AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,705 news found

Latest newsIs USAF unbeatable? Yes...or almost so
Washington, USA - Experts would think so by indicating a list of US Air Force's strong points
Some analysts intended to verify which strategy can be used by potential rivals of the United states (such as Iran and China) to face US Air Force. Experts would be convinced about the fact that a good... more

Science and technologyFlights delayed due to shortfall of fuel
Johannesburg, South Africa - It occurred at Cape Town Airport
Flights departing Saturday from Cape Town International Airport (South Africa) recorded delays up to five hours because of the shortfall of jet-fuel. All planes from South-African air station were forced... more

AirlinesChina Southern Airlines concluded a lease contract for 5 A-320s
Shanghai, China - They will be delivered early next year
China Southern Airlines unveiled it has signed a lease contract for 5 A-320/200s with Sale Ireland Ltd, company controlled by Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise, lasting 11 years and 8 months. Airplanes... more

MiscellaneousGreenpeace activists on French aircraft carrier carrying asbestos
Toulon, France - The "Clemenceau" appears destined to a scrapyard in the far India
This morning, three Greenpeace activists scaled the mast of the French aircraft carrier "Clemenceau" in Toulon road, unfurling a banner reading "Asbestos carrier stay out of India". Another activist buzzed... more

AirlinesCroatian Airlines passed IATA operational safety tests
Zagreb, Croatia - Tests have been passed for the second successive time
Croatian Republic’s carrier is a IATA member since 1992. Croatian Airlines has passed for the second successive time, tests on operational safety carried out by IATA, International airlines transport a... more

PeopleENAC: meeting with air field's delegates tomorrow
Rome, Italy - For a general coordination finalized to reinforce safety/security during the next holidays
"A meeting with all sector’s delegates for a general coordination finalized to reinforce safety/security during the next Christmas holidays, has been convoked by ENAC (Italian Civil Aviation Authority) P... more

AccidentsSosoliso Airlines DC-9 crashed in Nigeria (4): plane was more than 32 years old
Port Harcourt, Nigeria - Sensational revelation from Serbian carrier JAT Airways
The DC-9 jet crashed at Port Harcourt last Saturday was more than 32 years old revealed the Serbian airline that previously owned the aircraft. It is JAT Airways which today said that the Nigerian private... more

AirlinesBomb-alert on KLM's flight last Saturday
Stockholm, Sweden - Signal was false
The bomb-alert on board a plane of the Dutch carrier KLM at Gotheborg Airport was called off only after police’s inspection on the aircraft and 114 passengers baggages. Searches did not find explosives: m... more

HelicoptersMH-92: a laboratory devoted to the fly-by-wire system
Washington, USA - As made by Sikorsky together with its partners, while Taiwan would intend to purchase some S-92s for SAR operations
Sikorsky group opened recently a laboratory entirely devoted to the development, integration and test of the fly-by-wire system for the MH-92 helicopter, the military version of the well known S-92 Helibus.... more

Science and technologyAVIONEWS' Specials: on the Safety Management System
Rome, Italy - Analysis concerning terminological aspects regarding airport activities related to flight safety
Captain Renzo Dentesano focused on some important terminological aspects within the Safety Management System field in the airport sector, as recently treated during a conference set by representatives... more

AirlinesJet2.com announces the opening of route from Pisa to Edimburgh
Milan, Italy - As of next May 27 each Saturday
"Jet2.com announced today the opening of a new route between Pisa and Edimburgh, the beautiful Scottish capital. The low-cost flights already link Pisa to Newcastle, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Belfast.... more

AirlinesKorean Air: pilots strike caused serious damage to Korea's economy competitiveness
Seoul, South Korea - Government ordered to end protest
The Government has tried to limit limit economic damage from strike of Korean Airlines pilots started last Thursday (se for details AVIONEWS) and ordered unionized pilots to return to work. Labour Minister,... more

AccidentsSouthwest Airlines plane slid off runway at Chicago: a brake failure?
Chicago, USA - They are considering declarations of the pilot of flight 1248
Pilot for Southwest Airlines plane skidded off runway at Chicago told investigators that he found some mechanical problems when the aircraft touched the ground (see for details AVIONEWS). Braking system... more

