miamiair/forum/images/avatars/gallery/first/user54/1.pngoffline(netAirspace FAA) 18 Mar 11, 09:39
NEWS
Korean Air firms up two additional 747-8F options Korean Air (KAL) plans to convert two options for Boeing 747-8 freighter aircraft to firm orders, taking its total orders of the aircraft type to seven. Link
Pilots, American Airlines report progress in contract talks Under the leadership of a new union president, the Allied Pilots Association has begun face-to-face meetings with American Airlines CEO Gerard Arpey for the first time in three years, while senior airline executives are visiting union headquarters for high-level discussions. "[T]hat's been our objective, to change the relationship, to improve the relationship," says APA President David Bates, noting that more than 130 grievances were recently cleared up over a three-day period. Though Bates is still pushing for a "fairly respectable pay raise," strike rumors have begun to dissipate. Link
United Continental reports drop in travel to Japan United Continental says it is monitoring capacity needs between the U.S. and Japan due to a "measurable decline" in traffic following last week's earthquake. "We are monitoring the markets closely and will continue to provide the level of service that is warranted by demand and which can be operated safely," a company spokesman said Wednesday. Ford, ITT and other major companies have reduced their corporate travel to Japan, and the U.S. unit of Nissan Motor Co. has temporarily suspended all business trips to the country. Some round-trip fares have dropped below the $1,000 mark, though American Airlines says traffic to Japan has "stayed fairly level in most cases." Link
ATA says bag fee proposal detracts from important security proposal The U.S. Travel Association released a security screening proposal, which includes a voluntary Trusted Traveler program. In its recommendation, it recommended airlines be forced to allow passengers one checked bag for free. The Air Transport Association responded: "Consumers have been the big winners from a quasi deregulated, highly competitive airline industry, and government taking a huge step backward and dictating how airlines deliver and price their products and services, as the USTA suggests, diminishes customer choice and competitive differentiation among carriers." Link
Japanese quake could cut premium air travel worldwide The aftermath of Japan's earthquake and tsunami could reduce worldwide demand for premium air travel in March, according to an international trade association, noting that the Japanese market represents 6% to 7% of such travel. "It is too soon to judge how the Japanese earthquake and tsunami in March will affect air travel, but the market is large enough to have a materially adverse impact on the international total for that month," the group said in a statement. Meanwhile, political unrest in the Arab world is expected "to put a dent into the February passenger data." Link
Denver airport tests GPS-guided air traffic routes Denver International Airport says it has finished mapping precise, computerized paths for commercial jets that are more extensive than any other airport in the U.S. DIA General Manager Kim Day says the GPS-guided routes will help airlines save money and reduce fuel burn. "It creates a system of superhighways for airplanes, with continuous ascent and descent routes rather than stair-stepping," Day says. DIA is currently conducting environmental impact testing on the new routes and hopes to implement the system as early as next year. Link
Lawmakers call scanners "useless," TSA calls them "vital" House Republicans on Wednesday criticized full-body scanners used by the Transportation Security Administration, describing the devices as "flawed" and "useless." TSA Assistant Administrator for Security Technology Robin Kane defended the use of the scanners, calling them "vital" for keeping travelers safe. Meanwhile, David Brenner, director of Columbia University's Center for Radiological Research, questioned the safety of the scanners, noting that the TSA uses the full-body X-ray scanners at some airports. At other airports, passengers pass through millimeter wave scanners, which do not expose the travelers to ionizing radiation. Link
DOT Inspector General to monitor bird strike trend The Transportation Department's Inspector General plans to study how federal, state and local authorities monitor and mitigate the risk of bird strikes. Data show that serious collisions at U.S. airports have remained flat or declined slightly, while strikes away from airports have jumped by 40% in recent years. Link
European agency declines to adopt oxygen generator regulation New Federal Aviation Administration regulations require that airlines remove or disable oxygen generators in aircraft bathrooms, but European regulators say they will not adopt similar measures. The European Aviation Safety Agency has said the scope of its authority does not include the ability to put a similar rule in place. Meanwhile, some European carriers have said they will voluntarily comply with the FAA regulation. Link
