NewsAirbus pushes enhanced A330 against 787-9 Airbus believes its proposed higher-weight and fuel-capacity modifications to the A330-300 will offer certain competitive advantages over the Boeing 787-9. The A330-300 is built with the same centre tank structure as the longer-range A330-200 but is unused. Airbus will modify the aircraft on the production line by sealing the centre section, making the volume available for fuel transport.
LinkBritish engineers 'crack secret of reusable spaceplane' The dream of airline-style orbital flight operations has come a step closer to reality with a successful demonstration of the critical technology behind a radical air-breathing rocket engine concept. After years of work that has consumed some £250 million ($400 million), Oxford-based Reaction Engines has declared success in its attempt to devise a pre-cooler that can liquidise oxygen from intake air, before mixing it with tanked liquid hydrogen to generate thrust like a normal rocket engine. A spaceplane powered by such engines would leave a runway under rocket power and liquidise its own oxygen until reaching Mach 5.5 at 26km (16 miles) altitude, when tanked liquid oxygen would take over for the journey to low-Earth orbit. Reaction Engines is now seeking another £250 million from investors to develop a demonstrator of its Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE) powerplant concept.
LinkAnybody wanting to read the article, PM me with your e-mail addressPan-African low-cost carrier Fastjet launches scheduled flights Pan-African low-cost carrier (LCC) Fastjet has commenced domestic operations from Julius Nyerere airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The maiden flight was operated to the northern city of Mwanza at 6:00 local time on 29 November - departing on-schedule and "almost full to capacity", says the airline. It was followed by a second service to Kilimanjaro later in the morning. Fastjet will serve the twice daily routes with three Airbus A319s (MSNs 2176, 1145 and 1068) - two of which have entered service, while the third joins the fleet on 3 December.
LinkNetJets takes delivery of first Global 6000NetJets has taken delivery of the first Bombardier Global 6000 business jet featuring its new bespoke interior - the Signature Series. The ultra long-range aircraft - registration N160QS - is the first of a trio of Global 6000s destined for the world's largest business aircraft operator and fractional ownership company this year. The Globals are part of two industry record-breaking orders NetJets has placed with the Canadian airframer over the past 20 months, as part a top-to-tail overhaul of its fleet.
LinkStar Alliance eyes two carriers in India Star Alliance has confirmed that it is in talks with India's Jet Airways, which is seeking the Indian government's approval to join the group. "We are aware that Jet has asked the question to the government but we know that so far, it has not received an answer," says Star's chief executive Mark Schwab on the sidelines of Shenzhen Airlines' admission into the alliance.
LinkCourt Clears Continental Of Concorde CrashA French appeals court on Thursday absolved Continental Airlines of blame for a Concorde crash in 2000 that killed 113 people and cleared a mechanic at the US airline of the charge of involuntary manslaughter.
LinkEuropean Air Travel Recovering - IATAEuropean air travel recovered further in October, despite Hurricane Sandy costing the global industry at least USD$500 million, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Thursday.
LinkAir Canada To Expand Asia-Pacific FlightsAir Canada unveiled a major expansion in its flights to Asia, a high-growth area for Canada's biggest airline in recent years, as it seeks to boost revenue in an attempt to become profitable.
LinkDamascus Fighting Cuts Off Airport AccessSyrian rebels battled forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad just outside Damascus on Thursday, restricting access to its international airport, with Emirates suspending flights to the Syrian capital.
LinkBondholder Group Says AMR Board Should GoA group of some of bankrupt American Airlines' most significant bondholders said it will not support a standalone restructuring unless a new board is brought in, a move that may increase hurdles for chief executive Tom Horton and his team.
LinkUS congressman slams TSAUS House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) blasted the Transportation Security Administration for skipping a Thursday House hearing on aviation security. Mica, who is nearing the end of his tenure as committee chairman, has long been a TSA critic, saying the agency has moved beyond the scope Congress intended when it created TSA in 2001 (with Mica playing a key role in drafting the legislation). Clearly angered by the decision of TSA administrator John Pistole to decline to testify at Thursday’s hearing or send a deputy, Mica voiced strong criticism of the agency.
LinkGulf Air CEO Samer Majali resigns Samer Majali is to step down as CEO of Gulf Air at the end of 2012 after three years with the airline. “The board of directors of Gulf Air announced today that it has accepted the resignation of the CEO, Samer Majali, submitted earlier this year following the appointment of the Gulf Air board of directors in mid-November,” Gulf Air said in a statement.
LinkRAAF retires C-130H after 34 years of service The Royal Australian Air Force has retired the last of its Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules tactical transports after 34 years of operating the type. "The C-130H Hercules has supported defence personnel on operations in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan, and provided peacetime and humanitarian service, including evacuating Australians from Cambodia in 1997 and returning injured Australians home from the Bali bombings," says the Department of Defence.
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