IndustryAirbus: Aegean Airlines ordered eight A-320 with option for other 12
Milan, Italy - They will replace older airplanes of the Greek carrier's fleet
"Aegean Airlines, Greek airline in a rapid development’s phase, has signed today a firm order for eight A-320, plus options on other 12 of A-320’s aircraft family. They will replace older aircraft of... more

PeopleEurocontrol: 8.33 kHz radio equipment to be implemented above FL-195
Brussels, Belgium - It will be effective as of March 15, 2007
"European States are publishing Aeronautical Information Circulars advising that the carriage of 8.33 kHz radio equipment above flight level 195 in the ICAO EUR Region will be effective as of 15 March... more

MiscellaneousIraqi election: security measures on December 15
Baghdad, Iraq - In the meantime, people in military bases, hospitals and prisons have already started voting
Iraqi Parliament election is scheduled on December 15, Thursday, but some trades have already started voting: preferences are being expressed in the hospitals, prisons and military bases for about 7000... more

AirlinesQatar Airways expands in Europe with the route to Madrid
Rome, Italy - With three weekly connections starting from the beginning of December
"Madrid is in the Qatar Airways’ international network and from the beginning of December Spanish capital is linked to Doha with three weekly flights (Monday, Friday and Sunday) that, make a stop at R... more

MiscellaneousCIA's flights: plane entered Swiss airspace suspected of connection with Abu Omar's abduction
Zurich, Switzerland - The Imam of a Milan's mosque was kidnapped on February 17 2003
According to Swiss-German television, a Learjet LJ-35, having the military acronym "SPAR 92", chartered by the CIA, has flown over Switzerland two times from Aviano military airport to Ramstein base (Germany)... more

AccidentsC-130 crashed at Teheran: Defence Minister to be under indictment
Teheran, Iran - Impeachment motion against the Iranian Government's member
Iran’s Defence Minister, Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, has been put under indictment by the Parliament: a group of 49 deputies filed an impeachment motion against him after the crash occurred to an old C-130 o... more

Science and technologyUSA: snow storms caused delays in North-Eastern airports
Washington, USA - An emergency landing in Boston for a Comair 's plane
Long waits at international airports in the US North-Eastern airports: flight delays of one to three hours at Logan International Airport in Boston (Massachusetts), at Newark International Airport in New... more

HelicoptersCJ Systems Aviation Group selected the EC-135 and the EC-145
Washington, USA - In order to modernize part of the fleet for emergency medical services operations
CJ Systems Aviation Group, as an important US company competent for providing emergency medical services, selected Eurocopter to improve its activities at some medical centres in various states. Three... more

Civil defenseSwitzerland: UAVs arriving to monitor national borders
Berne, Switzerland - They are even likely to be deployed to warrant higher security during the next European Soccer Championship
Remote-controlled aircraft could be deployed by Swiss Air Force to support national borders monitoring activities performed by Border Guard starting in 2006. There is a double purpose: on the one hand,... more

Latest newsEgypt promoter of Chinese aerospace industry in the Arab world and Africa
Cairo, Egypt - Around 80 K-8 Chinese-Pakistani trainers have been manufactured by Egyptian industry since 2000
In case one proves doubtful about Chinese aerospace industry’ capability in penetrating defence markets, it would be better if changes one’s mind when considering the relations between China and Egypt abo... more

AccidentsSosoliso Airlines DC-9 crashed in Nigeria (3): accident's causes are still unknown
Port Harcourt, Nigeria - It was the first mortal incident involving the carrier
Sosoliso Airlines flight 1145 was scheduled to depart Abuja for Port Harcourt at 10:00am, but the take-off was delayed to 01:26pm. Its crew was authorized to land on Port Harcourt’s runway 21 going up i... more

HelicoptersTurkey: four helicopters competing for the new combat aircraft
Ankara, Turkey - Tiger, Mangusta, Rooivalk and "Erdogan" still competing while the Cobra and the Apache withdrew due to problems related to technology transfer
The US helicopter companies will not compete for the bid related to the provision of the new Turkey’s combat choppers. Problems concerning technology transfer would have led Bell (AH-1Z King Cobra) and B... more

