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Parked Japan Airlines 787 catches fire in Boston

A fire erupted on a Japan Airlines Boeing 787 while the aircraft was parked at Boston Logan Airport. There were no passengers aboard the aircraft at the time of the Monday incident. According to The Boston Globe, Massachusetts Port Authority fire rescue chief Robert Donahue said the fire occurred in the middle part of the fuselage “in the avionics compartment underneath.” He added the fire appeared to originate in a battery used by the 787’s auxiliary power unit (APU). Firefighters successfully extinguished the fire and there were no injuries, the Globe reported. The US National Transportation Safety Board said it “has opened an investigation into a fire discovered on a Japan Airlines [Boeing] 787 after it landed in Boston.”
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Japan Airlines continues to fly 787s after Boston incident

Japan Airlines is continuing to fly its Boeing 787-8s following a fire on the type while it was on the ground at Boston Logan International Airport. This comes after the Oneworld alliance member conducted additional inspections on its six other 787s, says a JAL spokeswoman. She was unable to provide specific information on what inspections had been carried out. She adds that while the fire forced the airline to cancel its return service to Tokyo Narita on 7 January, the airline would still operate its Boston service on 8 January with a 787.
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Boeing working with JAL on 787 fire at Boston airport
A battery explosion and subsequent fire damaged a parked and empty Japan Air Lines (JAL) Boeing 787 shortly after landing at Boston Logan International airport following a nearly 12h flight from Tokyo. One battery in the aircraft's aft electrical equipment bay exploded on the aircraft and caused a secondary fire while it was parked at a gate on Logan's terminal E, says the airport operator Massport. Massport fire and rescue, and the Boston fire department extinguished the fire.
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Hawaiian signs MOU for 16 A321neos

Hawaiian Airlines intends to buy at least 16 Airbus A321neos to be delivered between 2017 and 2020. The memorandum of understanding, valued at $2.8 billion at list prices, commits the carrier to buy as many as 25 A321neos, including potential orders for 16 and purchase rights for a further nine aircraft. Hawaiian plans to configure the twinjet in a two-class layout with 190 seats.
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Alitalia Investor Denies Seeking To Sell Stake

Italian holding company IMMSI said on Monday no talks were under way for the sale of its 7.08 percent stake in Alitalia. "IMMSI, in confirming the comments released by Air France, denies the existence of any talks in course with the aim of selling (the stake)," IMMSI said in a statement.
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Air France-KLM Says Not In Alitalia Buyout Talks
Air France-KLM denied a newspaper report that it was in advanced talks to buy out Italian investors in Alitalia to take control of Italy's flag carrier. "Air France-KLM confirms that there are no negotiations on the purchase of all or part of the shares held by Italian investors," a spokeswoman for the Franco-Dutch airline said on Monday.
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New Berlin Airport Delayed Until At Least 2014
The opening of Berlin's new airport will be delayed again to at least 2014, more than two years later than originally planned after a series of embarrassing setbacks to what was meant to be a flagship project, a source familiar with the plans said. Nearly a quarter of a century after the Berlin Wall came down and 14 years after the government moved back to Berlin as the unified capital, Germany is still struggling to open an international airport to replace two from its Cold War past. The opening of Berlin-Brandenburg Airport had been re-scheduled to October 2013, after being postponed several times over the past year due to problems, for example, with its fire safety systems.
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US Airways pilots union recommends MOU on possible merger
AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines, is still weighing a merger with US Airways. However, employee unions of the airlines have already forged agreements in case a merger does happen. The union's board representing pilots at US Airways recommended Friday that its members approve memorandum of understanding. "If this merger transpires, we believe this MOU is the quickest and surest path to a better lifestyle for us all," the union leaders said.
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US Airways saw 1.8% increase in traffic for December
US Airways transported more passengers in December, boosted by holiday travel. Consolidated traffic rose by 1.8% on a year-over-year basis at the carrier as traffic for its Latin American segment increased by 2.3%. Passenger revenue per available seat mile also rose by around 4% compared to last year.
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2012 traffic at Alaska Airlines rose by 8.1%
Alaska Airlines reported a 8.1% increase in traffic in 2012, compared with 2011. Passenger load factor also rose, to 86.6% for 2012, compared to 85.2% for the prior year. Traffic at Horizon Airlines, owned by the same parent company as Alaska, dipped for the year.
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Pilot-shortage predictions are not expected to affect major airlines
While some aviation analysts are predicting a pilot shortage, some experts say the problem may be overestimated. "The major carriers probably won't see the shortage, if one comes into play, because that's where the better-paying jobs are," University of North Dakota Aviation Program Chair Kent Lovelace said. Airlines for America also said the pilot-shortage predictions may not be accurate. "We expect the major commercial airlines will be appropriately staffed and are not expecting any shortage within the next few years," said an A4A spokeswoman.
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NTSB wants to improve safety of aircraft -- on the ground
The National Transportation Safety Board wants to improve safety of aircraft being operated on the ground as well as in the air. "While commercial aviation has made extraordinary strides in safety, one area where risk remains is on the airport surface," said Eric Weiss, NTSB spokesman. The most recent fender bender between two planes on the ground occurred in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on New Year's Eve.
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U.S. cargo airlines receive break from new battery rules
U.S. cargo airlines could be exempt for a while from international rules designed to prevent fires from transporting lithium batteries. The U.S. regulatory agency overseeing the rules said it needs more time to collect comment. The international rules determined by the International Civil Aviation Organization went into effect on Jan. 1.
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European airlines boost first-class offerings
Although airlines in the U.S. have reduced first-class seating on many flights, European airlines are bolstering premium service to differentiate themselves from low-cost airlines. "Basically, it's bringing back the magic of flying ... what we hope with the new first-class is just to bring back some of the glamour of the golden age of flying to make people feel really special," said British Airways spokesman Michael Johnson.
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United Airlines attempts airfare increase of up to $10
United Airlines launched the first attempt to raise ticket prices this year with an increase of $4 to $10 round trip for domestic flights. Rick Seaney of FareCompare.com reported on Friday that Delta Air Lines had raised its airfares to match United's, while US Airways and American Airlines have carried out "minimal matching" of United's increase.
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No More Free Electric Vehicle Parking at LAX
The free to park and charge business model is being reviewed by some businesses. Are EV owners going to lose their privileges? LAX nips the free charge and park for electric vehicles: It had to happen and LAX does not like to give things away for free. For years, it fought tooth and nail the expansion of the Metro line to the airport preferring to force its users to park at their costly lots. Until now, one of the perks of owning an electric vehicle, EV and going to the Los Angeles airport, LAX was electric vehicles parked for free. LAX is now pulling the plug on this and electric vehicles will have to pay full fare.
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Iraq receives C-130J transports
Iraq has doubled its inventory of Hercules tactical transports, with the nation's air force having taken delivery of three new-generation C-130Js from Lockheed Martin at the end of last year. Part of a deal for six C-130Js signed in installments in 2008 and 2009, the trio left Lockheed's Marietta production site in Georgia, USA, in mid-December. They will be followed by Baghdad's three remaining examples during 2013, the manufacturer says.
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India selects Airbus Military MRTT for six-aircraft deal
India has selected the Airbus Military A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) as its preferred bid for a six aircraft requirement to supply the nation's air force. Airbus Military says it expects the deal to be finalised later this year. The decision follows a flight test campaign carried out in India where the aircraft was used to refuel multiple fighter types and also performed operations from high-altitude air bases. The European type had faced competition from the Ilyushin Il-78MK, offered via Russia's Rosoboronexport arms agency.
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Other News


