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Flights Cancelled As Snow Hits US Northeast

A powerful winter storm responsible for wind, snow, tornadoes and a flurry of traffic accidents battered the US Northeast on Thursday, with hundreds of flights cancelled. A Southwest Airlines jet skidded off the runway on Thursday at Long Island MacArthur Airport, about 50 miles (80 km) east of New York City, as it taxied for takeoff, Suffolk County police said. None of the 134 people aboard Tampa-bound flight 4695 was injured, police said.
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Vinci Wins Portugal Airports Selloff Tender
French group Vinci won a tender for Portugal's airports operator ANA on Thursday with a EUR€3.08 billion (USD$4.1 billion) bid, enabling debt-laden Lisbon to beat its EU/IMF asset sale goal. "This shows our capacity to attract foreign investment and raise significant sums above market expectations despite difficult circumstances," Treasury Secretary Maria Luis Albuquerque told a briefing. "Luckily, the highest bidder also offered us the best strategic project."
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Aeromexico Confirms Order For Six 787s

Aeromexico, said on Thursday it has confirmed an order for six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, part of an order valued at around $11 billion announced in July. The first delivery is expected next summer. Aeromexico said the purchase of four additional 787s has not yet been finalised.
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Juneyao leases A320s from GECAS

GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) is leasing five new Airbus A320 and two new A321s to Chinese carrier Juneyao Airlines, the US lessor announced. GECAS said it delivered the first two A320s in September and October. The remaining A320s are scheduled for delivery in 2013 and the two A321s are scheduled for delivery in 2014. All seven aircraft come from GECAS' existing order book with Airbus.
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Uruguay implements nationwide IP controller-pilot communications
Indra has deployed what it claims to be the first controller-pilot communications network completely based on Internet protocol (IP) technology. The system has been implemented in Uruguay, in collaboration with the country’s air navigation services provider (ANSP) DINACIA, and provides full national coverage for air traffic. In a statement, Indra said DINACIA has become the first ANSP to start using the new generation of systems based on IP technology, with controller-pilot voice communications no longer based on analogue systems.
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US Navy moves to purchase up to 72 Boeing P-8s
The US Navy has initiated a process that could lead to placing a five-year order for up to 72 Boeing P-8A Poseidon, if the Department of Defense and Congress grants a multi-year procurement (MYP) authority. An acquisition notice released on 21 December seeks to transition the P-8A acquisition program from annual purchases to an MYP format over the last five years of production from Fiscal 2015-19. The US military services normally acquire aircraft in annual lots, but can ask for multi-year authority if certain conditions are met. The Department of Defense often requires a minimum 10% discount on price and a stable production system in exchange for making a multi-year commitment.
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Chinese Y-20 revealed in new online pictures
New pictures have emerged showing a new Chinese military transport that is purportedly the Xian Aircraft Y-20 heavy transport. The first known appearance of the Y-20 comes as the AVIC subsidiary specializing in commercial and military transports was expected on Chinese aviation web sites to launch flight testing of the Y-20 this year. The pictures reveal a four-engined, high-wing transport with a T-tail that appears sized between a Boeing C-17 and Airbus A400M.
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Boeing: Dreamliner issues are "consistent" with those of other new planes

Production delays and then a couple of incidents with Boeing's Dreamliner 787 jets have generated criticism of the new jet, but the company says nothing out of the ordinary has occurred. "We're having what we would consider the normal number of squawks on a new airplane, consistent with other new airplanes we've introduced," said Boeing CEO Jim McNerney. Japanese airline All Nippon Airways has received 16 Dreamliners, which an airline spokesman said were performing "better than what we initially expected."
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Regional airlines anticipate workforce strain from new safety rules
Smaller airlines are anticipating a shortage in qualified pilots once new Federal Aviation Administration rules go into effect next summer. The rules will roughly triple the amount of flight time new pilots must have before being allowed to fly commuter flights, and regional airlines fear the reduced workforce combined with more competitive salaries in other industry segments will render them unable to resupply the current workforce as it reaches retirement age.
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Sequestration won't cause immediate problems for FAA, official says
If Congress and the White House are unable to make a deal to avert automatic spending cuts, set to go into effect Wednesday, there will not be an immediate effect on the Department of Transportation and its agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration, according to a DOT official. An e-mail from John Porcari, DOT deputy secretary, to employees says the department would have the remainder of its fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, to make the necessary adjustments and that there are no "immediate personnel actions" planned.
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More upgrades are in the forecast for airplanes, airports
In 2013, air travelers can expect faster security screenings and redesigned airport terminals as they wait to board jets offering free Wi-Fi, more overhead storage and bigger seats with more legroom, this feature says. "[Y]ou will start seeing a lot of product development," said Jeff Smisek, United Continental Holdings' CEO and president, echoing an industrywide move toward enhancing passenger services on the ground and in the air.
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Aviation Quote

The thing I'll remember most about the flight is that it was fun. In fact, I'm sure it was the most fun that I'll ever have in my life.

