Flight International articles from September 2006

Flight International archives from September 2006

Formation flight follows GP7200's A380 debut.(maiden flight of the Engine Alliance GP7200)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... Airbus last week flew four A380s in formation, hard on the heels of the maiden flight of the Engine Alliance GP7200-powered version of the European manufacturer's ultra-large airliner. Last week's formation flight comprised aircraft MSN001,...

Air Sahara bids to win back market share.(market share lost to other airlines)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... India's Air Sahara is seeking to lease 30 more Boeing 737s over the next three years as it works to rebuild market share lost to other airlines in the first half of the year. Air Sahara president Alok Sharma says that the carrier is already...

A320 and 777 collide on ground.(Civil Aviation Administration of China)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... A China Eastern Airlines Airbus A320 was involved in a ground collision with a China Southern Airlines Boeing 777 on 27 August. The 777's wingtip struck the A320's vertical tail as the Airbus was leaving its stand, says the Civil Aviation...

Chinese start-ups look to Taiwan.(Civil Aviation Administration of China)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... Chinese start-up airlines that are grappling an acute shortage of pilots are appealing to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to lift its ban on poaching flightcrew from local airlines. A separate lobbying effort is under way to...

Honeywell says RAAS could have prevented accident.(automatic dependent surveillance)(runway awareness and advisory system)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... The Comair accident may help accelerate the implementation and even mandating of additional situational awareness aids such as automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast (ADS-B) or, in the nearer term, Honeywell's runway awareness and...

Wrong runway choices.(take off on runway)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... Comair flight 5191 is not the only recent flight to have attempted a take-off from the wrong runway. Others include: ? 31 October 2000 a Singapore Airlines Boeing 747-400, taxiing at night in poor visibility, was cleared to take off on...

Pilots tried to take off from field.( flight data recorder)
September 5, 2006... The pilots of a Comair Bom?bardier CRJ200 continued accelerating across fields when it became clear they had tried to take off from a runway that was far too short, apparently believing there was no alternative, the flight data recorder (FDR)...

Regionals in LaGuardia squeeze.(high-density rule)( notice of proposed rulemaking)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... A proposal issued late last month by the US Federal Aviation Administration seeks to compel carriers to operate larger aircraft at New York LaGuardia from 1 January 2007, resulting in a reduction of regional jet services at the airport, writes...

Fire and damaged CVR hold back Metroliner crash verdict.(cockpit voice recorders)(Transair Fairchild Metroliner III)
September 5, 2006... The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) does not expect to release a final report into the country's worst civil aviation accident since 1968 until next March as it continues to investigate the complex incident. All 13 passengers and two...

Start-ups lure executives.(appointments of Air Macau)
September 5, 2006... Macau long-haul leisure carrier Viva Macau has recruited a top executive from Qantas Airways, while another Macau start-up, low-cost airline Macau Asia Express, is appointing as its chief executive former EasyJet chief operating officer Ed...

R-R in frame to power new MHI jet.(Mitsubishi Heavy Industries)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) is discussing with Rolls-Royce the power requirement for its proposed regional jet, which it hopes to start producing by 2012 if the project gets the nod from the company's board. "There are discussions...

'Climb over storm' doomed Tu-154.(Tupolev Tu-154)
September 5, 2006... The crew of the Pulkovo Airlines Tupolev Tu-154 that crashed in Ukraine on 22 August deep-stalled and spun while trying to climb over towering storm clouds, according to Russia's interstate aviation committee MAK. Meanwhile the Russian...

Boeing prepares TAAG 777.(Boeing 777-200ER)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... TAAG Angola Airlines' first Boeing 777-200ER is being prepared for delivery at the manufacturer's Everett, Washington plant. The Angolan carrier last year ordered two 777s and four 737-700s, and took options on a 777 and two more 737s, in a $1...

