House FAA extension would lower funding levels US House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) introduced Friday an extension of FAA funding through Dec. 31, though his proposal calls for a 5% cut in the agency's budget level. Mica also proposed providing back pay to nearly 4,000 FAA workers who were furloughed for two weeks over the summer when a Congressional impasse led to a partial agency shutdown. Link
Patel: Air India was in a ‘catch-22 situation’ Indian Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel has fired back at a comptroller and auditor general (CAG) report claiming Air India (AI) is in a financial mess largely because of its buying and leasing of new aircraft, according to India’s NDTV.com. In the report, the CAG singled out decisions made by Patel in his previous two terms and the airline’s management for the problems. Link
OAG Report: Airline industry ‘amazingly resilient’ to crises An OAG report revealed the airline industry has been amazingly resilient to events such as terrorism, pandemics and natural disasters over the past 30 years, and that most serious events occurred after Sept. 10, 2001, according to its World Crisis Analysis. OAG is a division of UBM Aviation. Link
India Won't Give Landing Rights To Lufthansa A380s India has refused to grant landing rights for Lufthansa's A380 aircraft in the capital New Delhi, a German daily said on Saturday. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper reported that the Indian government's decision was made apparently because the Lufthansa-led Star Alliance network of airlines had rejected Air India's request to become a member. Link
Leaked cable spills Belgium’s plans to buy F-35s A newly-leaked US diplomatic cable provides the first public evidence of the Belgian government's plan to purchase the Lockheed Martin F-35 without a competition. A meeting between the US ambassador to Brussels and Belgium's defense minister Pieter De Crem on 16 October 2009 was described in a cable revealed earlier this month by the Wikileaks organisation. Link
Emirates helps Boeing devise new 777 Emirates is working closely with Boeing on its 777-300ER successor development effort, and indicates it could become the launch customer if the airframer decides to give the program the go-ahead. But the Dubai-based airline is also waiting to meet with Airbus, to begin discussions about its dissatisfaction with the changes to the A350-1000 disclosed at the Paris air show in June. Link
FAA seeks to fine Alaska Airlines The US Federal Aviation Administration aims to levy a $590,000 fine against Alaska Airlines for allegedly operating a Boeing 737-400 on more than 2,000 flights while the aircraft was not compliant with Federal Aviation Regulations. Link
Other News
Taiwan-based Uni Air (B7), a subsidiary of Eva Air, announced an order for 10 ATR 72-600 aircraft, with deliveries scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2012.
The French Air Accident Investigation Bureau (BEA) has set up a human factors working group to analyze “all aspects connected to the conduct” of the Air France (AF) Airbus A330-200 that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in 2009.
TRIP Linhas Aereas and ATR announced that TRIP has committed to 18 new ATR 72-600s, plus options for a further 22.
Monarch Aircraft Engineering extended its line maintenance technical handling agreement with Aer Lingus, covering the carrier’s Airbus A320 fleet operating to/from London Gatwick airport.
Alsalam Aircraft Co. signed a maintenance contract with Saudi Aramco, covering Boeing 737NG aircraft.
Coopesa RL inked a contract with GOL to perform a C check, structural inspection and external paint on a Boeing 737-700.
FL Technics signed a contract with Yamal Airlines to provide the Russian carrier with aircraft engineering and technical maintenance planning services for its fleet of eight Bombardier CRJ aircraft.
AVIATION QUOTE
Chi Vola Vale, Chi Non Vola non Vale, Chi Vale e Non Vola è un Vile
— seen on a office wall at the Italian Airforce Ministery. Translation: He who flies is worthy, He who doesn't fly is unworthy, he who is worthy and doesn't fly is a coward.
ON THIS DATE
September 12th
---In 1916... The 1st pilotless radio-controlled aerial bomb is tested in the United States. It is actually a small biplane that can fly radio-guided for 50 miles with 308 pounds of bombs aboard.
---In 1918…The US Army Air Service and French Army assemble over 1200 war planes for the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, in what is at the time the largest aircraft force ever assembled for a single operation. The Allies would win the battle.
---In 1961…A predecessor of the first Harrier fighter jet, the experimental Hawker Siddeley P.1127 makes the first transition between horizontal and vertical flight.
---In 1992…Space Shuttle Endeavor launches on the 50th Space Shuttle mission, STS-47. On this flight, the first African American woman, Mae Carol Jemison, and the first Japanese citizen, Mamoru Mohri, enter space. Also, Mark Lee and Jan Davis are the first couple to marry in space.
---In 1994…A man named Frank Eugene Corder flies a Cessna 150 into the south lawn of the White House, killing himself. He was supposedly drunk and had no intention of harming the President, but merely sought attention. President Bill Clinton was not home at the time.
---In 2006…First flight of the Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter.
---In 2008…British charter airline XL Airways UK, a subsidiary of the XL Leisure Group, ceases operations with immediate effect, due to a deteriorating financial position. 90,000 Britons holidaying abroad are left stranded. It had been the 3rd largest package holiday group in the UK. XL Airways France and Germany are sold and continue operations.
DAILY VIDEO
EDITOR’S CHOICE
HUMOR
Elitism
An Army grunt stands in the rain with a 35 lb. pack on his back, 15 lb. weapon in hand, after having marched 12 miles, and says, "This is shit!"
An Army Airborne Ranger stands in the rain with a 45 lb. pack on his back, weapon in hand, after having jumped from an airplane and marched 18 miles, and says with a smile, "This is good shit!"
A Navy SEAL lies in the mud, 55 lb. pack on his back, weapon in hand, after swimming 10 miles to shore, crawling through a swamp and marching 25 miles at night past the enemy positions, says with a grin, "This really is great shit!"
