AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,672 news found

PeopleAirbus A-380's assembly has started
Paris, France - Airframe's components to be carried on the ground by enormous articulated vehicles
Assembly of the new Airbus A-380 large long range airliner has started at Toulouse facility. Its central section left from Bordeaux aboard of an enormous articulated vehicle adopted right for the transport... more

CuriositiesGulf Air sponsors Barhain Gran Prix
Sakhir, Barhain - A sudden low altitude overflight by an A-340 scares attendance
On the occasion of the first historical F1 Gran Prix in Barhain, official sponsor of such event has been Gulf Air carrier. Most of public attendance appeared to be quite worried due to the flight show... more

IndustryBoeing makes rare double delivery of 747 jetliners to Air France
Seattle, Usa - On the same day, last March 31, 2004
A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet and a Boeing 747-400ER (extended range) cargo airplane stand nose to nose on the flight line at the Boeing plant in Everett, Wash., north of Seattle. Boeing delivered the... more

PeopleWarning light does not go off: passengers wait for hours at the Bologna airport
Bologna, Italy - Also on Friday a Meridiana flight had landed in delay due to a light gone on
A long wait at the Bologna airport for the 140 passengers due to leave yesterday at 7.55 pm to Palermo onboard a Meridiana flight. After boarding the aircraft, they were informed that a warning light had... more

Civil aviationAn open forum on civil defence on April 6
Rome, Italy - In order to encourage the coordination between defence and civil defence against the terroristic threat
An open forum on international terrorism with reference to a threat for Italy and to a necessary activities' coordination between defence and civil defence is going to occur on April Tuesday 6. Representatives... more

Civil aviationItalian Minister Pisanu reassures about anti-terrorism measures for airports and the national air space
Rome, Italy - An increase of controls but no real danger for Easter period
Minister of the Interior, Giuseppe Pisanu, commented yesterday problems concerning the fighting against terrorism and prevention of attempts in Italy, especially during this week before Easter event. Minister... more

AirlinesContinental Airlines inaugurated new service to Monclova, in Mexico
Houston, Usa - From yesterday, Sunday April 4
Continental Airlines began daily nonstop service from George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston to Monclova, Mexico, effective from yesterday, Sunday, April 4. With the addition of Monclova, a business... more

AirportsLost baggage must be compensated for according to convention even though the contents are expensive
Milan, Italy - This was the decision of Milan's Civil Court
According to a decision pronounced by Milan's Civil Court, in case of lost air baggage, passengers will be compensated according to the limits established by the Warsaw convention even if the items it... more

AirlinesAir France launches takeover bid on Klm today
Paris, France - The carrier expects to finalize it on 3 May
Air France, after having announced the launch of its takeover bid on the Dutch carrier Klm for the beginning of April (see AVIONEWS), has announced last Firday that the operation will start today and it... more

AirlinesAlitalia: negotiations on productivity to begin on Tuesday
Rome, Italy - A table will be constituted for each workers category
During an Alitalia-unions meeting held last Friday, the schedule for the talks about work productivity was planned. Starting Tuesday three tables will be constituted, one for each workers category: one... more

AccidentsAn Air National Guard's T-6 Texan fell headlong in the United States
Washington, Usa - It crashed immediately after its taking off
A T-6A Texan II type basic training aircraft of the US Air National Guard (ANG) fell headlong immediately after taking off from Savannah Hilton Head International Airport (Georgia) on last April Saturday... more

AccidentsAirliner resorts to emergency landing in Russia
Moscow, Russia - Due to the stop of one of its engines immediately after the take off
A Domodedovskiye Airlines Russian carrier's airliner resorted to emergency landing at Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport, Sakhalin island, on Sunday 4. This airplane, an IL-96, was en route towards Moscow after... more

