- Nigeria clear forest around Lagos port[Jan. 08, 2006]
Nigeria will clear a thick forest and stagnant ponds at Lagos Airport as part of urgent reforms to the aviation sector after two plane crashes that killed more than 200 people, the airports authority said on Sunday.
- United Kingdom NATS sees record year[Jan. 09, 2006]
National Air Traffic Services said it handled a record 2.3 million flights through British airspace in 2005, a rise of 5.7% over the previous year and the highest annual growth since 1999.An increase in service by low-cost carriers to Eastern Europe contributed to the record, with flights to the region jumping 36.5% over the 12 months. Traffic to the Middle East, Asia and Africa also showed significant growth, rising 12.9%. However, the strong gains in domestic traffic seen all year slowed considerably after the start of the winter schedule, from a peak increase of 9.5% in May to 0.4% in December. Transatlantic overflights remained below 2000 levels.
- Airbus A380's engine FAA certificated[Jan. 06, 2006]
The General Electric/Pratt & Whitney-led Engine Alliance received certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration yesterday (4 January) of its GP7200 engine for the Airbus A380 super large aircraft and aims to start flight tests in Toulouse in the second quarter.
- US Northwest risking peace with pilots[Jan. 05, 2006]
The pilots' union at Northwest Airlines says the carrier is "risking labor peace" if it voids their collective bargaining agreement before another consensual deal is in place, according to court documents.
- AU: CASA junked plan for skydiver warning[Jan. 06, 2006]
Australia's air safety regulator proposed four years ago that skydiving planes should warn passengers they may not be as safe as other aircraft, but it did not proceed with the idea.
- Emirates push Boeing to 787 derivative[Jan. 04, 2006]
Boeing has finally acknowledged increased interest in the proposed stretched 787-10 and says it will "probably happen".
- Airbus composite safety claims Boeing[Jan. 03, 2006]
Boeing is reassuring airlines over the use of composite material for the primary structure of the 787 following claims by Airbus that the new Boeing twinjet could be grounded "because of a scratch in the paint".
- Computer glitch causes UA's flight slowdown[Jan. 05, 2006]
A computer problem with United's passenger processing system delayed about 150 of United's 3,700 flights worldwide Jan. 3, airline spokesman Jeff Green said.
- GP7200 receives certification from US FAA[Jan. 05, 2006]
Engine Alliance received FAR 33 certification from US FAA for its GP7200, designed for the A380.
- US DOT releases Nov's ontime performance[Jan. 05, 2006]
US airlines reported an ontime arrival rate of 80% in November, an improvement over the 79.1% achieved in November 2004 but a drop from October's rate of 81.3%, according to the "Air Travel Consumer Report" released yesterday by the US Dept. of Transportation.