AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,307 news found

Weather forecastsWeather in Italy: short downpours on the North and on Sardinia
Rome, Italy - Sultry hot on the Central-South
"From this evening and for tomorrow, on Wednesday August 26, a weak Atlantic perturbation will cause downpours or storms on Liguria, Sardinia and on the Alps. Isolated fickleness phenomena will be possible... more

ReportFour killed in Israeli air attack in Gaza
Rafah, Palestine - Hit the tunnels used for weapon-smuggling
The violence escalation in the Gaza strip goes on. At least three or four Palestinians (depending on the source), workers who were under a tunnel on the border between Egypt and Gaza, have been killed... more

AirlinesSpecial promotions by Blu-express.com and Blue Panorama Airlines
Rome, Italy - To Turin, Genoa, but also Ibiza, Palma de Majorca, Mykonos and Bangkok
"The end of August and September with the promotions by Blu-express.com and Blue Panorama Airlines. The links from Rome to Turin: until next Thursday August 27, 10 seats are available for each carrier's... more

ReportItalian government criticized for sending the "Frecce Tricolori" in Libya
Rome, Italy - But the defense minister, La Russa, confirmed the commitment. Berlusconi: "Feeling with Tripoli is crucial for us"
The Italian minister of defense, Ignazio La Russa, has confirmed the exhibition of the "Frecce Tricolori", the display team of the Italian Air Force, on September 1 in Tripoli on the occasion of the 40th... more

AirlinesJet Airways launches new routes between New Delhi and Hong Kong
New Delhi, India - The service will have daily frequency
The Indian airline Jet Airways will open new daily links between New Delhi and Hong Kong, starting from September 30. The services will be operated on board of modern Airbus A-330/200. The return flight... more

HelicoptersRussian military helicopters for Saudi Arabia
Moscow, Russia - The deal for 30 Mil Mi-171Bs maybe in September
Russia would be in talks with Saudi Arabia for the sale of 30 Mil Mi-171B helicopters, according to what has been reported today by a source close to negotiations quoted by the Russian news agency "RIA... more

Civil aviationIATA strengthens its presence in Argentina and Brazil
Geneva, Switzerland - Giovanni Bisignani's words in Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo
Amid the global air transport crisis the IATA (International Air Transport Association) started an expansion program for its presence in South America, in particular in Brazil and Argentina. All Latin... more

Civil aviationEmbraer delivers first executive jet to Vibroair
São José dos Campos, Brazil - Orders for other three aircraft built by the Brazilian manufacturer
Embraer delivered a Legacy 600 executive jet to the German operator Vibroair Flugservice. This is the first aircraft to be delivered to the German customer, based at Düsseldorf International Airport,... more

AirlinesLufthansa-AUA deal might be signed on September 3
Frankfurt, Germany - Pending final approval from the European Union
The deal for Lufthansa's acquisition of Austrian Airlines (AUA) might be closed already around September 3 according to the German carrier's previsions. A source close to the talks stated it today, quoted... more

ReportLuggage left in Morocco to make room for a VIP's ones
Rome, Italy - The protest of some passengers who landed yesterday in Rome-Fiumicino
The passengers of Royal Air Maroc flight AT940 landed yesterday evening at 7:27 pm at Rome-Fiumicino airport after having taken off from Casablanca, waited for hours for their baggage to arrive, but they... more

Civil aviationBoeing delivers to KLM the 777/300ER in the special SkyTeam livery
Seattle, USA - The new chrome-free paint will reduce environmental impact
Boeing today delivered a 777/300ER (Extended Range) aircraft to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. The airplane has been painted in a special SkyTeam livery in celebration of the alliance's 10th anniversary. Today's... more

SecurityFAA AD on Airbus model A-318, A-319, A-320, and A-321 series airplanes (2009-17-04)
Washigton, Usa - To identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information [Federal Register: (Volume 74, Number 158)] [Page 41611-41613] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14... more

