DefenseNato-Russia summit (3): Putin's intervention

Rome, Italy - "A common space from Vladivostock to Vancouver"

"We, Russians and Nato members, realized to share common views on security, especially against terror", Russian president Vladimir Putin opened his speech at today's Nato-Russia summit at Pratica di Mare... more

DefenseNato-Russia summit (2): Berlusconi praised Putin for his courage

Roma, Italia - "Today we became stronger"

After Lord Robertson, Nato's secretary, opening speech, Italian premier Berlusconi, praised Russian president Vladimir Putin for his courage showed in his decision to take such an important step towards... more

DefenseNato-Russia summit: Italy agrees for Russia to enter Eu

Rome, Italy - Italian premier said

Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, officially opened today's Nato-Russia meeting at Pratica di Mare (Rome), the event which is attended by 6 heads of State and 14 heads of government. For Berlusconi... more

DefenseNepal is looking for combat helicopters

Kathmandu, Nepal

The impoverished Himalayan kingdom of Nepal is planning to buy two helicopter gunships with night-vision capabilities for police to tackle a six-year-old revolt by the Maoist guerrillas,... more

PeopleFBI launched a warning on use of small planes for terroristic attacks

Washington, USA

The FBI has issued a fresh warning that terrorists may be interested in using small planes to carry out suicide attacks. The agency issued an "intelligence update" to law enforcement agencies regarding... more

AirlinesOn Thursday Aer Lingus will fly 400 football fans to the World Cup

Dublin, Ireland - Despite the pilots strike

The Irish air carrier Aer Lingus announced that, despite next Thursday pilots strike, it is going to fly at least 400 football lovers to the Fifa World Cup 2002 which runs May 31-June 30 in South Korea... more

AccidentsTaiwan refuses Hong Kong helicopter rescue helicopter help

Taipei, Taiwan

Two helicopters and a group of rescue workers sent by the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department to China Airlines plane crash site had to return on their half way because of refusal from Taiwan, a senior... more

HelicoptersKeystone Helicopter Airframe maintenance division earns FAA's Diamond Award

Washington, USA

Keystone Helicopter's Airframe Maintenance Division recently received the annual FAA Diamond Certificate in recognition of its commitment to safety and training. Keystone earned this prestigious award... more

HelicoptersBelgian Navy helicopter seized a large drugs haul in the Caribbean

Brussels, Belgium - 900kg of cocaine

Last week an "Alouette III" helicopter of the Belgian Navy, took part to a joint anti-drugs operation with a Dutch Navy ship in the Caribbean sea, seizing 900kg of cocaine. "Alouette III" and its crew... more

AirlinesAll Nippon Airways: a computer glitch block on ground 20.000 passengers

Tokyo, Japan - 130 delays and 6 cancellations

Yesterday, because of a computer glitch, All Nippon Airways, "empire of the rising sun" second larger air carrier, has been forced to delay 130 flights and to cancel 6 more, thus blocking on ground 20.000... more

AirlinesAlitalia's recapitalization plan: de Palacio confident on the approval

Brussels, Belgium - "We've taken an important step forward"

It seems just to be a matter of time for the European Transports commission to approve Alitalia's recapitalization plan, especially after yesterday's de Palacio assertions. "On Alitalia's case we've been... more

Science and technologyOn last week shooting at the New Orleans international airport

New Orleans, Usa - One of the two people injured died yesterday

One of the two people injured in last week shooting at the Louis Armstrong international airport in New Orleans died yesterday at the Kenner Regional Medical Center. The woman was in her 40s and was a... more

DefenseUncertain the AMX italian fighter future

Rome, Italy - Berselli: AMX will be replaced in ten years

The future for italian AMI fighter AMX is darkening. Since 1990 seven hundred incidents occured to this aircraft and 14 pilots died. AMI bought this fighter in 136 models - 26 AMX-T - but flight incidents... more

HelicoptersCongress' green light to sell Apache to Taiwan

Taipei, Taiwan

The US government has approved the sale of 30 AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters to Taiwan, to help boost its capability to fend off any invasion from China, a report said on Friday. The USD1.29bn... more

AirlinesAlitalia's recapitalization plan: Eu to decide within next weeks

Brussels, Belgium - Brussels will also give its opinion on the third tranche of State support

"The Eu Commission will rapidly deliberate about Alitalia. We expect decisions about third tranche of State support plan and recapitalization as well to be taken within next weeks", stated Gilles Gantelet,... more

AirlinesEasyJet hit by claims to have copied online reservation software

London, Uk - Us firm Navitaire to accuse its former customer

The European largest budget airline, EasyJet, has been hit by claims by US firm Navitaire, a former supplier of EasyJet, that the company copied its via Internet reservation system. According to EasyJet:... more