US Airways reworks deal to add A321s.
September 5, 2006... US Airways is growing its Airbus A321 fleet after announcing a deal to acquire 15 more of the type. The carrier has placed a firm order for seven A321s and simultaneously converted eight of 30 pre-existing orders for A320 family aircraft -...

Europe ponders airline security after UK scare.(European Court ruling on privacy)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... The future of airline security measures following the arrest of alleged terrorists in the UK was debated at the European Commission last month at a meeting of airline and airport executives. Some airlines want harsher guidelines on the...

Dutch to invite bids for MALE mission.(Elbit Systems Ltd.)(General Atomics)(Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd.)(medium-altitude, long-endurance)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... The Netherlands is to issue an initial invitation to bid for its medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned air vehicle requirement early this month, ahead of expected funding approval from the Dutch parliament in October-November. An...

NASA offers Global Hawk services.(National Aeronautics and Space Administration)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... NASA is to take delivery of two ex-US Air Force Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk technology demonstrators, which will be used to provide unmanned air vehicle services for outside customers. The two high-altitude, long-endurance UAVs, the...

Honeywell shows upgraded Organic Air Vehicle.(Future Combat Systems)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... Honeywell has unveiled its redesigned Organic Air Vehicle (OAV) II, with flight tests planned for the first quarter of next year. The ducted-fan vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicle is being developed for the US Defense Advanced...

Snow Goose unmanned parasail eyed for new roles.(CQ-10A Snow Goose)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... Canadian-based Mist Mobility Integrated Systems Technology (MMIST) has revealed plans for scaleable-payload and self-launched variants of its CQ-10A Snow Goose powered-parasail unmanned logistics air vehicle. Development of a scaleable lift...

VTOL rivals line up for unveiling.(Aurora Flight Systems)(vertical take off and landing)(United States. Army)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... CONCEPTS Two new vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned air vehicles were unveiled at the AUVSI show. Aurora Flight Systems is building its Excalibur unmanned tactical strike aircraft as a technology demonstrator for the US Army,...

New connections.(Qantas Airways Ltd)(Boeing Co)(Air France)
September 5, 2006... Boeing's decision to shut down its loss-making Connexion division has not discouraged rival in-flight connectivity providers from pushing ahead with plans to offer what they insist will be more affordable passenger communication services. ...

NTSB urges FAA to tackle Beechjet 400 flameouts.(National Transportation Safety Board)(Federal Aviation Administration)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has called for urgent action from the Federal Aviation Administration over a series of high-altitude, dual-engine flameouts on Beechcraft Beechjet 400 business jets. The latest incident...

Cessna works on next CitationJet.(National Business Aviation Association)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... Honouring its tradition of continuous product development in the entry-level to mid-size business jet categories, Cessna is to launch the latest member of the CitationJet family, the CJ4 light jet. The seven-seat aircraft will be one of two new...

F1 Kestrel crosses Atlantic.(Farnborough Aircraft)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... The Farnborough Aircraft (FACL) F1 Kestrel single-engine turboprop completed its ferry flight from Bend, Oregon in the USA to Redhill, Surrey in the UK late last month. The nine-sector journey via Goose Bay, Kuujjuaq, Sondrestrom and Reykjavik...

Magnum aims for jets.(air-taxi and management company Magnum Jet)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... Start-up air-taxi and management company Magnum Jet plans to launch services in the USA in 2008 with a fleet of Adam A700 very light jets (VLJ). The company, which is tight-lipped "for the time being" on its specific plans, has been formed by...

US FAA bows to business pressure and relaxes rules.(Federal Aviation Administration)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... The US Federal Aviation Administration has removed the waiver and "portal" country requirements for international flights entering the USA following years of lobbying from the business aviation community. The agency introduced the...

Stallion wins its STC spurs.(Sierra Industries)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... US aircraft modification specialist Sierra Industries has clinched US supplemental type certification for its Stallion, a re-engined Cessna Citation 500/501SP, powered by two 2,300lb-thrust (10kN) Williams International FJ44-2As. The...