A Recon Marine, up to his nose in the stinking, bug-infested mud of a swamp with a 65 lb. pack on his back and a weapon in both hands after jumping from an aircraft at high altitude, into the ocean, swimming 12 miles to the shore, killing several alligators to enter the swamp, then crawling 30 miles through the brush to assault an enemy camp, says, "I love this shit."
The Air Force NCO sits in an easy chair in an air-conditioned office, and says, "My e-mail's out? What kind of shit is this?"
TRIVIA
Nosedive’s Trivia
1. FedEx's "Superhub" is at Memphis International Airport. Where was Federal Express's first hub? Louisville, KY Little Rock, AR Huntsville, AL Nashville, TN
2. The original Frontier Airlines merged with Continental Airlines in the 1980s. Which airline merged into the original Frontier Airlines? Capitol Airlines Republic Airlines Monarch Airlines National Airlines
3. The Clipper Juan Trippe was the first commercially flown 747. Where is it now? It was destroyed It is a converted restaurant in South Korea It is rotting away in an Arizona boneyard It is preserved in Washington state.
4. British Airways and Air France were the only two airlines to ever take delivery of the Concorde, but many other airlines placed orders, which they later cancelled. Which airline never placed an order? Iran Air AeroMexico Japan Air Lines MEA
5. Which of these Formula 1 racetracks tracks is a former WWII airbase? Nürburgring Spa Imola Silverstone
6. During the Cold War, West Germany's Lufthansa was not allowed to fly into Berlin, but East Germany's Interflug was allowed to fly into Berlin. Why? This is a trick question. Lufthansa could have flown into Berlin, but there were no slots for the airline to do so. This is a trick question. Interflug never flew into the Berlin district; it flew into Brandenburg, near Berlin. This is a trick question. Lufthansa could have flown into Berlin, but it feared an aerial attack by the East Germans. This is a trick question. Interflug never flew into the Berlin district. It flew into Mecklenburg, near Berlin.
7. Back in the 1980s, South African Airways suspended flights to New York. Why? It was forced to because of apartheid condemnation South African Airways' DC-10s were grounded due to safety concerns The airline was running out of money The airline codeshared with PanAm
8. Which of the following airlines operated the DC-9? Aeroflot LOT Airlines Yugoslav Airlines Baltic Airlines
9. Which of the following airline names is not/was not an arconym? QANTAS VARIG SABENA DELTA
10. Branson's new airport is the newest commercial airport in America. Which airport is the second newest? Dallas Fort Worth Detroit Metro Denver International Tunica Municipal
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. FedEx's "Superhub" is at Memphis International Airport. Where was Federal Express's first hub? Louisville, KY Little Rock, AR Huntsville, AL Nashville, TN
Too bad, but I have to pass on this.
2. The original Frontier Airlines merged with Continental Airlines in the 1980s. Which airline merged into the original Frontier Airlines? pass
3. The Clipper Juan Trippe was the first commercially flown 747. Where is it now? It was destroyed after having been a converted restaurant in South Korea
4. British Airways and Air France were the only two airlines to ever take delivery of the Concorde, but many other airlines placed orders, which they later cancelled. Which airline never placed an order? Iran Air - did order; intended to fly wealthy vacationers to Kish Island AeroMexico Japan Air Lines MEA
I think the answer is Japan Air LInes.
5. Which of these Formula 1 racetracks tracks is a former WWII airbase? Silverstone. Hence names like "Hangar Straight"
6. During the Cold War, West Germany's Lufthansa was not allowed to fly into Berlin, but East Germany's Interflug was allowed to fly into Berlin. Why? This is a trick question. Interflug never flew into the Berlin district; it flew into Brandenburg, near Berlin. SXF, which was the base of Interflug, is located south of Berlin in the state of Brandenburg (not to be confused with the city of Brandenburg after which "Brandenburger Tor" was named.
7. Back in the 1980s, South African Airways suspended flights to New York. Why? It was forced to because of apartheid condemnation ????
8. Which of the following airlines operated the DC-9? Yugoslav Airlines
9. Which of the following airline names is not/was not an arconym? DELTA
10. Branson's new airport is the newest commercial airport in America. Which airport is the second newest? I thought ECP is the newest one ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_ ... al_Airport making Branson second ?
Of those on offer, Tunica Municipal is the youngest.
Use your time wisely; remember that today is the first day of the rest of your life.
1. FedEx's "Superhub" is at Memphis International Airport. Where was Federal Express's first hub?
Nashville, TN
2. The original Frontier Airlines merged with Continental Airlines in the 1980s. Which airline merged into the original Frontier Airlines?
Monarch Airlines
3. The Clipper Juan Trippe was the first commercially flown 747. Where is it now?
It is a converted restaurant in South Korea
4. British Airways and Air France were the only two airlines to ever take delivery of the Concorde, but many other airlines placed orders, which they later cancelled. Which airline never placed an order?
MEA?????
5. Which of these Formula 1 racetracks tracks is a former WWII airbase?
Silverstone
6. During the Cold War, West Germany's Lufthansa was not allowed to fly into Berlin, but East Germany's Interflug was allowed to fly into Berlin. Why?
??????
7. Back in the 1980s, South African Airways suspended flights to New York. Why?
It was forced to because of apartheid condemnation
8. Which of the following airlines operated the DC-9?
Yugoslav Airlines
9. Which of the following airline names is not/was not an arconym?
DELTA
10. Branson's new airport is the newest commercial airport in America. Which airport is the second newest?