PeopleU.S. Government pays a 500 USD bonus to airport screeners

Washington, USA

Many of the tens of thousands of privately hired airport security screeners are being offered $500 bonuses as incentives to stay on until they can be replaced by federal employees. The extra pay is aimed... more

PeopleLow-fare airlines to boom in Europe

Berlin, Germany - Preussag, probably, ready to launch its budget carrier

It seems that the recent expansion registered in European low-cost air sector would not end, as in fact, at present, a German tour operator, Preussag, may enter the market with a new budget carrier, TUI.... more

PeopleBin Laden hit United States with three years delay

Washington, USA - Since 1998 FAA warned ailrines

The Federal Aviation Administration told airlines more than three years ago to be on a "high degree of alertness" against possible hijackings by followers of Osama bin Laden, according to a government... more

PeopleAlso police "forgets" explosives on the aircraft

Rome, Italy - It was a dog training explosive, forgotten on a "Volare" airline plane

It was only a "training" esplosive parcel, but is sure that it has been forget on an aircraft of Italian airline "Volare", which has regularly made its charter flight from Rome to Tel Aviv until passenger... more

Science and technologyItalian government to boost the creation of a Mediterranean area hub in Sicily

Palermo, Italy - "to marking direct connections with Spain, Greece and Africa

"We need to improve better a dialogue between islands, creating here in Sicily a new main hub terminal for the whole mediterranean area able to mark out direct connections with Spain, Greece and Africa".... more

AccidentsBoeing 747 plunged in Taiwan strait (4): no black box has been found yet

Taipei, Taiwan - Denied previous rumours

According to Taiwan's Aviation Safety Council, signals detected this morning were not coming from the black box of the Boeing 747-200 which, plunged last Saturday in Taiwan strait, caused the death of... more

CuriositiesFlying casino for Israeli gamblers

Jerusalem, Israel - Transports ministry approved

As of next year a flying casino will allow Israeli gamblers to support their risky passion up in the skies. Tel Aviv government Transports ministry has in fact approved Iceland air carrier Air Atlanta... more

Science and technologyBeirut, ovest terminal ready on June

Roma, Italia - Passengers per years quota one milion

New West terminal of Beirut International airport will be inaugurated next June. The terminal has been building in order to properly satisfy the air traffic increment on the international airport. Passengers'... more

Aerospace"Odissey" space probe find ice on Mars

Washington, Usa -

Usa space probe "Odissey" has found ice presence on Mars surface and only under crust, along a wide area starting from south pole up to 60 degrees southing. Ice presence has been not directly observed,... more

IndustryBoeing to deliver 8 fewer widebody aircraft next year than foreseen

Seattle, Usa - Because of the market weakness

Because of the weakness affecting the big-planes sector, the Seattle-based aeronautical giant Boeing foresees to deliver 8 fewer widebody jets next year than previously forecast. Anyway, according to Alan... more

DefenseCisgiordania (2): israelian Army last night entered in Bethlem and Doha, one man arrested

Roma, Italia - Muhammad Shada attempt of arrest failed

Israelian Army during the last night made a raid in the city of Bethlem and Doha. During operations, one man has been arrested, but his identity is still unrevealed. On the contrary, according to Bbc,... more

DefenseWest Bank (1): israelian Army short raids go on

Roma, Italia - Ben Eliezer: necessary strikes to the death

Today Israelian troops have made a raid inside Qalqilya refugee camp imposing curfew after short fire clashes without victims. On the contrary, Israelian Army retired soldiers from Bethlem and Tulkarem,... more

AirlinesSwiss, losses higher than registered on first quarter

Berna, Svizzera - although passengers' number grows

"Swiss second quarter losses will be higher than on first quarter registered. Even if number of occupied seats, on our flights, is higher of prevision". This affirmation by Pieter Bouw, Swiss airline president,... more

HelicoptersMD Helicopters not involved in RDM financial operations

The Netherlands

The Netherlands' RDM Holding and Stork Group said they have signed a declaration of intent for a consolidation of the Dutch defense industry that would include RDM's acquisition of the land systems activities... more

IndustryBoeing tested its new X-45

California, Usa - An unmanned combat aircraft

Last Wednesday the Us aeronautical manufacturer Boeing tested succesfully its new unmanned combat aircraft, the X-45. The aircraft with a 36 feet wingspan and a weight of 8000 lb can carry up to 3000 lb... more

AccidentsA Boeing 747 plunged in Taiwan strait (3): it was not shot down by a Chinese missile

