AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,641 news found

MiscellaneousAVIONEWS wishes everyone a merry Christmas
Rome, Italy - We will resume on December 29th
"...A happy thought for all the year to come... for keeping all the good we've had and never stopping to dream of a better future" AVIONEWS wishes all its subscribers and readers a merry Christmas 2008... more

HelicoptersHeligo Charters started AW-139 offshore operations in India
Cascina Costa, Italy - The company plans to add a second AW-139 to its fleet in early 2009
"AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, announced that Heligo Charters Pvt Ltd, the Mumbai based offshore helicopter operator, has started operations this month in India with its first AW-139 medium twin... more

AirlinesFor Olympic Airways seven bids
Athens, Greece - The deadline is January 30th
Seven investors have submitted non-binding bids for Olympic Airways, and all have been cleared to continue to the next stage of the privatisation. The deadline for binding bids is January 30th. Among candidates:... more

Airports"LaGuardia"-New York Airport cuts different daily flights
New York, USA - Particularly interested Delta, American Airlines and US Airways
Federal aviation authorities are cutting the number of hourly flights at "LaGuardia" Airport as they try to address the worst major airport delays in the country. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters... more

Civil aviationBritish Airways: requested detailed information on the hypothesis of merger with American Airlines
Washington, USA - The pressing by the U.S. Transportation Department
Government regulators want to know more about how a proposed alliance between American Airlines and British Airways could affect competition on overseas flights. The U.S. Transportation Department asked... more

SecurityFAA AD on Bombardier-Rotax GmbH 914 F series reciprocating engines (2008-26-05)
Washington, Usa - To correct the unsafe condition on aviation products
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register: [Page 78173-78175] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part... more

SecurityFAA AD on General Electric Company (GE) CT7-8A turboshaft engines (2008-26-02)
Washington, Usa - To prevent failure of the No. 3 bearing due to contamination by aluminum oxide, which could result in a possible in-flight shutdown of the engines and loss of control or forced landing of the aircraft
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register: [Page 78175-78178] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part... more

AirlinesAlitalia: Fiumicino returns to normality
Rome, Italy - After Christmas the meeting between CAI and Unions
Regular flights today in Rome-Fiumicino Airport. The last 40 passengers remained at ground yesterday have been reprotected this morning. The today cancellations concerns technical problems or due to the... more

AirlinesEurofly: result of offer in option to the shareholders
Milan, Italy - Offer in SE of rights of option not exercised
"It communicates that during the offer period in option (December 1st-19, 2008) have been exercised nr 19.132.239 option rights, equivalent to nr 299.738.411 ordinary shares of new issues, for an overall... more

AirportsRome-Fiumicino Airport (2): cancelled today 43 flights
Rome, Italy - Four flights in departure and 39 in arrival
First official data on the discomforts in Rome-Fiumicino Airport: the Alitalia flights cancelled today were totally 43, four in departure (Genoa, Pisa, Florence, Milan-Linate) and 39 in arrival. The... more

Military aviationUsaf E-8C Joint STARS takes off with new engines
Melbourne, Australia - The certification test program will end in the next Spring
The U.S. Air Force E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) test bed aircraft took to the air Saturday, powered by new Pratt & Whitney JT-8D-219 engines. This flight marks the start... more

Civil aviationItalian ENAC opens a preliminary investigation on the situation of Rome-Fiumicino Airport
Rome, Italy - Alitalia towards sanctions
ENAC (Italian Civil Aviation Authority) opens a preliminary investigation on the situation of Rome-Fiumicino Airport supposing sanctions to Alitalia for the failed assistance and reprotection to passengers.... more

AirlinesEtihad expands Rolls-Royce Trent fleet
Adu Dhabi, UAE - To power its eight A-330 airplanes
"Rolls-Royce announced today that Etihad Airways, the Abu Dhabi-based national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has chosen the Trent 700EP to power a further eight Airbus A-330 aircraft. The Trent... more