Operators help Viking define new Twin Otter.
September 5, 2006... De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter operators are to help define cockpit avionics and other features for the planned Series 400 version to be assembled by British Columbia-based Viking Air. Viking Air president and chief executive David...

Lockheed: a bold choice.(build its new Orion spaceship )(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... In a surprise move NASA has chosen Lockheed Martin to build its new Orion spaceship over the Northrop Grumman/Boeing team that represented companies that built previous US manned spacecraft. Today Boeing provides the Space Shuttle orbiter and...

Don't assume.
September 5, 2006... The questions that arise from the tragic Comair Bombardier CRJ200 take-off crash at Lexington are familiar ones. But the fact they are familiar does not mean they should be taken any less seriously. Based on National Transportation Safety...

Industry awaits investment.(newly published procurement guidelines )(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... The Indian defence ministry's newly published procurement guidelines have provided fresh insight into the country's expected level of future offset business. The ministry - which requires a reinvestment rate of 30% with local industry for all...

Boeing to offer new HALE UAV.(construction of a hydrogen-powered high-altitude)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... Aurora Flight Sciences has begun construction of a hydrogen-powered high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned air vehicle as it works with Boeing to pursue a US Department of Defense advanced concept technology demonstration. The Orion...

First Cougar arrives in Bulgaria.(helicopters deliveried)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... Bulgaria's air force has received its first of 12 Eurocopter AS532AL Cougar transport helicopters, with deliveries of the 4.5t aircraft to continue until 2009. Sofia's first Cougar arrived at the air force's Krumovo airbase near Plovdiv on...

UK awaits US approval to purchase Predator Bs.(target acquisition and reconnaissance programme)
September 5, 2006... The UK Ministry of Defence is awaiting US government approval for its planned purchase of two General Atomics Predator B unmanned air vehicles to meet an urgent operational requirement. The development follows UK Treasury permission for funding...

Fighter manufacturers battle to secure Indian partnerships.(Boeing Co.)(EADS N.V. EADS Defence and Civil Systems Div.)(Lockheed Martin Corp.)
September 5, 2006... Indian defence procurement plans were stirring to life last week, as several major manufacturers signed industrial agreements and the government issued new directives concerning its forthcoming military purchases. The defence ministry...

Italian air force launches Storm Shadow trials.
September 5, 2006... Three of the Italian air force's modernised Panavia Tornado interdictor strike aircraft will leave Ghedi air base near Brescia next week to participate in a service evaluation trial of MBDA's Storm Shadow cruise missile at South Africa's...

UK nears choice on MFTS partner.(Military Flying Training System)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... The three consortia bidding to win the UK Military Flying Training System (MFTS) contest have held concluding discussions with the Defence Procurement Agency to clarify any issues arising from their delivery in early August of final submissions...

Turkey suspends C-130B flights as fault is found.
September 5, 2006... The Turkish air force has halted operations of its Lockheed Martin C-130B transports, pending the repair of structural damage found to be affecting the join between the aircraft's wing and fuselage. The service says the fault was discovered in...

Features.
September 5, 2006... Business aviation Operators are still bearing the brunt of a slew of post 9/11 restrictions Kate Sarsfield / London The terrorist attacks of 11 September dealt a devastating blow to business aviation. The industry was already...

Features.(Department of Homeland Security)
September 5, 2006... National security The Department of Homeland Security, born out of the 2001 terrorist attacks, has come in for criticism John croft / washington dc The US House of Representatives' committee on government reform pulled no punches...

Features.(Homeland Security Act)
September 5, 2006... USA's pilots speak out One of the most relevant commentaries on US aviation security in the post 9/11 environment would logically come from a group of those professionals most affected by the situation - US airline pilots. In a review of...

Features.(SeaShot down by a Ukrainian defence forces )
September 5, 2006... 14 October 2001Sibir AirlinesTupolev Tu-154Black SeaShot down by a Ukrainian defence forces surface-to-air missile being used in an exercise. It missed a target drone and locked on to the Tu-154. All 78 people on board died.7 May 2002China...

