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Henan Airlines Embraer 190 crashes on landing at Yichun City

A Henan Airlines Embraer 190 crashed on landing at Yichun City Tuesday night, reportedly killing 43 of the 96 people on board. Flight VD8387 en route from Harbin was carrying 91 passengers and five crewmembers. A number of the survivors sustained injuries, some of which were believed to be life-threatening.
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BAE Systems 'lands Australia interim basic flying training contract'
Australia's Department of Defence is believed to be in discussions with BAE Systems Australia on the details of its interim basic flying training contract. Late in 2009 the DoD released a request for tender for the contract, which is designed to bridge the Australian Defence Force's training gap between the conclusion of BAE's flying training contract at the end of December 2011 and the start of a new pilot training system under Project Air 5428. Initial operational capability for the latter is planned for 2015-17.
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Aer Lingus swings to profitability in second quarter
Aer Lingus Group reported pre-tax net income of €15.4 million ($19.5 million) for the second quarter, reversed from a €13.8 million pre-tax loss in the year-ago period, and maintained that it will do "no worse" than break even on an operating basis for the full year.
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Bombardier: 60% of Q400 inspections completed, less than 4% require repairs
Bombardier said 60% of 222 Q400s it has directed airlines to inspect have been examined, adding that less than 4% of the inspected aircraft have required repairs. It confirmed the temporary grounding of five Qantas Q400s is related to the inspections. Bombardier spokesperson John Arnone said that the inspections, first recommended in an April service bulletin, are aimed at finding signs of "stress and corrosion" in a structural component of the nacelle that could lead to cracking.
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New details emerge on United-Continental merger negotiations
The Cleveland Plain Dealer goes behind the scenes of the merger discussions between United Airlines and Continental Airlines, revealing that United CEO Glenn Tilton gave Continental just 21 days to make its decision. The paper also reports that Continental CEO Jeff Smisek first called Tilton after news emerged of a possible United-US Airways tie-up, proposing his carrier as a better match.
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Mexican airline woes create ripples in U.S.
Mexico's commercial aviation troubles have created transportation hassles in Texas, a major market for cross-border traffic. U.S. airlines have juggled marketing and codeshare agreements, airports have seen a plunge in landing fees and passengers have been faced with reduced frequencies. The confusion comes amid growing demand following the economic recession and the H1N1 flu scare. "We're currently seeing strong demand for Mexico this summer both from business travelers and customers traveling to Mexico for vacation," says a spokeswoman for Continental Airlines. Analysts say U.S. carriers may be able to increase their market share as their Mexican counterparts struggle to regain their footing.
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Other News

An Agni Air Dornier 228 was destroyed when it crashed near Shikharpur in Nepal yesterday, killing all 11 passengers and three crew. According to press reports, the turboprop was en route from Lukla to Kathmandu but the pilots decided to attempt to return to the departure airport and crashed in heavy rain. Nepal News said the Nepal Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation will launch an investigation. According to the Kathmandu-based carrier’s website, it operates three Dornier 228s and two Jetstream 41s with a commitment to take a third.
Discussion

Alaska Air Group has made the decision to eliminate subsidiary Horizon Air's independent, or branded flying, in favor of moving to a 100% capacity purchase agreement with its major affiliate Alaska Airlines. The information was contained in an internal employee communication from new Horizon Air President Glenn Johnson to the airline's employees. Johnson raised the possibility of the action in AAG's second-quarter conference call with analysts, at which time he also raised questions about the future of the Horizon Air brand. According to the memo, Horizon will switch to an all-CPA business model beginning Jan. 1, 2011, thereby "gaining a stable and predictable revenue source insulated from marketplace risks." Johnson told employees, "It's been clear for a while that Horizon's business model no longer worked, as is evident from the financial results." Horizon Air had a pre-tax loss of $1.2 million in the second quarter ended June 30 and $7.4 million for the six months. Currently, around 45% of Horizon's capacity is operated under a CPA with AK with the remainder flown under its own brand. Johnson also said "the possibility of changing Horizon's external brand…is being considered, but no decision has been made." Additionally, Horizon will outsource Q400 heavy maintenance to Empire Aerospace. The carrier had been trying to reach a cost-saving agreement with its mechanics, represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, to keep the work in-house, Johnson said during the quarterly conference call.