— Sally K. Ride, first woman to orbit Earth aboard the Space Shuttle, 1983.

On This Date

------In 1948…A DC-3 “NC16002” disappears 50 miles south of Miami, Florida.

---In 1962…Began weapons system developments for the AF-12. Kelly Johnson obtained approval to design a Mach 3 Blackbird fighter / bomber. (Q)

---In 1967… A-12 (929) lost due to the newly-installed SAS (Stability Augmentation System) had the connections wired backwards, causing the airplane to lose complete control just seconds after takeoff from Groom Dry Lake; pilot Mele Vojvodich ejected safely at an altitude of 150 feet. Kelly Johnson receives the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award. (Q)

---In 1988... An analysis of the wreckage of the Pan Am Boeing 747, which crashed at Lockerbie, Scotland a week ago, reveals that a bomb had been planted in the jet’s luggage hold.

---In 2001… USA3000 Airlines began operations.

Daily Video

Editor’s Choice

Humor

Heaven Or Hell

There once was a helicopter pilot who lived his whole life without ever taking advantage of any of the people he worked for. In fact, he made sure that every job he did resulted in a win-win situation for someone. One day while walking down the street he was tragically hit by a bus and he died.
His soul arrived up in heaven where he was met at the Pearly Gates by St. Peter himself. "Welcome to Heaven," said St. Peter. "Before you get settled in though it seems we have a problem. You see, strangely enough, we've never once had a helicopter pilot make it this far and we're not really sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in." said the master of all things with a rotorhead.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have higher orders. What we're going to do is let you have a day in Hell and a day in Heaven and then you can choose whichever one you want to spend an eternity in."

"Actually, I think I've made up my mind...I prefer to stay in Heaven" said the pilot in fine smart-ass tradition. "Sorry, we have rules..." And with that St. Peter put our hero in an elevator and it went down-down-down to hell. The doors opened and our aviator friend found himself stepping out onto the putting green of a beautiful golf course. In the distance was a country club and standing in front of him were all his friends - guys, that he had worked with and they were all dressed in party suits, and blue jeans, wearing cowboy hats, and looking like a very non-standard, but happy group, and cheering for him. They ran up and shook his hand, and they talked about old times. They played an excellent round of golf and at night went to the country club where he enjoyed an excellent steak and lobster dinner. Our wizard of rotor winged flight met the Devil who was actually a really nice guy, and not at all like a senior officer. He had a great time drinking, telling jokes, drinking, and telling war stories, drinking, and dancing. Oh, and there was some drinking.

Our aviator was having such a good time that before he knew it, it was time to leave. Everybody shook his hand and waved good-bye as he got on the elevator. The elevator went up-up-up and opened back up at the Pearly Gates and found St. Peter waiting for him. "Now it's time to spend a day in heaven." So our faithful pilot spent the next 24 hours lounging around on clouds and playing the harp and singing. He had a great time and before he knew it his 24 hours were up and St. Peter came and got him. "So, you've spent a day in hell and you've spent a day in heaven. Now you must choose your eternity. "The master of all that has rotor blades paused for a second and then replied, "Well, I never thought I'd say this, I mean, Heaven has been really great and all, but I think I had a better time in Hell." So St. Peter escorted him to the elevator and again the pilot went down-down-down back to Hell. When the doors of the elevator opened he found himself standing in a desolate wasteland covered in garbage and filth. He saw his friends were dressed in rags and were picking up the garbage and putting it in sacks. The Devil came up to her and put his arm around him. "I don't understand," stammered the (seldom) confused helicopter pilot, "yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and a country club and we ate lobster, and we danced and had a great time. Now all there is a wasteland of garbage and all my friends look miserable."
The Devil looked at him and smiled, "That's because yesterday we were recruiting you, but today you're staff."

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