AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,641 news found
ReportScheduled links restart between China and Taiwan
Beijng, China - For the first time in 60 years
For the first time in 60 years Chinese and Taiwanese airlines today started scheduled links between the two countries, following the announcements made in recent months (see AVIONEWS). The deal includes... more
Military aviationIndian Sea Harriers back to service
New Delhi, India - They had been grounded following a fatal crash
The Indian Navy carrier-based Sea Harrier fighter jets are back into service. They had been grounded following a fatal accident occurred to one of them on August 21 (see AVIONEWS). The aircraft's operations... more
AirlinesLufthansa seeks code-share agreement with JetBlue
New York, USA - To enforce its presence at New York-"JFK" airport
Lufthansa would be seeking regulators' approval to start a code-share agreement with the American airline JetBlue Airways, according yesterday's "Financial Times". With this move the German carrier would... more
DefenseItalian Navy: handover in Lebanon for UNIFIL maritime force's command
Rome, Italy - After three months
"Today, August 31, in Beirut, Italian rear admiral Ruggiero Di Biase left command of the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) maritime force in Lebanon, named Task Force 448, to German rear... more
AirlinesLufthansa-JetBlue deal submitted for approval
Cologne, Germany - It will allow to fly through the United States using New York and Boston as hubs
Confirming recent media anticipations (see AVIONEWS), the German airline Lufthansa today submitted the deal signed with JetBlue Airways for approval to the US Department of Transports. Pending authorities'... more
AerospaceAres First Stage Development Motor 1 Test
Rome, Italy - During the countdown
"The ATK and NASA investigation team continues to analyze the anomaly that occurred during the countdown for Thursday's ground test of the Ares I first stage developmental motor. The anomaly occurred... more
Fair and showsAir shows and exhibitions in the first days in September
Rome, Italy - From today on Monday August 31 to next Sunday 6
Monday 31 - "Outback Air Race 2009 to support Royal Flying Doctor Service". Continues in Australia. + 61 (0)409 385 628 www.outbackairrace.com.au - "9th FAI European Formation Skydiving Championship,... more
AerospaceIndia: contact with satellite lost
Bangalore, India - The first lunar mission of the country is over
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced Saturday that it lost contacts with the Chandrayaan-I satellite, abruptly ending the first mission to the Moon of the Asian country. Currently investigations... more
SecurityFAA AD on Boeing model 767 airplanes (2009-18-02)
Washington, Usa - To prevent possible ignition sources in the auxiliary fuel tank, main fuel tanks, and surge tanks caused by a wiring short or lightning strike, which could result in fuel tank explosions and loss of airplane
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information [Federal Register: (Volume 74, Number 165)] [Page 43621-43624] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14... more
SecurityFAA AD on Air Tractor, Inc. models AT-802 and AT- 802A airplanes (2009-18-04)
Washington, Usa - To prevent jamming of the rudder-aileron interconnect cables by unsecured items in the baggage compartment, which could result in failure of the rudder-aileron interconnect cable system
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register: [Page 43624-43625] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part... more
OccurrencesAir France aircraft diverted due to an MP3 player
Paris, France - A representative wanted to test his company's last development on the plane
The pilot of an Air France Airbus A-321/200, flight AF1685 from Tunis (Tunisia) to Paris, decided yesterday to change route and land in Bastia (Corsica) when the crew found an Mp3 player attached to the... more
HelicoptersSikorsky delivers UH-72A helicopters' upgrades to the US army
Stratford, USA - Safety, operating and support management information system and fleet management capabilities
Sikorsky Aerospace Services (a subsidiary of United Technologies) delivered enhancements to the Helotrac RL maintenance management system for the US Army’s UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) p... more
AirportsItalian minister of transports convenes a meeting on Rome-Fiumicino delays and luggage problems
Rome, Italy - Alitalia and ADR must work together to do more