Science and technologyUsa: boarding passes with chips to track passengers
Washington, Usa - Proposed by TSA; privacy advocates don't like it
TSA (Transportation Security Administration) has produced the proposal to provide boarding passes with Rfid (Radio Frequency ID) chips to allow security personnel at American airports to track passengers,... more

Science and technologyLanding for baggage alert: Enac suspends Pisa airport employee
Pisa, Italy - Unions: "He must not be the only one to take consequences"
The investigation started by Enac (Italian authority for civil aviation) on the case of an Air France airplane flying from Pisa to Paris on 26 March, forced to land in Milan-Malpensa because a piece of... more

Weather forecastsAir shows and exhibitions in April 2004
Rome, Italy -
PROP SEMINAR SERIES…April 16-17, Crowne Plaza Richmond, Richmond, Va.; April 30-May 1, Renaissance Orlando Resort at Sea World, Orlando, Fla.; May 14-15, Scottsdale Plaza Resort, Scottsdale, Ariz. Info: (... more

Latest newsBelgian F-16s deployed in Lithuania do not celebrate its joining Nato
Brussels, Belgium - A step from Brussels in order to ease Russia
After several protests by Moscow about recent events related to the extension of Nato and to flight activities by its fighters over Baltic Republics territories, it seems some steps back by Bruxelles Headquarter... more

AirlinesFirst Choice Airways as the first European carrier with the new 767-300 Enhanced Interior
Manchester, UK - A confort standard comparable to the one of the 777
First Choice Airways is going to be the first European carrier to take delivery of the new Boeing 767-300 called Enhanced Interior, endowed of a new cabin developed up to the 777's standard. Such changes... more

AirlinesNew Alitalia flights from Rome to Copenhagen and Stockholm
Roma, Italy - Also connections to Zurich, Malaga, Toronto and Boston
After five years, Alitalia resumes its connections between Rome-Fiumicino and Copenhagen and inaugurates its new flight to Stockholm, both introduced with the summer schedule. Moreover, new Alitalia flights... more

Latest newsNew tests for the E-10 of the US Air Force
Melbourne, USA - Management of missile threat and UAV network have been verified
Operative functionality tests of the new US Air Force E-10 surveillance, command and control aircraft have reached to verify the management of threats such as those concerning missiles, but also to try... more

Latest newsThe success of Vision Systems International's helmet mounted displays
San Jose, USA - They are going to be provided for US made airplanes in several air forces
After signing the foundation of an alliance with Israeli Elbit and US Rockwell Collins, Vision Systems International (VIS) is carrying on delivering helmet mounted displays devoted to an integration with... more

AirlinesFirst Embraer 170 for Alitalia Express
Rome, Italy - By the summer, six more will be added to the fleet
The Embraer 170, an aircraft with 72 seats that can reach 540 mph (870 km/h), joins the Alitalia Express fleet, which will use it on its domestic and European routes. The inauguration ceremony for the... more

DefenseUS Air Force' exercise against network attacks
Washington, USA - Hundreds people managing to face "networkcentric" operative environment threats
Exercises of US Air Force units have been concluded at the end of last month in an attempt to verify how to adequately face threats stemming from electronic attacks in a Network Enabled environment. Hundreds... more

AerospaceAlenia workers protest in Turin
Turin, Italy - Unions met Government representatives
Alenia's workers in Turin protested this morning for four hours and demonstrated in front of the city's prefectural offices. A union delegation met Vice Mayor, Marco Calgaro and representatives of the... more

Latest newsJoint exercise for CIS's air forces
Minsk, Belarus - It is scheduled in Belarus on April 7 by involving more than 70 airplanes
Joint air forces exercises by some nine countries belonging to the Commonwealth of Indipendent States (CIS) are scheduled for occurring in Belarus on April 7. Such news has been delivered by local television... more

Science and technologyArab carriers award Adr Handling for service quality
Rome, Italy - A plaque was presented to President Federico Nuccio
The 11 airlines belonging to the Aaco (Arab Air Carriers Organization) have presented Adr Handling with a prize for the quality handling service provided at the Rome-Fiumicino intercontinental hub. Adr... more

