AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,639 news found
AerospaceAriane-5: European rocket launch has been postponed
Paris, France - It is expected to put into orbit the Spaceway 2 and Telkom 2
It was expected to leave on Sunday night from its base in French Guyana, but the launch of the European rocket Ariane-5 has been cancelled. "Arianespace decided to postpone Ariane-5 ECA mission, scheduled... more
AerospaceRussian satellites currently in orbit are outmoded
Moscow, Russia - Roskosmos director, Anatoli Permikov, said it
Director of Russian space agency Roskosmos, Anatoli Permikov, during a hearing before the Federal Council, the Russian Parliament, affirmed that: "Thirty-three of 40 our military satellites have exceeded... more
CuriositiesA snake on a Swiss flight from Zurich to Moscow spread panic on board
Zurich, Switzerland - A Russian boy's escapade will cost his family dearly
A 20-year-boy, boarded with his mother, brought a 25-centimetre snake with him from Switzerland. He concealed it into his trousers and managed to evade security controls. During boarding operations the... more
AirlinesRyanair: EUR 1bn investments in Frankfurt-Hahn Airport
Frankfurt, Germany - Announcement has been given by Irish carrier CEO Michael O'Leary
Ryanair is going to invest up to EUR 1bn in new aircraft at Frankfurt-Hahn Airport by 2012 so scheduling 50 routes, 8m passengers and 8000 jobs, according to the Irish carrier. Some EUR 12.5m will be provided... more
PeopleEurocontrol: Sesame press conference next Thursday morning in Brussels
Brussels, Belgium - On the occasion of the launch of the definition phase of the programme
EUROCONTROL announces the press conference (at 9:30 am on Thursday 17 November 2005 at its headquarters in Brussels) on the occasion of the launch of the Definition Phase of the Single European Sky Implementation... more
HelicoptersVenezuela: three Russian military helicopters arriving
Caracas, Venezuela - Part of the orders concerning some 15 aircraft including Mil Mi-17s, Mi-26Ts and Mi-35s
Three Russian-made military helicopters are going to arrive in Venezuela by the end of this year. Sources from the South American country announced it with reference to the total order of 15 rotor-winged... more
DefenseItalian Navy attending "Exploring Themis" multinational exercise
Rome, Italy - From November 14 to 18 with 17 countries attending
Military and civil forces from 17 countries will attend "Exploring Themis" multinational exercise from November 14 to 18, concerning weapon of mass destruction proliferation. Australia, Canada, Denmark,... more
AirlinesBulgaria Air: Government may list minority stake in the carrier on bourse
Sophia, Bulgaria - "Dnevnik" local newspaper reported it
The final goal is privatizing Bulgaria Air. Meanwhile, Sophia Government is planning to list a minority stake in the carrier on bourse. Bulgarian Transport Ministry will decide sale procedures at the end... more
Civil defenseRussia: Putin likes the Israeli UAVs
Moscow, Russia - Industrial collaboration agreements between the two countries with additional growth prospects
Russian President, Vladimir Putin, would have proven quite interested in the Israeli-made remote-controlled aircraft. Israeli specialized industry and Russian aerospace companies would have signed collaboration... more
AirlinesAmerican airlines to got ready for the "Thanksgiving" holiday
Washington, USA - Simply reccommendations from the ATA to quick boarding operations
In the United States, the Thanksgiving Day, next Saturday November 19, will start a long period of holiday untill Tuesday November 29. The Air Transport Association (ATA) is forecasting that over 20 million... more
AirlinesLufthansa now owns Eurowings capital stock
Brussels, Belgium - The German carrier communicated it to European Commission
Firstly, Lufthansa’s CEO, Wolfgang Mayrhuber had stated not to be interested in acquiring the fully control of Eurowings: previously Lufthansa held 49% of Eurowings. But Lufthansa communicated to European C... more
People"Open Skies" historic agreement between USA and Canada
Washington, USA - There are not more restrictions on flights number, the kind of aircraft to use, and prices
Canada and United States have reached an open skies agreement which removes all restrictions on air services previously existing that airlines had to observe. The agreement, completed after 3 days of talks... more
Latest newsUS Senate ready to save the C-17s
Washington, USA - Orders for additional 42 vehicles could arrive when considering the operational and strategic exigencies
