miamiair/forum/images/avatars/gallery/first/user54/1.pngoffline(netAirspace FAA) 16 Mar 11, 10:29
NEWS
United, American reach agreement on O'Hare expansion plan United Airlines and American Airlines have agreed to drop a lawsuit seeking to block expansion at Chicago O'Hare International Airport after the U.S. Department of Transportation agreed to inject an additional $155 million into the project, and the city scaled back its expansion plans from $3.4 billion to $1.17 billion. Without the lawsuit, Chicago may now issue $1 billion in bonds to fund construction of a new runway. "This is a landmark achievement that will benefit air travelers throughout the entire nation," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said following weeks of negotiation. "It will ensure one of our busiest airports continues to thrive economically in the future." Link
American lightens up as fuel prices soar With the price of jet fuel up 50% compared to last year, American Airlines has replaced 19,000 drink carts and removed seat-back phones in an effort to to lighten planes and save fuel. Lighter seats and TV monitors are being installed throughout American's fleet, and the company is investing in more tugs to tow planes on the ground, reducing the need to power jet engines. American says its ongoing Fuel Smart program will save more than $370 million this year. Link
Inside the "chess game" of airline cancellations Snow, ice, earthquakes and political upheavals have made this a particularly tricky year for airline scheduling, The Boston Globe reports. Cancellations can inconvenience thousands of passengers and cost millions of dollars, but making that decision early can help to contain the damage. "We measure success by how effective we are at notifying our passengers about impending irregular operations events, offering them alternate travel options while keeping them out of airports during poor weather conditions," said Delta's operations center general manager. Link
Role of large flocking birds in engine certification is considered The U.S. and Europe are conducting a comprehensive analysis to determine whether jet engine certification criteria should include a consideration for large flocking birds weighing more than 2.5 pounds each. The birds, which have been blamed for many incidents -- including the ditching of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River in 2009 -- are considered a growing threat to aircraft, and experts say the growth of populations of large birds is a cause for concern. Link
Boeing eyes significant boost in 737 production With an order backlog of more than 2,000 narrow-body 737s, Boeing is considering a boost in production from 31.5 jets per month to as many as 42. By early next year, the company plans to turn out 35 planes monthly, but Jim Albaugh, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, says that number could go significantly higher. Even if Boeing decides to build an all-new narrow-body model, production of the current 737 will continue for another 15 to 20 years, Albaugh says. Link
Alaska lawmakers urge TSA to reconsider pat-down searches Lawmakers in the Alaska Senate joined colleagues in the House to call for the Transportation Security Administration to reconsider the use of invasive pat-down searches at airport checkpoints. The TSA continues to defend its procedures, saying full-body scanners and pat-downs improve security. Link
Independent lounges: Coming soon to an airport near you? An independent company plans to build up to 40 upscale lounges in U.S. airports for visitors willing to pay a fee for peace and quiet between flights. AirSpace Lounge will use a variable pricing model, with day passes starting at $17.50 and rising in price as the lounge fills. The first lounge is scheduled to open in May at Baltimore/Washington International Airport. Link
Earthquake prompts many to postpone or cancel trips to Japan On Sunday, the State Department issued an alert recommending U.S. citizens avoid trips to Japan "at this time," resulting in travel agents and tour operators being contacted by clients asking them about what they should do. Peggy Goldman, president of Friendly Planet Travel, said that uncertainty pervades the situation. "Our suppliers are being very circumspect. Nobody wants to make any sweeping statements about the tourism season," Goldman said. Link
Fears over radiation exposure complicate Japan's air transport recovery Momentum in the air transport operational recovery in Tokyo following last week's devastating earthquake and tsunami could be difficult to maintain in the face of growing fears over radiation exposure from unstable nuclear reactors. Tokyo Narita and Haneda reported no major damage from the quake and flights to/from the airports were mostly operating normally Monday. But airlines on Tuesday started announcing new flight adjustments as the situation at the Fukushima nuclear facility worsened. Link
