AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,497 news found

Government actsEuropean Parliament. question on public funding of civil aviation projects
Strasbourg, France - By Bart Staes (Verts/ALE)
"Written question E-2679/05 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission Subject: Public funding of civil aviation projects The Flemish Region is setting up a ’rolling fund’ of EUR 50 m to actively hel... more

AerospaceDiscovery: second space walk for two crew members
Washington, USA - Meanwhile NASA recognized its mistakes to have underestimated damages occurred at blast-off
Two Discovery astronauts, the Japanese Soichi Noguchi and US Steve Robinson, began today the second space walk: they are expected to replace a failed gyroscope needed to maintain the International Space... more

IndustryFrasca announced Mentor sales
Urbana, Usa - Four already delivered but several additional are in negotiation
Frasca International has received orders for four new MentorTM devices. Two of the devices have been delivered, one to Garmin, the manufacturer of G-1000 integrated avionics and one to Avidyne, makers... more

MiscellaneousGaruda Airlines pilot charged with Munir's murdering
Jakarta, Indonesia - The Indonesian activist died travelling on board a Jakarta-Amsterdam flight
Indonesian activist Munir making efforts to defend human rights in his country, died for poisoning last September 7 while was travelling on board a Garuda airline aircraft towards Holland. The autopsy... more

MiscellaneousIndia: air traffic is troubled again
Mumbai, India - Rains gives Mumbai no quarter
Some airport facilities as well as railways were destroyed, almost 1000 victims and hundreds of missing persons because of the monsoon rains which are lashing the region where Mumbai (the ex-Bombay) is... more

AirlinesContinental Airlines field service employees reject Transport Workers Union
Houston, Usa - They include operation and cargo agents
Continental Airlines last Thursday announced that its field service employees rejected representation sought by the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU). The TWU filed an application with the National... more

Press releaseAlitalia: decisions of the bondholders' meeting and that one of shareholders’ extraordinary meeting
Rome, Italy - Financial net situation at June 30, 2005
"Last Friday, the Society bondholders’ meeting and that one of shareholders’ extraordinary have gathered, under the leadership of Eng. Giancarlo Cimoli. They have decided regarding the Board’s proposals: in pa... more

AerospaceVittori received by the speaker of Italian Chamber of Deputies
Rome, Italy - Which role Italy is expected to play in the space sector?
The speaker of Italian Chamber of Deputies, Pier Ferdinando Casini, received last Friday at Montecitorio the Italian spaceman Colonel Roberto Vittori after the Eneide mission aboard the International Space... more

AccidentsSudan's Vice-President killed in helicopter crash
Khartoum, Sudan - Omar al Beshire: "The peace process will not stop"
Sudan’s Vice-President, John Garang, was returning from a visit in Uganda last Saturday, when the helicopter he was flying on together with other 13 people, the MI-72, crashed to the ground due to the b... more

Weather forecastsAir shows and exhibitions in the first week of August
Rome, Italy - From today, on Monday August 1st to next Sunday 7
Monday 01 - Aeromodelling - 2005 FAI World Championship F3B. Lappeenranta, Finland. + 358 5051 72 491 http://events.fai.org - Gliding - 3rd FAI Women’s World Championship. Klix, Germany. + 49 5... more

AirlinesAlitalia: multi-base operational system to start today
Rome, Italy - Both pilots and flight attendants migrate towards Northern Italy
Starting from today about 450 Alitalia’s dependants are expected to be transferred to Linate and Malpensa in the order of the so called multi-base operational system providing for the increase of the I... more

IndustryBell Helicopter Textron awarded of a over 210 USDm contract
Washington, Usa - For the OH-58D Kiowa
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., of Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded July 29, 2005, a $210,746,761 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for the system development and demonstration of the Armed Reconnaissance... more

IndustryGeneral Atomics-Aeronautical Systems awarded of a near 14 USDm contract
Washington, Usa - For the Predator
General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $13,867,301 firm fixed price/cost-plus fixed-fee contract to provide for 9 Lynx Synthetic Aperture Radars for the Predator, Ground... more

