AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
102,330 news found
Science and technologyBiometric scanners? Do not "laugh at" them
London, UK - The new technological device for passport identity detection would not work for photos with brilliant smiles
British Home Office would have completed the new rules regarding passports, deciding that the resort to the new biometric scanners at the boundaries will not allow brilliant smiles on the related photos.... more
AerospaceThe Congress aid is necessary to send Shuttle in the space
Washigton, Usa - It needs USD 900m to make safe the next space shuttle missions
Nasa said that new funds are necessary to implement all the safety systems essential to send again in the space the Shuttle, after the Columbia’s incident, occurred in February 1 2003, when the shuttle r... more
Civil aviationS-300 missiles to protect Athens' Olympic Games
Athens, Greece - Some batteries to be located in Crete island in order to increase the long-range defence of the territory
Greek Government had unveiled some days ago that the Olympic Games would have been defended even by the resort to the Patriot PAC-3 surface-to-air missiles, located nearby Athens in order to provide a... more
AirlinesOil price (2): Air France-KLM's reactions
Paris, France - The two carriers announce that have sufficient reserve to contain the negative effects of the situation at least until the end of 2004
The Air France-KLM alliance has released that the rising fuel cost should not negatively affect the situation of the two carriers, at least till the end of the current year. Fuel reserve would be sufficiently... more
Weather forecastsRed Bull Air Race on next August 20
Budapest, Hungary - A real competition among acrobatic flight's aces
The great air show devoted to Red Bull's acrobatic performances is going to occur in Budapest on next August 20. The Red Bull Air Race is more a real competition among skillful pilots coming from all over... more
PeopleItalian Vice-Minister of Transport, Tassone: "The new ruling on the air transport to warrant higher safety"
Rome, Italy - He points out some details regarding Ministry, Enac and Enav's competences
Italian Vice-Minister for Infrastructures and Transport, Mario Tassone, has indicated some significant aspects of the future reform of the air transport sector in Italy (see for details AVIONEWS). Tassone... more
AirlinesAir Canada grew in July thanks to Pacific routes
Montreal, Canada - Some difficulties still affect it anyway regarding domestic and Atlantic flights
Air Canada is progressively trying to improve its own financial condition and it analyses the first concrete results regarding such effort, on the basis of the recent details unveiled with reference to... more
AirlinesMalev will sell off by end October
Budapest, Hungary - Buyers are urgently required for repayment debts and to increase airline's capital
Yesterday, agency for Hungary’s state privatization said that a tender for the sell off of the state’s stake in the Malev, the ailing national airline, would plan in late October. Hungarian Government in... more
Science and technologyFiumicino: fire alarm in a restaurant
Rome, Italy - Security system is started: all safe and travellers had no problems
This morning, a short-circuit to fridges in the kitchens of a restaurant, placed in the C pier at international airport of Fiumicino, caused a beginning of fire. "Piazza di Spagna" restaurant employees... more
DefenseThe new US defence's account has been approved
Washington, USA - Some USD 417bn mainly devoted to the fighting against international terrorism and missions abroad
US President George W. Bush signed yesterday the new US defence account 2004-2005. Investments, with a total value of some USD 417bn, are mainly based on the need for reinforcing the general American defensive... more
PeopleOil price: Iata warns about the situation
Rome, Italy - And Italian Government thinks about the opportunity for an intervention in order to contain the negative effects for the transport sector
Oil market's situation appears particularly delicate in this period, as oil price goes on rising and, as a consequence, also aviation fuels' cost increases, with serious effects for the air transport sector.... more
SecurityUSA's fighter-bombers attack Samarra and Najaf
Samarra, Iraq - Rebels would have been hit with guided munitions by US Air Force starting from last night
The Iraqi city of Samarra would have been involved since the last night by a constant fighting activity between US forces anf the rebels. Samarra, some 125 km north from Baghdad, would be considered by... more
AirlinesSN Brussels Airlines: as from October flights to Moscow will increase
Brussels, Belgium - The route inaugurated last Spring was a success: as from the next Autumn the Belgian airline will offer extra frequencies
In the last March the SN Brussels Airlines inaugurated Moscow-Brussels route, which met with great success as travellers number: for this, as from the next Autumn the present 5 weekly flights will become... more
AirlinesAlitalia (2): meetings with the trade unions during August
Rome, Italy - The last one before the Assumption to occur on August 9, then everything will fully start again from August 23
Alitalia's board and the trade unions' representatives are going to gather on next August 9 for the last time before the Assumption's pause. On such occasion, matters regarding the commercial sector will... more
Civil aviationFAA AD on Airbus model A-330, A-340/200, and A-340/300 series airplanes
