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Aeroflot to modernize subsidiaries’ fleet with A320s, SSJ100s
Aeroflot (SU) plans to modernize the fleet of its subsidiaries with Airbus A320s and Russian regional aircraft Sukhoi Superjet 100s (SSJ100s), SU CEO Vitaly Savelyev said.
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Allegiant commits to buy 13 MD-80s, 12 engines from SAS
Allegiant Travel Co. has inked a purchase agreement with Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) for up to 13 MD-80 aircraft and 12 JT8D-219 spare engines in 2012 and 2013. According to Allegiant, these purchases will primarily be used to “replace engines that will be coming due for major overhauls over the next two years, thus helping the airline to optimize its engine-related maintenance expense.”
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GOL falls to 3Q loss on dollar appreciation, rising costs
Brazil's GOL incurred a third-quarter net loss of BRL516.5 million ($293.2 million), reversed from a BRL110 million net profit earned in the year-ago period, but emphasized the deficit is mostly related to non-cash charges. The company did, however, see a big year-over-year rise in expenses and swung to an operating loss as well.
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Air Berlin looks to profit in 2012
Air Berlin (AB) believes the carrier will be profitable again in 2012, having battled through this year’s crises in Europe and the introduction of Germany’s new aviation taxes. CEO Hartmut Mehdorn said in Vienna that the ecological air travel levy that took effect Jan. 1 has cost the carrier “€180 million [$248 million] annually and we get no benefit out it.” “Without this burden, we would operate [in the] positive,” Mehdorn said. He added that 2012 would not be not easy but, “If everything works well next year, we will make a profit again.”
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Rolls-Royce Reports USD$500 Million Saudi Order
Rolls-Royce has won an engine order worth up to USD$500 million from Saudi Arabian Airlines, the British company said on Sunday.
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Boeing 737 MAX Draft Orders Reach 700
Boeing has notched up a further 100 commitments for its revamped 737 MAX, lifting the total to 700 spread between nine customers as it narrows this year's gap with European rival Airbus, the head of its commercial division said.
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Embraer Cuts 2011 Bizjet Outlook
Embraer on Sunday downgraded its outlook for business jet deliveries in 2011, blaming a downturn in world economy in recent months.
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Southwest To Offer More Int'l Flights Through AirTran
Southwest Airlines plans to offer more international service next year through its AirTran subsidiary, an executive said on Sunday.
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Boeing throws F-15, F/A-18 into UAE fighter modernization mix
A top Boeing executive has added a new piece to the UAE's fighter modernization puzzle, saying that the US government has delivered classified briefings about the capabilities of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the F-15E Strike Eagle. Neither aircraft has been mentioned in the past as among the options for replacing the UAE air force's fleet of Dassault Mirage 2000-9s. The UAE has been negotiating with France for the Dassault Rafale since 2008, and within the last two weeks asked the Eurofighter Typhoon to submit a rival bid.
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A340 - the long goodnight
It is somewhat ironic that as Boeing starts production of its 1,000th 777, Airbus is calling time on its rival after acknowledging zero prospect of more sales. While stubbornly-high fuel oil prices ultimately killed off the A340 - even Toulouse has long acknowledged its four-engined configuration means a higher thirst than the 777 - the reality is that Airbus has struggled almost since launch.
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Other News

The Chinese government reduced domestic jet fuel prices to CNY7,279 ($1,148) per ton, down 2.98% from CNY7,503 in September, owing to the decline of international fuel prices. This is the third fuel price reduction this year.

Boeing announced it is working with Hawai'i BioEnergy to find renewable energy sources for creating aviation fuel. Under terms of a collaboration agreement, the two companies will identify various crops, including sorghum and eucalyptus, as potential sources that can be grown locally and converted to jet fuel. The partnership will also assess new supporting technologies for aviation biofuel production.

