AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,329 news found
Military aviationLockheed Martin and AFRL complete Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft tests
Palmdale, USA - Based on a Dornier 328J
Lockheed Martin and the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) yesterday successfully conducted the initial demonstration flight of the Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft (ACCA). This flight marks the final and... more
HelicoptersUS Navy won't fly the VH-71 helicopter
Washington, Usa - The Department of Defense cancelled the contract with Lockheed Martin and AgustaWestland
The Department of Defense and US Naval Air Systems Command cancelled the contract for the construction of the VH-71 Presidential Helicopter program. Both the Department of Defense and NAVAIR issued... more
HelicoptersProblems for Erickson Air-Crane
Portland, USA - 14 logging support workers fired
Erickson Air-Crane (EAC) was recently forced to cut several jobs. The last case concerns the logging support department from which 14 people have been fired due to a fall in wood products' demand. For... more
HelicoptersRussian aviation Mi-8 helicopters in Afghanistan
Moscow, Russia - For medical and humanitarian transport missions
Russia might send two Mil Mi-8 Hip helicopters to Afghanistan for humanitarian support missions, in particular for medical transport. The announcement was made today by Yury Brazhnikov, head of Russian... more
Military aviationNew refuelling system for A-330 MRTT aircraft
Madrid, Spain - Flight tests completed with a Spanish F/A-18A+ fighter
Airbus Military's, EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company), A-330 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport) aircraft has completed another major milestone performing successfully a series of dry... more
Civil aviationACI, passenger traffic showing signs of improvement
Geneva, Switzerland - But it is too early to talk about a recovery
In April 2009 worldwide passenger traffic growth as reported to ACI - the worldwide association of airports -shows a decrease of 3% relative to the results in April 2008. For the month, international passenger... more
AerospaceESA: XMM-Newton takes astronomers to a black hole’s edge
Rome, Italy - A supermassive black hole lying deep at the core of a distant active galaxy
Using new data from ESA’s XMM-Newton spaceborne observatory, astronomers have probed closer than ever to a supermassive black hole lying deep at the core of a distant active galaxy. The galaxy – kno... more
Military aviationMalaysia to retire its MiG-29 fighters
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Due to the problems that the aircraft had through the years
Malaysia is going to gradually retire its fleet of MiG-29 fighters in the next 5 years. The decision has been taken by the defence ministry of Kuala Lumpur due to the problems suffered by these type of... more
Sport aviationIcon Aircraft successfully completed water testing for the Icon A-5
Los Angeles, Usa - Deliveries are scheduled to begin in late 2010
"ICON Aircraft, an early stage Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) manufacturer (www.iconaircraft.com), officially completed a series of rigorous hydrostatic and hydrodynamic tests on the ICON A-5 Amphibious Sport... more
IndustryEmbraer delivers 1,100th ERJ-145 family aircraft
São José dos Campos, Brazil - Historic landmark is set by a Legacy 600 executive jet
"Embraer delivered the 1,100th aircraft of the ERJ-145 jet family, last week, in São José dos Campos, Brazil. The airplane is a Legacy 600 executive jet, a model which has reached over 160 deliveries t... more
HelicoptersAgustaWestland awarded "Igor I. Sikorsky International Trophy"
Cascina Costa, Italy - For the official world speed record by a Grand helicopter in 2008
"In a ceremony at the AHS International annual forum, AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, was awarded the Igor I. Sikorsky International Trophy. The award was made to AgustaWestland as recognition... more
SecurityFAA AD on Learjet model 45 airplanes (2009-11-13)
Washington, Usa - To detect and correct chafed hydraulic tubes in the left-hand engine and consequent hydraulic tube failure and uncontrolled loss of flammable fluid within the engine cowling, which could result in a fire
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register: June 2, 2009 [Page 26288-26291] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14... more
SecurityFAA AD on McDonnell Douglas model MD-90-30 airplanes (2009-11-11)
Washington, Usa - To prevent possible damage to the fuel level float or pressure switch wires and could become a potential ignition source inside the fuel tank, and could result in a fuel tank explosion and loss of the airplane
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register: June 2, 2009 [Page 26291-26293] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14... more
Airlines100 billion Yen loan for Japan Airlines
Tokyo, Japan - From the country's major banks
Japan Airlines (JAL) might get a 100 billion Yen (about € 732 million) syndicated loan within this month from Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) and the other three main banks of the country, Japanese "Nikkei" n... more
AerospaceLockheed Martin will develop a third SBIRS satellite
Sunnyvale, USA - With a contract worth $1.5 billion
Lockheed Martin yesterday announced the US Air Force has awarded it a $1.5-billion contract for the third highly elliptical orbit (HEO-3) payload, the third geosynchronous orbit (GEO-3) satellite and associated... more
CargoLufthansa Cargo damaged by Frankfurt airport night closure
Frankfurt, Germany - To reduce acoustic pollution
Lufthansa Cargo is waiting with concern a court's decision about the possible night closure of Frankfurt airport: airlines' and local residents' necessities are challenging each other. It is believed that... more
