miamiair/forum/images/avatars/gallery/first/user54/1.pngoffline(netAirspace FAA) 04 Mar 11, 09:16
NEWS
Alaska sees double-digit gains in traffic, capacity February's revenue passenger miles were up 19% at Alaska Airlines, outpacing a 16.5% increase in available seat miles and pushing occupancy to 81.5%, a gain of 1.7 percentage points. Alaska said 82.1% of its flights operated on time in February, down about 4 points from year-earlier levels. Link
Delta: Profit sharing for flight attendants based on existing contracts About a half-dozen flight attendants have sued Delta Air Lines claiming "Delta management withheld higher profit-sharing checks from over 7,500 pre-merger Northwest flight attendants based solely upon their prior union membership." Last month, Delta announced profit-sharing incentives amounting to about 6.5% of annual pay for its legacy flight attendants, while former Northwest flight attendants got about half as much. Delta says the payouts were based on existing contracts, and it has "no choice" but to honor those agreements until Northwest unions drop their obstruction efforts and allow all flight attendants to work under a single contract. Link
February traffic rises 2.7% at AirTran AirTran Airways reported a 2.7% year-on-year gain in February traffic, while capacity rose just 0.3%. The average AirTran jet flew 76.9% full, a gain of 1.8 percentage points. The discount carrier has seen steadily improving metrics in recent months as it awaits a takeover by Southwest Airlines. Link
Boeing prioritizes 737 upgrades over 777 Upgrades to the wide-body Boeing 777 will likely have to wait until the company revamps its workhorse 737 model, says Boeing official Mike Bair. "Six or nine months ago, we were leaning toward a bigger airplane sooner," he says, but today, "most of the emphasis is on a new, small airplane." Bair says an all-new single-aisle jet would likely be wider than the current 737 and could seat up to 220 passengers. Link
Overhead bins get an overhaul As overhead space fills up quickly and more travelers are forced to gate-check their bags, airlines are responding by renovating their bins to accommodate more bags. Airplane manufacturers are building planes with greater storage space, but deliveries are still several years away. So airlines are turning to companies such as Heath Tecna to expand the bins on their current aircraft, to help keep passengers and reduce delays at the gate. Link
TAP posts a record $86 million net profit for 2010 TAP Portugal said it achieved “the best result ever in the history of the company,” reporting a net profit of €62.3 million ($86 million) for 2010, up from income of €59 million reported in 2009. It noted the positive performance was achieved despite a 45% hike in fuel costs, the Icelandic volcano ash cloud crisis, strikes by French and Spanish air traffic controllers, and floods in Madeira. Link
Delta to acquire nine MD-90s from JAL Delta Air Lines told employees it has reached an agreement to buy nine Japan Airlines MD-90s for delivery beginning in January 2012 to replace retiring DC-9s and 50-seat regional jets. DL President Ed Bastian said last month the carrier will retire its remaining DC-9s, numbering about 35, over the next 12-18 months. In a message to employees, the airline said the MD-90s "will be refurbished and upgraded to match Delta's domestic fleet." The aircraft will not be used to add capacity, DL emphasized. Financial terms were not disclosed. Link
Brussels Airlines renews its fleet with former Mexicana A319 aircraft Brussels Airlines took delivery of the first of two ex-Mexicana Airbus A319s it is slated to receive as part of the renewal of its short- and medium-haul fleet. It plans to replace five of its 14 Avro RJ85s with four A319s and two A320s. Link
Dubai's DAE axes 30 more Airbus orders Middle Eastern lessor Dubai Aerospace Enterprise has cancelled another 30 aircraft from its Airbus order book, including 12 A350s. The decision has wiped out Airbus' sales for the first two months of the year, leaving it with a negative net order count for the end of February 2011. Link
Origins of Goose crash aircraft revealed The origin of the Grumman Goose that crashed at Al Ain airport in Abu Dhabi on 27 February, killing all four occupants, has been revealed. Goose modification company Antilles Seaplanes says the aircraft – registration N221AG – “has a complex and somewhat unusual regulatory history”. Known as the Aleutian Goose, the aircraft was registered as a G-21G with the US Federal Aviation Administration. “However, it was not an actual G-model Turbo Goose and never conformed to the McKinnon [modified Goose] or Antilles type certificates,” says the company. Link
China Southern's first A380 makes maiden flight China Southern Airlines' first Airbus A380 made its maiden flight today to Hamburg from Toulouse, after completing final assembly and system tests. The aircraft is at Airbus' facilities in Hamburg now to undergo cabin installation and painting. It will be delivered later this year to China Southern, which will be the seventh A380 operator. Link
Other News
Ryanair on Thursday confirmed that it may consider ordering United Aircraft Corp.’s single-aisle MS-21 or COMAC’s C919 aircraft to support fleet expansion. Negotiations with Boeing for additional 737s broke down in late 2009.
