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NEWS

Boeing selects CFM Leap-1B engine for 737 Max
CFM International said at the Dubai Airshow that Boeing has selected its Leap-1B engine as the “exclusive powerplant” for its new family of re-engined 737 Max aircraft. To date, Boeing has received commitments for more than 700 aircraft.
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Oman Air places order for six 787s at Dubai
Oman Air (WY) has ordered six 787-8s at the Dubai Airshow, taking over six of 14 aircraft previously ordered by Kuwait-based leasing company ALAFCO. WY CEO Peter Hill said the "decision to order the 787-8 is part of Oman Air's long-term growth strategy to expand and modernize our fleet with newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft."
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NordStar commits to 3 more ATR 42-600s
Russia's NordStar Airlines signed a contract with ATR for the purchase of three more firm ATR 42-600s, adding to an agreement inked in September for two firm ATR 42-600s and two options. The total value of the deal is estimated at $132 million.
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Bombardier Eyes Emerging Markets For C-Series
Canadian aircraft maker Bombardier is intensifying its focus on emerging markets for its crucial new C-series of jets, executives said.
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Qatar threatens to take 767F as A330 conversion stalls
Qatar Airways is intending to acquire a large batch of converted Boeing 767 freighters, after losing patience with Airbus over a possible A330 conversion program. Chief executive Akbar Al Baker disclosed the plan at the Dubai air show, as the carrier ordered another pair of Boeing 777 freighters. Al Baker said the airline is looking at taking a "large number" of 767s and would "dispose" of A330s in response, if they could not be converted. Airbus only offers a new-build A330-200 freighter. "Unfortunately Airbus is not making up its mind on converting the A330," said Al Baker. His swipe at the European airframer came during a press event which had already been preceded by farce as Qatar Airways and a Boeing entourage turned up in the same room that Airbus personnel were leaving, having hastily cancelled its own planned press event with the carrier.
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Maximus Air Cargo eyes fleet expansion
Middle Eastern freight specialist Maximus Air Cargo is tentatively looking to expand its fleet with Boeing 747-400 freighters, as it prepares to receive its latest converted Airbus A300-600. The Abu Dhabi-based company - which is unveiling a new brand image on the first day of the show - is underpinning its wet-lease operation, which it views as its main area of future activity, supported by its outsize cargo charter services.
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American, pilots union enter weekend without contract
The union representing American Airlines pilots entered the weekend without reaching a labor agreement with the carrier. "We've made significant movement to meet pilots' interests in virtually all contract areas," said Sue Gordon, a spokeswoman for AMR Corp., American Airlines' parent company. American and its pilots union have been negotiating for more than five years on a new contract.
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More international Southwest flights will be offered through AirTran
Southwest Airlines and its AirTran unit have expanded their flight destinations in a bid to reduce dependence on less-profitable connecting flights. Southwest's changes include flights from William P. Hobby Airport in Houston to Raleigh-Durham, N.C., and to Seattle, and from Midway International Airport in Chicago to Oklahoma City, Okla. AirTran plans to add flights to Puerto Rico and Mexico, with more international flights to be added later.
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Blog: Alaska, American deal appeals to frequent fliers
American Airlines and Alaska Airlines have launched a reciprocal agreement for frequent fliers of the carriers, blogger Cranky Flier says. "This might not sound like much, but it could make Alaska's frequent flier program even more interesting for a lot of people, some of whom might not even set foot on an Alaska airplane," the blogger writes.
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Delta increasingly uses social media for e-commerce strategy
Delta Air Lines has launched a Facebook application called Away We Go, which allows users to coordinate trip planning with friends. The airline is using such social-media initiatives to gain better control of its image and its interaction with customers. "It's all part of our overall e-commerce strategy to be where our customers are and provide the technology that makes their travel simpler," a Delta spokesman said.
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ATA protests U.S. government aid to foreign carriers
The Air Transport Association has sent a letter to U.S. Export-Import Bank Chairman Fred Hochberg protesting the U.S. government's aid to foreign buyers of Boeing jets such as Air India. "The bank's support for foreign airlines injures U.S. carriers," said Michael K. Kellogg, ATA outside counsel. "The Export-Import Bank's general counsel said in a response letter ... the bank stood by its decisions and processes, although it would investigate some of ATA's assertions about its procedures," an article says.
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Embraer eyes Middle East market for jets
The Middle Eastern market represents an opportunity for sales of $14 billion of Embraer jets with 60 to 120 seats, the company says. The Brazilian aircraft manufacturer plans to re-engine its E-Jet series with a service entry date of 2018. Paulo Cesar de Souza e Silva, president of Embraer Commercial Aviation, says the E-jets may also be redesigned with a new wing.
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Writer: Consumers can benefit from airline credit cards
Tom Parsons writes that airline credit cards can bring benefits to consumers. "When choosing a card, look at the bonuses being offered, consider how often you fly on the airline and consider the other businesses or carriers with which the airline is affiliated," writes Parsons.
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Seattle-Tacoma airport begins its $100M internal realignment
Washington's Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is beginning work on its $100 million realignment that will shuffle the locations for most airlines. "Airline counters will be shifted to accommodate big mergers and new alliances and gates will be reassigned to account for the changing market shares of the airlines that call at Sea-Tac," John Gillie writes.
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Other News