AirlinesAustrian Airlines: 4,49 Euros per share the offer by Lufthansa
Vienna, Austria - It will purchase the OeIAG's 42% stake
Austria's takeover commission has set the price Lufthansa will offer shareholders in Austrian Airlines at 4.49 Euros per share, slightly more than indicated earlier, Lufthansa's law firm said late on Monday. In... more

HelicoptersSaab to produce integrated electronic systems for the Indian Dhruv helicopters
Linköping, Sweden - A deal worth 24 million dollars
Saab has received an order from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India. The contract value is approximately 24 million US dollar. Saab will commence serial production of an integrated electronic... more

ReportAfghanistan, 30,000 US soldiers by the next Summer
Kabul, Afghanistan - Renewed attention promised by new US President Barack Obama
The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, has said that up to 30,000 additional US troops could be sent to Afghanistan by mid-2009. Adm Mullen said he hoped that between 20,000... more

ReportRussia could supply S-300 missiles to Iran
Moscow, Russia - Hard reactions by US
Iran could receive the S-300 air defense systems from Russia soon, the official "IRNA" news agency reported two days ago. This system should be deployed to strengthen Iranian national defense on border... more

HelicoptersEurocopter UK receives first ever UK helicopter order for offshore wind farm maintenance
Oxford, UK - By Bond Air Services with an EC-135
"Eurocopter UK announced the first UK order for a wind farm maintenance helicopter in the UK. Bond Air Services has ordered an EC-135 for maintenance work at the Greater Gabbard offshore wind farm starting... more

HelicoptersAgustaWestland and CEIIA signed R&D, design and engineering contract
Cascina Costa, Italy - For six years
"AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, announced that it has signed a six year contract with CEIIA of Portugal for the Research and Development, Design and Engineering Project (RDE) during an official... more

Military aviationDarfur: Italy to offer its cargo airplanes
Rome, Italy - As part of the UN-African Union joint mission
Italy is preparing to participate in the UN-African Union joint mission in Darfur, making available its cargo airplanes. This news has been confirmed by Italian Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa and by... more

AirlinesAlitalia (4): Lufthansa aims to the valorization of Rome-Fiumicino Airport
Frankfurt, Germany - Under examination by CAI's management the German carrier's plan
Lufthansa confirms its opinion to be the best solution for the new Alitalia. According to some sources of the German carrier reported the plan designed, that also aims to the development of Rome-Fiumicino... more

IndustryFAA approved Boeing 787 Dreamliner maintenance program
Washington, Usa - It is one of the many requirements needed for airplane certification
"Boeing announced that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the all-new 787 Dreamliner's scheduled maintenance program. The scheduled maintenance program defines the maintenance... more

AirportsAeroporto di Firenze SpA: "Exhibitions and theatre... in flight"
Florence, Italy - The special wishes by the management society that invites to the major events in the city
"AdF, Aeroporto di Firenze, wishes to all tourists, visitors and citizens in Florence, until January 7, 2009, giving a tour in the city with its traditions. AdF has chosen a path towards art, music... more

IndustryRoll-out ground-test for the second F-35 Lightning II
Fort Worth, Usa - It prepares for testing In The United Kingdom
"Lockheed Martin’s second F-35 Lightning II ground-test aircraft rolled out at the company’s Fort Worth plant, where it will be fully instrumented before being shipped to the United Kingdom for testing.... more

AirlinesAlitalia (3): the integral call for expressions of interest in the context of the procedure for the sale of 46 aircraft
Rome, Italy - In the "Special" section all details
Alitalia puts for sale 46 aircraft with a call for bids appeared today on the official Website of the extraordinary administration. The expressions of interest must be received by 12:00 on 29 January 2009... more

AirlinesAlitalia (2). "The birth of the new airline does not damage the market", Antonio Tajani
Brussels, Belgium - An issue that marked a turning point in the air transport and business system
"The birth of new Alitalia does not damage the market as is proven by the interest of three major European airlines in the new private company". This is what European Commission vice-president and Transport... more

