AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,408 news found

AirlinesKLM to raise cargo rates by 5-10%
Amsterdam, Netherlands - Starting from November 1
KLM said it will raise its air freight rates by 5-10% from Nov 1 due to the current adjustment of air cargo capacity. In response to the consistently high market demand and load factors of flights from... more

HelicoptersRussia upgrades Mi-8 MTKO Hip helicopters
Ekaterinburg, Russia - They were fitted out with advanced optical system
Some 20 Mi-8 MTKO Hip helicopters fitted with optical systems made by the Ural optical-mechanical plant are now in use by army aviation units. "The tests of the upgraded helicopters proved advanced specifications... more

HelicoptersFinmeccanica seeks market leadership in helicopters
Milan, Italy - The plan of CEO Guarguaglini
Finmeccanica chairman Pier Francesco Guarguaglini said he is seeking leadership in sectors of the defence market, including in helicopters. "We are working on a strategic plan with the aim of strengthening... more

Fair and showsNew Security manager for Thales group
Paris, France - Pierre Pasinetti take over from Pierre Martinez
Pierre Pasinetti has been appointed Security manager for the Thales group as of 1st August 2002. He will take over from Pierre Martinez, 60, who has decided to continue his career outside of the Group.... more

Civil aviationFAA AD on MD Helicopters model MD900 helicopters (2002-15-07)
Washington, Usa - To prevent fatigue failure of the bellcrank
Airworthiness Directives Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. 2001-SW-25-AD; Amendment 39-12837; AD 2002-15-07] RIN... more

Civil aviationFAA AD on Bell Helicopter Textron Canada model 222, 222B, 222U, and 230 helicopters (2002-08-54)
Washington, Usa - To prevent failure of the grip or pitch horn
Airworthiness Directives Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. 2002-SW-22-AD; Amendment 39-12835; AD 2002-08-54] RIN... more

Civil aviationFAA AD on Honeywell International T5313B, T5317 series, and T53 series turboshaft engines (2002-15-04)
Washington, Usa - To prevent premature failure of the impellers from being operated beyond their design service life
Airworthiness Directives Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. 2000-NE-32-AD; Amendment 39-12832; AD 2002-15-04] RIN... more

Civil aviationFAA AD on McDonnell Douglas model DC-8-21, -31, - 32, -33, -41, -42, and -43 airplanes; and model DC-8-50, -60, and -70 series airplanes (2002-16-01)
Washington, Usa - To prevent failure of the floor beam attachments to the lower door jamb of the main cargo door due to cracking or damage during ground or flight operations
Airworthiness Directives Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. 2002-NM-130-AD; Amendment 39-12840; AD 2002-16-01] RIN... more

Civil aviationFAA AD on Bell Helicopter Textron model 204B, 205A, A-1, and B helicopters (2002-09-51)
Washington, Usa - To prevent failure of the T/R grip
Airworthiness Directives Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. 2002-SW-24-AD; Amendment 39-12839; AD 2002-09-51] RIN... more

Latest newsTurkish soldiers take control of Iraqi airport
Ankara, Turkey - To insure themselves in case of US attack against Saddam
Turkish soldiers took control of Bamerna airport in northern Irak to insure themselves in case of US attack against Saddam. Turkey fears the area to fall under control of Kurdish rebels. For this reason... more

AccidentsC130 crashes in Puerto Rico
Washington, Usa - The ten people aboard died
A C130 military aircraft of the US Army Special Forces Command crashed in Puerto Rico. The ten people aboard died. The military plane crashed into a mountain top, approximately 10 miles south of the capital... more

HelicoptersHelicopters to cut rail vandalism in UK
London, UK - A GBP 250,000 worth plan launched by Railtrack
Railtrack is taking its GBP 250,000 (about EUR 400,000) battle to beat vandalism and deaths on the railway lines to the skies. The British rail operator launched helicopter patrols across the west region... more

HelicoptersThree new Russian helicopters delivered to Nigeria
Moscow, Russia - Second delivery of this year
Russia has delivered three more Mi-34C light helicopters to Nigeria. It was the second delivery of Russian helicopters to the West African nation this year. In January, the Nigerian Air Force received... more

Press releaseBoeing, DARPA Extend Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Contract
Chicago, Usa - A USD 460m worth contract
"Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, have agreed to terms of a contract extension for the Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle, or UCAV, initiating work on advanced versions... more

AirlinesDelta in talks with Continental and Northwest on a code-share agreement
Washington, Usa - According to the Wall Street Journal
America's third largest air carrier, Delta Air Lines, according to a "Wall Street Journal" report, could be in talks with two of its compatriot carriers, Northwest and Continental, over the possibility... more

DefenseLaptops vanish from Us Air Force base
Tampa, Usa - An attack against Saddam would be coordinated from this base
Two laptops vanished from McDill Us Air force base, near Tampa, Florida. Pentagon has not disclosed if reserved information had been stored in the stolen computers. A possible attack to Iraq will be... more

