miamiair/forum/images/avatars/gallery/first/user54/1.pngoffline(netAirspace FAA) 24 Aug 11, 09:13
NEWS
US government's new 'passenger protections' take effect New US Dept. of Transportation (DOT) regulations aimed at providing "protections" for airline passengers went into effect Tuesday, boosting compensation for involuntarily bumped passengers and imposing a 4-hr. tarmac delay limit on international flights at US airports. Link
Malaysian incurs $177 million second-quarter loss on soaring fuel prices Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has blamed soaring fuel prices for a second-quarter net loss of MYR527 million ($177 million), similar to the MYR535 million net loss for the year-ago period, also owing to fuel prices. Link
Airlines urged to gear up for Simplified Interline Settlement The latest initiative in IATA's drive to take costs and complexity out of the airline industry is slated to go live next month, but an alarming number of carriers are unprepared, according to Neela Bhattacherjee, head of Kale Consultants' airlines strategic business unit. Link
747-8F and 787 delivery dates come into focus Boeing's final month of 747-8 freighter and 787 first delivery milestones has emerged, placing the handover to its patient launch customers as early as 7 and 22 September, respectively, say those familiar with the airframer's plans. Link
China's ARJ21 falls behind on flight test schedule Two key components in the flight test program of China's first indigenous designed regional jet have not been completed, and this has led to the likelihood of a delay in the type certification and delivery of the aircraft. Link
FlairJet plans new bases in East Midlands and Dublin Oxford airport-based FlairJet plans to open two new bases at East Midlands and Dublin airports, where it will position two Embraer Phenom 100 aircraft. Link
SIA appears to consider 'Scoot' as low-cost brand name Singapore Airlines appears to be considering naming its new long-haul low-cost subsidiary Scoot Airlines. The domain name 'scootairlines.com' was registered in Singapore by TBWA, SIA's advertising agency, on 28 June. Link
China Eastern receives high-altitude capable 737-700 China Eastern Airlines has received its first Boeing 737-700 that has been reconfigured for high-altitude operations. The aircraft has been fitted with Boeing's High-Altitude/High-Temperature Airport Operations feature package, the airframer said. Link
Southwest will change AirTran's flight schedule Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly says plans are in the works to begin flights to and from Atlanta and to make changes to the flight schedule of AirTran Airways, which the airline acquired in May. "I think we are going to make some radical changes to the AirTran flight schedule. We can improve the schedule. I think we can improve the fares," Kelly said. Southwest's 15 new daily departures from Atlanta will begin in February. Link
Delta is expected to order 100 737-900s from Boeing, sources say Delta Air Lines is expected to replace some of its older planes by purchasing about 100 extended-range 737-900 aircraft from Boeing, sources say. The deal would be worth about $8 billion. Boeing and Airbus recently made sales presentations to the airline, but Delta has identified the U.S. aircraft manufacturer as the likely winner. Link
Security wait times for international travelers concern airlines Some airlines are concerned that stricter airport security is discouraging international travelers from visiting the U.S. "At many of our most important gateways, the lines at the customs hall are just too long and passengers get frustrated," said an Air Transport Association spokesman. Customs and Border Protection is trying to reduce wait times and has launched a program to allow travelers from certain countries who consent to a background check to use a card that allows them to enter the U.S. by using a kiosk. Link
Boeing will turn profit on 787s after first 1,000, report says A recent report by Bernstein Research says Boeing will not make a profit on its new 787 Dreamliners until after the first 1,000 planes. The report says the 787 will drag on the overall profit of Boeing Commercial Airplanes for several years "with the potential to significantly dilute otherwise attractive margins on the company's current production programs (737, 777)." Link
NTSB wants to look beyond investigating individual accidents The National Transportation Safety Board plans to look at safety trends and lapses instead of concentrating on individual accidents. NTSB officials will hold public sessions to take a "very comprehensive look" at structural issues, as well as aircraft design and maintenance "from cradle to grave." The NTSB also is trying to gain access to voluntarily provided incident data, which have not been made available to the agency. Link
Virgin America caters to sports fans with live satellite TV Virgin America is offering sports fans the opportunity to catch live games, including baseball games nationally televised on FOX and hockey games broadcast on NBC. In addition to the new sports content, Virgin has updated its live satellite television lineup. "With the largest media library in the skies, Virgin America has become the airline of choice for entertainment and sports fans," said Virgin America President and CEO David Cush. "In addition to more eclectic content, our travelers have been asking for more live sports and news." Link
First- and business-class fliers say safety is priority, study finds For most first- and business-class fliers, safety is the top priority, a recent study shows. "What we saw through this survey was really that premium travelers are looking for comfort and convenience, as well as safety," said Joe Bates, research director for the GBTA Foundation, which conducted the study. "You can have comfort through service that's being offered, that higher class of service (or) ... through entertainment options available to you." The foundation is the research branch of the Global Business Travel Association. Link
Other News
The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) has issued draft approval for the Joint Business Agreement (JBA) between Qantas and American Airlines for Pacific routes between the US and Australia/New Zealand and the networks that support those routes.
