AccidentsRussian Mi-2 crashes, injuring 2 seriously

Moscow, Russia - The helicopter was hired for commercial purposes

A Mi-2 helicopter of the Muscovite airline Prim Air has crashed yesterday in the independent province of Khanty-Mansii, causing the wounding of 4 persons on board, 2 crewmembers and 2 passengers. These... more

CuriositiesEffusions of love of high altitude on board of a BA flight for Hurley

London, United Kingdom - Protests of the passengers

"We are enthusiastic to see that our customers make good use of the first class' spacious bed. It's the confirm that our beds are not only comfortable, but they have space for two seats". A British Airways... more

AirlinesAir Transat dismisses 500 persons

Toronto, Canada - Air company will reduce also the flights capacity in the summer season

It will cut approximately 500 workplaces, the charter air company most important of Canada, Air Transat; 400 are staff employed and 100 work for Air Transat Holidays and Nolitor/World of Vacations. The... more

Airlines"Oiseau de Ciel" own by Sabena solded by public auction for EUR 3,4m

Brussels, Belgium - It's the most celebrates picture of the Belgian painter

Among the works of the collection of the bankrupted Belgian air company Sabena, sold yesterday in Brussels public auction, "the Oiseau de Ciel", an oil on burlap of the Belgian surrealist painter, René... more

Latest newsThe first Eu humanitarian flight will land tomorrow in Iraq

Brussels, Belgium - Belgian Army's C-130 will be attended in Baghdad tomorrow evening

A Belgian army's C-130 will transport tomorrow to Baghdad several tons of medical material, offered by the humanitarian organizations. It's the first humanitarian flight directed in Iraq organized by European... more

Science and technologyKansas City airport has suspended the flights for tornado

Kansas City, Usa - Us Midwest involved by phenomenon that has provoked 38 deads

Kansas City international airport, the largest in the region, has suspended all the flights for the violent tornado in the city. The terminals have been emptied and the disembarked passengers to that they... more

AirlinesKlm is the first to communicate the figures for April: passenger traffic falls of 6,8%

Amsterdam, Holland - Worst than ever for the Asian routes, falling of 24%

Klm is the first major European airlines to disclose the figures of the passenger traffic for the month of April and they're not good numbers. Indeed the Dutch carrier reports a decrease of 24% in the... more

AerospaceUsa and Russia look at Mars after the first spacial experiences together

Moscow, Russia - Though a last-minute proposal there's the will of both

Sure the last mission on the Iss (International Space Station), concluded with the change of Russian-American team and re-enter of this last one on Earth, has contributed to a revitalization of the space... more

IndustryThe Boeing under inquiry by Government and Usaf

Washington, Usa - News appeared yesterday on the "Wall Street Journal"

American company Boeing, leader in the production of commercial aircraft and second consignor in the Us military expenses sector, has confirmed to be under inquiry by Government and Usaf. A story appeared... more

Press releaseNew Scandinavian Airlines organization agreed

Stockholm, Sweden - It was established last Friday

"The new Scandinavian Airlines organization was established last May 2, 2003. The new organization is a feature of the improvement program (Plan C), which was presented in conjunction with the Group's... more

Science and technologyThird generation mobiles could change the in-flight communication

London, UK - The don't make any problems to the aircraft's instruments

Once upon a time there was a period in which the mobile phones wasn't permitted during flying, because of the interferences that could provoke to the delicate instruments in the cockpit, when every passenger... more

IndustryA red of EUR 93m for Eads in the first quarter of 2003

Paris, France - A loss four times as large as the previous one in 2002

According to the Co-presidents of Eads Philippe Camus and Rainer Hertlich, the results of the first quarter "reflect the strong influences on our activities", but sure a net loss of EUR 93m is a figure... more

Science and technologyThe management of Iraqi airports will go to Skylink Air and Logical Support

Baghdad, Iraq - Signed a contract with the Usaid of USD 10,2m

American "Skylink Air and Logical Support" will be the company that will manage Baghdad, Bassora and Mosul airports. Us Agency for the International Development(Usaid) has signed in fact a contract with... more

Latest newsRussia worries for a deployment of Us warplanes in Poland

Moscow, Russia - The Government of Warsaw is a reliable Us alley

The alliance between Usa and Poland is becoming more and more solid and for the Americans it turns out also to be more reliable than one with a country of the "old Europe", after the support that the Government... more