Following the words of Fabrizio Palenzona, president of ADR, Rome airports operator, who stated that a meeting was necessary to understand and solve the problems, the Italian minister of transport and... more
Press releaseItalian ENAC's President about baggages' inefficiencies in Fiumicino's airport
Rome, Italy - Riggio asked a meeting with Transport Minister, Altero Matteoli, and confirms that one on half of September
"With reference to the matter about baggages' inefficiencies in Rome-Fiumicino's airport and to eventual adoption for suspension actions and withdrawal of licences to Flightcare and Alitalia-CAI, Compagnia... more
AerospaceSpace shuttle Discovery docked to the ISS
Cape Canaveral, USA - The mission will last one week
Space shuttle Discovery has docked to the ISS (International Space Station) tonight at 12:54 am GMT (8:54 pm yesterday, EDT). Lift off took place on Saturday at 3:59 am GMT after a series of delays and... more
DefenseSaudi Arabia might buy Russian armaments for US$2 billion
Moscow, Russia - Helicopters, tanks, combat vehicles and air defence systems
The government of Saudi Arabia might be close to purchase Russian-made armaments for a total value of US$2 billion, a source withing Moscow's defense industry told the news agency "Interfax". "Work... more
ReportItaly: girls mock Verona airport security systems
Verona, Italy - With an urticant spray, for fun, they blocked the airport for one hour
Two girls of 16 and 17 yesterday managed to mock all Verona airport security systems. With an urticant spray, for fun, they caused sickness and burning eyes to many passengers, forcing authorities to close... more
AccidentsBelarusian fighter jet crashes during air show in Poland, two pilots killed
Radom, Poland - Authorities from the two countries opened a joint investigation
A two-seat Belarusian Sukhoi Su-27UBM Flanker fighter jet crashed yesterday during an air show to which it was participating at Radom Air Base, Poland. Both the pilots didn't manage to eject on time and... more
AirportsItaly: Palermo airport management in the red
Palermo, Italy - "Airport rights are bad-distributed"
GESAP, Palermo (Italy) airport operator, ended the year 2008 with a loss of almost € 900,000, reporting revenues for € 39 million. A result due to a 4.7% decrease in passenger traffic but, in particular, to... more
ReportSomali pirates shoot rocket against American helicopter
Manama, Bahrain - Target missed, no military injured
A group of Somali pirates on board of the ship "Win Far" yesterday shot what appeared to be a rocket against a US Navy Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk helicopter, belonging to the Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron... more
HelicoptersKorea National Police Agency orders an AW-119Ke
Cascina Costa, Italy - As part of an on-going programme to modernise the Police helicopter fleet
"AgustaWestland and UI International (UII) announce they have been awarded a contract by the Korean Public Procurement Services to supply the Korea National Police Agency (KNPA) with one AW-119Ke law enforcement... more
HelicoptersANA launches first class helicopter transfers
Tokyo, Japan - On board of an Eurocopter EC-135 decorated by a French stylist
From September 16 ANA (All Nippon Airways) first class passengers arriving back in Tokyo will be offered a complimentary luxury helicopter ride from Narita Airport to the heart of Tokyo in just 30 minutes,... more
ReportToday it's the 21st anniversary of Ramstein disaster
Ramstein, Germany - 70 people died following the mid-air collision between three aircraft of the Italian display team
Exactly 21 years ago, August 28, 1988, three Aermacchi MB-339 aircraft of the Italian display team "Frecce Tricolori", during an air show at the American base in Ramstein, Western Germany, collided in... more
CargoLufthansa might drop its cargo fleet
Frankfurt, Germany - If the night flight limits on Frankfurt airport will be confirmed
If night flight limits on Frankfurt airport will be confirmed the airline Lufthansa Cargo might decide to drop its fleet. Currently authorities are talking of the possibility to set this limit, between... more
Civil aviationTAM receives the 4000th aircraft of the A-320 family
Hamburg, Germany - Delivered in a ceremony held in Hamburg
Airbus has delivered to Brazilian flag carrier TAM the 4000th A-320 family aircraft from its final assembly line in Hamburg (Germany). The aircraft, an A-319, was handed over during a ceremony in the presence... more
