Flight International articles from September 2008

Flight International archives from September 2008

Russia rescues ailing AirUnion airline alliance.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: state support The Kremlin is providing Russian airline alliance AirUnion with 24,000t of fuel from state reserves, enough to support its operations for a further 18 days. The move forms part of a plan aimed at enabling the creation...

NTSB slams FAA response to Comair findings.(Air Transport)
September 2, 2008... Byline: safety david field washington dc Agency has taken too long to issue runway regulations The US Federal Aviation Administration has received notice from the National Transportation Safety Board that the agency has not responded...

Arrival of second Emirates A380 slips.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: delivery jon ostrower washington dc Delay of at least several weeks following supplier issues with interior outfitting will push back daily service to New York Delivery of the second Emirates Airbus A380 has been delayed at...

Bombardier or Embraer possible partners to build Indian aircraft.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: regional jets mary kirby philadelphia India is reportedly seeking to partner either Bombardier or Embraer to build a new 70- to 100-seat regional jet. The government has asked state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics to formulate a...

Technical problem preceded Itek Air 737 accident.(Air Transport)(Itek Air)
September 2, 2008... Byline: crash david kaminski-morrow london Crew had tried to return to the city's Manas International airport but attempted emergency landing en route Sixty-five of the 90 people on board the aircraft were killed in the crash The...

Kingfisher to offload some of the five A340-500s it has on order.(Air Transport)(Kingfisher Airlines)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: divestment Kingfisher Airlines aims to sell some of the five Airbus A340-500s it has on order, but wants to keep at least two so it can launch ultra-long-haul services from Bangalore to San Francisco. The carrier's executive...

Delta awaits Mesa dispute ruling.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: contracts lori ranson washington dc Delta Air Lines is preparing to place 34 Embraer ERJ-145s flown by Mesa subsidiary Freedom Airlines back into service as the Atlanta-hubbed carrier awaits an appeal of a ruling prohibiting the...

Qantas could add 777-300ERs to long-range fleet.(Air Transport)(Qantas Airways)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: strategy Qantas Airways is considering ordering Boeing 777-300ER long-range widebody twinjets because it has concluded that it will need a second type to operate alongside Airbus A380s to replace its ageing Boeing 747-400s. ...

Qantas 747 oxygen cylinder became projectile: ATSB.(Air Transport)(Australian Transport Safety Bureau )
September 2, 2008... Byline: investigation leithen francis singapore Tank severed some of the co-pilot's control runs as well as damaging galley and fuselage An exploding oxygen cylinder in a Qantas Airways Boeing 747-400 bellyhold became a projectile that...

Kuwait Airways lays claim to Iraqi CRJ900s.(Air Transport)
September 2, 2008... Byline: reparation david kaminski-morrow london Kuwait Airways is carrying out its threat to force the Iraqi government to pay reparations over war damage by seizing interests in Bombardier regional jets destined for Iraq. The Kuwaiti...

L-1011 deaths due to poor safety procedures.(Air Transport)(Lockheed L-1011)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: explosion david kaminski-morrow london Saudi Arabia's civil aviation administration believes a failure to follow safety procedures during the disassembly of a Lockheed L-1011 resulted in an explosion that killed four workers. ...

SkyEurope slashes 737 commitment.(Air Transport)(SkyEurope Airlines a.s.)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: order Central European low-fare carrier SkyEurope Airlines is adjusting its fleet-expansion plans, again with a capacity reduction that will give it 26 aircraft by 2013. SkyEurope ordered up to 32 Boeing 737-700s three years...

Spanair MD-82 took off briefly.(Air Transport)
September 2, 2008... Byline: inquiry david kaminski-morrow london Investigators reveal preliminary findings into fatal accident Spanish investigators have revealed that the Spanair Boeing MD-82 that crashed on take-off from Madrid Barajas on 20 August...

Business Aviation.(Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... NAVIGATION PlaneView set for RNP 0.1 approval Gulfstream is working on certificating its PlaneView-equipped business jets for required navigation performance 0.1. Gulfstream and Honeywell secured US Federal Aviation Administraton...