AirlinesVietnam Airlines tries a growth in the West thanks to its new B-777

Hanoi, Vietnam - Firstly a service for Paris then more important destinations will be served

It is not sure the best moment for an Asian air company to try an expansion of its operativity in the western countries, worried about the Sars virus that is spreading in those regions. But probably... more

DefensePakistan inclined to reduce its nuclear weapons

Islamabad, Pakistan - But also the India's attitude has to follow the same direction

The Pakistani government would be disposed to resume the official talks with India, after a escalation of violences and breaches in the last 3 years that have carried the 2 Asian nuclear powers on the... more

Press releaseIata: World airlines Ceos support pre-check-in screening of passengers

Geneva, Switzerland - Almost null the risk of an infection on board

"World airline CEOs, members of a special committee of IATA’s Board of Governors, met in London to discuss SARS impact and evaluate the measures being taken. They endorsed the idea of a standardized p... more

AirlinesAccording to press gossip a merger between Swiss and Lufthansa would be probable

Geneva, Switzerland - The only way to create proper structures to face the crisis

The Helvetic airline Swiss wants strongly to change skin and to find alternatives solutions that can give vigour again to the carrier, as that one announced on last Friday about the creation of a low-cost... more

Latest newsTalks for a cooperation between the Indian and Iranian Air Forces

New Delhi, India - It has been the first time after the Islamic revolution

It has been carried out in the Indian Air Force's headquartes in New Delhi the important meeting between the Iranian and Indian Air Forces, the first time after the Islamic revolution in Iran. During... more

Latest newsThey continue the air raids of Israeli jet fighters in the Lebanese airspace

Beirut, Lebanon - Hezbollahs fire back with the artillery but none aircraft has been hit

Although the United Nations have more times asked the Israeli government to not violate the Lebanese airspace (to see also AVIONEWS on 28/04/03), also this morning some fighter-bombers with the star of... more

AirlinesBranson insists on Concorde: some ideas proposed

London, UK - He's also inclined for an alliance with BA and Air France

Virgin's Chairman and founder, Richard Branson, is more and more well-disposed to take over the Concorde fleet when this will be withdrawn from the British Airways in the end of October, but the fight... more

Press releaseContinental Airlines reports operational performance for April 2003

Houston, Usa - Total load factor of 72,4%

"Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) reported an April 2003 systemwide mainline jet load factor of 72.4 percent, 1.1 points below last year's April load factor. Continental reported a record April domestic... more

AerospaceThe two Japanese spy satellites have not secrets

Tokyo, Japan - Some amateur astronomers put on internet their orbit map

About a month since their launch, two Japanese spy satellites, gathering information on North Korean nuclear weapons, have not secret. Satellites have themselves been spotted, photographed and had their... more

CuriositiesFlight Miami-Cancun has inaugurated the aviation for nudists

Miami, Usa - The nudists are cover themselves before the landing

Last May 3, 87 passengers of the flight Miami-Cancun have inaugurated the first nudist flight in the history of civil aviation, having accepted to pay a fare of USD 500(about the double of the normal fare).... more

People"Sars Emergency": North Korea has suspended all the routes with China

Pyongyang, North Korea - Provision will have the duration of a month

North-Korean regimen's press agency has communicated today that North Korea has decided the suspension of all the flights in arrival and departure for the Republic of China, in order to try to check the... more

AirlinesIran Air has suspended the weekly flight Teheran-Beijing-Tokyo

Teheran, Iran - Decision came for the decrease of the passengers

Said Razeghi, Iran Air manager, has declared that Iranian national air company has temporary suspended one of its two weekly flights with destination Japan, that make a stop over at Beijing. According... more

IndustryFor a contract of EUR 1,45bn with British Government the favorite is Lockheed Martin

London, United Kingdom - It has been revealed by "Sunday Telegraph"

According to the English daily newspaper "Sunday Telegraph", Lockheed Martin has good possibilities to obtain an important contract of EUR 1,45bn in United Kingdom. Lockheed Martin, Thales, European consortium... more

DefenseBush to talk with Putin about an anti-missile defense system in the end of this month

