ILFC plans IPO; AIG to dispose 80% of lessor within 3 years Aircraft leasing giant International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) filed a registration statement Friday with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to launch an initial public offering that will pave the way for it to largely break away from troubled parent American International Group. Link
Strategic Airlines rebranded as 'Air Australia' The carrier said last month it would launch flights from Brisbane and Melbourne to Honolulu Dec. 14 after receiving approval from US Dept. of Transportation. Those flights will be operated by Airbus A330s with 30 business-class seats and 244 in economy. Link
Cargolux to receive first 747-8F Sept. 19 Boeing confirmed Friday it will deliver the first 747-8 freighter to launch customer Cargolux Sept. 19 at Paine Field in Everett. Production and development issues several times delayed the 747-8F; Cargolux was originally scheduled to get its first aircraft in the third quarter of 2009. Link
Titan Airways wins UK-Falklands contract London Stansted-based charter operator Titan Airways has won the contract to operate the 'air bridge' between the UK and the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. The twice-weekly flights are operated from the UK Royal Air Force's main transport base at Brize Norton to the Mount Pleasant military air base on the Falklands. Link
Pilot error likely in first in-service Skycatcher crash What appears to be the first in-service crash of a Cessna C162 Skycatcher - the company's new light sport entrant - will likely be ruled as pilot error. A recently issued US National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report on the non-fatal 1 August crash in Rawlings, Wyoming, revealed that the pilot was attempting to depart an airport in unfavourable conditions - a quartering tailwind and density altitude 1,000ft (305m) higher than the 100hp (74kW) Teledyne Continental O200D-powered two-seater's 8,000ft maximum recommended takeoff altitude limit. Link
Other News
Air Berlin (AB) interim CEO Hartmut Mehdorn said the financially troubled carrier needs to be rebuilt quickly and is considering various measures. The Financial Times reported that the AB's business model could be significantly changed, including possible network and fleet adjustments. Mehdorn did not rule out job reductions among AB's 9,000 employees if necessary.
Air Canada (AC) said Friday it will start charging C$25/$25 for a first checked bag on all Canada-US transborder flights. It is remaining "consistent with the baggage polices of other major carriers." Previously economy passengers were allowed to check one bag for free on AC transborder flights. The new fee will apply for all tickets purchased on or after Sept. 7 for travel on or after Oct. 11. A second checked bag on transborder flights will cost C$35/$35.
IATA reported that international passenger traffic increased 7.3% year-over-year in July while domestic traffic rose 3.5%. Total system traffic heightened 5.9%. Airfreight traffic declined 0.4% as world trade sputtered, IATA said.
FL Technics Ulyanovsk received approval to perform aircraft maintenance within the Ulyanovsk free economic zone from Russia's Minister of Economic Development and Trade. It will build a new three-hangar aircraft complex, designed for short- and medium-range Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, Embraer, Sukhoi and other aircraft. The hangars are estimated for completion in 2013, 2015 and 2017, respectively.
AEM Limited expanded its maintenance and repair capabilities at London Stansted by adding a facility for aircraft fire extinguisher repair and overhaul.
Eastern Airways will launch 3X weekly Glasgow-Stavanger service Sept. 12.
American Airlines will launch 4X weekly New York JFK-Antigua Boeing 737 service Nov. 17.
Porter will increase 5X weekly Toronto City-Boston service to 6X weekly Oct. 12.
Gulf Air will launch Bahrain service to Rome Fiumicino (4X weekly, Nov. 30), Entebbe (4X weekly, Dec. 5) and Juba (3X weekly, Feb. 7).
AVIATION QUOTE
There's a lot of Hollywood bullshit about flying. I mean, look at the movies about test pilots or fighter pilots who face imminent death. The controls are jammed or something really important has fallen off the plane, and these guys are talking like magpies; their lives are flashing past their eyes, and they're flailing around in the cockpit. It just doesn't happen. You don't have time to talk. You're too damn busy trying to get out of the problem you're in to talk or ricochet around the cockpit. Or think about what happened the night after your senior prom.
— Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF
ON THIS DATE
September 6th
---In 1905... Orville Wright made two flights in the 1905 Machine in Huffman Prarie, Dayton, Ohio. The flights were made around a 3/4 mile oval track and demonstrated Orville's skill at banking the aircraft and landing .
---In 1948…A de Havilland DH.108 breaks the sound barrier, the first British aircraft to do so.
---In 1952…The de Havilland DH.110 prototype, WG236, disintegrates at the Farnborough Airshow, killing 28 spectators as well as its pilot.
---In 1976…Viktor Belenko of the Soviet Union defects to the West, landing his MiG-25 FoxBat in Japan.
DAILY VIDEO
EDITOR’S CHOICE
HUMOR
The Inspection The Marine General was inspecting the platoon. The Major and Gunny stepped smartly as they led him down the rows of immaculate Marines. The General stopped in front of one of the Marines and asked, "Where are you from Marine?"
" Iowa City, Iowa," the young Marine barked. He nodded and moved on. The General next stopped in front of a very young looking Marine. The General smiled and looked down at him, "When is your birthday Marine?"
" May 5th sir," the young Marine barked.
The General winked at the Major. "What year son?"
The young Marine looked flustered and then replied, "every year sir."
The General quit smiling, brought himself back to attention and continued down the line.
TRIVIA
USAF In Korea
1. First, what Air Force was the main group that fought over Korea? Second Third Eight Fifth
2. One of the first aircraft to see service in Korea was the F-51 Mustang. What role were they usually used in? COIN (Counter Insurgency) Tactical Fighter Interception CAS (Close Air Support)
3. F-80 Shooting Stars soon appeared on scene to aid the F-51 Mustangs. What significant event occurred on November 8, 1950 between a F-80 pilot and a MiG-15 pilot. First American engagement with a MiG-15 First American jet kill First jet-versus-jet combat ever First American jet loss
4. The F-82 Twin Mustang was the first night-fighters over Korea. What claim to fame did the Twin Mustang have in Korea? First American Aircraft loss First American night-time jet kill over Korea. First American prop plane over Korea First American aircraft kill
5. Possibly the most famous USAF fighter of the war was the F-86 Sabre. Who designed this aircraft? North American McDonald Lockheed Douglas
6. The F-86 Sabre was superior to the MiG-15. True False
7. What was the overall kill to loss ratio for F-86 Sabres in Korea? 10:1 5:1 8:1 7:1
8. The F-94 Starfire replaced the F-82 on the front. What originally restricted the F-94 pilots from flying deep into enemy territory? The confidentiality of the radar they used The inferiority of the fire control radar Engine teething problems They weren't any such restrictions
9. The main bomber in the Korean War was the B-29. On how many days of the 37-month war did the B-29 NOT fly? 100 37 60 21
10. How many aircraft did B-29 gunners destroy? 34 46 50 12
11. Aside from transport duties what duty did the C-119 Flying Boxcar perform? Forward air control COIN Drop napalm bombs Flying gunship
12. Now for the recon aircraft. What aircraft photo mapped the Korean peninsula before the war? F-15 Reporter F-6A P2Y Neptune RB-36
13. Versions of the B-36 where used over Korea. True False
14. One more "old timer" was the B-17 Flying Fortress. What did this trusty aircraft do in the Korean War? Recon FAC and rescue Photo mapping and rescue Photo mapping and FAC
15. How many USAF bases were there in Korea? 55 75 60 40
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
