Zak/forum/images/avatars/gallery/first/user2/2.pngoffline(netAirspace FAA) 08 Dec 10, 09:26
NEWS
Wikileaks: Embraer favoured Super Hornet for Brazilian fighter contract A newly-leaked diplomatic cable describes Embraer chief executive Frederico Fleury Curado candidly revealing the company's preferred bidder for the F-X2 contract. Link Discussion
KLM says China is centerpiece of Asian expansion Senior VP-Network and Alliances Pieter Elbers told ATW that KLM will continue its successful expansion into Asia with a clear focus on China. Elbers revealed the carrier is planning to add a seventh China destination next year while studying the possibility of opening a direct route to Vietnam “in the distant future” either on its own metal or as a codeshare with Vietnam Airlines. VN became a full SkyTeam member in June and flies into KLM affiliate Air France’s hub at Paris Charles de Gaulle, but not to AMS. Link Discussion
Airbus begins production of A350 XWB’s first fuselage barrel Airbus announced Tuesday it has started making the first carbon fiber barrel for the A350 XWB fuselage at the company’s production plant in Illescas, Spain. The carbon fiber placement process used for producing the 5.5 meter-long, 56-sq. m. fuselage barrel, known as Section 19, will be completed in the coming weeks, Airbus noted. Link Discussion
US, Brazil reach open skies accord US Dept. of Transportation announced Monday that the US and Brazil have agreed to enter into a phased-in open skies aviation agreement, which will “significantly liberalize” US-Brazil air services for airlines of both countries over a transition period. The agreement will take full effect in October 2015. Link
Orbitz for Business has AA backup plan; agency groups recommend a peace plan Orbitz for Business said it will provide an offline method of booking American Airlines flights if the carrier makes good on its threat to inhibit Orbitz Worldwide websites from issuing its tickets. Link Discussion
Bernstein: Airbus made ‘wrong decision’ on A320neo New York-based Bernstein Research believes Airbus made the “wrong decision” on the A320neo and that “a lower risk evolution of the A320 would have been preferable”. Link Discussion
Continental cites 787 delays as it postpones Auckland launch Continental Airlines told ATW that “given the uncertainty surrounding the Boeing 787 delivery date,” it will delay the launch of its Houston-Auckland service by a year to November 2012. Link
Pilots strike at airlines Germania, Tuifly The pilots’ union, Cockpit, announced Wednesday morning that it had called on nearly 700 pilots to join the work stoppage. However, it was not clear how many flights were affected across both airlines. Link Discussion
AirAsia to form Philippine unit AirAsia Bhd, Southeast Asia's biggest budget carrier, plans to form a Philippine unit by the first quarter of next year, Philippine Board of Investments head Cristino Panlilio said. Link (thanks to Thorben for the find) Discussion
Other News
Continental Airlines announced it hopes to begin codesharing with Mexico's Aeromar early next year following the restoration of Mexico’s return to FAA Category 1 safety rating.
Turkish Airlines will launch four-times-weekly Istanbul Ataturk-Karachi-Dacca service Dec. 26 and four-times-weekly IST-BKK-Ho Chi Minh City Dec. 29.
Germanwings will launch twice-daily Maastricht-Berlin Schoenefeld service March 31 using an Airbus A319 and will operate weekly Cologne-Tenerife Sep. 24-Oct. 29.
SilkAir will launch thrice-weekly Singapore Changi-Pekanbaru in February.
British Airways launched twice-daily London Heathrow-Gothenburg service.
Sun Country Airlines will operate twice-weekly Minneapolis/St. Paul -London Gatwick service May 27-Sept. 4.
Frontier Airlines will operate seasonal four-times-weekly Denver-Fairbanks service May 13.
AVIATION QUOTE
The machine does not isolate man from the great problems of nature but plunges him more deeply into them. — Antoine de Saint Exupéry, 'Wind, Sand, and Stars,' 1939.
ON THIS DATE
December 8, 1938
Germany officially launches its first aircraft carrier, the 280-foot by 89-foot Graf Zeppelin. The LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" was a large rigid airship (or dirigible), which was a type of craft pioneered by Graf (German for Count) Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century.
The LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin was named after the German pioneer of dirigble airships, and flew for the first time on on September 18, 1928. It had a total length of 776 ft and a volume of 3,708,040 ft³, it was the largest dirigible up to that time.
December 8, 1963
After being hit by a lightning strike while in a holding pattern, Pan Am Flight 214 crashed near Elkton, Maryland, USA, killing all 81 people on board.
DAILY VIDEO
EDITOR’S CHOICE
HUMOR
ATC
DFW Tower: "Lonestar 189, clear to land 18R, wind calm."
Lonestar: "Roger, cleared to land 18R."
Lonestar: "Tower, we hit something."
DFW Tower: YOU DID WHAT???
Lonestar: "We hit a small animal or something on the runway. Ya know, some sort of road kill or something."
DFW Tower: "UPS 31 HEAVY, be advised company that just landed ahead of you on runway 18R reports hitting some sort of roadkill."
UPS 31: "That's allright, we'll flatten it out a little bit for ya!"
TRIVIA
General Trivia
1. The speed of sound at sea level on a standard day is 663 knots (763 mph). What is the speed of sound in space?
2. The official world record for the longest distance flown in a glider during a single flight is: a. 1,324.7 nm (1,524.4 sm) b. 1,624.7 nm (1,869.7 sm) c. 1,924.7 nm (2,214.9 sm) d. 2,224.7 nm (2,560.1 sm)
3. Mix and Match:
1. Dallas Love Field 2. General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport 3. La Guardia Airport 4. Lambert – St. Louis International Airport 5. Chicago O’Hare International Airport 6. McCarran International Airport 7. Washington Dulles International Airport 8. William P. Hobby Airport
a. City’s first licensed pilot b. Mayor c. Secretary of State d. State governor e. State legislator f. U.S. Army aviator g. US Navy’s first ace h. U.S. Senator
Ideology: The mistaken belief that your beliefs are neither beliefs nor mistaken.
