AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,376 news found
Science and technologyBudapest Airport's privatization (2): workers to be on a war footing towards strike
Budapest, Hungary - Meeting between unions and airport's operator has been unproductive
Budapest Airport risks to cancel all departures and arrivals in case of a great partecipation to the strike threatened by union trades said the airport’s spokesperson, Ibolya Forika: "The entire airport r... more
AirlinesTransavia.com to inaugurate new Rome-Rotterdam route
Rome, Italy - Dutch airline to launch other new destinations from Rotterdam
Transavia Airlines is about ot launch four new routes from its Rotterdam base: starting from October 31 2005, carrier will operate daily connections bound for Rome-Fiumicino with Boeing 737-400 airplanes.... more
DefenseA new success for the Patriot PAC-3 missile
Washington, USA – A test to evaluate the guided rocket's anti-ballistic missile capabilities has been positively accomplished
A new test launch for the Lockheed Martin Patriot PAC-3 has been performed in the United States. A surface-to-air guided rocket hit and destroyed a same-type missile properly modified in order to simulate... more
PeopleIndia: Airbus thinks about a pilot training centre
New Dheli, India - The project is likely to be started by the end of this month
Airbus intends to build a pilot training centre in India and it has already sent some experts to the Asian country, in order to appraise which site can prove the best one for its construction. Also a structure... more
AirlinesFinnair: demand and load factors up
Stockholm, Sweden - The traffic increased by 7.0% compared to August last year
Finnair scheduled traffic increased by 7.0% compared to August last year. Passenger load factor was at record levels in 71.4%, up 2.7 percentage points. Number of passengers carried was 599,700, up 7.9%. Finnair... more
PeopleLondon to give the green light to air ticket tax
London, United Kingdom - Great Britain to back France
French Finance Minister, Thierry Breton, at ECOFIN’s preliminary encounter, said to have gained Great Britain’s support over his project to tax air tickets to finance the fight against poverty in underdeveloped cou... more
Science and technologyBaghdad Airport closed (3): flights risk to restart without checks on passengers and baggage
Baghdad, Iraq - A warning signal called by Global Strategies Group which moaned about the lack of qualification for Iraqi personnel
Iraqi forces would have entered the airport at Ministry of Transport’s order but the British firm responsible for security activities would not intend to ask its members for leaving the area. It is dangerous t... more
Science and technologyBudapest Airport: legal proceedings not stop privatization
Budapest, Hungary - Hungarian Government appealed against Budapest work tribunal's sentence
There are new the developments in the situation of Budapest Airport privatization (see for details AVIONEWS), after Government appealed against Budapest work tribunal’s sentence which cancelled the privatization’s ten... more
Fair and showsChirac: no flights for six weeks
Paris, France - Orders set by military doctors after the problem affecting his vision and recently found
French President, Jacques Chirac, will not allowed to fly for at least six weeks. These are the orders put forward by doctors from the French military hospital where he had been committed to in recent... more
IndustryAirborne radars: lighter, smaller, high-powered
Brussels, Belgium - Exigencies put forward by the air forces, most of all the NATO's ones, with a European market worth over USD 5bn by 2014
European airborne military radar market will be worth around USD 5.44bn between 2005 and 2014. Analysts’ forecasts talk about a significant growth in the sector due to the need to adapt to operational e... more
IndustryFinmeccanica: US Coast Guard to use the Italian Group's radar system
Rome, Italy - It was the Seaspray 7500E radar fitting the HC-130H patrol aircraft
It is the last version of radar developed by the Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems -a company owned by Finmeccanica Group-the Seaspray 7500E radar system. It will be used by US Coast Guard’s patroller p... more
AirlinesAmerican Airlines operated flights at risk: now it could pay USD 1m of indemnity
Washington, USA - A FAA's inspector denounced the carrier accused to have compromised passengers' safety
American Airlines has been accused to have compromised passengers’ safety permitting that one of its McDonnell Douglas MD-82 flew with a faulty fuel tank: that occurred two years ago. Civil action taken a... more
Civil aviationATR-42 Italy First: operational activities started again for one of the two aircraft
Pantelleria, Italy - The turboprop which suffered for problem on one of its two engines is instead still grounded
