Flight International articles from September 2003

Flight International archives from September 2003

In-flight entertainment Emma Kelly / Perth; A380 systems will be 30% smaller and lighter.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... In-flight entertainment (IFE) hardware manufacturers are aiming for around a 30% reduction in the weight and size of new interactive IFE systems for the Airbus A380. Rockwell Collins is using its latest IFE system, ETES (Enhanced Total...

in brief.(Australian Transport Safety Bureau to investigate fewer aviation accidents)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... fewer inquiries The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will cut the number of aviation accidents it investigates over the coming year. The Australian government says that this is not due to budget cuts, but instead is an effort to...

Co-operation Justin Wastnage / moscow; LHT bolsters Aeroflot link with view to joint venture; Stronger ties could lead to collaboration on maintenance centre construction in Moscow.(Lufthansa Technik)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Lufthansa Technik (LHT) is strengthening co-operation with Russian flag carrier Aeroflot in a move that could lead to a full joint venture maintenance centre being established in Moscow. The Lufthansa subsidiary is set to establish itself as...

Alliance; Air China signs United bilateral deal.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Efforts to get Air China to join the Star Alliance have taken a step forward, with the Chinese flag carrier signing a bilateral agreement with United Airlines that includes codeshare flights. Star Alliance member United says that from 31...

Start-up Leithen Francis / Singapore; Air Deccan ATRs enter India's domestic scene.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... New Indian domestic airline Air Deccan launched its first scheduled passenger services on 27 August using two ATR 42s. It is initially offering twice-daily return services from its Bangalore base to two smaller cities in southern India, Hubli...

Air Transport David Learmount / London; Pitch control key to 1900D crashes.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... A Colgan Air Raytheon Beech 1900D crew operating a US Airways Express positioning flight on 26 August became the second one of the type this year to lose control in the climb immediately after take-off. Both pilots were killed when the...

Freighters ; Cathay aims to convert 747s to grow cargo fleet.(Cathay Pacific Airways)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Cathay Pacific Airways is planning to expand its cargo operation by converting Boeing 747-400 passenger aircraft into freighters, and is pressing Boeing to launch its long-proposed Special Freighter (SF) programme. Industry sources say...

Licensed production ; Chinese ERJ-145 assembly begins.(Harbin Embraer Aircraft)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Harbin Embraer Aircraft has begun assembling its first ERJ-145 as the new joint venture company prepares for a December roll-out and first flight. Vice-chairman Guan Dongyuan says the new ERJ assembly line opened at Harbin in August with...

Lease deal Nicholas Ionides / Singapore; Emirates considers ex-SIA A340s.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Emirates is closing on a deal with Boeing to lease six ex-Singapore Airlines (SIA) Airbus A340-300s to meet capacity needs until the UAE carrier's first 777-300ERs arrive. If the deal is concluded, deliveries would begin before the end of...

Safety Graham Warwick / Washington DC; Smiths in inerting link.(Smiths Aerospace, Shaw Aero Devices to offer fuel tank inerting systems)
September 2, 2003... Smiths Aerospace has teamed with Shaw Aero Devices to offer fuel tank inerting systems for airlines. Naples, Florida-based Shaw, working with Air Liquide and Parker Aerospace, built the prototype centre wing-tank inerting system now being...

Revamp Leithen Francis / Singapore ; New owner to relaunch Mekong.(Asian Aircraft Services to take over Mekong Airlines)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Cambodia's Mekong Airlines, which halted operations suddenly in May, is aiming to restart passenger services this month under new owners who plan to use a Boeing 737-400 and Fokker 50. Chung Leik Kok, managing director of Kuala Lumpur-based...

delivery; First 737-200 handed to Rico.(Rico Linhas Aereas)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Brazilian regional carrier Rico Linhas Aereas received its first Boeing 737-200 last month to add to three Embraer EMB-110s and four EMB-120s. The airline is based at Eduardo Gomes airport in Manaus and serves northern Brazilian destinations,...

operations David Learmount / London; Reverse thrust probable cause of Twin Otter crash ; Lack of flight data and cockpit voice recorders hampers effort to reach conclusion.
September 2, 2003... The crew of a de Havilland Twin Otter that crashed on the island of St Barthelemy, Guadeloupe, in the French Caribbean, are suspected of having selected reverse thrust when the aircraft was about to enter the steep final approach to the runway,...

