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United Kingdom aviation news

Taranis to enter third testing phase

The UK’s BAE Systems Taranis unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator will carry out a third phase of flight tests towards the end of the year, the Ministry of Defence has revealed. The test programme had gone quiet after two phases of testing in Woomera in Australia, but it will now continue for one more phase to develop technology that could be incorporated into a future combat a...

UK claims to be ahead of international UAV regulators

The UK’s Department for Transport has claimed the country is pioneering ahead of European and international airspace regulators to rapidly look at integrating unmanned air vehicles into national airspace. EASA and ICAO are both looking at higher level integration of UAVs, with EASA in particular looking at introducing a new proportionate ruling for UAVs in 2016, but the UK is striving to...

Baggage scanners plan further weekend strike at Stansted Airport

GMB members who operate the security scanners for checked in luggage at Stansted Airport will take further strike action this weekend. Around 30 employees are expected to take industrial action on Saturday, October 10, and on Sunday October 11 in a dispute over pay. The strike begins at 3.45am on Saturday and continues until 1.45pm on Sunday.

London Luton airport, 19.2% increase in passenger traffic in September, 2015

London Luton Airport (LLA) enjoyed record passenger numbers in September with 1.2 million passengers choosing to travel through the airport. This marks a 19.2% increase on the same month last year and 18 months’ consecutive growth at the airport. LLA is investing £100 million to meet rapidly growing passenger demand. September also saw the redevelopment take two major steps forward...

AJW Engines manages engine shop visits for Camair-Co and delivers replacement PW4060 lease engine

AJW Engines is to provide engine shop visit management services for Cameroon Airlines Corporation (Camair-Co). An experienced team of professional engineers fromAJW will manage all aspects of the shop visit for two PW4060 engines. Camair-Co has also signed a lease agreement with AJW Leasing for a replacement PW4060 engine which has been fitted to their B767-300 aircraft. The...

AG Cargo takes delivery of its first Boeing 787-9

IAG Cargo has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787-9, which will be operated by British Airways and will operate on its Heathrow Airport to Delhi service from 25 October. The airline will be taking delivery of five 787-9s this year and has 22 on order. IAG Cargo will take delivery of 11 in 2016, one in 2017 and the final five in 2018. The aircraft will have a capacity...

Helitech International 2015 - Diversity and Internationality

Diversity and internationality are the key themes of Helitech International 2015, which opens today at ExCeL London. Exhibitors from 23 countries will be displaying platforms, systems, components, equipment, materials and services that span a broad spectrum of the civil and parapublic rotorcraft sectors. Companies from Australia, New Zealand, Qatar, the UAE and South Africa join exhibitors from He...

Jota Aviation marks successful first year in the jet set

Jota Aviation, the specialist UK air charter firm based at London Southend Airport, is marking its first year of operations with its BAe 146-200 regional jet as its senior management attends the European Regions Airline Association’s annual general meeting in Berlin later this month. In its first year the aircraft will have flown near to 800 hours, flying as far afield as Marrakech and suppo...

Innovative UK-based Airlines Firnas Airways launches

UK carrier Firnas Airways has launched a Gulf funding campaign in a bid to raise the US$50 million it requires for expansion. The airline’s founder and CEO, British entrepreneur Kazi Shafiqur Rahman, is confident Gulf investors will be keen to capitalise on an airline concept and business model that is unique in its scope and ambition. Firnas Airways will establish routes between...

UK AAIB launches investigation into fatal King Air 200 crash

UK investigators are examining how a Beechcraft King Air 200 crashed soon after taking off from Stapleford airport in Essex on 3 October, killing its two crew members. The twin-engined turboprop, registration G-BYCP (archive image below), was owned and operated by the UK’s largest charter and management company, London Executive Aviation (LEA). AirTeamImages According to the ope...

Biggin Hill gives figures for BGAD 2015

Biggin Hill is reporting that BGAD had over 700 visitors, 60 exhibitors and 20 aircraft and helicopters in the static display. The show highlighted the UK debut of the Cessna Citation Latitude; the launch of TBM dealer Flying Smart’s new sales base at Biggin Hill; Globeair’s promotion of its new collaboration with BACA and Zenith Aviation’s new charter fleet. Charter broker...

The visionary rebuilding GE from scratch to become a digital powerhouse

After 14 years at the helm, can Jeff Immelt pull off the digital transformation of the global industrial giant? An aircraft powered by one of its engines takes off somewhere in the world every two seconds. In the US, six of its light bulbs are sold every second. It employs more than 300,000 people in 175 countries. And it is the only company to have been a member of the Dow Jones’ inde...