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NEWS

Delta expected to announce 737-900/-9 deal
Delta Air Lines (DL) is expected to announce a large order this week for Boeing 737-900s and 737-9s to replace its aging fleet of narrowbodies. Sources in Singapore and Melbourne Australia said the deal—to replace DL’s 175 DC-9-50s/MD80/90s, 172 757-200s, 16 757-300s and some earlier model A320s—was all about pricing and financing.
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Russia’s Kuban plans to buy 12 Superjet 100s
Kuban Airlines announced it signed a Letter of Intent with Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Co. (SCAC) for 12 Sukhoi Superjet 100/95Bs. The order, announced during the MAKS Air Show in Russia last week, is valued at $380.4 million at list prices. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2012.
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New Qantas Asia carrier to feature luxury seating
Qantas’s (QF) new Asian-based premium airline is going target the region’s financial high flyers with luxury beds better than those on the airline’s Airbus A380s.
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First Air recorders recovered
Canadian investigators say the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the First Air Boeing 737-210C aircraft that crashed at Resolute Bay on 20 August have been recovered.
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American Airlines, Sabre extend full-content deal by a week
American Airlines and Sabre have extended their full-content agreement from Aug. 31 to Sept. 6. Although the extension is short, insiders say they expect the airline and the global distribution system to come to an agreement. If the companies can't agree on terms, a court order could force the issue.
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United Continental will upgrade cabins, Smisek says
Jeff Smisek, CEO of United Continental Holdings, said the airline is investing $550 million to spruce up its cabins. The carrier plans to offer more lie-flat seats, launch streaming wireless video in its 747 coach cabins and add overhead bin space on some planes.
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Delta will back pro-union provision -- on one condition
Delta Air Lines has been opposed to changes in unionization rules, but the carrier says it will back the pro-union provision if voting out a union is as easy as adopting one, says Gina Laughlin, a spokeswoman for Delta. "We would be supportive of an equal decertification process that gives employees the right to change their minds and to decertify a union in the future," she said.
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DOT consumer-protection rules will take effect Tuesday
New consumer-protection rules for airlines go into effect Tuesday. The federal rules include extended tarmac-delay fines for international airlines of up to $27,500 per passenger and increased compensation for passengers who are bumped because of an oversold flight. "Market forces, not additional regulations, are already providing customer benefits," said a spokesman for the Air Transport Association
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FAA releases rules aimed at tackling icing incidents
The Federal Aviation Administration has released new rules that will require commuter airlines and their pilots to do more to prevent ice buildup on airplane wings. The FAA says that a number of incidents prompted the rule, which goes into effect in 60 days. "We want pilots to have the best technology available to detect icing conditions so they can take the steps necessary to ensure passenger safety," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
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Boston airport's $65 million runway project raises concerns
Logan International Airport plans to extend its longest runway hundreds of feet into Boston Harbor in a project that is estimated to cost $65 million. The project to increase the runway safety zone will also close the runway for at least six months. The addition of a safety zone is raising a variety of concerns, including the environmental impact of construction on fish and shellfish habitats.
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Other News

Royal Air Maroc (RAM) took delivery of its first two ATR 72-600s, as part of an order placed at the Paris Air Show in June 2009 for four ATR 72-600s and two ATR 42-600s.

LOT Polish Airlines said its first-half results have improved by PLN32 million ($11.3 million) compared to the same 2010 period, although it still recorded a loss.

Wizz Air will launch twice-weekly Riga-Eindhoven service Dec. 9.

Spirit Airlines launched Chicago O'Hare service to Boston (daily), Dallas/Ft. Worth (twice-daily), Detroit (twice-daily) New York LaGuardia (daily) and will add service to Orlando Nov. 10.

South African Airways will launch thrice-weekly Johannesburg Jan Smuts-Ndola service Oct. 1. It will also launch thrice-weekly JNB service to Burundi and Rwanda and twice-weekly JNB-Gabon-Benin service Oct. 31.

Eastern Airways will extend its thrice-weekly Southampton-Dijon service to Oct. 28; it was originally scheduled to end Sept. 30.