Aviation Lease and Finance Co. (ALAFCO) has finalized an order for 50 Airbus A320neos and has taken options for 30 more. The contract, which was signed Monday at the Dubai Airshow, is an increase from ALAFCO's initial commitment for 30 A320neos announced in an MOU at the Paris Air Show in June.

International Aero Engines (IAE) is evaluating a new addition to its successful V2500 Select engine series, with the V2500 SelectThree. The SelectThree series is “on the drawing board,” IAE said, adding that the engine will focus on reducing maintenance costs and developing technology, which can be retrofit across the entire fleet

Embraer on Sunday told journalists at the Dubai Airshow that the company is “no longer at this moment thinking about developing a larger jet … we don’t see a very strong business case.” However, it noted that “some of our customers are asking us to increase the size of the [E]195.” The Brazilian aircraft manufacturer will instead focus on re-engining the E-Jet, which it dubbed the E-Jet EV. “We don’t know yet if we are going to do two, three or four models,” Embraer said.

International Aero Engines was selected by Thai Airlines to power the V2500 engine for the Airbus A320s used by its subsidiary LCC Thai Smile, in a deal valued at $230 million. First deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2012. The deal includes a comprehensive fleet hour maintenance agreement and support program. Thai operates nine V2500-powered A320s.

Lufthansa Technik AG and Emirates and have signed a five-year nonexclusive agreement related to the maintenance of components on A330/A340 and 777 fleets operated by the airline. Emirates’ EVP engineering and operations Adel Al Redha said the deal is an extension of the existing landing gear services provided by Lufthansa Technik as a foundation for new opportunities.

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft is showing off a full-scale flight deck demonstrator for the CSeries at the Dubai Airshow. The integrated flight deck features high-resolution 15.1-in. diagonal LCD displays, the industry's largest, which are capable of enhanced and synthetic vision future upgrades.



AVIATION QUOTE

Reverser's deployed!

— First Officer Josef Thurner, Air Lauda 004, last recorded words during 'impossible' in-flight deployment of the B-767's thrust reverser. 26 May 1991.



ON THIS DATE

November 15th

---In 1948…El Al becomes operational and the official flag carrier of Israel.

---In 1965... The 1st flight around the world over flying both Poles is made by U.S. airline Flying Tigerline Captain J.L. Martin, in a 707.

---In 2006…Mango, the South African airline commences flight operations.



DAILY VIDEO





EDITOR’S CHOICE





HUMOR

Ignorant Americans

The Iraqi UN Ambassador asked Colin Powell, "Is it true that just half of one percent of American youth can find Iraq on a map?"

"It's true," was Powell's reply.

"Well that looks bad for American youth with their ignorance", said the Ambassador of Iraq.

Powell told him, "No it looks bad for Iraq." "How could that be bad for Iraq," asked the Ambassador?" Most of those half of a percent are U.S. Paratroopers".



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