AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,301 news found

AirlinesVirgin Atlantic is looking for agreements with Alitalia and Meridiana
Milan, Italy - The airline steadies in the Italian market
Satisfactions in the Italian market for Virgin Atlantic also without a direct flight, Marco Nisi, Sales Manager for Italy, said. "A hope would be Malpensa, but at the moment we fly on London and there... more

AirlinesThe programs of Alitalia for 2009
Rome, Italy - Mobile phone check-in, e-mail on board and new business lounges
For Alitalia it's time for the plans. Having passed the "Estabilishment phase", after the choice of Rome-Fiumicino airport as its main hub (see AVIONEWS), its CEO, Rocco Sabelli, announced the first plans... more

AirlinesMeridiana-Eurofly against the agreement between Alitalia and Aeroporti di Roma (AdR)
Rome, Italy - The Group is afraid of the airport fares' increase
An agreement between Alitalia and Aeroporti di Roma (AdR), the Fiumicino and Ciampino Airports Management Company, will be signed in short time. The contract forecasts services for 100 million Euros every... more

Civil aviationItalian ENAV president Nieddu: "Investments must go on"
Rome, Italy - Europe's Single Sky will bring huge advantages, he said during ENAC's annual report presentation
Italian ENAV (National Flight Assistance Society) president, Bruno Nieddu, spoke this morning during the presentation of ENAC's (Italian Civil Aviation Authority) annual report for 2008. "We will soon... more

HelicoptersAgustaWestland launches helicopter tactics training programme
Brussels, Belgium - It's supported by instructors with experience of deployed multi-national operations
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, announced at the "ITEC 2009" exhibition the launch of a Helicopter Tactics Training Programme for military helicopter crews to help them prepare for deployed multi-national... more

AirlinesThai Airways, record increase in the 1Q 2009
Bangkok, Thailand - Over 228 million dollar net profit
Thai Airways International reported a better-than-expected surge in first-quarter net profit on Wednesday, boosted by a big gain on foreign exchange and falling operating expenses. The national carrier... more

AirportsCalabria Airports sign MoU for the strengthening of Lamezia, Crotone and Reggio Calabria
Reggio Calabria, Italy - The plan has a value of 123,100,000 Euros
Transport Ministry, ENAC (Italian Civil Aviation Authority), Calabria Region and Calabria Airport Management Companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the adjustment and strengthening of... more

Civil aviationATA CEO comments secretary LaHood on rescinding NY-area slot auctions
Washington, Usa - Impediments to meeting the public demand for air transportation services must be removed
The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today commented on Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary LaHood’s plan to rescind s... more

AirportsBarcelona: new Terminal 1 inaugurated by Star Alliance's members
Barcelona, Spain - On June 17th
The Star Alliance's members will inaugurate the new Terminal 1 at Barcelona Airport on June 17th. On this occasion the new Spanair will present the new logo chosen by its employers and passengers through... more

Weather forecastsBad weather in Italy: strong storms on North and on the medium Tyrrhenian side
Rome, Italy - From this evening and until Saturday
"The return of a perturbation flow on Mediterranean basin will favour a weather worsening on most part of the Italian regions in the next hours. From this evening, on Thursday May 14, fickleness conditions... more

Civil aviationGreece: today four-hour strike by air traffic controllers
Athens, Greece - From 10:00 to 2:00 pm LT
Greek airlines say a strike by the air traffic controllers on Thursday will disrupt 200 flights. The civil servants' umbrella union is demanding salary increases and aid for the state employees' health... more

Fair and showsBlue Panorama reinforces itself: other two Piaggio P-180 Avanti into its fleet
Geneva, Switzerland - The agreement signed yesterday at the "EBACE"
P-180 Avanti of the Executive Blue, the Blue Panorama Airlines' executive flights brand, are now three. The commercial agreement has been signed yesterday for other two airplanes (added to that one in... more

