AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,724 news found

Fair and showsToday is the 34th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin death
Rome, Italy - The first man in the space
Yuri Gagarin, the Russian astronaut who, in April 1961, was the first human being to fly in the space, died exactly 34 years ago during a test flight with colonel Vladimir Seregin. Every year, Moscow... more

IndustryTitan Systems awarded a over 40 USDm contract
USA
Titan Systems Corp., Mount Laurel, N.J., is being awarded a maximum total $40,294,868 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery and indefinite-quantity contract for technical engineering support services... more

IndustryCanadian Spar signs contract for Greek C-130 refurbishing
Montreal, Canada - Contract worth 90 USDm
Canadian aeronautical industry Spar has signed a contract with the Greek government for the refurbishing of 15 C-130 military transport aircraft, two of which will be worked in Edmonton, Canada, and other... more

AirlinesAmerica West "to conquer" businessmen
New York, Usa - With a low-price fares strategy
Us air carrier America West will lower its business class fares on in-week flights to increase its passengers number. According to Credit Swiss First Boston, "it's hard to think America West could be... more

IndustryBombardier positive forecasts
Paris, France - Canadian constructor to deliver 378 aircraft in 2002-03
Canadian aeronautical constructor Bombardier, leader in regional and business jets, thanks to European business jet market recovery, foresees to increase its aircraft deliveries within the year. In 2002-2003... more

AirlinesTexas Pacific Group buys Gate Gourmet
Zurich, Switzerland - The Swissair catering and food division
Gate Gourmet, a division of Swissair Group, has been sold to the Us Texas Pacific Group. So far no information about the value of the operation has been revealed. Gate Gourmet employs 26.000 people and... more

AirlinesVolare Group-Swissair final divorce
Rome, Italy - Swiss judge decided it so
The Swiss judge in charge for the Swissair bankruptcy case approved the agreement through which Volare Group bought back 49,8% of its own capital share previously owned by Swissair. "It has been an important... more

PeopleEu gives its ok to post-pone its support to airlines
Brussels, Belgium - Decision comes straigth from Eu 15 Transports ministers
Today, as foreseen, Eu gives its definitive ok to extend its support as grantor to European airlines assurance premiums against terrorism and war risks. The two months extension (starting from March 31th)... more

DefenseSouth Korea ready to choose its new combat aircraft
Seoul, South Korea
After that a South Korea Air Force official has been arrested, charged to have passed classified information to Dassault officials, Korea' government said it is ready to choose among Rafale (Dassault),... more

Civil aviationBoeing Interactive Systems together against terror
Seattle, Usa - They will train airlines crew members
Boeing Co. and Advanced Interactive Systems Inc. (Ais) will work shoulder to shoulder to train cabin and flight crews to fight against terror. Ais, a Seattle-based company specialized in training interactive... more

IndustryLockheed Martin awarded a 375 USDm contract
USA
Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control - Dallas, was awarded a $326,581,734 fixed-price-incentive-fee (FPI) with successive targets contract with a ceiling price of $375,000,000 on March 20, 2002 for... more

DefenseMacedonian Air Force on strike
Skòpje, Macedonia - Protest will go on for three days
Macedonian Air Force personnel is on a three days strike to protest against Defence ministry asking for a wage equivalence with other army special corps. "After last year war linked-to huge expenditures,... more

Latest newsU.S. Warthogs fight terrorism at Bagram
Bagram, Afghanistan - A-10 aircraft are ideal for this kind of operation
At least four of A-10 Thunderbolt II jets could be seen at Bagram air base, in Afghanistan. This plane is specially designed to provide air support of ground forces. it can survive direct hits from armor-piercing... more

PeopleHarsh situation for European airports
Paris, France - Standard and Poor's warns
According to a Standard and Poor's survey, European airports will keep on facing difficulties in the medium-term. "Most European airports withstood post September 11th negative effects, keeping a good... more

Civil aviationFAA issues new guidelines for Airbus A300 and A310 checks
USA - It was an A300-660 the aircraft crashed on New York last November
FAA issued immediate adopting directive ordering special inspections of Airbus A300-600/A310s subjected to "extreme lateral loading" in flight, which the agency defined as exceeding 0.3g.... more

Latest newsThe Wessex helicopter ends duty in North Ireland
London, Great Britain - The Wessex was in service since 30 years
10 Royal Air Force Wessex helicopters flew out of their base at Aldergrove airport for the last time yesterday after three decades of service in Northern Ireland.The Wessex, the workhorse of the RAF, is... more

AerospaceDe Palacio: the private will enter in Galileo after competitions made
Brussels, Belgium - The clause willed by Britons
"We have to avoid interests conflicts": this is the declaration of LOyola De Palacio, the European Transport Commissioner, about the clause, strongly willed by Britons, according which the private industries... more

