http://planenews.com Your aviation news and services. en-us gil@keskydee.com (Gil Gruson) gil@keskydee.com (Gil Gruson) 2008-05-09T09:05:39-04:00 hourly 1 2008-05-09T09:05:39-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9355 SEATTLE The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Asiana Airlines have completed an order for two 777-200ERs (Extended Range). The order is valued at $438 million at list prices. The South Korean airline holds rights to substitute the larger 777-300ER which features increased payload and range capability, if needed, in the future. 9355@http://planenews.com Business 2008-05-08T18:14:52-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9354 Dubai: Qatar Airways have plans for an aggressive expansion of fleets with orders for more than 200 aircraft worth over $30bn over the next few years according to its CEO, Akbar Al Baker... 9354@http://planenews.com Business 2008-05-08T18:14:19-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9353 Don’t call it a flying car. It’s a "roadable aircraft." It’s named the Transition, and the first full-scale model is taking shape inside a former machine shop on an industrial back alley in Woburn, MA. Between now and late July, the 10 employees of angel-funded startup Terrafugia will be spending "a lot of long days, nights, and weekends" in that shop, says CEO and founder Carl Dietrich... 9353@http://planenews.com Engineering 2008-05-08T18:13:30-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9352 When the Senate froze debate this week on a bill that would refund and reorganize the Federal Aviation Administration, it also froze travelers’ hopes that badly needed changes in the nation’s aviation system would come about any time soon... 9352@http://planenews.com FAA 2008-05-08T18:13:06-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9351 The latest war-funding bill might pay for more than just the battles in Iraq and Afghanistan. It could add billions of dollars’ worth of the latest manned and robotic aircraft to American fleets, as well. Nearly a third of the $165.4 billion measure, $51.8 billion, would be "devoted to new weapon systems," Inside Defense reports... 9351@http://planenews.com Air War 2008-05-08T18:12:26-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9350 MARIETTA, Ga: Two Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors successfully sent classified sensor data to ground stations in the U.S. Air Force’s Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2008 (JEFX 08) conducted April 15-25 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev... 9350@http://planenews.com Military 2008-05-08T18:11:44-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9349 Horrified passengers on a Paris-bound jet claim they suddenly climbed 10,000 feet to avoid another plane because their pilot was "showing off" to a boy who was with him in the cockpit, the U.K.’s Daily Mail reported Tuesday... 9349@http://planenews.com Incidents 2008-05-07T13:43:42-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9348 WASHINGTON (Reuters): Boeing Co (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) has cut the price and shortened the time it takes to reassemble its HH-47 helicopter as part of its bid to win a $15 billion Air Force competition for a second time, a Boeing executive told Reuters... 9348@http://planenews.com Helicopters 2008-05-07T13:43:23-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9347 Partisan politics are being blamed for a failure to close off debate in the Senate today on FAA reauthorization legislation (HR 2881). Senators voted 49-42 in favor of the motion to invoke cloture, but a three-fifths majority is required, which means the long-awaited legislation remains stalled forcing the FAA to continue operating on a continuing resolution that will expire on June 30, 2008... 9347@http://planenews.com FAA 2008-05-07T13:42:44-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9346 LONDON (AFP): The price of oil struck a record high 122.81 dollars on Wednesday amid concerns over tight supplies, traders said. New York crude reached the new high, beating Tuesday’s record of 122.73 dollars, despite news that US energy stockpiles had risen by a bigger than expected amount last week... 9346@http://planenews.com Business 2008-05-07T13:40:49-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9345 DayJet has grounded all but 12 of its 28 Eclipse 500 jets used in its Florida-based air taxi service and has laid off 100 of its 260 employees after failing to find an additional $40 million in operating capital this year... 9345@http://planenews.com Business 2008-05-07T12:59:38-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9344 MESA, ARIZONA, USA [ASDWire]: APS Emergency Maneuver Training, a division of Aviation Performance Solutions LLC (APS), announced today the release of research results on the status of pilot skill level in upset recovery, specifically a pilot’s ability to deal with Loss of Control In-Flight (LOC-I). APS research offers insight into contributing factors to LOC-I being the leading cause of fatalities in commercial aviation worldwide... 