Dana Air resumed commercial operations Friday with flights operating between Lagos and Abuja. The airline’s operating license was suspended by the Nigerian government two days after one of its MD-83 aircraft crashed into a suburb of Lagos city in June, killing all 153 passengers and crew as well as 10 people on the ground. In September, the government lifted the ban on Dana Air following “a rigorous technical, operational and financial audit,” the airline said in a statement. It has launched a recertification program and began refresher training for staff. However, an investigation is ongoing into what caused the simultaneous failure of the aircraft’s two engines. Initially, Dana Air will operate only on the Lagos and Abuja route, but an airline spokesman said that in “a couple of weeks” it will look to increase frequency and introduce more destinations.

US Dept. of Transportation (DOT) has levied tarmac delay fines against Copa Airlines and Virgin America. The Panama-based Copa Airlines was charged with leaving passengers aboard an aircraft at New York’s JFK International Airport for five hours and 34 minutes with no food or water and for failing to report the delay to the US agency. DOT rules require airlines to provide food and water no later than two hours after leaving the gate. DOT said Copa also failed to provide required notices for its contingency plan online including coordinating its plan with airport authorities and US government agencies. It fined the carrier $150,000.

Estonian Air pilots have agreed to call off a Jan. 7 strike after laying down the foundations for a new collective agreement. The strike was called off at the last minute following several days of negotiations, which culminated in a tentative agreement Jan. 5. Flights are now expected to operate normally. “Estonian Air Management and Estonian Pilots Trade Association have reached substantive agreement in the terms of a collective agreement,” Estonian said in a statement. “The new agreement will be submitted to the supervisory board of Estonian Air, which will gather to have its regular meeting on Monday afternoon.”

Saudi Arabia has announced that Qatar Airways and Gulf Air could be operating Saudi domestic flights by the spring, once they obtain the necessary operating licenses. A spokesman for the Kingdom’s aviation regulator, the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA), was cited by Reuters as saying the Qatari and Bahraini national carriers might need three to six months to obtain permission to begin services. GACA announced Dec. 28 that the two airlines had been chosen to provide domestic services, as well as international sectors originating from Saudi Arabia. They were among 14 foreign and local bidders who originally put forward offers to provide competition to national carrier Saudia and low-cost carrier Nas Air. Gulf Air has said that its role is to “support” a bid from Saudi trading company Abdel Hadi Abdullah Al-Qahtani & Sons.