Evaluation; VLM revives hunt for regional jet.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Belgian operator VLM Airlines has revived its search for a regional jet type to operate alongside its 10 Fokker 50s as it plots to expand its European network. The Antwerp-based carrier, whose operational hub is the UK's London City...

Operations Michael Phelan / London; NASA tests wake vortex detection; System based on acoustic signatures is aimed at allowing controllers to visualize turbulence and improve safety.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... NASA's Langley Research Center is testing a system to measure the acoustic signature of wake vortices at Denver International Airport, which it hopes will allow controllers to visualise wake turbulence to increase safety. Researchers are...

countermeasures Graham Warwick / Washington DC; Missile systems listed.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... A low-cost infrared countermeasures system is one of eight candidate concepts shortlisted for development as airliner missile-defence systems by the US Transportation Security Working Group. Full-scale development contracts are due to be...

flight testing Guy Norris / Los Angeles; Boeing takes brakes off plans to increase 777-300ER range ; Rejected/minimum speed take-off study reveals encouraging field length performance.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Recently completed rejected take-off, minimum speed take-off and landing tests on the Boeing 777-300ER have revealed "significantly better" than expected field length performance, leading Boeing to offer increases in predicted range and...

Recovery; Regional jet deliveries lift Bombardier earnings.(2003 second quarter)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Bombardier's finances improved in the second quarter ended 31 July, with aerospace revenues and earnings edging up on higher than expected regional jet deliveries. Overall revenues were flat, but Bombardier Aerospace turned around from a...

CANCELLATION CHRISTINA MACKENZIE / PARIS; Lack of offers forces Poland to retract VIP aircraft tender ; Dassault was only company to propose long-range aircraft to replace ageing machines.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Poland has withdrawn a tender for four government VIP aircraft after only France's Dassault Aviation put in a bid by the deadline of 25 August. Polish law requires at least two bidders to validate a call for tender. Dassault was the only...

REGULATION Kate Sarsfield / London; US trade bodies oppose JAA plan.(European Joint Aviation Authorities; aviation operators, registration proposals)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... The US General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) are objecting to a European Joint Aviation Authorities proposal that would require all European corporate aviation operators to...

APPOINTMENT graham warwick / washington dc; Ex-Bombardier man to head Piaggio America.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Former Bombardier executive Tom Appleton has joined Piaggio Aero Industries as chief executive of the Italian business aircraft manufacturer's North American arm. Appleton replaces Steve Hanvey, founding president of Piaggio America, who is...

Share sale nicholas ionides / singapore; A-Sonic IPO to fund expansion.(A-Sonic Aerospace, initial public offering)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Singapore-based aerospace components and systems supplier A-Sonic Aerospace is seeking to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO) next month, after which the company will be listed on the Singapore stock exchange. The...

Takeover Nicholas Ionides / Singapore; Air China move for Shandong may prompt fresh consolidation.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... More airline consolidation appears to be in store in China, with flag carrier Air China holding talks to acquire a sizeable stake in domestic operator Shandong Airlines. State-run media reports confirm that Air China, which is...

Restructuring CHRISTINA MACKENZIE / PARIS; Wexford poised to launch Air Littoral takeover bid; Carrier, in receivership since 21 August, claims "business as usual" until buyer is found.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Potential investors in French regional airline Air Littoral, which went into receivership on 21 August, have until 15 September to register with a court in Montpellier. So far only US investment group Wexford Capital, which has been talking to...

in brief.(Northrop Grumman, fraud settlement)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Northrop pays Northrop Grumman has agreed to pay the USgovernment $80 million to settle fraud charges. The USDepartment of Defense, the USNavy and civilian prosecutors investigated allegations that Newport News Shipyards had recorded...

