AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,325 news found

AccidentsPilatus PC-12 Montana air accident still without explanation: 14 victims
Washington, USA - Occurred on March 22. NTSB charges the lack of voice recorders
More than one month after last March 22 air accident that claimed the lives of 14 people, among which several kids, on board of a Pilatus PC-12 crashed near Butte, Montana (see AVIONEWS), the NTSB (National... more

Civil aviationOAG reports a 3% drop in airline capacity for April 2009
London, UK - The number of flights decrease by 6%
The world's airlines have scheduled 6% fewer flights for April 2009 compared with the same month last year, with a 3% drop in seat capacity, according to the latest statistics from OAG, the world's leading... more

Airlines48 hour-national strike for Alitalia
Rome, Italy - The announcement by the transport unions
According to a press-release reported by the category organizations, the transport unions requests to Alitalia a negotiation table and threaten two days of strike. The secretary's confederate unions,... more

SecurityNTSB requires new safety procedures for Boeing 757 and 767s
Washington, USA - To prevent loss of battery power
The American NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) issued a safety recommendation (A-09-41) asking the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to require Boeing to realize new procedures for B-757... more

SecurityFAA AD on Honeywell Flight Management Systems (FMSs) installed on various transport category airplanes (2009-08-01)
Washington, Usa - To prevent a shift in the FMS computed position, which could result in uncommanded deviations from the intended flight path of the airplane
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information [Federal register: (Volume 74, Number 67)] [Page 16121-16124] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14... more

SecurityFAA AD on Liberty Aerospace Incorporated model XL-2 airplanes (2009-08-05)
Washington, Usa - To detect and correct cracks in the exhaust muffler, which could result in carbon monoxide entering the cabin through the heating system
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register: [Page 16117-16121] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part... more

SecurityFAA AD on Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, 206L-4, 222, 222B, 222U, 230, 407, 427, and 430 helicopters (2009-08-03)
Washington, Usa - To prevent loss of a blade tip weight, loss of a blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register: [Page 16112-16114] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part... more

Military aviationThe F-35 reaches England for ground tests
Brough, UK - The fighter arrived at BAE Systems' facilities in Brough
Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft model named AG-1, conventional take off and landing variant (CTOL), prepared for ground testing, arrived in England where it will undergo the trials... more

AirlinesAeroMexico announces first measures against the swine flu epidemic
Mexico City, Mexico - No case detected on the airline's flights
AeroMexico has announced preventive measures the airline has put in place, as well as instructions it is following from the Ministry of Health in Mexico, in connection with the recent swine flu outbreak... more

Fair and showsAir shows and exhibitions in the last week of April
Rome, Italy - From today, on Tuesday 28 to next Sunday on May 3
Tuesday 28 - Airport Cities, Conference and Exhibition. Hilton Hotel, Athens, Greece. + 44 208 831 7505 www.insightgrp.co.uk - "2009 FAI Qualifying Sailplane GP". Zar, Poland. + 48 22 826 76 70 http://events.fai.org... more

ReportItalian Red Cross task forces in airports against the swine flu
Rome, Italy - To control passengers coming from high-risk Countries
Italian Red Cross informed two task forces specialized in the passenger's control will examine the landing in the Italian airports of passengers coming from high-risk Countries. "The task forces have... more

Military aviation"IDEF 2009": Russia to complete project for the second aircraft carrier in 2012
Istanbul, Turkey - The only ship today in full play is the "Admiral Kuznetsov"
The deputy Russian defense minister responsible for military procurements, General Vladímir Popovkin, said Tuesday the project for the new aircraft carrier will be completed in 2012. The new ship will... more

IndustryLockheed Martin awarded $400 million contract for ISIS demonstrator
Palmdale, USA - It will lead an industry team to build a scaled model
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected Lockheed Martin to guide an industry team to design, build, test and fly a 1:3 scaled model of an airship for the third phase of the ISIS... more