SecurityFAA AD on Honeywell International Inc. TPE331-10 and TPE331-11 series turboprop engines (2009-17-05)
Washington, Usa - To prevent uncontained failure of the first stage turbine disk and damage to the airplane
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register: [Page 41327-41328] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part... more

Civil aviationWestJet orders 14 new Boeing 737/700NGs
Seattle, USA - The number of these aircraft waited by the carrier grows to 54
Canadian airline WestJet yesterday announced an order for 14 additional Boeing Next-Generation 737/700 aircraft. The airline currently flies an all-Boeing fleet of 81 Next-Generation 737s. WestJet also... more

Civil aviationFirst Boeing 737/800 purchased by Norwegian Air Shuttle
Seattle, USA - The carrier already had 13 leased ones
Norwegian Air Shuttle has completed its first direct purchase and delivery of a new Boeing 737-800. Major improvements to the Next-Generation 737 include the creation of the new Boeing "Sky Interior",... more

AirportsSardinia: Alghero airport, delays in garbage collection
Alghero, Italy - Found a new site to store cardboard
The pavement of Alghero (Sardinia) airport has been literally blocked by a mountain of cardboard, created as the company in charge of managing the waste disposal didn't collect it within the times established... more

AirportsItaly: passengers felt sick at Cagliari airport due to heatwave
Cagliari, Italy - Travellers and workers' protests
Passengers feeling sick and fainting; air conditionng inside the terminals that apparently are not working; people forced to wait for hours in plain sun to take delivery of their hired car. These are some... more

AerospaceDiscovery lift off postponed due to bad weather
Cape Canaveral, USA - The new attempt tomorrow morning
The launch of space shuttle Discovery towards the International Space Station (ISS), scheduled for this morning (see AVIONEWS), has been postponed due to the bad weather conditions. A new attempt will... more

AirlinesUS$103 million loss for CSA Czech Airlines
Prague, Czech Republic - In the first six months of 2009
CSA Czech Airlines has reported, for the first six months of 2009, an operational loss of about US$103 million, according to what has been reported by the local media, doubling the carrier's previsions.... more

AerospaceSpace shuttle Discovery ready for launch
Cape Canaveral, USA - Lift off scheduled for tomorrow morning
Space shuttle Discovery is ready for lift off towards the International Space Station (ISS), carrying the seven crewmembers of mission STS-128. The launch is scheduled for tomorrow at 1:36 am EDT from... more

AirlinesFourth Airbus A-380 for Qantas
Sydney, Australia - It will allow the carrier to increase its services to London and Los Angeles
Qantas announced it has taken delivery of its fourth Airbus A-380: the aircraft landed in Sydney today after a ferry flight from Toulouse, France. Thanks to this new member of its fleet the airline will... more

SecurityFAA (Revision) AD on Short Brothers model SD3-60 airplanes (2008-16-09R1)
Washington, Usa - To identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register: [Page 40484-40488] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part... more

Civil aviationBombardier receives first CSeries fuselage barrel for testing
Saint-Laurent, Canada - The main section in aluminium alloys
The Canadian manufacturer Bombardier has received the first fuselage test barrel for the new CSeries single-aisle aircraft. This is representative of the main fuselage section of the upcoming aircraft... more

AirlinesBlue Air consolidates itself in the Italian low-cost market
Bergamo, Italy - The new links will serve Bergamo, Naples and Catania
"Blue Air, carrier that has been operating in the main Italian airports for the last five years, will open new flights in September linking directly Bergamo and Naples, Bergamo and Lyon, Catania and Bacau,... more

ReportItaly, Milan: fraud for € 900,000 to Filipino travellers
Milan, Italy - Investigation closed against the two owners of a tourism agency
For two months the Filipino owners of a tourism agency in Milan, Italy, had been selling flights' tickets to other Filipino citizens. During this period they had earned more than € 900,000 from hundreds o... more

SecurityFAA AD on Gulfstream model G-IV, GIV-X, and GV-SP series airplanes and model GV airplanes (2009-17-01)
Washington, Usa - To prevent this flammable sealant from igniting the exterior surfaces of the APU enclosure (firewall) under certain anomalous conditions such as an APU failure/APU compartment fire
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register: [Page 40061-40065] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part... more

