Flick: Political dispute costs AirBaltic €10 million in bookings The political dispute surrounding AirBaltic (BT) has cost the carrier €10 million ($14 million), according to the airline’s president and CEO Bertold Flick. Link
Govt audit blames ministry, management for Air India troubles An Indian government report has blamed both Air India's management and the Ministry of Civil Aviation for letting the beleaguered carrier become both unprofitable and debt-ridden. The state-owned airline has been making substantial losses since 2005 and has racked up debts of Indian rupee (Rs) 384 billion ($8.32 billion) as of 31 March 2010 because of plans to purchase new aircraft, inefficient operations and competition from domestic and international carriers, according to an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Link
Crashed Yak-42 had flaps deployed and functioning engines Preliminary flight-recorder data from the crashed Yakovlev Yak-42 at Yaroslavl indicates the aircraft's flaps were deployed to their 20° take-off setting and its engines were functioning before it collided with obstacles. Link
Search continues for Asiana 747-400F The search for an Asiana Boeing 747-400F that crashed into the sea more than a month ago off South Korea is continuing. The beacon of the aircraft's cockpit data recorder and voice recorder are likely to have been damaged in the 28 July incident, said a spokesman for the airline. Link
Crew response to A340 incident interests AF447 inquiry French investigators are examining whether the crew reaction to an upset involving a transatlantic Air France Airbus A340 has parallels with the loss of flight AF447. Air France said the aircraft "encountered unexpected and severe turbulence" about 1h 30min into the Caracas-Paris Charles de Gaulle service, as the A340 passed north of the West Indies. Link
Former Cessna executive lands at Embraer Robert Stangarone, a former Cessna executive, has been appointed vice president of corporate communications, North America, for Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. "Bob's broad and deep global experience in commercial, military and business aviation, his comprehensive understanding of the aviation industry in general and vast experience with media management make him the perfect fit for this important position," said Gary Spulak, president of Embraer Aircraft Holding. Link
Passengers can hop on first enclosed passenger plane from 1929 Passengers can experience a ride in a 1929 Ford Tri-Motor aircraft at Lee's Summit Municipal Airport in Missouri. The restored vintage aircraft was the world's first enclosed passenger plane, and flies at speeds up to 90 mph. Ford Motor Co. produced almost 200 of the nine-seat aircraft from 1926 through 1933. Link
Flight schools in U.S. are "not fully recovered" after 9/11 U.S. flight schools faced more regulation after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. "In fact, 9/11 created a lot of negativity where parents advised their children not to go into aviation," said Tim Brady, aviation school dean at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. "The U.S. market has not fully recovered from this." Link
Other News
US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it will spend $44.8 million to purchase 300 L-3 Security ProVision advanced imaging technology (AIT) body-scanning machines equipped with automated target recognition software that eliminates "passenger-specific images."
The Chinese government cut domestic jet fuel prices to CNY7,670 ($1,200) per ton, down 1.48% from CNY7,785 in August, because of the decline of international fuel prices. This is the first price reduction this year.
An All Nippon Airways (ANA) Boeing 737-700 experienced a violent roll after a first officer apparently mistook the rudder trim switch for the cockpit door switch, causing the aircraft to descend 6,000 ft. Two flight attendants were slightly injured.
Robin Hood, an Austrian-based regional carrier, ceased all operations due to financial difficulties. The company operated two Saab 340s.
China Airlines on Sept. 21 will end its frequent flyer program bilateral cooperation with Air China, and on Sept. 28 will terminate its frequent flyer program bilateral cooperation with Hainan Airlines, including HongKong Airlines and HongKong Express.
Alaska Airlines has upgraded its iPhone and iPod application with new features, including the ability to check-in and access mobile boarding passes within the app. Passengers can check flight status and boarding information, create text or email flight alerts, and select or change seat assignments.
Aerolineas Argentinas has emerged from its reorganization proceedings, filed in 2001. The Argentine government took control of the company in 2008. "According to the court decision, the obligations pursuant to the reorganization plan are deemed to be fulfilled," president and CEO Mariano Recalde said.