Bahrain operator to put down roots at Biggin Hill.(Business Aviation)(Rizon Jet)
September 2, 2008... Byline: FIXED-BASE OPERATION MURDO MORRISON loNDon Rizon Jet aims to open next August at UK airport as it seeks to improve links between London and Middle East Bahrain's Rizon Jet has become the first Middle Eastern business aviation...

Business.(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... AER LINGUS No luck of the Irish here, with high fuel prices and the difficult operating environment driving a [euro]22.3 million ($32.8 million) first-half operating loss. Chief executive Dermot Mannion says a second-half break-even is the best...

Business.
September 2, 2008... business briefs FALCON DELIVERIES UP AT DASSAULT RESULTS Dassault Aviation had a mixed first half, with orders, sales and profits all falling short of their levels from the same period last year while the Falcon business jets unit made...

Business.(Air Berlin)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... AIR BERLIN The German carrier expects to rack up a full-year operating profit after cutting first-half losses nearly a fifth to just under [euro]54 million ($80 million) on revenue up 5.5% to [euro]1.53 billion. Cost cutting will see the...

Bell plots path back to top.(Business)
September 2, 2008... Byline: ROTORCRAFT DAN THISDELL loNDon Once-dominant manufacturer aims to recapture prominence in civil market For everyone who thinks of Bell as synonymous with helicopters, current market share figures make for a shock - Eurocopter...

PEOPLE moves.(Business)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... FAA veteran for SpaceDev, ex-US Navy liaison for DRS SpA[currency]th: Jet Aviation maintenance Patricia Grace Smith, former associate administrator of commercial space transport for the Federal Aviation Administration, has joined the...

Business.(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Quote of the week "I'm very concerned that the politicians are not giving the priority to defence that is needed" Retiring BAE Systems chief executive Mike turner in a valedictory interview with the Financial Times

AIRCRAFT SIVA GOVINDASAMY SINGAPOREFunding shortage leads to Subaru Jet hiatus.(Business Aviation)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... The Subaru Jet would be Fuji's first indigenous project since the FA-200 Fuji Heavy Industries plans to put off the development of a new business jet for several years because of funding constraints, although studies into the aircraft will...

Business Aviation.
September 2, 2008... AVIONICS BRENDAN SOBIE SAVANNAH Gulfstream adds more cockpit vision Manufacturer to further enhance pioneering system, with first step allowing pilots to see runway lights through fog Gulfstream plans to develop flightdeck...

Business Aviation.(Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... PRODUCTION G650 production to start in September as Savannah manufacturing site expands Gulfstream is close to starting production of the first G650 only six months after launching the new ultra-long-range, ultra-large-cabin business...

Whose data is it?(Comment)(accident investigation agencies)
September 2, 2008... There is a tendency among many of the world's accident investigation agencies to treat the information they gather as their property. It is not. And judicial interference makes this worse Accident investigators are public servants paid...

Sweetened deals that leave a sour taste.(Comment)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... To many small-business owners brought up in the affluent comforts of a free-market, democratic culture, corruption is something that happens over there but not here. From the policeman slipped banknotes to waive a speeding fine to the...

Boeing relents on network standards.(Defence)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: SIMULATION STEPHEN TRIMBLE HUNTINGTON BEACH Boeing has softened its stance on the need to establish common standards for networking protocols across the US and global defence industry, despite having spearheaded the creation of the...

$4.3bn Chinook deal for Boeing.(Defence)
September 2, 2008... Byline: HELICOPTERS STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC US Army to acquire 215 CH-47Fs in multi-year order So far only 48 new-model Chinooks have been delivered to the army Boeing will build or remanufacture up to 215 CH-47 Chinook...

Gripen returns to Dutch contention.(Defence)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: FIGHTERS STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC Swedish firm responds to F-16 replacement with package of 85 new fighters, but has competition from Lockheed Saab has presented the Dutch defence ministry with a proposal for 85 Gripen NG...

