AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,611 news found
Science and technologyNot only airplanes. Airships: Russia continues with "UFO program" over Lenin's birthplace
Ulyanovsk, Russia - Five-year plan to develop a "Flying saucer" that can carry 600 tons or 11 thousand passengers
Russia has launched a program to build a powerful, multi-purpose airship that will certainly cause many UFO reports. This time, though, the words “Flying saucer” are not inappropriate at all. The fir... more
Military aviationThe Chinese J-11B fighter aircraft threatens bilateral relations with Russia
Moscow, Russia - A copycat of Su-27, Kremlin does not like: embargo risk
Despite being one of the largest economies in the world, China appears unwilling to lose its reputation for producing cheap copies. And now one of their most ambitious efforts in copying could put a strain... more
Fair and showsFinmeccanica and the Italian Air Force to celebrate 50 years of the "Frecce Tricolori"
Rome, Italy - The MB-339 produced by Alenia Aeronautica used by PAN
Finmeccanica is to take part in the celebrations to mark fifty years of the "Frecce Tricolori", the Italian national aerobatic team, which will take place on 11 and 12 September at the military airport... more
ReportRyanair pilot refuses to take off, 130 passengers spend night in the airport
Pisa, Italy - The commander, landed with strong delay, did not want to go up again
Sure, you can not say that those in Ryanair are not eager: on Tuesday evening, at Pisa airport, the flight commander of the Irish carrier direct to Palermo refused to take off. The reason? Certainly the... more
Military aviationEurofighter promotes the purchase of "Typhoon" fighter plane by Polish Air Force
Kielce, Poland - On the occasion of its debut at the "MSPO" exhibition at Kielce
Eurofighter continued its season of autumn shows with a large presence in Kielce, Poland this week as the international defence consortium develops further its relationships across Europe. Eurofighter... more
SecurityPilots: FAA ready to issue new rules for airlines
Washington, USA - A draft submitted to the White House
It's taken 15 months and a half-dozen missed deadlines, but the FAA is finally about to propose new regulations on how many hours airlines can schedule pilots to be on duty or in the cockpit. A draft was... more
AerospaceAstrium and SpaceX: agreement for sale of launch service with Falcon 1 in Europe
Paris, France - The rocket will bring into the low orbit of the Earth as main payload very small satellite
Astrium and SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies) today signed an agreement to provide dedicated launch services to the European institutional very small satellite market. This agreement will enable... more
AccidentsMangalore air disaster due to an human error
Mangalore, India - Investigations unveil the air crashed was due to wrong decision taken by the Pilot
On Wednesday, six members COI, Court of Inquiry, established that Air India Express Boeing 737-800's crash during the landing in the Mangalore airport (India) on May 22th 2010 -an air disaster, in which... more
AccidentsTurin: fire in the engines of an Antonov AN-124 Ruslan airplane
Turin, Italy - The emergency during the taking off of the cargo flight
Emergency and some moments of fear for a cargo flight taking off from Turin-Caselle. It was 8:20am of this morning when the great four engined Antonov AN-124 "Ruslan" of Volga Dnepr (Sovietic airline specialized... more
Military aviationNew cost cutting for F-35 jetfighter
Washington, USA - 4 months ago last "Discount", now another 6.25% off
Lockheed Martin is now on track to reduce costs of F-35 airplane. According to Frank Kendall, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, cuts should be as much... more
Weather forecastsBad weather in Italy: arriving storms on Central-South of the Country
Rome, Italy - From this afternoon
As announced in the last days, the perturbation of Atlantic origin, that has interested the central-northern regions of the Country, will move also on the South bringing conditions of marked fickleness. The... more
Civil aviationFrench travel agencies: air tickets sales rise in Summer 2010
Paris, France - July and August up 10% on 2009
Record sales of air tickets for French travel agencies during high season. According to the transport committee of SNAV, the French national association of travel agencies, in two central Summer months... more