Usa - To detect and correct corrosion pitting and cracking of the piston rods for the MLG retraction actuators, which could result in rupture of a piston rod, non-damped extension of the MLG, high loads on the fully extended MLG, and consequent reduced
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register Information [Federal Register: August 4, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 149)] [Page 46979-46981] Header Information Header... more
AirlinesAlitalia: the long-range fleet to be strengthened
Rome, Italy - The carrier schedules to extend it by 2007
Alitalia intends to extend its own fleet starting from 2007, on the basis of the new business plan under approval and that will be implemented till 2008. It would be unveiled by carrier's and trade unions'... more
AirportsHiroshima: today is the 59th anniversary of the first atomic bombardment of the history
Tokyo, Japan - As well in Rome a tribute to further 200.000 victims of nuclear explosion
Today is the 59th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombardment, to which followed Nagasaki after only 3 days, the author of which, Charles W. Sweeney, died at the age of 84 years last July 19 (see AVIONEWS). This... more
Civil aviationFBI agent feigns a weapons trader: two Islamic militants were arrested
Albany, USA - They intended to buy a portable missile-launcher
A FBI agent suggested to some Albany's mosque representatives to purchase a portable missile-launcher while he feigned a weapons trader. After the first negotiations, even the mosque's Imam himself would... more
AccidentsCollision in flight between a hang-glider and a helicopter: all are safe
Vienna, Austria - In such area the Austrian national helicopter championship was occurring
This morning a hang-glider collided in flight with a helicopter near Stainach, close to Graz in Austria. The incident protagonist, a 43 man, has suffered only for slight injuries, because thanks to his... more
Latest newsThe BAe Systems' contribution for the T-50 Golden Eagle
Seoul, South Korea - The British group to provide avionics components for the new South Korean advanced trainer
The new T-50 Golden Eagle advanced trainer, jointly produced by South Korean KAI and US Lockheed Martin, will be also endowed of BAe Systems-made avionics components. KAI has recently unveiled the sign... more
Science and technologyThe Paris Airport's Terminal 2E to be partially re-opened
Paris, France - It would have been unveiled by air station's operator
ADP, the Paris "Charles de Gaulle" International Airport’s operator, has recently made know that a section of the Terminal 2E of the air station, the one involved by the accident occurred on last May 2... more
AirlinesAlitalia (3): "The carrier cannot be considered in the same way of Fiorentina Soccer Team"
Rome, Italy - Italian Vice-Minister of Economy, Mario Baldassarri, would not agree with the hypothesis for creating a new company to favour the relaunch
Italian Vice-Minister of Economy, Mario Baldassarri, recently commented about Alitalia's situation. According to Baldassarri, "One cannot consider carrier's condition in the same way of the one which affected... more
CuriositiesThief ready to be repatriated makes a break from airline backward door
Boulogne, Italy - The fugitive, a 24 Albanian, has been recognized in a centre bar last evening
The last July 30, a young Albanian Deda Ervin, with tens prosecutions for theft all over North-Italy, was stopped in Boulogne and locked up in the Temporary Stay Centre: he's ready to be repatriated, and... more
AirlinesCash inflow for the Swiss International Airlines
Berna, Switzerland - CHF 70m in order to relieve airline finances
The Swiss International Airlines will get almost CHF 70m in blocked funds settling a dispute out of court money owed predecessor Swissair. The loss-making Swiss airline said that CHF 68,7m tied up in France... more
DefenseUSA to deploy the first missiles of the new shield by the end of 2005
Washington, USA - Pentagon intends to face in this way any kind of nuclear threat which can be designed by the next 20 years
Despite remarkable criticism against the investment devoted to the related programme, the new US "missile shield" should be ready by the end of this year (and not starting from next September as it was... more
Science and technologyUSA's Government is ready to reduce Chicago airport traffic
Chicago, USA - O'Hare air station situation hasn't been overcome: flights will limit during the busiest times of the day
On Wednesday US aviation regulators threatened to again cap commercial flights at Chicago’s "O’Hare" airport (see news AVIONEWS) to reduce delays that are slowing down the rest of the nation’s aviation syste... more
PeopleAir transport's reform in Italy to start again on next September 3
Rome, Italy - It would have been announced by Italian Minister for Infrastructures and Transport Lunardi
Italian Minister for Transport and Infrastructures, Pietro Lunardi, would have recently made know that on next September 3 Government should show, within a formal meeting, a draft in order to concretely... more
HelicoptersUpdating activities for military helicopters are increasing
Washington, USA - The related market would be involved by an impressive extension which should last for ten years
According to recent analyses carried out by some US researchers with reference to the helicopter sector, during the next ten years the military helicopter market will be involved by a massive business... more
DefenseSwitzerland: is compulsory military service near to an end?
