NEWS
Korean Air diverted in Canada after threat
A Korean Air passenger jet made an emergency landing at a Canadian military airbase after a threat phone call was received in the United States late on Tuesday, the airline said. Korean Air flight 72, which was en route to South Korean capital Seoul, diverted to the Comox base on Vancouver Island in Canada's Pacific province British Columbia, soon after takeoff from Vancouver, the airline said in a statement released on Wednesday in Seoul.
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Embraer continues to explore engine options for next-gen E-jets
Embraer is unlikely to launch a next-generation, re-engined variant of its E-jet family before next year, but will continue to introduce gradual enhancements to its current models, the company’s president and CEO said Tuesday.
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Virgin Australia invests $8 million in Perth-based Skywest
Virgin Australia Holdings (VAH) will invest A$8 million ($8 million) in Skywest Airlines (XR), giving it a 10% stake in the Perth-based carrier.
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Regulators green light Jetstar Japan AOC; will launch in July
Qantas Group subsidiary low-cost carrier Jetstar Japan has received its Air Operator’s Certificate from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, clearing the way for the carrier to begin domestic commercial services July 3 from a Tokyo Narita base.
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Southwest receives support for Hobby international flights
Southwest Airlines received support from Houston's aviation director for international service from William P. Hobby Airport. The ultimate decision will be made by Mayor Annise Parker and the Houston City Council. Should the proposal pass, negotiations with Southwest will continue over construction of a Customs facility and an international terminal that could cost $75 million to $100 million. "Southwest has pledged to cover the cost through an increase in the passenger facility fee," to $4.50 from $3, the Houston Chronicle says. Parker plans to schedule "a vote on the agreement for next month," the newspaper says.
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Hawaiian Airlines flies more passengers in March
Hawaiian Airlines flew 776,659 passengers in March, 6.1% more passengers than in March of the previous year. Hawaiian's load factor for last month was 84.9%, while its revenue-producing miles grew 13.8% in March compared to the same month last year.
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Frontier Airlines improves load factor for March
Frontier Airlines flew 1.2 million passengers in March, a 7% drop from the same month last year. However, the carrier's load factor rose to 86.3%, compared to 84.4% for March 2011. "Our effective capacity deployment and high-value product are continuing to generate excellent load-factor performance," said Daniel Shurz, Frontier senior vice president.
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United Continental reports slight increase in traffic
United Continental Holdings reported a 1% increase in overall traffic for March on a year-over-year basis. Traffic for the month was boosted by a gain in international travelers. The carrier's passenger revenue per available seat mile also climbed by 4% to 5% for the month.
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Boeing and Embraer sign research collaboration deal
Boeing and Embraer have signed an agreement to collaborate equally on aircraft safety, efficiency and research, a move that appears to underscore the two aerospace companies' focuses on different-size planes. The deal follows another signed by China's Comac and Canada's Bombardier to collaborate on aircraft.
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Qatar Airways is opposed to EU ETS, CEO says
Qatar Airways is joining the chorus of carriers opposed to the European Union's emissions-trading scheme. "Qatar is a small country," said Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker. "We respect the right of the EU to set their own laws and regulations, but we will join our colleagues in the Gulf in what will be the best way to resolve this situation." The emissions scheme is opposed by countries around the world.
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Garuda Close To USD$2.5 Bln Airbus A330 Deal
Garuda and Airbus are close to a deal for the Indonesian airline to buy A330 passenger jets worth USD$2.5 billion at list prices, two sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.
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PAL May Spend Up To USD$1 Bln On Re-fleeting
Philippine Airlines may spend up to USD$1 billion for a re-fleeting to boost its competitiveness after a deal last week in which conglomerate San Miguel will become a substantial investor, a local newspaper reported on Tuesday.
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India Decision On Airline FDI On Thursday
India is likely to decide on a proposal to allow foreign carriers to invest in local airlines as early as Thursday, a senior government official said, which could provide a lifeline to cash-starved and debt-laden carriers such as Kingfisher Airlines.
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Kingfisher Making Cash And Carry Payments
India's Kingfisher Airlines is making regular cash and carry payments to GMR's Delhi and Hyderabad airports, a GMR Group executive said on Tuesday.
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Other News
The new aviation pact signed between [b]Boeing and Embraer will be a first step in exploring technological synergies and potential cross benefits, Embraer president and CEO Frederico Curado said Tuesday.
Georgia has flown its first domestically-produced unmanned air vehicle from a military base outside Tbilisi, the national capital. The catapult-launched UAV can achieve up to 10,000ft (3,000m) altitude and 86kt, boasting an 8h endurance. It is Georgia's first domestically-produced UAV.
Aviation Partners Boeing says it has reached "100% market saturation" this year on new-build Boeing 737 commercial aircraft, marking the first time all customers of the aircraft have chosen factory installed winglets in a given year since the option was made available in mid-2004.