AirlinesState aid: European Commission approves the restructuring of Austrian Airlines
Brussels, Belgium - The Commission has also approved the acquisition of AA by Lufthansa under the Merger Control Regulation
"The Commission has today decided to close the formal investigation procedure into the privatisation and restructuring of Austrian Airlines concluding that the restructuring following its sale to Lufthansa... more
AirlinesLufthansa granted European Commission approval for Austrian Airlines takeover
Brussels, Belgium - Effective remedies supplied in particular on the slot congestion problem
The European Commission today approved the proposed acquisition of Austrian Airlines by the German airline Lufthansa, under the EU Merger Regulation. The decision is conditional upon the implementation... more
AirlinesThai Airways to receive its first A-380s in 2012
Bangkok, Thailand - Three aircraft will be delivered starting from September
Thailandian carrier Thai Airways will take delivery of its first Airbus A-380 Superjumbo aircraft in September 2012 while two more will be delivered later that year. A further consignment of three A-380s... more
AirportsAeroporti di Roma: works for electric cable's reconnection and maintenance
Rome, Italy - Occurred on Wednesday for five hours with Fiumicino's airport closed
"Between midnight to 5:00am of last August 26, at airport closed, some works for electric cable's reconnection and maintenance have been made that have requested the suspension of the electric power in... more
AirportsItaly: SAT-Pisa Airport operator approved half-term report
Pisa, Italy - Traffic stood up; profit decreased
SAT, Pisa Airport operator, approved the half-term report at June 30, 2009. Passenger traffic on the Italian airport, despite the difficulties that the sector is facing, remained almost equal to last year... more
IndustryATR to present first 72/600 aircraft in October
Toulouse, France - Powered with PW127M engines
"ATR announces the official presentation of the first ATR ‘-600 series’ aircraft, an ATR-72/600, at a ceremony which will take place on October 1st in Toulouse. The new ‘-600 series’ programme for bot... more
AccidentsComoros air disaster: black box recovered
Moroni, Comoros - By an international research team
An international research team today recovered the flight data recorder from the Yemenia Airbus A-310/300 that crashed on June 30 in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Moroni, Comoros Islands, accident... more
DefenseAfghanistan: two Italian helicopters under attack
Farah, Afghanistan - No injuries among the troops
Two Italian army Agusta A-129 Mangusta helicopters have been attacked this morning by Taliban rebels at Pusth Rud, about 20 km North of Farah, in Afghanistan, the Italian command in Herat reported, adding... more
Civil defenseCome fire or high water: how the EU responds to natural disasters
Brussels, Belgium - To help coordinate assistance and fund the reconstruction of essential infrastructure
"Whenever its member countries are hit by natural disasters, the European Union steps in to help coordinate assistance and fund the reconstruction of essential infrastructure. While many of us were... more
DefenseUS$2.4 billion for aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt's refuelling and complex overhaul
Newport News, USA - To replace the cores of the ship's nuclear reactors
The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman a contract valued at approximately US$2.4 billion for the refuelling and complex overhaul (RCOH) of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Theodore Roosevelt... more
Civil aviationBoeing asks WTO intervention on Airbus A-350XWB financing
Chicago, USA - An answer from the international organisation is waited for next week
Following a recent announcement of the UK government that decided to finance, together with France, Germany and Spain, the Airbus A-350XWB project (see AVIONEWS), the American aerospace company asked for... more
AirlinesEast Star Airlines is the first Chinese airline to go bankrupt
Wuhan, China - Last restructuring plan rejected
The Chinese private carrier East Star Airlines is the first of the country that has officially gone bankrupt. After a long fight against the heavy debt situation in which it fell due to the air traffic... more
AerospaceSpace shuttle Discovery stays on the ground, new attempt tomorrow
Cape Canaveral, USA - A further day granted to engineers to fix a technical problem