China Southern Airlines (CZ) signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Dalian Airport (DLC) as part of a plan to enhance its position in the Dalian market in northeastern China and compete with Air China (CA).
Air Berlin and have S7 extended their codeshare to cover 47 routes. New codeshare flights include Berlin Tegel (TXL) via Moscow Domodedovo (DME) and on to Irkutsk, Samara, Kazan, Perm, Ufa or Rostov as well as Yekaterinburg. The codeshare also covers connections from Dusseldorf, Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt or Hanover.
SuperJet International signed an MOU for a "SuperCare" agreement with PT Sky Aviation for after-sales support of its fleet of 12 SSJ100 aircraft. It will provide the carrier with customized spares availability and maintenance/repair solutions of onboard equipment for 10 years.
Finnair Engine Services inked a four-year engine maintenance and repair agreement with Rossiya Airlines, which covers the CFM56-5B engines on Rossiya’s Airbus A319/320 aircraft.
Boeing announced that Japan Airlines (JAL) will expand Airplane Health Management (AHM) coverage to its future 787 fleet. AHM is a software system that monitors, collects and analyzes airplane data to give airplane customers valuable, real-time maintenance information. This information allows JAL to initiate the needed maintenance immediately upon arrival at the airport gate.
AVIATION QUOTE
Don't believe other people, prove it for yourself. Stick to what you have proved believable. Don't be overawed by other more senior people. Don't ignore the feelings in your bones.
— David P. Davies, former Chief Test Pilot of the British Air Registration Board (now the CAA). Quoted in the preface to the second edition of Design of the Aeroplane, 2001.
ON THIS DATE
August 24th
---In 1921... In the worst airship disaster thus far, 44 people die when the British dirigible R.38 is destroyed during routine operations off the coast of Yorkshire, England, by fire started by electrical sparks that engulfed the airship.
---In 1956... A U.S. Army helicopter becomes the first rotary-winged aircraft to fly non-stop across the United States.
---In 1961... Beginning this day through October 12, U.S. aviatrix Jacqueline Cochrane flying a Northrop T-38A Talon sets a wide range of records for women (altitude of 56,071 ft., a distance of 1,492 mi., a 100-km (62.14 mi.) closed circuit speed record of 784.337 mph and 15-km (9.32 mi.) course speed of 844.2 mph).
---In 1970... Two USAF Sikorsky HH-53C helicopters complete a non-stop trans-Pacific crossing from Eglin AFB, Florida to Da Nang, South Vietnam, aided by refueling encounters with Lockheed C-130 tankers.
---In 1976…Shorts 330 enters service with Time Air.
---In 1983…A Canadair Challenger 601 flies 4,364.2 miles from Calgary to London, setting a new distance record for a business jet.