Berne, Switzerland - Government would be thinking to encourage the professionalization of the armed forces but many opponents exist
Swiss Government would be seriously thinking to an opportunity for cancel the compulsory military service. Such decision, however, is being considered in all its relevance, when taking into account that... more
CuriositiesDelta Air Lines commissions one of the greatest wall-painting in the USA
New York, USA - The New York's airline pays tribute to the Big Apple
The last July 27, the wall-painting commissioned by Delta Air Lines "New York to the world" was inaugurated: it images 17 cities in the world, and it was placed on the top of a building between 34th street... more
AirlinesVirgin Atlantic Airways selects the Airbus A-340/600
London, UK - This purchase belongs to the fleet strengthening programme
Virgin Atlantic Airways selects the Airbus A-340 in order to reinforce its own fleet. The carrier of the multimillionaire Richard Branson intends to double the amount of its fleet within some five years,... more
AerospaceRussia: "The USA must share the costs for deploying the Soyuz"
Moscow, Russia - Russian Space Agency would not be willing to carry on its pinning of travel's costs towards the ISS
After the disaster which involved the Columbia Space Shuttle in 2003, the United States had to face several problems in order to carry on their own space activities, and the next launch of a US-made space-ship... more
AirlinesFinnair: handling strike is over
Helsinki, Finland - Today staff come to work, but talks will continue
On Wednesday evening, the brief strike called by Finnair handling staff is over: the abstention from work left the airline unable to load and unload travellers luggage. Finnair estimated less than 100... more
Science and technologyRome-Fiumicino: security measures are intensified because of the last terroristic threats
Fiumicino, Italy - At the Roman airport the new alarm level is "Bravo"
To face the threats against Italy from Al Hafsa al-Masri Brigades, at the "Leonardo da Vinci" airport of Rome-Fiumicino alarm level rose: the new safety device is called "Bravo", and it determines a greater... more
AccidentsPakistani Army's helicopter crashed
Islamabad, Pakistan - The reason for such accident, which killed 13 persons, could be maybe a technical failure
A Pakistani Army's helicopter would have fallen headlong today, in the north-western region of the country. This aircraft, a Mil Mi-17, was carrying ten persons together with its three crew's members,... more
AccidentsMarine's helicopter was shot down in Iraq
Najaf, Iraq - Its two crew members would have been injured
During the struggle which is occurring in these hours at the Iraqi city of Najaf, a Marine Corps' UH-1 helicopter would have been shot down by Al-Sadr's soldiers. American military forces' personnel immediately... more
Latest newsGreece asks Turkey for honouring its own air space
Athens, Greece - "The Olympic truce must be honoured by everyone", Government spokesman, Roussopoulos, said
A Greek Government spokesman stated he communicated at Turkish Embassy in Athens an official requirement, in order to force Turkey to avoid of trespassing country's air space, as it occurred during the... more
AirlinesAir Dolomiti: win the new Škoda Octavia Ambiente 1.9 TDI with the competition Winner Class of the air company and Miles&More
Ronchi dei Legionari, Italy - To participate to it, that will last until November, is easy: enough to click on the website and according to instructions
"Air Dolomiti in collaboration with Miles&More and Skoda Business, launches the fantastic Winner Class competition: parts with the Miles & More program, win and share with the new Skoda Octavia Ambiente... more
Civil aviationLula: fighters to defend Brazil from the plague of drug
Brasilia, Brazil - On the basis of a new bill, Brazilian Air Force will be able to shoot down aircraft employed for drug traffic
Lula's Government is firmly willing to stop drug traffic performed in his country by the resort to aircraft. For such purpose, Brazilian Government would have produced a bill aimed to regulate the possibility... more
Latest newsUAV: investments to be doubled within the next ten years
Washington, USA - Concern for the American and European products and programmes in this segment is rising by Asian and Middle Eastern countries
The United States are attaching much importance to the unmanned aircraft's sector in the military segment, and this issue has recently been pointed out by some firms which deal with market analyses regarding... more
AirlinesBritish Airways: an indipendent arbitration to avert strike
London, United Kingdom - Unions disagree, it will go ballot
Yesterday the British Airways said that it offered unions the option of appointing an indipendent arbitrator to resolve a stalemate over pay talks and to avert the danger strikes at Britain’s air stations t... more
AirlinesAre the low-cost carriers dying out?