AirlinesNew Bombardier aircraft for Porter Airlines
Toronto, Canada - Fleet expansion to cover new destinations
Canadian airline Porter Airlines is going to double its Bombardier aircraft fleet to face the addition of new routes both regional and towards the United States. The carrier in fact plans to raise the... more

AirlinesNew Board of Directors for Myair.com
Vicenza, Italy - The next meeting has been announced in mid-May
"Myair.com informs the Myair.com Assembly created a new Board of Director made up Senator Carlo Bernini, commandant Vincenzo Soddu, Mr Aldo Bianchini and Mr Ildebrando Brollo. The Board reconfirmed... more

ReportPaedophile "Guru's" incredible helicopter jailbreak
Saint-Denis, Réunion - Another escape using a chopper
It already happened in Italy, France, Greece (see AVIONEWS) and in many other countries. From time to time someone tries and manages to escape from jail thanks to accomplices and helicopters. This time... more

AerospaceMilstar satellites reached half century of combined operations
Sunnyvale, USA - Launched between 1994 and 2003
A U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin team announced today that the five-satellite Milstar constellation has accumulated 50 years of combined on-orbit operations and continues to provide secure, reliable and... more

AirportsBirmingham airport: Peter Vella, business development Director, decided to leave the company
Birmingham, UK - He has worked for the company for 12 years
Birmingham International Airport has announced that Peter Vella, Business Development Director, has decided to leave the company to pursue new business opportunities. Peter joined the company in his current... more

HelicoptersAVIONEWS in Albania with 4040th Helicopter Regiment
Tyrana, Albania - It has AB-206, AB-205, but also BO-105E and an A-109C
The Forcat Ajore Shqipetare (Albanian Air Force) 4040th Helicopter Regiment is the only operational division of this force joined NATO on April 4th, 2009. Farka-based, the Albanian Air Force has four... more

DefenseItalian navy: naval squad command handover
Rome, Italy - The ceremony will be held on Wednesday in Taranto
On the next 29th of April at 11:00 am (local time) on board of the "Garibaldi" ship at "Mar Grande" naval station in Taranto, Italy, the command handover for the naval squad between admirals Giuseppe Lertora... more

AirlinesJet2.com to have first Pratt & Whitney GMS life limited parts on CFM56-3s
London, United Kingdom - As regards Global Material Solutions (GMS) life limited parts programme
Jet2.com has selected an engine under its Pratt & Whitney fleet management programme agreement for installation of the airline's first P&W Global Material Solutions (GMS) life limited parts at the Pratt... more

Military aviationBoeing starts weapon systems' tests on the Airborne Laser aircraft
Edwards, USA - A heavily modified B-747/400F
"The Boeing Company, industry teammates and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency have begun Airborne Laser (ABL) flight tests with the entire weapon system integrated aboard the ABL aircraft. ABL, a heavily... more

Civil defensePope Benedict XVI will visit tomorrow the earthquake-victim zones
Rome, Italy - The Pope will take off by a helicopter on the case of good weather conditions
Tomorrow, April 28, Pope Benedict XVI will visit the earthquake-victim zones of Abruzzo, Italy. The path foresees a visit to the camp of Onna before continuing to L'Aquila with a stop at Collemaggio basilica... more

HelicoptersUSA: seven CH-47F Chinook to Australia
Washington, USA - A deal worth 560 million dollars
On April 13 the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia of seven Chinook helicopters and other related equipment,... more

IndustryBoeing P-8A Poseidon performs first flight
Washington, USA - The new US Navy multi-mission platform
Boeing P-8A Poseidon successfully performed its first flight on Saturday: it took off from Renton Field and landed in Seattle about three and a half hours later. The aircraft is a modified B-737, enhanced... more

ReportWill Jean Cyril Spinetta leave Air France for the nuclear?
Paris, France - On April 30th he will be appointed new President of Areva's Council
Jean Cyril Spinetta, Air France-KLM CEO, should be appointed in short time as new President of the Areva's Surveillance Council. Areva is global leader in the construction of reactors and he will have... more

