Flight International articles from March 2009

Flight International archives from March 2009

FAA directive targets A330 air data unit fault.(Federal Aviation Administration)(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... Byline: safety The US Federal Aviation Administration has issued a final airworthiness directive instructing operators of most Airbus A330/A340 models to power down suspect air data inertial reference units (ADIRU) using one specific...

A320 was attempting low, slow test.
March 3, 2009... Byline: Accident investigation david kaminski-morrow london Investigators say XL Airways twinjet crashed while carrying out check manoeuvre normally performed at higher altitude French investigators have established that the XL Airways...

Air New Zealand raises 'frozen' stall-warning vane issue.(Perpignan accident investigation)(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... Byline: safety david kaminski-morrow london Air New Zealand is stressing that French investigators have yet to determine the cause of the Perpignan accident. The carrier adds that the preliminary report from investigation agency BEA "only...

'Half of 2009 deliveries' under threat.
March 3, 2009... Byline: economic crisis brendan sobie new york IATA director general warns that large chunk of Airbus and Boeing deliveries is at risk as airlines struggle in slump International Air Transport Association director general Giovanni...

Flightcrew cockpit calls are 'potentially serious hazard'.(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... Byline: operations john croft washington dc The US Federal Aviation Administration has issued an alert to airlines after an incident where a first officer's mobile phone rang at a critical phase of a take-off, creating "a potentially...

Embraer to cut production by a third.(Embraer Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A)(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... Byline: output Embraer is slashing its airliner output by almost 30% this year as it scales back manufacturing in reaction to the industry slowdown. The airframer will deliver 115 commercial aircraft in 2009, a 29% fall on the 162 it...

IATA to expel carriers that fail audit.(International Air Transport Association)
March 3, 2009... Byline: SAFETY brendan sobie new york Reports on 21 members reveal lack of response to deficiences highlighted during checks under the IOSA programme The International Air Transport Association plans to kick out several members at the...

Southwest pilots warn of Buffalo danger.(Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association)(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... Byline: safety The Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association has warned of a safety hazard on the same approach to Buffalo airport used by the Colgan Air Bombardier Q400 that crashed fatally in February. The union's safety committee says...

Safety management deficiencies cited in third of incidents.(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... Byline: accident rates Deficient safety management contributed to one in three accidents in 2008, a year in which the rate of Western-built hull losses worsened - although the fatality rate significantly improved. The hull loss rate...

Fast growth plan as Ryanair joins the mobile phone club.
March 3, 2009... Byline: connectivity graham dunn dublin Provider OnAir targets 100 aircraft fleet by year-end as low cost carrier begins flight trial In-flight mobile communications specialist OnAir believes up to 100 aircraft could be flying with its...

NetJets bids to improve access for business aircraft at Europe's airports.
March 3, 2009... Byline: ACCESS KATE SARSFIELD LONDON NetJets Europe is seeking to collaborate with strategic European airport operators in an effort to obtain regular and sustained runway access and reduce travel times for its customers. The move...

Business.(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... ICELANDAIR Economic meltdown at home pushed the carrier to a fourth quarter loss of IcKr10.6 billion ($93.8 million) - it was down a mere IcKr800 million last time - and a full-year loss of IcKr7.5 billion (2007 profit: IcKr300 million). Chief...

Business.(Aviation Industry Corporation of China is merging its units)(Spacehab Inc. has changed its name as Astrotech)(ImageSat International's contract with Abu Dhabi)
March 3, 2009... business briefs COMPOSITES TO 'FORCE TIER 1 RESTRUCTURING' MANUFACTURING The aerostructures industry will restructure around a handful of tier 1 companies capable of investing enough to keep up with rising demand for composite...

Business.(government guarantee finance for carriers )(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... KAZAKHSTAN The government in Astana is to guarantee finance for carriers leasing regional aircraft to serve domestic routes, as it sees civil aviation as the sole means of linking many cities and regions in the vast nation. Seven carriers...

BAE remakes remarketing.(Business)(BAE SYSTEMS PLC Regional Aircraft)
March 3, 2009... Byline: ASSET MANAGEMENT NIALL O'KEEFFE loNDON Focus on a wide range of types is the latest chapter in the evolution of civil business BAE Systems Regional Aircraft is targeting the remarketing business as it looks to shield itself...