Features.(International Federation of Airline Pilots' Associations )
September 5, 2006... Security Have measures introduced since 9/11 been effective? David Learmount / London There has been plenty of time - in the five years since terrorists first used commercial airliners as missiles - to test the effectiveness of...

Future Visions.
September 5, 2006... In-flight entertainment (IFE) system manufacturers Panasonic Avionics and Thales are going through testing times with two major new aircraft programmes under way. Trials are being carried out on Airbus A380 test aircraft of Panasonic's eX2 IFE...

Australian office furniture maker to take to skies with Alpha purchase.(Gregory Australia is purchasing Alpha Aviation)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... Australian office chair producer Gregory Australia is purchasing New Zealand light aircraft manufacturer Alpha Aviation in an A$11 million ($8.3 million) deal. The deal is expected to be completed through a share purchase on 1 February...

Eurocontrol acts on infringements.(toolkit for pilots and air traffic controllers)
September 5, 2006... Increasing concerns about unauthorised penetration of European airspace by general aviation aircraft have prompted Eurocontrol to launch an information toolkit for pilots and air traffic controllers aimed at reducing the risk of midair...

Gippsland celebrates 100th GA8 Airvan roll-out.(Mission Aviation Fellowship)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... Australian general aviation manufacturer Gippsland Aeronautics rolled out its 100th GA8 Airvan utility aircraft late last month.The aircraft is for Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) Australia for service in Papua New Guinea. MAF already...

NTSB wants at-risk CF6s removed.(National Transportation Safety Board)(CF6-80 engines)
September 5, 2006... The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) wants the Federal Aviation Administration to rethink its recently issued airworthiness directive (AD) over General Electric CF6-80 engines and withdraw some from service immediately. The agency...

Trace to restart V8 piston.(Trace Engines)(engine was in low-rate initial production in Debert)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... Texas-based Trace Engines has announced plans to restart production of the Orenda OE-600 V8 piston aeroengine three years after Magellan Aerospace, parent of the original Canadian-based manufacturer, decided to terminate the programme, citing a...

Ryanair to offer mobile service.(telephony venture OnAir)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... Irish budget carrier Ryanair expects passengers to be able to use their mobile phones across its entire Boeing 737 fleet by mid-2008, after announcing a deal with in-flight telephony venture OnAir. The pair have signed an agreement that...

Bombardier looks for business jet boost.(financial report)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... Bombardier aims to bolster its business jet backlog as it faces a possible cut in regional jet production rates. The manufacturer last week reported a $58 million net profit for its fiscal second quarter, about half the earnings recorded for...

Extra Predators to patrol US border.(Customs and Border Protection)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plans to resume unmanned air vehicle operations along the border with Mexico next month following delivery of its second General Atomics Predator B. The UAV will replace the vehicle lost in April because...

Import-export group poised to order ARJ21s.(ARJ21 regional jets)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... State-run China Aviation Supplies Import & Export Group (CASC) is preparing to order up to 30 indigenously produced ARJ21 regional jets. The deal is expected to be announced on 9 September, says a senior CASC official, and will mark the first...

Embraer scores China coup with $2.7bn sale.(delivering the 50-seat regional jets in September 2007)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... China's Hainan Airlines has ordered 50 Embraer ERJ-145s and 50 E-190s in a deal with a list value of $2.7 billion. Under the agreement, Embraer will begin delivering the 50-seat regional jets in September 2007. All 50 aircraft will be built at...

Block 20 Global Hawk ready to roll.
September 5, 2006... Northrop Grumman is preparing to undertake the first taxi tests with the larger and upgraded RQ-4 Block 20 Global Hawk unmanned air vehicle, following the aircraft's official unveiling on 25 August at the US Air Force's Plant 42 in Palmdale,...