AirlinesMore Asia for Finnair
Helsinki, Finland - The carrier to double the frequency
Finnair to increase frequencies on routes toward Asia, which will double, from next January. The Finnish airline is ready to start increasing the number of frequencies on some routes from Helsinki: New... more
AirlinesIberia intensifies its destinations in South America
Madrid, Spain - Increasingly clear a common strategy for the upcoming wedding with BA
Becoming clearer and clearer every day Iberia and British common strategy, in sight of the announced marriage. With BA intensification of operations on connections to Mexico, Iberia announces its "Focus"... more
AirlinesLufthansa cuts fares on Italy flights
Milan, Italy - Discount on routes from Malpensa to Bari, Naples, Olbia and Palermo
New tariff level for domestic flights of Lufthansa Italy. Italian branch of Germany flag-carrier raises the challenge on the Peninsula and revises rates for the national network. Routes from Milan-Malpensa... more
AirlinesBritish Airways in code-share with American on Mexico routes
London, UK - From October 1st, 2010
As from October 1st British Airways will expand its operations to Mexico, thanks to code-share with American Airlines. The two carriers are already operating along the route to Cancun and the new service... more
AerospaceCERN antimatter detector in space in 2011
Geneva, Switzerland - To operate as external payload on ISS
Alpha Magnetics Spectrometer (AMS) will be in space by early 2011. AMS is a particle detector designed and built in Geneva (Switzerland) to operate as an external payload on the International Space Station... more
AirlinesSAS code-shares with Estonian Air on new route
Stockholm, Sweden - Two capital cities linked from October 31
SAS will code-share with Estonian Air on the airline's new Stockholm-Vilnius route that will commence October 31. The new route will operate daily except Saturdays and will offer smooth connections... more
DiscussionsAssembly on 1,000th B-767 airplane: further details
Rome, Italy - Highlights and curiosities
It's a particularly important time in Italy, where the B-767 airplane is present in the fleets of four airlines for long haul flights (Blue Panorama, Air Italy, Alitalia, Neos) and because it is produced... more
Science and technologyChinese-Czech solar power station opens
Prague, Czech Republic - 35 megawatt capacity, at 20 km from Prague
The largest solar power station in the Czech Republic opened on yesterday in the village of Veprek, some 20 kilometers north of Prague. It has been built with a strong help from China: in fact, the key... more
Civil aviationMuac: air traffic rebounds in European airspace
Maastricht, The Netherlands - Despite flights reductions due to the Icelandic volcanic eruption
"An average air traffic growth of 4% in the airspace controlled by the Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC) in the last four months clearly shows that the aviation industry is starting to recover",... more
AirlinesAir transport. "LATAM Airlines Group", further details on LAN/TAM merger
Sao Paulo , Brazil - Governance, structure, official quotation and goals of the Group that LAN and TAM airlines want to form
As already announced (see AVIONEWS), Chilean LAN Airlines s.a. and Brazilian TAM SA signed a MOU, Memorandum Of Understanding, that outlines their intention to combine their holdings under a single parent... more
AirlinesAir transport: no to Virgin-Delta alliance by US Department of Transportation
Washington, USA - Proposed reject for Antitrust immunity, because it wouldn't “Produce sufficient public benefits”
The proposed alliance between Australian and American airlines, Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd - Delta Air Lines on trans-Pacific routes, was rejected by US regulators today. The US Department of Transport... more
AirportsAirgest: nearly 7,000 passengers a day travelling from and to Trapani-Birgi airport
Trapani, Italy - Another record growth in the month of August
214,868 passengers travelled from and to "Vincenzo Florio" Trapani-Birgi's airport in the month of August 2010 (an increase of 61,61% with respect to 132,951 passengers in August 2009). An average of nearly... more
OccurrencesA-380 aircraft aborts landing due to strong wind
Manchester, UK - Took off from Dubai airport, return flight delayed by 24 hours after electrical failure