Sport aviationAlessandro Ploner is the new Italian hang-gliding champion
Parma, Italy - After winning the World championship in France
After winning the World championship in France one month ago (see AVIONEWS), 33-year-old Alessandro Ploner is the new Italian hang-gliding champion, title achieved at the championship held in Tizzano and... more

SecurityItalian ANSV: inquiry report about crash to a Maule M-7/235 airplane
Rome, Italy - Occurred in Como's seaplane station district on April 16, 2006
ANSV, the Italian Air Safety Board, communicates to have completed the inquiry report on the crash to a Maule M-7/235 airplane, code I-SEAP, happened in Como's seaplane station locality on April 16, 2006. The... more

Fair and shows"MAKS 2009", contracts signed for US$10 billion
Moscow, Russia - A record for the air show
During the "MAKS 2009" air show, held at Zhukovsky airport, near Moscow, from August 18 to 23, contracts for a total of US$10 billion have been signed, way more than in 2007 (US$3 billion) and 2005 (US$5... more

HelicoptersThales to upgrade Tiger helicopters for the Australian army
Canberra, Australia - With HMSD TopOwl systems
Thales has received an order from Australian Aerospace to upgrade the TopOwl Helmet-Mounted Sight Display (HMSD) display modules designed for the Australian Army's fleet of Eurocopter Tiger armed reconnaissance... more

AirlinesWi-Fi internet on Southwest Airlines' aircraft
Dallas, USA - The service active starting in first quarter 2010
Southwest Airlines and Row 44 are continuing plans to launch Wi-Fi beginning in the first quarter of 2010. The airline has been testing the service on four aircraft since February 2009 and has received... more

AerospaceRoscosmos: GLONASS will overtake GPS soon
Moscow, Russia - Russian space agency's deputy head Anatoly Shilov's statements
The Russian GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System) constellation might soon overtake the American-built GPS (Global Positioning System). Or at least this is the belief of Anatoly Shilov, Roscosmos... more

Civil defenseFires in Greece: the Italian Civil Defense sent two Canadair yesterday
Rome, Italy - The airplanes took off from Lamezia Terme's airport in Calabria region
"The Italian Civil Defense has organized sending two of its own Canadair in Greece to support firefighting operations of the numerous fires that are interesting the Athens' region. Greece, on Saturday... more

Fair and showsAir shows and exhibitions in the last week in August
Rome, Italy - From today, on Monday 24 to next Sunday 30
Monday 24 - "16th FAI European Hot Air Balloon Championship". Brissac - Quincé, Anjou, France. + 33 1 47 23 56 20 http://events.fai.org www.ffaerostation.org - "2009 FAI World Championship for Aerobatic... more

AccidentsItalian helicopter crash, tomorrow the funerals of the victims
Belluno, Italy - The tragedy on Saturday
An Elidolomiti Agusta A-109S Grand helicopter, operating for the medical emergency service SUEM 118, crashed on Saturday on Mount Cristallo, in northern Italy, after hitting high tension cables, killing... more

AerospaceESA: two telecommunications satellites launched on board of Ariane-5
Kourou, French Guyana - Jcsat-12 and Optus-D3
The European Space Agency (ESA) has put two geostationary telecommunications satellites into orbit, the Jcsat-12 and the Optus-D3, launched on board of an Ariane-5 ECA rocket from Kourou's spaceport, in... more

AccidentsAir collision between a helicopter and an airplane in Germany, 4 killed
Stuttgart, Germany - All the victims were on board of the Robinson R-44
New air collision yesterday between a helicopter and a tourism airplane, this time in Germany, near Ellwangen (Stuttgart). Four people have been killed in the impact between the Robinson R-44 and the Reims-Cessna... more