9344@http://planenews.com Education 2008-05-07T12:59:23-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9343 British pilot Paul Bonhomme edged out American Mike Mangold at the Red Bull Air Race on May 4 in San Diego. This was Bonhomme’s second win of the 2008 season... 9343@http://planenews.com Racing 2008-05-07T12:59:08-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9342 Another large American air company intends to launch flights to Russia. United Airlines plans to start flying from its hub in Washington to Moscow using Boeing 767 aircraft on October 26, 2008... 9342@http://planenews.com Airlines 2008-05-07T02:51:15-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9341 Reuters: European planemaker Airbus has warned customers they may face more delays on delivery of the world’s largest passenger plane, the A380, which is already two years behind schedule. Dubai’s Emirates airline, the biggest A380 customer, and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, both confirmed they had received the warnings... 9341@http://planenews.com Business 2008-05-06T13:44:31-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9340 KABUL, Afghanistan: Graduates completed the first orientation course for the Afghan National army air corps April 30 at the Kabul Air Corps Training Center here. The four-week inaugural course laid the foundation for the air corps soldiers as they began their careers in the ANAAC... 9340@http://planenews.com Military 2008-05-06T13:43:56-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9339 MARIETTA, Ga: Two Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors successfully sent classified sensor data to ground stations in the U.S. Air Force’s Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2008 (JEFX 08) conducted April 15-25 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev... 9339@http://planenews.com Military 2008-05-06T13:41:09-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9338 Wichita, KS.: Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, completed first flight of its Citation CJ4 business jet prototype today. "It was an outstanding first flight," said Cessna Senior Engineering Test Pilot Dan Morris, who flew the aircraft with Engineering Flight Test Manager Dave Bonifield as co-pilot. "We tested quite a number of the systems on the aircraft, including the autopilot, and all performed very well... 9338@http://planenews.com Business 2008-05-06T12:59:37-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9337 Wichita, KS.: Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, completed the first flight of the first production model SkyCatcher May 1, about eight weeks after the first prototype SkyCatcher flew. The 30-minute SkyCatcher flight departed Cessna Aircraft Field Airport adjacent to McConnell Air Force Base and consisted of flight maneuvers evaluating the controllability and stability of the aircraft... 9337@http://planenews.com Business 2008-05-06T12:59:20-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9336 Foreign airlines have sent over 120 requests to carry out charter flights with British football fans to Moscow airports. The football fans will be delivered separately: Chelsea fans will fly to Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo airports and Manchester United fans, to Domodedovo... 9336@http://planenews.com Airports 2008-05-06T03:10:43-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9335 The long-awaited FAA reauthorization bill is stuck in the Senate. One bone of contention: whether or not the looser pension-funding requirements imposed on formerly bankrupt airlines (Delta, Northwest) unfairly disadvantage carriers that avoided bankruptcy during the last cycle, like American and Continental... 9335@http://planenews.com Politics 2008-05-06T01:40:54-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9334 BAGHDAD, Iraq: Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the Government of Iraq today announced an order for 30 Boeing 737-800 commercial airplanes, the first step in re-establishing that country’s scheduled commercial aviation operations. Iraq has also contracted options for 10 additional 737s. 9334@http://planenews.com Business 2008-05-05T18:11:47-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9333 P96-Golf ultra light aircraft manufactured by Tecnam (Italy) crashed in the Chelyabinsk Region of Russia on Sunday evening killing the pilot and his trainee. Full Story 9333@http://planenews.com Crash 2008-05-05T03:22:48-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9332 Alfred Kahn, the man behind airline deregulation in the 1970s, is a liberal with harsh words for "progressives" who oppose reforms in air travel, denying its benefits to consumers and making attempts to "recartelize" the industry... 