Moscow, Russia - But Duma has not ratified yet the 2002 agreement

It will be an encounter of fundamental importance that one to be held in the end of May between the American President, George Bush, and his Russian peer, Vladimir Putin, who invited the renter of the... more

Civil aviationFAA AD on Pilatus Aircraft Ltd airplanes

Washington, Usa - Models PC-12 and PC-12/45

Airworthiness Directives Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. 2003-CE-06-AD; Amendment 39-13140; AD 2003-09-11] RIN... more

Civil aviationFAA AD on Boeing model 767-200, 300 and 300F series airplanes

Washington, Usa - To prevent failure of the bolts that attach the outboard trailing edge flap to the support beam, which could result in loss of the flap and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane

Airworthiness Directives Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. 2002-NM-158-AD; Amendment 39-13137; AD 2003-09-08] RIN... more

AirlinesOnly electronic tickets for AA passengers by the end of this year

Fort Worth, Usa - The initiative only for the national trips in the Usa

The papery tickets sold by American Airlines will be completely replaced, by the end of the year, from the electronic ones, in reality already used from 84% of the US passengers in the national travels... more

AccidentsGerman military helicopter forced to an emergency landing in Kosovo

Berlin, Germany - No wounded

A Bell UH-1D helicopter, of the German contingent as part of Nato multinational peace force in Kosovo, has yesterday forced to an emergency landing in a riverbed in Prizren. German Foreign Office declared... more

AirlinesA record loss for United Airlines in the first quarter of 2003

Chicago, Usa - But it's a bad moment for almost all Us airlines

The losses recorded by United Airlines in the first quarter of this year would have been amplified by the war in Iraq and the Sars emergency, but they turn out however to be nearly the triple one of those... more

Weather forecastsAir shows and exhibitions in May 2003

AHS FORUM AND TECHNOLOGY DISPLAY…May 6-8, Phoenix Civic Plaza, Phoenix, Ariz. Info: Web site: www.vtol.org. EUROPEAN BUSINESS AVIATION CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION (EBACE)…May 7-9, Palexpo Convention Cen... more

AerospaceSoyuz' return, 440 km off the fixed zone

Astana, Kazakhstan - Safe and sound the three crew mission members, after 161 days in the space

They were many the technicians to be worried for this re-enter, both those Russians and those Americans, because it was the first time that a team returned from the Iss (International Space Station) after... more

IndustrySikorsky awarded of a over 8 USDm contract

Usa

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., is being awarded an $8,422,000 advance acquisition contract for the procurement of long lead items for the manufacture and delivery of the low rate initial production... more

IndustryLockheed Martin awarded of a near 2 USDbn contract

Usa

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $1,978,816,000 firm-fixed-price contract to provide for 36 F-16C Block 52 and 12 F-16D Block 52 aircraft... more

AccidentsRussian MI-26 crashes: 12 died, maybe because of a tragic event

Moscow, Russia - It was engaged in fire-fighting operations

They are 12 the deads in the disaster that on Saturday has involved a Russian helicopter MI-26 while it was engaged in the fire-fighting operations, fire that is destroying the forests in the Far East... more

AirlinesIt was born Swiss Express from Swiss: it will offer a low-cost service

Geneva, Switzerland - Employees and managers' wage to be reduced

Swiss airline has announced today a new carrier has been formed, named Swiss Express, which will offer essentially a low-cost service for short destinations in all Europe. The decision has been taken... more

AirlinesAir India pilots withdraw their protest

New Delhi, India - But the Government will punish whoever blocked the carrier's activity

Although all the pilots of Air India, the Indian national carrier, have withdrawn their protest, the Government will not step back about the disciplinary actions that will be taken in the comparisons of... more

HelicoptersSuper Cobra operational assessment has been concluded

Washington, Usa - Test began February 12

"The actual purpose of this assessment is to determine if these aircraft are potentially operationally effective", explained Maj. Harry Hewson, Pma-276 (H-1 helicopter program). The Marine Corps concluded... more

AirlinesUE blocks humanitarian flight for security reasons

Brussels, Belgium - It has been postponed to the next week

The cargo flight of the European Community would have had to leave this morning in order to transport in the Iraqi territory sanitary supplies and other goods, but the flight has been blocked. About... more