Civil aviationAnti-terrorism package: Italian Senate approved it
Rome, Italy - Restricted additional monitoring power for the armed forces and harsher sanctions for those who are in public sites covering their faces
Italian Senate decided to approve the anti-terrorism package shown by Italian Minister of Interior Giuseppe Pisanu. Main newness opted late by changes regard harsher sanctions for those who are in public... more

HelicoptersTextron: four awards to Bell on technological innovation
Washington, USA – Prizes for engineers who developed several solutions for various vehicles among which the new 429
Textron group, to which Bell Helicopter is related, has recently assigned a series of awards concerning technological innovation for its industrial divisions, among which four just regarded the helicopter... more

MiscellaneousBritish military bases to close after IRA ceasefire
Belfast, Ireland - UK Army has already ordered a partial disengagement in Ulster
Great Britain after the historic and unexpected announce of disarmament made by the IRA, Irish Republican Army, has decided to dismantle some military bases in Northern Ireland. The military sites affected... more

Press releaseAir Dolomiti: flights to Vienna and Sardinia
Ronchi dei Legionari, Italy - For all Summer season from Verona's Airport to the Austrian capital and towards the island from the main national airports
"Air Dolomiti launched special tariffs to fly all Summer season to Vienna from Verona’s Airport and towards the Sardinia’s beaches from the main Italian airports. Purchasing an Air Dolomiti’s ticket until... more

AirlinesBombs at Sharm el Sheikh (2): Egyptair to take immediate corrective action
Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt - Tariff cut by 30% to tourists
Egyptian economy in large part sustained by Red Sea tourism’s receipts, risks to collapse after last Friday’s attempts. National airline Egyptair, to avoid the worst, has announced that flying its air... more

AirlinesAlitalia (2): capital stock reduction and recapitalization start have been approved
Rome, Italy - Capital increase to be performed by next December 31
Capital stock reduction of Alitalia has been finally approved down to about EUR 291m to cover loss on March 31, 2005. By such an operation also the reduction of stakes number has consequently occurred... more

Latest newsWill the US Department of Defence clip the JSF's wings?
Washington, USA – Pentagon intends to cut funds down to a 70%, according to some rumors, but US Administration gave the lie to it
Rumors within Pentagon would have made believe that the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme could be affected by relevant cuts to defence, also determined by the Iraq operations cost and the need to update... more

PeopleChina recruits foreign pilots
Beijing, China - They will get the flight licence on site and then all at work
Chinese airlines will recruit foreign pilots after a training made in China: an officer for the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) has stated it. The lack of specialized personnel... more

AerospaceMysterious object wanders the solar system
Washington, USA - It could be a planet composed by rock and ice
Astronomers of the Institute of Astrophysics in Andalusia (Spain) would have found a great object in the solar system which should not be larger than 1500 kilometers across. It would be composed by ice... more

HelicoptersEnstrom 480B: "Police, first try and then trust!"
Reno, USA - A 15 demonstrative flight tour all over the United States to promote such a helicopter among the US Law Enforcement units"
Enstrom Helicopter performed a wide series of demonstrative missions by its 480B helicopter among various Police departments all over the US territory, thinking that this is actually the best way to promote... more

Science and technologyDucted fan: the future personal aircraft powerplant according to Kestrel
London, UK - A hybrid electric-ducted propeller for an aircraft developed in several versions
It has been talking about personal aircraft capable of enabling people to increase their transport autonomy for along time (see for details AVIONEWS). Now, the latest newness comes from the United Kingdom... more

SecurityCatania: bomb-alarm on flight for Spain
Catania, Italy - Airplane is currently undergoing a clearance
Italian Police, Carabinieri and Firemen, are working to verify if the phone signalling the presence of a bomb on a charter flight departing for Spain, was a well-founded news or not. The plane was blocked... more

AerospaceDiscovery docked at the ISS
Washington, USA - To fear for the integrity of the shuttle
Discovery docked at the International Space Station (ISS) and today its crew started to unload the 15 tons of supplies. During the spacewalk, Shuttle’s astronauts planned to control close up the damages c... more

Government actsQuestion Time: actual real deployment of Italian Forester Corps' helicopters in the current firefighting campaign
Rome, Italy - By Hon. Lino Rava (DS)
Italian Deputy Hon. Rava intended to understand why some resources invested in helicopters for firefighting purpose appear insufficiently deployed by Italian Forester Corps this Summer such as in the case... more