Space shuttle Discovery's launch has been delayed once again. The spaceship would have to (conditional needed) carry the crew of mission STS-128 to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission management... more
SecurityHudson river accident: NTSB issues 5 safety recommendations
Washington, USA - FAA asked for new rules for the excursion air space
The American National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued five safety recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) resulting from the ongoing investigation of the midair collision... more
Weather forecastsWeather report: decreasing temperatures in the week-end and sparse storms on the Italian Peninsula
Rome, Italy - A notice for adverse weather conditions on Sardinia
"Diffuse precipitations, short storms and decreasing temperatures. This is the weather scenario for week-end, announced in the last days, that forecast an interruption of the sweaty climate had during... more
AerospaceNASA Ares I: first stage motor unveiled
Rome, Italy - Yesterday the ignition test for new NASA launcher assemblied in July
"On July 20, 2009, NASA and ATK unveiled the completed Ares I first stage five-segment solid rocket booster in Promontory, Utah. The completed solid rocket booster is now installed horizontally in a test... more
OccurrencesInflight cabin pressure loss for ANA aircraft
Tokyo, Japan - Due to a failure to the air conditioning system
The 262 passengers and 8 crewmembers of an ANA (All Nippon Airways) Boeing 767/300, flight NH584 from Matsuyama to Tokyo-Haneda, have passed today moments of tension when they saw oxygen masks suddenly... more
HelicoptersEurocopter and UTair Aviation sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
Tyumen, Russia - To establish a certified Flight Training Center in Russia
"Lutz Bertling, President and CEO of Eurocopter, the world helicopter manufacturer, Jerome Noulens, Managing Director of Eurocopter Vostok and Andrey Martirosov, CEO of UTair, the Russian helicopter operator,... more
AirlinesEfly to start its service from Malta to Catania
Catania, Italy - To stimulate tourist flow between the two island
A new service between Malta and Catania will be launched by the Italian-Maltese airline Efly starting on September 12, when all licensing procedures will be completed, the newspaper "The Times of Malta"... more
ReportAir France aircraft fails to identify itself in India, MiG-29s alerted
Bangkok, Thailand - Inquiry opened by New Delhi's authorities
MiG-29 fighter jets of the Indian Air Force have taken off today to intercept an Air France Airbus A-340/300, flight AF164 from Paris to Bangkok (Thailand), after the aircraft failed to identify itself... more
AccidentsFirefighting aircraft crash in Greece, pilot killed
Argostoli, Greece - It was in service on the Ionian island of Kefalonia
A PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader firefighting aircraft crashed today in Greece while it was in service trying to fight a fire in a southern area of the Ionian island of Kefalonia. The pilot, 55-year-old Stergios... more
ReportItaly: man stealing diesel oil at Ancona airport denounced
Ancona, Italy - After reports for the excessive fuel consumption of some vehicles
A man working for a side company at Ancona-Falconara marittima airport (Italy) has been denounced because found stealing dozens of liters of diesel oil from some vehicles. The denounce arrived thanks to... more
AirportsSAVE-Venice airport's half-term report approved
Venice, Italy - Turnover up compared to last year's results, traffic down
SAVE-Venice airport's board of directors approved the half-term report at June 30, 2009. Turnover for the first six months of the year has been € 157,3 million with a 3.4% growth compared to the same p... more
Press releaseItalian ANSV: Agency's experts designed in two different technical inquiries
Rome, Italy - One regarding crash in Thailandia to an ATR-72/500 airplane and other concerning Hudson's one
"ANSV (Italian Air Safety Board) communicates to have proposed an its own investigator, as expert, into the technical inquiry started by the competent Thai investigative Authority about the crash to an... more
AirlinesAtlant-Soyuz orders 45 Antonov and Tupolev aircraft
Moscow, Russia - To be delivered between 2010 and 2012
The Russian airline Atlant-Soyuz announced that it signed a contract with Ilyushin Finance for the lease of 45 aircraft to receive between 2010 and 2012. The deal includes the delivery to the carrier of... more