9332@http://planenews.com Politics 2008-05-04T23:36:28-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9331 Aircraft builder Boeing has finally had some good news to offer Qantas about its much delayed 787 Dreamliner passenger jet. The controversial new airliner, which is now 18 months behind schedule, is expected to start the first stage of flight testing next month when engineers run up power to its flight systems... 9331@http://planenews.com Business 2008-05-04T12:43:00-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9330 CALL, Idaho (AP): Two small airplanes collided at the McCall Municipal Airport and burst into flames, killing three and sending three others to hospitals, a federal aviation official said Saturday. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor in Los Angeles said the accident happened when a Cessna 172 with two people aboard was landing and struck another Cessna 172 with four people aboard on the runway about 7 p.m. Friday. Both aircraft exploded on impact, he said... 9330@http://planenews.com Crash 2008-05-04T12:42:39-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9329 Sometime in the next few weeks, a test pilot will push the throttle forward, and the second F-35 Lightning II test aircraft will make its maiden flight, a major milestone for the $298 billion fighter-jet development program. "We’re working toward a late May [flight] date," said Dan Crowley, Lockheed Martin executive vice president over F-35 development and production... 9329@http://planenews.com Military 2008-05-04T12:42:23-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9328 COLOMBO (AFP): Sri Lanka’s state-run budget carrier has suspended operations indefinitely because of a lack of planes, an aviation official said Sunday. The budget airline, Mihin Lanka, has been dogged with financial trouble since it began commercial operations last April... 9328@http://planenews.com Airlines 2008-05-04T12:41:54-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9327 For the first time a private Russian company has ordered development of a vehicle for space travel. The name of the company investing in the spacecraft development is not reported. Full Story 9327@http://planenews.com Space Business 2008-05-04T06:17:15-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9326 Terminal Sheremetyevo-3 of Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow will open for passengers in spring 2009, according to director general of OJSC Terminal Kirill Budaev. The passenger capacity of the new terminal is 12 million passengers a year and it is expected to reach its maximum capacity in a year after opening. Full Story 9326@http://planenews.com Airports 2008-05-04T06:15:42-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9325 Tokyo: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd said Wednesday that Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp, a fully-owned subsidiary in charge of its newly launched passenger jet business, will issue new shares worth 67 billion yen ($636 million). The fresh capital injection will boost its capital and capital reserves to a total of 70 billion yen, from the current 3 billion yen... 9325@http://planenews.com Business 2008-05-03T16:38:35-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9324 WASHINGTON (Reuters): Textron Inc and Boeing Co’s MV22 Osprey, the world’s first operational half-helicopter half-airplane, performed far better in its Iraq combat debut than had been predicted by critics, the general in charge of Marine Corps aircraft said Friday... 9324@http://planenews.com Military 2008-05-03T16:38:09-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9323 The Engineers at Tecnologia Aeroespacial Mexicana seem to have a death wish. And it’s usually associated with rocket powered flight. Fresh off their James Bond-esque rocket jet pack design, TAM has announced the design of a rocket powered helicopter backpack which will enable rotor driven Rocketeers to jump into the sky and head anywhere in total freedom. Or kill themselves in a spectacular event only director John Landis could appreciate... 9323@http://planenews.com Rocketbelts 2008-05-03T16:37:47-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9322 WASHINGTON: General Electric Aviation, a unit of General Electric Co., received a $321.7 million contract boost to supply 84 F414-GE-400 engines and device kits and related equipment for the Navy’s F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets and its EA-18G Growler attack aircraft, the Defense Department said late Friday... 9322@http://planenews.com Business 2008-05-03T16:37:16-04:00 http://planenews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9321 Cessna Aircraft Company has decided not to deliver any Cessna 172TD aircraft powered by the German-built Thielert diesel engine, following the bankruptcy of Thielert Aircraft Engines. None had been delivered, and the type certificate was still pending... 9321@http://planenews.com Business 2008-05-03T16:36:30-04:00