DefenseUs technicians revamped an airport in northern Iraq
Washington, Usa - With modern and sophisticated facilities
According to the Arab daily newspaper "Al-Hayat", a team of Us technicians have just completed maintenance and improvement works at an airport located in northern Iraq, in the Kurdish region. The airfield... more

Latest newsAustria: USD 1,8bn contract for the acquisition of Eurofighters at risk
Vienna, Austria - Green party accumulated more than 625.000 signatures of protest
The USD 1,8bn worth contract for the acquisition of 24 Eurofighter combat aircraft by the Austrian government could face a sudden stop as in fact the Green Party was able to accumulate over 625.000 signatures... more

AirlinesUS Airways sued by Ameriquest Holdings LLC
Washington, Usa - The firm from which the carrier leased a B737
One of American major airlines, US Airways, has to face a legal action because of an alleged breach of contract brought by Ameriquest Holdings LLC, a company from which it leased a B737. According to... more

AccidentsLockerbie tragedy: Lybia ready to indemnify 270 victims'relatives
Washington, Usa - As stated by the ministry for International Affairs
After 14 years this time seems the right one for the government of Lybia to eventually assume its responsibilities and indemnify the relatives of the 270 victims of the air tragedy occurred in 1988 in... more

PeopleHow much would you pay to save time on flight?
Washington, Usa - According to some studies USD 25 per hour
While Boeing is still struggling whether to go on or not with its "Sonic Cruiser", the new aircraft able to fly 20% faster than standard civil aircraft, some studies revealed what is the price a person... more

IndustryAirbus said no to Antonov
Tolouse, France - Russians offered to transport sections of its future A380
Airbus, the European civil aircraft maker based in Toulouse, rejected the offer coming from the Russian Antonov which proposed itself to transport sections of its future A380 across France. A part from... more

AirlinesNouvelles Frontieres to cut workforce by 320
Paris, France - Corsair to stop flights until tonight
After German tour operator TUI purchased Nouvelles Frontieres, the new owner announced cut in workforce by 320. Subsidiary charter air carrier, Corsair, will loose 150 employees. Unions decided to stop... more

Civil aviationRussian aviation to hold air incidents record
Moscow, Russia - 137 dead and 67 injured in the first six months of 2002
For the first half of 2002, the "oscar" for air incidents goes to Russian aviation. In the first six months of this year in fact the bullettin of air tragedies involving Russian aircraft counts 137 dead... more

AirlinesAir France revenue falls
Paris, France - Passenger traffic declines by 2,8% in July
Air France reported a 1.7% drop in first-quarter sales but forecast a narrower-than-expected decline in profit in the period as the carrier moves to reduce operating costs. Turnover in the three months... more

Science and technologyBrussels airport: number of passengers fell in July 2002
Brussels, Belgium - 30% fewer than in July 2001
Gloomy news for the Brussels international airport of Zaventem, as in fact, in July 2002, it registered a heavy fall in the number of passengers. According to BIAC, handling agent at Zaventem, just 1,5... more

AirlinesPakistan International Airlines announced its USD 2bn worth fleet renewal plan
Islamabad, Pakistan - 11 aircraft from 2002 to 2011
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) finally announced what is going to be its strategy aiming to renew the carrier's fleet in the incoming years up to 2011. In a meeting held last Monday, PIA's board... more

AirlinesSeptember 11: free flights on Spirit Airlines
Washington, Usa - "To say thank you"
Despite most major Us and non-Us airlines (Delta Air Lines, Continental Airlines, American Airlines and British Airways), have announced in the last days to be ready to cut some of their scheduled flight... more

Press releaseHelidays record breaker
Weston-Super-Mare, Uk - More than 24.000 visitors attended the arena area
"The 12th Weston Super HeliDays, held at Weston-Super-Mare in Somerset at the end of July, broke new records in attendance. More than 75 helicopters flew in for the three day show on the Weston Beach lawns,... more

Science and technologyMiddle East: over USD 5bn ready for airports renewal
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - According to the "Dubai Gulf News"
It's change time for airports all over Middle East, as in fact over USD 5bn are going to be invested in renewal operations. According to the local newspaper "Dubai Gulf News", USD 3,24bn will be employed... more

PeopleThousands of tourists grounded by the bad weather conditions in South Korea
Seoul, South Korea - About twenty flights canceled
Because of the bad weather conditions that since few days South Korea is facing, thousands of tourists could not take off for their holidays. Airports have been closed and at least twenty flights have... more

AccidentsBomb alert on board a Zurich-Tel Aviv flight
Geneva, Switzerland - Police set up an inquiry
Yesterday a telephone call alerted a Zurich-Tel Aviv flight operated by the Helvetic airline "Swiss" thus preventing the aircraft to take off. After 253 people on board have been evacuated, the aircraft... more

AirlinesMy Travel launches today its new budget airline
Birmingham, Uk - To challenge EasyJet and Ryanair
Tour operator My Travel is going to christen today its new budget air carrier. The new airline, based in Birmingham, at the beginning will operate leisure destinations such as Malaga, Alicante and Majorca... more

