AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,515 news found

Latest newsHolland: an appraisal on the F-35's rising cost has been requested
Amsterdam, Holland - Labour Party intends to make the causes of such a phenomenon clearer after an investigation carried out in the United States
Dutch Labour Party requested national competent authorities to verify costs for the production and purchase of the Lockheed Martin F-35 JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) multirole light stealth fighter. Holland... more

AirlinesVirgin Group not to sell any of its shares in Virgin Blue
London, United Kingdom - At the current offer of AUS $ 1.90 a share
Virgin Group, the economic empire of the eccentric British billionaire Richard Branson, said it will not sell any of its shares in Virgin Blue at the current offer of AUS $ 1.90 a share. Virgin Group owns... more

AerospaceSpace: Discovery closer and closer to be launched
New York, Usa - The shuttle was rolled from its hangar to Vab (Vehicle Assembly Building)
Space mission lead to Discovery, the shuttle that according to the scheduled launch window should be launched between May, 15, and June, 2, 2005, made another important step closer to launch as the shuttle... more

AccidentsAnother USAF's Predator crashed on the ground in Iraq
Rawah, Iraq - Number of this type of UAV fallen headlong in the Iraqi territory during the last days rose up to two
Number of US Air Force’s General Atomics RQ-1 Predator remote-controlled military airplanes fallen headlong in the Iraqi land during the last days rose up to two. After the accident occurred on last M... more

DefenseUK Conservative Party (2): Tory's defence policy
London, UK - A strong political relation with the USA, national industry reinforcement, keeping embargo against China and new investments
British Conservatives suggest a series of measures to strengthen the defence sector in Great Britain (see for details AVIONEWS). According to the Tory Party, the United Kingdom must consolidate its leading... more

AirlinesVolare Group: technical collaboration with Alitalia for Air Europe services
Milan, Italy - Volare is waiting for two Airbus to resume flights
Beginning from April 2, a code-share agreement with Alitalia will allow to Air Europe to keep sits slots on Linate-Naples and Linate-Palermo routes throughout the month. The Cimoli-led airline will be... more

DefenseUK Conservative Party: here are the Labour defence policy's lacks
London, UK - Criticism against an excessively pro-European policy by Blair and the shortage of equipments
United Kingdom’s Conservative Party has recently expressed its opinion regarding the defence policy carried out by the Blair-led Government, pointing out what are, according to its view, the lacks of t... more

AirlinesJapan’s Aviation Chief to visit Jal's operative division
Tokyo, Japan - It is rather unusual that an high Japanese government official personally effectuates a tour at the operative division of an airline
Though it is rather unusual that an high Japanese Government official personally effectuates a tour at the operative division of an airline, this is what happened on Monday when Japan’s Aviation Chief w... more

Civil aviationFAA AD on Airbus model A-330, A-340/200, and A-340/300 series airplanes
Washington, Usa - To prevent degraded operation of the THSA due to the entrance of water into the ball nut
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information [Federal Register: March 30, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 60)] [Page 16104-16109] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal... more

Civil aviationFAA AD on McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9-10, -20, - 30, -40, and -50 Series Airplanes; and Model DC-9-81 (MD-81) and DC-9- 82 (MD-82) Airplanes
Washington, Usa - To detect and correct fatigue cracking in the upper and lower caps of the rear spar of the left and right wings, which could result in structural failure of the wings
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information [Federal Register: March 30, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 60)] [Page 16098-16101] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal... more

Civil aviationFAA AD on General Electric Company CF6-45A, CF6- 50A, CF6-50C, and CF6-50E series turbofan engines
Washington, Usa - To prevent uncontained failure of the engine and possible damage to the airplane caused by failure of TMF strut studs
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information [Federal Register: March 30, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 60)] [Page 16096-16098] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal... more

Civil aviationFAA AD on Boeing model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes
Washington, Usa - To detect and correct cracks or defects that could result in a fracture of the outer cylinder of the MLG, which could lead to collapse of the MLG during landing
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information [Federal Register: March 30, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 60)] [Page 16101-16104] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal... more