Mass production line shutdown for the C-17 Globemaster IIIs had been scheduled by 2008 deciding to keep orders just for 180 vehicles instead of 220. However, now it seems that US Senate can save the programme... more
PeopleChina to import at least 100 planes per year
Beijing, China - The almond-shaped eyes giant is about to monopolize the market
Considering growth standard of country’s economy, China’s civil aviation sector will continue to keep a strong momentum during the next five years. CAAC, Chinese Civil Aviation Authority, has already inf... more
PeopleA-350: Airbus to avoid to indicate the break-even
Toulouse, France - Company's representatives would consider a mistake what done with the A-380 while hope for 200 orders by the end of 2005 for the A-330 derivative
Airbus’ officers would think that to unveil the number of orders needed to achieve the break-even with regarding the A-380 programme (orders for 250 airframes, some 159 have been done so far) and they w... more
AirlinesDelta Airlines: USD 1.13bn loss in the third quarter
New York, USA - The higher loss was due to fuel cost increase
Delta Airlines sought Chapter 11 protection in September 14 (see for details AVIONEWS). It registered an USD 1.13bn loss in its third quarter: loss went beyond all expectations and was due to fuel high... more
IndustrySelex Sistemi Integrati signed an agreement with Ericsson
Rome, Italy - It includes a cooperation for next generation of radar systems
Selex Sistemi Integrati and Ericsson have signed an agreement to jointly develop, produce and market next generation of radar systems. "This industrial co-operation with Selex Sistemi Integrati in the... more
AirlinesIberia increased flights between Madrid and Rio de Janeiro
Madrid, Spain - So it passes from 4 to 5 weekly connections
Iberia has launched a new daily air service between Spain’s capital and Rio de Janeiro. Previously the carrier served the Brazilian coastal city with four weekly flights that now become five. Iberia’s rou... more
AirlinesSwiss International carried 829.104 passengers in October
Basel, Switzerland - Load factor was up 78.8%
The Swiss carrier, born from Swissair (see for details AVIONEWS), communicated the operational data of October. Load facto was 78.8%, 1.1 more than October 2004. European routes posted a 68.2 load factor,... more
PeopleEmbraer shows its new "Phenoms"
Brasilia, Brazil - The Light and the Very Light became respectively the Phenom 300 and the Phenom 100
The Light and the Very Light jets of Embraer will be respectively named Phenom 300 and Phenom 100. The Brazilian company revealed not only the new names of the two executive airplanes, but also some basic... more
MiscellaneousScientist arrested for illegal export of Russian technologies
Moscow, Russia - He is Igor Reshetin, general director of TsNIIMASH-Export company
Russian scientist Igor Reshetin, general director of TsNIIMASH-Export, company engaged in exporting space technologies, has been arrested by the FSB, the Russian intelligence service agency, for illegal... more
PeopleAVIONEWS' Specials: Captain Renzo Dentesano analysed the Italian Air Station Regulation
Rome, Italy - Aspects concerning terms, safety and effects on the Airport Director
Captains Renzo Dentesano analysed some aspects concerning the new Italian Code of Navigation and the Air Station Regulation. ENAC (Italian National Civil Aviation Authority) President, Vito Riggio, commented... more
AirlinesAlitalia (3): 11 banks set a warranty consortium
Rome, Italy - Banks list and the related consortium stakes
Deutsche Bank has got a 55.3% stake. The other members are Banca Intesa (24,.2%), UBM-Unicredit Banca Mobiliare (6%), Societè generale (6%), Lehman Brothers (6%), San Paolo IMI (6%), Nomura (4,.8%), MCC... more
AirlinesAlitalia (2): "Alitalia is performing a capital increase which no one wants"
New York, USA - "Wall Street Journal" wrote
The "Wall Street Journal" commented on the Alitalia capital increase saying that banks attending to the procedure do not want it anymore as just few investors can accept such a measure when considering... more
AccidentsAirplane crashed in Nigeria: there is no trace of black boxes
Lagos, Nigeria - The head of the investigation team revealed it
Investigators failed to find the black boxes containing flight data and voice recorders in the site of the accident occurred in Nigeria at the Boeing 737 of Bellview Airlines killing 111 passengers and... more
IndustryFinmeccanica: an excellent performance in the 3rdQ 2005
Rome, Italy - Also growing revenues up to a 10% for 2006 have been forecasted