AirportsRome-Fiumicino Airport, 120 flights cancelled yesterday
Rome, Italy - Today afternoon the meeting between CAI and Unions
Italian airline Alitalia canceled yesterday 120 incoming and outgoing flights from Rome-Fiumicino Airport, snarling holiday travel for hundreds of passengers, according to ENAC (Italian Civil Aviation... more

AirlinesAlitalia puts for sale 46 airplanes
Rome, Italy - Calls for expressions of interest within January 29th
Alitalia puts for sale 46 aircraft. The call for bids appeared today. In details, the Italian carrier will sell 45 AZ airplanes: MD-80 and MD-82, Embraer, Atr and two B-767s; and one of Alitalia Express. Expressions... more

Civil aviationUS: bad weather gounded hundreds of flights
New York, USA - Saturday night a Continental airplane caught fire in taxing phase
Hard days for US due to the bad weather. Last Saturday 500 flights have been grounded in New York airports, and yesterday 650 in NY and 200 in Chicago for a worsening of the situation. Saturday night... more

IndustryRolls-Royce awarded UK helicopter support contract
London, UK - For £ 258 million
"Rolls-Royce has been awarded a £258 million contract by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to provide engine support to the UK's Sea King helicopter fleet. The 10-year full availability-based agreement... more

ReportBomb alarm for an Aeroflot airplane
Athens, Greece - According to the Greek civil aviation agency report it
The Greek Civil Aviation Agency reported today the news about a bomb-alarm on a Russian Aeroflot's airplane: "A unknown man called saying that there was a bomb on Aeroflot airplane flying between Athens... more

ReportAfghanistan: US drones killed eight Talibans
Dera Ismail Khan , Afghanistan - Reported by intelligence agency officials
Suspected U.S. drones fired at least two missiles into Pakistan's South Waziristan region on the Afghan border on Monday, killing seven people, intelligence agency officials and residents said. U.S.... more

AirlinesAlitalia (3): the letter by Unions to the Minister of State Gianni Letta
Rome, Italy - Hard penalizations on several fronts
"The current situation as regards the hiring by CAI (Compagnia Aerea Italiana) is serious and requests an urgent intervention". This is the appeal by Filt Cgil, Fit Cisl, Uil-Trasporti e Ugl-Trasporti... more

Press releaseEU Court of Justice: compensation to passengers also in case of the cancellation of a flight on account of technical problems in the aircraft
Luxembourg, Luxembourg - Except for extraordinary circumstances
"Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-549/07 - Friederike Wallentin-Hermann v Alitalia The Regulation on compensation and assistance to air passengers (1) provides that, in case of cancellation... more

AirportsSOGAER, the Chamber of commerce intends to make over the 40% of its shares
Cagliari, Italy - Within March the start-up of the privatization process
The Cagliari Chamber of Commerce is ready to make over the 40% of SOGAER, Cagliari-Elmas Airport Management Company. The privatization process should be started within March, and should be concluded within... more

IndustryAlenia Aeronautica: C-27J selected by Slovakia
Rome, Italy - The MoD announced the public tender on August 8th
"Organizational departments of Slovak Ministry of Defense fulfilling the armament tasks in cooperation with the Army of the Slovak Republic started to solve the need for proper transport capacity based... more

SecurityFAA AD on Boeing model 757 airplanes (2008-25-08)
Washington, Usa - To prevent a potential ignition source inside the fuel tank in combination with flammable fuel vapors could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register: [Page 75314-75316] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part... more

SecurityFAA AD on Dassault model Mystere-Falcon 50 airplanes (2008-25-04)
Washington, Usa - To identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register: [Page 75319-75321] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part... more

AirlinesEurofly: partial results regarding the increase of capital in cash
Milan, Italy - Subscriptions for a value equal to about EUR 29,3 m
"Eurofly communicates that, according to the increase of capital in cash for maximum EUR 44 m for a period of offer from December 1st-19, 2008, to date result revenues for a value equal to EUR 29,3 m.... more

