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Commercial

Aercap Holdings comments on airlines' interest in older planes
Aercap Holdings NV CEO Aengus Kelly noted that airlines have shown no signs of moving away from the newest generation of aircraft. "Fuel is airlines' biggest cost item and the most volatile in their cost structure and airlines' horizons when they're looking at taking planes go out over 12 years: what happened to fuel in the last three months is completely irrelevant," he said.
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Airlines

Ireland To Weigh IAG Bid For Aer Lingus With 'Great Caution'
The Irish government will "exercise great caution" in evaluating whether a bid for Aer Lingus by British Airways owner IAG is in the country's best interest, its transport minister said. The Irish government is the second largest shareholder in Aer Lingus with a 25 percent stake, which it kept when the airline was privatized to ensure it would continue to serve Irish cities. IAG has had two bids for Aer Lingus rejected in recent weeks and is widely expected to make a third, although it has declined to comment on its plans.
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UAE airline to become first Mideast budget carrier in China
A low-cost airline from the United Arab Emirates says it plans to begin flying to Urumqi, China, next month — becoming the first discount carrier from the Mideast to tap the Chinese market. Air Arabia's announcement Monday underscores the growing links between China and the oil-rich Gulf region. Urumqi is the capital of Xinjiang region, which is home to China's Muslim Uighur minority. The airline plans to launch non-stop return flights from its hub in Sharjah three times weekly to the western Chinese city beginning Feb. 10.
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​Indonesia to restrict publication of QZ8501 preliminary report
Indonesia will not publicly release the results of a preliminary investigation into the 28 December 2014 crash of an Indonesia AirAsia Airbus A320 aircraft. A preliminary report will be produced by late January, 30 days after the crash, but widespread media reports cite Tatang Kurniadi, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC), as saying that it “will not be exposed to the public". "This is for the consumption of those countries that are involved,” Kurniadi adds. His comments also indicate that the report will not contain any analysis about the crash of flight QZ8501, which claimed the lives of 162 passengers and crew.
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Crashed AirAsia A320 undertook rapid climb: minister
Indonesia’s parliament has been told that the Indonesia AirAsia Airbus A320 which crashed into the Java Sea last month climbed rapidly before its fatal descent. The aircraft climbed at 6,000ft/min and then descended 7,900ft in the space of 45s, transport minister Ignasius Jonan stated. He was briefing the parliament on the latest findings in the flight QZ8501 investigation on 20 January.
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American Airlines offers Flagship Check-In
Normally, our recurring travel snapshot series is called "Wish You Were Here" where we show off amazing travel destinations that we think you should go to. But today, we're reversing the roles and saying, "Wish We Were There". That's because while flying out of Chicago O'Hare the other day, we noticed an exclusive zone amidst all the other lowly check-in desks-- The American Airlines Flagship Check-In . This writer had never seen an AA Flagship Check-in the wild but thanks to Jaunted's inside look at the AA Flagship lounge at JFK, I now know exactly all the luxury traveler shenanigans that are happening behind this walled-off entrance, such as: checking-in, changing seat assignments, and checking luggage.
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Delta Posts Loss After Fuel Hedging
Delta Air Lines lost USD$712 million in the fourth quarter largely due to fuel hedge settlements, although the carrier offered positive outlook for the start of 2015. Delta took a USD$1.2 billion charge in the fourth quarter for mark-to-market adjustments on fuel hedges. Delta also said its refinery produced a USD$105 million profit. The airline earned USD$649 million, excluding special items. Passenger revenue grew 4.6 percent to about USD$8.24 billion versus the fourth quarter of 2013, with unit revenue up 0.8 percent.
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United Says Oil Price Not Driving Fleet Planning
A senior executive at United Airlines' parent has dismissed suggestions that airlines would revise their fleet buying decisions because of a recent drop in oil prices. "Current oil prices are not driving those decisions for us or any other major airline," Gerry Laderman, senior vice president for finance and procurement at United Continental, told the Airline Economics conference in Dublin.
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United could convert widebody orders to the 777-300ER
United Airlines could convert some of its existing widebody orderbook to the Boeing 777-300ER, following reports that it is preparing to order 10 of the widebody aircraft. "We are not currently considering purchasing incremental widebody aircraft," a spokesperson for the Chicago-based carrier said. "We do, however, have the ability to negotiate the substitution of certain aircraft types for other aircraft types as part of our flexible fleet plan, and we are considering the Boeing 777-300ER in this context." United has firm widebody orders for 24 Boeing 787-9s and 27 787-10s, as well as options for another 10 787-8s and a letter of intent for 36 787s, the Ascend Fleets database shows. It also has firm orders for 35 Airbus A350-1000s.
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United calls up furloughed ramp workers at DIA
In the wake of its massive baggage-handling issues at Denver International Airport, United Airlines is reinstating 40 previously furloughed ramp employees. "These recalled full-time workers will help us meet operational needs for spring and summer," said airline spokesman Charles Hobart. The 40 recalled workers are among 159 United employees placed on furlough as part of budgetary cutbacks, most of them in 2008, Hobart said.
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Air Fares Unlikely To Fall Alongside Oil Prices
Airlines are unlikely to cut fares following the dramatic fall in oil prices, aviation experts said, despite calls from politicians and consumer groups to pass on the savings to passengers. The global airline industry is expected to report a near USD$5 billion increase in profits this year to USD$25 billion, benefiting from cheaper fuel after crude oil prices dropped 60 percent since June last year. Executives and analysts at the Airline Economics conference in Dublin said carriers would keep prices high as long as there was sufficient demand, except when paring back fuel surcharges on long flights.
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Airports

