AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,730 news found
Fair and showsLockheed Martin's CEO Coffman to retire
New York, USA - He will be replaced by President Robert Stevens
Vance Coffman, CEO of the American defence contractor Lockheed Martin, will retire next August. According to the group's management, he should be replaced by President, Robert Stevens. more
IndustryBoeing adds Smiths to 7E7 partner team
London, UK - They will finalize terms of the agreement during the next few weeks
Boeing selected Smiths Aerospace of the United Kingdom to provide the 7E7 Dreamliner's common core system, an integrated avionics platform that's key to the commercial airplane's open-systems architecture.... more
Latest newsIndia is searching for a light fighter
New Dhely, India - It will have to fill the gap left by Mig-21 and Mig-27
India urgently needs an "ad interim" multirole light fighter able to replace at least part of the old Mig-21 Fishbed and Mig-27 Flogger before the entering service of the LCA national produced fighter,... more
PeopleAir transport KO during the 4 months following 11th September
Brussels, Belgium - According to a Eurostat research
During the period September-December following Al Qaeda's terroristic attacks on 11th September 2001 there were huge losses for airlines in the EU in terms of passengers and, as a consequence, in terms... more
DefenseThe Russian defence plan under banner of modernization
Moskow, Russia - Several weapon systems to be involved in upgrades
The new defence plan for Russia schedules investments predominantly devoted to existing weapon systems modernization and to a more dedicated employment for them. Programmes regard the entire defensive... more
HelicoptersThe A-119 Koala to be produced in Philadelphia
Rome, Italy - The purpose is to increase the direct presence of AgustaWestland in the USA
AgustaWestland would have decided to relocate its A-119 Koala helicopter's assembling line in the United States. The selected location should be Philadelphia and the basic aim of this helicopter group... more
Science and technologyFake opening ceremony for Agrigento airport today
Agrigento, Italy - Masquerade organized by the Lista Di Pietro
The opening of the new ’Valle dei Templi’ airport in Racalmuto, in Province of Agrigento, Italy, becomes every day more unlikely (see AVIONEWS), hence the Lista Di Pietro party has organized an ironic pla... more
Government actsParliamentary question: "Complaint concerning the extension of San Sebastián airport (reply from Spain)"
Rome, Italy - Presented to the European Parliament by María Sornosa Martínez and Bárbara Dührkop Dührkop (PSE)
Official Journal of the European Union C 51 E of 26 February, page 230. Written question E-2246/03 by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) and Bárbara Dührkop Dührkop (PSE) to the European Commission (7 July... more
Government actsParliamentary questions: "Complaint concerning the extension of San Sebastián airport" (2)
Rome, Italy - The joint answer given by the EU Commissioner for the Environment, Margot Wallström
Joint answer to written questions E-2245/03 and E-2246/03 given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the European Commission (14 August 2003). "As the Commission indicated in its answers to Written Questions... more
Government actsParliamentary question: "Status of complaint concerning the environmental effects of the extension of San Sebastián airport"
Rome, Italy - Presented to the European Parliament by María Sornosa Martínez and Bárbara Dührkop Dührkop (PSE)
Official Journal of the European Union C 51 E of 26 February, page 229. Written question E-2245/03 by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) and Bárbara Dührkop Dührkop (PSE) to the European Commission (7 July... more
Latest newsThe Spanish Typhoon PS001 IPA4 flies
Madrid, Spain - It will be employed to verify the functionality of its new avionics systems
The EF-2000 Typhoon called PS001 IPA4 produced under the management of EADS CASA has flown for the first time in Spain on February 27. The first single-seat exemplar in this country will be firstly employed... more
Science and technologyBilbao airport closed down because of weather alert
Madrid, Spain - Snowfalls and strong winds throughout the Country
These days’ bad weather not only has brought Italian air-traffic to its knees (see AVIONEWS), but is causing disruption in Spain, too. Yesterday Bilbao airport was closed, and also the other infrastructures o... more
Government actsParliamentary question: "Deurne Airport (Belgium) and European environmental impact assessments" (2)
Rome, Italy - The answer given by the EU Commissioner for the Environment, Margot Wallström
Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the European Commission (11 September 2003). "Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects... more
Government actsParliamentary question: "Deurne Airport (Belgium) and European environmental impact assessments"
Rome, Italy - Presented to the European Parliament by Bart Staes (Group of the Greens)
Official Journal of the European Union C 51 E of 26 February, page 224. Written question E-2219/03 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the European Commission (2 July 2003). Subject: Deurne Airport and European... more
