China has exported 100 aircraft of various models to more than 20 countries and regions, earning more than $300 million from the sales, the official Xinhua news agency reported. The exports included Yun-7 and Yun-8, and Yun-12 airliners, the report said, quoting China Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation. The report said Yun-12 aircraft, which had obtained air-worthiness certification from British and US aviation administrations, were sought after by importers for its high quality, reliable functioning and low price.

The model can be used for air-drops, agriculture, forestry, geological prospecting and sightseeing. China has set the goal of independently developing large airliners through co-production with the world's leading airplane manufacturers, the report quoted a source as saying. But its aspirations of developing its own aviation industry were dashed last month when Airbus Industrie and state-owned Aviation Industries of China (AVIC) abandoned plans tojointly develop a new 100-seater aircraft.

The European aviation consortium said that after an in-depth feasibility study of the project, in which Singapore Technologies and Alenia of Italy were also involved, the four partners ``have jointly concluded that no solid common basis was found for further developing this new aircraft.''

SIA launches JV with Rolls Royce

Singapore Airlines Limited's engineering arm launched a joint venture with Britain's Rolls Royce PLC on Thursday and announced plans for three new projects in the region worth up to Singapore $200 million (US $122.25 million) over the next two years. SIA Engineering Company and Rolls Royce launched International Engine Component Overhaul Pte Limited, a 15.5 million US joint venture equally-owned by the two firms. As part of the three ventures, SIA Engineering and Rolls Royce hope to set up another company to repair and overhaul Trent engines in Asia Pacific, said Rolls Royce managing director for aero repair and overhaul Ian Lloyd. Thenew company would entail an investment cost of $120 million (US $73. 35 million), said SIA Engineering Chief executive Robert Tan.

Yahoo! posts higher profit in Q3

Yahoo!, the Internet search engine, posted third quarter profits of $16.7 million, a gain of 681,000 dollars over the same period last year. Dividends were 15 cents per share compared with one cent in last year's third quarter. Analysts had predicted average dividends of nine cents per share. Yahoo! revenues were $53.6 million, nearly three times more than the $ 18.1 million recorded in last year's third quarter. Over the first nine months of the year, Yahoo! recorded a net loss of $5.3 million compared with a loss of $21.6 million over the same period in 1997. The company, head quartered here, said the daily number of hits or visits to its Internet search engine site reached 144 million during September compared to 115 million in June.