One of the two Italy First’s ATR-42 commercial regional airplanes forced to stay on the ground for repairing activities following two different failures which affected their operational lifecycle starting l... more
MiscellaneousHurricane "Katrina": Russian Ilyushin landed in Arkansas
Washington, USA - Meanwhile IPA's pilot placed themself at disposal
The two Russian cargo planes loaded with humanitarian aid for New Orleans affected people, arrived yesterday at Little Rock, Arkansas. Aboard the first airplane there were 121 tents up to a total weight... more
Civil aviationUSA: special courses against hijacking for flying personnel
Washington, USA - Effectiveness must still be assessed but competent authorities ensured that significant results will be shown
US TSA (Transportation Security Administration) is expected to ensure the implementation of a series of security measures in the US air transport sector, with reference in particular to airlines personnel... more
AirlinesAlitalia: code-share agreement with Portugalia Airlines has started
Rome, Italy - Regarding Italian-Portuguese links besides some Alitalia's routes towards Germany, Hungary, Poland and Austria
The code-share agreement between Alitalia and Portugalia Airlines starts being enforced just this month. The NI code of the Portuguese carrier will appear on the following Alitalia’s flights: Lisbon-Milan a... more
AirlinesSmoke from cabin force-landed an American Airlines flight in Costa Rica
Washington, USA - 271 travellers bound for Florida emerged all safe
An Airbus by American Airlines en route from Costa Rica to Miami (Florida), met a mechanical failure and was forced to perform an emrgency landing at Liberia’s "Daniel Oduber" Airport yesterday. Flight w... more
HelicoptersThe BK-117 testing the adaptive rotor system flew
Paris, France - Operations on the main rotor enable to lower noise and vibrations
Eurocopter BK-117 devoted to testing activities concerning in particular the appraisals on the running and effectiveness of the new noise and vibration system, successfully performed its maiden flight.... more
AirlinesQatar Airways flies to Delhi, Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Rome, Italy - With departures from Malpensa and Fiumicino
Qatar Airways to fly torwards Delhi seven times per week from Milan-Malpensa and Rome-Fiumicino via Doha, with a promotional and launch round fare, until October 31, starting from EUR 439. Extra for departures... more
AirlinesSingapore Airlines: new readjustments in the ticket fuel surcharge
Singapore - Increase between USD 3 and 5 depending on the routes
The rising aviation fuel price goes on affecting also the Singapore Airlines’ activities, which decided to act again involving the ticket cost. Fuel surcharge will actually be readjusted with another r... more
AccidentsHurricane "Katrina": civil helicopter crashed
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA - No fatalities, passengers were safe
It is not clear what really happened, but local sources affirm that a civil helicopter whose model and operator has not been released, would have crashed last morning in Louisiana while was rescuing hurricane... more
AerospaceBaikhonur: two Russian rocket carriers took off in two days
Moscow, Russia - Used to carry a cargo spaceship with restocking devoted to the ISS and put a Canadian satellite into orbit
A double launch from Baikhonur Base (Kazakhstan) within two days. A Soyuz U rocket carrier took off yesterday, carrying the Progress M cargo spaceship with restocking including food, oxygen and various... more
AirlinesWizz Air to purchase 24 A-320s over next 5 years
Budapest, Hungary - Airline's CEO, Jozsef Varadi, revealed it
It was born only one year and 4 months before and has carried 1 million of passengers till April 2005 and 2 million till the end of last August. To meet growth forecast the low-cost carrier decided to... more
Science and technologyBaghdad Airport closed (2): Iraqi National Guard to attend to its security
Baghdad, Iraq - Replacing British company's personnel after an order by Iraqi Ministry of Transport
Iraqi Minister of Transport ordered to send Iraqi National Guard and Army’s units (still under setting and training) to Baghdad International Airport in order to replace British company’s personnel ass... more
AccidentsF-16 dropped in Netherlands
Amsterdam, Netherlands - Three helicopters engaged in crew's search
A F-16 jet crashed today close to Vlieland, a Dutch island in North Sea: it is not clear if crew’s members survived the crash; thre choppers and rescue ships are currently operating searches: The airplane m... more
Science and technologyBaghdad Airport closed due to a lower security level