AirlinesItaly, passenger blocked because too fat sues easyJet
Bari, Italy - For moral and material damage, besides the refund of the ticket
A 55-year-old passenger that on Saturday was blocked at Bari airport, in southern Italy, and asked by a check-in operator of the low-cost carrier easyJet to pay a second ticket because "Too voluminous",... more

AccidentsFive killed in French air accident
Callas, France - The cause of the tragedy is still unknown
A tourism airplane, likely a Socata TB-9 Tampico, has crashed yesterday in France near Callas, between Marseilles and Montecarlo. The five occupants of the aircraft, among which two children, have been... more

IndustryThe new autoclave for the Airbus A-350XWB production plant arrived in Nordenham
Nordenham, Germany - The machine weighs 320 tons and costs € 6 million
Premium AEROTEC in Nordenham yesterday took delivery of the 27 meter long autoclave, eight meters high in diameter, for production of the forward fuselage sections for the new Airbus A-350XWB aircraft.... more

AirlinesRome-Fiumicino, Alitalia managers to work at ground services
Rome, Italy - The initiative wanted by CEO Rocco Sabelli
Alitalia asked its managers to offer their voluntary support to ground services at Rome-Fiumicino airport, to help employees to face the peak of arrivals foreseen for this weekend due to summer vacation... more

IndustryUS$2.3 billion Russian contract for Hamilton Sundstrand
Moscow, Russia - With the manufacturer Irkut, for MC-21 family aircraft
Hamilton Sundstrand (HS), American company, subsidiray of United Technologies, that realizes technological products for aviation, has been granted by the Russian manufacturer Irkut a contract for the supply... more

Civil aviationChina to open low-altitude airspace
Xi'an, China - To match the growing demand in the general aviation sector
Chinese civil aviation regulators approved the opening of a space for general aviation in Xi'an, in the northwestern Shaanxi province. The park will be placed between an airport and more than five scenic... more

AirlinesOmni Air purchased two aircraft from old Alitalia
Rome, Italy - They were not part of the new carrier's plans
Omni Air International, charter airline based in Tulsa, USA, has bought two Boeing 767/300ER aircraft (Italian tail numbers I-DEIF and I-DEIL) belonging to old Alitalia, sold by the extraordinary administration... more

AccidentsTwo injured in Teterboro aircraft crash, New York
New York, USA - The accident occurred during landing operations
The pilot and passenger of a small airplane, a Beechcraft Baron 58 (tail number N167TB), that crashed today while landing at Teterboro airport, New York, have been injured. Both have been hospitalized... more

IndustryRussia to supply engines for Indian MiG fighter jets
Moscow, Russia - The deal with Hindustan Aeronautics signed today at "MAKS 2009"
Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has signed today a contract with Rosoboronexport (the Russian company that manages military exports) for the supply to India of 23 RD-33 series 3 turbofan engines for New Delhi's... more

AirportsFrankfurt airport expansion plan approved
Frankfurt, Germany - The fourth runway will be built within 2011
The Hesse Adminstrative High Court today approved Frankfurt airport € 4 billion expansion plan, as reported by Fraport AG (the airport operator). "This is a great day for the German air transportation i... more

Military aviationIn flight tests for the high-energy ABL laser system
Edwards AFB, USA - Moving towards a ballistic missile shoot-down demonstration
The high-energy laser aboard the Airborne Laser (ABL) aircraft has been fired in flight for the first time, moving closer toward this system's upcoming missile shoot-down demonstration. During this... more

CargoJAL to merge with Nippon Yusen for cargo services
Tokyo, Japan - To restructure their freight transport sectors
Japan Airlines (JAL) and Nippon Yusen might reach an agreement to merge their cargo transport services, respectively Japan Airlines International (JALI) e Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA). Freight traffic has... more

ReportItalian consumers' association: too many inefficiencies in air transport
Rome, Italy - The request for a meeting with the ministers of tourism and transport
EUROCONTROL's recent report that placed Italy at the bottom of the flight punctuality ranking (see AVIONEWS) has provoked the reaction of the Italian consumers' association Adiconsum that lamented too... more