Paris airports downplay early impact of strike

 

The Paris airports authority says carriers like Air France have so far limited the damage from a strike by aviation industry workers, by canceling or rescheduling roughly 100 flights in advance.

 

Airports authority ADP says early signs were the strike led by labor unions representing pilots, cabin and ground crews and others didn t draw a large walkout.

 

ADP said French flag carrier Air France mostly managed any fallout by rebooking travelers as the strike was announced last week. However, it said low-cost carrier easyJet was forced into canceling five flights Monday.

 

Air France was planning a statement later Monday.

 

Unions called the strike through to Thursday to protest a bill in Parliament that would require air transport workers to give 48 hours notice before striking.
 

India to buy French fighter jets in $11b deal

 

The deal will increase the might of India’s air force and is likely to affect the balance in the region.

 

India has become the world s biggest arms importer as an economic boom has allowed it to push modernization of its military, and major arms manufacturers are wooing the country as it replaces its obsolete Soviet-era weapons and buys new equipment.

 

Dassault Aviation said it was honored to extend cooperation with India, which has a fleet of its older Mirage jets, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy welcomed India s decision.

 

Dassault snapped up the €8.4 billion deal with the lower bid in a two-way competition against the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, said an Indian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters about the sensitive defense deal.

 

India s air force has around 700 fighter aircraft and is exceeded in size by the United States, Russia and China.

 

Growing worries about China s fast-expanding military and the decades-old unfounded mistrust of Pakistan have fueled India s impetus to add heft to its defense forces.

 

“India needs to bolster its fighting capabilities, particularly with long-range strike aircraft,” said Rahul Bedi, a defense analyst in New Delhi.

 

“India s concern is not just Pakistan, but the longer term threat posed by an aggressive China,” Bedi said.

 

The Indian agreement is the first foreign deal for Dassault s Rafale fighter jets. Planes from Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin of the United States and from Russian and Swedish makers were dropped from consideration earlier for technical reasons.

 

Eighteen fighter aircraft will be delivered in “fly away” condition within three years and the remaining 108 are to be built by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. through technology transfers. –AP
 

Quetta: Army Aviations Trainer Plane Crashes, 2 killed

Quetta, trendpk: A trainer plane of Army Aviation crashed near Quetta, killing its pilot and co-pilot.

According to reports, the Mushhaq trainer plane of Army Aviation was heading towards Quetta from Zhob when it crashed into mountains near Quetta. As per initial reports, the plane crashed due to some technical fault, however, an investigation team would be constituted soon to probe the real cause of crash.

PAFs JF-17 jets arrive home after performing at a show in China

PAFs JF-17 fighter jets have arrived home after performing at an international air show held in China.

The air show was held from 16th 21st of Nov. in the Zhuhai city of China where PAFs three JF-17 fighter jets and 10 Karakorum-8 jets performed their stunts.

Pakistan Air Force gave a stunning display of aerobatic maneuvers flying the newly built JF-17 Thunder, a joint fighter project created as a result of cooperation between the two great Asian nations. Karakorum-8 training jets stunned the spectators with their different aerial formations.

The JF-17 jets got remarkable appreciation from the spectators all over the world.

The Airshow China 2010, or China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition, held at Zhuhai is the premier Chinese aviation industry event and attracts professionals, manufacturers, governments and enthusiasts from the world over. The JF-17 shared the event with such aviation giants as the Airbus A-380 and Boeing 747-8. The aircraft also shared the show with the larger J-10 and Chinese FLANKERs.

COAS Gen. Kayani visits AAC in Rawalpindi

Staff Report

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani visited Army Aviation Command (AAC) in Rawalpindi on Saturday.

According to an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release, he was given a comprehensive briefing on professional aspects of Army Aviation. The COAS also interacted with troops and appreciated their performance in security and flood relief operations.

On arrival, the COAS was received by Major General Raja Muhammad Arif Nazir, General Officer Commanding Army Aviation Command. SAMAA

Army”s rescue, relief operations in full swing

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army is devotedly working in rescue and relief operations in flood affected areas across the country.

Pakistan Army soldiers during last 24 hours rescued and shifted 3,200 marooned people to the Relief Camps in Sukkur, Shahdadkot, Qamber and Shikarpur besides providing cooked food to 29,500 people, treating over 4000 people through 21 static and mobile medical units in Sindh, said a press release issued here.