Magnum loads up with VLJs.(air-taxi start-up Magnum Jet)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... Embraer is expected to announce a 100-aircraft deal for Phenom 100 very light jets with US air-taxi start-up Magnum Jet this week. Although Magnum's website is already advertising its plans for the Phenom 100, the deal for 50 firm plus 50...

Size matters as US drafts UAV rules.(United States. Federal Aviation Administration issues standards for unmanned aerial vehicles)
September 5, 2006... Aviation standards body RTCA is to recommend to the US Federal Aviation Administration where the cut-off point between fully certificated unmanned air vehicles and "lightly regulated" small UAVs should be. A "best practices" document is to be...

Lucky escape for Hawker crew.(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... A glider pilot and five people aboard a NetJets Hawker 800XP business jet had a lucky escape on 28 August following a mid-air collision at around 16,000ft (4,900m) near Carson City, Nevada. The pilot of the Schleicher ASW-27 sailplane managed...

Lockheed over the moon after $8bn Orion victory.(United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration)(Lockheed Martin Corp.)
September 5, 2006... Lockheed Martin has won the NASA development and production contract potentially worth over $8 billion for the new four- to six-crew Orion spacecraft that will transport astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) by 2014 and return...

The dangers of private ATM.(air traffic management)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... Your reporting is not to be blamed for the faulty conclusions drawn by the industry-driven and dominated SESAR (Single European Sky ATM research) consortium. This consortium is on its way to change the nature of air traffic management (ATM) to...

Focus on the suspects.(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... Your "Threat to sanity", Comment (Flight International, 22-28 August) was a welcome note of commonsense concerning the current mess caused by the recent imposition of changed requirements for the travelling public. We would agree wholeheartedly...

The holes in airport security.(Letter to the editor)
September 5, 2006... While I agree wholeheartedly with most of the points in your "Threat to sanity" Comment (Flight International, 22-28 August), I take strong exception to one. You say "the only remaining on-board threat that poses a catastrophic danger...is a...

Everett's ugly duckling.(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... "A look that only a mother could love" is an apt description of Boeing's Large Cargo Freighter. What a mother it is indeed or, in the 787's case, a midwife. No 787 would want to claim the LCF as a relation, mother or midwife. It is a sad world...

Has Boeing learned?(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... I refer to your reporting Boeing's proposal for zero flight time and without full-flight simulator training and testing (Flight International, 15-21 August). I do hope that Boeing, the certifying authorities and the operators have learned the...

Toys doing a man's job.(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... In "Israel praises UAV abilities" (Flight International, 29 August-4 September), there were several important omissions. One is the mention of the word "successful", the other is the appearance of the word "useful". What the story does not...

Agency to address thermal protection system issues.(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... NASA is to address Ares I upper-stage thermal protection system (TPS) development at a meeting this week as the agency rethinks the procurement process for the Orion capsule booster's avionics and introduces a short delay to the upper-stage...

Ares I launch test gets go-ahead.
September 5, 2006... NASA's Constellation programme managers have been given the go-ahead to carry out up to two test flights of the Ares I launcher, at a cost of $300 million. The Ares I-1 test flight, and a repeat launch if the first fails, have been...

NASA reconsiders lighting rules for Atlantis.(National Aeronautics and Space Administration)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... If Space Shuttle Atlantis does not lift off this week, its next daylight launch date would be 26 October, but NASA has been considering a late September attempt, despite lighting conditions not being ideal. The US space agency requires daylight...

GeorgiaTech focuses on low cost and power.(Georgia Institute of Technology)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... The US Georgia Institute of Technology (GeorgiaTech) has flown a 6.7m (22ft)-wingspan, 500W gaseous hydrogen fuel-cell-powered unmanned air vehicle to highlight the capabilities of fuel cells and low-cost UAVs. The UAV's power system is a...

Protonex develops solid hydrogen storage fuel cell.(Protonex)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... Protonex last week unveiled its Procore unmanned air vehicle fuel-cell propulsion system. The Massachusetts-based company has developed the fuel-cell system, which could be used to power UAVs designed for surveillance, chemical-biological...

