Archive for the ‘News’ Category

F-1 Beats Lear 60?

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

Britain’s Formula One hero and brand ambassador for Bombardier Lewis Hamilton took on the Canadian airframer’s iconic Learjet 60 in a special one off head-to-head challenge at the Farnborough International Airshow Monday. Hamilton tore his McLaren Mercedes around the runway at 175mph, competing against the Learjet some 200ft above him ...

EADS Shopping For U.S. Acquisition?

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

EADS is spreading its wings, although will not be moving out of Europe. Addressing delegates at the Farnborough International Airshow Monday, CEO Louis Gallois said the company is shopping for acquisitions and the low U.S. dollar is making that side of the pond attractive. He said the acquisition drive is ...

Russian MS-21 Jet May Become Half Chinese

Monday, July 14th, 2008

Russian passenger jet MS-21 is expected to have 15-20% better characteristics than those of A-320 manufactured by Airbus. China has a chance to become one of the jet’s developers. Full Story Link to the original post

Third Cessna SkyCatcher Airframe Now in Testing.

Monday, July 14th, 2008

Cessna Aircraft is making progress on its attempts to revitalize the flight training and recreational flying markets. The engineering team now has completed the third 162 SkyCatcher airframe, which will be used for static testing. Two other airplanes are being used for flight testing. One of those will be equipped ...

China Southern Chooses CFM56-5B to Power New A320 Aircraft.

Monday, July 14th, 2008

FARNBOROUGH, England (BUSINESS WIRE): China Southern Airlines today announced that it has selected CFM56-5B engines to power a new fleet of 20 Airbus A320 family aircraft, and back the engine purchase with a long-term material services agreement. CFM56-5B engines are a product of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma ...

FAA Announces Runway Safety Improvements.

Monday, July 14th, 2008

WASHINGTON: The Federal Aviation Administration announced measures Monday to improve runway safety, including the installation at major airports of lights that signal pilots when a runway is safe to enter. The announcement by Acting FAA Administrator Robert Sturgell comes amid criticism of FAA officials by federal lawmakers and others over ...

Over 60 Russian Defense Firms Take Part in Farnborough Air Show.

Monday, July 14th, 2008

FARNBOROUGH (U.K.)(RIA Novosti): More than 60 Russian defense-industry companies are taking part in the Farnborough air show that opened on Monday, southwest of the British capital. The Farnborough International Airshow 2008 will be the biggest event ever in its 60-year history in terms of exhibition space and exhibitor numbers, the ...

Boeing, FlyDubai Announce Next-Generation 737 Order.

Monday, July 14th, 2008

FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom: Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Dubai’s recently launched low-cost airline FlyDubai today announced an order for 50 Next-Generation 737-800s at the Farnborough Air Show. Valued at approximately $3.74 billion at current list prices, the order will be added to Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries Web site at the next ...

Boeing, Etihad Airways Announce Twin-Aisle Order.

Monday, July 14th, 2008

FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom: Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Etihad Airways today announced an order for 35 787-9 Dreamliners and 10 777-300ERs (Extended Range) at the Farnborough Airshow. Valued at $9.4 billion at current list prices, the order has been attributed on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries Web site to an unidentified customer. ...

Russia’s Irkut Has 80 Solid Orders for Yak-130 Combat Trainers.

Monday, July 14th, 2008

FARNBOROUGH, (RIA Novosti): Russia’s Irkut corporation, the manufacturer of the famed Sukhoi fighters, has 80 solid orders for Yak-130 combat trainers, the company director said on Monday during the Farnborough air show currently being held near London... Link to the original post

AVweb Insider Blog: Raise the #@!$% Fares (Part II)

Monday, July 14th, 2008

Last week, the major airlines sent a letter to their customers blaming oil speculators for high prices. AVweb Editorial Director Paul Bertorelli thinks they're giving customers the runaround, asking them to become junior lobbyists and urge Congress to crack down on oil speculators instead of demanding a consistent, practical ...

Video of the Week: Alaska Flying at Knik Glacier

Monday, July 14th, 2008

Last week we brought you a classic Tiger Moth doing aerobatic maneuvers over Australia. This week, we journey to the opposite end of the globe and serve up what YouTube user CrowBerry Dog modestly calls a "flight into known icing" over Knik Glacier in Alaska. (Click through to ...

Short Final

Sunday, July 13th, 2008

Overheard in IFR Magazine's "On the Air"Overheard in Southern Florida:Fort Myers Approach:"Cessna Three Four Alpha, say heading."Cessna:"Ah, we're headin' for Tampa."Fort Myers Approach:"Cessna Three Four Alpha, say heading."Cessna:"Well, okay. We're headin' for the LaBelle VOR first and then going on to Tampa."Fort Myers Approach:"Cessna Three Four Alpha, could you ...