Haitian carrier Tortug’ Air has applied to US Dept. of Transportation (DOT) for permission to operate flights to the US. The carrier has petitioned to operate daily nonstop Cap Haitien International-Fort Lauderdale International service. Since Haiti is a “category two” country—not compliant with aviation safety standards under ICAO or the FAA IASA program—Tortug’ Air said it would operate the service under a wet lease agreement with Johannesburg’s Cemair using 50-seat Bombardier CL600-2B19 (CRJ100) aircraft. The two airlines signed the agreement Nov. 26. “In view of the devastating earthquake suffered by Haiti in January, 2010, it has been the stated policy of the government of the USA to embrace and encourage economic development of Haiti, particularly in such ‘high visibility’ enterprises such as international airlines,” the carrier said in its DOT filing. “Tortug’ is owned by citizens and residents of Haiti, and employs hundreds of other citizens and residents of Haiti, thus expedited approval of this application should be deemed in the public interest of the USA.” Tortug’ Air has been in operation since August 2004 and serves five cities in Haiti as well as scheduled service to Nassau, Santo-Domingo, Aruba, and Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It operates a fleet of 19-seat British Aerospace Jetstream 3200s and 17-seat LET 410 UVP-Es.

Superjet International signed a SuperCare agreement with Sky Aviation for after-sales support of its Sukhoi Superjet 100 fleet of up to 12 aircraft. Superjet will provide the Indonesian carrier with customized spares availability and maintenance/repair solutions of onboard equipment for 10 years. It will also provide Sky with flight crew, cabin crew and maintenance staff training courses and on-site support in Jakarta.

ST Aerospace injected $73.5 million into its wholly owned subsidiary, ST Aerospace Rotables (STAR). It has already contributed $1.5 million into the subsidiary. STAR will use the funds to build up its rotables asset pool. It will also be leasing assets to support the aerospace sector’s maintenance-by-the-hour program.

Volga-Dnepr Technic has leased and begun operations in a newly built 8,500 sq. m. hangar facility at Leipzig/Halle Airport. The hangar can simultaneously accommodate one Antonov АN-124-100, one Ilyushin IL-76, and one Вoeing 747 or four single-aisle Вoeing 737 or Airbus А320 aircraft. The first А checks for АN-124-100 and 747-400 freighter aircraft operated by Volga-Dnepr Airlines and AirBridgeCargo Airlines have been completed at the facility.

Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering (STAECO) was named by Embraer as an authorized service center for the E-Jets family in Ji’nan, China. STAECO will now provide line and heavy maintenance services for the Embraer aircraft family in accordance with China Civil Aviation Regulation Part 145 standards.

Aviation Quote

If you're ever faced with a forced landing at night, turn on the landing lights to see the landing area. If you don't like what you see, turn 'em back off.

Anonymous

On This Date

---In 1944...First flight of the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star.

---In 1945... The Mitsubishi J8M1 rocket-fighter makes its first flight in Hyakurigahara, Japan.

---In 1959…First flight of the Armstrong Whitworth AW.650 Argosy G-AOZZ.

---In 1980…A Mooney 231 lands in San Francisco, after flying coast to coast non-stop, setting a record by completing the flight in 8 hours and 4 minutes.

---In 1982... The Airbus A300 becomes the world’s first wide-bodied airliner to be certified for operation by a flight crew of two.

---In 1989…British Midland Flight 92 crashes while attempting an emergency landing at East Midlands Airport, killing 47 of the 126 on-board. The left engine had experienced a fan blade rupture on the Boeing 737-400 (registered G-OBME), and confusion with previous 737 models caused the pilots to think the right engine had failed, which they promptly shut down. While on approach, power was added to the ailing left engine, causing it to completely fail, and the aircraft to subsequently fall short of the runway onto the M1 motorway.

---In 1994…The Russian Soyuz TM-18 is launched, bringing cosmonaut Valery Polyakov to Mir for a record time of 437 days in space.

---In 1996…A Moscow Airways Antonov AN-32B (registered RA-26222) being operated by Air Africa, crashes at N’Dolo Airport in Kinshasa, DR Congo. The aircraft had difficulty building airspeed and went off the end of the runway and into a street market, where about 350 people were killed.

---In 2003…Turkish Airlines Flight 634, an Avro RJ100 (registered TC-THG) crashes on approach near Diyarbakir Airport in Turkey. The approach was being shot in heavy fog, and there were only 5 survivors among the 80 people aboard.

---In 2003…Air Midwest Flight 5481 crashes on departure from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, killing all 21 on-board. Operating for US Airways, the Beechcraft 1900D (registered N233YV) had received faulty maintenance on the elevator cables, resulting in the inability of the flight crew to control the aircraft, leading to a stall.

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ATC

Tower (in Stuttgart): "Lufthansa 5680, reduce to 170knots."

Pilot: "This is here like Frankfurt. There is also only 210 and170 knots...But we are flexible."

Tower: "We too. Reduce to 173 knots."

Trivia

Aircraft Names

Provide the manufacturer and number.

1. King Cobra
2. Air Comet
3. Scorpion
4. Banshee
5. Devastator
6. Fury
7. Marauder
8. Catalina
9. Thunderbolt
10. Voodoo