Lockheed uses brain to track UAVs.(Lockheed Martin Corp. launches navigating systems to track unmanned aerial vehicles)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... A prototype command and control interface that could allow operators to launch and track simultaneously 25% more UAVs than current systems without any increase in errors is to be demonstrated later this year by Lockheed Martin Advanced...

Canadian aerospace back on track despite weak US dollar.(Industry overview)
September 5, 2006... This year should be a good one for the Canadian aerospace industry, with increased profits and stable employment numbers. Research organisation the Conference Board predicts industry profits will double to $800 million this year, and...

Canada facts.(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... Canada is a high-tech industrial society with a market-orientated economy. It is the second largest country in the world, straddling six time zones. Population: 33.1 million Workforce: 16.3 million Unemployment: 6.8% Aerospace jobs by...

Bombardier to create 500 jobs.(employment)(Brief article)
September 5, 2006... Bombardier's manufacturing plant in Mexico, to be constructed in Quer?taro, where Bombardier currently employs 100 full-time staff at a temporary facility, will employ 600 people by the end of next year. Mexico is benefiting from the trend...

Features.(labour contracts)
September 5, 2006... US airlines 9/11 did not cause the downturn. Carriers were already in crisis. Things are now getting better David Field / Washington DC The hijacking of four airliners, their use in attacks on Manhattan's World Trade Center and...

What's it like to fly on A380? First 'passengers' find out.
September 12, 2006... The Airbus A380 operated its first fully representative "passenger" flights last week when around 1,900 people travelled on the ultra large aircraft during the four- flight early long flight (ELF) test programme. The ELF programme began...

Arkia owner secures two options for Boeing 787.(Brief article)
September 12, 2006... Arkia's majority shareholder has secured options for the purchase of two Boeing 787s, writes Arie Egozi. Arkia, Israel's second largest airline, plans to launch long haul services to North America, South America and Asia. The Nakash...

First Boeing 737-900ER flies.(Brief article)
September 12, 2006... The latest Boeing 737 variant, the extended-range -900ER, made its first flight from Renton, Washington last week. The 1 September flight lasted 1h 45min, landing at Boeing Field in Seattle. The flight marks the beginning of a five-month test...

Pilots fear air rage over inflight mobile use.(Brief article)
September 12, 2006... The British Air Line Pilots Association (BALPA) has expressed concern over a possible increase in passenger aggression as a result of the forthcoming introduction of in-flight mobile phone services. Aside from the fact, says the union, that...

Airbus turbulence as Champion falls.
September 12, 2006... The successful launch of its first A380 passenger flight last week did little to calm turbulence at Airbus, with the sacking of A380 programme chief Charles Champion sparking speculation that other high-profile careers could be about to...

Embraer has 'no plans' for further E-195 stretch.
September 12, 2006... air transport Embraer says it has no plans to develop a further stretch of the E-190/195 family to compete in the sector above the 100-120 seats category to fend off any possible threat from Boeing. At a S?o Jos? dos Campos briefing...

FAA landing margin regulation suspended.( Federal Aviation Administration )(Brief article)
September 12, 2006... air transport A US Federal Aviation Administration mandate that would have restricted domestic operators from landing at some shorter runways has been suspended a month before it was due to be implemented, writes Darren Shannon. The...

Frontier places order for Q400s.(Brief article)
September 12, 2006... The revival of the turboprop in the USA is gathering momentum, with Frontier Airlines placing a firm order for 10 Bombardier Q400s, and options on 10 more. The move comes as part of a regional operations review that may also end the carrier's...

Crash data recovered by Italians.(Brief article)
September 12, 2006... Italian crash investigators have succeeded in extracting data from the cockpit voice recorder of an Air Alg?rie Lockheed Martin L100-30 Hercules that crashed in northern Italy late last month, despite the "disastrous" condition in which it was...