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Russia refuses overflight rights - again

Russia is up to its old tricks of refusing overflight rights for European airlines, but this time the EU may be to blame. Russia refused requests from Finnair and Lufthansa Cargo for additional overflights without giving a reason. However, it has recently protested at the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) that has caused such controversy around the world, suggesting this is the source of the problem.
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Passengers sue JetBlue, pilot after meltdown

A group of passengers from a JetBlue flight that was forced to make an emergency landing in March after the pilot suffered a midair meltdown filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against both the airline and the pilot, according to court papers. The suit, filed by 10 passengers of JetBlue flight 191, accuses the airline of failing to properly supervise the pilot, Clayton Osbon.
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Euro zone collapse would cripple tourism
A collapse of the euro zone would have a crippling impact on Europe's airlines and hotel groups, as consumers and businesses would slash their travel budgets and prices would plummet, market researcher Euromonitor International said.
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Bombardier wins $65m Learjet order

Bombardier said fleet operator London Air Services has placed a firm order for five Learjet 75 business aircraft in a deal valued at about USD$65 million based on the list price for the light jet.
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LAN extends TAM share swap, delays merger

Chile's LAN Airlines decided to wait another 10 days to carry out a share swap with rival TAM after holdouts among the Brazilian carrier's minority shareholders put a hitch in a takeover that will form Latin America's largest airline.
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Delta refinery yield estimates in question
Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines' plan to increase jet fuel yields to 32% of output at the Trainer oil refinery is meeting scepticism among those familiar with oil refining. In a landmark deal for the airline industry, Delta announced that it would buy the idled plant outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for $180 million from Phillips in April. It plans to close the acquisition later this month.
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Stelios to fly again with Fastjet
EasyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou moved a step closer to setting up a new Africa-focused airline, Fastjet, after a British investment group he is part of bought Lonrho's African aviation business. Lonrho, an industrial group with interests in Africa, said on Wednesday it had sold its aviation unit to British investment firm Rubicon for USD$86 million in Rubicon shares. As part of the deal, Stelios's easyGroup will own 5 percent of Rubicon. Lonrho, which will own more than 50 percent of Rubicon on completion of the deal, runs Fly540, a low-cost carrier that operates in east Africa.
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Emirates’ Clark: A380 wing rib cracks cost nearly $100 million, ‘enormous’ operations problems

Dubai-based Emirates Airline (EK) is experiencing “enormous” operations problems and has lost nearly $100 million from necessary modifications to repair wing rib cracks on its in-service Airbus A380s. Speaking on the sidelines of the IATA annual meeting and summit in Beijing this week, EK president Tim Clark told ATW the situation has caused the airline “great difficulty” and has affected its expansion plans.
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Air Mauritius reports full-year net loss on high fuel costs

Air Mauritius (MK) has reported a full-year net loss of €29.2 million ($36.5 million) for FY2011-12, reversed from a profit of €9.9 million in the previous year. The €8.3 million fourth-quarter loss was in line with forecasts, and follows a €20.9 million net loss for the nine months ended Dec. 31, 2011.
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ALC, Cathay announce widebody lease agreement

Air Lease Corp. has acquired one 2009 Boeing 777-300ER, which it will lease through 2022 to Cathay Pacific Airways, a new customer for ALC.
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Allegiant to begin Hawaii services with ETOPS

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Co., parent of Allegiant Air (G4), has been granted FAA ETOPS certification and flag carrier status, clearing the way to begin flights to Hawaii this month. "Obtaining ETOPS and flag carrier status not only clears the path for our new service to Hawaii, but also opens up potential international opportunities and will play an important role in our company's future growth,"Allegiant president Andrew Levy said.
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Air Berlin exceeds 1Q efficiency program targets

Air Berlin (AB) said it has exceeded the first-quarter target set by its cost-cutting Shape & Size program and has increased its full-year target by €25 million ($31.3 million) to €225 million at the EBIT level. CEO Hartmut Mehdorn said the airline has reduced costs, increased turnover and yield, and achieved the best capacity utilization for the first quarter since the company was listed on the stock exchange. He hopes to bring the company back to profitability in 2013.
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Alaska reaches tentative accord with ramp workers