Taipei, Taiwan - Taiwan government confirmed

Taiwan officially rejected the ipothesys according to which the China Airlines Boeing 747-200 crashed in the Taiwan strait last Saturday would have been shot down by a Chinese missile. Kay Kong, director... more

IndustryLockheed Martin awarded of a over 6 USDm contract

USA

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Ft. Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $6,404,844 contract modification to provide for Wing Weapon Pylon I for Belgium, Denmark, Norway, The Netherlands, and U.S. Air Force... more

IndustryNorthrop Grumman awarded of a near 8 USDm contract

USA

Northrop Grumman Corp., Melbourne, Fla., is being awarded a $7,938,000 undefinitized-contract modification for one Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System Lot XI aircraft (P17) advance procurement... more

IndustryUnited Technologies awarded of a over 8 USDm contract

USA

United Technologies Corp., East Hartford, Conn., is being awarded an $8,514,951 undefinitized-contract to provide for Diffuser Cases, 87 each, for the F-100PW 100, 200, and 220E engine which power the... more

AirlinesAer Lingus pilots ready to fight

Dublin, Ireland - Against the suspension of three pilots last week

Pilots at the Irish airline Aer Lingus could decide to down tools next May 30th in protest against the suspension of three pilots last week. For Aer Lingus, the three pilots "refused to carry out instructions... more

AirlinesCathay Pacific to restore six of its planes on ground after September 11th

Hong Kong, China - 5 passengers and one cargo aircraft

Hong Kong-based air carrier Cathay Pacific decided to restore to service 5 passengers and one cargo aicraft grounded to face post September 11 international air sector crisis. This action is part of the... more

AirlinesFrontier Airlines to add a new Airbus A319 to its fleet

Denver, Usa - Thanks the financing of Hamburgische Landesbank

The Us low-fare carrier Frontier Airlines will add a new Airbus A319 to its fleet thanks the financing provided by Hamburgische Landesbank. Denver-based airline is also ready to welcome other 9 A319s,... more

AccidentsPiper crashed in Tuscany

La Spezia, Italia - The three people on board survived

The three people on board the tourism aircraft crashed yesterday onto the mountains between the Italian regions of Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany have been rescued thanks to the intervention of 70 people of... more

AccidentsA Us predator crashed in Kuwait

Washington, Usa - Pentagon excluded an enemy attack ipothesys

A Us reconnaissance unmanned aircraft, a 'drone' Predator, crashed in Kuwait as it was landing after a control mission in Afghanistan. At the moment Us inquirers are at work to find out the probable causes... more

AccidentsA Us predator crashed in Kuwait

Washington, Usa - Pentagon excluded an enemy attack ipothesys

A Us reconnaissance unmanned aircraft, a 'drone' Predator, crashed in Kuwait as it was landing after a control mission in Afghanistan. At the moment Us inquirers are at work to find out the probable causes... more

AccidentsA Boeing 747 plunged in Taiwan strait (2): a technical sheet

Rome, Italy - Boeing 747-200 (Usa)

Type: long-haul widebody airliner Accommodation: two pilots, a flight engineer, 516 passengers Dimensions - length: 231 ft - wingspan: 195 ft - height: 63 ft 5 in Weights - empty: 358.100... more

AccidentsA Boeing 747 plunged in Taiwan strait

Taipei, Taiwan - Probably no one of the 225 people aboard survived

Last Saturday a Boeing 747-200 of the Taiwan air carrier China Airlines plunged into the waters of the Taiwan strait. The 206 passengers and the 19 crew members on flight CI611 had taken off from Taipei... more

DefenseNato to extend mission in Macedonia

Macedonia - Up to October 26th

According to what stated by Ingemar Ingemarsson, Nato spokesman, the north Atlantic Alliance peace mission in Macedonia will be extended up to October 26th. Decision followed a Macedonian president Boris... more

IndustryNorthrop Grumman Team will study new generation, small launch vehicle

Military and commercial users would be able to launch payloads more rapidly and at lesser cost under a study project being undertaken by Northrop Grumman Corporation for a new generation, rapid response,... more

PeopleAccording FBI, Reid was helped by someone other

Washington, USA

Twenty-eight year old UK citizen Richard Reid who allegedly tried to blow up an American Airlines passenger jet, in flight from Paris to Miami last December, by detonating explosives concealed in his shoes... more

DefenseMay 28 Nato meeting: tight traffic restrictions

Rome, Italy - Total interdition in the area, on May 27 and 28

Armoured meeting of Nato and Russia at Pratica di Mare (Rome). Security measures to safeguard Nato members who will gather to welcome Russia as a new partner-country involve the air space closing, as well... more