Aircraft News - Europe.

Airbus

Rudder problems will not affect crash investigation. Recent rudder problems with Airbus A300 jetliners will not affect the investigation of the 2001 crash of Flight 587 in Queens, N.Y., federal air safety officials said. The National Safety Transportation Board in March encouraged inspections of the inner skin of the composite rudder surfaces of certain Airbus A300 aircraft. Apr 19, 2006

Airbus A340-600HGW received certification from EASA. Airbus claims the 380-tonne variant, powered by improved Trent 500s, provides up to 18% higher productivity compared to earlier versions. The dash 600HGW has a range of 7,900 nm. (14,600 km.), an improvement of 250 nm. (463 km.) over the base A340-600 in a typical three-class arrangement seating 380. Qatar Airways will take the first aircraft this summer followed by Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic and Etihad Airways. Airbus also is working on an improved variant of the dash 500, certification of which is due to take place early next year. Apr 17, 2006

Airbus faces risks as it considers A350 redesign. A redesign of the A350 could force Airbus to delay the plane's launch until 2012. If Airbus does not redesign the plane, it may lose market share to Boeing's 787, analysts say. Airbus is taking recent criticisms of the A350 from some key customers to heart. Responding to questions from reporters at the opening of a new facility in Toulouse Monday, CEO Gustav Humbert said, "We are listening to the customers...We have every reason to go the extra mile and study all our options intensively," according to Bloomberg News. Last week, Singapore Airlines CEO Chew Choon Seng said Airbus should have "designed a new fuselage" for the A350. Apr 10, 2006

Airbus, BAE Systems

BAE in talks to sell Airbus stake to EADS. BAE Systems on Friday informed the London Stock Exchange that it has "entered into discussions with European Aeronautic Defense & Space Co. regarding the sale of its 20% shareholding in Airbus." Apr 11, 2006

Airbus, Boeing

Boeing leads in orders but trails Airbus in deliveries. Boeing holds a healthy lead over Airbus in terms of new orders for March and the first quarter of 2006, while Airbus delivered more aircraft in the quarter. Airbus booked orders for 19 aircraft in March comprising three A320 family aircraft, four A330s, three 340-300s and nine A350-900s. Finnair was responsible for the majority of the sales, including the A350s and A340s. In March 2005, Airbus booked orders for 80 aircraft of which all but two were narrowbodies. Apr 11, 2006

Airbus, EADS

French bank will buy 2.25% stake in Airbus parent. A French bank will acquire a 2.25% stake in Airbus parent EADS. The state-owned bank will buy shares from French media group Lagardere; the transaction would also allow the French government to take more control of EADS. Apr 11, 2006

EADS purchase of shares will simplify Airbus. The decision by BAE Systems to sell its 20% share in Airbus to EADS will enable EADS to create a simpler structure. "We welcome the opportunity to increase our stake in Airbus, which holds the potential of simplifying Airbus governance," EADS said. "We were anticipating the possibility of such a move and are fully prepared to move ahead constructively." EADS already holds the remaining 80%. Apr 10, 2006

Cygnus Air, Precision Conversions

Precision Conversions signed a deal with Cygnus Air of Spain for one 757-200 freighter conversion plus one option. The aircraft will enter the conversion process in July. Cygnus provides cargo services to Iberia with three DC-8s. Precision also will convert two 757s to freighters under an agreement with Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management. The contract calls for "multiple options" on future 757-200 conversions, Precision said. Operators for the aircraft were not disclosed. Apr 20, 2006

Ethiopian Cargo, Precision Conversions

Precision Conversions will provide a 757PCF conversion to Ethiopian Cargo. The aircraft currently is being operated in passenger configuration by Ethiopian. Modification will take place at Goodrich ATS in Everett, Wash. Apr 10, 2006

Lufthansa Systems

Lufthansa Systems, NavAero and Virgin Atlantic signed a contract to equip the carrier's entire fleet with a full-service Class 2 electronic flight bag solution. NavAero will provide its tBagC2 EFB computer and display hardware and LHS will supply its SkyBook EFB solution. Project work is already well underway and the first Virgin Atlantic flight with the SkyBook/tBagC2 EFB onboard is scheduled to take off in December. Apr 12, 2006

Lufthansa Technik

Lufthansa Technik signed a contract with Mexmil giving the Santa Ana-based firm a license to market and produce LHT's AcousticPlus "enhanced cabin acoustic insulation system." Apr 10, 2006

Symbol Technologies, Virgin Atlantic Airways

Symbol Technologies and partner Peak Technologies were chosen by Virgin Atlantic Airways to supply RFID technology as part of a pilot project to track "high value" aircraft spare and replacement parts moving through its logistics supply chain at London Heathrow. According to Symbol, Virgin is the first UK airline to use RFID technology to track parts onsite. Apr 11, 2006

Thales

Thales said its TopSeries i-4500 all-digital IFE system was certified by Embraer for Air Canada's 175s and 190s. Apr 20, 2006