Southwest Airlines apologized for two technical problems that on Tuesday caused disruptions on its website and slowed flight operations. The first problem related to the switchover to SWA's revamped Rapids Rewards frequent flyer program, which led southwest.com to experience "intermittent issues regarding functionality and accessibility," the carrier explained on its blog.
A number of Delta Air Lines flight attendants who previously worked for Northwest Airlines have sued DL in US federal court alleging "discrimination based solely on their status as former union members," said the Assn. of Flight Attendants, which is assisting in the lawsuit. DL's more than 19,000 cabin crew last year voted to reject unionization; the 7,500 who previously worked for NWA had been represented by AFA.
Goodrich announced its electric brake system has completed all required dedicated flight test conditions, incorporating the latest iteration of its Duracarb carbon heat sink material. The braking system has to date been selected by the majority of Boeing's 787 customers, including launch customer ANA.
AVISA Aviation Safety Systems announced a strategic partnership with Fokker Services through which the two companies will introduce EASA Part M-approved Continuing Airworthiness and Maintenance Management Services to the FLYFokker program.
AFI KLM E&M won a long-term contract with Philippine Airlines covering maintenance and engineering support of its GE90 engines. The contract also covers on-site and on-wing maintenance, shop visits, component support, spare engines and engineering support for PAL’s Boeing 777ERs.
FL Technics has begun servicing its first Airbus A320 aircraft at its hangars in Vilnius. The aircraft is owned by Latvian charter SmartLynx. The A320 family was added to FL Technics' EASA Part 145 certificate last month.
Lufthansa Technik reached a 10-year Total Engine Support contract extension with Travel a.s., the biggest private airline in the Czech Republic, covering the airline's CFM56-7B engines on its Boeing 737NGs.
AVIATION QUOTE
There is only one rule - Rule One - TNB - Trust No Bastard - they are all trying to kill you.
— Captain Rick Davies, Chief Pilot, Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (Queensland Section), advice given to new captains.
ON THIS DATE
March 4th
• In 1909... President William Howard Taft approves Congressional Gold Medals for the Wright brothers.
• In 1936... The last great passenger-carrying airship, a veritable behemoth in its day, takes to the air for the first time. The German dirigible LZ 129, the Hindenburg, is powered by four 1,320-hp Daimler-Benz DB 602 diesel engines. The Hindenburg makes its first Atlantic crossing in the record time of 64 hours 53 minutes on May 6.
• In 1948... The first American civilian to fly at supersonic speeds is Herbert Henry Hoover in Bell X-1 in Muroc, California.
If I carried more weapons, and if I had enough gas, and if I could actually hit the target, and if I had some more REALLY expensive electrons so I could find you, and if my motor didn't quit, and if My wings didn't crack, Boy, I'd really teach you a lesson!
And let's get one thing straight. There's a big difference between a pilot and an aviator. One is a technician; the other is an artist in love with flight. — E. B. Jeppesen
Nosedive/forum/images/avatars/gallery/first/default.pngoffline04 Mar 11, 12:02
1. Drunks 2. Cool Runnings Olympics 3. Cold 4. Nazis 5. Short People 6. Some say, this airplane has two left main gears 7. Young Wimbledon winner 8. Florida 9. Zero 10. A Kenmore landmark 11. The same amount 12. White Lines
"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest." Mark Twain
AndesSMF/forum/images/avatars/gallery/first/user67/1.pngoffline(Founding Member) 04 Mar 11, 18:03
1. EI-CEZ Ireland 2. C-CCAN Canada 3. CC-CZZ Chile 4. LV-BFD Argentina 5. F-HSEX France 6. G-CRAN UK 7. D-HYTE Germany (Deutchland) 8. EC-CIE Spain 9. JA-5564 Japan 10. YV-234E ? 11. HC-BKO Ecuador 12. HK-3910X Colombia
Einstein said two things were infinite; the universe, and stupidity. He wasn't sure about the first, but he was certain about the second.
ShanwickOceanic/forum/images/avatars/gallery/first/user55/8.pngoffline(netAirspace FAA) 04 Mar 11, 19:07
I can get to 9, after that it's awful. Love Nosedive's answers.
My friend and I applied for airline jobs in Australia, but they didn't Qantas.
Delta to acquire nine MD-90s from JAL Delta Air Lines told employees it has reached an agreement to buy nine Japan Airlines MD-90s for delivery beginning in January 2012 to replace retiring DC-9s and 50-seat regional jets. DL President Ed Bastian said last month the carrier will retire its remaining DC-9s, numbering about 35, over the next 12-18 months. In a message to employees, the airline said the MD-90s "will be refurbished and upgraded to match Delta's domestic fleet." The aircraft will not be used to add capacity, DL emphasized. Financial terms were not disclosed.
JAL got these birds from JAS when they merged. Before they became boring white they were some of the most beautiful planes every flown. It's good to know they are finding a home, but sad to know they'll likely never wear great color schemes again.
We sleep peacefully in our beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on our behalf
