AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,301 news found
Press releaseAF447 Flight: Italian ANSV proposes an its own investigator in technical inquiry of French BEA
Rome, Italy - Regarding to the accident of last June 1st
"The ANSV (Italian Air Safety Board) informs to have proposed an its own investigator as expert in the technical inquiry led by French BEA (Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses pour la sécurité de l’aviation civile),... more
IndustryAfrijet Airlines inks heads of agreement for 4 ATR-72/500s
Toulouse, France - In a deal worth USD 80 million
Nigerian carrier Afrijet Airlines and ATR today announced the signature of a HoA (Heads of Agreement) for the purchase of 4 ATR-72/500s, in a deal worth USD 80 million. The agreement was inked on the occasion... more
AirlinesDelta Air Lines and Air France-KLM inaugurate tomorrow non-stop service between Rome and Detroit
Rome, Italy - With an Airbus A-330
"Delta Air Lines and Air France KLM begins tomorrow daily non-stop service between Rome’s 'Leonardo da Vinci' Fiumicino Airport and Detroit’s 'Wayne County Metropolitan Airport'. This service, part of... more
AirlinesAir India will replace its Airbus A-320s
Mumbai, India - With new A-318 and A-321 airplanes
Air India might sell some of its aging Airbus A-320s within its fleet renewal process. The aircraft that will be sold are eleven; further eleven are the leased ones that will be returned to their owners.... more
ReportThe two American journalists detained in North Korea go to trial
Pyongyang, North Korea - They might be used as bargaining chips
The trial to the two American journalists detained in North Korea should be currently underway. Euna Lee and Laura Ling had been arrested in mid-March for crossing the Chinese border and charged of espionage... more
Press releaseRyanair: "Belgian air traffic controllers hold passengers to ransom"
Brussels, Belgium - "Walk off the job causes flights cancellations at Brussels-Charleroi"
"Ryanair today (4th June) condemned the selfish decision by Belgian Air Traffic Control (Belgocontrol) to effectively close Brussels South Charleroi Airport without warning, affecting the travel plans... more
AerospaceThe number of active GLONASS satellites grows to 17
Moscow, Russia - Three are still undergoing maintenance operations
The number of active satellites in the GLONASS (GLObal NAvigation Satellite System) constellation has grown to 17. GLONASS is the Russian equivalent of GPS (Global Positioning System). Roscosmos, the Russian... more
Civil aviationAlessio Quaranta, new Italian ENAC's General Manager, installed today
Rome, Italy - He replaces outgoing Silvano Manera
The new general manager of ENAC (Italian Civil Aviation Authority), Alessio Quaranta, is in service today. He was appointed by the decree of Premier as planned by the institutive law of the Board. "The... more
AccidentsAF447 air disaster: new debris found
Paris, France - Could be a piece of wing, a part of the fuselage, a part of the tail
A reconnaissance Embraer R-99 FAB (Forca Aerea Brasileira) aircraft found new debris in the Atlantic ocean, near the area of the accident that occurred on Monday to Air France's flight AF447 en route from... more
AirlinesAir Dolomiti and Munich Airport sponsors of the Italian gardens
Ronchi dei Legionari, Italy - The airline will invite to make a flight by balloon
"Air Dolomiti, Italian regional airline of Lufthansa Group and member of Lufthansa Regional, and Munich's International airport choose the Italian gardens as theme to promote marketing activity in 2009. The... more
AirportsSt. Louis, bonds will pay for infrastructure projects
St.Louis, Usa - For a total of 125 million Dollars
The City of St. Louis will seek an estimated 125 million Dollars in airport bond funding for major capital improvement projects to restore and renovate facilities at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.... more
Civil aviationIATA, aviation leaders gather in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - From 7 to 9 June
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the 65th Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 7-9 June 2009 will feature participation... more
AccidentsHelicopter crash in Venezuela: 5 victims
Caracas, Venezuela - It seems caused by bad weather
A Bell 407 helicopter crashed yesterday in Venezuela, it seems due to bad weather. The accident claimed the lives of five people, all the occupants of the aircraft, local newspapers reported today quoting... more
AirlinesIberia: possible merger with Air France or Lufthansa?