AirlinesOman Air purchases its sixth B-737
Muscat, Oman - The plane has just been delivered to the carrier
Oman Air announced the delivery of its sixth B-737 acquired by Boeing. The plane left the plants of Seattle in last week-end to arrive on Sunday at Seeb International Airport of Muscat, the capital of... more

IndustryEmbraer to start the development of new types of executive jets
Brasilia, Brazil - In the coming months
The Brazilian industry which produces aircraft, Embraer, announced that in the coming months it will start to develop new types of executive jets (the planes traditionally used by private firms): the announcement... more

DefenseItalian militaries engaged into Praesidium's mission
Kabul, Afghanistan - Italy will head the Prt, a team of reconstruction by means of which Nato wants to expand its presence into the country
It will start today the Italian engagement, by means of Praesidium’s mission, which will see militaries but even civil men in Herat (Afghanistan) to head the Prt (Provincial Reconstruction Team), a team o... more

DefenseSpain to provide maritime patrolling planes to Colombia and Venezuela
Caracas, Venezuela - Lula and Uribe express solidarity to Chavez against the USA's criticism
A four-nations meeting occurred in Venezuela yesterday involving the major institutional leading representatives from Spain, Colombia, Brazil and the hosting country itself (see for details AVIONEWS).... more

AirlinesLufthansa takes over about 84 per cent of Swiss
Zurich, Switzerland - By means of the holding AirTrust
Major shareholders of Swiss International Airlines, which include banks Credit Suisse and UBS besides the group AMAG, sold 83.96 percent of the carrier to AirTrust, the holding through which Lufthansa... more

AirlinesAlitalia (3): "No clash in the board, only some difference of opinion"
Rome, Italy - The carrier put it into evidence to AVIONEWS regarding the supposed quarrel between personnel's Director and the operational one on the union deals enforcement
AVIONEWS asked Alitalia for expressing its own opinion regarding the warning signal called by the Italian trade unions with reference to the supposed clashes in the board between personnel’s Director C... more

Sport aviationFivl: Paragliding World Championships ended in Brazil
Turin, Italy - With the presence of 150 pilots representing 42 countries, 32 women in competition
"Governador Valadares, in Brazil, the Paragliding World Championships ended with the presence, over the expectation, of 150 pilots representing 42 Countries, 32 women in competition. Thanks to the temperate... more

PeopleAir Transport: the years 2002-2004 the most secure in Usa
New York, Usa - In particular in 2004 the number of air incidents fell 8 per cent compared to the previous year
According to some preliminary information coming from National Transportation Safety Board the three years 2002-2004 were, for air transport in Usa, the most secure one in the history of civil aviation.... more

Latest newsThe Italian-European tour of "Frecce Tricolori"
Udine, Italy - 37 air shows to celebrate its 45th anniversary
The Italian 313th Aerobatic Training Squadron "Frecce Tricolori" based at Rivolto (Udine, Friuli Venezia Giulia Region) Airport is going to celebrate its 45th anniversary. This event will be commemorated... more

AirlinesAirbus: a facility to produce the KC-330 in the USA
Toulouse, France - The infrastructural requirements have been released and Arizona would have already announced its candidacy
EADS-Airbus released the requirements for the construction of a plant in the United States dedicated to the production of the special aerial refuelling version of the A-330 (named KC-330). Airbus is asking... more

AirlinesAlitalia (2): unions' protests on mobility also for technicians
Rome, Italy - In the meantime, Margherita political alliance asked Authority for Competition to verify the requirements of Ryanair's promotions against Alitalia's fares
Flight assistants represented by Italian trade union UGL will participate to the strike called by this class in Alitalia on next April 19, together with CGIL and CISL unions. And after debates on flying... more

AirlinesAlitalia: Italian unions ask the carrier for solving debates in the board
Rome, Italy - And the company plays down underlining that it just deals with a mere disagreement while Cimoli is working to solve the matter
Italian trade unions prove worried about tension in Alitalia’s board involving personnel’s Director Chieli and the operational one Migliardi. The clash would regard the implementation of the agreement ach... more

IndustryBell-Boeing Joint Program Office awarded of a over 47 USDm contract
Washington, Usa - For the V-22
Bell-Boeing Joint Program Office, Patuxent River, Md., is being awarded a $47,261,249 firm fixed price, fixed price award fee, time and material delivery order against a previously awarded basic ordering... more