CORRECTION:

Low-cost carrier Jetstar on Wednesday became the first airline to hand out iPads to its passengers for inflight entertainment. The iPads were launched on selected Jetstar flights last week and will be rolled out across the Australian domestic, transtasman and short-haul international services from Australia and New Zealand, in the coming weeks.

helvknight wrote:

Low-cost carrier Jetstar on Wednesday became the first airline to hand out iPads to its passengers for inflight entertainment. The iPads were launched on selected Jetstar flights last week and will be rolled out across the Australian domestic, transtasman and short-haul international services from Australia and New Zealand, in the coming weeks.

Actually the Swiss carrier Skywork has been doing this for a while now

http://www.flyskywork.com/15-1-iPad-on-board.html

They're a bit smaller than Jetstar though, an all turboprop carrier (Q400 and Do 328) based at Bern.

Cheers,

helvknight

The Unite union has called for the conciliation service ACAS to intervene in the dispute between Thomas Cook Airlines (UK) and its cabin crew.

Qantas (QF) pilot Captain Richard de Crespigny, who nursed the airline’s crippled A380 back to Singapore last November, has broken ranks with his colleagues by calling for an end to "legacy practices" and declaring the airline's future lies in Asia, according to a report in The Australian.

Alaska Airlines will launch daily Honolulu service to Oakland and San Jose April 10.

Continental Airlines will launch daily Washington Dulles-Manchester service May 2012 and daily Washington Dulles-Dublin service June 2012, subject to government approval. It will also add weekly Los Angeles-Durango service March 2012, subject to government approval.

FlyDubai will launch 2X-weekly Dubai-Tbilisi service Nov. 4.

Hawaiian Airlines (HA) and Virgin Australia Group have reached a codeshare agreement under which V Australia will place its code on HA flights between Sydney and Honolulu as well as on flights to Kahului, Maui; Lihue, Kauai; and Hilo and Kona.



AVIATION QUOTE

Yes—don't worry.

— Captain Michel Asseline, Air France, last recorded words, in reply to copilot Captain Pierre Mazieres alerting him to watch out for the pylons ahead. Ten seconds the A-320 crashed into trees during an airshow. 26 June 1988.



ON THIS DATE

November 14th

---In 1910... The birth of the aircraft carrier occurs when Eugene Ely takes off from the cruiser USS Birmingham in Virginia, on a Curtiss biplane. The warship has an 83-foot platform built over the foredeck for the take-off.

---In 1970…Southern Airways Flight 932 crashes near Ceredo,West Virginia, killing all 75 on board. The dead are 37 members of the Marshall University football team, eight of its coaches, 25 team boosters, and the crew of five.

---In 1974…F-15 Eagle enters service with the 555th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron at Luke AFB.

---In 1987… Air Transat began airline operations.

---In 2005…Boeing launches 747-8.

---In 2006…EasyJet announces an order for 52 Airbus A319.



DAILY VIDEO





EDITOR’S CHOICE





HUMOR

Hardcore Family

• Your wife's two favorite shades of lipstick are light green and loam.

• You go to a barbecue and insist that your family feed in a tactical chow line at five meter intervals

• Before you hit the road on vacation you conduct rehearsals, back briefs, PCI, and cover your convoy checklist.

• Your children clear their hand receipt and housing before they go to college.

• Your wife has more jumps than most LTs in the company.

• Your kids call the yard their MWR area.

• You require your mechanic to replace the sandbags in your floorboard as a part of a tune-up.

• Your station wagon is equipped with blackout lights, OVE, OVM, and has to be properly dispatched.

• Your kids call their mother "Household 6."

• Your kids volunteer to pull air guard on the school bus.

• Your doorbell sounds off with the current challenge and password.

• Your house has sector sketches posted by every window.

• You give the command "Fix Bayonets" at Thanksgiving Dinner.

• Your kids show their meal cards at the kitchen door, except the oldest, who is on separate rations.

• You make your daughter sign out on pass on Prom Night.

• Your kindergartner calls recess "smoke break."

• Your wife calls foreplay "prepping the objective."

• Your wife conducts an AAR after sex.

• Your wife "takes a knee" in the checkout line at the Food Lion.

• You do your "back to school" shopping at the U.S. Cavalry store.

• Your kids call the tooth fairy "Slicky Boy."