PEOPLE moves.(Aer Arann has named Fergal Barry as chief financial officer)(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... SuperJet Americas boss, Elbit Systems' Washington lobby Cruz: finance at the new Vueling Aer Arann has named Fergal Barry as chief financial officer, replacing Paul Schutz, who is now chief executive. At South African Airways,...

Business Aviation.(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... learjet 85 and 60XR: how they compare Vital statistics Learjet 85 Learjet 60XR Length 20.76m 17.89m Wingspan 18.75m 13.35m Height 5.88m 4.44m Cabin length 7.54m 5.39m Cabin width 1.85m 1.8m Cabin height 1.8m...

Business.
March 3, 2009... Quote of the week "I'm a Catholic priest. I know all the sins but can't tell" International Air Transport Association director general Giovanni Bisignani tells the Wings Club in New York that some airline chiefs have "confessed" they...

No production cut for Phenom 100 despite slowdown.(Business Aviation)(Embraer Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.)
March 3, 2009... Byline: output BRENDAN SOBIE WASHINGTON DC Embraer says sales slide will not dent its commitment to super-midsize Legacy 600, development of 450 and 500 JetSuite will launch charter operations with a fleet of seven Phenom 100s ...

Obama doctrine could deprive defence.(Comment)(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... President Barack Obama's crack about his new helicopter last week may have charmed his audience at a fiscal responsibility conference, but may have sent a cold shiver down the spine of defence industry executives. (He joked he didn't realise he...

Retro-rockets ahead.(Comment)
March 3, 2009... The success of Surrey Satellite Technology and Virgin Galactic suggests the UK could have a thriving launcher industry. So why not revive 1980s ambitions and create a high-technology base? A revival of UK rocket ambition could...

Logistics issues mar Hawk T2 debut.(Defence)(BAE SYSTEMS PLC's contract with United Kingdom Ministry of Defence)
March 3, 2009... Byline: trainers craig hoyle london First two trainers are accepted, but additional aircraft destined for storage due to basing and manufacturing factors The UK Ministry of Defence has received its first two Hawk 128 advanced jet...

Indian air force invited to shape new medium fighter.(Aeronautical Development Agency)
March 3, 2009... Byline: development SIVA GOVINDASAMY BANGALORE ADA outlines ambitious goals to follow Tejas work with fifth-generation stealth design India's Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has begun talks with the Indian air force to involve...

Serbia's Lasta-95 finally takes off.(Utva Lasta-95/Lasta 3 piston trainer )(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... Byline: FIRST FLIGHT The first prototype of Serbia's delayed Utva Lasta-95/Lasta 3 piston trainer made its first two flights from Batajnica air base on 5 February. Serbia plans to buy 15 of the aircraft to replace Utva-75s used by its...

BAE torpedoes head for Norway.(Norway Royal Air Force contracts with BAE Systems)(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... Byline: WEAPONS Norway has ordered BAE Systems' Sting Ray Mod 1 lightweight torpedo to arm its air force Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and navy NH Industries NH90 maritime helicopters and Fridtjof Nansen-class...

UK to re-evaluate payment options for MFTS projects.(Military Flying Training System)(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... Byline: FUNDING Heightened pressure on financial market has prompted the UK Ministry of Defence to re-evaluate the funding model for elements of its Military Flying Training System (MFTS) deal. The MoD signed the first part of its...

First of four G550s modified for AEW role received by Singapore.(Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd contracts with Singapore. Ministry of Defence)(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... Byline: DELIVERY SIVA GOVINDASAMY SINGAPORE Singapore's G550-based surveillance aircraft will replace its current E-2C Hawkeyes, and offer extended-range detection of airborne threats Singapore has received its first of four Gulfstream...

Taiwan's P-3Cs to arrive from 2013.(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... Byline: SURVEILLANCE SIVA GOVINDASAMY SINGAPORE But Obama unlikely to offend China with new F-16 sale Taiwan is at last close to signing a $1.3 billion contract for 12 refurbished Lockheed Martin P-3C maritime patrol aircraft with the...