The Airbus 380, the world’s biggest passenger airplane, forced to abort a landing after being hit by a strong gust of wind, on last Monday. Passengers were scheduled to have lunch in Manchester, but t... more
IndustryBoeing begins assembly of 1,000th B-767 aircraft
Everett, Usa - Destined to ANA in February 2011
Boeing has begun assembly of the 1,000th B-767 airplane at the factory in Everett, Wash. Mechanics took the first step in major assembly by loading the wing spar into the assembly tool. The spar is the... more
AerospaceBad weather delays Russian Progress M spacecraft launch
Baikonur, Russia - It was to reach ISS with supplies for station crew
Today, for the first time in history the launch of a Russian spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) has been postponed due to bad weather conditions. "The launch of the Progress M-07M... more
SecurityIn October security operations by US-EU joint-taskforce in European airports
Paris, France - US officials will check the passenger lists on departing flights
Last airport to activate the new Euro-American agency was Paris “Charles de Gaulle”: four US policemen are already active in the hub of la Ville Lumiere to check the identity of those who board a pla... more
AirlinesAir France, traffic to less 1.2% in August
Paris, France - Also fallen rival BA -2.9%
Passengers fall for Air France, which in August reported a drop of 1.2%, although the company hopes in an early booking positive trend for the future. The decline figures of the French carrier is... more
DefenseRussian military command structure to be reorganized
Moscow, Russia - Some of their functions will be transferred
Central commands of Russia's Air Force, Navy and Ground Forces will be retained but some of their functions will be transferred to integrated strategic commands, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said... more
AirportsBrussels airport: a passenger increase of 35% in August
Brussels, Belgium - Equal to 556,397
Brussels South Charleroi has registered 556,397 passengers, an increase of 35% in comparison to 411,913 in August 2009. Of all the companies present, Jetairfly has achieved the biggest increase in the... more
Civil aviationAviapartner obtains IATA Isago certification
Rome, Italy - After Malpensa, Turin and Venice will be next airports to reach it
Aviapartner has obtained for that concerning its activity in Italy the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) certificates in Nice, Milan-Malpensa and... more
DefenseFurther delays in Bulava missile new testing
Moscow, Russia - Scheduled on Sept. 9-12, now postponed...again
“H????????? ??????”: neschastnyi? Bulava. So we should start to call the ill-fated Russia's submarine ballistic missile, which according to Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, will resume lauch tes... more
HelicoptersIndia: AgustaWestland-Tata joint venture for AW-119 helicopter assembling
New Delhi, India - A new production plant at New Dehli airport
Rotorcraft, a joint-venture between Tata and the Italian helicopters manufacturing company AgustaWestland, will set up a unit of production near the "Rajiv Gandhi International Airport". Here, the JV will... more
IndustryTatarstan, new plant for Superjet 100 aircraft components
Kazan, Tatarstan - Should produce composite materials structures for Sukhoi's
In the Republic of Tatarstan, will rise a new industrial plant from AeroComposite, Russian company of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) group. Within the first months of 2013 should begin to construct... more
HelicoptersS-70i Black Hawk on public display for the first time
Kielce , Poland - The Sikorsky's helicopter is at the MSPO exhibition through tomorrow
S-70i Black Hawk helicopter is at the MSPO, the international defense industry exhibition in Kielce, Poland, through tomorrow, September 9th 2010. In this show, the aircraft is on public display for the... more
AirlinesRussian billionaire ready to climb Tui
Hanover, Germany - Alexei Mordashov is to "Forbes" the 18th richest man in the world
The third richest man in Russia points to climb Tui, the largest European tour operator that also controls the airline Tuifly and Hapag-Lloyd cargo air-shipping carrier. Alexei Mordashov, 42, currently... more
AerospaceRussia orbits 3 communication satellites
Moscow, Russia - Two for military services, one for Glonass navigation system