Fighter's lighter weight and fuel economy could save [euro]6bn.(Defence)
September 2, 2008... Byline: PROPOSAL ANNO GRAVEMAKER ARNHEM In its response to the Netherlands' request for proposals for a Lockheed Martin F-16 replacement, Saab claims that choosing the Gripen NG (Next Generation) could save the nation up to [euro]6 billion...

EADS lets slip ambitions to target more USAF contests.(Defence)
September 2, 2008... Byline: STRATEGY STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC Job advert reveals plan to offer Airbus variants to replace 707- and 747-based systems EADS North America has inadvertently revealed its serious intention to use Airbus platforms to...

France to issue MALE request for information in May 2009.(Defence)(medium-altitude long-endurance)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: unmanned systems ARIE EGOZI TEL AVIV France's defence ministry is preparing the requirements for its medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned air vehicle requirement, with a request for information expected to be released in May...

Hawk 128 edges closer to RAF duty as first service milestone approaches.(Defence)(Royal Air Force)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: TRAINERS CRAIG HOYLE LONDON Royal Air Force use of BAE Systems' Hawk 128 advanced jet trainer has moved a step closer, with the type poised to achieve its release to service declaration, targeted for late August. The milestone...

Indonesia to receive first of six Sukhoi Su-27/30s.(Defence)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: FIGHTERS SIVA GOVINDASAMY SINGAPORE Indonesia is poised to take delivery of its first of six new Sukhoi Su-27/30 fighters in September, with the country's defence and finance ministries having recently finalised a funding package...

Israel relocates C-130, tanker fleets.(Defence)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: basing The Israeli air force has transferred its Boeing 707 tanker/transport and Lockheed Martin C-130 tactical transport fleets from a facility adjacent to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion international airport to a newly built part of...

Defence.(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Japan is unlikely to get the funding required to construct a stealth fighter demonstrator in 2008, with industry sources expecting the finance ministry to release only enough money to continue design and technology studies. The ATD-X...

Japan boosts budget but cuts aircraft orders.(Defence)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: PROCUREMENT SIVA GOVINDASAMY & SEIJI HIROKAWA TOKYO Japan has proposed making a 2.2% increase to its defence budget for fiscal year 2009, but its A[yen]4.8 trillion ($29.5 billion) allocation contains just A[yen]189.1 billion to...

KAI F/A-50 faces more setbacks on radar and funding.(Defence)
September 2, 2008... Byline: development SIVA GOVINDASAMY SINGAPORE Design and production details almost complete but fighter programme launch could slip by more than a year Further delays are likely in the development of the Korea Aerospace Industries...

VT Aerospace wins repeat contract for University Air Squadron service.(Defence)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: TRAINERS CRAIG HOYLE LONDON The UK Ministry of Defence has selected VT Aerospace to deliver continued University Air Squadron flying services until 2019, with its approximately [pounds sterling]160 million ($298 million) deal to...

THE LUXURY OF SPACE.(Features)(Airbus A380)
September 2, 2008... Byline: MAX KINGSLEY-JONES LONDON TIM BICHENO-BROWN ILLUSTRATIONS The A380's two passenger decks give airlines a huge blank canvas with which to redefine long-haul air travel, and they have come up with some clever innovations The...

Fleets and early destinations.(Features)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Emirates (One delivered/57 on order) Auckland, London, New York and Sydney Qantas (20 orders - first delivery 19 September) London, Los Angeles and Singapore Singapore Airlines (Five delivered/14 on order) ...

DIVERSION TACTICS.(Features)(in-flight entertainment)
September 2, 2008... Byline: MARY KIRBY PHILADELPHIA As they feel the pinch of high fuel prices, airlines are turning their attention to new in-flight entertainment and connectivity technology as a lucrative revenue stream As the industry struggles in the...

General Aviation.(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... HELICOPTERS Bavarian police to get eight EC135s The Bavarian interior ministry is acquiring eight Eurocopter EC135 P2i helicopters for the Bavarian police, for delivery between September 2009 and April 2010. They will be equipped with...