Military aviationIndia: MMRCA fighters' evaluation complete
New Delhi, India - Getting ready for following test phase
Indian Air Force (IAF) is carrying on operations to chose its new medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA). The technical evaluation report has been sent to New Delhi's ministry of defence. The six contenders,... more
UAS-DronesBoeing proposes its A-160T as UAS cargo demonstrator
St. Louis, USA - The contract will be awarded in July
Boeing on Monday submitted a proposal offering its A-160T Hummingbird for the US Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory's Immediate Cargo Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Demonstration Program. The demonstration... more
IndustryLockheed Martin gets contract for USAF's long-range radar
Syracuse, USA - Worth about $25 million
Lockheed Martin announced it has been awarded from the US Air Force (USAF) a fixed-price contract for nearly $25 million to develop a prototype for the next-generation 3-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range... more
AccidentsA-330 accident: France confirms the finding of debris in the Atlantic
Paris, France - Even if formal proof is still needed, "There is no longer any room for doubt"
There are no more doubts about the debris found in the Atlantic: they are those of Air France's Airbus A-330/200, flight AF447, that disappeared on Monday morning with 228 people on board (see AVIONEWS),... more
AirlinesAir France: homage to victims in Paris
Paris, France - An inter-religious ceremony will take today in the afternoon at Notr-Dame Cathedral
"An inter-religious ceremony for the relatives and friends of the victims will be held on Wednesday 3 June at 4pm at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris". more
AirlinesAir France Flight 447: assistance to relatives of victims
Paris, France - Air France staff arrived yesterday morning in Rio de Janeiro
"A team of approximately 20 Air France staff members, including two doctors and a nurse, arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday morning on flight AF442. This team has travelled to Brazil as back-up to... more
AirlinesAir France Flight 447: AF's volunteers trained to assist relatives and friends of victims
Paris, France - Overall, 4,000 AF staff members
"Overall, 4,000 Air France staff members are part of the voluntary programme to help in case of a crisis. These volunteers have four main tasks: contact with relatives and friends, logistical assistance,... more
ReportAir France confirms the nationality of passengers involved in the accident
Paris, France - Most of them were French, German and Brazilian
"Air France is now able to confirm the nationalities of the passengers who were on board flight AF447 on 31 May 2009, which disappeared between Rio de Janeiro and Paris-'Charles de Gaulle' on June 1. This... more
Press releaseAir France expresses its sympathy to the families of flight AF447's passengers
Paris, France - The numbers to call
"Air France expresses its deepest sympathy to the relatives and friends of the passengers and crew who were on board this flight. Air France is doing its utmost to provide support to relatives and... more
CargoClarification on FedEx employees' news
Washington, USA - The regulation passed the House of Representatives. Still pending in the Senate
Concerning the story published on May 29, 2009, about the regulation that should bring FedEx employees not directly linked to air transport under jurisdiction of the National Transportation Relations Act... more
MiscellaneousAVIONEWS wishes a Happy Italian Republic's Day
Rome, Italy - The Agency will open again next Wednesday
AVIONEWS will be closed tomorrow, on June 2, on the occasion of 63rd anniversary of the Italian Republic's birth. It will open again next Wednesday. On the occasion of particular events, the Agency... more
ReportThe list of A-330s' accidents
Rome, Italy - To date there had been only 8 victims
Airbus A-330s suffered in the years of a series of accidents, hijackings and other occurrences, before today's one (see AVIONEWS), that brought to a total of 8 victims. - On June 30, 1994, near Toulouse-Blagnac... more
Press releaseFlight AF447: Alitalia cooperates with AF and the Italian Foreign ministry. The numbers to call
Rome, Italy - All its structures alerted to supply full cooperation
Concerning missing Air France flight AF447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, Alitalia announced it alerted all of its structures to help both its partner Air France and the Italian ministry of Foreign affairs. If... more
ReportAirbus on missing Air France flight
Paris, France - The manufacturer offers its assistance to the investigators
Airbus confirmed in a note that "An Airbus A330-200 operated by Air France has been lost about 3.5 hours after departure. The aircraft was operating a scheduled service, Flight AF 447, from Rio de Janeiro... more
Fair and showsAlitalia at Rome's "International Airshow"
Rome, Italy - A Boeing 767 aircraft with a new livery yesterday paraded in Ostia
An Alitalia Boeing 767 with a new livery yesterday paraded at Rome's "International Airshow" in Ostia. The B-767 is part of Alitalia's long-haul fleet, has a range of 10,200 km, can fly up to 900 km/h... more
Sport aviationItalian FIVL about "WAG 2009": contests near Cuneo, Trento and Bergamo
Turin, Italy - Waiting for the main event starting next Saturday
The opening of "World Air Games" is getting close and hang-gliders and para-gliders will be present together with other air disciplines: aerobatics, model aircraft, hot hair balloons, ultralight flight,... more
Press releaseItalian ENAC follows the evolution of Air France flight disappeared off the coast of Brazil