DefenseA surface-to-air AMRAAM version is being studied
Tewksbury, USA - It will equip US Army and Marine Corps
A surface-to-air counter-airplane version of the well-known AIM-120 AMRAAM (Slammer) missile will be produced for US Army and Marine Corps. Called SLAMRAAM, it will be fixed on launchers fitted on a high... more
AerospaceRosetta: the spacecraft was launched today
Kourou, French Guyana - The liftoff was postponed twice
The European Space Agency (Esa) eventually launched the Ariane 5 rocket with the Rosetta spacecraft onboard from its base in Kourou, French Guyana. The operation, which took place at 4.17am local time,... more
HelicoptersFaulty Seahawks have been rejected by US Navy
Washington, USA - The MH-60Ss would have presented problems due to assembly procedure faults
Several US Navy's MH-60S Seahawk helicopters would have presented manufacturing problems which Navy authorities are no longer disposed to accept. Technical problems would regard in particular gearboxes... more
Science and technologyMaui airport closed for car driven into ticket lobby
Maui, USA - The vehicle was then set on fire, but it apparently is not a terroristic attack
The airport of the island of Maui, in the Hawaii, was closed yesterday for several hours because of a car driven into the ticket lobby and then set on fire. At 7.48am a 52-year-old man drove his car onto... more
Latest newsA Raptor strategic bomber is being studied
Washington, USA - It will have to fill the speed and self-defence gap of Night Hawk and Spirit
US Air Force exigency for a new fighter-bomber able to well perform deep-strike missions and the ones with stand-off weapons is growing. The most probable hypothesis presently appears to be the one related... more
AerospaceChina wants to conquer the moon
Beijing, China - China's space plans become more ambitious
After the recent news, published by AVIONEWS, according to which China will carry out a new space mission with humans onboard for 2005, Asia’s giant surprises us by announcing a new ambitious mission, t... more
AirlinesAzzurra Air's employees protest
Gallarate, Italy - This company is delaying further salaries outpayment
Some one hundred Azzurra Air’s employees have gathered nearby its Gallarate headquarter this morning protesting due to the non payment of January and February salaries even if promises had been made b... more
Government actsParliamentary question: "Air passenger health" (2)
Rome, Italy - The answer given by the EU transport Commissioner, Loyola de Palacio
Answer given by Loyola de Palacio on behalf of the European Commission (10 July 2003). "The number of passengers killed in commercial flights operated by Community carriers are given below: - 1998:... more
Government actsParliamentary question: "Air passenger health"
Rome, Italy - Presented to the European Parliament by Christopher Huhne (European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party)
Official Journal of the European Union C 51E of 26 February 2004, page 142. Written question E-1802/03 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the European Commission (28 May 2003). Subject: Air passenger health. "Will... more
Science and technologyNew airport in Sicily: Legambiente says 'No'
Agrigento, Italy - Existing infrastructures should be developed instead of wasting money
The matter of the new airport that should be built in Racalmuto, in province of Agrigento, becomes a thorny subject and the destiny of the air station - currently being planned by Atav (Agrigento and Valle... more
AerospaceGalileo and GPS. The difficult "space-sharing" has been solved (2): Nato's observation
Brussels, Belgium - This agreement has great relevance from a military point of view
Nato remarks positively the achieved agreement between EU and USA of last week. Moving from the premise that the NAVSTAR GPS satellite system, even if devoted to civil use too, is militarily managed due... more
Science and technologyUnions refuse to postpone 5th March's air-traffic strike
Rome, Italy - Despite the guarantee commission's prompting to defer it
The meeting of the guarantee commission and the representatives of air transport unions and professional associations that called next 5th March's strike has started today. The summit was called because... more
AerospaceGalileo and GPS: the difficult "space-sharing" has been solved
Berlin, Germany - An agreement between EU and USA on the European satellite programme has been reached
The new Galileo european global positioning satellite system will be able to coexist with the US NAVSTAR GPS. It is what stems from the recent EU-USA agreement on the subject reached on last Wednesday.... more
HelicoptersPolish MI-24 have been updated for the NATO standard by BAe
Warsaw, Poland - The British company to provide new mission and electronic warfare systems
British Aerospace do not appear to run into difficulties with the NATO standard update of Polish Air Force MI-24 Hind attack helicopters, unlike what happened not much in the past in another European eastern... more
Fair and showsPresident Uribe: assassination plot or false alarm?