Motor giant takes light aircraft road.(General Aviation)(Hero Motors)
September 2, 2008... Byline: MANUFACTURING SIVA GOVINDASAMY SINGAPORE Indian manufacturer Hero reveals ambitions to make breakthrough in aviation production and maintenance Hero Motors, India's largest manufacturer of motorcycles, plans to move into the...

General Aviation.(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... TRAINING ST Aero unit buys flying school A company linked to Singapore Technologies Aerospace has paid A$120,000 ($100,000) to buy the Bruce Hartwig Flying School near Adelaide. ST Aero says the business was acquired by Aviation...

General Aviation.(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... insolvency MURDO MORRISON loNDon Thielert bids received A saviour for diesel propulsion manufacturer Thielert Aircraft Engines may be about to emerge. A spokesman for the German company's administrator says "several" prospective...

Heathrow to handle more A380s as rules change.(This week)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: OPERATIONS DAVID LEARMOUNT LONDON Singapore Airlines was the first operator to fly an A380 into Heathrow London Heathrow airport will be able to handle more Airbus A380s as a result of the wake separation reduction promulgated...

EgyptAir revealed as 777-300ER customer.(This week)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: order EgyptAir has been revealed to be the customer for two Boeing 777-300ER widebodies that had been attributed to an unidentified customer on the airframer's orders and deliveries list. The carrier, which joined Star Alliance...

Taxman targets India's business aviation community.(This week)
September 2, 2008... Byline: IMPORTS SIVA GOVINDASAMY SINGAPORE India's business aviation industry is appealing for the authorities to resolve quickly an investigation into the alleged evasion of import taxes for small aircraft and helicopters by several...

Australia limits Hornet central barrel upgrade.(This week)
September 2, 2008... Byline: FIGHTERS SIVA GOVINDASAMY SINGAPORE Ten aircraft to be modified in Canada as plans to update 49 put on hold pending defence capacility review Plans to update the rest of Australia's F/A-18s have been put on ice Australia...

Japan receives prototype XP-1.(This week)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: delivery craig hoyle LONDON Japan's defence ministry has taken delivery of Kawasaki Heavy Industries' prototype XP-1 maritime patrol aircraft for a long-term programme of test and evaluation activities. Flown for the first time in...

Italian investors plan slimmed-down short- and medium-haul Alitalia.(This week)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: reorganisation graham dunn london Italian investors plan a slimmed-down Alitalia, focusing largely on short and medium-haul routes. Developments are expected to gather pace after the Italian cabinet on 28 August approved a decree to...

UK urged to boost defence budget.(This week)
September 2, 2008... Byline: security murdo morrison london Threats from terrorism and the spread of conflicts such as the crisis in Georgia raise concerns among industry Ahead of the UK's political party conference season, the country's aerospace industry...

This week.
September 2, 2008... BRIEFING CONFUSION BLAMED FOR CARBON OFFSET APATHY ENVIRONMENT Passengers are dissuaded from paying carbon offsets by wildly varying offset costs for particular flights, according to a UK study. For example, from London to Sydney...

A400M: Belfast in disguise?(Letters&Flannel&Blogs)(Letter to the editor)
September 2, 2008... When I saw the recent roll-out of the Airbus Military A400M I couldn't help but cast my mind back to a similar but less grand roll-out in, I think, 1964. It was a great big freighter, destined for the Royal Air Force, but cut short in its prime...

Letters&Flannel&Blogs.
September 2, 2008... TANKER COMPETITION Right sentiments, wrong target Your "Lessons unheeded" editorial was right to warn against protectionism in defence contracting (Flight International, 29 July-4 August). Crude nationalism in the awarding of defence...

Sell some BAA terminals as well.(Letters&Flannel&Blogs)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... This idea of the UK Competition Commission breaking up airports operator BAA is a good one. The commission should be looking at selling not three airports, but four. Not only should these airports be sold, but so should some of the...