Civil aviationRiggio: "Alitalia must fulfill expectations"
Rome, Italy - Italian ENAC president talks to AVIONEWS after the national carrier's conference
Alitalia must fulfill expectations concerning the difficult challenges it will have to face, especially referring to the other great carriers operating in Rome and Milan. Challenges which toughness was... more

AirportsBirmingham airport welcomed the inaugural service to Philadelphia
Birmingham, UK - Operated by US Airways five times a week
Birmingham International Airport welcomed the new flight to Philadelphia, operated five times a week by US Airways. It gives the passengers another route to destinations in the US such as: Boston, Chicago,... more

AerospaceNASA will pay $51 million for each seat on the Soyuz
Moscow, Russia - The only reliable vehicle to reach the ISS
Russian space agency (Roscosmos) and NASA reached the deal on the price that the American agency will have to pay to let its cosmonauts use the Soyuz spaceships to reach the International Space Station... more

Civil aviationICAO, two new treaties adopted by international conference on air law
Montreal, Canada - On the compensation for damage
Two new air law conventions setting out international compensation and liability rules for damage caused by aircraft to third parties were adopted by a diplomatic conference hosted by the International... more

AerospaceAtlantis shuttle's heat shield damaged
Cape Canaveral, USA - NASA says it is a minor issue
A debris impact during lift off is supposed to have caused the heat shield damage, a 53 centimeter crack, on the Atlantis shuttle. NASA, after a photographic inspection of the hit area, stated that the... more

Civil aviationIrish aviation claims a satisfactory 2008
Dublin, Ireland - The results unveiled by IAA
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) announced a satisfactory performance for 2008, in what was a difficult year. The IAA’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2008 show that turnover increased by 8.1 per cent t... more

Military aviationA woman will lead the French acrobatic team
Paris, France - From next year she will pilot aircraft n. 1
It will be the first time for a woman, 32-year-old commander Virginie Guyot, to take the lead of the French acrobatic team "Patrouille de France", starting from next year. To date the pilot, with 1600... more

Civil aviationNetJets Europe joins effort to unify European skies
Geneva, Switzerland - Designed to make sweeping improvements to European aviation practice
"NetJets Europe, one of the Europe’s largest business aviation company, announced today at 'EBACE' that it is partnering with the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) to assist in the development o... more

Military aviationDassault celebrates 20,000 hours flying time for four Falcon 50M
Paris, France - In force with Squadron 24F of the French Navy
The industry unveiled only today that on May 6, the Lann-Bihoué naval air base celebrated 20,000 hours of flying time for the Falcon 50 M of squadron 24F as well as the qualification by the DGA (Délégation gé... more

HelicoptersEsperia Aviation Services SpA orders one "Grand" helicopter
Cascina Costa, Italy - It will be used for passenger transport operating from base at Rome's-Urbe airport
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, announces that Esperia Aviation Services S.p.A. of Italy has signed a contract for one Grand light twin helicopter. This six cabin seat-configured aircraft will... more

AirportsEuropean Commission will finance new Berlin airport
Berlin, Germany - The German capital will have one single airport
"The European Commission has decided today not to raise any objections to the financing of the construction of Berlin Brandenburg International (BBI) airport through capital increases of €654.5 million, a... more

HelicoptersAW: Armaereo awards ICH-47F Chinook helicopter contract
Cascina Costa, Italy - Sixteen models plus four options
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, announces that it has been awarded a contract for sixteen ICH-47F Chinook helicopters plus four options for the Italian Army by the General Directorate of Air Armaments... more

Industry"QUOVADIS", the new RNP services company by Airbus
Toulouse, France - Developing RNP activity and procedures for authorities, airlines and airports
"From July 2009, QUOVADIS, a new 100 percent subsidiary of Airbus, based in Toulouse, will sell and provide 'Required Navigation Performance' (RNP) services to authorities, airlines and airports, ranging... more