Weather forecastsAir shows and exhibitions in the second week of December
Rome, Italy - From today, Monday 12 to next Sunday 18
Monday 12 - Paragliding - 2005 Ladies Challenge. De Aar, South Africa. + 27 53 631 15 55 www.pottiesbnb.co.za http://events.fai.org - OSHTAC 2005. New Tac Flying Club, Tac Airport, Thailand. + 66... more

DefenseMalaysia: Italian special forces to be trained in the jungle
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - An agreement between the two countries to involve the top Italian troops
LIMA Air Show 2005, as the aerial-naval defence-dedicated Malaysian exhibition, ended on last December 11 and Italy achieved an important result for training regarding its armed forces. Small contingents... more

AccidentsSosoliso Airlines DC-9 crashed in Nigeria (2): black boxes have been found
Port Harcourt, Nigeria - The second air disaster in the country in less than two months
Investigators have found the black boxes of the DC-9 jet that crashed killing 107 people. Flight-data recorders have been brought to Lagos en route for abroad for proper analysis. The McDonnell Douglas... more

MiscellaneousEritrea-Ethiopia: troops and means along the border
Asmara, Eritrea - Tension is rising between the two states and Eritrean-native people in Belgium asked EU authorities for paying more attention to the seriousness of situation
Tension along the Eritrea-Ethiopia border is rising as well as also both countries populations’ worry, with an official denunciation by Eritrean-native people in Belgium in front of European Union’s ins... more

MiscellaneousUK: fuel depot few km far from Luton Airport exploded
Hemel Hempstead, UK - No consequences affected flights and fuel availability for the aircraft
A terrible explosion frightened the small British city of Hemel Hempstead (around 45 km North from London) yesterday morning at about 06:00 am. A fuel depot was the disaster site and other two blasts followed... more

AccidentsSosoliso Airlines DC-9 crashed in Nigeria: a youth's massacre
Port Harcourt, Nigeria - 110 fatalities including 75 students
The bad weather may have caused the crash of a Sosoliso Airlines DC-9 by Port Harcourt Airport, oil area in Southern Nigeria, while it was landing. On board the aircraft departed from Abuja there were... more

HelicoptersHelicopter getaway: French convicts made a break from a prison
Aiton, France - Police's researches resulted vain so far
Despite of several helicopter getaways performed in the last years there are still prisons which allow choppers to land on jail’s area. On Saturday afternoon a mountain rescue aircraft landed on the y... more

HelicoptersSwitzerland: twenty EC-635s for Army
Berne, Switzerland - A spending effort for a Super Puma's simulator has also been included
Switzerland decided to purchase twenty Eurocopter EC-635 military helicopters (as the combat version of the EC-135) for its Army within the defence programme 2005. A long debate involved the selection... more

ReportOsprey: "It will deliver the deadliest of weapon systems: US Marines"
Washington, USA - Marine Corps' officers appear convinced of it as this is the major customer of the military tilt-rotor
Marine Corps has taken delivery of an improved version of the V-22 Osprey with measures involving softwares, maintenance and reliability. It deals with the major customer of the military tilt-rotor jointly... more

IndustryRolls Royce Corp. awarded of a over 6 USDm contract
Washington, Usa - For the V-22
Rolls Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Ind., is being awarded a $6,455,369 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-95-C-0209) to exercise an option for "Power-By -The Hour" maintenance... more

IndustryBreeze-Eastern awarded of a near 10 USDm contract
Washington, Usa - For the H-3 and the H-53 aircraft
Breeze-Eastern, Union, N.J., is being awarded a $9,889,724 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for repair, overhaul, and test and evaluation of various cargo hooks, winches,... more

IndustrySikorsky Aircraft Corp. awarded of a over 33 USDm contract
Washington, Usa - For the MH-60S
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., is being awarded a $33,553,514 not-to-exceed modification to definitize a previously issued delivery order against basic ordering agreement N00019-03-G-0003,... more

PeopleMost important news of the week: 150 Airbus A-320 "With a single blow" in China
Rome, Italy - The Eurocopter-AVIC II EC-175 joint helicopter programme production has been officialized
Civil aviation reported a consolidation of Airbus in China and the officialization of the EC-175 helicopter programme. There is room for this sector also at the LIMA Air Show 2005 in Malaysia. Civil... more

