China’s AVIC is displaying a model of the FC-31 fifth-generation fighter for the first time at Dubai, having first aired the concept at Airshow China in Zhuhai last year. A product of the Shenyang concern, the FC-31 is based to a large extent on that of a “J-31” prototype (31001) that has been flying since 2012, but shows some notable differences from that aircraft. The fins are...
Beechcraft Defense's AT-6 Wolverine might soon have a launch customer, with a letter of offer and acceptance for six light-attack turboprops being prepared for the government of Iraq. In partnership with the US Air Force, Beechcraft intends to offer Baghdad six aircraft initially, with options for more in increments of six. That offer is likely to be delivered next month. The US State...
While all the talk in the run-up to the Dubai air show was about the prospects for large commercial orders being announced, it was the United Arab Emirates air force that opened sales, with a surprise, $1.27 billion contract with Saab for advanced surveillance aircraft. Announced during a press briefing on 9 November, the agreement – which was reached on the first day of the show –...
On the occasion of the Dubai Airshow 2015, Lufthansa Technik AG and low cost carrier Air Arabia, based in Sharjah, UAE, have signed an airframe related component contract for radome repair. The contract runs over a period of three years and covers radome maintenance for Air Arabia’s A320 fleet. In addition to the repair services, Lufthansa Technik will support Air Arabia as well with spare...
Overhaul and upgrade of a test bench owned by Kuznetsov Company (Samara) is being carried out by Ural Department of Spetsstroy of Russia. At present the interior is being decorated and pre-commissioning activities are in progress. “The test bench is the building, which has varying number of floors, and it is fitted with a vertical intake shaft and vertical exhaust silencer. It is de...
At the Dubai Airshow-2015 the head of the Egyptian holding KATO Investment Dr. Ibrahim Kamel and President of Irkut Corporation Oleg Demchenko agreed to develop cooperation on the MS-21 project. Purchasing agreement on 6 MS-21 aircraft by the Cairo Aviation airline (an affiliate of the KATO Investment) has been signed within the cooperation programme. The agreement also envisages an option for...
The Indonesian Ministry of Transport has announced further restrictions on locally-registered aircraft that operate within the confines of the south-east Asian archipelago. Transport Minister Ignatius Jonan last month amended Indonesia's Civil Aviation Safety Regulations forbidding the importation, registration and use of commercial passenger aircraft older than ten years of age while freig...
Consumers are not the only ones being stung with paying by credit card, with Australia’s two major carriers telling a Senate committee their surcharges and booking fees recover less than the reasonable the cost of processing credit card payments. Qantas group executive for government and international affairs Andrew Parker said credit and debit card processing costs were “...
Despite reports in media, the Russian Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) has re-confirmed its decision to revoke Boeing 737 type certificate. However, the decision didn't have any practical impact as the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) on Friday decided that there are no grounds to ground all B737 in Russia. Meantime, IAC's chairman - Tatiana Anodina...
Strike action by the independent flight attendant’s organisation (UFO) has led to the cancellation of more than 900 Lufthansa flights from / to Frankfurt and Dusseldorf between 0430 at 2300 and those to/from Munich between 0430 and 2359 today (Monday November 9). Flights operated by Lufthansa CityLine, Germanwings, Eurowings, Air Dolomiti, Austrian Airlines, SWISS and Brussels Airlines are...
Russian tourists leaving Egypt will only be able to take cabin baggage with them, and their other luggage will be delivered later on cargo planes, Russia’s tourism chief said. There are an estimated 80,000 Russians staying in Hurgada and Sharm el-Sheikh. Authorities stressed they are not planning any emergency evacuation, the head of Russia's federal tourism agency Oleg Safonov told j...
Flying across the world in an open cockpit vintage biplane might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for Tracy Curtis Taylor, it is a chance to “get a bird’s-eye view or the view of gods”. The British aviator, 53, is part way through a 21,000 kilometres solo flight from the UK to Australia in a 1942 Boeing Stearman Spirit of Artemis aircraft. And the adventurer, who emb...