AccidentsMan who received heart damaged in plane crash is dead
Cagliari, Italy - The probable reason, a late rejection
Is dead the 52-year-old man who had to receive the heart transported onboard a Cessna by the members of a transplant unit and three pilots, killed by the plane crash occurred last 24 February in the mountains... more

HelicoptersUK's Apaches have completed shipped procedure tests
London, UK - It will be able to operate from aircarrier ships by the next year
Great Britain is carrying on testing activities for its own AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, in order to verify their capabilities in particular flight conditions and for various kinds of mission. Recently,... more

IndustryFinmeccanica's workers strike in Genoa (2): unions meet prefect Romano
Genoa, Italy - The Government representative has promised a meeting at Palazzo Chigi in April
After having gathered in front of Genoa's prefectural offices, a delegation of unions representing Finmeccanica's workers met prefect Giuseppe Romano, who promised a meeting at palazzo Chigi in April to... more

AccidentsA Royal Navy EH-101 Merlin fell headlong (2): Canada's reaction
Winnipeg, Canada - Canadian Cormorants left on the ground once again in order to get technical investigation started
After the accident which has involved a British EH-101 Merlin, Canadian military authorities have decided to keep on the ground their own CH-149 Cormorant fleet (as the Canadian version of the EH-101),... more

Science and technologyVenice: financial police arrests priest carrying 6.6 pounds of drug
Venice, Italy - He thought he would go unnoticed, but was searched
Don Ernesto, a priest from Venezuela, was arriving at the Venice airport from South America when the Italian financial police arrested him. He thought he would probably go unnoticed by wearing the clerical... more

AerospaceFrattini pleased with appointment of Viriglio at Esa
Rome, Italy - He is in charge for the direction of European and industrial programmes
Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Franco Frattini, was pleased with the appointment, by the European Space Agency (Esa) Commission, of an Italian as person in charge for the direction of European and... more

Airports9/11: the Al Qaeda plans were known before attacks
Washington, USA - An Fbi former translator revealed it
The US government knew about Al Qaeda's plans before 11 September. Former Fbi translator, Sibel Edmonds, revealed it in an interview with British newspaper "The Indipendent". According to the ex-translator,... more

DefenseRussia asks for meeting Nato about patrolling activity over Baltic skies
Moscow, Russia - According to Moscow, Nato cannot go on considering Russia a danger
Russian Government wants to meet as soon as possible Nato chief staff when considering Atlantic Alliance-Russia cooperation agreement, in order to make clear situation concerning the joining of the three... more

Civil aviationFAA AD on General Electric Company CF6-80C2 series turbofan engines
Washington, Usa - To prevent LCF cracking and failure of the HPT stage 1 disk due to exceeding the life limit, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. 2003-NE-46-AD; Amendment... more

AccidentsA Royal Navy EH-101 Merlin fell headlong
London, UK - It had started its normal trainig procedure
A Royal Navy's EH-101 Merlin helicopter fell headlong immediately after starting its training stage on March 30. This chopper was simply in hovering over its ground base, when it did not take a lot to... more

DefenseBoeing cooperates to produce the IAI Arrow II missile
Tel Aviv, Israel - The new Israeli counter-missile system will be ready by 2006
Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) has selected Boeing to jointly produce the Israeli Arrow II counter-missile missile. The first parcel of guided rockets should be delivered in 2006, after concluding its... more

IndustryFinmeccanica's workers strike in Genoa
Genoa, Italy - They have gathered in front of the prefectural offices
The workers of Finmeccanica - one of Italy's largest industrial group - have been demonstrating since 9.30 this morning in the streets of Genoa. Following the parade, demonstrators have gathered in front... more

Fair and showsContinental Airlines elects Oscar Munoz to its Board of Directors
Houston, Usa - He is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CSX Corporation
Continental Airlines yesterday announced the election of Oscar Munoz, executive vice president and chief financial officer of CSX Corporation, to its board of directors. In addition, Munoz will serve on... more