Boeing pegs July for 787 first delivery With the latest iteration of its 787 schedule, Boeing aims to hand over the first aircraft to Japan's All Nippon Airways in late July, the first of 20 planned for delivery in 2011, according to several sources familiar with the new plan. While Boeing won't confirm the late July guidance, that target remains in line with an "early summer" completion of flight test activities. Link
IAI pulls plug on unmanned helicopter conversions Israel Aerospace Industries will not invest additional money in converting manned helicopters into unmanned platforms, a senior source says. While the company's efforts to date had looked like a "reasonable" investment, tests made with some platforms have highlighted the shortcomings of such products. Link
Garuda to add 18 regional jets by 2015 Garuda Indonesia will begin a competition this year to select its first regional jets. The airline hopes to add around 18 sub-hundred seat aircraft to its fleet by 2015 to serve low-density high-yield feeder routers within Indonesia, says CEO Emirsyah Satar in an interview with ATI's sister publication Airline Business. A decision will be made this year, he adds. Link
Airbus looks down under for composites in-between Airbus hopes to be able within two years to use a new bonding method being developed by Australia's Cooperative Research Centre for Advanced Composite Structures (CRC-ACS). Thermoset composite welding (TCW) speeds assembly of carbon/epoxy components by combining the rapid welding potential of thermoplastic composites with the versatility and lower cost of carbon/epoxy prepregs. Link
P&W relocates PW1524G FETT for natural icing tests Pratt & Whitney's PW1524G geared turbofan first engine to test (FETT) has been relocated to Manitoba, Canada for cold weather evaluations as the company proceeds with testing on its second test engine intended for the Bombardier CSeries. Following 200h in testing at the company's West Palm Beach, Florida facility, the 104kN (23,300lb) thrust FETT moved to the Manitoba facility where the engine maker is able to demonstrate natural icing, says P&W commercial engines and global services president, Todd Kallman. Link
IAE eyes military applications for V2500 plus further upgrade International Aero Engines (IAE) is eyeing military applications for its V2500 turbofan, which currently powers Airbus narrowbodies, and says it intends to continue upgrading the powerplant for the commercial market. Link
Other News
The EU and US on Tuesday concluded their long-delayed agreement on cooperation in the regulation of civil aviation safety. According to a statement from the EU, the agreement will enter into force on May 1 and "enable the reciprocal acceptance of findings of compliance and approvals, promote a high degree of safety in air transport and ensure regulatory cooperation and harmonization between the [US and EU] as regards airworthiness approvals and monitoring of civil aeronautical products, environmental testing and approvals of such products, and approvals and monitoring of maintenance facilities."
International Aero Engines announced the launch of an upgraded V2500 engine, the V2500 SelectTwo, which will be offered on the A320 family as an "upgrade option" for the V2500 SelectOne. The new variant "is projected to provide [a] 0.58% fuel burn savings compared to the V2500 SelectOne" for a 500 n.m. A320 mission, IAE said. The SelectTwo is comprised of a software upgrade for the electronic engine control as well as a new data entry plug. Entry into service is planned for 2013.
BAE Systems and California-based engine lessor Willis Lease Finance Corp. signed an agreement under which BAE Systems’ Regional Aircraft Asset Management unit will provide aircraft acquisition, remarketing and lease management services to Willis Lease. Willis is looking to expand beyond the engine leasing business into the market for used aircraft. The company in September signaled its shift into the airframe market when it signed an MOU with SuperJet International for the purchase of six Sukhoi SuperJet-100s with options for another four.
Air New Zealand warned it will lose money in the second half of the financial year because of high fuel prices and the impact of earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan. It expects full-year earnings to fall below NZ$100 million ($75 million).