Military aviationUK ready to confirm Eurofighter order
London, UK - Cancellation would weigh too much on London's accounts
The United Kingdom is understood to be ready to confirm its Eurofighter Typhoon order. The decision came after recent discussions on the impact that a cancellation would have on London's accounts: prime... more

AirportsEC approves public financing in regional airport in Ancona-Falconara, in Italy
Brussels, Belgium - For infrastructure investments
"The European Commission decided today not to raise any objections to Italy's plan to support infrastructure investments in Falconara regional airport in Ancona, Marche. The total amount of public financing... more

Fair and showsCessna at "EBACE 2009": new announcements and initiatives; the opening new service center in Spain
Geneva, Switzerland - The industry will deliver first Ukrainian registered Citation; the company will use Bell's center to enhance Aog support
"Cessna delivered more business jets and more propeller aircraft in the first three months of 2009 than any other company, according to figures just released by the U.S. General Aviation Manufacturers... more

Military aviationCzech Republic purchased four C-295 aircraft
Prague, Czech Republic - The deliveries by the end of 2010
The Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic and Airbus Military, a unit of the EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company) consortium, announced today that they have signed an agreement for... more

Civil aviationBoeing presents its Convertible business jet
Geneva, Switzerland - Showcased during Geneva's "EBACE 2009" expo
Boeing announced that the BBJ Convertible is now available to prospective customers and will be showcased at Geneva's "EBACE 2009" business aviation expo. The manufacturer states that these aircraft reconfigure... more

AerospaceHerschel and Planck ready for launch
Kourou, French Guiana - Ariane-5 launcher ready. Take off scheduled for tomorrow, 3:12 pm CEST
ESA (European Space Agency) satellites Herschel and Planck are ready for launch, as the Ariane-5 launcher has been declared fit for launch by Arianespace after completing reviews on the problem that caused... more

AirlinesAlitalia strengthens its partnership with Rome-Fiumicino
Rome, Italy - The aim is to increase short, medium and long haul services
Alitalia made the final decision on what will be its main hub. The choice - should anybody have still doubts - is Rome-Fiumicino airport, positioning 99 out of 154 aircraft of its fleet, 14 of which will... more

Finance and economyAutogrill: the board of directors approves results for 1st quarter 2009
Milan, Italy - Consolidated Ebitda reaches €92.9m
Autogrill has unveiled the results regarding the 1st quarter 2009. "• Consolidated revenues: €1,216.2m, up 11.5% on €1,090.9m in 1st quarter 2008 (–7.3% pro forma at constant exchange rates) • C... more

AerospaceRussian vehicle Progress M-02M reached the ISS
Moscow, Russia - It transported scientific instruments, food and the Ribbons of Saing George
Russian cargo spacecraft Progress M-02M reached yesterday evening at 7:24 pm GMT the ISS (International Space Station). The vehicle's trip started on May 7 on board of a Soyuz-U launcher from Baikonur... more

Civil aviationEurocontrol: Business Aviation traffic declines amid continuing difficult economic conditions
Geneva, Switzerland - The latest statistics by the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation
"The decline affecting the aviation industry is showing little sign of abating. The latest EUROCONTROL statistics show an 8% year-on-year decline in European air traffic for the first quarter of 2009.... more

OccurrencesBird-strike on Wind Jet flight Amsterdam-Forlì
Amsterdam, Netherlands - The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing
The pilot of a Wind Jet flight from Amsterdam to Forlì was forced yesterday to make an emergency landing shortly after taking off due to a bird-strike as a bird was "Swallowed" by one of the airplane's... more

Accidents3 killed in South African Air Force helicopter crash
Bergville, South Africa - Smoke was seen coming out of the tail rotor before the accident
The three occupants of a South African Air Force Agusta A-109 helicopter died when their aircraft crashed by the city of Bergville in the Western part of the Country. The cause of the tragedy, according... more