American Express offers tranquility to members with Centurion lounge
American Express Centurion lounges represent the "future of the industry," writes reviewer Grant Martin. "With the Centurion Lounge, subscribers have a guaranteed meal before their flight and a clean and tranquil environment in which to eat it," he writes.
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Delta drives VIP passengers at JFK in Porsches
Delta Air Lines shuttles premium Diamond passengers with tight connections at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Porsche Panamera sedans. "We want to be able to provide a unique experience for our passengers," said Gail Grimmet, a senior vice president at Delta. "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity."
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Ind. airport asks for bids to develop 1,200 acres
The Indianapolis International Airport plans to seek bids for development of airport property for aviation-related business. Developing the 1,200 acres should generate $1.7 million a year in taxes for two counties.
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Military

Israel to upgrade F-15Is with new radar
The Israeli air force is upgrading the capabilities of its Boeing F-15I strike aircraft, including the installation of a new radar system. The sensor most likely to be fitted is the Raytheon APG-82(V)1 active electronically scanned array, which was also fitted to the US Air Force's F-15Es in place of the aging APG-70. The selection of the US-made radar instead of an Israeli-designed option is likely the result of the fact that Israel can purchase the APG-82(V)1 using the Foreign Military Funding it receives annually from the USA.
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Slovakia eyes Sikorsky Black Hawk buy
Slovakia is leaning towards the purchase of Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters after receiving promises from the US government over support for the acquisition. Martin Glváč, the Slovak defense minister, speaking during a press conference following a meeting with his US counterpart Chuck Hagel, said that new rotorcraft could be acquired through the Foreign Military Sales mechanism. Glváč says the helicopters would arrive gradually, but the first two examples could potentially be delivered by year-end.
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Regulatory

Indonesia Proposes Rule Changes After AirAsia Crash
Indonesia's transport minister proposed a number of changes to improve aviation safety standards, just over three weeks after an AirAsia passenger jet crashed killing all 162 people on board. Ignasius Jonan told a parliamentary hearing that a number of new rules regarding permits and safety, including health checks for flight crews and air traffic controllers, have been implemented since the crash. "It is a habit among airlines that they sometimes sell tickets before they have obtained a route permit," Jonan said. "Now route permits must be obtained 4 months before the flight and airlines will not be allowed to sell tickets before that."
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General Aviation