Paperless boarding goes global at United United Airlines announced Wednesday that mobile boarding passes, already valid for domestic travel at 62 U.S. airports, will now be extended to international flights. In addition, the paperless option will be available to passengers boarding flights in eight major foreign markets, including London, Munich and Osaka. Link
Column: No broad agreement on in-flight etiquette Seat backs, arm rests, stinky foods -- they're all among the in-flight etiquette dilemmas faced by frequent fliers, according to columnist Scott McCartney, who polls a panel of travel experts on how to handle six delicate situations. Frequent traveler Ron Goodenow offers a suggestion that might cover every scenario: "I think it would be great if an airline, as part of its pre-flight announcement, said something like, 'We have a very crowded flight today folks. Please be kind to your neighbor.' " Link
Lufthansa says it's well-positioned following second-half 2010 rebound Lufthansa Group Chairman and CEO Christoph Franz said the company's turnaround from posting a $34 million net loss in 2009 to earning a €1.1 billion ($1.53 billion) net profit in 2010 showed that LH "has quick reactions and responded to market changes with the utmost flexibility in terms of capacities and costs," putting it in a strong position "strategically, financially and operationally." Link
UK airlines reject BAA plan to take control of scheduling during irregular operations The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK said it is "surprised and dismayed" ata BAA proposal to impose so-called emergency timetables on airlines as a means to handle extreme weather or exceptional situations—such as last December's snow that led to major disruptions at several UK airports including London Heathrow. Under the proposal, these greatly restricted operating timetables could be imposed by the airport operator, a concept the organization categorically rejects. Link
FedEx fiscal third-quarter profit down 3%, predicts big fourth quarter FedEx reported net income of $231 million for its fiscal third quarter ended Feb. 28, down 3% from a $239 million profit in the prior-year period, but it posted an 11% year-over-year rise in quarterly revenue to $9.66 billion and gave positive guidance for the current quarter and beyond. Link
Bisignani: Brazil's airports 'not up to standard' for World Cup, Olympics IATA DG and CEO Giovanni Bisignani warned this week that Brazil "will never reach its full potential without major changes in its aviation policies," pointing in particular to airport and ATC infrastructure. Speaking to the British Chamber of Commerce in Sao Paulo, he said, "Brazil’s GDP is the eighth largest, but its international aviation market, with just 13 million passengers, ranks 37th—below Indonesia and Norway. This is disproportionate to Brazil's size and importance on the world stage." Link
Boeing needs to sell 1,500 787s to break even: Udvar-Hazy Industry icon Steven Udvar-Hazy has given his assessment of the profitability potential for Boeing's 787, saying the US airframer will need to sell at least 1,500 twinjets to break even after more than three years of delays. Link
Boeing warns of parts shortages from Japan Boeing has said the 11 March earthquake in Japan could lead to parts shortages in the future, and is working to minimize potential disruption to its supply chain. Link
Korean Air converts 10 787-8s to -9s Korean Air (KAL) has converted its entire order of 10 Boeing 787-8s to larger -9s, and will now begin taking delivery of them from 2016 instead of this year. Link
Other News
US Air Transport Assn. said that passenger revenue rose 13% in February compared to the year-ago period, marking the 14th consecutive month of year-over-year revenue gains. RPMs rose 2.1% while average price per flown mile (yield) climbed 10.8%. The information was based on data from most US majors excluding Southwest Airlines.
The Assn. of Flight Attendants-CWA said it won a major arbitration ruling Thursday on behalf of former Midwest Airlines flight attendants who were laid off after Republic Airways purchased the airline and “staffed the same flights with non-Midwest flight attendants, who were often compensated up to 70% less.”
Southwest Airlines said it will seek assistance from the National Mediation Board as it negotiates with its 185 dispatchers, represented by Transport Workers Union 550.
MTU Maintenance Hannover was selected by Russian carrier NordStar to maintain its CFM56-7B engines under a five-year contract. It is the German MRO provider's first CFM56 customer from Russia, it said.
Turkish Technic has a five-year landing gear maintenance services agreement with SunExpress covering the carrier's Boeing 737-800s.
Air One Maintenance & Engineering won a heavy maintenance contract from Air Capital Group covering one MD-83 and one MD-82. It also won a heavy maintenance and SFAR 88 Modification contract from Blair Investors Corp., covering one 737-200 VIP.