AirlinesNew Summer timetable for British Airways
London, Uk - More flights starting from March 31st
British Airways announced today its decision to increase its daily flights from London to main European cities starting from the end of March. Heathrow-Frankfurt links will rise from seven to ten while... more

Civil aviationWorries about security in Us airports
Washington, Usa - A secret survey alerts
According to an official document published by Usa Today, federal secret tests showed an alarming situation in Us airports security measures. Tests have been carried out in 32 American airports (from... more

Science and technologyLufthansa unveils its satellite navigation for Boeing 737
Frankfurt, Germany - Certification flights planned in Münster and near Baunatal at Easter
Lufthansa has devised a cost-effective and efficient technology for retro-fitting traditionally designed aircraft like the Boeing 737 with modern satellite navigation. The technology simultaneously expands... more

HelicoptersUK Apaches experienced troubles with their Hellfires missiles
London, Great Britain - The helicopters and the missiles are U.S. made
Nine AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, in service in the UK Army, are not useable as the Hellfire missile, the main offensive weapon used by them, could provoke damage to the tail rotor with its ejection... more

AirlinesCompass to buy Swissair catering division
London, Uk - Antitrust authority to investigate on the matter
British government asked today the anti-trust authority to examine the potential Compass acquisition of Swissair (the helvetic bankrupted airline) catering division. According to London in fact, the operation... more

DefenseUs pilot reported missing in Iraq since 1991
Rome, Italy - Two Us senators intervene in the quarrel
As far as the Michael Speichner, the Us pilot a board of the F-18 fighter shot down last January 17th 1991 in Iraq, events area concerned, Richard J. Durbin, Illinois democratic senator stated : "I really... more

AirlinesSwiss and American Airlines will go in alliance
Zurich, Switzerland - The announcement comes from airline president
According to declarations of Andrea Dosé, president of Swiss, the flag airline of Switzerland, there will be an alliance with U.S. carrier American Airlines, one of founder of Oneworld, the airline alliance... more

AerospaceGalileo (2): No private industries in the first phases of the project
Brussels, Belgium - The costs of the system will be 3,2 EURbn
At least, the Galileo European Satellite Navigation System starts, but in its first phases of the project, at least to 2003, is expected that private industries will be not allowed to participate at the... more

AerospaceGalileo: green light by EU
Brussels, Belgium - THe European navigation system reach executive phase
The 15 EU transport ministers of the EU countries have all deliberated to give permission to Galileo European Satellite Navigation System to enter in the executive phase. THe system, similar to U.S. GPS,... more

DefenseIndia interested to buy 126 Mirages
New Delhi, India
According to Indian Air Force sources, it would be interested to buy 126 Mirage 2000-5 fighter-bomber aircraft, capable to carry nuclear weapons. About 36 of these aicraft will be provided completely assembled,... more

AirlinesGloomy 2001 for Crossair
Zurich, Switzerland - EURm 215 net losses
In 2001, the Swiss air carrier Crossair registered net losses for SFm 314 (EURm 215). Despite these not much encouraging results, Crossair registered an increase both in the general turnover (+9% in comparison... more

IndustryGeneral Dynamics awarded a over 6 USDm contract
USA
General Dynamics Robotic Systems, Inc., of Westminster, Md., was awarded a $6,166,559 modification to a $34,868,107 cumulative total firm-fixed-price contract (DAAD13-01-C-0009) on March 25, 2002, for... more

IndustryNorthrop Grumman awarded a 247 USDm contract
USA
Northrop Grumman Corp., San Diego, is being awarded a $247,000,000 contract to provide for engineering and manufacturing development stage IIB activities for the Global Hawk program including communications,... more

AerospaceA Chinese spacecraft goes on orbit
Beijng, China - It's the third one
According to Xinhua, the Chinese space agency, the third automatic spacecraft reached successfully its pre-fixed orbit. After December 1999 and January 2001 launches, Shenzou III take-off from the space... more

AccidentsJordan fighter crashed
Amman, Jordan - Pilot died
A Jordan air forces F-5 fighter on a ordinary exercise mission crashed yesterday. The pilot aboard of the military aircraft, lieutenant Ayour Youssee Samir, died in the accident. (m/cesn) more

AerospaceA singer in the space
New York, Usa - Lance Bass could be the third star-tourist
Lance Bass, 'Nsync singer leader, could be the space passenger. At the moment Lance is waiting for medical test results he attended in Russia. Bass mission, which would likely depart next autumn, could... more