A Russian carrier rocket Rokot took off from the Plesetsk space center in northern Russia, this morning at 07:30, Moscow time (3:30 GMT), carrying into orbit a Gonets-M and two Kosmos, as reported by... more
AerospaceAVIO: first production contract for the Vega launcher
Rivalta di Torino, Italy - Though its ELV subsidiary
The Avio Group, through its ELV subsidiary, and Arianespace have signed yesterday a frame contract for five launch Vega vehicles with a firm order for the first launch vehicle. At the same ceremony,... more
ReportFalse bomb alert on a Thai Airways plane
Los Angeles, USA - FBI have begun a probe to discover the source of the threat
According to investigators, no evidence of a bomb was found aboard 794 flight from Bangkok to Los Angeles. The Thai Airways flight departed from Bangkok at 7:30 pm local time yesterday, carrying about... more
AirlinesAeroflot meets Putin's wishes and buy Made in Russia
Moscow, Russia - Presented a plan for acquisition of new homemade airplanes
When in Russia, Vladimir Putin raises his voice, usually, then things go as he wanted. This is what happened with Aeroflot, who had Russian prime minister “Yelling” for flag-carrier's reluctance to buy... more
AirlinesBritish Airways-Iberia possible merger with Qantas or American
London, UK - At least 12 airlines potentially targeted
It is not yet officially celebrated the marriage between British Airways (BA) and Iberia, already could outline a ménage-a-trois: International Airlines Group is considering - selecting between at least... more
AirlinesCA: tropical storm "Hermine" to affect Texas flights
Houston, Usa - The Us carrier announced travel options
Continental Airlines announced travel options for customers whose flight plans may be affected by Tropical Storm "Hermine". Storm conditions are expected to make air travel difficult in Texas, forcing... more
CuriositiesEtihad pilot qualifies to become first female captain
Abu Dhabi, EAU - She's Sophie Blanchard
Etihad Airways is celebrating the maiden commercial flight of its first female Captain, Sophie Blanchard. Captain Blanchard, a French national, will take the controls of the left hand seat in the flight... more
DefenseAbkhazia: Russia deployment of S-300 missiles is no threat to area, says French minister Kouchner
Paris, France - No surprise in Washington: systems appear to be in place for past 2 years
Deployment of Russia's S-300 air defense systems in Abkhazia is non threat, according to Bernard Kouchner, France Foreign Minister. Whether this statement is inspired by France now-long-time “Feud” wit... more
AerospaceTelespazio and Thales Alenia Space: programme kickoff for Göktürk satellite system
Rome, Italy - Together with Sicral 2 are the last two major programmes built in the frame of the Space Alliance
Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space yesterday announced the official start of the Göktürk observation satellite system for the Turkish Ministry of Defense. The original contract was signed by Telespazio a... more
AirlinesAlitalia: "ESTA" authorization will cost USD 14 from today
Rome, Italy - Travellers won't be allowed to board without it
The US authorities require that from today, September 9th 2010, authorization "ESTA" (Electronic System for Travel Authorization), compulsory for travelling to USA and free until today, will cost 14 dollars.... more
AirlinesTam Airlines to open own office in Hong Kong
Sao Paulo, Brazil - It is part of the carrier's Asia strategy
Tam Airlines will launch later this year an administration and marketing office in Hong Kong to support business growth in Asia. The air company currently has sales offices in Korea, India and Japan, Thailand... more
ReportMore than 200 Chinese civil pilots falsified their résumés?
Bejing , China - Because of the CAAC finding, Chinese Government is conducting an investigation
CAAC, the Civil Aviation Administration of China, found that more than 200 Chinese pilots lied, in 2008 and 2009, declaring on their résumés more hours spent flying than they really did. More than h... more
CuriositiesYesterday the 150th anniversary of the "Weather forecasts"
London, England - Memories of Robert FitzRoy, the father of weather forecasts and the one who published first ones on "The Times"
On September 6th 1860, the first daily weather forecasts were published on "The Times". They were made by Robert FitzRoy, an admiral whose life was full of events. Born in 1805 in Ampton Hall, England,... more