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NEWS

January traffic up 2% at American
Greater capacity on trans-Pacific and Latin American routes helped raise American Airlines' January traffic by 2% to 9.87 billion passenger miles. Domestic traffic was down fractionally and trans-Atlantic traffic fell 6%, the company reported. Occupancy fell less than half a point to 75.8%.
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Hawaiian reports higher traffic, capacity in January
Hawaiian Airlines flew nearly 790 million revenue passenger miles in January, an increase of 19.4% over year-earlier levels. Planes flew 82.4% full as the traffic increase was nearly matched by a 19.2% boost in capacity.
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JetBlue requests DOT approval for codeshare deal with South African
JetBlue Airways is seeking federal approval for a codesharing partnership with South African Airways. The two carriers, which already have an interlining agreement, filed their codesharing plan with the Transportation Department last week. JetBlue said the move was "another step forward in our partnership agreement" with South African.
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Analysts: Winter weather could cost airlines $600 million
With nearly 20,000 flights canceled by last week's winter storm, analysts say airlines could be facing $600 million in losses. Vaughn Cordle of AirlineForecasts estimates each cancellation costs an average of $7,000. "If this keeps up, it will really get ugly," says analyst Daniel Kasper. "It's already brutal and it's only the first week in February."
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Satellite Internet plan could interfere with planes' GPS
A plan to bring high-speed Internet to rural areas could hamper satellite-based air traffic control systems, according to the Air Transport Association and other aerospace interests. Technology company LightSquared wants to rebroadcast satellite L-band communications via a land-based network of 40,000 antennas, but ATA says it is "extremely concerned about spectrum issues and the possibility of inadvertent interference."
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FAA orders new warning system for 737 pressurization loss
The FAA has ordered airlines to install pressurization warning lights on some 700 older Boeing 737 jets. The lights are intended to alert pilots to a loss of cabin pressure that "could result in incapacitation" of the crew. Warning horns have already been mandated, but regulators believe the sound is too similar to other aircraft systems and may be disregarded by pilots. A loss of pressure is suspected in the Helios Airways crash near Athens, Greece, in 2005.
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JFK terminal could become a boutique hotel
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is seeking developers to transform a vacant airline terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport into the centerpiece of a boutique hotel. Security concerns, updated baggage systems and other changes resulted in the closing of the Trans World Airlines Flight Center. An upscale hotel would give the terminal new life. "You can have perhaps the hippest, coolest-looking front office to a boutique hotel that serves a very special and unique air-traveling market," said Chris Ward, executive director of the Port Authority. "It's not a big airport hotel. It's going to be a niche-market boutique-style hotel with about 150 rooms."
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Airport security may eventually rely on personal data
In the future, airport security agents will use travelers' personal information and patterns of behavior to determine the level of screening they will receive. The goal is to make airport security more tolerable for travelers and more difficult for terrorists to penetrate, according to James Marriott, who leads the security branch of the International Civil Aviation Organization. Experts note, however, that whether this system is successful depends on the ability to collect the relevant information from governments and airlines.
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Pentagon stuck in 2010 spending plan as Congress fails to act
With Congress failing to pass any of a dozen annual budget bills, the Pentagon is still stuck in last year's spending plan, which means inadequate funding for the Air Force's tanker effort and billions too much for the Humvees that the Army wants to cancel. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the current situation is the worst of all scenarios. "That's how you hollow out a military even in wartime," he told reporters. The Aerospace Industries Association is meanwhile urging Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, to replace the continuing resolution with a full appropriations bill.
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Airbus CEO: EADS won't make last-minute revisions to tanker bid
Airbus CEO Tom Enders told Reuters over the weekend that his company had no plans to make any last-minute revisions to its bid for the Air Force's aerial refueling tanker contract. Boeing and Airbus owner EADS have until Feb. 11 to make their "best and final offers." Boeing has already taken advantage of the chance to make changes to its bid, but not Airbus. "It is not our style to make hectic corrections at the last minute," Enders said.
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WestJet continues growth-through-codeshare strategy with Delta interline agreement
WestJet and Delta Air Lines said Monday that they have entered into an interline agreement, effective immediately that will allow passengers to connect between each other's flights at 25 US and Canadian airports.
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Aircell raises $35 million, eyes aggressive growth
Aircell on Monday announced it closed $35 million in private equity financing, portions of which will be used to fund growth in commercial aviation markets. The inflight Internet provider said it plans to increase its base of installed airline-operated aircraft by an average of three per day in 2011.
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Delta to add 'Economy Comfort' section on long-haul international flights by summer
Delta Air Lines will introduce an “Economy Comfort” section on all its long-haul international flights this summer as part of its previously announced plan to invest more than $2 billion in enhanced global products, services and airport facilities through 2013.
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TUI Travel trims losses in fiscal first quarter
TUI Travel, the tourism conglomerate that includes TUIfly, Thomson, Arkefly, Corsairfly and Jet4you, among others, reported a net loss of £99 million ($159.4 million) for the fiscal first quarter ended Dec. 31, 2010, improved from a loss of £124 million in the year-earlier period. Excluding discontinued operations, loss for the current fiscal period was £97 million, reduced from £121 million in the prior period. Total revenue for the quarter rose 6% year over year to £2.69 billion.
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El Al to expand 737 fleet with -900ERs
Israeli flag-carrier El Al is to acquire four new Boeing 737-900ERs for fleet modernization, and is placing options on another pair. The airline states that the decision will increase its 737 operation from 14 to 18 aircraft.
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SIA defends A380 dispatch reliability
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has defended the reliability of the Airbus A380, despite recent incidents involving two of the airline's superjumbos. "The A380 has had one of the smoothest introductions to our fleet compared to our previous experience of entry into service of new aircraft," says an SIA spokesman.
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Rudder control fault grounds SIA A380 in Zurich
A Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 scheduled to depart from Zurich yesterday experienced a rudder control system fault before departure, and is now being worked on in the Swiss city. The aircraft, registration 9V-SKC, was preparing to depart for Singapore when a "rudder control system fault message was encountered", says an SIA spokesman.
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Other News