Madrid, Spain - Alternative hypothesis to the union with British Airways
Iberia might consider the possibility of a merger with Air France or Lufthansa, even if at the moment no discussions have been opened on this matter. The Spanish national carrier stated that it is reflecting... more
Military aviationLockheed Martin will produce 17 F-35s in the third production lot
Forth Worth, USA - Under a $2.1 billion contract
Lockheed Martin announced yesterday that the United States Department of Defense has awarded it a $2.1 billion contract modification to produce 17 F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters in the third lot of... more
AerospaceNASA getting ready for space shuttle Endeavour's launch
Cape Canaveral, USA - Scheduled lift-off on June 13 to carry the crew of mission STS-127 to the ISS
The last preliminary reviews to space shuttle Endeavour's launch have been completed yesterday. NASA confirmed that lift-off will take place on June 13 at 7:17 am EDT (11:17 am GMT) from Kennedy Space... more
DefenseCSTO to organize military drills in Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus
Minsk, Belarus - Between August and September as a reaction to those held by NATO in Georgia
Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan will hold, between August and September, a wide series of joint military exercises organized by CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization). Belarusian defense minister,... more
SecurityMexico grounds Aviacsa Airlines for irregularities on 25 aircraft
Monterrey, Mexico - The carrier denies safety problems
Mexican ministry of transports and communication decided to ground Aviacsa Airlines due to irregularities found in the maintenance process of its 25 aircraft. Actually the note only concerns the 25 quoted... more
Civil aviationICAO, a group of governments develops action plan to tackle emissions
Montreal, Canada - It recommends a goal of 2% annual improvement in fuel efficiency
An aggressive plan of action proposed by a group of government representatives created by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to address climate change and aviation includes a significant... more
IndustryCirrus increases production and expands staff
Duluth, USA - Up to 50 furloughed employees might be called back
Cirrus Aircraft notified its employees that, thanks to continued strong demand for its entire product line and to the associated increase in its new aircraft production rate to eight aircraft per week,... more
AccidentsFlight AF447, Jobim: "In-flight explosion unlikely"
Paris, France - More debris from Air France's Airbus A-330 found
Brazilian defence minister, Nelson Jobim, yesterday stated that according to a first analysis an in-flight explosion is rather unlikely. This theory had been borne out by the finding of new debris belonging... more
AccidentsUral's air disaster: investigation board unveils final report
Moscow, Russia - Low mainteinance, technical problems and pilot's inebriation the causes
The investigation board that studied September 14, 2008, accident occurred to an Aeroflot B-737 aircraft that had taken off from Moscow and had crashed near Perm airport, in the Ural Mountains, issued... more
Military aviationLockheed Martin and AFRL complete Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft tests
Palmdale, USA - Based on a Dornier 328J
Lockheed Martin and the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) yesterday successfully conducted the initial demonstration flight of the Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft (ACCA). This flight marks the final and... more
HelicoptersUS Navy won't fly the VH-71 helicopter
Washington, Usa - The Department of Defense cancelled the contract with Lockheed Martin and AgustaWestland
The Department of Defense and US Naval Air Systems Command cancelled the contract for the construction of the VH-71 Presidential Helicopter program. Both the Department of Defense and NAVAIR issued... more
HelicoptersProblems for Erickson Air-Crane
Portland, USA - 14 logging support workers fired
Erickson Air-Crane (EAC) was recently forced to cut several jobs. The last case concerns the logging support department from which 14 people have been fired due to a fall in wood products' demand. For... more
HelicoptersRussian aviation Mi-8 helicopters in Afghanistan
Moscow, Russia - For medical and humanitarian transport missions
Russia might send two Mil Mi-8 Hip helicopters to Afghanistan for humanitarian support missions, in particular for medical transport. The announcement was made today by Yury Brazhnikov, head of Russian... more
Military aviationNew refuelling system for A-330 MRTT aircraft
Madrid, Spain - Flight tests completed with a Spanish F/A-18A+ fighter
Airbus Military's, EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company), A-330 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport) aircraft has completed another major milestone performing successfully a series of dry... more
Civil aviationACI, passenger traffic showing signs of improvement
Geneva, Switzerland - But it is too early to talk about a recovery
In April 2009 worldwide passenger traffic growth as reported to ACI - the worldwide association of airports -shows a decrease of 3% relative to the results in April 2008. For the month, international passenger... more
AerospaceESA: XMM-Newton takes astronomers to a black hole’s edge
Rome, Italy - A supermassive black hole lying deep at the core of a distant active galaxy
Using new data from ESA’s XMM-Newton spaceborne observatory, astronomers have probed closer than ever to a supermassive black hole lying deep at the core of a distant active galaxy. The galaxy – kno... more
Military aviationMalaysia to retire its MiG-29 fighters
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Due to the problems that the aircraft had through the years
Malaysia is going to gradually retire its fleet of MiG-29 fighters in the next 5 years. The decision has been taken by the defence ministry of Kuala Lumpur due to the problems suffered by these type of... more
Sport aviationIcon Aircraft successfully completed water testing for the Icon A-5
Los Angeles, Usa - Deliveries are scheduled to begin in late 2010
"ICON Aircraft, an early stage Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) manufacturer (www.iconaircraft.com), officially completed a series of rigorous hydrostatic and hydrodynamic tests on the ICON A-5 Amphibious Sport... more
IndustryEmbraer delivers 1,100th ERJ-145 family aircraft
São José dos Campos, Brazil - Historic landmark is set by a Legacy 600 executive jet