London, UK - It would have been underlined by British press due to the rising costs and fierce competition
British press warns about the low cost carriers' situation. It seems in fact that the fierce competition among the about 50 carriers of this segment in Europe is not only determining a constant dramatic... more
AirlinesGermanwings: since October 30 it will link Stuttgart with 13 European destinations
Stuttgart, Germany - Frequencies of the Stuttgart/Berlin-Shoenefeld route have been intensified
The Germanwings, low-cost airline of Berlin airport of Shoenefeld, decided to increase the European routes, introducing 7 new destinations: so Stuttgart will be linked to 15 Union cities. The new services... more
AirlineseasyJet announces its first flight from Turin-Caselle to London-Luton
Turin, Italy - The Turinese airport will become the sixth Italian one served by easyJet. Other routes will arrive in the next months
"easyJet, the low-cost airline leader in Europe, announces its first route in departure from Turin-Caselle for London-Luton. With the launch of this new flight, the collaboration between the Turinese airport... more
Civil aviationBomb alarm on a Korean Air's flight
Anchorage, USA - The 747 en route from Seoul to New York was forced to land for necessary checks but no bomb was found
A Korean Air's Boeing 747 en route from Seoul to New York was forced to land at Anchorage Airport (Alaska) on last Tuesday 3 August, due to a warning signal regarding a bomb. Such alarm would have been... more
AirlinesAlitalia (2): Board of Directors' member Serafino Gatti resigns
Rome, Italy - Carrier's board to co-opt for its successor on next August 30
One of the members of Alitalia's Board of Directors created last June, Serafino Gatti, resigned yesterday. Carrier's board has made know that the new member will be co-opted on the basis of advice by the... more
AirlinesAlitalia: additional saving for some EUR 250m by 2006
Rome, Italy - It has been unveiled by the carrier which intends even to strengthen its presence at Fiumicino and Malpensa for the international routes
The latest meeting between Alitalia's board and the trade unions' representatives occurred yesterday, has shown that the carrier is going on describing some details related to the new business plan of... more
AccidentsRussian helicopter fell headlong in Siberia
Moscow, Russia - The 15 persons on board died
A Russian helicopter fell headlong today in the Tiumen region, in western Siberia. It would be a Mil Mi-8 which carried some 15 persons (the three crew's members and 12 passengers), as it would have been... more
IndustryLitton Systems Inc. awarded of a over 5 USDm contract
Washington, Usa - For the F/A-18 aircraft
Litton Systems Inc., Laser Systems, Apopka, Fla., is being awarded a $5,688,080 contract for procurement of laser transmitter-receivers that are part of the forward looking infrared (FLIR) pod to support... more
IndustryGeneral Electric Aircraft Engines awarded of a over 7 USDm contract
Washington, Usa - For the H-46E helicopters
General Electric Aircraft Engines, General Electric Co., Lynn, Mass., is being awarded a $7,458,464 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-priced contract (N00019-02-C-3021) to purchase an additional... more