Rome, Italy - And offers its experience to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Concerning Air France Flight AF447, performed with an Airbus A-330 departed from Rio de Janeiro with 228 people on board and disappeared from radar screens, Italian ENAC's (National Civil Aviation Authority)... more
ReportAir France (4): "The plane might have been struck by lightning"
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - On board also eight children
According to Francois Brousse, Air France's head of communications, the Airbus A-330 that went missing this morning might have been hit by a lightning. This would explain the short circuit and the electrical... more
ReportA short circuit the cause of Air France aircraft's disappearance? (3)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Preparing for the worst possible scenario
First information issued by Air France talk about the fact that tonight a 2:14 am GMT the crew of the missing Airbus A-330, disappeared from radars while en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris (see AVIONEWS... more
SecurityFAA AD on Airbus model A-310 and Airbus model A-300/600 airplanes (2009-11-09)
Washington, Usa - To identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register: [Page 25399-25402] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part... more
SecurityFAA AD on British Aerospace model HS-748 airplanes (2009-11-07)
Washington, Usa - To identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register: [Page 25396-25399] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part... more
SecurityFAA AD on Airbus model A-330/202, -223, -243, - 301, -322, and -342 airplanes (2009-11-08)
Washington, Usa - To identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register: [Page 25404-25406] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part... more
Fair and shows"Roma Air Show 2009": almost 1 million in Ostia despite the strong wind
Rome, Italy - Heavy traffic to reach Rome's seacoast
Almost 1 million people yesterday went to Ostia (Rome) for "Roma Air Show 2009". Despite strong wind and heavy traffic the show was a success. Strong complaints by private-beach runners who saw their customers... more
DefenseNorth Korea prepares for long range missile launch
Pyongyang, North Korea - The USA will react against Pyongyang
Tension on North Korea is not going to decrease. According to South Korean sources Pyongyang is understood to to be ready to perform a new missile test, but this time with a long-range rocket capable to... more
Civil defenseFirefighting: two Italian Canadair airplanes to Corsica
Bastia, Corsica - A three-month contract for Sorem
Two firefighting Canadair CL-215 aircraft of Italian-based operator Sorem will be deployed in Corsica (France), with base in Bastia, starting from July 1, French ministry of interiors announced. The contract... more
Report"No hope" for missing Air France flight (2)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Search underway near Fernando de Noronha island off the Brazilian coast
According to "Charles de Gaulle" airport sources there would be "No hope" for the Air France Airbus A-330 that disappeared this morning from radar screens in Brazil (see AVIONEWS). 228 people were on board... more
Fair and showsAir shows exhibitions in the first week of June
Rome, Italy - From today, on Monday 1 to next Sunday 7
Monday 01 - "20th International Alpen Hangliding and Paragliding Open 2009". Gnadenwald, Austria. + 43 664 321 5454 http://events.fai.org www.hanggliding.at - "4xtremetime Open 4-way Skydiving Competition".... more
ReportBomb found on Iranian airliner
Tehran, Iran - Tension in the country before presidential elections
A bomb was discovered Saturday in Iran on a Kish Air McDonnell Douglas MD-82 with 131 passengers on board. The pilot inverted the route and returned to Ahwaz airport, from where it took off shortly before... more
Weather forecastsBad weather: still storms on the Central Italy
Rome, Italy - A notice issued for adverse weather conditions
"The Italian Civil Defense Department, on the base of available models, has issued a notice for adverse weather conditions that expands that one issued on Saturday, valid for next 24-36 hours on Central... more
ReportAir France airliner disappears from radars in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - With 215 people on board
An Air France airliner disappeared this morning at 6:00 am GMT from radar screens in Brazil. A spokesman for "Charles de Gaulle" airport stated that the aircraft was expected to reach Paris at 09:10 am. There... more
Airports90,000 passengers forecast at Naples airport for June 2 holiday
Naples, Italy - European cities are the favourite destinations
From May 29 to June 2 (date on which Italy celebrates the birth of its Republic) 90,000 passengers are forecast to transit at Naples airport: 45,000 national, 35,000 international and 10,000 charters. The... more
AirlinesAlitalia: new Airbus A-320 for the Milan-Rome route
Rome, Italy - Five planes have been delivered to the carrier so far in 2009
The new Alitalia Airbus A-320, the fifth in the carrier's fleet, dubbed "Giovanni Boccaccio", entered into service today. It will be used on the route from Milan-Linate to Rome-Fiumicino. The plan to... more
IndustryAirbus: 40 years of innovation and shaping efficiency
Toulouse, France - 100th anniversary of "Le Bourget Air Show"
"Airbus announced to mark the 100th anniversary of 'Le Bourget Air Show' by demonstrating break-through technologies, top-end innovations and Airbus “Firsts” from the company’s own 40 year history. Visit... more
AirportsPisa airport (2), the market demands flights to Milan
Pisa, Italy - AVIONEWS interviews the CEO, Gina Giani
No flights to northern Italy, perhaps too close to be reached by plane. But still far for those who want to save time like the business travelers. Gina Giani, CEO of SAT - Pisa airport, thinks that a direct... more