AVIATION QUOTE
I don't think I possess any skill that anyone else doesn't have. I've just had perhaps more of an opportunity, more of an exposure, and been fortunate to survive a lot of situations that many other weren't so lucky to make it. It's not how close can you get to the ground, but how precise can you fly the airplane. If you feel so careless with you life that you want to be the world's lowest flying aviator you might do it for a while. But there are a great many former friends of mine who are no longer with us simply because they cut their margins to close. — Bob Hoover
ON THIS DATE
September 9th
---In 1830... Charles Durant, America's 1st great balloonist, makes his 1st U.S. ascent at Castle Garden, New York. He stays in the air for two hours, landing at South Amboy, New Jersey. His skill and enthusiasm inspire a passion for ballooning in America.
--- In 1911... The 1st mail carried by air in the United Kingdom is delivered. The mail contains messages for King George V and other members of the British royal family.
---In 1944…The sole completed McDonnell XP-67 Bat prototype is destroyed by an engine fire, prompting USAAF leaders to declare the aircraft redundant and cancel the program a week later.
---In 1980… Island Air, a Hawaiian airline, started operations.
---In 1999…Afriqiyah Airways formed.
DAILY VIDEO
EDITOR’S CHOICE
HUMOR
What Time Is It?
On some air bases the Air Force is on one side of the field and civilian aircraft use the other side of the field, with the control tower in the middle.
One day the tower received a call from an aircraft asking, "What time is it?" The tower responded, "Who is calling?" The aircraft replied, "What difference does it make?" The tower replied "It makes a lot of difference. If it is an American Airlines flight, it is 3 o'clock. If it is an Air Force plane, it is 1500 hours. If it is a Navy aircraft, it is 6 bells. If it is an Army aircraft, the big hand is on the 12 and the little hand is on the 3. If it is a Marine Corps aircraft, it's Thursday afternoon and 120 minutes to "Happy Hour."
TRIVIA
Jet Fighters
1. The Panavia Tornado was a consortium between which three countries? Great Britain, Italy and Germany Germany, Sweden and France Great Britain, Germany and Sweden France, Italy and Great Britain
2. On what date did the prototype of the Dassault-Breguet Mirage III fly? 13th February 1960 13th November 1956 17th November 1956 13th February 1957
3. The Dassault-Breguet Mirage 2000B has how many seats? One Four Three Two
4. What is the NATO code name for the MIG 21 jet fighter? Fishbed Flogger Fishfood Foxbat
5. What is the NATO code name for the Sukhoi Su-15 jet fighter? Flagon Falcon Fiddler Force
6. The Tupolev Tu-128 "Fiddler" has how many engines? Four One Two Three
7. The JA37 Viggen is manufactured by whom? Panavia Saab Ford Cadillac
8. The McDonnell Douglas F-15 is known as the what? Beagle Eagle Legal Devil
9. The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom could achieve a top speed in excess of Mach 2. True False
10. Which country produces the IAI Kfir? USA Israel UK Russia
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
1. The Panavia Tornado was a consortium between which three countries? Great Britain, Italy and Germany
2. On what date did the prototype of the Dassault-Breguet Mirage III fly? pass
3. The Dassault-Breguet Mirage 2000B has how many seats?
Two ?
4. What is the NATO code name for the MIG 21 jet fighter? Fishbed
5. What is the NATO code name for the Sukhoi Su-15 jet fighter? Flagon
6. The Tupolev Tu-128 "Fiddler" has how many engines? Two
7. The JA37 Viggen is manufactured by whom? Saab
8. The McDonnell Douglas F-15 is known as the what? Eagle. It ain´t Snoopy, so no Beagle.
9. The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom could achieve a top speed in excess of Mach 2. True. And it still can fly that fast. Lovely smoker on take-off and climb. Memories ...
10. Which country produces the IAI Kfir? Israel - Israeli Aircraft Industries, IIRC.
-HT
Use your time wisely; remember that today is the first day of the rest of your life.
HONOLULU – September 09, 2011 - To ensure the Seattle Seahawks’ players are rested and ready for road games this NFL season, the team is chartering flights on Hawaiian Airlines to take advantage of its spacious aircraft interiors and award-winning inflight hospitality.
Hawaiian is flying the Seahawks’ players, coaches and team personnel to eight road games this season, including five cities in the Central and Eastern time zones: Denver, San Francisco, New York, Cleveland, Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago, and Phoenix.
Figured Alaska would've been their choice airline.