Government actsQuestion Time: anti-terrorism checks in the transport sector
Rome, Italy - By Hon. Francesco Paolo Lucchese (UDC)
Italian Deputy Hon. Lucchese asked Italian Minister of Interior for setting proper security measures at the airport, railway stations and underground sites against crime and terrorism. more

Government actsQuestion Time: measures to increase security in this period
Rome, Italy - By Hon. Francesco Paolo Lucchese (UDC)
Italian Deputy Hon. Lucchese intended to understand if some measures, such as lowering institutional officers’ escorts, hiring more policemen and resorting to persons who already performed compulsory m... more

PeopleIcao: world air passenger traffic to continue to expand through to 2007
Montreal, Canada - According to the latest medium-term forecast prepared by the International Civil Aviation Organization
Following a strong rebound in 2004, world airline passenger traffic measured in passenger kilometers performed (PKPs) is expected to expand at 7.6, 6.5 and 6.2 per cent growth rates in 2005, 2006 and 2007... more

Civil aviationItaly-Switzerland agreement on sky security
Geneva, Switzerland - A strict cooperation between the two air forces against terrorism
Government of Italy and Switzerland reached an agreement yesterday that is expected to be ratified on the next Autumn at Berna: it aims to prevent terrorist attempts through air controls over the respective... more

Civil aviationFAA AD on Boeing model 757-200, -200PF, and - 200CB series airplanes equipped with Pratt & Whitney or Rolls-Royce engines
Washington, Usa - To prevent a ruptured wing box, due to the engine not separating safely during certain emergency landing conditions, which could lead to a fuel spill and consequent fire
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information [Federal Register: July 28, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 144)] [Page 43631-43633] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal... more

Civil aviationFAA AD on McDonnell Douglas model DC-8-11, DC-8- 12, DC-8-21, DC-8-31, DC-8-32, DC-8-33, DC-8-41, DC-8-42, DC-8-43, DC- 8F-54, DC-8F-55; DC-8-50, DC-8-60, DC-8-60F, DC-8-70, and DC-8-70F series airplanes
Washington, Usa - To prevent stress corrosion cracking in the forward tang of the upper inboard spar cap of the wing, which could result in structural damage to adjacent components of the wing and consequent reduced structural integrity of the airplane
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information [Federal Register: July 28, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 144)] [Page 43628-43631] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal... more

Government actsUrgent Interpellation: details on Ustica disaster and Boulogne carnage
Rome, Italy - By Hon. Vincenzo Fragalà (AN) and other Deputies
Italian Deputy Hon. Fragalà asked various Italian ministries for making clear some details regarding Ustica disaster and Boulogne railway carnage in the 80s as many doubts concerning liability would lead... more

IndustryEADS: is DaimlerChrysler thinking about selling its stake?
Berlin, Germany - The change of the shareholder's leader together with the need to better support the automotive sector could lead to such solution
DaimlerChrysler group CEO (as it owns more than a 30% stake in EADS) could leave its role by the end of this year. Current CEO Jürgen Schrempp had led German DASA in the past so increasing its knowledge... more

DefenseChief of the Italian COI visited Khartoum
Khartoum, Sudan - Face to face with local military authorities about the peace process in Sudan
Italian General of Army Corps Fabrizio Castagnetti, Chief of the Italian Leading Joint Operational Command (COI), went to Khartoum last July 25 and 26 to visit the Italian contingent engaged in the Sudan... more

DefenseAn Italian Navy unit to police national mercantile traffic
Rome, Italy - The measures taken by Italian Defence Minister against the acts of piracy in the Horn of Africa's area
After the recent attempts of piracy attacks against Italian merchant ships off Somalia, Italian Minister of Defence, Antonio Martino, has ordered the deployment of an Italian Navy unit in the Horn of Africa... more

MiscellaneousUK: anti-tank missile found in a house
Enderby, UK - Police, however, denied that relations with Islamic terrorism exist
British Police is carrying on its anti-terrorism investigations after attempts in London on last July 7. A man is being questioned in these days about the presence of of several weapons found by UK’s L... more

