lifts lid on CSAR-X decision.(Defence)(Government Accountability Office)(CSAR-X combat search-and-rescue contest)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: HELICOPTERS The US Government Accountability Office's (GAO) probe into the US Air Force's CSAR-X combat search-and-rescue contest has revealed that Boeing's winning HH-47 Chinook proposal was the most expensive of the three bids,...

Defence.(briefs)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Lockheed Martin is to produce a further 158 Arrowhead modernised target acquisition designation sight/pilot night vision sensors for the US Army's Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters under a $311 million deal that also covers the delivery of...

Defence.(upgradation of Hercules aircraft)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: SAFETY CRAIG HOYLE / LONDON RAF chief defends pace of Hercules upgrade The UK Royal Air Force is acting swiftly to address safety shortcomings with its Lockheed Martin C-130J/K tactical transports, but must do so in the face of...

Seoul seeks offers from Europe in new F-X fight.(Defence)(Boeing Co.)(Dassault Aviation S.A.)(General Electric Co.)
March 13, 2007... Byline: Competition Siva Govindasamy / Singapore Complaints of US bias prompt South Korea to reopen contest, but F-15 is still favourite European fighter manufacturers attended a meeting in Seoul last week to gather information on...

RAAF examines options to evolve weapons capability.(Defence)(Australia. Royal Australian Air Force)
March 13, 2007... Byline: ARMAMENTS PETER LA FRANCHI / CANBERRA The Royal Australian Air Force is considering expanding its Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missile stockpile and upgrading its current air-launched weapons to introduce...

Rafales go to Afghanistan as French commitment grows.(Defence-)(Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft)
March 13, 2007... Byline: OPERATIONS HELEN MASSY-BERESFORD / MONT-DE-MARSAN Air force and navy to deploy six aircraft to Tajikistan in support of ISAF mission France is in the process of sending six Dassault Rafale C/M fighters to support ground troops...

Australia set to get Super Hornet.(Defence)(contract)
March 13, 2007... Byline: FIGHTERS PETER LA FRANCHI / CANBERRA RAAF will field 24 Boeing F/A-18Fs from 2010, but Canberra continues to plan for an all-Joint Strike Fighter future Australia has given the green light to an estimated A$6 billion ($4.7...

Turbocharged variant follows original Airvan sales success.(General Aviation)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: Development Emma Kelly / Perth Gippsland hopes for certification by year-end as utility aircraft pursues air show circuit Australian manufacturer Gippsland Aeronautics is in the final stages of developmental flight testing of a...

Lisa to enter leisure market.(General Aviation )(Lisa Airplanes develops aircraft)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: Start-up Kate Sarsfield / London French start-up manufacturer Lisa Airplanes has launched a two-seat amphibious ultra-light aircraft and plans to develop a six-seat, turbine-powered version for the private flyer and leisure travel...

Neighbours sign servicing agreement.(General Aviation)(international relations between Russia and Uzbekistan)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: Joint Venture Russia and Uzbekistan are planning to establish a helicopter maintenance joint venture that will initially involve repairing Mil Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters. Russian news agency Interfax says the agreement was...

Enhanced takes off.(General Aviation)(AgustaWestland introduced AW119 Ke)(Fumigacion Aerea Andaluza SA)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: Launch AgustaWestland has introduced the AW119 Ke (Koala enhanced) light single and has clinched an order for six of the type with two options from Spanish firefighting operator FumigaciA[sup.3]n AA[c]rea Andaluza (FAASA). The...

General Aviation.(Era Aviation Inc. orders Eurocopter helicopters)(Epic Aircraft launches new aircrafts at air show)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Era expands US operator Era Helicopters has ordered 20 new Eurocopter types in a move to expand the company's offshore support operation in the Gulf of Mexico and its emergency medical services offering in the USA. The deal includes eight...

Red-hot A380 completes heavyweight brake tests.(Headlines)(Airbus S.A.S. plans to test their passenger aircrafts)
March 13, 2007... Byline: Air Transport Max Kingsley-Jones / London Emergency services stand by as rejected take-off demonstration proceeds smoothly The Airbus A380 has completed the last major test required for its full certification - the potentially...

ARJ21 assembly starts in Shanghai.(Headlines)(ARJ21-700 regional jet)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: Air Transport Leithen Francis / Singapore Final assembly work is due to begin this month in Shanghai on China's first ARJ21-700 regional jet. The first aircraft should be completed in December in time for flight testing to begin...

Headlines.(AirAsia X)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... AirAsia X delay Malaysian long-haul, low-cost start-up AirAsia X has delayed its launch by six months to December because of an inability to find widebodies on lease. It plans to fly from Kuala Lumpur to China, the Middle East and the UK...

