Express

MD-11 crash raises history of problems

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The FedEx MD-11 aircraft that slammed into the runway and burst into flames Monday morning while landing at Tokyo's Narita International Airport during windy conditions has raised the issue of the aircraft's overly sensitive flight-control systems and reputation for being difficult to control during rough landings. Airline-related blogs have been full of discussions of the hard-landing that ultimately culminated in the total loss of the aircraft and death of both pilots. Shocking video footage … [Read more...] about MD-11 crash raises history of problems

IATA ups ’09 forecast with $4.7B industry loss

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Estimated losses for the global air industry are expected to nearly double from December's forecast for 2009 as air carriers grapple with the worst crisis in over 60 years, with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) saying a significant recovery in 2010 would "require more optimism than realism". The IATA has announced a revised outlook for the global air transport industry with losses of US$4.7 billion in 2009, significantly worse than its December forecast of US$2.5 billion in … [Read more...] about IATA ups ’09 forecast with $4.7B industry loss

IATA ups '09 forecast with $4.7B industry loss

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Estimated losses for the global air industry are expected to nearly double from December's forecast for 2009 as air carriers grapple with the worst crisis in over 60 years, with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) saying a significant recovery in 2010 would "require more optimism than realism". The IATA has announced a revised outlook for the global air transport industry with losses of US$4.7 billion in 2009, significantly worse than its December forecast of US$2.5 billion in … [Read more...] about IATA ups '09 forecast with $4.7B industry loss

Narita airport reopens main runway

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Tokyo's Narita international airport reopened its main runway Tuesday, freeing up desperately needed capacity at Japan's busiest international airport a day after a FedEx cargo plane crashed in a ball of fire, killing two US pilots. Workers overnight cleared the charred wreckage of the MD-11 from the crash site near the 4,000-metre Runway A, which usually handles more than 350 flights a day. The runway, the longer of two at Narita International Airport was reopened shortly after 9 am (0010 GMT) … [Read more...] about Narita airport reopens main runway

US forwarders say screening hurdles remain

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Testifying recently before a US congressional subcommittee, the executive director of the US Airforwarders Association (AFA), Brandon Fried, acknowledged progress had been made on screening cargo in the belly holds of passenger aircraft, but warned three primary challenges still faced the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) aim of 100 per cent screening by the August 2010 deadline. "Serious issues have yet to be resolved, including the lack of approved pallet screening technology, … [Read more...] about US forwarders say screening hurdles remain

Qatar, Saudi up aviation cooperation

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Qatar and Saudi Arabia have agreed to improve cooperation between the two countries’ aviation markets with a deal recently signed by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) and the Qatar Authority for Civil Aviation. “By this agreement, we aim to develop rules and regulations and facilitate air transportation procedures between Saudi Arabia and Qatar,” said Ayman Bin Baker Naseef, supervisor of GACA’s central department for … [Read more...] about Qatar, Saudi up aviation cooperation