Air News On Conviction of Airlines For Manslaughetr,Increase of Prices By Boeing

Air News On Conviction of Airlines For Manslaughetr

,Increase of Prices By Boeing

Continental convicted in Concorde crash trial

Us-based Continental Airlines has been convicted of manslaughter over the deaths of 113 people in the Concorde crash outside Paris 10 years ago and ordered to pay 1, 2 million euro's (US$ 1, 6-million) in damages and fines.

There was an "incontestable link" between the "negligence" of Continental and the fireball that brought down the supersonic jet on july,25,2000.The fireball ignited when one of the aircrafts tyres ran over a piece of metal from one of the US carriers aircraft during takeoff, Judge Dominique Andreassier said in Pontoise,France.

The verdict, delivered seven years after Concorde's last commercial takeoff, "will send a shock wave across the industry" and could lead to pilots and mechanics "clamming up for fear of criminal prosecution," said Kenneth Quinn, a US expert in aviation law.

The crash hastened the demise of Concorde with flights grounded for 16 months after the disaster and the aircraft returning to service as demand for air travel fell following the September 11 terrorist attacks. Booking never fully recovered on the 1350 mph SST.

Continental must pay a 200000 euro fine and one million euro's to Air France KLM Group, operator of the doomed flight.

Continental, which has its main hub in Houston, said the verdict was "absurd" and that "to find that any crime was committed in this tragic accident is not supported either by the evidence at trial or by aviation authorities and experts."

Olivier Metzer, a lawyer for carrier, which merged with United Airlines in October last year to form United Continental Holdings Inc., said it would appeal."It is a political decision, a decision that suits all the French parties," he said.

"Once again, it is the French interests that are of concern."

Continental mechanic John Taylor also received a 15-month suspended sentence and a 2000-euro fine after the court ruled he ignored the risk of using the wrong materials in maintenance.

The Concorde crashed shortly after takeoff from Paris while on a German charter headed to New York. Air France Flight AF4590 was carrying 100 passengers and nine crew. Four people were killed in a hotel hit by the plane.

French crash investigator, BEA, issued its final report in 2002, saying the aircraft ran over a metal strip from a Continental aircraft that had taken off earlier. The strip tore into Concorde's wheel, sending debris into fuel tanks, sparking a fire. The danger posed by exploding tyres, noted after five incidents in 1979 and two in 1993, was also faulted in the report.

Metzner disputed the findings during the four-month trial, saying the investigation ignored witnesses who said the aircraft was already on fire when it hit the debris. The court rejected his arguments.

European Aeronautic, Defense and Space Co. (EADS) the successor company to concords French manufacturer Aerospatiale was also found civilly liable for the accident.

The court said former Aerospatiale employees, Henri Perrier and Jacques Herubel, should have "undertaken a full examination of the possible consequences of a fuel leakage resulting from the perforation of the lower surface of a fuel tank after a tyre-burst."The two men were cleared of criminal wrongdoing, as were Claude Frantzen, a former official at Frances Civil aviation authority, and Stanley Ford, a manager at Continental.

Boeing Boosts Prices, Drops B787-3

Boeing has increased the prices of its new aircraft by about 5, 2%, the first increase in two years, and has also decided to drop the short-haul version of the 787 Dream liner.

"Higher costs of wages, goods and services are driving the boost," said Jim Proulx, a spokesman at Boeings commercial headquarters in Seattle. He confirmed the changes made to the price list on Chicago-based Boeings website recently as well as the withdrawal of the 787-3 variant.

Boeings last price increase, a 2, 6% boost, was in 2008, Proulx said. Most airlines and leasing companies get discounts based on how many aircraft they buy.

The average price for the smallest Boeing jet, the single-aisle 737, is now about $71,-4-million, up from about $69, 3-million. The 777s list price rose to about $258, 2-million from $ 246 million. The two 787 models still being offered now average $201, 7-million, up from $183, 3-million.

The 787-3 was designed to carry as many as 330 passengers as far as 3500 miles compared with the 787-8's top capacity of 250 people and 9400-mile range. Boeing has been reviewing the models future after All Nippon Airways swapped its 787-3 order for another variant last year.

All Nippon was the last carrier that still has an order for the 787-3, which was designed specially for the Japanese market.

Boeing diverted resources from the short-haul model in 2008 as it struggled to move the long-distance 787-8 toward production amid problems with parts shortages, redesigns and incomplete work by suppliers. The Dream liners entry into service is now running about three years behind schedule.

Embraer Names National Airways Corporation As It's New Authorized Service Centre

Embrear has expanded its customer support network in South Africa following the recent signing of a five-year agreement with Lanseria International Airport-based National Airways Corporation making it the Authorized Service Centre (ASC) for the Embrear EMB 110 Bandeirante and the EMB 120 Brasilia.

This contract formalizes the renewal of a five-year agreement with Nature link, which was recently purchased by NAC. The new ASC will provide routine checks, as well as scheduled and unscheduled maintenance for the commercial aircraft.

Leandro Laia,Embraers director for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, said after the signing of the contract:"With nearly 50 EMB 110s and EMB 120s flying in Africa, today, we looked for expertise, reputation and competitive prices, in order to offer the best to our customers."

NAC will have access to Embraers structure-specific repair solutions and extended databases, and will be entitled to handle airframe and warranty issues on behalf of Embraer customers.

Dassault Scores A "First"

Dassault Falcon has received approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration for the use of 3D data for type design in the completions process of Falcon Aircraft.

The approval applies to completions for production aircraft, including the Falcon 900 and 2000 series, as well as the 7X.Dassault previously received approval for 3D data on the basic design of the Falcon 7X when it was jointly certified by the FAA and the EASA in 2007, making it the first aircraft to be fully approved for the use of 3d data throughout the entire manufacturing process.

The 7X was the first Falcon to be designed fully within the framework of Dassaults Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) philosophy .The programme set the groundwork for the incorporation of 3D data from the manufacturing process through to completions and operations. Key benefits include greater accuracy during the specification and design process, including the opportunity for the customer to visualize the final configuration of the aircraft.

Definition of the aircraft specification in 3D also ensures compatibility of component placement with maintenance activities and a higher overall quality of completions process.

The approval required Dassault Falcon to develop detailed processes for the use, storage and long-term retention of 3D data, including disaster recovery plans. Additionally, Dassault Falcon developed an extensive training programme for those involved in the process.

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