Headlines.(crash of Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter)(Pilatus Aircraft Ltd's Next Generation PC-12 single-engine turboprop prototype)(Israeli air force inducts Israel Aerospace Industries developed Heron unmanned air vehicle)
March 13, 2007... Rotorhead failure blamed for Apache crash ACCIDENT An Israeli air force investigation into the fatal crash of a Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter during last year's war with Lebanon has attributed the accident to a fault with...

EADS struggles with Airbus losses.(Headlines)(EADS France S.A.S.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: business helen massy-beresford / munich EADS faces serious challenges to meet ambitious targets for Eurocopter helicopters and Airbus Military A400M aircraft in 2007 as it seeks to maintain a strong performance in the face of major...

Strikes could hit deliveries.(Headlines)(Airbus S.A.S.'s employees strike could affect the production)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Airbus chief executive Louis Gallois admits that industrial action by the airframer's employees, angry at the prospect of 10,000 job losses, could disrupt aircraft deliveries. "For the time being we stick to the delivery forecast for 2007, but...

Eclipse parts company with another key vendor.(Headlines)(Eclipse Aviation Corp.)(United Air Lines Inc.)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: Business Aviation John Croft / WASHINGTON DC On the heels of its split with avionics integrator Avidyne, Eclipse Aviation has parted ways with yet another key vendor in its bid to get the Eclipse 500 very light jet (VLJ) up and away...

Garuda disaster greets safety boss.(Headlines)(Indonesian National Transport Safety Commission)(Garuda Indonesia)(Tatang Kurniadi )
March 13, 2007... Byline: air transport LEITHEN FRANCIS / SINGAPORE & DAVID LEARMOUNT / LONDON Experts from Australia and USA to help Indonesia's new NTSC chairman investigate latest in a spate of accidents The newly appointed chairman of Indonesia's...

Military role for K-Max helicopter.(Headlines)
March 13, 2007... Byline: Defence Lockheed Martin has teamed with Kaman Aerospace to market a manned/unmanned version of the K-Max external-lift helicopter for military applications, writes Graham Warwick. The single-seat, single-engine K-Max, which has a...

US industry urges export reform.(Headlines)(Coalition for Security of Competitiveness)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: business Eight US business associations, led by the aerospace industry, have formed a coalition to push for modernisation of the country's export controls, arguing that the current system harms trade and hurts allies. The Coalition...

USA will offer JSF partners price deal.(Headlines)(Joint Strike Fighter)
March 13, 2007... Byline: Defence GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC Multi-year proposal designed to encourage early orders Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme officials are developing a proposal that international participants be allowed to place...

First F-35 resumes flight tests.(Headlines)(Lockheed Martin Corp.)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: Defence Lockheed Martin's first F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) returned to flight on 5 March after a software update to incorporate performance data from its first seven flights. Aircraft AA-1 is expected to fly twice weekly as...

Debut sortie for L-159T1.(Headlines)(Czech Air Force)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: DEFENCE The first of four L-159T1 trainers in preparation for the Czech air force has made its flight debut from Aero Vodochody's Lkvo airport site near Prague. The two-seat aircraft has a new main fuselage, but reuses the wing and...

USAF seeks tenders to build composite cargo X-plane.(Headlines)(short take-off and landing (STOL) transport)(United States. Air Force)(Brief article)
March 13, 2007... Byline: Defence Graham Warwick / WASHINGTON DC Demonstrator will prove materials and processes for a future STOL transport aircraft Bids to build a composite-airframe cargo X-plane were submitted to the US Air Force Research Laboratory...

Know your aircraft.(Letters and Flannel)(Letter to the editor)
March 13, 2007... "Divine intervention" in Straight & Level (Flight International, 20-26 February) highlights the importance of knowing your aircraft and several other issues of airmanship. Having seen the pictures of the aircraft after the incident, the...

Pole positions.(Letters and Flannel)(Letter to the editor)
March 13, 2007... The difficulties experienced by the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors heading for Japan (Flight International, 27 February-5 March) brought to mind my first encounter with a "simulator test pilot" in the British Airways flight simulator unit that I...

An abuse of power?(Letters and Flannel)(Letter to the editor)
March 13, 2007... Your cover story "GE holds the key to power" (Flight International, 20-26 February) confirms that: given a level playing field, Rolls-Royce can hold its own against General Electric and lead the technology race (the more-electric concept...

Straight and Level.(Bristol Aeroplane Company)(USA buys Argentinian beryllium)(Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands experiences supersonic flight)(Germany signs Bristol Sycamore Mk 14 helicopters deal)
March 13, 2007... Flight 15.3.1957 German Sycamores On Friday last a contract for 50 Bristol Sycamore Mk 14 helicopters was signed in Coblenz by the Director of the Ministry of Defence on behalf of the Federal German Government. The aircraft are to be...