CHARTER Justin Wastnage / Moscow; Avcom narrows aircraft choice to Western types ; Moscow operator shortlists Challenger and Falcon in anticipation of import tax changes.(Aviation Commercial )
September 2, 2003... Russian charter operator Aviation Commercial (AvCom) has narrowed its requirement for four large jets down to two types - the Bombardier Challenger 604 and Dassault Falcon 2000 - ahead of an expected loosening of import restrictions. The...

Missile defence ; L-3 wins Heimdall-IRcontract.(L-3 Aeromet, surveillance system; US Missile Defense Agency)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... L-3 Aeromet has won a $3 million contract under the USMissile Defense Agency's Airborne Infrared Surveillance project to demonstrate the military utility of the Heimdall-IR surveillance system aboard the company's High Altitude Laboratory. The...

Sensors Graham Warwick / WashingtonDC; Fourth-generation first as APG-80 set for flight.(Northrop Grumman, APG-80 agile beam radar; Lockheed Martin's F-16 aircraft)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Northrop Grumman's APG-80 agile beam radar (ABR) will be the first production fourth-generation active electronically scanned array (AESA) to fly in a fighter when Lockheed Martin begins F-16 Block 60 flight testing in November. The ABR...

In-flight refuelling Guy Norris / Seattle ; Boeing anticipates tanker approval.(KC-767A tanker/transport contract for US Air Force)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Activity on Boeing's KC-767A tanker/transport for the US Air Force is accelerating in anticipation of imminent US Congressional approval for the lease of up to 100 aircraft. The Congressional Budget Office, however, has warned that the...

decoys; Raytheon MALD deal threatened.(miniature air-launched decoy contract, US Air Force)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Raytheon could lose its contract to develop the USAir Force's miniature air-launched decoy (MALD)if the General Accounting Office (GAO) upholds a protest by small Chattanooga, Tennessee-based company Accurate Automation. The GAO is scheduled to...

Helicopters Brendan Sobie / Singapore; Bell talks upgrades in hope of landing Taiwanese AH-1 deal; US manufacturer believes commonality will give it the edge against Boeing Apache bid.
September 2, 2003... Bell and Taiwan are negotiating$136 million of upgrades for the Taiwanese army'sAH-1W andOH-58D helicopters ahead of a possible deal for new AH-1Zs. Bell believes commonality with Taiwan's fleet will help the AH-1Z beat the Boeing AH-64D...

Procurement; Pakistan fills training need.(plans to acquire light turbine helicopters; air force training)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Pakistan plans to acquire 10 Schweizer 333 light turbinehelicopters forair force training. The air force issued a request for proposals for the helicopters earlier this year. Several manufacturers are believed to have responded, including...

unmanned systems; Serbian TUAV is unveiled.(unmanned air vehicle design)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Serbian manufacturer UTVAhas unveiled its second unmanned air vehicle design, a tacticalsystem that the Serbian manufacturer appears to refer to as the "medium -sized UAV". The company says the TUAV has conventional flying controls actuated via...

Upgrades; Improving Su-27 is top of Russian air force list.(military aircraft)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... TheRussian air force's near-term focus is to be the upgrade of in-service aircraft, the main priority being the Sukhoi Su-27Flanker. Air force commander Gen Vladimir Mikhailov says: "Out of seven proposals we chose theSu-27SM. This year we...

modernisation; Mi-24 upgrade programme ditched due to funding and political issues.(Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia; aircraft)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... A four-nation programme to upgrade up to 100 Mil Mi-24 Hinds operated by the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia has been halted due to funding issues, differing requirements and pressure from Russia. The CzechRepublic and Hungary...

Production Brendan Sobie / Singapore; South Korea stalls T-50 for review; Authorisation of KAI/Lockheed Martin aircraft delayed while government analyses workshare and flight testing.(Korea Aerospace Industries)
September 2, 2003... South Korea has delayed initial production authorisation of the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)/Lockheed Martin T-50 advanced trainer until October to complete a review of workshare, flight-testing and other documentation. The government,...