Wrong criteria for Top 100?(Letters&Flannel&Blogs)
September 2, 2008... You describe The Top 100 as "our health check" and say it "reveals who's in best shape" (Flight International, 12-18 August). I must disagree with the criteria you have used. The basic problem in comparing companies is trying to compare...

India's Antrix awarded contracts by Italy and Algeria.(Spaceflight)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: launches radhakrishna rao bangalore Italian and Algerian Earth observation satellites are to be launched by India following a deal secured by the Indian Space Research Organisation's commercial space arm, Bangalore-based Antrix. ...

ESA study to assess competitive threats and co-operation opportunities.(Spaceflight)(European Space Agency)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: review rob coppinger london Competitive threats to Europe's space industry posed by India and China - and opportunities for co-operation - are to be the focus of a [euro]200,000 ($296,000) European Space Agency study. The study...

Atlantis prepares for Hubble mission.(Spaceflight)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: assembly Orbiter Atlantis (above) is prepared for its STS-125 Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission, due for launch on 8 October. It is in position to be attached to the stack of its external fuel tank and twin solid-rocket...

COTS could deliver test engine to ISS.(Spaceflight)(Commercial Orbital Transportation Services, International Space Station)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: propulsion rob coppinger london AdAstraRocket's Vasimir in line for 2012 launch A scale-model plasma rocket engine that is to be tested at the International Space Station could be delivered in 2012 by a NASA Commercial Orbital...

AFRL links with University of Dayton to research non-conventional fuels.(Technology)
September 2, 2008... Byline: propulsion rob coppinger london Flight tests and full-scale engine demonstrators for evaluating non-conventional fuels is to be a focus of co-operation between the US Air Force Research Laboratory and the University of Dayton...

Autonomous coanda-effect UAV flight due by year-end.(Technology)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: unmanned vehicles rob coppinger SALISBURY Fenstar 50 features carbonfibre structure and is powered by two-stroke engine The first autonomous flight of Geoff's Flying Saucer (GFS) Project's Fenstar 50 internal combustion...

Elbit focuses on improving pilots' field of view.(Technology)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: display systems arie egozi tel aviv Elbit Systems is developing eye-tracking technologies in a bid to enhance the field of view of a combat pilot's helmet-mounted display systems. Elbit says that a typical helmet FOV is from...

XOJet battles market with $25,000 deal.(Business Aviation)(Brief article)
September 2, 2008... Byline: OFFER JOHN CROFT WASHINGTON DC Private jet operator XOJet is marketing an "all-in" transcontinental one-way trial offer rate of $25,000 for flights across the USA in its fleet of 24 Cessna Citation X super-midsize jets, and hopes...

Bumpy flights and racy mags.(Letters&Flannel&Blogs)(Letter to the editor)
September 2, 2008... air scares Posted 26 August by David Learmount So Qantas had a sudden decompression a few weeks ago, and now a Ryanair Boeing 737-800 has just suffered one. Sudden decompression is one of the two types of event that can occur...

ATK begins Ares 1-X booster modifications.(This week)(Alliant Techsystems Inc.)
September 2, 2008... Byline: LAUNCHER JOHN CROFT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER Alliant Techsystems has begun modifications to components of a retired Shuttle solid rocket booster in preparation for the first test flight of a prototype Ares launch vehicle in April. ...

X2 makes first push for speed limit.(This week)
September 2, 2008... Byline: rotorcraft STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC Revolutionary prototype now entering 16-month, four-phase flight-test period to demonstrate a 250kt capability Sikorsky's ambitious X2 prototype, designed to conquer the 170kt (315km/h)...

Qinetiq seeks industry partner for Zephyr project.(This week)
September 2, 2008... Byline: unmanned vehicles stephen trimble washington dc Ambition to put larger-scale version into service in two years Qinetiq has unveiled plans to transition a slightly larger version of the Zephyr high-altitude long-endurance...

Working Week.(Barry Stone)(Interview)
September 2, 2008... Engineering growth at PremiAir UK aviation services company is seeking to employ qualified fixed-wing engineers for its new base at Oxford airport. Heading the recruitment drive is engineering director Barry Stone. Who is he looking for?...