The 3rdQ 2005 appears more than a positive one for Finmeccanica group which reported an increasing net income up to EUR 76m, also forecasting rising revenues compared to 2004 at the end of this year (+20%).... more
SecurityBulgaria: fighters identified a suspicious civil aircraft
Sofia, Bulgaria - A false alarm involved a regular Lufthansa's flight
A Lufthansa’s airplane in flight over Bulgaria would have been intercepted by two Bulgarian Air Force’s fighters. Ground controllers would have found difficult to identify the civil aircraft, at first thi... more
Latest newsFirst South African JAS-39 Gripen flies
Stockholm, Sweden - Trials have been performed in the Swedish territory; meanwhile, two fighters escorted an Armenian A-320 in difficulty to Germany yesterday
First SAAB/BAe JAS-39 Gripen twin seats light multirole fighter for South African Air Force performed its maiden flight on last November 11 in Sweden, a completely different environment compared to the... more
DefenseItalian "Search and Destroy" operation in Iraq
Baghdad, Iraq - Italian Joint Task Force discovered a considerable quantitative of weapons and munitions
Italian Defence General Staff informed that it has been found in Iraq last November 11, a considerable quantitative of weapons and munitions, including three "Sa7" anti-aircraft missiles, five RPG7 launchers,... more
Weather forecastsFAI World Grand Prix will be held in the UAE in January
Rome, Italy - It will be the third consecutive year that the it has been held in the Arabic country, in the Al Ain desert
The next FAI World Grand Prix competition will be held in the U.A.E. during the 2006 AL AIN AEROBATIC SHOW. The Aerobatic Show will run for 5 days (11 to 15 January), with the FAI World Grand Prix taking... more
Civil aviationFiumicino: Iberia's flight departed with two hour-delay due to supposed terrorist aboard
Rome, Italy - The denounce made by a schizophrenic woman turned out to be a groundless alarm
The Spanish native woman of 45 years who asked Iberia airlines, operating the Madrid-headed flight IB-3601, for stopping takeoff due to the presence of a supposed terrorist on the Boeing B-757, has been... more
PeopleA-380 seizing Asia-Pacific region
Sydney, Australia - The hige Airbus airliner started testing at airport structures in several sites both in Asian and Oceania
A week-end spent in the Pacific Ocean for the Airbus A-380. The European maker’s huge 555-840 seats airliner started testing for compatibility with some air stations in the wide region beginning at Singapore I... more
AccidentsCargo plane crashed in Afghanistan: 8 fatalities
Kabul, Afghanistan - Russians, Ukrainians and Pakistani among victims
Eight people were killed in the air crash occurred last Friday involving an Ilyushin 76MD Ilyushin 76MD plane owned by Global Georgian Airways and operated by the Pakistan-based Royal Airlines Cargo to... more
AirlinesAlitalia: worry about recapitalization
Rome, Italy - Markets did not react in an encouraging manner and unions go on proving doubtful about the related procedure
Negotiation offer period about Alitalia recapitalization (up to EUR 1bn) started today by an effort performed by more than ten banks, despite the airline lost more than a 10% at the Italian Stock Exchange... more
Weather forecastsAir shows and exhibitions in the third week of November
Rome, Italy - From today on Monday 14 to next Sunday 20
Monday 14 - Gliding - New South Wales State Championships. Lake Keepit Soaring Centre, New South Wales, Australia. + 61 2 6769 7514 www.users.bigpond.com/keepitsoaring/nsw2005/nsw05.html - Gliding... more
PeopleMost important news of the week: a EUR 1bn recapitalization for Alitalia
Rome, Italy - The Boeing 777-200LR performed the longest flight in history by travelling for some 2,300 km without stopping
Alitalia, ADR and Boeing have been in centre of attention for civil aviation from November 7 to 13. Airlines - Alitalia’s recapitalization achieved a go-ahead up to EUR 1bn. Banca Intesa will do i... more
DefenseMost important news of the week: RAI News 24 denounced the deployment of white phosphorous in Iraq as a weapon
Rome, Italy - A kamikaze attempt by Al Qaeda in Jordan killed 57 persons and injured 300 in hotel structures patronized by Western people
Debates due to Iraqi situation and disasters produced by a heavy terroristic attempt in Jordan have been dominating defence sector between November 7 and 13. Defence- The United States would have used... more
AirlinesUnited Airlines: 2000 employments coming up
Washington, USA - The airline made the last recruitment 4 years before