US FAA yesterday announced Nigeria has achieved a Category 1 safety rating after making improvements to meet ICAO standards. The upgrade will allow Nigerian airlines to fly their own aircraft to the US. In a statement, the agency said the “Category 1 rating is based on the results of a July FAA review of Nigeria’s civil aviation authority." Until the category upgrade, Nigerian carriers had to wet-lease aircraft from another airline with Category 1 status for US-bound flights. Nigeria becomes the sixth country on the continent to achieve a Category 1 rating, joining Cape Verde, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco and South Africa. FAA said an IASA Category 1 rating “means a country has the laws and regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards, and that its civil aviation authority–equivalent to the FAA for aviation safety matters–meets international standards for technical expertise, trained personnel, recordkeeping and inspection procedures.”

Iberia operated 4.98 billion RPKs in July, a 5.3% increase over the year-ago month. Capacity grew 1.9% to 5.69 billion ASKs, lifting load factor 2.8 points to 87.6%.

Air New Zealand flew 2.48 billion RPKs in July, up 6.8% on the year-ago month, as capacity rose 1.7% to 2.95 billion ASKs. Load factor rose 4 points to 84.1%.

LAN Airlines operated 2.92 billion RPKs in July, a 14.5% increase year-over-year on a 9.9% rise in capacity to 3.69 billion ASKs. Load factor jumped 3.2 points to 79.2%.

Norwegian Air Shuttle flew 1.65 billion RPKs in July, up 30% from the year-ago month. Capacity increased 34% to 1.95 billion ASKs as load factor fell 3 points to 85%.

GOL operated 2.79 billion RPKs in July, up 12.2% from July 2009. Capacity rose 16.3% to 4.06 billion ASKs against a 2.6-point dip in load factor to 68.9%.

Monarch Airlines carried 468,582 passengers in July, a 5.44% increase year-over-year. Its load factor jumped 3.3 points to 90.9%.

Republic Airways Holdings flew 2.06 billion RPMs in July, up 127% from July 2009. Capacity jumped 108% to 2.38 billion ASMs and load factor rose 7 points to 86%.

Wataniya Airways will double its Vienna–Kuwait frequencies to six-times-weekly beginning Oct. 31. The additional three flights will be routed via Beirut onboard an A320.

Pegasus Airlines will launch daily Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen-Sofia service Oct. 1.

Allegiant Air will launch twice-weekly Las Vegas-Moline/Quad Cities service Oct. 14 aboard an MD-80.

Bangkok Airways will increase Bangkok service to Phnom Penh (thrice- to four-times-daily), Male (twice- to thrice-weekly) Oct. 31 and to Yangon (once- to twice-daily) Oct. 2.

American Eagle Airlines launched thrice-daily New York LaGuardia-Charlotte service aboard a CRJ-700.



AVIATION QUOTE

Sir, Your letter of the 15th is received, but Age has long since obliged me to withhold my mind from Speculations of the difficulty of those of your letter, that their are means of artificial buoyancy by which man may be supported in the Air, the Balloon has proved, and that means of directing it may be discovered is against no law of Nature and is therefore possible as in the case of Birds, but to do this by mechanical means alone in a medium so rare and unassisting as air must have the aid of some principal not yet generally known. However, I can really give no opinion understandingly on the subject and with more good will than confidence wish to you success.

— President Thomas Jefferson, 27 April, 1822.



DAILY VIDEO





EDITOR’S CHOICE





HUMOR

Air Evac Crew

After dying in a helicopter crash, three air ambulance crewmembers find themselves at an orientation to enter heaven. Each one was asked, "When you are in your casket, what would you like to hear your friends and family saying about you?" Sean says, "I would like to hear them say I was a great medic and a great family man." Karl says, "I would like to hear them say I was a wonderful husband and an excellent pilot who made a difference."

The copilot says, "I would like to hear them say, 'Look! He's moving!'"



TRIVIA

Who Am I

1. I was born in Russia and emigrated to the United States. I was always tinkering with machines. I developed an aerial vehicle that was the first successful design in its class. With some assistance from fellow émigrés I started my company that began building flying boats. During WW2 I designed the first practical helicopter for the Department of War. My company still exists today as part of the United Technology Group. Who am I?

2. I was born the day after Pearl Harbor got bombed by the Japanese. I started my higher education at a Teacher’s college then transferred to the U of Missouri. I joined the US Navy in 1967 and was one of the first graduates of Top Gun. I was also the only Navy ace of the Viet Nam war. Who am I?


3. I was born in 1897, in Atchinson, KS. In December of 1920 I was given a ride that would change my life forever. I was the 16th woman to be issued a pilot’s license. In my second attempt to circle the globe, my airplane disappeared, no remains ever to be found. Who Am I?