Lufthansa Technik Philippines extended its maintenance contract with AirAsia X covering light C checks this year on the carrier's Airbus fleet.
Thales won a contract from Belaeronavigatsia to supply three radar stations for Grodno, Mogilev and Minsk airports in Belarus. Two sets of co-mounted STAR 2000 primary radars and RSM 970 S secondary radars will be deployed at the GNA and MSQ, Thales said. One additional RSM 970 S secondary radar will be located at MVQ.
Sensis Corp. was selected by Sweden's air navigation service provider, Luftfartsverket, to provide its Wide Area Multilateration product for the surveillance of Sweden's airspace. It will replace the country's Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar infrastructure, "Providing the foundation for the growing use of Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast," Sensis said. It was also selected by Denver International Airport to provide its Aerobahn product for airport surface management.
AVIATION QUOTE
This man deserves a medal as big as a frying pan. He has done a fantastic job.
— unnamed airport worker regards Captain Peter Burkill, British Airways B-777 pilot, following safe crash-landing at Heathrow Airport, 17 January 2008
ON THIS DATE
March 18th
• In 1906... Trajan Vuia, a Rumanian, first tests a monoplane in France. Although it only hops and does not fly, Louis Bleriot (1872-1936) decides that its monoplane design is superior to his biplane.
• In 1938... Only seven months after its first flight, the prototype Heinkel He 115 V1 begins a series of flights breaking eight seaplane speed records by carrying loads between 1,100 lb. and 4,400 lb. over distances of 1,000 km (621 miles) and 2,000 km (1,242 miles) at an average speed of 204 mph. The He 115 is the Luftwaffe’s most successful seaplane.
• In 1952... Two USAF F-84 Thunderjets land in Neubiberg, Germany after the longest sustained jet flight; they flew 2,800 miles from the USA in 4 hours 48 minutes, without refueling.
DAILY VIDEO
EDITOR’S CHOICE
HUMOR
Flight Simulator Pilots
If you're interested in a simulation of a flight environment, you would be much better off by buying yourself a surplus flight helmet (preferably one that doesn't fit perfectly), a sun lamp (to get your head nice and toasty), and a pair of Nomex/leather flight gloves (soak 'em with sweat/oil/hydraulic fluid for that crisp but slick feel). Put your monitor a little above coffee table height.
Get about 4-5 of those concrete slabs you see at the garden section of your local K-Mart, top'em with the thinnest cheap cushion you can find. (That's your "ejection seat".) Wipe the mask out with denatured alcohol (smells nice), and clamp a rag soaked in JP-4 (kerosene will do) on the end of the oxygen hose, and strap that puppy on 'till it leaves a ring on your face that lasts for hours. (You do this 'cuz when your face is sweaty and you`re pulling Gs, the mask will be on your chin if it isn't on TIGHT.) Turn the sun lamp on and point it at your head.
Now you're doing it like the big boys! Optional "realism" techniques: Buy some nylon webbing (the kind you use to repair old-fashioned lawn chairs with). Cut two straps of this and wrap them between your legs TIGHTLY (that's your `chute harness).
Play when you've got a BAD hangover. (Rough night at the O Club.)
Have your wife/friend/neighbor pester you with questions out of the Owner's Manual (your pretend "Dash One") while you're trying to fly (Check Ride!)
Get up and play at 4:00 am (otherwise known as "oh-dark hundred"). Make a cheese sandwich, wrap it in waxed paper. Stick it in a shoe box with a half-pint of milk, a bruised apple, a crushed bag of Fritos, and an onion. Put in the fridge overnight, then take it out, throw out the onion, put the box under the sunlamp while you're flying, and eat when you're hungry. (Box lunch.)
With some imagination and very little cash outlay, you can do a hell of a job simulating what it's like to fly. That other shit (side consoles, switches, speakers, etc.) is strictly for show, and doesn't do anything towards giving you that "There I wuz" feeling.
TRIVIA
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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
miamiair/forum/images/avatars/gallery/first/user54/1.pngoffline(netAirspace FAA) 21 Mar 11, 10:24
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