Forecast; Mooney gets on road to recovery after meeting half-year targets.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Mooney is projecting sales of 30 aircraft this year, and revenues approaching $15 million, after meeting its first-half target of delivering eight aircraft since production resumed following the company's rescue from bankruptcy protection....

Air Transport ; BA assesses 7E7 proposal.(British Airways)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... British Airways is studying Boeing's proposed 7E7 as a replacement for its 21 767-300s. BA general manager fleet and network planning Robert Boyle says the airline is "talking closely with Boeing. With any new aircraft that has the...

Briefing.(includes multiple articles)
September 2, 2003... Greece creates new Olympic airline RESTRUCTURING Greek flag carrier Olympic Airways is to be relaunched as Olympic Airlines as part of a government restructuring programme launched last week. The government will create a new company from...

BUSINESS AVIATION Kate Sarsfield / London; ExecuJet widens FBO business.(ExecuJet Switzerland acquires fixed-base operator Zimex Flight Support)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... ExecuJet Switzerland has acquired fixed-base operator (FBO) Zimex Flight Support, confirming its pledge to expand its FBO business within Europe. Zimex Flight Support, formerly owned by Zimex Aviation, is adjacent to Execujet's facility at...

Defence; Army picks Fire Scout for Future Combat.(Northrop Grumman unmanned air vehicle)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... An enhanced version of Northrop Grumman's RQ-8A Fire Scout has been selected as the Class IV unmanned air vehicle for the US Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) programme. But the Boeing/SAICFCS lead systems integration team has deferred...

Business Nicholas Ionides / Singapore; Korean Air takes control of KAI in rationalisation drive ; Years of talks and political pressure pay off as memorandum of understanding is signed.(Korea Aerospace Industries)
September 2, 2003... Recent financial performance of Korean Air and Korea Aerospace Industries Company Sales 2002 Sales 2001 Operating profit 2002 Operating profit 2001 KAL Aerospace Division 187.4 billion won 212.9 billion won 6.4 billion won 37.4...

Air Transport Justin Wastnage / Dublin; SkyTeam partners launch joint regional jet search; Embraer likely to benefit as Irish carrier CityJet delays fleet renewal to await wider deal.
September 2, 2003... European SkyTeam alliance partners have embarked on a joint regional jet procurement drive, which is likely to lead to further orders for Embraer types. Irish regional carrier CityJet, owned by SkyTeam founding member Air France, has delayed...

Technology Graham Warwick / Washington DC; Sonic booms prove airframe shaping benefits.(Northrop Grumman sonic boom demonstrator)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Northrop Grumman's F-5 shaped sonic boom demonstrator (SSBD) has proved for the first time in flight that the shockwave signature of a supersonic aircraft can be reduced by airframe shaping. In back-to-back tests of the SSBD and an...

Straight & Level roger.bacon@flightinternational.com.
September 2, 2003... Goodbye to Dash 80 Everett O'Renton reports from Seattle that the Dash 80, the "grand-daddy" of them all, lifted off gracefully from Boeing Field on 24 August to begin its final series of flights across the USA to the Smithsonian's...

Communications; Eutelsat wins at Connexion.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Connexion by Boeing has selected Eutelsat to provide satellite transponder capacity for its mobile broadband communications service over Asia and Europe. The company will lease Ku-band capacity on the European operator's Sesat satellite, with...

Astronomy; Fourth and final Great Observatory spacecraft put into hybrid orbit.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... NASA's fourth and final Great Observatory-series spacecraft was launched by the second Boeing Delta II Heavy booster from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on 25 August. The $1.2 billion Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF), built by Lockheed...