New Gripen deal at risk as Thai economy staggers.(Thailand defence ministry plans for defense budget management)(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... Byline: fighters siva govindasamy SINGAPORE Thailand's defence ministry plans to secure the budget to acquire a second batch of six Saab Gripen fighters in the next fiscal year, but the deal hangs in the balance due to the country's...

Saab Avitronics to improve Italian Tornado safety.(BOZ Enhanced Capability (EC) countermeasures)(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... Byline: self-protection LUCA PERUZZI GENOA Saab Avitronics has received a contract of undisclosed value to provide a new variant of its BOZ Enhanced Capability (EC) countermeasures dispenser pod for the Italian air force's Panavia Tornado...

Defence.(McDonnell Douglas TA-4H/J Skyhawk advanced jet trainers)(Turkey has finalised a $797 million contract for 30 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 50s)(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... sKYHAWK EXTENSION Israel expects to fly its McDonnell Douglas TA-4H/J Skyhawk advanced jet trainers "for at least another five years", says an air force source. If a suitable successor is not found then it may use its oldest Lockheed...

Healthy backlogs bolster airframers.(Heli-Expo show)
March 3, 2009... Byline: rotorcraft john croft anaheim Major helicopter deals fail to appear but previous boom years have bequeathed strong orderbooks Missing from this year's Heli-Expo show in Anaheim, California were the jumbo orders for new...

This week.(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... DEVELOPMENT JOHN OSTROWER WASHINGTON DC Second leadership shake-up for troubled Boeing 747 programme Boeing has shaken up the leadership of the 747 programme with the reassignment of its top executive. The change represents a second...

This week.(International Civil Aviation Organisation. )(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... Europe's unilateral action to include international aviation within its emissions trading scheme has come under direct fire for the first time by the US aviation industry, which insists emissions targets should be determined by the...

This week.(Turkish Airlines Boeing 737-800 accident investigation)
March 3, 2009... accident david learmount london Cockpit door stops rescuers reaching Turkish 737 pilots Anti-hijack design forces emergency teams to cut through flightdeck roof of crashed jet The Turkish Airlines Boeing 737-800 accident on...

This week.(International Defence Exhibition & Conference )
March 3, 2009... The UAE will buy 48 M-346s in the first export deal for the type contractS LUCA PERUZZI GENOA STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC UAE air force gets $4.2 billion boost Deals for 64 aircraft announced at IDEX show to include advanced jet...

This week.
March 3, 2009... PROCUREMENT JOHN CROFT & STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC New VH-3D rotors could doom VH-71 Modernisation highlights political opposition to soaring cost of proposed replacement for presidential helicopter A new set of composite...

Spaceflight.(European Space Agency funding)
March 3, 2009... reusable rockets rob coppinger london The dream that fell to Earth Declassified files reveal why even US interest could not get the UK's 1980s HOTOL spaceplane off the drawing board As the first UK-funded launcher technology...

Kicking up a Storm in recruitment.(Storm Aviation's global recruitment business)(Interview)
March 3, 2009... Nick Wilcox is managing director of Storm Aviation's global recruitment business. The company is one of Europe's leading independent providers of EASA 145 line maintenance personnel "Key industry predictions are still for...

Learjet 85 on target for 2011 debut.
March 3, 2009... Byline: AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENT JOHN CROFT WASHINGTON DC Bombardier's eight-seater to be first all-composite business jet approved under Federal Aviation Administration Part 25 rules Bombardier says it remains on track in the post-Grob era...

Business.(BAE SYSTEMS PLC)(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... BAE Systems 2008 group and business unit performance, [pounds sterling]m Sales (% change v 2007) EBITA (% change v 2007) Group 18,543 (18) 1,897 (31) Electronics, Intelligence & Support 4,459 (14) 506 (16) Land & Armaments...

WHITE MOVES?(Australian International Air Show )
March 3, 2009... Byline: emma kelly perth On the eve of the Avalon air show, Australia is on the verge of having its first-ever comprehensive aviation policy, but will it make a difference? V Australia will get the chance to establish itself despite...

