AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,306 news found
AerospaceThe Progress cargo has lifted off destination ISS
Baikonur, Kazakhstan - The launch of the new vehicle occurred a little after Progress 13th departed the ISS
The Soyuz U carrier rocket embarking Progress M-49 space cargo, lifted off from Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 12:34 GMT of yesterday. Less than 10 minutes later, settled into orbit and deployed... more
Latest newsHungarian MI-29s have been upgraded while waiting for the Gripens
Budapest, Hungary – Russia succeeds in carrying on its presence even within Nato’s market
Hungary, while scheduling of waiting till 2009 for taking delivery of the new Saab/British Aerospace JAS-39 Gripen multirole fighters, has decided to upgrade its own Mig-29 Fulcrum light fighters by starting... more
HelicoptersThe rise of Robinson Helicopter
Washington, USA – A deliveries increase of 82% during the first three months of 2004 when compared with the same period of last year
Robinson Helicopter’s direction has recently unveiled the results for the first three months of 2004 related to the achieved orders. This company has achieved a selling increase of 82% when compared w... more
IndustryBoeing labor union reach three year contract
Chicago, USA - The union represents about 3.000 workers
Machinists and aerospace workers for Boeing defense unit approved a new contract Sunday. The three year deal which takes effect today was approved by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace... more
AirlinesUnited Airlines may consider furloughs
Chicago, USA - Many workers have already a contract in danger
United Airlines Chief Operating Officer, Pete McDonald, on Monday said employee furloughs could not be ruled out given the high price of jet fuel. Jet fuel is the airline industry's second-biggest operating... more
Latest newsMilitary helicopter fired at in Chechnya
Grozny, Chechnya – Strong anti-terrorism contrast actions in Vedeno district
A landing military MI-8 helicopter was fired at in Chechnya near the Dargo settlement of the Vedeno district Tuesday morning. Four servicemen of the Russian Defense Ministry's assault combat group were... more
AerospaceRussian space cargo ship to bring 2.5 tons of cargo to International Space Station
Moscow, Russia – It is going to dock the only physical contact with Earth for on-board astronauts
Russia’s space cargo ship Progress M-49 (the fourteenth progress mission), embarked in a carrier rocket Soyuz U, brings 2.5 tons of different cargoes to the International Space Station. The Progress M... more
DefenseNext Generation aircraft carrier contract awarded
Washington, USA - Northrop Grumman is now one of the leading firms in naval engineering
The US Navy and Northrop Grumman Newport News (NGNN) have successfully negotiated the construction preparation (CP) contract for CVN 21, the next generation aircraft carrier. CVN 21 will be the centerpiece... more
Military aviationFirefighting aircraft deploy to Arizona
Mesa, USA – This is the first effect after civil tankers have been grounded
Two Air Force Reserve Command C-130 Hercules aircraft and their crews deployed to Arizona on May the 23rd to prepare for fire season. This new dislocation is due to US government that grounded civil tanker... more
AirlinesAlitalia (4): no intervention by Finmeccanica for the carrier
Rome, Italy – It has been confirmed by President Guarguaglini
Finmeccanica’s President and CEO Pierfrancesco Guarguaglini has maintained that this group is not making an effort devoted to participate to the solution of Alitalia’s crisis. In the past, he reminded, the... more
Latest newsPentagon postpones to the end of the year the decision about Tanker’s destiny
Washington, USA – Other solutions devoted to replace the KC-135s are possible
US Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, would have postponed to the end of the year the final decision regarding the possibility for US Air Force of taking delivery of a significant number of new Boeing... more
AirlinesAlitalia (3): Italian Minister Buttiglione does not exclude drastic measures for carrier’s employees
Naples, Italy – According to Minister, CEO Cimoli must be able to go on working without being under outer constraint
Italian Minister for EU Policies, Rocco Buttiglione, has commented recent debates related to Alitalia between Minister Maroni and Minister Alemanno, maintaining that one cannot sham that drastic measures... more
AirlinesEuropean airlines mull US offer to boost negotiations over joint skies
Brussels, Belgium - For the moment there isn't a clear agreement
European airlines are to meet in Brussels on Monday to assess the latest US offer aimed at breaking the deadlock in negotiations over liberalising air services between the US and the European Union. According... more