About 2000 flight attendants could be soon hired by the US airline according to the yesterday’s edition of "Washington Post" newspaper. United Airlines filed the Chapter 11 in December 2002 and put forward i... more
CuriositiesPaul McCartney to perform live for ISS crew
Washington, USA - It is the first time that a live concert will be transmitted to a spacecraft
The ex-Beatles Paul McCartney will perform live for the crew of the ISS (International Space Station) tomorrow -Sunday November 13-. American astronaut William McArthur and Russian cosmonaut Valery Tokarev... more
AirportsItalian contingent in Kabul: 9000 glasses donated to two city hospitals
Khabul, Afghanistan - Thanks to a cooperation agreement between the contingent and the Italian Lions Clubs
Thanks to a cooperation agreement between the Italian contingent and the Italian Lions Clubs, some 9000 glasses will be donated to two Kabul hospitals. Most common eye medical problems have been explained... more
PeopleAirbus launched an "Elite" A-318
Toulouse, France - It will be part of the ACJ series and produced in cooperation with Lufthansa Technik
The Airbus A-318, as the smallest in the A-320 family, even becomes a business jet and joins the ACJ (Airbus Corporate Jetliner) series. A special version of the aircraft will be produced with 14 or 18... more
Fair and showsEmbraer appointed Ernest Edwards Vice-President, Executive Aviation Marketing and Sales
São José dos Campos, Brazil - For USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean
Embraer announced the appointment of Ernest Edwards as Vice-President, Executive Aviation Marketing and Sales for the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, joining the Company’s world-class sales team a... more
Civil aviationATC EUC: too much responsibility put down to traffic control for the Linate disaster
Paris, France - European unions representing this trade would think so, asking for a new full and just technical analysis
ATC EUC (Air Traffic Controllers European Unions Coordination) commented on the trial concerning Linate accident, hoping a turning point regarding Judge’s decision. A Court’s technicians should be app... more
PeopleIcao convenes conference to develop global strategy for aviation safety
Montreal, Canada - It will be held at the Organization’s Headquarters from 20 to 22 March 2006
Transparency and sharing of information will be among the major issues to be discussed at a worldwide safety conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation (DGCAs) convened by the International Civil... more
AccidentsCargo plane crashed in Afghanistan (3): it was an Ilyushin Il-76
Kabul, Afghanistan - Number of fatalities is still uncertain
News about the number of victims are still conflicting, they may be eight or ten as it has previously published (see for details AVIONEWS). But it appears certain that plane crashed against a mountain... more
Government actsQuestion time: flights London-Brindisi-Bari by Ryanair have been reduced
Rome, Italy - By senator Giuseppe Specchia (Alleanza Nazionale)
Italian senator Specchia asked Italian Minister of Infrastructures and Transport for knowing which kind of steps he intends to take in order that Ryanair daily flights from London to Bari via Brindisi... more
Government actsQuestion time: white phosphorous sticks scattered on Fallujah by rotary wing aircraft
Rome, Italy - By senator Luigi Malabarba (Misto-Altre componenti del gruppo)
Italian senator Malabarba asked Italian Minister of Defence for making clear if it was proved that US Army has manifestly violated the convention of Geneva in Iraq and if Italian troops have been informed... more
DefenseHerat: Defence, Foreign Affairs and Civil Defence renewed civil hospital
Herat, Afghanistan - The building has been named "400 beds Hospital"
The emergency unit of Herat civil hospital has been inaugurated last Wednesday. The "400 beds Hospital" can host more than 700 people: it was totally renewed thanks to funds destined by Italian Defence... more
MiscellaneousAbu Omar kidnapping: will a photo nail the CIA?
Milan, Italy - Italian Judge would have found it in a computer belonging to a US intelligence's member
A photo could nail CIA’s members who would have kidnapped Milan Quaranta Street Mosque Egyptian Imam Abu Omar in February 2003. It would deal with an image produced one month before the kidnapping in a... more
Science and technologyTerrorism (2): Swedish airport of Karlstad reopened
Stockholm, Swedish - It was a false alarm
The emergency at Swedish Karlstad Airport is ended: around 1:40pm a voice about a possible presence of a suicide attempter was circulated forcing police to order the evacuation. The regional airport has... more