SORRY TALE.(Australian government panning up defence policy)
March 3, 2009... Byline: emma kelly perth A number of 'defence capability nightmares' has forced the Australian government to take a long, hard look at the country's defence procurement weaknesses Defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon is shaking up defence...

Features.
March 3, 2009... The US Navy was the slowest and perhaps most reluctant of the armed services to embrace the potential of unmanned aircraft for the purpose of persistent surveillance. After a false start in 2003, the USN initiated a competitive procurement...

Features.
March 3, 2009... This page should hold a cutaway poster of the Northrop Grumman RQ-4N Global Hawk. If yours is missing or damaged please contact us on the number below: Keri Pottle, Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS, UK ...

Cover.
March 3, 2009... global hawk inside uav that will watch over usa's waters cutaway poster uk space shuttle Newly declassified documents detail the demise of Thatcher's spaceplane project 25 crash findings What happened just before...

This week.(Alenia Aeronautica S.p.A's partnership with Boeing Co.)(Brief article)
March 3, 2009... partnership stephen trimble washington dc Boeing bows out of JCA team as talks break down Boeing and Alenia Aeronautica have severed three-year-old partnership talks for the C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) programme. The US Army...

Air Transport.(accident of EasyJet Boeing 737)
March 10, 2009... SAFETYDAVID LEARMOUNT loNDON Trim fix error led to EasyJet 737 dive Twinjet makes high-speed plunge during post-maintenance test flight after elevator tabs had been wrongly adjusted An EasyJet Boeing 737-700 dived 10,000ft (3,050m)...

News Focus.(United States Department of Defense)
March 10, 2009... suborbital technology STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC DoD to hitch ride into space As commercial suborbital transport draws nearer, military looks at whether capability could have spin-off for defence As commercial spaceflight draws...

Air Transport.(Air Nostrum under aircraft accidents investigation)(Brief article)
March 10, 2009... investigation david kaMINSKI-MORROW LONDON Air Nostrum CRJ200 suffers dual power loss Spanish investigators are trying to establish why an Air Nostrum Bombardier CRJ200 alternately lost power in each engine during a domestic service...

Business Aviation.(Eclipse Aviation Corp. into bankruptcy reorganization)
March 10, 2009... liquidation john croft washington dc kate sarsfield london Can owners relight Eclipse? At least two entities chase VLJ pioneer's assets, but both bids would need financial buy-in from the 260 customers If Eclipse Aviation is to...

Defence.(Brief article)
March 10, 2009... UNMANNED SYSTEMS ROB COPPINGER PARCABERPORTH Selex Galileo targets UK Falco flights, Libya deal Selex Galileo wants to be flying its Falco unmanned air vehicle in the UK by the end of this year, and to also be in negotiations for a...

Defence.(Royal Air Force in deal with Boeing Co., Airbus S.A.S. and EADS Systems and Defence Electronics)(Brief article)
March 10, 2009... PROCUREMENTMAX KINGSLEY-JONES BROUGHTON AirTanker fuels Frenchspeculation EADS UK-led consortium and Airbus Military hopeto follow RAF contract with new deal for up to 14 modified A330s Airbus Military and its partner AirTanker are...

Defence.(Boeing to supply electronic attack aircraft to Royal Australian Air Force)
March 10, 2009... Australian Super Hornets could be upgraded to the Growler configuration PROCUREMENT SIVA GOVINDASAMY SINGAPORE EMMA KELLY PERTH Australia to exit BAMS project, buy F/A-18F upgrade Future Super Hornet fleet to get electronic attack...

Air Transport.(Qatar Airways uses twinjets from Boeing)(Brief article)
March 10, 2009... delivery Qatar poised for 777-200LR debut Qatar Airways is poised to introduce its ultra-long-range Boeing 777-200LRs, having taken delivery of its first two aircraft in February. The twinjets will be deployed on services to its latest...

Defence.(Elta Systems supplies radards to Indian Air Force)(Brief article)
March 10, 2009... AVIONICS ARIE EGOZI TEL AVIV India's Tejas could get Israeli radar The Indian air force could equip its Aeronautical Development Agency Tejas light combat aircraft with Elta Systems' EL/M-2052 active electronically scanned array radar...