Alaska Airlines has reached a tentative agreement with the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) on a new six-year contract covering the carrier's 587 ramp service and stores agents. The agreement includes wage increases of 10% over the life of the contract, long-term incentive bonuses, and job security and improved productivity provisions.
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AH-64D, AH-1Z, and T-129B pitch for Korea attack helicopter requirement
Three helicopters are vying for South Korea's AHX competition for 36 attack helicopters. The three contenders are the Boeing AH-64D Block III Apache, Bell AH-1Z Zulu, and Turkish Aerospace Industry/AgustaWestland T-129B, say industry sources familiar with the competition. Bids for the competition were submitted to Seoul's Defense Acquisition Program Administration on 10 May.
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Orbital Sciences successfully launches NuSTAR X-ray observatory
An Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL launch vehicle has successfully launched NASA's nuclear spectroscopic telescope array (NuSTAR) into low Earth orbit.
After a half-hour delay, Orbital Sciences' modified Lockheed L-1011 took off from Kwajalein Island in the remote Pacific Ocean and flew south to the launch point, where the winged spacecraft was dropped and the first of three stages fired. The spacecraft is reportedly in orbit and functioning normally.
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NRO donates spare telescopes to NASA
The US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), which builds and operates US spy satellites, has donated two spare, unused telescopes to NASA. With a 2.4m (7.9ft) aperture, they are almost identical to the celebrated Hubble Space Telescope launched in 1990, but are smaller and provide a wider field of view, earning them the nickname "stubby Hubbles".
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Legacy 650 tour stops in New York
Embraer's Legacy 650 stopped at the US National Business Aviation Association's (NBAA's) regional forum at Teterboro airport outside New York on a world tour of the type earlier this month, as the airframer tries to drum up orders for the long-range business jet version of its venerable Embraer 135 regional jet. The large business jet, which boasts a range of 3,900nm (7,220km) with four passengers, is priced at about $30 million, according to the Brazilian airframer. It is comparable to a Bombardier Challenger 605, but has greater cabin volume.
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Dornier Seawings earmarks 2015 for first Seastar amphibian delivery
Dornier Seawings plans to select the final assembly base for its Seastar CD 2 twin-engined amphibious turboprop in the third quarter of this year and will deliver the first of the 12-passenger aircraft 33 months later, the company says. "We have got a shortlist of three candidates with whom we are in an advanced stage of discussion," says Dornier Seawings chairman Conrado Dornier.
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USAF Raptors train with Eurofighters at Red Flag-Alaska
The US Air Force's Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors are participating in their first Red Flag-Alaska war-games with German Eurofighter Typhoon fighters and other foreign aircraft.
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BA to operate premium A318s under new subsidiary

British Airways is establishing a new subsidiary through which to operate its premium transatlantic services from London City, a decision which appears linked to possible additional financing. The new subsidiary, British Airways Limited, is securing its own air operator's certificate and operating license. It will operate the two Airbus A318s in the fleet under a wet-lease arrangement with British Airways. BA is reluctant to discuss the decision but says: "We are in the process of exploring a variety of options related to potential new sources of finance."
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Other News

Singapore Airlines will increase 3X-daily Airbus A380 Singapore-London Heathrow service to Boeing 777-300ER 4X-daily Oct. 21.

TAP Portugal and oneworld member S7 Airlines launched codeshare flights between Portugal and the Russian Federation June 4. Through this codeshare agreement, TAP will serve seven new destinations in Russia on flights operated by S7 Airlines, comprising St. Petersburg, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Samara, Ufa, Novosibirsk and Sochi. S7 will now be able to market its own services between Moscow and Lisbon, as well as on flights to Porto, Funchal and Faro.

Norwegian will operate 4X-weekly Boeing 737-800 Stockholm Arlanda-Manchester service from Nov. 1.

ON THIS DATE

---In 1919... The first direct non-stop crossing of the Atlantic by airplane is made by a British two-man team. Capt. John Alcock and Lt. Arthur Whitten-Brown fly a Vickers Vimy bomber from St. Johns, Newfoundland to Clifden, Ireland. They fly some 1,950 miles in 16 hours, 27 minutes.

---In 1923... The New Zealand Permanent Air Force is established.

---In 1929... In efforts to encourage passenger traffic for their expanding international air routes, British Imperial Airways makes the first 30-minute “tea” flight over London, costing £2 2s, reduced in 1931 to £1 10s.

---In 1967…Air Mauritius is founded.

---In 1967…Mariner 5 - USA Venus Flyby (June 14 to November) launched. Mariner 5 arrived at Venus on October 19, 1967, one day after Venera 4. It passed within 3,900 kilometers of the planet's surface. It studied the Venusian magnetic field and found that its atmosphere was composed of 85-99% carbon dioxide. It is now in a solar orbit.

---In 1982…Argentine forces on the Falkland Islands surrender to British forces. During the war, the British had destroyed 109 Argentinian planes, compared to only 34 lost by the British.

---In 2007…Brigadier General (Ret) Robin Olds passes away at Steamboat Springs. A fighter pilot in three wars, that last flying combat commander. Architect of Operation Bolo.

DAILY VIDEO

EDITOR’S CHOICE

HUMOR

Lessons Learned

1. Once you are in the fight, it is way too late to wonder if this is a good idea.

2. Helicopters are cool!

3. It is a fact that helicopter tail rotors are instinctively drawn toward trees, stumps, rocks, etc. While it may be possible to ward off this natural event some of the time, it cannot, despite the best efforts of the crew, always be prevented. It's just what they do.