DefenseMost important news of the week: Iranian Hercules cargo aircraft fell headlong, 130 died among soldiers and civilians
Rome, Italy - Condoleezza Rice explained reasons for air transfers for terrorists towards dedicated locations for questions, denying torture could have been used
A terrible disaster for a C-130 in Iran, Condoleezza Rice’s comment on CIA’s flights in fighting terrorism, the sale of Russia missiles to the Iranian Islamic Republic and the LIMA Air Show 2005 dominated the... more

AirlinesCompetition between Boeing and Airbus created embarrassment to Qantas
Sydney, Australia - The Australian airline is delaying its decision on fleet's renewal
Qantas Airways postponed its decision on fleet renewal’s project but approved the plan of international expansion of its low-cost carrier Jetstar. Qantas’ Board of directors will meet on next December 14... more

Press releaseAlitalia about capital stock's increase: results of the Stock Exchange's offer regarding the option rights not exercised
Rome, Italy - Airline will collect a price of about EUR 1,4 m
"According to Alitalia’s capital stock increase, in operation, the carrier communicates that in the hodiernal exchange’s session, has been completed the take over of nr 5,241,890 option rights not exe... more

AirlinesRyanair to connect Parma with London
Parma, Italy - Sogeap is reaping the fruit of its work on airport's facilities
Ryanair’s ascent in Italy is continuing: the Irish low-cost carrier established foothold in 16 Italian airports and it will operate a new route from Parma’s "Giuseppe Verdi" Airport to London-Stansted fro... more

AirlinesVietnam Airlines took delivery of 10th B-777
Seattle, USA - More comfort for passengers on intercontinental routes
Vietnam Airlines received its 10th Boeing B-777/200ER yesterday and it will depart for Hanoi Noiboi International Airport today. President and CEO for Vietnam’s carrier, Nguyen Xuan Hien, said that "A f... more

AccidentsSouthwest Airlines plane slid off runway at Chicago (3): airport reopened
Washington, USA - "It was premature to comment on possible causes"
Southwest Airlines plane showed no technical problems the day before it slid off a Chicago Airport’s runway (see for details AVIONEWS) causing the first fatal accident in the carrier’s 35-year history. Air... more

AirlinesA new low-cost in Mexico in 2006?
Mexico City, Mexico - It will begin to operate with seven airplanes serving domestic routes
The seeds for the creation of a Mexican low-cost - fruit of a collaboration between Brazilian GOL and the Mexican undertaker, Fernando Chico Pardo, ASUR’s operator President, there are all - also if o... more

MiscellaneousLybia sentenced for the attempt to UTA DC-10 in Teneré
Paris, France - A compensation worth over EUR 4.5 million
Six terrorists authors of the attempt and Lybia have been sentenced by Paris court to reimburse more than EUR 3.5m to the families of the UTA DC-10 victims, the plane exploded in Niger sky crashing on... more

PeopleDisabled persons and air transport: Italian Deputy Hon. De Laurentiis (UDC) on a case related to Meridiana
Rome, Italy - A Question Time addressed to Italian Minister of Infrastructures and Transport has been released
Italian Deputy Hon. Rodolfo De Laurentiis addressed a Question Time to Italian Minister of Infrastructures and Transport Pietro Lunardi concerning disabled persons aboard the aircraft of the carriers operating... more

AirlinesRyanair to land at Lamezia Terme
London, United Kingdom - New flight from and to London on the next year
Ryanair will inaugurate a flight from Lamezia Terme (Southern Italy) to London next February 18: Irish low-cost carrier’s planes will take off three days a week -Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday- from C... more

AirlinesEngine's problem forced Malaysian Airlines plane to land at Manila
Manila, Philippines - 91 people on board suffered from no troubles
A Malaysian Airlines Boeing B-737 carried out an emergency landing at Manila’s "Ninoy Aquino" International Airport (Philippines) yesterday because of an engine’s failure. Pilot for flight MH086 bound for... more

PeopleEasa: Agency's Environment week (December 5-9)
Cologne, Germany - To celebrate the Icao's day on the theme "Greening of Flight"
"The European Aviation Safety Agency launched its Environment Week (December 5-9) to celebrate the International Civil Aviation Day (December 7th) on the theme ’Greening of Flight’. In the area of env... more