"Embraer delivered the 1,100th aircraft of the ERJ-145 jet family, last week, in São José dos Campos, Brazil. The airplane is a Legacy 600 executive jet, a model which has reached over 160 deliveries t... more
HelicoptersAgustaWestland awarded "Igor I. Sikorsky International Trophy"
Cascina Costa, Italy - For the official world speed record by a Grand helicopter in 2008
"In a ceremony at the AHS International annual forum, AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, was awarded the Igor I. Sikorsky International Trophy. The award was made to AgustaWestland as recognition... more
SecurityFAA AD on Learjet model 45 airplanes (2009-11-13)
Washington, Usa - To detect and correct chafed hydraulic tubes in the left-hand engine and consequent hydraulic tube failure and uncontrolled loss of flammable fluid within the engine cowling, which could result in a fire
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register: June 2, 2009 [Page 26288-26291] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14... more
SecurityFAA AD on McDonnell Douglas model MD-90-30 airplanes (2009-11-11)
Washington, Usa - To prevent possible damage to the fuel level float or pressure switch wires and could become a potential ignition source inside the fuel tank, and could result in a fuel tank explosion and loss of the airplane
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register: June 2, 2009 [Page 26291-26293] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14... more
Airlines100 billion Yen loan for Japan Airlines
Tokyo, Japan - From the country's major banks
Japan Airlines (JAL) might get a 100 billion Yen (about € 732 million) syndicated loan within this month from Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) and the other three main banks of the country, Japanese "Nikkei" n... more
AerospaceLockheed Martin will develop a third SBIRS satellite
Sunnyvale, USA - With a contract worth $1.5 billion
Lockheed Martin yesterday announced the US Air Force has awarded it a $1.5-billion contract for the third highly elliptical orbit (HEO-3) payload, the third geosynchronous orbit (GEO-3) satellite and associated... more
CargoLufthansa Cargo damaged by Frankfurt airport night closure
Frankfurt, Germany - To reduce acoustic pollution
Lufthansa Cargo is waiting with concern a court's decision about the possible night closure of Frankfurt airport: airlines' and local residents' necessities are challenging each other. It is believed that... more
Military aviationIndia: MMRCA fighters' evaluation complete
New Delhi, India - Getting ready for following test phase
Indian Air Force (IAF) is carrying on operations to chose its new medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA). The technical evaluation report has been sent to New Delhi's ministry of defence. The six contenders,... more
UAS-DronesBoeing proposes its A-160T as UAS cargo demonstrator
St. Louis, USA - The contract will be awarded in July
Boeing on Monday submitted a proposal offering its A-160T Hummingbird for the US Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory's Immediate Cargo Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Demonstration Program. The demonstration... more
IndustryLockheed Martin gets contract for USAF's long-range radar
Syracuse, USA - Worth about $25 million
Lockheed Martin announced it has been awarded from the US Air Force (USAF) a fixed-price contract for nearly $25 million to develop a prototype for the next-generation 3-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range... more
AccidentsA-330 accident: France confirms the finding of debris in the Atlantic
Paris, France - Even if formal proof is still needed, "There is no longer any room for doubt"
There are no more doubts about the debris found in the Atlantic: they are those of Air France's Airbus A-330/200, flight AF447, that disappeared on Monday morning with 228 people on board (see AVIONEWS),... more
AirlinesAir France: homage to victims in Paris
Paris, France - An inter-religious ceremony will take today in the afternoon at Notr-Dame Cathedral
"An inter-religious ceremony for the relatives and friends of the victims will be held on Wednesday 3 June at 4pm at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris". more
AirlinesAir France Flight 447: assistance to relatives of victims
Paris, France - Air France staff arrived yesterday morning in Rio de Janeiro
"A team of approximately 20 Air France staff members, including two doctors and a nurse, arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday morning on flight AF442. This team has travelled to Brazil as back-up to... more
AirlinesAir France Flight 447: AF's volunteers trained to assist relatives and friends of victims
Paris, France - Overall, 4,000 AF staff members
"Overall, 4,000 Air France staff members are part of the voluntary programme to help in case of a crisis. These volunteers have four main tasks: contact with relatives and friends, logistical assistance,... more
ReportAir France confirms the nationality of passengers involved in the accident
Paris, France - Most of them were French, German and Brazilian
"Air France is now able to confirm the nationalities of the passengers who were on board flight AF447 on 31 May 2009, which disappeared between Rio de Janeiro and Paris-'Charles de Gaulle' on June 1. This... more
Press releaseAir France expresses its sympathy to the families of flight AF447's passengers
Paris, France - The numbers to call
"Air France expresses its deepest sympathy to the relatives and friends of the passengers and crew who were on board this flight. Air France is doing its utmost to provide support to relatives and... more
CargoClarification on FedEx employees' news
Washington, USA - The regulation passed the House of Representatives. Still pending in the Senate
Concerning the story published on May 29, 2009, about the regulation that should bring FedEx employees not directly linked to air transport under jurisdiction of the National Transportation Relations Act... more
MiscellaneousAVIONEWS wishes a Happy Italian Republic's Day
Rome, Italy - The Agency will open again next Wednesday
AVIONEWS will be closed tomorrow, on June 2, on the occasion of 63rd anniversary of the Italian Republic's birth. It will open again next Wednesday. On the occasion of particular events, the Agency... more
ReportThe list of A-330s' accidents
Rome, Italy - To date there had been only 8 victims
Airbus A-330s suffered in the years of a series of accidents, hijackings and other occurrences, before today's one (see AVIONEWS), that brought to a total of 8 victims. - On June 30, 1994, near Toulouse-Blagnac... more