DefenseSingapore to train its own personnel in the Indian territory
Singapore - Five fighters to train constantly each time by October
Singapore's armed forces will be able to start training in the Indian territory by October. It is what stems from last diplomatic meetings between these two countries during last week, being clearly they... more

Science and technologyNew aviation engines to be powered by coal
Washington, USA - Pennsylvania Energy Institute's researchers are sure of it
After the proposal suggested by some US researchers for resorting to soya oil in order to produce a new kind of aviation fuel (see for details AVIONEWS), a study carried out at Pennsylvania Energy Institute... more

AirlinesAlitalia: more punctuality for long-range flights, worse for domestic and mid-range flights
Rome, Italy - Decrease in the amount of baggage lost
Aea (Association of European Airlines) has published the data concerning with the punctuality of European airlines in January-February 2004. It has emerged an improvement in Alitalia's performance as for... more

Science and technologyFog at Rome-Fiumicino with 30/40-minutes delays
Rome, Italy - No disruption at Rome-Ciampino
Fog banks caused disruption this morning at the Rome-Fiumicino airport. Due to poor visibility, flight operations were carried out in category two, meaning only one out of three runways were used. Delays... more

IndustryBoeing's deliveries during the first quarter in 2004
Chicago, USA - A success for the 737 and the F/A-18
Boeing has unveiled data regarding its deliveries which have been made during the first quarter in 2004. As far as it is concerned with commercial sector, the entire number of airplanes supplied to customers... more

Civil aviationUSAF F-15s escort a British Airways 747
Atlanta, USA - A woman with needle work would have irritate personnel onboard as she did not cooperate to warrant flight safety
During April 1st night, a 747 of British Airways en route from London to Atlanta has been drawn up by a couple of US Air Force F-15 Eagles at some 250 miles from US eastern coast. This airplane has been... more

Press releaseQatar Airways in code-sharing with Lufthansa for Germany and Switzerland
Rome, Italy - A new agreement also with Mea has been drawn up
"Qatar Airways and Lufthansa have announced a code-sharing agreement in order to widen the range of the respective routes and in order to facilitate the air traffic in constant increasing in the country... more

Latest newsCL-415 MP SAR for Hellenic Air Force
Athens, Greece - A Search and Rescue dedicated version of the well known "firefighter"
Hellenic Air Force will take delivery of a special version of the Bombardier CL-415 devoted to SAR (Search and Rescue) missions, maritime patrolling, law enforcement and obviously also performing its first... more

AccidentsMilan-Linate disaster: seven defendants entitled to summary proceedings
Rome, Italy - The judge had refused to recognize it during preliminary hearing
Seven out of 11 defendants in the trial for the air disaster occurred in Milan-Linate on 8 October 2001 have been entitled to summary proceedings. It has been decided by the Court of Cassation, which upheld... more

IndustrySikorsky Aircraft Corp. awarded of a over 9 USDm contract
Washington, Usa - For the MH-60R helicopter
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., is being awarded a $9,216,744 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-priced contract (N00019-03-C-0011) for production design initiatives in support... more

Weather forecastsThe CR-42 fighter plane to be exposed at the Museo Storico dell'Aeronautica
Rome, Italy - The restoration of the fighter biplane should be finished by the end of this year
After the race seaplane Macchi M-67, just restored and exposed at the Museo Storico dell’Aeronautica (Italian air force historical museum) in Vigna di Valle, near Rome (see AVIONEWS), it is the turn o... more

DefenseRaytheon to develop the Standard SM-3 missiles for the Aegis radar system
Washington, USA - First delivery to occur in November 2005
Raytheon has gained orders to produce and test the last version of the Standard surface-to-air missile, the SM-3. Such weapon system, as developed in collaboration with US Navy, appears extremely important... more