IndustryRockwell Collins Government Systems awarded of a over 61 USDm contract
Washington, Usa - For the P-3
Rockwell Collins Government Systems, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is being awarded a not-to-exceed $61,431,081 fixed-priced, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for three trial High Frequency (HF)... more

IndustryThe Boeing Co. awarded of a over 7 USDm contract
Washington, Usa - For the E-4B aircraft
The Boeing Co., Wichita, Kan., is being awarded a $7,650,000 cost plus fixed fee contract modification to provide for security accreditation effort for one E-4B aircraft. This effort includes software... more

IndustryGeneral Atomics-Aeronautical Systems awarded of a over 68 USDm contract
Washington, Usa - For the MQ-9 aircraft
General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $68,205,573 cost plus incentive fee contract to provide for the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) of the MQ-9 Hunter-Killer... more

IndustryBoeing Wichita Development and Modification Center awarded of a over 216 USDm contract
Washington, Usa - For the B-52H aircraft
Boeing Wichita Development and Modification Center, Wichita, Kan., is being awarded a $216,700,000 cost plus fixed fee contract to provide for Combat Network Communications Technology System Design and... more

AirlinesCathay to be satisfied of the current shareholder structure in Dragonair
Hong Kong, China - The Hong Kong-based airline owns 18 per cent of the smaller rival and media speculated about the possibility it could have take over the whole company
Cathay Pacific Airways said it is satisfied of the current shareholder structure in Dragonair, after speculative argumentation, coming from media, citing the posibility that the carrier could have take... more

PeopleFour strikes scheduled in April considered as illegal by Investigation Committee
Rome, Italy - Reasons have not been made clear
Investigation Committee on strikes indicated that the four protests scheduled in April are illegal: it deals with the 24h stop of Alitalia’s ground personnel called on April 15, and the follow one expected t... more

PeopleAir tickets tax to fight HIV in Africa
Tokyo, Japan - Chirac will introduce his proposal to the next G8 as well as to the UN meeting scheduled in September
During a three-day visit to Tokyo at a French-Japanese economic forum, President Jacques Chirac confirmed again his solution to fight epidemic disease, including AIDS, plaguing African developing countries:... more

DefenseUSA anti-missile shield: Northrop Grumman aims to become the system integrator
Washington, USA - Among the partners of the team suggested by the firm there are also Lockheed Martin and Raytheon
The US competent authorities will have to select which company will attend to the integration of all the systems devoted to the US anti-missile defensive apparatus by the end of 2005. On its part, Northrop... more

AirlinesAlitalia (2): flight assistants moaned about the lack of implementation of the February deals
Rome, Italy - Debates would have risen between personnel's Director and the operational one and Cimoli is likely to be expected to solve the problem
Alitalia President and CEO, Giancarlo Cimoli, is likely to be expected to solve some debates which would have recently risen within the Italian national airline’s board itself, and that would oppose p... more

Science and technologyUfac approves but in part the new normative for the airport Zurig-Kloten
Zurich, Switzerland - With effect starting on April, 14
Ufac (Federal Civil Aviation office) approved but in part the new normative for the airport Zurich-Kloten with effect starting on April, 14. The request for the approval of the new rules, which mainly... more

Latest newsIsraeli spying airplane violated the Lebanese air space today
Beirut, Lebanon - Despite NATO's admonishment, aerial violations go on
Tel Aviv Government’s military airplanes actions over the Lebanese air space go on pressing ahead: the latest one - as announced by a release spread by the Lebanese armed forces - occurred early in the m... more

MiscellaneousSyria: "Our troops will leave Lebanon by May"
Damascus, Syria - The Syrian Government's announcement even confirmed it to UN General Secretary Kofi Annan
Syrian Government intends to withdraw its own troops and intelligence services from Lebanese territory and it has been announced for several weeks. Nevertheless, additional details have been recently unveiled... more

Science and technologyNew Bari International Airport to open tomorrow
Bari, Italy - An EUR 62m work
On March 31 the new International air terminal of Bari (Puglia Region, South Italy) will come on stream. It relays on 30,000 square metres hosting 9 departure lounges, 20 check-in desks and 18 aircraft... more