Baghdad, Iraq - Because of a decision by the British firm providing security services as it moans about delays in payment by Iraqi Government
Global Strategies Group, as the British company which provides security services at Baghdad International Airport, forced the air station to stay closed today due to the suspension of services and the... more
PeopleNATS: flights up, delays down in August
London, UK - It has handled 213,756 flights, with a rise of 6.8 per cent over last year
"National Air Traffic Services (NATS) handled 213,756 flights in August, a rise of 6.8 per cent over August 2004. Despite rising traffic levels, NATS continued to improve its service to customers with... more
Latest newsJSF: tests on the electrical and hydraulic plants have started
Fort Worth, USA - Full assembly of the first prototype to occur by early 2006 while the maiden flight is expected to happen next Summer
Electrical and hydraulic plants of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) multirole stealth light fighter was "brought to life" recently by the beginning of tests on all the aircraft’s electronical c... more
Civil aviationDemocratic Republic of Congo: 35 airlines have been suspended
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo - Transport Minister to have a strong hand following recent events
After the emergency landing performed by a Twin Otter plane, the second one in few days occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo following the Antonov AN-26’s accident happened last September 5, T... more
Civil aviationFAA AD on General Electric Company CF34-3A1 turbofan engines
Washington, Usa - To impose life limits on these HPT rotating components to prevent low cycle fatigue (LCF) cracking and failure of those components, which could result in uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information [Federal Register: September 8, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 173)] [Page 53295-53296] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal... more
IndustryRaytheon Systems Co. awarded of a over 31 USDm contract
Washington, Usa - For the Predator and MH-60
Raytheon Systems Co., McKinney, Texas, is being awarded a $31,402,406 firm-fixed-price task order under previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00164-00-G-0007) for Multi-Spectral Targeting System... more
PeopleEU Court of Justice: passengers must be compensated if the flight is delayed
Brussels, Belgium - This is what Court is going to be suggested by its General Lawyer, Leendert Adrie Geelhoed
European Parliament and EU Council of Ministers had adopted a Regulation in February 2004, scheduling compensations in favour of passengers in case of delay, lack of boarding and cancellation of the flight.... more
Science and technologySagat Handling awarded tender announced by British Airways
Turin, Italy - For supplying of handling services on the Caselle's Airport
"Sagat Handling, Sagat Group’s society, awarded the tender for the renewal of handling services announced by BA in all the European airports on which it flies. The agreement expected that all BA’s air... more
AccidentsATR-72 Tuninter accident: Tunisian authorities and airline asked ENAC for resuming activities
Rome, Italy - Full collaboration by Tunisian Embassy while the carrier stated that its flights are safe
Tunisian Embassy in Rome and Tuninter airline are trying to avoid medium-long term effects following the suspension of flights in Italy after the disaster occurred on last August 6. Tunisian Government... more
AirlinesMalev-Hainan Airlines signed a code-share agreement
Budapest, Hungary - Hungary PM Gyurcsany and China's PM Wen Jiabao signed the deal today
Hungarian Prime Minister Gyurcsany Ferenc met today in China his counterpart Wen Jiabao in order to reinforce bilateral relation between China and Hungary. Followed by a large delegation of Hungarian... more
Science and technologySafety controls over Chinese airports to start
Beijing, China - To conduct annual inspections whose result will be released
The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) has carried out the first air safety inspection in the country: controls have been conducted over two airports -Haikou’s International Airport a... more
DefenseIranian nuclear programme: Pakistan intends to mediate between Teheran and the West
Islamabad, Pakistan - In order to peacefully solve the dispute while it warned that it will not tolerate the resort to force against Iran
One of the few countries worldwide provided with nuclear deterrent (and belonging to Islamic environment) suggested itself to mediate for the delicate dispute which is splitting and opposing the West and... more
AirlinesGermanwings: new routes from Italy
Milan, Italy - New connections from Malpensa, Boulogne and Verona to Stuttgart