Army Aviation air dropped 6,000 kilograms dry rations, 46,000 water bottles, 25 tons of dry rations and 764 family packets (35 kgs each) have been distributed among the marooned people in Sindh.

Veterinary treatment has been provided to 24,000 cattles.

Army has provided 1700 tents to various Army Relief Camps in Sindh to accommodate the stranded people.

Army Field Hospitals and mobile medical teams have provided medical treatment and medicines to more than 35,000 affected people of Balochistan.

Army and FC Balochistan have distributed 45 tons of rations in relief camps of Dera Murad Jamali, Quetta, Jhal Magsi and Dhadarnital, while 35 Relief camps have been established in collaboration with Civil Administration where the affected people were provided food, shelter and medical treatment.

Army is also providing cooked food to over 20,000 affected people of Dera Murad Jamali.

Army has dropped dry ration packs through helicopters in areas of Osta Mohammad and Gandakha.

Army has dispatched three C-130 carrying tents, dry ration packs and relief goods to Quetta besides establishing a relief base at Gandakha to streamline relief activities in Balochistan.

In Southern Punjab, Army is managing Relief Camps, where more than 10,000 family packs of ration are being distributed daily.

Pakistan Army Medical Corps alongwith 14 Turkish, Australian Medical Camps are providing medical treatments to the patients.

PARCO Muzaffargarh closed, Multan petrol supply distorted

Staff Report

MUZAFFARGARH: The Pak Arab Refinery (PARCO) at Muzaffargarh has been closed again, distorting petrol supply to Multan and its outskirts, SAMAA reported on Wednesday.

A joint venture between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, PARCO is situated in the Mehmood Kot area of Muzaffargarh, which once again has been closed for maintenance.

Earlier, flood water from Mehmood Kot entered the outer areas of the refinery; consequently it was closed.

Once the flood passed, it was opened in an effort to bring it to working condition again, but the machinery did not perform.

According to sources, approximately 200 oil tankers were being sent by the refinery to supply petrol in Multan and its outskirts; with its closure it is feared the petrol supply will be distorted. SAMAA

MQM submits two motions in NA

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has submitted two motions, privilege and adjourning motions against PML-N in the National Assembly (NA) secretariat, said sources on Tuesday.

The motions were submitted by Farooq Sattar, Haider Abbas Rizvi and other members of MQM.

At least 25 National Assembly members signed the motions.

The privilege motion will seek to move the National Assembly against anti-democratic and anti-constitutional acts rendered by PML-N.

Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) had submitted a privilege motion against the statements issued by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Monday, August 23.

Meanwhile, Jamat-e-Islami (JI) also submitted a privilege motion against the MQM chief in the Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa Assembly.

Mufti Kifayatullah and Shah Hussain submitted a motion that states Altaf

Gen. Kayani visits flood affected areas of Punjab and Sindh

Staff Report

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani visited the flood affected areas of southern Punjab and Sindh on Tuesday.

According to an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release, he flew over the flooded areas and stopped in Multan, Nawabshah, Kotri Barrage and Thatta; and witnessed relief activities.

Local military commanders briefed him about the progress of rescue and relief operations by the army.

The COAS appreciated the efforts of army formations and emphasized the need to continue assisting the civil administration with the daunting task of relief and rehabilitation.

He also met the Aviation Team of United Arab Emirates and Civil Defense Rescue Team of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who are engaged in rescue and evacuation.

He lauded the response of friendly countries in providing

Gen. Kayani visits flood affected areas of Punjab; Sindh

Staff Report

RAWALPINDI: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani visited flood affected areas of Southern Punjab and Sindh on Tuesday.

According to a press release of Inter Services Public Relations, Pakistan (ISPR), he flew over the flooded areas and stopped at Multan, Nawabshah, Kotri Barrage and Thatta, and witnessed the relief activities.

Local military commanders briefed him about the progress of rescue and relief operations by the Army.

COAS appreciated efforts of Army Formations and emphasized the need to continue assisting Civil Administration in the daunting task of relief and rehabilitation.

He also met the Aviation Team of United Arab Emirates and Civil Defense Rescue Team of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who are engaged in the rescue and evacuation.

He lauded the response of friendly countries in

Next Page »