AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,387 news found
Civil aviationFAA AD on Eurocopter France model AS-355E, F, F1, F2, and N helicopters
Usa - To prevent slipping of the main gearbox free-wheel unit, an engine overspeed, an engine shut down, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. 2003-SW-56-AD; Amendment... more
Science and technologyTomorrow's Alitalia personnel's strike at Fiumicino postponed
Rome, Italy - New date to be confirmed
The strike called for tomorrow, 2nd March 2004 from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm, has been postponed sine die. The protest, which should have involved Alitalia's technical area personnel at the Rome-Fiumicino airport,... more
AirportsThe book 'Racconti in volo' published by Lake Garda airports
Trento, Italy - It already is a rarity because it is not on sale
Verona-Catullo and Brescia-D'Annunzio airports have published a rare collection of short stories written between 1999 and the end of 2003 for the magazine 'Catullo News', with the title 'Racconti in volo'... more
Civil aviation"Zero mishaps": USAF aim for its personnel
Washington, USA - General John P. Jumper appears resolute to solve this problem
US Air Force would be preparing a programme in order to reduce its personnel incidents (see for details AVIONEWS), which were mostly occurred during private vehicles driving in the past. USAF would have... more
AirlinesAir France flights to Port-au-Prince suspended
Paris, France - For safety reasons
French flag airline, Air France, has suspended its connections to and from Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince for safety reasons. On 26th February, the carrier cancelled a flight on which a delegation of the... more
AccidentsAn A-10 has fallen headlong in the USA
Washington, USA - The pilot died
A US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft fell headlong crashing on February 25 at 8:30pm, immediately after its taking off in the Chena Flood Plain area (Alaska). Its pilot, from Eielson base,... more
PeoplePassengers' weight should be checked more carefully
New York, USA - It results from the investigation on a air disaster in North Carolina
Ntsb (National Transportation Safety Board) reaffirms the need for checks not only on the weight of luggage, but also on that of passengers who board aircraft. It emerges after the end of the investigation... more
HelicoptersHelicopter turboshafts orders are increasing
Newton, USA - A substantial rise of orders to involve both helicopters in service and new programmes during the next 10 years
According to a recent Forecast International's research, helicopter market will be involved by an upsurge of turboshaft orders during the next 10 years, both for military and civil choppers. This high... more
Weather forecastsAir shows and exhibitions in March 2004
Washington, Usa -
EXECUTIVE PROTECTION INSTITUTE CORPORATE AIRCRAFT SECURITY SEMINAR…March 1-2, Las Vegas, Nev. Info: (540) 554-2540; Web site: www.personalprotection.com. AERO 2004 MEXICAN BUSINESS AVIATION AND AEROSPACE T... more
IndustryRockwell Collins Government Systems awarded of a over 20 USDm contract
Washington, Usa - For the F-15
Rockwell Collins Government Systems, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is being awarded a $20,237,300 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide for F-15 very high frequency radios (810 maximum) and... more
IndustryMcDonnell Douglas Corp. awarded of a over 460 USDm contract
Washington, Usa - For the C-17 aircraft
McDonnell Douglas Corp., Long Beach, Calif., is being awarded a $460,955,541 firm-fixed-price contract modification to provide for sustainment of the fleet of C-17 aircraft from March 2004 through September... more
AccidentsMacedonian President's airplane: rescue team reached wreck
Skopje, Macedonia - All bodies are apparently charred. No survivors
Bosnian and Macedonian sources report that the airplane wreck - on which Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski was flying, apparently crashed in a mined field halfway between Mostar and Stolac, in Southern... more
AirlinesFuel cost increase: Continental Airlines increases fares
Houston, USA - USD 5 one way and USD 10 round trip
Continental Airlines has decided today a USD 5 increase for one-way tickets and USD 10 for round-trip. The reason is the ongoing increase of fuel cost. The carrier's management justify themselves by saying... more
Press releaseEurocopter: two EC-155 B1s for the Royal Thai Police
Singapore - Signed a contract worth approximately EUR 21m
"It was on 6 February 2004, at the headquarters of the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok, that the Police Lieutenant General Kanchit Seksit, Commander of the Logistics Office, and Mr. Vincent Dufour, Eurocopter... more
IndustryEmbraer contests Bombardier's assertion on support received from Government
Sao José dos Campos, Brasil - The Brazilian group says they received half as much
Embraer contested yesterday a claim made on 17th February by Bombardier CEO Paul Tellier, according to which over the last 3 years the Canadian EDC (Export Development Corporation) has financed 41% of... more
Science and technologyReggio Calabria: airport closed down from 1st March until 4th April
Reggio Calabria, Italy - For runway refurbishment works
Reggio Calabria airport 'Tito Minniti', will be closed down from Monday, 1st March until Sunday, 4th April for runway refurbishment works. Sogas, the company that manages the airport, has arranged a free... more
AerospaceIss: space-walk interrupted because of faulty space suit
Washington, USA - Nobody onboard the space station
