July 19, 2006

Bombardier logs new jet sales

By Stephen Pope

Highlighting the rising demand for business jets in Europe, Bombardier Aerospace yesterday announced sales for its two newest models, the Challenger 605 and Learjet 60XR. Developed as replacements for existing models, the airplanes included in the deals are slated for delivery to operators in Austria and Eastern Europe.

VistaJet, a Swiss executive charter company with operations ba more

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EADS boss is sick of nationalism

By Gregory Polek

EADS plans to appoint a British board member in the event BAE Systems goes forward with its sale of its 20-percent stake in the European conglomerate, company co-CEOs Louis Gallois and Tom Enders confirmed here during a morning press conference yesterday. Nevertheless, Enders made it clear that he has grown tired of the nationalistic politics that seem so fundamental to any discussion about the co more

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Diesel in demand in fuel squeeze

By Brian Walters

Record high fuel prices have served to concentrate minds on how to keep operational costs from spiraling. This cannot be other than good news for Thielert Aircraft Engines, which is recording burgeoning sales of its Centurion engines. With avgas difficult to obtain in some parts of the world, the general aviation market has been eagerly turning to diesel power both for the easier access to jet fue more

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Airbus gets to grips with wire woes

By Gregory Polek

Regardless of how massive the project, there’s no escaping the devil in the detail, as Airbus knows all too well since it announced the second major delay of the Airbus A380 last month. But until just recently it seemed the company would limit its public explanation of the problem to vague references to changes in wiring configurations and production bottlenecks. To his credit, Airbus executive vi more

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Libya enters new jet age

By Gregory Polek

Airbus placed itself in a position to land the first significant civil aircraft order from a Libyan airline in 30 years when it signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday to supply Tripoli’s Afriqiyah Airways with six A320s, three A319s and three A330-200s. The deal also grants the airline options on five A319s and three A330-200s.

As its economy emerges from trade sanctions im more

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A350 engine questions loom

By Julian Moxon

Airbus’ confirmation that it is to go ahead with the A350 XWB, requiring much higher thrust engines than the original A350, has put the cat among the pigeons in the U.S. engine industry, with General Electric and Pratt & Whitney apparently poles apart on what they will offer.

The only manufacturer that appears to have its solution sewn up is Rolls-Royce, which will offer a “sixth ge more

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T-6 dons battlegear for new armed roles

By Brian Walters

With 319 Beechcraft-built T-6 trainers delivered to date and almost 500,000 flight hours to their credit, Raytheon has concluded that the time is ripe to launch the AT-6 joint airborne weapons system derivative. Promoted as a platform for the net-centric battlefield, the AT-6 has been readied for its new mission by the addition of sensors, datalink, cockpit protection and various weapons configura more

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FAA boss lauds UPS use of ADS-B

By Bernard Fitzsimons

Marion Blakey, administrator of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, used her first visit to Farnborough yesterday to publicly endorse the ADS-B program express package carrier UPS is implementing at its Louisville, Kentucky hub.

UPS, in conjunction with Boeing and avionics innovator ACSS, is pursuing a program launched at last year’s Paris Air Show that aims to improve the eff more

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Canucks hope Chinook will do

By R. Randall Padfield

The Canadian government would like to acquire 16 more military helicopters for troop and cargo transport, but has so far determined that only the Boeing CH-47 Chinook meets its requirements. Other potential bidders have 30 days to show they have an aircraft that could meet these requirements. Deliveries of the aircraft are to begin within 36 months of contract signing.

Mike “TK” Tk more

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First Dassault Falcon 7X will go to Serge himself

The first Dassault Falcon 7X is earmarked for delivery to the French group’s patriach Serge Dassault at the beginning of April 2007 in time for his 82nd birthday. The French senator will take delivery of the first of the “more than 85” trijets currently on order–not on behalf of Dassault Aviation, the group of which he is the main shareholder–but as a private customer.

The very lon more

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