AirlinesAlitalia: the Decree on public share transfer has been released
Rome, Italy - The sale to be performed by next October and it is being encouraged the foundation of alliances with other partners in Europe
What European Union has always considered as a necessary condition for starting the use of the bridge-loan and the approval of Alitalia’s business plan, that is to say the denationalization of the Italian c... more

CuriositiesBode sends by means of a plane the award conquered as champion of the world of skiing
New York, Usa - Having as result that when he went to retreat it he had it in return in thousands of piece, due to the fact that the mentioned award was a sphere of crystal
Bode Miller, presumably in order to show him being familiar with awards, was protagonist of a singular episode: the Us champion sends by means of a plane, and as a normal luggage, the award which received... more

CuriositiesSportsmen prefer flying by private planes
Rome, Italy - More and more athletes choose charter flights and private jet
It seems that the overpaid sportsmen can’t get out of them for craze or necessity: they use flying by airliner rarely to avoid the check-in lines. Various champions of football or motor racing (the most p... more

Latest newsThe watchful eye of the SAAB "Griffon"
Stockholm, Sweden - The Swedish aerospace company started testing the new reconnaissance pod for the JAS-39 Gripen
The SAAB/BAe JAS-39 Gripen is most of all described as a multirole combat airplane dedicated to fighter and attack missions but one too often forgets that it must also perform an important reconnaissance... more

AirlinesMalev's privatization process to risk failure
Budapest, Hungary - As the three potential investors offered to little money
Hungarian national carrier Malev may fail for the second time (see AVIONEWS) in six months its privatization process as according to the airline the three potential investors offered too little money to... more

DefenseJapan: "China increased defence spending while waiting for the cancellation of EU embargo"
Beijing, China - It would be stated by a report released to Japanese Government but the Chinese People Republic reacted criticising such view
Criticism exchange between Japan and China on defence matters. Japanese government would have taken delivery of a report which would appear as particularly worrying with reference to the huge rise of armaments... more

CuriositiesTwice awarded as best actress flies with an apple to New Zealand and is punished to pay a penalty
Auckland, New Zealand - It happened to Hilary Swank, unaware of the strict rules which governs the island related to the importation of good in order to avoid the introduction of diseases
Hilary Swank, twice awarded as best actress for her performance into the films "Boys Don’t Cry" and into the more recent one "Million Dollar Baby", had been condamned to pay a 230 penalty of New Zealand d... more

MiscellaneousIsraeli ambassador to Addis Abeba attempted suicide: a special flight to take him home
Addis Abeba, Ethiopia - He was in critical condition at an Ethiopian hospital now
Doron Grossman, Israeli ambassador to Ethiopia, attempted suicide shooting himself in the head in an Addis Abeba hotel: he was in critical condition at a local hospital but will transferred by a special... more

Latest newsTests for the Eurofighter's helmet-mounted display started
London, UK - A sophisticated system able not only to provide important data to pilot but also to protect him against the non-conventional attacks effects
The new helmet-mounted display designed by British Aerospace Systems and devoted to the Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon multirole medium-light fighter has been recently tested in Great Britain. It deals with... more

Latest newsSigonella: 4th US Navy squadron resumed flight operations
Catania, Italy - Four soldiers were injured in a helicopter crash during a training
Last March 22, at Sigonella military air station the US Navy 4th squadron resumed the regular flight operations: 4 American soldiers belonging to the Helicopter Support Squadron left hurt during an incident... more

AerospaceVittori put down carnations on Gagarin's tomb
Moscow, Russia - The traditionally ceremony which precedes every Russian space mission took place on the Red Square in Moscow
Roberto Vittori, the Italian spaceman who will be launched to Iss (International Space Station) by means of Eneide’s mission on next April, 15, put down yesterday four red carnations on Yuri Gagarin’s tom... more

MiscellaneousEarthquake in Indonesia (3): the international mobilization to help the people
Jakarta, Indonesia - Three Australian Hercules C-130 with soldiers and humanitarian relief are expected to arrive
The Nias island main airport is knocked out so helicopters, including those from Singapore, have to land on a soccer field in the centre of the town of Gunung Sitoli. Civil Defence teams, medical personnel... more