DefenseIraq mission's extension: "Italy does not want to abdicate terrorism"
Rome, Italy - Martino showed satisfaction for the approval of Antica Babilonia's continuation
Italian Minister of Defence, Antonio Martino, has expressed his satisfaction for the definitive approval by Senate to decree extending up to the end of the year the Italian partecipation at the international... more

Civil defenseFalco: all Italian-made UAV under banner of flexibility and low operational cost
Salto di Quirra, Italy - Tests have been performed at the important shooting range while waiting for a full certification expected to be released in a year
The Galileo Avionica Falco remote-controlled airplane will be granted with a full certification to start its operational flying activities in an about a year. Tests of the vehicle and its systems (produced... more

DefenseItalian Senate gave the green light for the agreement with Russia regarding dismantlement of nuclear submarines
Rome, Italy - The DDL of ratification and execution has been approved yesterday
The Assembly of Italian Senate has approved once and for all the DDL 3471 on ratification and execution of the cooperation agreement between Italian Government and Russian Government regarding the dismantlement... more

AirlinesContinental Airlines: ordered two new B-777/200ER widebody jets to support international expansion
Houston, Usa - The aircraft's delivery is scheduled in the first quarter of 2007
Continental Airlines yesterday announced that it has ordered two additional Boeing 777-200ER (extended range) widebody airplanes from The Boeing Company, as the airline continues its international route... more

Civil aviationItaly at risk for possible attempts: a real and long-term threat
Rome, Italy - Italian Minister of Interior Pisanu warned in front of Senate
A real, terrible, unpredictable as well as constant and long-term threat. Terrorism is likely to hit Italy suddenly and Italian Minister of Interior, Giuseppe Pisanu, clearly underlined, in front of Senate,... more

MiscellaneousBombs at Sharm el Sheikh: Italian attempt's victims returned home by AMI's C-130
Rome, Italy - Minister Fini expressed his profound condolences to the families for the death of their family members
Italian Air Force’s C-130 carrying the coffins of six Italian casualties killed in Sharm attempts a week ago, landed at Ciampino air station last night: they were welcomed by their families as well as t... more

AirlinesAlitalia: bond restructuring and capital increase start to occur today
Rome, Italy - Carrier's leaders and extraordinary stakeholders assembly gathering
Alitalia Board is meeting today in order to carry on the implementation of the business plan by two major measures. First of all, it will be analysed the convertible bond whose deadline will be postponed,... more

IndustryBoeing Wichita Development awarded of a near 24 USDm contract
Washington, Usa - For the VC-25A aircraft
Boeing Wichita Development, Wichita, Kan., is being awarded a $23,717,554 cost-plus incentive-fee contract modification to provide for Kit-Proof effort for the VC-25A aircraft Supportability and Infrastructure... more

IndustrySikorsky Aircraft Corp. awarded of a over 8 USDm contract
Washington, Usa - For the UH-60 helicopter
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was awarded on July 25, 2005, a delivery order amount of $8,355,435 as part of a $22,494,808 firm-fixed-price contract for overhaul, upgrade, and recapitalization... more

Latest newsAVIONEWS in Poland (2): TS-11, Su-22 and F-16's specifications
Warsaw, Poland - From the armed force's trainer to the fighterbomber devoted to be replaced by the Fighting Falcon
Here are the specifications of the Polish Air Force’s PZL TS-11 Iskra, the Sukhoi Su-22 and the F-16D Block 52. PZL TS-11 Iskra Training and light attack aircraft Dimensions Height: 3.5 m... more

Latest newsAVIONEWS in Poland, visited the most important bases of the Siły Powietrzne
Warsaw, Poland - An impressive modernization process is being performed by the armed force in line with NATO's standards
The modernization effort performed by the Polish Air Force really proves a remarkable one during the last 15 years. Poland officially joined NATO in 1999 but the transformation of its military aviation... more

MiscellaneousBombe a Sharm el Sheikh (2): bodies to land at midnight
Rome, Italy - Reporters will not be able to watch the arrival of coffins
The arrival of the airplane carrying the six Italian victim bodies after the terroristic attempt in Sharm el Sheikh is scheduled at midnight. The access to Rome-Ciampino military airport will not be allowed... more