• Your son fails the third grade but tells everyone he was a "phase three recycle."

• Your kids salute their grandparents.

• Your wife's "high-n-tight" is more squared away than your commander's.

• Your kids get a LES for their allowance.

• Your grandmother won "All American Week" and "Best Ranger."

• All your kids have names that start with AR, FM, TM, or DA Form.

• Your pick-up has your name stenciled on the windshield.

• Your kids are hand-receipt holders.

• Your older kids call the youngest one "Cherry."

• Your kids recite their ABCs phonetically.

• Your wife keeps Mermites in the China cabinet.

• You call your in-laws the "Slice Elements."

• Your dog's name is "Ranger."

• All your possessions are military issue.

• Your kids call their sandbox "NTC or CMTC"

• You have pull-up bars outside the kitchen door.

• Your daughter's first haircut was a flattop.

• Your kids pull fireguard.

• Your newborn's first words were "all OK Jumpmaster."

• The only channels you get are CNN, and ESPN.



TRIVIA

GENERAL TRIVIA

What large aircraft was considered so slow that its pilots used to say the navigator needed a calendar more than a chronograph?

Normal, Utility and Aerobatic category aircraft are stressed for 3.8, 4.4 and 6 Gs, respectively. What is the maximum allowable load factor for transport category jetliners?

Many airplanes are equipped with electrical inverters. What is the purpose of an inverter?

A pilot on a cross-country flight looks down and sees the tallest waterfall. Where is he?

Many multi-engine airplanes are equipped with ice protection plates. Where are they installed and what is their specific purpose?

What did aircraft designers Larry Bell, Donald Douglas and James McDonnell have in common?

What was the only American-built airplane to see action in WW1?

The simple square knot is one of the best to use when tying down an airplane with rope. True or False.

The circumnavigating Rutan Voyager, and the Spirit of St. Louis and at least one thing in common. Neither of them had brakes. True or False.

Two space shuttles are orbiting the Earth at the same speed and altitude. One however is a thousand miles behind the other. For the laggard to catch up with the leader, he should add thrust in the direction of travel. True or False.

Flutter can destroy an airplane and is a function of:
Calibrated Air Speed
Equivalent Airspeed
Indicated Airspeed
True Air Speed

Which of the following does NOT belong:
Emu
Gooney
Kiwi
Ostrich
Penguin

With respect to pilot qualifications, which of the following does not belong?
Controllable-pitch propeller
Flaps
Engine with more than 200 hp
Retractable landing gear

Beautiful Beaver shot for the Editor's Choice this morning!

With respect to pilot qualifications, which of the following does not belong?
Flaps

Thanks to helvknight for straightening out the news today.

ANSWERS

The Consolidated PBY-5AA Catalina. It cruises at a little more than 100 knots and routinely took a day to fly from California to Hawaii during WW2.

2.5 Gs. Lightplanes are stressed for more Gs because they have low wing loadings, which makes it relatively easy for vertical gusts to accelerate them, creating Gs. Jetliners have much higher wing loadings, which makes them less susceptible gusts.

An inverter converts direct current (DC) into Alternating current for those appliances requiring AC power.

He is over Angels Falls in southeast Venezuela. The falls were discovered by bush pilot Jimmy Angel in 1935 and are so tall (approximately 3,300 feet) that the water evaporates before hitting the bottom.

These armor panels protect those portions of the sides of the fuselage abeam the propeller tips from damage caused by chunks of ice flung from the propellers.

All got their start by working for designer Glenn L. Martin.

Curtiss Flying Boats. Twenty of these aircraft were modified or built by the British and used for submarine patrol and to bomb surfaced U-boats.

False. The square knot can come loose with a bit of shaking and is more suitable for tying shoelaces and the like. The bowline is the preferred knot for tying down.

True. The Voyager was designed to takeoff and land from Edwards AFB, which has such long runways that brakes are not needed and would have added unnecessary weight.

False. By adding thrust in the direction of travel, the shuttle enters a higher orbit and slows down with respect to the Earth. To go faster, added thrust must be against the direction of movement, thus causing a lower orbit and increased groundspeed.