4. NEVER get into a fight without more ammunition than the other guy.

5. The engine RPM, and the rotor RPM, must BOTH be kept in the GREEN. Failure to heed this commandment can affect the morale of the crew.

6. A billfold in your hip pocket can numb your leg and be a real pain in the ass.

7. Cover your Buddy, so he can be around to cover you.

8. Letters from home are not always great.

9. The madness of war can extract a heavy toll. Please have exact change.

10. Share everything. Even the Pound Cake.

11. Decisions made by someone over your head will seldom be in your best interest.

12. The terms "Protective Armor" and "Helicopter" are mutually exclusive.

13. The further away you are from your friends, the less likely it is that they can help you when you really need them the most.

14. Sometimes, being good and lucky still was not enough. There is always payback.

15. "Chicken Plates" are not something you order in a restaurant.

16. If everything is as clear as a bell, and everything is going exactly as planned, you're about to be surprised.

17. The BSR (Bang Stare Read) Theory states that the louder the sudden bang in the helicopter, the quicker your eyes will be drawn to the gauges.

18. The longer you stare at the gauges, the less time it takes them to move from green to red.

19. It does too get cold in Vietnam.

20. No matter what you do, the bullet with your name on it will get you. So too can the ones addressed "To Whom It May Concern".

21. Gravity: It may not be fair, but it is the law.

22. If the rear echelon troops are really happy, the front line troops probably do not have what they need.

23. If you are wearing body armor, the incoming will probably miss that part.

24. It hurts less to die with a uniform on than to die in a hospital bed.

25. Happiness is a belt-fed weapon.

26. If something hasn't broken on your helicopter, it's about to.

27. Eat when you can. Sleep when you can. Vist the head when you can. The next opportunity may not come around for a long time. If ever.

28. Combat pay is a flawed concept.

29. Having all your body parts intact and functioning at the end of the day beats the alternative.

30. Air superiority is NOT a luxury.

31. If you are allergic to lead it is best to avoid a war zone.

32. It is a bad thing to run out of airspeed, altitude, and ideas all at the same time.

32a. Nothing is as useless as altitude above you and runway behind you.

33. While the rest of the crew may be in the same predicament, it's almost always the pilot's job to arrive at the crash site first.

34. When you shoot your gun, clean it the first chance you get.

35. Loud sudden noises in a helicopter WILL get your undivided attention.

36. Hot garrison chow is better than hot C-rations, which, in turn is better than cold C-rations, which is better than no food at all. All of these, however, are preferable to cold rice balls (given to you by guards) even if they do have the little pieces of fish in them.

37. WHAT is often more important than WHY.

38. Boxes of cookies from home must be shared.

39. Girlfriends are fair game. Wives are not.

40. Everybody's a hero on the ground in the club after the fourth drink.

41. There is no such thing as a small firefight.

42. A free-fire zone has nothing to do with economics.

43. The farther you fly into the mountains, the louder the strange engine noises become.

44. Medals are OK, but having your body and all your friends in one piece at the end of the day is better.

44a. The only medal you really want to be awarded is the Longevity Medal.

45. Being shot hurts.

46. Thousands of Vietnam Veterans earned medals for bravery every day. A few were even awarded.

48. Running out of pedal, fore or aft cyclic, or collective are all bad ideas. Any combination of these can be deadly.

49. Nomex is NOT fire proof.

50. There is only one rule in war: When you win, you get to make up the Rules.

51. Living and dying can both hurt a lot.

53. While a Super Bomb could be considered one of the four essential building blocks of life, powdered eggs cannot.

54. C-4 can make a dull day fun.

55. Cocoa Powder is neither.

56. There is no such thing as a fair fight, only ones where you win or lose.

57. If you win the battle you are entitled to the spoils. If you lose you don't care.

58. Nobody cares what you did yesterday or what you are going to do tomorrow. What is important is what you are doing NOW to solve our problem.

59. If you have extra, share it quickly.

60. Always make sure someone has a P-38.

61. A sucking chest wound may be God's way of telling you it's time to go home.

62. Prayer may not help . . . but it can't hurt.

63. Flying is better than walking. Walking is better than running. Running is better than crawling. All of these however, are better than extraction by a Med-Evac, even if this is technically a form of flying.

64. If everyone does not come home none of the rest of us can ever fully come home either.

65. Do not fear the enemy, for your enemy can only take your life. It is far better that you fear the media, for they will steal your HONOR.

66. A grunt is the true reason for the existence of the helicopter. Every helicopter flying in Vietnam had one real purpose: To help the grunt. It is unfortunate that many helicopters never had the opportunity to fulfill their one true mission in life simply because someone forgot this fact.

67. "You have the right to remain silent" is always EXCELLENT advice.

TRIVIA

SOVIET METAL SCRAMBLE

1. LFUUCRM
2. KRNEFAL
3. AEIFKRBC
4. NLRBDEI
5. IAMSD
6. FGOOTROF
7. KLAACJBKC
8. AERB
9. NCFERE
10. BAFTXO