AVIATION QUOTE

There are two kinds of airplanes — those you fly and those that fly you . . . You must have a distinct understanding at the very start as to who is the boss.

— Ernest K. Gann



ON THIS DATE

August 23rd

---In 1878... The British government uses its first military aviation budget (£150) to build and fly their first balloon, the Pioneer.

--- In 1913... Léon Letort carries out the first non-stop flight between Paris and Berlin when he flies his Morane-Saulnier monoplane fitted with an 80-hp Le Rhône engine the 560 miles between the two capitals in 8 hours.

---In 1923... The I-1 (Il-400), the first independent design from Nikolai Nikolayevich Polikarpov, makes its first flight. Polikarpov has worked at the RBVZ [Russko-Baltijskij Vagonnyj Zavod (Russo-Baltic Cart Works)] on the Ilya Muromets and later becomes chief engineer at the GAZ-1 plant.

--- In 1938... The American racing and record-breaking pilot Frank Hawks is killed along with his mechanic when his Gwinn Aircraft Aircar becomes entangled in telephone lines shortly after taking off from East Aurora, New York.

---In 1948…First flight of the McDonnell XF-85 Goblin.

---In 1949…BOAC commences its first services to the Far East to be flown entirely by landplanes.

---In 1954…First flight of the Lockheed YC-130 Hercules.

---In 1958…President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, dissolving the Civil Aeronautics Administration and Civil Aeronautics Board and transferring all authority over aviation operations in the United States to the newly-created Federal Aviation Agency (FAA, later renamed Federal Aviation Administration).

---In 1965… Air Wisconsin commences operations.

---In 1977…The Gossamer Condor, the world’s first successful human-powered aircraft capable of controlled flight, wins the Kremer prize by completing a figure-eight course designed by the Royal Aeronautical Society at Shafter Field in California.

---In 2005…TANS Peru Flight 204, a Boeing 737-200 (OB-1809-P), crashes while landing in a hailstorm at Pucallpa, Peru, killing 40 of the 91 people on board.



DAILY VIDEO





EDITOR’S CHOICE





HUMOR

The Marine And The 5 Year Old

As the crowded airliner is about to take off, the peace is shattered by a five-year-old boy who picks that moment to throw a wild temper tantrum. No matter what his frustrated, embarrassed mother does to try to calm him down, the boy continues to scream furiously and kick the seats around him.

Suddenly, from the rear of the plane, a man in a Marine uniform is seen slowly walking forward up the aisle. Stopping the flustered mother with an upraised hand, the courtly, soft-spoken Marine leans down and, motioning toward his chest, whispers something into the boy's ear.

Instantly, the boy calms down, gently takes his mother's hand, and quietly fastens his seat belt. All the other passengers burst into spontaneous applause.

As the Marine slowly makes his way back to his seat, one of the cabin attendants touches his sleeve. "Excuse me, sir," she asks quietly, "but could I ask you what magic words you used on that little boy?"

The Marine smiles serenely and gently confides, "I showed him my pilot's wings, service stars, and battle ribbons, and explained that they entitle me to throw one passenger out the plane door, on any flight I choose."



TRIVIA

Who Was The Pilot

1. The developer of the Spruce Goose as well as its pilot. Who was it?
John Glenn
Amelia Earhart
Howard Hughes
Charles Lindbergh

2. Who was the pilot of 'The Flyer'?

3. Who was the pilot of Freedom 7?
Gus Grissom
John Glenn
Wally Schirra
Alan Shephard

4. Who was the first pilot to break the sound barrier?

5. Who was the pilot (commander) of Apollo 13?
Tom Hanks
Buzz Aldrin
James Lovell
Neil Armstrong

1. Howard Hughes

2.

3. Alan Shephard

4. Chuck Yeager

5.James Lovell

Answers:

1. Howard Hughes. Howard Hughes insisted (mostly to avoid legal problems) that the plane never flew. A film documentary shows that it did.

2. Wilbur Wright. On December 14, 1903 Wilbur was at the controls of an uncontrolled flight. Orville is credited with what is considered the first powered flight on December 17.

3. Alan Shephard. This flight was part of the Mercury Program.

4. Chuck Yeager.

5. James Lovell.