FBO of the Week: St. Petersburg Flying Service (KSPG, St. Petersburg, FL)

Sunday, July 13th, 2008

>>> AVWEB FUEL FINDER CURRENT PRICE FOR 100LL: $5.59 (up 2¢ from last week)CURRENT PRICE FOR JET A: $5.97 (up 5¢ from last week)Fuel prices provided weekly by AirNav, based on prices from the past 2 weeks. Changes are relative to last week's prices. /TEXT_ONLY-->AVweb's "FBO of ...

Make flying your summer adventure

Sunday, July 13th, 2008

If you're looking for a high-flying adventure for kids, try the Experimental Aircraft Association's free fly-in at Murfreesboro Municipal Airport. Link to the original post

Close Call in ABQ Center Airspace Raises Questions

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

Robert P. Mark - www.jetwhine.com If you’re a pilot and and watch the AOPA video of the rocket-run the F-16 pilots ran on a couple of civil airplanes in March, you’ll probably lose your lunch. A Beech Premier and a PC-12 were transiting a Military Operations Area (MOA) that the ...

Business aviation group spent $670K to lobby in 1Q

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

The National Business Aviation Association spent $670,000 in the first quarter to lobby on legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration and other issues. Link to the original post

Airbus Upbeat About New Orders at Farnborough.

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

PARIS (Reuters): Aircraft maker Airbus (EAD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) expects to announce new orders at the Farnborough air show next week, its Director-General Fabrice Bregier said in an interview published on Saturday... Link to the original post

Sukhoi to Unveil 30 Superjet Orders.

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

LONDON (Reuters): Russia’s Sukhoi will announce 30 orders for its Superjet 100 regional aircraft at the Farnborough air show, a spokeswoman said on Saturday. The orders will be unveiled at a news conference on Tuesday, she said... Link to the original post

Israel Unveils Advanced Spy Plane.

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

JERUSALEM: Israel displayed its latest spy plane on Thursday in what defence officials said was a show of strength in response to Iranian war games and missile tests. The aircraft's sophisticated intelligence-gathering technology and electronic warfare systems were developed by state-run Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and installed aboard a US-made ...

TSA Stupidity.

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

Propped up by a culture of fear, TSA has become a bureaucracy with too much power and little accountability. Where will the lunacy stop?.. Link to the original post

FAA Teams With X PRIZE to Develop Alternative Jet Fuels

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

The Federal Aviation Administration this week took the bold step to enlist the folks at X PRIZE, the same out fit currently offering a $30 million prize to land a privately funded robotic craft on the Moon and a $10 million reward for researchers to build clean and super-efficient cars... ...

Peter Fox tried to take off from Biggin Hill International Airport on two occasions

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

A pilot branded "a very real danger to the skies" has been jailed for nine months. Link to the original post

Women flying high

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

THE aviation world might traditionally be considered a man's domain, but the number of women in the Gulf taking to the skies is soaring to an all-time high. Link to the original post

Feldman Joins GAMA As Vice President, Government Affairs

Friday, July 11th, 2008

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association has announced the hiring of Paul H. Feldman as Vice President, Government Affairs. Link to the original post

Business Aviation vs. the Airlines

Friday, July 11th, 2008

By Robert Mark on July 9th, 2008 - www.jetwhine.com Those of us who have either flown business airplanes or have been lucky enough to travel in the back - a few of us qualify for both - are light years ahead of the people we are still trying to convince ...

Virgin America: Reinventing the Wheel

Friday, July 11th, 2008

By Robert Mark on July 8th, 2008 - www.jetwhine.com Clever and creative are not terms people use much when they speak about the airline industry, except for a few of the “Gen Xer airlines” as I call the Low Cost Carriers because they really seem to get it. Link to ...

Whales and Dolphins Inspire a Novel Design for Turbines.

Thursday, July 10th, 2008

Dolphins and whales have evolved over millions of years to maximize efficiency of movement through water. The human species has been trying to perfect streamlined designs for barely a century. Biologists and engineers, applying biomimicry, studied the flippers, fins and tails of whales and dolphins, and have discovered some ...

Small Airplane Accident in Chile Kills 9 Persons.

Thursday, July 10th, 2008

SANTIAGO (Xinhua): A small airplane crashed Thursday in the south of Chile shortly after it took off from La Paloma airport in Puerto Montt, capital of the region of Los Lagos, 990 km south of Santiago, killing nine persons, authorities said. The Beechcraft 99A aircraft took off from La Paloma ...

Saab Receives Supplementary Orders for Gripen.

Thursday, July 10th, 2008

STOCKHOLM, Sweden: Saab has received orders from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, FMV, for electronic warfare systems and supplementary weapons pylons for Gripen to a total value of 574 MSEK. The order for Electronic Warfare Systems (EWS) means that the aircraft will be equipped with antennae, transmitters and computers to ...