HelicoptersTAI will produce Agusta AB-139 helicopter fuselages
Ankara, Turkey - The contract became effective on 5 April 2004
As a result of the negotiations carried out between TAI and the leading helicopter manufacturer Agusta, an AgustaWestland company, an agreement, regarding the production of the newly developed AB-139 helicopter’s f... more
AirlinesAlitalia: Italian Minister Alemanno goes on defending carrier’s employees
Rome, Italy – Italian Government, opposition and trade unions ask for enabling Cimoli with the possibility of working quietly
After debates occurred yesterday with reference to Alitalia’s employment matter between Lega and AN parties by respectively Minister Maroni and Minister Alemanno (as Maroni thought that it is possible t... more
IndustryMemorandum of Understanding between Finmeccanica and GKN in order to purchase AgustaWestland (2): Ceo Guarguaglini gives the lie to the existence of loss
Rome, Italy – The Italian group needs to reinforce electronic warfare-helicopter sector
Finmeccanica’s President, Pierfrancesco Guarguaglini, has made clearer the fact that AgustaWestland has not loss, even if someone had stated it is a concrete problem. Guarguaglini has reminded that t... more
IndustryMemorandum of Understanding between Finmeccanica and GKN in order to purchase AgustaWestland
Rome, Italy – An agreement of EUR 1,5bn aimed to make Italian industry in this sector more competitive in the world
Finmeccanica and GKN have signed a Memorandum of Understanding today aimed to carry on during the year negotiation for selling British company’s 50% share of AgustaWestland to the Italian group. The v... more
Latest newsBritish Ministry of Defence unveils technical problems for the Typhoon
London, UK - Avionics faults would reduce flight safety
The EF-2000 Typhoon would suffer for significant technical problems regarding flight safety. It would be revealed by a Qinetic's report, an authority of British Ministry of Defence which deals with appraising... more
Latest newsT-38A simulator has been retired
Randolph, USA – The old system will be replaced by a new one more realistic and less expensive
After 26 years of training thousands of pilots, the last full-motion T-38° simulators was retired. To properly copy the aircraft, the old T-38 simulator had cockpits for the instructor and student pilot.... more
Science and technologyFrankfurt airport expansion delayed
Frankfurt, Germany - The delay was due to a chemical plant close the new runway
The expansion of Frankfurt Airport, vital for operator Fraport's earnings growth and for keeping Lufthansa as its main client, will be delayed by at least two years. Approval for the expansion of one of... more
AirlinesAlitalia: an agreement between the company and flying personnel has been achieved regarding summer schedule
Rome, Italy - Savings are forecasted related to about 200 employees
A first relevant agreement between Alitalia's direction and trade unions' representatives with reference to flying personnel has been achieved. An agreement about extraordinary measures devoted to a recover... more
AirlinesVirgin USA is choosing between New York and San Francisco Base
Washington, USA - The company seems that is going to choose Airbus aircraft
British entrepreneur Richard Branson said Monday the Virgin USA startup airline has narrowed its choices for a home city to San Francisco or New York. The United States currently restricts foreign ownership... more
IndustrySouth Korea ready to export its aerospace know-how
Seoul, South Korea – Turkey, Indonesia and Vietnam start cooperations for military aircraft
South Korean Government would be firmly carrying on its own commercial relations in the aerospace and defence sectors with some Asian and European countries. In particular, Turkey, Indonesia and Vietnam,... more
HelicoptersToo much simulator puts pilots off attack birds
Salisbury, UK – The British Army has found a mixed solutions
Thales, one of the leading company in electronic systems for navigation and defense, admitted that some of the best pilot recruits are deciding to fly utility helicopters because a career in attack aircraft... more
DefenseSurface-to-air missiles market is increasing
Washington, USA – According to a recent survey by Forecast International
A recent research carried out by Forecast International related to surface-to-air missiles market, would have pointed out how, during the next ten years, orders regarding the so called SAM (Surface-to-Air... more
IndustryBoeing selects Kidde fire protection system for 7E7 Dreamliner
Everett, USA - The 7E7 is going to be delivered on 2008
Boeing selects Kidde fire protection system for 7E7 Dreamliner. The boeing 7E7 Dreamliner will be equipped with Kidde Technologies fire protection systems that will provide fire detection and extinguishing... more
IndustryGKN interested in Boeing’s facilities?