Explosion; Ignition fault probed in Brazil blast; Use of solid propellant criticised as investigation begins into what caused VLS-1 rocket to explode during routine checks.
September 2, 2003... The third prototype of Brazil's satellite launch vehicle, VLS-1 V3, exploded on 23 August, three days before its scheduled launch from the Alcantara launch centre on the Atlantic coast 2,300km (1,430 miles) north of Rio de Janeiro. Housed...

parts; Companies test quality control fix.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Airbus, Boeing and Rolls-Royce are studying a web-based part-quality inspection system that could offer major cost reductions by quickly identifying problem parts and trends. Initial trials with aerospace component makers show high levels of...

fuel; Injectors may resolve avgas lead issue.(RotorWay testing new fuel injector from Startube)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Kit helicopter manufacturer RotorWay is flight testing fuel injectors that will allow piston aero- engines to use unleaded petrol. The Startube injectors prevent pre-detonation, reducing the fuel octane requirement for a given compression...

propulsion Guy Norris / Los Angeles; Contracts kick-start study into 'affordable' turbine; Phase one of US Air Force programme will revolve around development of "versatile" cores.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has issued the first contracts for phase one of the Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engine (VAATE) programme, designed to make advanced military engines 10 times more affordable than the Pratt &...

Doomed to fail.
September 2, 2003... The Columbia Shuttle disaster was a symptom of the USA's lack of a clear vision for the future of human spaceflight Space Shuttle Columbia's fiery disintegration over Texas on 1 February should be the nadir in the long fall of the US space...

critical steps.(airlines developing in-flight entertainment systems)(Industry Overview)
September 2, 2003... The World Airline Entertainment Association meetsnext week in Seattle, with its goal of standardisingthird-generation in-flight entertainment systems in sight Emma Kelly / Perth Airframe manufacturers breathed a sigh of relief in June...

room to; expand.(Canadian aerospace industry)(Industry Overview)
September 2, 2003... Can the Canadian aerospace industry climb out of a downturn and rediscover its growth path? Our seven-page report looks at its options GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC Where to go for growth: that is the issue facing the Canadian...

calling the tune.(Air Canada out of bankruptcy)
September 2, 2003... Restructured Air Canada emerges from bankruptcy protection this year, but can it beat the low-cost operators in a depressed economy? PAUL SEIDENMAN / SAN FRANCISCO The Canadian airline industry is in a state of flux. Although it has...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
September 2, 2003... Flight International welcomes letters on any aspect of the aerospace industry. Please write to: The Editor, Flight International, Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS, UK. Or e-mail flight.international@rbi.co.uk The...

consolidation Vladimir Karnozov / Moscow; NPK Irkut and Yakovlev to merge; Move is first step towards the creation of single Russian aerospace manufacturing giant based on EADS model.
September 2, 2003... Russian aircraft manufacturer NPK Irkut will take over the Yakovlev design bureau in a first step towards the creation of a merged aerospace giant incorporating Aviastep, Beriev, Itella and Russian Avionics. The move follows deputy prime...

Joint venture Justin Wastnage / Moscow; Be-200 partners plan joint venture; EADS and NPK Irkut will form single marketing and sales organisation as part of co-operation deal with R-R Deutschland.
September 2, 2003... EADS and NPK Irkut plan to transform into a legal joint venture their co-operation deal with Rolls-Royce Deutschland to develop a Westernised Beriev Be-200 firefighter. The two companies will create a single marketing and sales...

report Graham Warwick / Washington DC; NASA compromised safety: CAIB; Shuttle probe cites foam and "broken safety culture" and urges recertification if vehicle is to operate after 2010.(Columbia Accident Investigation Board's final report)
September 2, 2003... There were two causes of the Space Shuttle Columbia accident, investigators conclude in their final report. The physical cause was a breach of the orbiter's thermalprotection system by insulating foam shed from the external tank after lift-off....

dispute Emma Kelly / Perth; Data distributors resist licence move by Airservices Australia.(Brief Article)
September 9, 2003... Airservices Australia is warning the three major aeronautical data redistributors that it will take legal action against them unless they comply with the service provider's new licensing arrangements. On 1 September, Airservices introduced...

manufacturing; A380 advances.(Brief Article)
September 9, 2003... Subassemblies for the first ultra-large Airbus A380 are taking shape as the manufacturer prepares for the start of final assembly in Toulouse next May. MSN001's port wing is shown in the Stage 01 jig at Broughton, with lower skins being...