The space-walk of the two astronauts on the Iss (International Space Station) last shorter than expected. American Michael Foale and Russian Alexander Kaleri, in space since last october (see AVIONEWS)... more
AirlinesAlitalia affair (5): proposed joint management Zanichelli-Bonomi
Rome, Italy - It will be discussed at directorate meeting this afternoon
Industrial and Government sources announce that the management of Italian flag airline Alitalia should be provisionally assigned to Alitalia Director-general Marco Zanichelli and President Giuseppe Bonomi... more
Civil aviationFAA AD on Boeing model 777-200 series airplanes
Washington, Usa - To prevent the possibility of the airplane departing the runway during Category IIIB autoland operations due to autopilot disconnect in low visibility weather conditions, and to warn the flightcrew of the potential for autopilot disconn
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. 2004-NM-28-AD; Amendment... more
Civil aviationFAA AD on General Electric Company (GE) series turbofan engines
Washington, Usa - Model CF6-80
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. 2004-NE-05-AD; Amendment... more
AirlinesAlitalia affair (4): disputes following the so-called 'bed agreement' result from exploitation
Rome, Italy - AVIONEWS interviewed Commander Fabio Berti, President of Anpac (Italian association of commercial aviation pilots) (2)
AVIONEWS: You presented an alternative plan for cutting costs several weeks ago. Alitalia pretended that no plausible alternatives could be proposed by unions and professional associations, while the Government... more
AirlinesAlitalia affair (10): Mengozzi at Palazzo Chigi
Rome, Italy - Has arrived a few minutes ago
Alitalia's CEO Francesco Mengozzi has arrived at Palazzo Chigi a few minutes ago. He is going to join an inter-ministry summit, before Berlusconi and Fini, about the Alitalia affair is taking place. more
AirlinesAlitalia affair (3): domestic market must be consolidated
Rome, Italy - AVIONEWS interviewed Commander Fabio Berti, President of Anpac (Italian association of commercial aviation pilots)
AVIONEWS: "Il Foglio", Giuliano Ferrara's newspaper, wrote today that the previous Government left a disaster, but successors have been inactive. Do you agree on that? Berti: "Such an analysis is not... more
AirlinesAlitalia affair: the Council of Ministers began this morning
Rome, Italy - Waiting for the new plan
The Council of Ministers about the Alitalia affair began this morning at 10.15 am. The measures to resume the Italian carrier's new plan are being discussed. The appointment of the airline's new management,... more
AirlinesAlitalia affair (2): the Council of Ministers finished
Rome, Italy - It has not been spoken about Alitalia
It's just finished the Council of Ministers meeting that would have had to take the decisions on the new Alitalia plan. Instead, during the reunion it is not been the matter; has released it the Minister... more
AirlinesContinental Connection inaugurates service between Albany and Rutland
New York, Usa - From this week
CommutAir, a New York-based regional partner to Continental Airlines operating as Continental Connection, this week is introducing new nonstop service between its Albany hub and Rutland, Vt. The weekday... more
Latest newsBAE Systems is losing earnings
London, UK - Accused of a GBP 3bn excess in expenses
BAE Systems, the major European group for defence contracts, has recorded a decrease in gross earnings from GBP 796m in 2002 to GBP 760m in 2003. The group did not manage to finalize a GBP 13m contract... more
PeopleEurocontrol: 100 aircraft equipped for Link 2000+
Brussels, Belgium - In January, three new airlines, Air Europa, FedEx Europe and Hapag Lloyd joined the programme
100 aircraft owned by 6 airlines have now signed up to become pioneers for Link 2000+, Eurocontrol's controller-pilot data link (CPDLC) implementation programme. In January, three new airlines, Air Europa,... more
Press releaseAirbus: Air Deccan to acquire two new A-320s
Toulouse, France - The deliveries will begin in July this year
Air Deccan, India’s first low-cost carrier, has chosen Airbus’ A-320 family to expand services to major Indian cities from its Bangalore base. It will acquire two new Airbus A-320s from Airbus, and has... more
Science and technologyWireless Internet access at European airports
London, UK - With the Wi-fi technology, passengers can connect without cables
Wireless Internet becomes widespread at European airports. The Wi-fi technology, namely the system which allows people to connect to the Internet without using cables, after having developed in America... more
AerospaceLaunch of spacecraft Rosetta suspended
Kourou, French Guyana - The spacecraft could not be launched today because of technical problems
The launch of the Ariane 5 rocket carrying the spacecraft Rosetta, which was supposed to take place this morning at 8.36 MET from the European base in Kourou in the French Guyana, and already postponed... more
AerospaceThe convention on satellite survey systems yesterday in Pratica di Mare
Rome, Italy - 40 thousand images recorded in 10 years
A convention with the title 'Ten years of Italian military space policy. 1994-2004' was held yesterday at the Italian Air Force base in Pratica di Mare. Among the topics discussed, the Helios programme,... more
AccidentsMacedonian President died (2) : on the plane at least 6 assistants
Skopje, Bosnia - The plane crashed maybe for bad weather conditions
The presidential aircraft with onboard the Macedonian President and at least 6 assistants was going to a meeting in the city of Mostar (Western Bosnia) when at 8:01 disappear on the radars and crashed... more
