Based in London, Tony covers European defense programs. Prior to joining Aviation Week in November 2012, Tony was at Shephard Media Group where he was deputy editor for Rotorhub and Defence Helicopter magazines. Tony has covered avionics, unmanned vehicles, the supply chain and cyberwarfare.
Germany’s government is leasing a converted Airbus A340 from Lufthansa to transport German aid workers who become infected with the deadly Ebola virus. The aircraft, an Airbus A340-300, has been fitted out by Lufthansa Technik with a special isolation unit and other facilities which would allow patents to be given more comprehensive care than was previously possible on the smaller aircraft types being used to transport patients. The German government has the aircraft on an initial six-month lease.
By the end of this decade the U.K.'s Panavia Tornado GR4 will have exited service, the Eurofighter Typhoon will have become the Royal Air Force’s primary ground-attack platform, and the Lockheeed Martin F-35B Lightning II will be just starting its deployment and preparing for land-based and shipborne operations.
LONDON—If new, devolved powers are introduced, the Scottish Parliament could have the right to decide the percentage of Air Passenger Duty (APD) rate levied on flights leaving Scottish airports. The move would be part of a wider package of measures suggested by the Smith Commission, launched by British Prime Minister David Cameron in the wake of the “No” vote in Scotland’s September independence referendum.