London, United Kingdom – It could purchase some factories right when negotiation with Finmeccanica for selling Westland are going on
Negotiation between GKN and Finmeccanica for selling some 50% of Westland (presently owned by such British company) to this Italian group go on, when considering the fact that Finmeccanica would appear... more
AirlinesEl Al swings into profit for 2004 first quarter
Tel Aviv, Israel - Its Israeli market share it is continuously rising
El Al Israeli Airlines said Sunday it swung to a first-quarter net profit on a 33 percent jump in revenues and continued cost-cutting measures. In the first three months of the year, the airline recorded... more
AirlinesContinental Airlines receives the award as "Airline of the Year"
London, UK - New aim obteined by the North American company
The Continental Airlines has been named "Airline of the Year" and received awards as Best Executive/Business Class and Best North American company. It’s the first time that a North American Company r... more
Civil aviationThree Israelian men deported in Panama airline gun scare
Panama City, Panama - The other three young men are still held in Panama
Panama has deported three of six Israeli men arrested after they displayed fake pistols during a flight from Peru to Colombia (see AVIONEWS article). The men, all in their 20s, were arrested at Panama... more
AirportsAlarm in the area of London’s airport
London, UK - Exchange of shots at Heathrow
Alarm and fear for the security agents of Heathrow last Thursday. The BBC decided, without giving any notice to the agents, to film the scene of a movie nearby the airport; the disappoinment had been... more
AirlinesStill barricades for handicapped people by Meridiana airline
Palermo, Italy - Handicapped woman obliged at the airport for not qualified plane
Bad adventure for a 76 aged woman, without a leg by 15 years, who should have taken a flight Palermo-Lampedusa by the Meridiana airline, obliged at the airport because the plane, an Atr, was not qualified... more
Weather forecastsEmbraer shows its new jet
Brasil - Embraer shows its new Legacy Executive Jet at the European airshow of Geneve
For the first time the Embraer will show, at the European airshow of Geneve, on the next May from 25 to 27 its new Legacy Executive Jet. The inauguration of the Ebace (European Business Aviation Conference... more
Science and technologyGood news expected for the Airport of Parma
Parma, Italy - New finances for the "Giuseppe Verdi"
The President of the airport, Bruno Gemmi, will sign on Tuesday the convention with the National organization for civil aviation (Enac) about financing EUR 10,m for renovating the airport of Parma. The... more
AirportsD'Arrigo achieved the objective of flying over Everest
Rome, Italy - The flight lasted 4 hours and half gaining 9000 metres altitude
Angelo D'Arrigo, the hang-gliding multichampion, has achieved with his hang-glider to fly over Mount Everest. Departed from advanced base camp of Syangboche at nearly 4000 metres, and having been towed... more
Science and technologyWings without flaps produced by imitating whales' fins
Washington, USA - It has been discovered by some researchers of a Pennsylvania's University
One of the last newness regarding aerodynamics studies comes from West Chester University (Pennsylvania), where a group of researchers led by Frank Fish, would have discovered particular qualities in terms... more
AirportsVietnam: the last flight for the exserviceman Mechenbier
Washington, USA - The remains of the American soldiers come back home
The General Mechenbier will fly for the last time next week on board of a C-141, known as "Hanoi Taxi", to take back to Usa the remains of American soldiers recently found in Vietnam. The General was... more
CuriositiesMaiden flight anniversary of the Voisin N.2 celebrated today
Rome, Italy - The first engined-aircraft to fly performed its maiden flight on May 24, 1908
Maiden flight anniversary of the first engined-airplane, the Voisin N.2 manufactured by the producer Gabriel Voisin, is celebrated just today. In May that year, such aircraft endowed of an eight-cylinder... more
AirlinesSigned the agreement for the next Aeroflot membership to SkyTeam group
Moscow, Russia - The real Aeroflot participation depends on SkyTeam quality standards achievement