4. I was born in 1914, and died in 1998. I started flying at an early age and grew up to be a test pilot for one of the industry’s leading manufacturers. Under the guise of selling airplanes, I barrel rolled a four-engine transport aircraft over Lake Washington. Who am I?


5. I was born in 1922 in Germany. I have had several nicknames, like “Bubi” or “The Black Devil.” As a fighter pilot I left a record that will never be broken; yes, I said never. I shot down 352 enemy airplanes. Who am I?

1. Igor Sikorsky
2.
3. Amelia Earhart
4. Tex Johnston
5. Erich Hartmann

2. "Duke" Cunningham

miamiair wrote:Alaska Air Group has made the decision to eliminate subsidiary Horizon Air's independent, or branded flying, in favor of moving to a 100% capacity purchase agreement with its major affiliate Alaska Airlines. The information was contained in an internal employee communication from new Horizon Air President Glenn Johnson to the airline's employees. Johnson raised the possibility of the action in AAG's second-quarter conference call with analysts, at which time he also raised questions about the future of the Horizon Air brand. According to the memo, Horizon will switch to an all-CPA business model beginning Jan. 1, 2011, thereby "gaining a stable and predictable revenue source insulated from marketplace risks." Johnson told employees, "It's been clear for a while that Horizon's business model no longer worked, as is evident from the financial results." Horizon Air had a pre-tax loss of $1.2 million in the second quarter ended June 30 and $7.4 million for the six months. Currently, around 45% of Horizon's capacity is operated under a CPA with AK with the remainder flown under its own brand. Johnson also said "the possibility of changing Horizon's external brand…is being considered, but no decision has been made." Additionally, Horizon will outsource Q400 heavy maintenance to Empire Aerospace. The carrier had been trying to reach a cost-saving agreement with its mechanics, represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, to keep the work in-house, Johnson said during the quarterly conference call.

WHA-WHA-WHATTTT?

Forgive me if I'm being dense, I've only been awake a few minutes. But does that mean that Horizon is no more and everything will be branded as Alaska? If so, that is tragic.

BCA wrote:

miamiair wrote:Alaska Air Group has made the decision to eliminate subsidiary Horizon Air's independent, or branded flying, in favor of moving to a 100% capacity purchase agreement with its major affiliate Alaska Airlines. The information was contained in an internal employee communication from new Horizon Air President Glenn Johnson to the airline's employees. Johnson raised the possibility of the action in AAG's second-quarter conference call with analysts, at which time he also raised questions about the future of the Horizon Air brand. According to the memo, Horizon will switch to an all-CPA business model beginning Jan. 1, 2011, thereby "gaining a stable and predictable revenue source insulated from marketplace risks." Johnson told employees, "It's been clear for a while that Horizon's business model no longer worked, as is evident from the financial results." Horizon Air had a pre-tax loss of $1.2 million in the second quarter ended June 30 and $7.4 million for the six months. Currently, around 45% of Horizon's capacity is operated under a CPA with AK with the remainder flown under its own brand. Johnson also said "the possibility of changing Horizon's external brand…is being considered, but no decision has been made." Additionally, Horizon will outsource Q400 heavy maintenance to Empire Aerospace. The carrier had been trying to reach a cost-saving agreement with its mechanics, represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, to keep the work in-house, Johnson said during the quarterly conference call.

WHA-WHA-WHATTTT?

Forgive me if I'm being dense, I've only been awake a few minutes. But does that mean that Horizon is no more and everything will be branded as Alaska? If so, that is tragic.

I've been awake a lot longer and I don't get it either. Aside from all the number crunching, what - exactly in laymans terms - does this mean??

I don't think it means very much- yet.

Johnson also said "the possibility of changing Horizon's external brand…is being considered, but no decision has been made."

For the travelling public, I think that's the key line in the article.

I'll miss the Q on the side of the tails, but all in all from what little I know, flying Horizon versus flying Alaska isn't much different. Same great product, except that you get free booze on QX. That said, keep the Q.

GQfluffy wrote:I'll miss the Q on the side of the tails, but all in all from what little I know, flying Horizon versus flying Alaska isn't much different. Same great product, except that you get free booze on QX. That said, keep the Q.

Yeah, everyone I know in the PacNW is familiar with QX and loves them. Why would they want to change?

Also, great ed's choice today.

ANSWERS:
1. Igor Sikorsky
2. Randall “Duke” Cunningham
3. Amelia Earhart
4. Avery “Tex” Johnston
5. Eric Hartmann