CuriositiesCosta Rica: a hotel suite in a Boeing 727 aircraft
San José, Costa Rica - Costa Verde Hotel transformed the fuselage
The fuselage of a 1965 Boeing 727 has been transformed in an exclusive suite by the owners of Costa Verde Hotel. The airplane used to fly for South Africa Air and Colombian Avianca Airlines before being... more

AirlinesAir Mediterranée based an A-321 at Bergamo-Orio al Serio Airport
Bergamo, Italy - It is the first time that displaces an airplane out of France
Air Méditerranée will displace a 220 seat-Airbus A-321 airplane at Bergamo-Orio al Serio Airport starting from November 1st, 2009. According to Antonio Proto, Air Méditerranée Commercial Manager, "Th... more

AccidentsHelicopter crash in Corsica during a EMS flight
Bastia, Corsica - Five killed, an infant among them, on "Dragon 2B" helicopter of the French Sécurité Civile
A dramatic result: four people and a baby, born on board, are dead last Saturday evening in a crash occurred to a helicopter of the Sécurité Civile, in an impenetrable zone in Rutali, 15 km far from B... more

Fair and shows"IDEF 2009": Turkey interested in Russian air defense systems and combat helicopters
Istanbul, Turkey - Russia to exhibit over 120 types of weaponry
Turkey has expressed interest in buying air defense systems S-400 and combat helicopters from Russia, a Russian defense industry official said on Monday. Russia will exhibit over 120 types of weaponry... more

ReportMexico, the measures by the Government against flu
Mexico City, Mexico - Mexican minister of Health, Josè Angel Cordova, stated
Concerning the flu which is striking Mexico, Josè Angel Cordova, minister of Health, stated: "For the purpose of keeping the public informed and according to the agreements reached by the General Health... more

AccidentsPostal cargo burns in Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico - The accident before take off. The crew managed to evacuate safely
A Four Star Douglas DC-3 postal cargo aircraft suddenly caught fire yesterday while performing take off operations in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was scheduled to fly to Saint Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.... more

AirportsSicilian airports: deviations and cancellations due to the strong wind
Palermo, Italy - The update by Italian ENAC
ENAC (Italian Civil Aviation Authority) updates the situation of "Falcone-Borsellino"-Palermo Airport affected today by strong blasts of wind. Nine flights are currently be deviated on Catania and Trapani... more

Civil aviationCessna XLS gains Chinese certification for operations up to 15,000 feet
Beijing, China - The Citation landed and took off from Qamdo Bangda, World's highest airport
Cessna Citation XLS gained Chinese authority's certification for operations up to 15,000 feet (4,572 meters) after landing and taking off successfully from Qamdo Bangda, in Tibet, World's highest airport... more

AirportsPassenger and aircraft traffic to Abu Dhabi increase in spite of economic downturn
Abu Dhabi, UAE - London takes the lead as the airport’s busiest destination
Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) released the March 2009 traffic figures for the international airport. The figures show an overall passenger increase of 7.9% compared to the same month in the previous... more

Military aviationA light strike fighter for US Air Force?
Washington, USA - USAF Chief of Staff Norton Schwartz's proposal
US Air Force (USAF) could need a light strike fighter to be used in non conventional missions such as war against terrorism, besides using it as a trainer aircraft, USAF Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz... more

AirlinesAir India CMD change
New Delhi, India - Bharat Bhushan acting Chief and Managing Director
New Delhi's national airline Air India decided to change its head, appointing E.K. Bharat Bhushan as acting Chief and Managing Director (CMD) in place of Raghu Menon. The government is understood to have... more

AirlinesAlitalia-AirOne: reached agreement for the retraining and professional updating
Rome, Italy - Regarding the staff in redundancy fund
"Alitalia has reached the agreement with the unions (CGIL, CISL, UIL and UGL) to the retraining and occupational updating of workers in redundancy payment. The contract lays the basis of a three part... more