AirlinesCathay Pacific adds flight to Taipei and Sapporto
Taipei, Taiwan - Number of services increased from 28 March 2004
Cathay Pacific decided to add new flight to Taipei and Sapporto starting from 28 March 2004. Weekly number of flights will be 108 to Taipei and 4 to Sapporto. more
AirlinesThai Airways reduces flights on the Bangkok-Los Angeles route
Bangkok, Thailand - Bangkok-Tokyo service will be increased
Thai Airways will reduce from 28 March 2004 its flights on the Bangkok-Los Angeles route because considered no more much profitable. At the same time three more flights per week will be added to the Bangkok-Tokyo... more
AirlinesVirgin Blue and Jetstar challenge each other
Sydney, Australia - The two air companies offer low-cost tickets
Virgin Blue and Jetstar are challenging each other these days offering about 100,000 low-cost tickets for Australia internal destinations. Jetstar will start flying from 25 May. Jetstar tickets are for... more
AirlinesAlitalia affair (7): the board of directors meeting suspended
Rome, Italy - Mengozzi's resignation have been put off to tomorrow
The Alitalia's board meeting began in the first afternoon has been suspended after half an hour of the reunion and adjourned to tomorrow at the 5:00pm. According to not official sources, the resignation... more
AirlinesRyanair wants to close London-Brussels route
Dublin, Ireland - The reason: European Commission's decision to increase cost at the airport
Ryanair announced today its decision to stop the London-Brussels route from 29 April 2004 because of European Commission’s decision to increase cost at the Brussels-Charleroi airport. The decision will a... more
CuriositiesA Gulfstream III for Westlife
Rome, Italy - A private jet hyper-accessorized for the Irish boyband
These days Westlife bought for about EUR 6m a luxury jet Gulfstream III for their pleasure or working transfers. The aircraft, accessorized with plasma tv, playstation2, xbox and even with a small recording... more
DefenseNorth Korea ready to stop its military nuke scheme
Peking, China - The country could stop building nukes but not its "peaceful" nuclear project
North Korea, as announced (see AVIONEWS, is these days discussing the possibility of freezing its military nuke scheme. China and Russia offered energy aid if the Korean project will be arrested, while... more
AirlinesChina lets born the first private airline
Peking, China - It will cover mainly regional flights
Civil Aviation Authority of China (Caac) gave the green light to the emergence of the Yiglian Airlines Co., the first Chinese private airline that will cover mainly regional flights. Its first flight can... more
AirlinesAlitalia affair (6): Bonanni's words (Cisl)
Rome, Italy - "Important Government responsibilities for the carrier crisis"
Cisl union confederal secretary, Raffaele Bonanni, intervening on the Alitalia affair says the resignation of Mengozzi represents a serious episode because it's happening unclear. Bonanni goes on affirming... more
SecurityArrested alleged killer of air traffic controller
Zurich, Switzerland - Police doesn't provide details
Alleged killer of the air traffic controller who was in service when two aircraft: a Russian commercial and a Dhl cargo, collided causing the death of 71 people, most of them schoolchildren (see AVIONEWS),... more
Civil aviationAn armed Israeli arrested at Frankfurt airport
Frankfurt, Germany - The man was boarding on a El Al flight going to Tel Aviv
Security agents of the Frankfurt airport arrested 24 February 2004 an Israeli who was hiding a knife and a scissors in his shoes and was boarding on a El Al flight going to Tel Aviv. Security spokesperson... more
AerospaceMatroshka experiment for the international space station
Washington, USA - A study on radiations will be the spacewalk aim
The crew consisting of two astronauts of the international space station (Iss) during their 26/27 February 2004 night spacewalk (see AVIONEWS) will do an experiment called Matroshka in which scientist... more
AirlinesAlitalia affair (5): Bonomi's words
Rome, Italy - "It's necessary to review the reorganization models of Alitalia "
Today on the Alitalia affair intervene also the Italian carrier president, Giuseppe Bonomi. For Bonomi the company "need for a deep review of its processes and organizational models: this should be one... more
AirlinesAlitalia affair (4): Lunardi intervenes
Rome, Italy - "Reorganization than privatization"
Infrastrutture e Trasporti (infrastructures and transportation) Minister, Pietro Lunardi, speaks about the Alitalia affair and about an improbable privatization. "Alitalia privatization is something after... more
AirlinesAlitalia affair (3): Epifani (Cgil) words
Rome, Italy - "It's necessary to reorganize Alitalia and then thinking about privatization"
Cgil union secretary, Guglielmo Epifani, answered to a report who asked him his opinion on the Alitalia affair: "It's necessary to let the company able to be well privatized, or it will be undersold; it's... more
AirlinesAlitalia affair (2): Buttiglione intervenes
Rome, Italy - "Alliances are the future"
Politiche Comunitarie (European Community Policies) Minister, Rocco Buttiglione, intervened this morning on the Alitalia affair saying the future will be in international alliances. Minister said about... more
AirlinesAlitalia affair. Klm: "No alliance without privatization"
Amsterdam, Netherlands - Klm spokesman announced it
After declarations Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi made yesterday in which he said the carrier won't be privatized, intervened today Dutch company Klm interested in a possible alliance with Alitalia.... more