United Continental Holdings said on Monday said it would cut up to 500 jobs at the Houston headquarters of Continental Airlines, which merged in October with United Airlines.

UPS said Monday it is extending its ExpressFreight air cargo service to Israel and Slovakia in order "to serve expanding hubs for high-tech, industrial and automotive companies." The delivery giant's premium air cargo offering includes one- to three-business day door-to-door service, customs clearance and an on-time guarantee.

Panasonic Avionics announced it signed a letter of intent with COMAC to provide communications systems for the C919 aircraft. Under the LOI, both parties will begin working on a custom communications system, though final terms are still being negotiated. Panasonic has partnered with Chengdu-based China Electronics Technology Avionics for the project.

Cobham Aviation Services of Australia exercised its options to buy two BAe 146s it had been leasing from BAE Systems; Aerolineas Star Peru acquired one BAe 146-200 from BAE; and Titan Airways acquired one Avro RJ100. BAE Systems Regional Aircraft sold one J41 to Easy Fly of Columbia, and subleased one J41 from Eastern Airways to Sky Express of Heraklion, Crete.

Sukhoi on Feb. 3 formally received a Type Certificate for its Superjet 100 from the Russian Certification Authority IAC AR, authorizing commercial operation of the airplane. The authority approved the type certification Jan. 28. EASA certification is expected to follow in 2011, Sukhoi said.

Jackson Square Aviation financed one Boeing 737-800 each to Japan Airlines and Norwegian Air Shuttle, under sale and leaseback transactions. The San Francisco-based lessor said it is the first two of 11 new Boeing airplane deliveries it will finance this year.

Air Lease Corp. took delivery of its first new Airbus A320 directly ordered from Airbus. The aircraft, in an all-black livery celebrating the country's national Rugby team, will be leased to and operated by Air New Zealand. It is the first of 51 A320 family aircraft that ALC currently has on order.