Bogotà, Colombia - Three suspicious bins found near the airplane of Colombian President
Some suspicious bins, apparently filled with gas, were found last Saturday near the aircraft on which Colombian President Alvaro Uribe travelled at Valledupar airport, in the North of the Country, an area... more
HelicoptersFormer Haiti's president Aristide left the Country onboard a helicopter
Port-au-Prince, Haiti - The first marines have arrived in the capital
Following the news of his resignation after 24 days of armed insurrection against his government, ex Haiti's President Jean Bertrand Aristide left the capital Port-au-Prince yesterday onboard a helicopter... more
DefenseEADS to develop the new Germany air defence system
Ulm, Germany - The SAMOC to be ready by 2007
After laying the foundations for the development of the new UK GBDA air defence system (Ground Based Air Defence), EADS will be involved in designing a similar system in order to protect German airspace.... more
Latest newsIsraeli AWACS for India
Tel Aviv, Israel - 3 Phalcons produced by 3 Il-76 airframes to be delivered
Israel will be able to provide the Indian Air Force (IAF) with 3 Phalcon AWACS electronic surveillance platforms (AEW, Airborne Electronic Warfare) produced by 3 Ilyushin Il-76 airframe. These airplanes... more
HelicoptersEADS and Rafael together to design a new electronic protection system
Ulm, Germany - The DIRCM to protect both civil and military helicopters
EADS and Rafael couple their own electronic warfare experiences to develop a new protection system for both civil and military helicopters. The European group's MILDS AN/AAR-60 and the Israeli company's... more
PeopleAirplane to Lampedusa: it did not leave today
Lampedusa, Italy - The subsidies due in case of insufficient passengers were not paid
The 11.45 am Palermo-Lampedusa flight did not leave today. On the route - left uncovered following the suspension of the Greek airline Bee Gee Air, winner in the tender for the allotment of the social... more
Science and technologySnow alert during the weekend: Bologna, Rome-Ciampino and Venice airports paralyzed
Rome, Italy - Cancelled and delayed arrivals and departures
The last weekend of February was a hard one for Italian air-traffic. The Bologna "Marconi" airport was closed on Sunday 28th February from 12.30am because of a heavy snowfall which did not allow snowploughs... more
Press releaseThe Economic Development Board of Singapore Awards Regional Headquarters Status to Eurocopter South East Asia
Singapore -
"Eurocopter is pleased to announce that, on 25 Feb 04, the Singapore EDB (Economic Development Board), has awarded the RHQ (Regional Headquarters) status to Eurocopter’s subsidiary in Singapore, ESEA (... more
AirlinesAlitalia affair: the new management has been chosen
Rome, Italy - Zanichelli has replaced Mengozzi
After a see-saw week, finally Government has reached an agreement for replacing Alitalia management. In fact, on Friday afternoon the cabinet released the following note: "Government, acknowledged Mengozzi's... more
Latest newsFirst Typhoon German pilots' training is carring on
Munich, Germany - The first Luftwaffe unit trainers to be 10
The second of the three Typhoon training courses forecasted by German Air Force has been recently concluded. Ten Luftwaffe pilots will be trained to become themselves trainers for the operative units which... more
Science and technologyPakistani airport: security measures reinforced
Karachi, Pakistan - Beacuse of operations to capture Al Qaeda militants
High alert level at Pakistani airports from last Saturday because of operations in tribal areas of the Country to capture Al Qaeda militants. The alert should last for at least four days. more
Press releaseAir transport between the European Union and third countries
Rome, Italy - Commission welcomes new powers to apply the competition rules
The Council of ministers adopted a Regulation last 26 February which gives the Commission full powers to apply the competition rules to air transport between the EU and third countries, in particular to... more
PeopleEmergency landing in Rimini because of smoke in cabin
Rimini, Italy - It occurred because of a seepage of anti-ice liquid
A Boeing 737 of the carrier Blue Panorama departed from Bologna last Saturday toward Lanzarote and Tenerife, made an emergency landing at Rimini airport at 9.15am because of smoke in the cabin. On board... more
Latest newsRaptor: all-weather stealth
Washington, USA - The F/A-22 programme appears to observe Rumsfeld's doctrine parameters
In spite of worries caused as a consequence of the Comanche programme cancellation (see for details AVIONEWS), it would not seem the F/A-22 Raptor stealth multirole interceptor fighter incurs this risk.... more
Civil aviationFAA AD on McDonnell Douglas model DC-9-81 (MD- 81), DC-9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-83 (MD-83), and DC-9-87 (MD-87) airplanes; model MD-88 airplanes; and model MD-90-30 airplanes
Usa - To prevent failure of the shock strut cylinders of the main landing gears (MLG) due to cracking, which could result in collapse of the MLG and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane during landing
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. 2003-NM-122-AD; Amendment... more
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