Privately owned Chinese carrier Shenzhen Airlines tripled its net profit last year to 360 million yuan ($46.8 million) amid a 24% rise in passenger numbers, state media report.
Sustained combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq reveal a growing gap between operational demands and planning assumptions, which is forcing the British government and the Defense Ministry to reevaluate strategic plans. The U.K.'s armed forces, and in particular elements of the army and air force, are running at higher operational tempos--and for longer--than have been envisioned in the government's long-term strategic assumptions.
USAF Col. (ret.) Michael R. Gallagher (Hillsboro, Ore.)
Your article "Engine Quandary" (AW&ST Feb. 19, p. 30) states ". . . some C-17s are being used for intratheater lift, not one of the system's proposed missions." The last part of the statement is false. The C-17 was always envisioned for use in intratheater airlift. How soon some forget how we sold the airplane in the 1980s as a swing airlifter that would replace the C-141, augment the C-130 and perhaps eventually replace the C-5.
China says it has finished assembling its first lunar orbiter--Chang'e I--after three years of development and that the Long March 3-A that will launch it this year is undergoing testing.
Let's get this straight: Russia is shocked that the NATO nations would consider basing an anti-ballistic missile radar in the Czech Republic and interceptors in Poland without consulting the former superpower. The West has kept Russia informed throughout its deliberations on the anti-missile move, which is directed against Iran's growing capability to target Europe, not any potential threat from Russia. But Russia considers itself to have been briefed, not consulted.
AirTran, which is refusing to take two "no's" for an answer, has again extended the deadline on its bid to acquire Midwest Airlines. In January, AirTran made a hostile $345-million offer for the Milwaukee-based airline. Midwest now has until Apr. 11 to respond to the latest overture.
French Rafale strike fighters will be operational in Afghanistan within days, after undergoing a crash course to integrate precision-guided bombs and other wartime enhancements. Both the French air force and navy are participating in the surge of combat capability, aimed at bolstering NATO's International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.
Most of the world's space agencies are teaming up with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) in using their Earth-observing space assets to support protection of Unesco natural and cultural heritage sites worldwide. The agreement is a centerpiece in a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957, coming up Mar. 21 at Unesco headquarters in Paris.
Gregg Herman (see photo) has been named director of military sales and marketing for the Aerospace Group of Crane Aerospace & Electronics, Lynwood, Wash. He was a product support executive for the group.
ExpressJet struck a short-term deal with JetBlue to fly four 50-seat Embraer ERJ 145s through April to cover for JetBlue's Embraer 190s that are leaving service for software upgrades. About 30 modifications would be applied to the aircraft to correct software issues resulting from the carrier being the Embraer 190's launch customer. ExpressJet, meanwhile, is flying a total of six daily roundtrips for JetBlue, and it named industry leader Russ Chew as chief operating officer. The former COO of FAA's Air Traffic Organization had accepted a job at Hawaiian Airlines.
Airbus completed one of the last high-profile technical tests for the A380 before it is to be delivered to Singapore Airlines in October. The often-spectacular maximum-energy rejected take-off unfolded at the Istres flight test center in southern France on Mar. 4, when aircraft MSN001 accelerated to 166 kt. before the autobrakes applied full force to stop the aircraft. MSN001 weighed in at around 575,000 metric tons during the trial. Jacques Rosay, Airbus chief test pilot, says the aircraft stopped 20 meters (66 ft.) shorter than expected.
Buyers beware: Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne says Russia and China are doing some false advertising as nations around the globe contemplate fighter aircraft buys. "There are some pretenders out there," he says. "Russians and Chinese--both independently, by the way--are talking about fifth-generation fighters." This term, coined by F-22 and F-35 developer Lockheed Martin, refers to a combination of stealth, speed and sensor technology. But Wynne doesn't want the consumer to be confused. "It is just like branding.
Three accidents that caused at least 123 deaths in 10 weeks are heightening concerns about Indonesia's air safety and the need for remedial action. An NTSB, FAA and Boeing team last week rushed to aid Indonesian investigators to help determine what caused a runway overrun involving a Garuda Indonesia Boeing 737-400 (PK-GZC) at Yogya- karta-Adisutjipto Indonesia airport.
Southwest Airlines, which plans to add at least 37 new Boeing 737s this year, plans to add 18 nonstop flights to 15 destinations starting in June. The expansion is focused on Denver, Oakland, Calif., and Houston.
A revised French military space plan calls for upping milspace spending 50% to €650 million a year to reinforce and link communications and reconnaissance networks and to introduce new capabilities such as early warning, signal intelligence and space control.
The International Air Transport Assn. (IATA) is criticizing the Indian government's decision to increase landing, parking and route navigation charges at Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore airports during peak hours beginning Mar. 25. Already grappling with lack of infrastructure, airlines are now being put under additional pressure, with airfares for peak-hour flights expected to grow 10-15%. "IATA and the Airports Authority of India have a current pricing agreement and expect formal consultations on any proposed changes," says IATA official Albert Tjoeng.
The FAA now expects to see nearly 7,150 air traffic controller retirements over the next decade, which will be an increase of 400 from last year's predictions. The agency also lifted its hiring target for Fiscal 2007 to 1,400 controllers, to achieve its goal of a net increase of 189 this year.
You can now register ONLINE for AVIATION WEEK Events. Go to www.aviationweek.com/conferences or call Lydia Janow at +1 (212) 904-3225/+1 (800) 240-7645 ext. 5 (U.S. and Canada Only) Apr. 17-18--MRO Military, Atlanta. Apr. 18-19--MRO Conference, Atlanta. Oct. 17-18--MRO Asia, Shanghai. PARTNERSHIPS Mar. 21-- Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Space Age, Unesco, Paris. Apr. 9-12--National Space Symposium, Colorado Springs. Apr. 30-May 2--RFID Journal Live, Orlando, Fla.
Boeing's KC-767 moved a step closer to maturity when the Italian air force's first tanker was used to demonstrate the first fuel transfer via a new fifth-generation, fly-by-wire air refueling boom. During a 4-hr. flight, the boom was connected to a B-52 73 times, and 10,000 lb. of fuel was pumped to the bomber. The boom is remotely controlled from the flight deck and can push up to 900 gal. per min. for larger receiver aircraft.
Boeing has announced its second package cargo customer for the 767-300ER freighter in the past month with an order for six from DHL. The aircraft will be powered by General Electric CF6-80C2B75 engines. Last month, UPS ordered 27 -300ERFs.
All Nippon Airways has ordered four Boeing 777-300ERs; 14 are already in service or on order. The carrier also plans to sell three 747-400s to a Hong Kong lessor. The intended operator of the 747s appears to be Oasis Hong Kong airlines. Oasis plans to sell a 20% stake to strategic investors in 2007 and later offer shares to the public. It aims for a fleet of 25 aircraft in five years.
Japan Airlines, at the request of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, is taking on the responsibility of flying 99 Japanese war-bereaved relatives and four caregivers to Iwo Jima for memorial services. JAL will use an MD-90 on Mar. 6 to make the 702-mi. trip from Tokyo's Haneda Airport. Because so many of the relatives are of advanced age, it was thought that a commercial aircraft would be more comfortable. The return flight will be the same day.