AirlinesAir Senegal at ground. Stop to flights from last Friday
Dakar, Senegal - The decision taken by the majority shareholder Royal Air Maroc
About 500 passengers have been left at Dakar Airport stranded after Air Senegal International (ASI) stopped operations and cancelled all of its flights due to an ongoing row between Senegal and the majority... more

SecuritySkyjacker alarm on a flight to Israel
Boston, USA - Cabin crew blocked a man who was trying to access the cockpit
A Delta Airlines Boeing 767-300 en route from New York (USA) to Tel Aviv (Israel) with 206 passengers and 11 crew-members on board was forced in the night between Friday and Saturday to divert after a... more

AccidentsSukhoi Su-35 destroyed during tests
Khabarovsk, Russia - It seems for a fuel pump failure. Pilot ejected safely
A Sukhoi Su-35 was destroyed yesterday at GMT 5:55 am in an accident at Dzemgi air base, at the Eastern end of the Country, while performing test operations. The pilot ejected safely, "RIA Novosti" agency... more

HelicoptersAgustaWestland unveils the TUHP-149 helicopter
Istanbul, Turkey - To meet the Turkish utility helicopter programme
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, unveiled a full scale mock-up of the TUHP-149 helicopter at "IDEF 2009" in Istanbul today. The TUHP-149 is the AgustaWestland candidate for the Turkish Utility Helicopter... more

HelicoptersFuture Lynx helicopter becomes AW-159 Lynx Wildcat
Yeovil, UK - The programme will deliver 62 aircraft for Royal Army and Royal Navy
AgustaWestland announced that the future Lynx aircraft is now to be known formally as the AW-159 Lynx Wildcat. The Lynx Wildcat programme will deliver a fleet of 62 new light helicopters for the Army and... more

AirportsAlicante Airport, a 353,000 Euro investment
Alicante, Spain - Works to be completed by 2009
About 353,000 Euros will be invested to modify and enlarge Alicante Airport, one of the main airport of the Spain West coast. The enlargement of El Atlet will be completed in the end of 2009 and will... more

Weather forecastsBad weather: strong winds and storms on Central-South of Italy from yesterday evening
Rome, Italy - And for the successive 36 hours
"The Italian Civil Defense Department, on the basis of the available models, has issued a new notice for adverse weather conditions that expands that one issued last Saturday that predicts, from yesterday... more

UAS-DronesTurkey: TAI shows new variant of Tiha UAV
Istanbul, Turkey - Today during the "IDEF 2009"
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has made known other details on its Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance Unmanned Air Vehicle project Tiha-A and Tiha-B. The two variants will be delivered in short time to... more

SecurityFAA opened bird-strike database to public access
Washington, USA - Available on the FAA website
FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) opened its bird-strike database to public about collisions happened in the world from 1990 to 2008. The decision was taken after NTSB (National Transportation Safety... more

IndustryKorean Air to take over Korea Aerospace
Seoul, South Korea - The airline wants to unify the national aerospace sector
National carrier Korean Air could try to take over Korea Aerospace industry. The airline already attempted the acquisition in the past, but the present economic conditions seem favourable to the move even... more

Fair and shows"Sun 'n Fun Fly-In": Cessna SkyCatcher to re-enter development program
Lakeland, Usa - The industry announces orders and deliveries
"Cessna Aircraft Company said at the Sun ’n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla. (April 21-26), development of the model 162 SkyCatcher program continues. A production SkyCatcher – built in Wichita, Kan. – w... more

AirportsFlybe will fly from Düsseldorf to London-Gatwick
Düsseldorf, Germany - Three times per day from June 22
Flybe will connect Düsseldorf with London-Gatwick, from June 22 onwards. Currently, Flybe already heads for Birmingham, Manchester and Southampton from the German city. By the new connection the already... more