AirlinesMeridiana: announced a four hour strike on January 19th
Milan, Italy - Following negative results of the first two meeting on the personnel mobility procedure
All personnel of Meridiana Group announces a four hour strike on January 19th. The protest, proclaimed by FILT-CGIL, FIT-CISL, UIL-Trasporti, ANPAV, APM and Unione Piloti, has been announced after the... more

AirlinesAlitalia (2): booing for extraordinary administrator Augusto Fantozzi in via della Magliana
Rome, Italy - Cancelled several flights in Fiumicino Airport
Postponed at 3:00 pm the meeting between CAI (Compagnia Aerea Italiana) and Unions. The 1,500 Alitalia employees continue the protest manning the airline's Headquarters in via della Magliana, Rome. Booing... more

AirlinesCAI (2): new meeting with Air France-KLM; within the end of the year
Rome, Italy - Compromise still not found
Controversial negotiations between CAI (Compagnia Aerea Italiana) and Air France-KLM. Following the last week's meeting CAI would have proposed to the French-Dutch airline to take over shares with equal... more

AirlinesCAI: offices confirmed and indiscretions on the new management
Rome, Italy - Surprise candidacy of Maurizio Beretta for the foreign relations
News for Alitalia management. Latest press indiscretions report Gianluigi Di Francesco as International Information Technology Manager, Paola Magnani confirmed Sales Manager, Giorgio Callegari (ex-AirOne)... more

AirlinesAlitalia: 1,500 employees man the via della Magliana Headquarters, "CAI does not respect the agreement"
Rome, Italy - Troubles in Fiumicino Airport
Unions worry about CAI (Compagnia Aerea Italiana)'s policy adopted as regards the hiring's criteria: "CAI does not respect the agreement". According to some AVIONEWS sources, this morning 1,500 AZ Airport... more

IndustryAlenia Aeronautica signs contract for four maritime patrol ATR-72 airplanes
Rome, Italy - The aircraft will be delivered to the Italian Air Force starting from 2012
"Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica company, and the Direzione Generale Armamenti Aeronautici (General Management for Aeronautical Armaments) of the Defence Ministry, have reached an agreement for the... more

IndustryEmbraer sells 11 E-jets to British Airways
São José dos Campos, Brazil - Fleet modernization centers on 170 and 190SRs for BA CityFlyer
"Embraer and British Airways signed a contract for 11 E-Jets, comprised of six EMBRAER 170 and five EMBRAER 190SR jets, to be operated by BA CityFlyer. BA CityFlyer is British Airways’ wholly owned regional s... more

OccurrencesContinental Airlines about a B-737/500 airplane went off the runway in Denver
Houston, Usa - With 110 passengers and five crew members on board
"Continental Airlines confirmed that flight 1404, a Boeing 737-500 aircraft carrying 110 customers and five crew members, went off the runway at Denver International Airport following a scheduled 6 p.m.... more

AirportsNaples: about 210,000 passengers forecast in transit for Christmas holidays
Naples, Italy - From December 19, 2008 to on January 7, 2009
"The passengers in transit at Naples' airport will be about 210,000 on the occasion of Christmas holidays, from December 19 to on January 7, 2009: 130,000 on national routes, 70,000 on international and... more

AerospaceTelespazio wins contract in Turkey for the Göktürk satellite system
Rome, Italy - A deal worth more than 250 million Euros
Telespazio, a Finmeccanica/Thales company, has won a tender as prime contractor, supported by Thales Alenia Space (a Thales/Finmeccanica company), from the Turkish Ministry of Defence for the Göktürk s... more

HelicoptersAustralia: on the horizon the Eurocopter MRH-90 helicopter
Sydney, Australia - The first locally-assembled aircraft
Australia’s Project AIR 9000 achieved another significant milestone today when the Australian Defence Force (ADF) formally accepted from leading regional defence contractor, Eurocopter subsidiary Australian A... more