Air Astana has begun phasing out its Fokker F50 fleet. The first of six F50s was retired earlier this month, three more will be removed from service between June and August, and the last two aircraft will remain in service until spring 2013.
OLT Express will take over some aspects of defunct German regional Cirrus Airlines, which ceased operations in January.
JPA London has completed a conceptual redesign of American Airlines’ first-class cabin for its new fleet of 10 Boeing 777-300ERs, slated for delivery in 2012 and 2013, under a contract won in early 2011.
BOC Aviation has mandated KfW IPEX-Bank as arranger and sole lender to finance one new IAE V2527-A5-powered Airbus A320-200. The aircraft will be operated by Etihad Airways on a 12-year lease.
GECAS has delivered two new Airbus A330s to Aeroflot Russian Airlines under a purchase and leaseback transaction. A third new A330 is scheduled for delivery in April.
Air France received its 60th Boeing 777 passenger jetliner, a 777-300ER. The aircraft seats 468 passengers in a three-class configuration.
AVIATION QUOTE
I hope you either take up parachute jumping or stay out of single motored airplanes at night.
— Charles A. Lindbergh, to Wiley Post, 1931.
ON THIS DATE
---In 1908... Delagrange flies 12,878 feet in six minutes, 30 seconds in his Voisin-Delagrange Nº 2 in Paris.
---In 1911... The U.S. Army sets up its first permanent flying school at College Park, Maryland.
---In 1934... Comdr. Renato Donati of the Italian Regia Aeronautica sets a new world altitude record by flying a much modified Caproni Ca. 113 biplane to a height of 47,352 ft. The same aircraft is also used by the Contessa Carina Negrone in 1935 to set a new altitude record for women of 39,402 ft.
---In 1936…Air Canada is founded.
---In 1958…North American Aviation is issued a preliminary contract to build prototypes of the XF-108 long-range interceptor aircraft for the USAF.
---In 1960…1st weather satellite launched (Tiros 1).
---In 1969… SR-71 (954) was lost at Edwards AFB due to a wheel/tire failure on takeoff. It was being tested to determine problems associated with maximum gross weight takeoffs when a tire and wheel exploded, rupturing the left wing fuel tank causing a massive fire. Pilot Bill Skliar and RSO Noel Warner survived. (Q)
---In 1970…Apollo 13 - USA Lunar Flyby (April 11-17, 1970) launched. Crew: James A. Lovell, Jr., Fred W. Haise, Jr., John L. Swigert, Jr. The Apollo 13 mission became one of survival for the astronauts on board. During the translunar coast an explosion destroyed both power and propulsion systems of the Command Service Module. The Lunar Module was used as a lifeboat for the astronauts.
---In 1983….NASA launches RCA-F. 1984: Challenger astronauts complete 1st in space satellite repair
---In 1986…Halley's Comet makes closest approach to Earth this trip, 63 M km.
---In 1991…Space Shuttle STS-37, Atlantis 8, lands.
DAILY VIDEO
EDITOR’S CHOICE
HUMOR
Airplane maintenance
"Squawks" are problem listings that pilots generally leave for maintenance crews to fix before the next flight. Here are some squawks submitted by US Air Force pilots and the replies from the maintenance crews.
(P) = Problem (S) = Solution
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(P) Left inside main tire almost needs replacement
(S) Almost replaced left inside main tire
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(P) Test flight OK, except autoland very rough
(S) Autoland not installed on this aircraft
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(P) #2 Propeller seeping prop fluid
(S) #2 Propeller seepage normal - #1 #3 and #4 propellers lack normal seepage
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(P) Something loose in cockpit
(S) Something tightened in cockpit
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(P) Evidence of leak on right main landing gear
(S) Evidence removed
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(P) DME volume unbelievably loud
(S) Volume set to more believable level
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(P) Dead bugs on windshield
(S) Live bugs on order
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(P) Autopilot in altitude hold mode produces a 200 fpm descent
(S) Cannot reproduce problem on ground
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(P) IFF inoperative
(S) IFF always inoperative in OFF mode (IFF-Identification Friend or Foe)
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(P) Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick
(S) That's what they're there for
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(P) Number three engine missing
(S) Engine found on right wing after brief search
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(P) Aircraft handles funny
(S) Aircraft warned to straighten up, "fly right" and be serious
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(P) Target Radar hums
(S) Reprogrammed Target Radar with the lyrics
TRIVIA
1. What popular and well-known US general aviation airport has fewer original residents in the community after which the airport is named than can be carried aboard many of the airplanes that land there?
2. WW1 fighter airplanes had open cockpits. What are three reasons that pilots of those airplanes didn’t want glass canopies even though the technology to make them was available?
3. In weather reports, what is the difference between SKC and CLR?
4. What was the fastest (in level flight), operational American fighter of World War II?
5. What is the only U.S. military turbofan airplane that may be flown using all of its thrust reversers in flight?
6. The landing gear of the space shuttle is not extended until immediately before touchdown. What means are used to ensure that the gear extends in time?