Supplier selection; AVIC I awards contracts for ARJ21 work.(China Aviation Industry)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2003... China Aviation Industry (AVIC) Ihas wrapped up the selection of ARJ21 suppliers, with contracts for the flight-control system and landing gear, and aims to sign up airline launch customers next week, writes Brendan Sobie. Honeywell and...

Order Michael Phelan / London; Astraeus adds aircraft.(Brief Article)
September 9, 2003... UK charter carrier Astraeus is gearing up for a fleet-renewal order, as the 18-month-old airline looks to provide capacity for future growth. The airline wants to acquire up to 10 Airbus A319s or Boeing 737-700s, and expects to finalise a deal...

Iraq flights GERALD BUTT / NICOSIA; Security fears delay Basra services.(Brief Article)
September 9, 2003... Continuing security problems in Iraq have prompted the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to postpone plans to reopen Basra International Airport to regular commercial traffic. The first services since the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990...

in brief.(SIA Engineering defers maintenance hangar opening)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2003... hangar delay Singapore Airlines' (SIA) engineering arm, SIA Engineering, has deferred the planned opening of its first new Airbus A380-capable maintenance hangar by up to a year and put on hold plans for another. The company said early in...

in brief.(includes multiple articles)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2003... atlant ambitions Atlant Soyuz hopes to take delivery of a new Antonov An-124-100 Ruslan from the Kiev-based Aviant plant later this month. The airline, 100% owned by the Moscow city government and operating 19 Ilyushin Il-76 and Il-96...

cargo; British Gulf extends Royal deal.(wet-lease deal )(Brief Article)
September 9, 2003... United Arab Emirates cargo airline British Gulf International Airlines (BGIA) has extended its wet-lease deal with Pakistan's Royal Airline to offer a daily freight service between Dubai and Lahore via Karachi. Sharjah-based BGIA will supply...

Dispute Andrew Doyle / London & Nicholas Ionides / Singapore; Hong Kong sets up first accident review board; Row over findings of 1999 China Airlines crash inquiry leads to establishment of new body.
September 9, 2003... Hong Kong's first-ever aircraft accident review board is being established to evaluate the findings of a disputed report into the fatal August 1999 crash of a China Airlines (CAL) Boeing MD-11 at Hong Kong International Airport. The former...

Bilaterals Justin Wastnage / Brussels; Strasbourg sets conditions for open skies agreements; European Parliament specifies framework for negotiations, with USA main priority.(Brief Article)
September 9, 2003... The European Parliament has laid down a three-stage framework for the European Commission's open skies negotiations with third countries. The Strasbourg, France-based parliament has granted approval for the EC to open talks with the US...

Fleet planning; Hawaiian rethinks its narrowbody options.(Hawaiian Airlines is considering alternative narrowbody aircraft)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2003... Hawaiian Airlines is considering alternative narrowbody aircraft, including Boeing MD-80s, as the future of its Boeing 717-200 fleet remains in limbo. Hawaiian - operating under bankruptcy protection - and Boeing Capital have been trying...

Air Transport David Learmount / London; IATA awards AQSfirst audit licence; Lufthansa Flight Training arm gains inspection approval.(Brief Article)
September 9, 2003... Lufthansa Flight Training subsidiary Aviation Quality Services (AQS) has become the first company licensed to perform the International Air Transport Association Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) on airlines. The quality control audit will enable...

Security Aaron Karp / Washington DC; USA to train 5,000 more air marshals.
September 9, 2003... Around 5,000 more law enforcement agents are to be made available as US air marshals under a US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reorganisation. The DHS plan will combine federal air marshals and customs and immigration security...

Performance Michael Phelan / London; Airbus adapts A320 for Florence; Manufacturer identifies technical solutions to allow aircraft family shorter landing distances at Italian airport.
September 9, 2003... Airbus is studying technical changes to improve the A320 family's short-field landing performance as it jostles with Boeing for a forthcoming Meridiana fleet- renewal order. The Italian carrier is considering A319/A320s or Boeing...