In 2001… Air Transat Flight 236, an Airbus A330-200, en route from Toronto to Lisbon with 306 crew and passengers, made an emergency landing in the Azores without engine power due to fuel starvation over the Atlantic Ocean.[7] The aircraft safely landed at Lajes Air Base, on the island of Terceira. The aircraft was evacuated in 90 seconds. All 306 passengers on board survived. An investigation revealed that the cause of the accident was a fuel leak in the number two engine which was caused by an incorrect part installed in the hydraulics system by Air Transat maintenance staff. The part did not maintain adequate clearance between the hydraulic lines and the fuel line, allowing vibration in the hydraulic lines to degrade the fuel line and cause the leak. The aircraft involved in the incident was repaired and remains in service with Air Transat.
---In 2004…In separate incidents, Volga-AviaExpress Flight 1303, a Tupolev TU-134A (RA-65080), and Siberia Airlines Flight 1047 (RA-85556), a Tupolev TU-154B, both explode while in flight south of Moscow. The Russian government blams Chechen suicide bombers for the disasters, which kill a total of 89 people on both aircraft.
---In 2009…American Airlines retires its last Airbus A300 from scheduled service.
DAILY VIDEO
EDITOR’S CHOICE
HUMOR
Smoking Rooms
They used to have a smoking section at most airports. No more. They now have these glass-encased rooms. You're not just a smoker, you're an example to other people. You're an exhibit at a futuristic zoo.
TRIVIA
Lancaster
1. The rather unsuccessful twin-engined medium bomber from which the Lancaster evolved was the Avro _____ ? Wellington Whitley Manchester Hampden
2. The name of the man who was the Lancaster's Chief Designer was _____ ?
3. Some statistical trivia: the crew of a Lancaster was normally 7. Pilot, Flight Engineer, Navigator, Wireless Operator , Bomb Aimer, Mid-upper Gunner, Rear Gunner. Which of these positions had the highest survival rate from Lancs which were 'downed'?
4. To the nearest percentage, how many Lancasters were lost in action? 53 66 17 37
5. The largest conventional bomb used in World War 2 was first dropped from a specially modified 617 Squadron Lancaster on 14th March 1945. This type of bomb was named the _____ ? Tall Boy King Hit Sucker Punch Grand Slam
6. 617 Squadron (The Dambusters): how does one pronounce that squadron's number title? six, one, seven six hundred and seventeen six, seventeen six hundred and seventeenth
7. The last development variant of the Lancaster was the Avro _______ ? Lincoln Nimrod Sentry Shackleton
8. Many Lancasters were delivered from the production line to their squadrons by pilots belonging to the ATA service. What did the letters ATA stand for?
9. The most operational sorties flown by a Lancaster were carried out by ED 888. How many missions was she credited with? 109 99 129 139
10. How many Lancasters were still flying at the start of the 21st century (December 2001)? 0 2 5 15
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
JLAmber/forum/images/avatars/gallery/first/user61/1.pngoffline(netAirspace ATC & Founding Member) 24 Aug 11, 16:05
1. The rather unsuccessful twin-engined medium bomber from which the Lancaster evolved was the Avro _____ ? Manchester
2. The name of the man who was the Lancaster's Chief Designer was _____ ? Ray Chadwick
3. Some statistical trivia: the crew of a Lancaster was normally 7. Pilot, Flight Engineer, Navigator, Wireless Operator , Bomb Aimer, Mid-upper Gunner, Rear Gunner. Which of these positions had the highest survival rate from Lancs which were 'downed'? Navigator
4. To the nearest percentage, how many Lancasters were lost in action? 53
5. The largest conventional bomb used in World War 2 was first dropped from a specially modified 617 Squadron Lancaster on 14th March 1945. This type of bomb was named the _____ ? Grand Slam
6. 617 Squadron (The Dambusters): how does one pronounce that squadron's number title? six, one, seven
7. The last development variant of the Lancaster was the Avro _______ ? Shackleton
8. Many Lancasters were delivered from the production line to their squadrons by pilots belonging to the ATA service. What did the letters ATA stand for? Air Transport Auxillary
9. The most operational sorties flown by a Lancaster were carried out by ED 888. How many missions was she credited with? 129
10. How many Lancasters were still flying at the start of the 21st century (December 2001)? 2
