Aircraft News June 2005

Airguide Online, June 30, 2005

NTSB investigates near-collision at Boston's Logan: The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating two passenger jets that came within seconds of colliding at Boston's Logan International Airport, the Boston Globe reported. The jets were mistakenly cleared to take off at the same time on intersecting runways. Jun 24, 2005

U.S., EU willing to resume aircraft subsidy talks. U.S. and EU officials say they are willing to return to talks over aircraft subsidies. The sides did not say when they would resume formal negotiations. Talks broke down in May, and the White House said it would take the case to the World Trade Organization. The EU also filed its own WTO case. The U.S. believes European jetmaker Airbus receives unfair government subsides to develop commercial jets. The EU counters that U.S. manufacturer Boeing receives aid in the form of defense contracts. Jun 20, 2005

Senator who led delegation to air show will not reveal costs: The lawmaker who led a congressional delegation to the Paris Air Show will not disclose how much the trip cost or how many members of Congress came along, The Washington Times reports. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, does not usually comment on trips because they are confidential, a Stevens spokeswoman said. Members of both parties traveled to Paris with Stevens. Jun 20, 2005

States sell themselves at Paris Air Show: Politicians from several states have visited the Paris Air Show with the hope of attracting foreign business back home, The New York Times reported. Alabama, South Carolina and Florida were among the states that set up information booths at the show. Charles Lindbergh's grandson, Erik Lindbergh, helped New Mexico's marketing effort. Jun 17, 2005

Indian deregulation sparks aircraft orders. The recent deregulation of India's aviation industry sparked a wave of orders by Indian airlines at the Paris Air Show, The Wall Street Journal reported. The number of domestic travelers grew 25% last year, and is expected to climb 30% annually over the next five years. The Indian government is also shopping for fighter jets and is talking with defense firms exhibiting at the show. Jun 17, 2005

Japan, France partner to develop advanced supersonic jet. Japanese and French companies will develop a supersonic commercial jet that would replace the Concorde. Companies will research the plane over the next three years, spending nearly $1 million a year. Japanese and French companies have signed an agreement to develop a supersonic aircraft to succeed the disused Concorde jetliner, according to Japanese media reports. The three-year agreement to study a next-generation supersonic jet was signed at the Paris Air Show, Kyodo news agency reported, citing a statement released by Japan's trade ministry. The Concorde, the world's first supersonic passenger jet, entered service in 1976. It went through a 16-month hiatus after a crash in July 2000, and finally stopped operating in October 2003 due to heavy maintenance costs. Two airlines, British Airways and Air France, used the aircraft on transatlantic services. With a cruising speed of 1350 miles an hour it was able to transport passengers from London to New York in less than three hours, compared to an eight-hour flight for subsonic airliners. But the Concorde suffered a setback when an Air France plane caught fire in July 2000 shortly after takeoff over France. It crashed, killing 113 people, including four on the ground. The aircraft was taken out of service until November 2001. Jun 15, 2005

China's government continues to control aircraft purchases. Chinese airlines are not allowed to purchase planes without the approval of the Chinese government, the Wall Street Journal reported. Under this system, purchases can take years. Meanwhile, China's airlines are struggling to adjust to changes in the market. Observers say the system allows China to pool its purchasing power with manufacturers. Jun 10, 2005

Air Canada cancels orders for 32 Boeing jets. In a blow to Boeing, Air Canada canceled an order for 32 jetliners. The airline's pilots union rejected a cost-cutting contract that would have allowed the carrier to buy the 18 777s and 14 787s. Jun 20, 2005

Scant orders for Airbus A380 raise doubts about jetliner. Airbus announced just one order for its A380 superjumbo jet at the Paris Air Show, the Chicago Tribune reported. Airbus has sold 145 of the jetliners since it started marketing it four years ago. The company recently said it would deliver the first A380s six months behind schedule. Airbus Executive John Leahy said the industry needs the plane. "It's going to be difficult for them to make money without it," he said. Jun 28, 2005

Airbus books order for 18 A319s: Germanwings ordered 18 Airbus A319 jetliners and placed options for 12 additional planes, Air Transport World reported. Airbus will deliver the jets, which will replace leased planes, between 2006 and 2008. Jun 21, 2005

Airbus boosts planes' prices by 3%. Jetmaker Airbus has lifted prices on its new aircraft by about 3%, Bloomberg News reported. An Airbus A380 superjumbo jet, the company's highest-priced plane, will climb to $302 million from $292 million, an Airbus spokesman said. Airbus lifted prices to keep up with growth in travel and rising fuel prices.