AerospaceItalian ASI: Cosmo Sky-Med satellites passed the examination
Rome, Italy - The "Review" of the first two ones has been completed. ASI and Defense "Fully working and accessible"
The first two satellites of Cosmo Sky-Med constellation, launched in June and December 2007, operate well. This is final result by the Technical Committee of ASI (Italian Space Agency)-Defense Ministry... more

AerospaceESA will announce new astronauts
Rome, Italy - The names of chosen will be unveiled next May 20 in Paris. Waiting for the Italians in the list
ESA began the search for new astronauts in 2008, calling for applications from talented European citizens who wished to join the European Astronaut Corps to conduct future missions to the International... more

HelicoptersBritish Petroleum will restart using Bond Super Pumas
Aberdeen , UK - One month and a half after the accident in which 16 people were killed
Bond Offshore Helicopters Eurocopter AS-332/L2 Super Puma helicopters will finally go back into service to carry workers to and from British Petroleum's (BP) offshore oil platforms, starting from next... more

IndustryGulfstream tests composite structural wing assembly
Savannah, USA - At the Savannah facilities
Gulfstream Aerospace, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, recently completed testing on its first all-composite structural wing assembly. The testing took place in the structural test hangar... more

Finance and economyIberia, 92.6 million Euro loss in the first quarter
Madrid, Spain - Negative forecasts in 2009
Spanish airline Iberia unveiled today the result for the first quarter 2009. The Group posted a consolidated loss of 92.6 million euros in the first quarter of 2009, chiefly due to the deep impact of the... more

SecurityFAA AD on Rolls-Royce Corporation (RRC) AE-3007A series turbofan engines (2009-08-51)
Washington, Usa - To prevent an uncontained failure of the HPT stage 2 wheel and damage to the airplane
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register: May 12, 2009 [Page 22091-22093] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14... more

Civil aviationEC proposes a new framework to regulate aviation security charges in Europe
Brussels, Belgium - Five common principles
"Yesterday the Commission adopted a proposal for a Directive on aviation security charges in Europe. The proposal follows a recent report on the financing of aviation security. The aims are to ensure transparency,... more

Military aviationUSA purchased two Su-27s from Ukraine
Washington, USA - To train pilots in challenging enemy aircraft
The USA purchased two Su-27 Flanker aircraft from Ukraine to train their pilots in challenging enemy aircraft, as always more fourth generation Russian fighters are being sold worldwide, American website... more

Finance and economyEADS, Q1 2009 results reflect strengths but challenges remain
Munich, Germany - Revenues reflect the drop of the Airbus deliveries
EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company) first quarter 2009 results demonstrate a continuing solid underlying performance. The strong order book allows active management of deliveries at the... more

AirlinesRyanair: Michael O'Leary Vs all the world
Milan, Italy - Today the press-conference for the launch of the mobile service from Orio al Serio
On the occasion of the launch for the mobile service on the eight airplanes based on Bergamo-Orio al Serio Airport, the Ryanair CEO, Michaerl O'Leary, dressed up as a giant mobile, snipes at and does not... more

CuriositiesParamotors for Florida police
Palm Bay, USA - They will be used in search and rescue operations
The police of Palm Bay, Florida, will use motorized paragliders to patrol the city area. Four men have been chosen for their past experience on the aircraft and will fly at low altitude to find missing... more

SecurityParis airport in al-Qaeda's sight
Bari, Italy - Two members were commanding terrorist operations while in prison in Bari, Italy
Also Paris "Charles de Gaulle" airport was in al-Qaeda's sight, besides several other targets in France and England. To coordinate the operations were two men arrested in Bari, Italy, by the Italian anti-terrorist... more

ReportThe US President Barack Obama appoints the new US forces commander in Afghanistan
Washington, USA - Stanley McChrystal to replace David McKiernan
After 11 months, the US President, Barack Obama, and the Pentagon have decided that "They new set of fresh eyes in Afghanistan" as the new top American commander, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said. According... more