"Germanwings increases the number of destinations served by Stuttgart’ hub and chooses three new Italian cities. To 18 connections served by low-cost carrier from Stuttgart, will be added, in fact, Milan, B... more
AccidentsEmergency landing for a Twin Otter in Congo
Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo - Three people have been lightly wounded
An airplane of Congo’s Transport de Message du Kivu carrier carrying 18 passengers and 2 crew members bound for Beni, has been forced to an emergency landing at Murandi (Eastern Democratic Republic of C... more
CuriositiesKosovo: PM Kosumi confessed to have pocket a EUR 20,000 bribe
Pristina, Kosovo - He used money to pay a private flight
Premier Bajram Kosumi confessed that before journalists. He accepted the sum from a friend entrepreneur to pay the flight back from Turkey to Kosovo by a private jet. Kosovo’s law prohibits politicians t... more
Science and technologySagat handling Spa to support British Airways planes till January 31 2008 in all European airports
Turin, Italy - The great success of the Turin's firm
Sagat Handling Spa owned by Sagat Group awarded the tender to operate handling services for British Airways all over European airports where it flies. Agreement between the British carrier and Turin’s c... more
DefenseUSA: Minuteman III intercontinental missile has been successfully tested
Washington, USA – Another and final trial of the surface-to-surface system is expected to be performed next week
The United States do not limit themselves to test the anti-missile system effectiveness as, instead, they go on testing new ballistic guided rockets, also intercontinental types. It is the case of the... more
Civil aviationATR-42 Italy First performed a re-entry procedure towards Trapani Airport (2): a 737 Air One to temporarily serve the social routes
Trapani, Italy - Meanwhile, Bari and Palermo's attorneys prove satisfied about the first results of the investigation on the ATR-72 Tuninter accident thanks to coordination
Social routes linking Trapani Airport to Pantelleria and Lampedusa will be temporarily served by an Air One’s Boeing 737 as this carrier traditionally resorts to Italy First’s ATR-42s which are currently gro... more
Science and technologySri Lanka: Colombo Airport's talks to discuss on truce with rebels have been cancelled
Colombo, Sri Lanka - A new stop for peace process after rebel's refusal
The Government of Sri Lanka had accepted to meet with the rebels of the "Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam" (LTTE) at the international airport of Colombo which has an extraterritoriality form; the appointment... more
Science and technologyOperational unity: the future of Ancona and Pescara airports consists of a single catchment
Ancona, Italy - A proposal suggested by the Marche's air station and welcomed by the Abruzzo's structure avoiding competition, equally sharing routes and aiming to reinforcement
Avoiding competition between the two air stations by positively exploiting passenger traffic (despite some difficulties from a touristic point of view along the Adriatic coast this Summer) by creating... more
CuriositiesLatvia: the erotic advertising posters away at the Riga's Airport
Riga, Latvia - The Transport minister, Ainars Slesers, decided it
Two large posters representing wonderful women in an almost "Adamitical" version publicizing a local strip-tease club are there to "welcome" the passengers landing at Riga’s Airport, in Latvia, from o... more
AerospaceAlso India joined the Galileo satellite programme
Brussels, Belgium - A new partner for EU after Israel, Ukraine and China
After Israeli, Ukrainian and Chinese joining to the European Galileo satellite programme, also India has officialized its participation for the project of the new global positioning system as an alternative... more
AirlinesLOT (3): B-787 equipped with Rolls Royce Trent 1000 engines
Warsaw, Poland - Trent 1000 to power all B-787 planes too
After ordering 7 Boeing B-787 (see for details AVIONEWS), also Rolls Royce will take part to LOT’s special order: the British firm will provide in fact engines for Boeing 787s acquired yesterday by Poland’s air... more
AirlinesBritish Airways to increase fuel surcharge by 25%
London, UK - Long-haul routes to be more expensive
British Airways long-haul routes will suffer from a 25% increase over surcharge to compensate rising black gold’s prices which has overreached the record of USD 70 a barrel, while short-haul connections w... more
AirlinesAir Koryo, included on French black list, used by EU to fly a Parliament committee to Korea
Brussels, Belgium - There was also the Italian Jas Gawronski among MEPs
The fact has been unveiled after French MEP Gerard Onesta wrote European Parliament President to tell what happened last July when a MEP’s deputation flew to North Korea. The Member of European Parliament s... more