First Il-96-400T arrives at Aeroflot.(Air Transport)(Ilyushin Aviation Complex )(Brief article)
September 9, 2008... Byline: delivery Aeroflot took delivery of the first Ilyushin Il-96-400T freighter last week on lease from Ilyushin Finance at a ceremony at VASO's Voronezh plant. The Russian flag carrier, which is launch customer for the widebody...

Air Transport.(Brief article)
September 9, 2008... RECOMMENDATIONS Fuel additives could be one solution European regulators, in consultation with their US counterparts, have agreed to define interim measures for Rolls-Royce Trent-powered Boeing 777s to reduce the risk of icing causing...

Air Transport.
September 9, 2008... investigation david kaminski-morrow london Ice blocked 777's fuel feed AAIB urges 'interim measures' be mandated to prevent repeat of January's Heathrow accident to R-R-powered twinjet UK investigators believe that ice was the...

Qantas reels from second blow to its safety reputation.(Air Transport)
September 9, 2008... Byline: maintenance leithen francis singapore Australian regulator tells carrier to raise its maintenance standards amid signs of potential future problems Qantas's reputation for safety took another battering last week as Australia's...

CRJ1000 testing begins after 3.5h maiden sortie.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
September 9, 2008... Byline: flight trials The prototype CRJ1000 NextGen took to the air on 3 September from the airframer's plant at Mirabel, near Montreal, signalling the start of the flight-test programme for the latest member of Bombardier's regional jet...

Non-EU carrier inclusion makes waves.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
September 9, 2008... The bone of contention is the European Union's decision to include non-EU airlines in the emissions trading scheme, which is due to come into force in 2012. In the view of Nancy Young, the Air Transport Association of America's vice-president...

US and Europe square up over ETS.(Air Transport)
September 9, 2008... Byline: emissions trading NIALL O'KEEFFE AMSTERDAM Two sides clash at conference after American airline body repeats claim that scheme contravenes Chicago Convention Representatives of US airlines and the European Commission again...

Boeing to act as Mitsubishi consultant.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
September 9, 2008... Byline: marketing Boeing has agreed to be a consultant on marketing, development and post-sales activities for the Mitsubishi MRJ regional jet, potentially helping to fill some key gaps in the programme. Mitsubishi Aircraft, which will...

MD-82 'not in take-off configuration'.(Air Transport)(Spanair S.A. into investigations)
September 9, 2008... Byline: investigation david kaminski-morrow london Investigators yet to confirm reports that crashed Spanair twinjet tried to depart Madrid without high-lift devices deployed Spanish investigators have not confirmed a report which...

Safety hits bad patch after three airliners are involved in fatal accidents.(Air Transport)(Brief article)
September 9, 2008... Byline: crashes Three airliners have been destroyed in separate fatal accidents in Venezuela, the USA and central Africa over the past two weeks. A Boeing 737-200 (YV102T) of Venezuelan carrier Conviasa crashed on 30 August while...

Business Aviation.(NetJets Inc.)(Avcon Jet )(Brief article)
September 9, 2008... NETJETS MILESTONE NetJets Europe, has sold its 3,000th charter card since the programme - dubbed Private Jet Card - was introduced by the Lisbon, Portugal-based operator six years ago. NetJets says that it has added 150 cards to its tally...

Queuing up for air taxis, but aircraft are slow to arrive.(Business Aviation)(Brief article)
September 9, 2008... Byline: air taxis murdo morrison greenville Lack of funds for expansion and problems with key programmes stunt ambitions of much-vaunted sector Investor wobbles and a dearth of new aircraft have stalled the air taxi revolution in North...

A400M will miss 'summer' first flight.(Defence)(Brief article)
September 9, 2008... Byline: propulsion Airbus Military's A400M will miss EADS's targeted "summer" first flight objective, with industry and military sources indicating that vital sorties using a modified Lockheed Martin C-130 transport are unlikely to take...