Leasing Vladimir Karnozov / Moscow; RRJ project takes shape as Sukhoi commits funding; Leasing deal in place as manufacturer names partners and aims for first flight in 2006.
September 9, 2003... Sukhoi Civil Aircraft and Finance-Leasing (FLK) have signed a preliminary agreement under which the leasing company will pay a deposit to cement its commitment to the Russian Regional Jet (RRJ) project. The agreement calls for a firm...

Expansion plans ; Africa routes bring profits to Belgium's SNBrussels.(SN Brussels Airlines will post its first half results)
September 9, 2003... Belgian flag carrier SN Brussels Airlines is expected to post first- half results this month showing its African operations have reached profitability ahead of its core European network. The Brussels-based airline has talked about absorbing...

Propulsion Guy Norris / Cleveland; Snecma proposes green engine ; Vital programme follows Silencer as European Union continues drive for quiet, clean and efficient powerplants.(Snecma plans a new green engine study)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2003... Snecma is proposing a new green engine study under the European Commission's recently begun 6th Framework Programme (FP6), which has allocated c1.07 billion ($1.17 billion) to aerospace research over the next four years. The programme will...

Start-up Jackson Flores / Rio de Janeiro; TAE launches operations in Chile.(Transportes Aereos Ejectivos launches operations)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2003... Chilean new entrant Transportes Aereos Ejecutivos (TAE) has launched operations with two Fairchild-Swearingen Metro III/23 turboprops. The company was set up by Chilean real estate firm Inmobiliaria Buccioni in association with Argentine...

ENGINES kate sarsfield / london; Williams FJ33 to power D-Jet.(Diamond Aircraft chooses Williams International's FJ33 turbofan to power its D-Jet)
September 9, 2003... Diamond Aircraft has selected Williams International's FJ33 turbofan to power its D-Jet very light personal jet, while selection of an avionics supplier is expected within weeks. The Austrian manufacturer says the first 1,450lb-thrust...

noise levels; FAA rules Naples ban unlawful.(a Stage 2 aircraft ban by Naples, Florida, is ruled unlawful)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2003... The US Federal Aviation Administration has ruled as unlawful a Stage 2 aircraft ban imposed last year by airport authorities in Naples, Florida, and says it will continue to withhold federal funds from the airport. The FAA says the ban is...

in brief.(aviation industry news briefs)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2003... gas CONTRACT Natural gas company Unocal Thailand has extended by five years a contract with CHC Helicopters International and local partner Thai Aviation Services to provide offshore support using two Sikorsky S-76A++ and two S-61N...

Restructuring ; ATA bids to stave off bankruptcy.(ATA Airlines may have to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection if it cannot restructure its aircraft leases)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2003... US low-fares carrier ATA Airlines warned last week it may have to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection if it fails to restructure its aircraft leases. The airline says it has signed letters of intent with lessors Boeing Capital...

Performance Alexander Campbell / London; Airbus success boosts BAE ; Manufacturer's performance in market has knock-on effect for shareholder's results.(Brief Article)
September 9, 2003... Airbus's ability to avoid the worst effects of the continuing aviation downturn means that shareholder BAESystems has also had a good first half, say analysts. Airbus reported earlier this year that it had pulled ahead of rival Boeing,...

Appointment; Ex-ambassador to spearhead Boeing Israel drive.(David Ivry becomes president of Boeing Israel)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2003... David Ivry has been appointed president of Boeing Israel as part of the US manufacturer's efforts to boost its presence in the country. Ivry was the Israeli ambassador to the USA from 2000 to 2002. He has also held a variety of government...

Tariffs Alexander Campbell / London; Airlines oppose UK plan for emission and noise charges; Carriers say unilateral change would be anti-competitive and put them at a disadvantage.(the UK's Commission for Integrated Transport wants to replace passenger taxes with emission and noise charges)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2003... A UK government advisory panel has called for new rules on aircraft emissions and noise, but the proposals have met stiff resistance. The Commission for Integrated Transport (CfIT), attached to the Department for Transport, issued a report...