PeopleFrance: questionnaire for flyers heading to Usa and Tel Aviv
Paris, France - Starting from next April 1st
Air France passengers as well as those of other foreign air carriers who are going to embark from France towards Usa and Tel Aviv, for security reasons, will have to fill in a questionnaire, starting from... more

AirlinesLuxair landed in Tunisi
Luxembourg - Up to the end of October
National Luxembourg air carrier Luxair inaugurated last Sunday March 24th its new weekly route to Tunis. Flights, which will be operated every Sunday on board of Boeing 737, will go on until the end of... more

HelicoptersAn unclear question in Irish helicopter deal
Dublin, Ireland - The position of the U.S. ambassador has to been defined
After that US firm Sikorsky was granted the Irish contract earlier this year, for the procurement of military helicopter for Irish defense, a deal worth 100 EURm, following a second tendering process by... more

SecuritySeptember 11th:one of suspects could be convicted to death
New York, Usa - Ashcroft decided
Zacarias Moussaoui, a French citizen of Moroccan extraction, is the only person charged with massacre for last September 11th terrorist attacks. At the end of the trial, which is supposed to begin next... more

Fair and showsAerospace: new director for Astrium
Paris, France - The nomination for the company reorganization
Evert Dudok has been named as new director of the European satellite maker Astrium "Earth observation and science" program. Astrium is owned by 75%by Eads and for 25% by Bae Systems. Dudok, which nomination... more

DefenseBae System engineer charged of espionage
London, Great Britain - He faces up to 14 years imprisonment
An Bae Systems engineer, Ian Parr, 45, faces up to 14 years imprisonment for a charge of espionage for a foreign country, according to the London Court in front of which he is appeared today. He will remain... more

DefenseCis to build an anti-aicraft strategic center in Asia
Moscow, Russia - According to Interfax
"Member countries of the Cis, Commonwelath of Independent States, council for security co-operation (Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) are likely planning to create a regional... more

DefenseIndia ordered 120 ALH helicopters
New Delhi, India - The helicopter has been built by Hindustan Aeronautics
According to Indian company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, maker of the ALH helicopter, the New Delhi government ordered 120 helicopters, of which an half will be armed and will be delivered in two years.... more

AirlinesEasyJet to increase its French routes
Paris, France - 4 new links will depart from Paris airports
EasyJet, the British low-cost airline, starting from next mid June, will serve 4 new routes (15 daily flights) from both Paris airports of Orly and Roissy Charles de Gaulle. From Paris Charles de Gaulle... more

Fair and showsBoeing Italy has a new president (2)
Rome, Italy - A professional biography of Petrignani
Mr. Petrignani, the recently named president of Boeing Italy, has a long and prestigious career: in the past in fact he has been Italian ambassador in Washington (from 1981 to 1991), as well as Nato vice... more

Latest newsUnidentified F-16 hits Kurds Rebel encampments near Iraq border
Tunceli, Turkey
Warplanes from an unidentified country have hammered Turkish Kurdish guerrilla encampments in northern Iraq, killing about 25 rebels. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which administers northern... more

Fair and showsBoeing Italy has a new president
Rome, Italy - Rinaldo Petrignani will lead the Italian division
"Boeing has a deep and long-time enduring relationship with Italian industry, and this partnership is crucial for us". "Italy showed a dynamic going economy and we have a lot of important customers in... more

IndustrySonic Cruiser project ready to take-off
Seattle, Usa - Boeing confirmes
Boeing, the Us aeronautical giant, came back on talks with world largest airlines to define as good as possible its final design decisions on its new super sonic aircraft, the Sonic Cruiser, which will... more

AccidentsNTSB-Egypt: an endless dispute
Cairo, Egypt: the dispute matter is responsibility for flight 990 crash
It seems and endless dispute, with at one side the US National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB, at the other the Egyptian government which do not allow the hypotesis that a co-pilot of its flag airline,... more

AirlinesSwissair close to retirement
Zurich, Switzerland - Airline to suppress its press service next March 27th
Starting from next March 27th, at the same time with the discontinuance of its flight activities, Swissair Group will suppress its press service. From April 1st Swissair flights will be operated by 'Swiss',... more

Weather forecastsWeston Super Mare museum team wins trophy
Great Britain - The trophy awarded a for perfect restoration of a rare helicopter
A team of restoration volunteers at The Helicopter Museum, Weston Super Mare, Somerset have been awarded the prestigious Desmond Penrose Vintage Aeroplane of the Year Trophy for 2001. The Vintage... more

AirlinesKlm and Virgin Atlantic signed a EURm 200 worth contract
Amsterdam, The Netherlands - It's about maintenance
According to the Klm itself, the Dutch flag airline signed a six years EURm 200 worth contract with Virgin Atlantic for the maintenance of the British carrier 12 Boeing 747-400. For Klm this agreement... more