AAR Distribution was named exclusive distributor in North America and Asia for ADS/Transicoil, an aftermarket manufacturer of custom avionics, LCD displays and motion control products for the commercial aerospace market.

SITA selected AvFinity as a preferred partner of its "operation-critical" communications solutions for the North American air transport community. Under terms, AvFinity will promote SITA Type B messaging services as a component of the communications solutions it provides to regional and low-cost carriers as well as airports in North America.



AVIATION QUOTE

I don't want monitors here. I want pilots. . . . Our whole philosophy is that the pilot is in charge of the airplane. We're very anti automation here at this airline.

— Greg Crum, System Chief Pilot Southwest Airlines, 1996.



ON THIS DATE

February 8, 1908

Flight tests begin at Issy-les-Moulineaux for the Gastambide-Mengin I monoplane, built by Léon Levavasseur and fitted with a 50-hp Antoinette engine.
In1903 Levavasseur demonstrated his Antoinette engine which he designed as a lightweight powerplant specifically for aircraft.


February 8, 1919

The Farman brothers make the first scheduled international flight in Europe when a Farman F.60 Goliath piloted by M. Lucien Bossoutrot carries a token load of military passengers between Toussus le Noble airfield outside Paris and Kenley in southern England.

The plane the brothers built in 1909 flew a record distance of 160 km (100 miles). Four years later, the two brothers started their own aviation company at Boulogne-sur-Seine.

Two of the company's planes, the Farman MF-7 and the Farman MF-II, were popular Allied reconnaissance craft during the early stages of the First World War. Other aircraft produced during this period included the Farman HF-20, Farman F-40 and the Farman F-50. In 1917 the Farman brothers built the first long-distance passenger plane, the Goliath.


February 8, 1933

The first Boeing 247 takes to the air opening a new era in air transport, representing the new age of all-metal monoplane designs.
The new 247s were capable of crossing the United States from east to west eight hours faster than their predecessors, such as the Ford Trimotor and Curtiss Condor.

The 247 carried ten passengers, five on each side of the aisle, as well as a flight attendant. The wing's main spar went right through the cabin, so some passengers had to step over a large hump in the middle of the aisle to reach their seats.

During World War II, United's 247s were converted into C-73 transport aircraft: these remained in the United States Air Force's inventory until the early 1960s.


February 8, 1988

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) retires an aircraft registration number for the first time – that of Amelia Earhart’s airplane, which disappeared over the Pacific in July 1937.



DAILY VIDEO





EDITOR’S CHOICE





HUMOR

Big Planes and Baby Planes

A mother and her son were flying TWA from Kansas to Chicago. The son (who had been looking out the window) turned to his mother and said, "If big dogs have baby dogs and big cats have baby cats, why don't big planes have baby planes?"

The mother (who couldn't think of an answer) told her son to ask the stewardess. So the boy asked the stewardess, "If big dogs have baby dogs and big cats have baby cats, why don't big planes have baby planes?"

The stewardess asked, "Did your mother tell you to ask me?" He said that she had.

So she said, "Tell your mother that TWA always pulls out on time."



TRIVIA

Aircraft ID

1.


2.


3.


4.


5.


6.


7.


8.


9.


10.

1. De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou ???
2. -
3. -
4. McDonnell Douglas C-17A Globemaster III
5. -
6. Israel IAI Arava ???
7. -
8. -
9. -
10. Douglas DC-3

4. Lockheed C-141 Starlifter.

7. C-5 Galaxy

ANSWERS:

1. DeHavilland DHC-4A Caribou
2. Antonov An-12
3. Lockheed C-141 Starlifter
4. Boeing C-17A Globemaster III
5. Anton An-22 Antheus
6. IAI C-202 Arava
7. Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
8. Shorts C-23A Sherpa
9. Ilyushin Il-76
10. Douglas C-47 Skytrain