SkyTeam announced today that Air France CEO, Jean Cyril Spinetta, and KLM CEO, Leo Van Wijk, as representatives of SkyTeam member airlines, have signed during a ceremony at the Kremlin, a memorandum of... more
SecurityFabrizio Quattrocchi's body is going to arrive in Rome-Ciampino Airport (2): Italian Red Cross's airplane has landed at Roman Airport
Rome, Italy - Particularly difficult medical analyses are being forecasted
Italian Red Cross's airplane carrying Fabrizio Quattrocchi's body has landed at Rome-Fiumicino Airport. His brother and his girlfriend (together with her father) have waited there for him. The remains... more
AirlinesClosed the exchange offer for KLM shares
Paris, France - Soon the new Air France will be operational
Air France and KLM announce through a joint press release that holders of KLM Common Shares had tendered a total of 45,093,299 KLM Common Shares representing approximately 96.33% of all KLM Common Shares.... more
AccidentsA section of Paris "Charles de Gaulle" Airport Terminal 2E fell down (2): a new warning late in the morning
Paris, France - New strange creaks have been heard around the fallen section
Law enforcement, Firemen ans French judicial personnel employed during the last hours working around Terminal 2E ruins at Paris "Charles de Gaulle" Airport, has been alerted by the possibility of new structural... more
AirlinesUkratravian threatens to break off Lufthansa's Kiev-Munich route
Kiev, Ukraine - This German carrier would be accused of carrying a number of passengers that would be larger than the allowed one
Ukraine department competent for air trasnport, Ukraviatrans, has admonished Lufthansa in order to make it change its own policy related to Kiev-Munich route. According to such authority in fact, though... more
Latest newsA military exercise in Aviano from May 25 to 28
Pordenone, Italy - Such activities are aimed to analyze operative capabilities in reacting against various kinds of attack
From tomorrow till next Friday (May 28), Aviano base will be involved in a military exercise which is going to be performed for 72 hours all time long. It has been unveiled by US Air Force, which intended... more
AirlinesAustrian Air is going to rise flight prices due to drastic rise in oil price
Wien, Austria -This press communication comes close to a global oil price reduction
Wien-based Austrian air company declared on May the 18th to have scheduled a Eur 6 "Fuel Surcharge" on fare prices, starting from today, due to continuing drastic rise in oil price. The company even states... more
SecurityFabrizio Quattrocchi's body is going to arrive in Rome-Ciampino Airport
Rome, Italy - His arrival is forecasted at 01:00 pm
Fabrizio Quattrocchi's body is currently on board of an Italian Red Cross flight towards Italy. This aircraft, after taking off from Baghdad, should arrive at Roman Ciampino Airport more or less at 01:00... more
AirlinesAlitalia (4): carrier's directors will be the first ones to be affected by Cimoli "axe cuts"
Rome, Italy - Within few days some 40 directors will leave the company
During these hours a news about a not so clear number of directors is being spread, more or less forty, regarding the fact that these ones could leave the company during these days. An order by CEO Cimoli... more
AirlinesLufthansa plans to raise EUR 750m to purchase A-380s
Cologne, Germany - The shares at Frankfurt Bourse are falling at the moment
Deutsche Lufthansa AG said it plans to raise about EUR 752m in a rights offering to expand its fleet of new Airbus A-380. The company will offer investors a total of 76.3 million new shares for at least... more
Weather forecastsThe success of Savona Airshow 2004
Savona, Italy - Appreciation by Italian Minister Scajola
Savona city was the protagonist of the significant Airshow on last May 22 (see for details AVIONEWS) where also the MB-339s of the Italian national acrobatic squad ("Frecce Tricolori") participated, providing... more
AccidentsA section of Paris "Charles de Gaulle" Airport Terminal 2E fell down
Paris, France - Four died and three were injured, according to last estimates
A section of Paris "Charles de Gaulle" Airport Terminal 2E fell down yesterday at 06:45 killing four persons (according to last estimates) and injuring three. Dozens tons cement fell with a lenght of 650m,... more