Month: March 2021

HomeMarch 2021

UK to buy Switchblade loitering munition

The UK plans to buy the Aerovironment Switchblade loitering munition, in what appears to be the first purchase of the US-made weapon by a foreign country. The UK plans to buy the Aerovironment Switchblade loitering munition, in what appears to...

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Spike NLOS validated for AH-64 after 17.3nm target hit

The US Army has validated the Rafael Spike Non Line Of Sight (NLOS) missile as an interim long-range weapon for its Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. The US Army has validated the Rafael Spike Non Line Of Sight (NLOS) missile...

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Final production Airbus A380 departs Toulouse for Hamburg outfitting

Airbus has flown the last production A380 from Toulouse to its Hamburg Finkenwerder plant for completion ahead of its delivery to Emirates. The flight of the aircraft, MSN272, took place on 17 March a little more than two years after...

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Sustainable fuel: a greener future for aviation?

3pm BST / 10am EDT, 15 April 2021 We have been talking about it for a decade or more, but price and availability remain barriers for a sustainable aviation fuel breakthrough. What will it take for SAF to become mainstream....

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Ukraine sharply criticises Iranian findings over 737 shootdown

Ukrainian authorities submitted dozens of comments to Iranian investigators, many highly critical, regarding multiple aspects of the inquiry into last year’s fatal missile attack on a Boeing 737-800 shortly after take-off from Tehran. The Iranian Civil Aviation Organisation has formally...

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US carriers added roughly 250 jets to active fleets since January

US airlines have added some 250 passenger aircraft to their active-service fleets in recent months, moving jets out of storage and taking delivery of new aircraft as travel demand seems to be rebounding. US airlines have added some 250 passenger...

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Fly Safe Focus: WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program

WASHINGTON-This months Fly Safe campaign topic looks at how pilots can maintain proficiency with the Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program. Proficiency training is required for most professional pilots and plays a key role in aviation safety. Studies...

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IATA aims for in-person AGM with postponement to October

IATA’s annual general meeting has been postponed to 3-5 October 2021, as the airline industry association seeks to ensure an in-person event happens this year amid a hoped-for recovery from the worst effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.  IATA’s annual general...

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ATR hoping for better 2021 as it eyes ‘gradual recovery’

Regional turboprop manufacturer ATR sees potential for annual production rates rising to up to 40-50 aircraft in the coming years as the market recovers, but cautions that any improvement will be slow. Regional turboprop manufacturer ATR sees potential for annual...

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Airline leaders optimistic on return of transatlantic market in summer

Several airline leaders have expressed optimism that the transatlantic market so crucial to the financial fortunes of many European and US network carriers will begin to open up in the coming summer season. Several airline leaders have expressed optimism that the transatlantic...

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