AerospaceA Russian Soyuz to take an ESA's probe to Mars
Moscow, Russia - At the end of next year
A Soyuz, the Russian made rocket, is going to escort an European Space Agency's probe in its mission towards Mars. The 1,5-ton probe's mission, scheduled for the end of 2003, aims to study both the soil... more

AirlinesNew 747-400F for Eva Air
Taipei, Taiwan - To be employed on the Taiwan-Hong Kong route
The Taiwan-based airline Eva Air purchased a new 747-400F, the freighter version of the famous "jumbo" manufactured by the world's largest civil planes maker. The new aircraft, which is going to be operating... more

IndustryBoeing awarded of a near 15 USDm contract
USA
The Boeing Co., St. Louis, is being awarded a $14,828,925 firm-fixed-fee contract modification as a partial incremental change order to a letter contract for Low Rate Initial Production three of the joint... more

Civil aviationFAA okays bullet-proof doors for cockpits
Washington, Usa - Compulsory as of April 2003
The Us Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), approved a type of bullet-proof door which, by law as of next April 2003, American air carriers will have compulsory to mount on board their aircraft to secure... more

IndustryUnited Technologies Corp. awarded of a over 18 USDm contract
USA
United Technologies Corp., Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Group, East Hartford, Conn., is being awarded an $18,523,657 firm-fixed price contract modification to provide for chemical mill combustion duct, 345... more

AirlinesCorsair ready to re-structure
Paris, France - Up to 200 jobs at risk
According to unions officials, the French air carrier Corsair is likely to introduce a re-structuring plan which would involve the cut of 160-200 jobs. Even though Corsair management has not commented... more

AirlinesAmerican and Northwest cut their business fares up to 20%
Washington, Usa - On the domestic routes where they compete
Two of the major Us air carriers, American Airlines and Northwest Airlines, announced yesterday they both will cut their business fares up to 20%. The move will involves the domestic routes where the two... more

AirlinesDOT okayed the strenghtening of American-Finnair co-operation
Helsinki, Finland - A measure to better connections between Finland and the US via New York and Europe
The American Department of Transportation okayed today the strenghtening of the already existing co-operation between American Airlines and Finnair, the airlines both members of "oneworld alliance". Thanks... more

AirlinesShake up at American Trans Air
Washington, Usa - A part from Tague's departure the airline launched ATA Charter
Deep changes are affecting the Us airline American Trans Air, as in fact a part from Monday's departure of John tague, CEO and president at discount carrier's parent company, ATA Holdings, the airline... more

AirlinesNorthwest Airlines: system-wide load factor raised in July 2002
Minneapolis, Usa - 0,4% above July 2001
Northwest Airlines, the Minneapolis-based air carrier, in July 2002 registered a 80,5% system-wide load factor, up of a 0,4% if compared with the same month of last year. Despite this positive result,... more

Science and technologyAuckland Airport could face pricing controls
Auckland, New Zealand - Because of its over-charging for services
Shortly the largest airport in New Zealand, could face pricing controls. In fact, according to a recently published report by the country's Commerce Commission, the handling agent of the Auckland airport... more

HelicoptersRound-the-world trip in helicopter to raise funds
Rome, Italy - On the initiative of a German dentist
The Founding President of the Kinderbaum Foundation, the Roman resident and German dentist Michael Schmitz, started his helicopter expedition with a Robinson R44 around the world, the "Global-Heli-Art-Tour",... more

CuriositiesTwo British youngster take off to Sydney in Australia and land at Sydney in Canada
Montreal, Canada - At first they thought the plane has been diverted
Because of a big mistake made while booking on the Internet, two 19-year old British youngsters who thought to take off to Sydney in Australia landed instead at Sydney in Canada. Once they discovered the... more

HelicoptersIsraeli helicopters bombed Gaza
Jerusalem, Israel - Targeted a suspected weapons factory
Israeli helicopters struck a suspected weapons factory in Gaza City yesterday night following a weekend of terror attacks that killed 13 Israelis. The Israel Defense Forces said its forces attacked a... more

Science and technologyDublin airport: 71 year-old drugs dealer arrested with 30 kg of cannabis
Dublin, Ireland - For a street value of GBP 48.000
An old man of 71 has been arrested at Dublin International Airport as 30 kg of cannabis has been discovered in his luggage. According to customs officers, the pensioner arrived in Dublin via Paris from... more

HelicoptersEstonian Air force receives 4 helicopters Robinson R44 from USA
Tallinn, Estonia - A EUR 1.9m worth donation
The Estonian air force received four Robinson R44 helicopters from US, a EUR 1.9m worth donation. The air force will use the helicopters for regular patrol and observation flights, but photo, video and... more

HelicoptersBell registers patent for support assembly for a rotating shaft
Washington, Usa - Patent Number 6425568
Abstract: A support assembly for supporting a rotating shaft relative to a structure in which a first magnetized member is attached to the shaft for rotation therewith, a support member is connected to... more