Japan Airlines is calling on its JAL Mileage Bank members to donate miles to raise funds for relief work in Japan. The airline told members that for every 7,500 miles donated, ¥7,500 ($91.60) will be contributed to help victims of last Friday’s devastating earthquake and support recovery and restoration process.
Lufthansa will increase its fuel surcharge for flights within Europe, North Africa, Russia and Israel by €2 to €28 ($39). For flights to the Middle East by €5 to €97, North America and India by €5 to €102 and all other routes worldwide by €5 to €112.
Boeing successfully completed the final gauntlet testing on the first 747-8I on March 13. Gauntlet testing simulates flight conditions to test systems and ensures flight readiness.
Cabot Aviation arranged the sale of one IAE V2500-A1-powered Airbus A320-200 to Myanmar Airways International on behalf of Cyprus Airways.
Copa Airlines took delivery of one Sky Interior-equipped 737-800 from Boeing, becoming the first Latin American carrier to receive the aircraft with the new interior, it said. The delivery brings Copa's 737-800 fleet to 18.
Air Berlin announced it took delivery of its first Boeing Sky Interior-equipped 737-700NG. A total of 63 airlines and leasing companies have ordered the 737 Boeing Sky Interior for more than 1,748 airplanes.
AVIATION QUOTE
In the air transport business more than any other, the human element is everything. That big plane in front of the hangar is only as good as the man who flies it, and he is only as good as the people on the ground who work with him.
— W. A. (Pat) Patterson, President United Airlines, quoted in the book 'High Horizons,' 1944.
ON THIS DATE
March 16th
• In 1905... S. H. Maloney, a professional balloon-parachute jumper, makes a first successful glide to earth in a tandem-wing glider built by John J. Montgomery (1858-1911), a professor at Santa Clara College in California.
• In 1907... Built for Leon Delagrange and pilot Charles Voisin, the Voisin-Delagrandge biplane makes its first flight from Bagatelle, France, achieving a height of 13ft. and a distance of 260ft.
• In 1911... The first certificate of airworthiness awarded to an airplane in Britain is signed by Mervyn O’Gorman, superintendent of the Balloon Factory at Farnborough, covering the Farman III Type Militaire purchased by the British Army during the second half of 1910.
• In 1960... KLM opens its first intercontinental jet service, by Douglas DC-8 from Amsterdam to New York.
• In 1983... A Boeing 767 lands after a nonstop flight of 5,499 miles from Lisbon, Portugal to set a distance record for a twin-jet airliner in commercial service.
DAILY VIDEO
EDITOR’S CHOICE
HUMOR
Air Traffic Control?
During taxi, the crew of a US Air departure flight to Ft. Lauderdale made a wrong turn and came nose to nose with a United 727. The irate ground controller (a female) lashed out at the US Air crew screaming "US Air 2771, where are you going? I told you to turn right on 'Charlie' taxi way; you turned right on 'Delta'. Stop right there. I know it's difficult to tell the difference between C's and D's but get it right".
Continuing her lashing to the embarrassed crew, she was now shouting hysterically, "You've screwed everything up; it'll take forever to sort this out. You stay right there and don't move until I tell you to. You can expect progressive taxi instructions in about a half hour and I want you to go exactly where I tell you, when I tell you, and how I tell you. You got that, US Air 2771??"
Naturally, the 'ground control' frequency went terribly silent until an unknown male pilot broke the silence and asked, "Wasn't I married to you once?"
TRIVIA
US Air Power
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
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
Allstarflyer/forum/images/avatars/gallery/first/user72/1.pngoffline(Database Editor & Founding Member) 16 Mar 11, 10:44
2. A-10 (Oh yeah ) 12. F-15
ANCFlyer/forum/images/avatars/gallery/first/user57/1.pngoffline(netAirspace ATC & Founding Member) 16 Mar 11, 16:36
Excellent Trivia photos today . . . .
Check out the Buff being refueled . . . note the tanker is from the 168th . . . Alaska National Guard.
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
)