TBM 900 sales boost Daher-Socata annual performance
Daher-Socata says the introduction of its TBM 900 last year, coupled with the decline in the TBM used aircraft inventory, resulted its strongest annual performance since the market peak of 2008. The French airframer shipped 51 TBM 900s in 2014. Although this is nine aircraft fewer than in 2008, the delivery tally is 22% higher than in 2013, and up by 25% on 2012. The airframer received 64 orders last year for the high-speed, single-engined TBM 900 turboprop – the latest evolution of the 25-year-old TBM design – marking its "best sales year ever". “2014 was one of the best years in the history of our TBM program, bolstered by the TBM 900’s launch and its generation of new sales,” says Daher-Socata president and chief executive Stephane Mayer.
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Etcetera

"Charlie Victor Romeo" Now Streaming Online
The independent film "Charlie Victor Romeo," with all of its dialog taken from the CVR transcripts of real aviation accidents, now is available for viewing via iTunes. "Charlie Victor Romeo delivers the intensity and gut-wrenching emotion of these emergencies via the unique approach of live performance," says the iTunes site. A.O. Scott, film critic for the New York Times, called it "one of the most terrifying movies I have ever seen." If you missed it in New York, or at one of the film festivals or independent theaters where it played, now you can see it from any computer or wifi-enabled TV.
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Aviation Quote

The soaring pilot makes an aerial excursion, not an incursion. His passage leaves a whisper, not a shriek.

— Richard Miller

On This Date

---In 1921... The first triple-triplane aircraft, and the first passenger-carrying aircraft designed to carry more than 100 people that actually got off the ground, is launched at Lake Maggiore, Italy. The flight attempt ends in failure when the 55,000 lb. flying boat nosedives into the lake.

---In 1943…Pan Am flight 1104, a Martin M-130 Flying Boat (“Philippine Clipper”, reg. NC-14715), crashes in Ukiah, California, killing all 19 on-board. The aircraft, flying in very poor weather, descended for improved visibility, causing it to crash into a mountain after drifting off-course. The 10 passengers on the aircraft were all naval officers enroute to San Francisco.

---In 1951…The United States Air Force F-84 Thunderjet makes its first kill, when F-84 pilot Lieutenant Colonel William E. Bertram shoots down a MiG-15 during the Korean War.

---In 1951…Westinghouse J-40 jet engine (7,500 pounds dry thrust) completed 150-hour Navy qualification test.

---In 1952... The Saab 210 experimental delta-winged research aircraft makes its first flight in Sweden.

---In 1968.. A United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress carrying four nuclear weapons crashes in the sea near Thule Air Base in Greenland.

---In 1972…First flight of the Lockheed S-3A Viking 157992.

--In 1976... First passenger services by a supersonic airliner are begun, as British Airways and Air France Concorde supersonic transports take off simultaneously for Bahrain and Rio de Janeiro.

---In 1979…Neptune becomes outermost planet (Pluto moves closer). Unless a new planet is discovered, Neptune will remain outermost planet since on August 24, 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) formally downgraded Pluto from an official planet to a dwarf planet.

---In 1980…An Iran Air Boeing 727-086 (EP-IRD), crashes into a mountain while on approach to Tehran in very snow conditions. There were no survivors among the 128 aboard.

---In 1985…Galaxy Airlines Flight 203, a Lockheed L-188 Electra (reg N5532) crashes just after takeoff from Reno, Nevada. The small air-start door on the right wing had not secured properly by ground crews, causing a vibration felt by the crew. The pilots then eased back on the engines to try to isolate the noise, which resulted in a stall as they tried to continue climbing. There was only one survivor among the 70 people on the aircraft.

---In 1990… Last SR-71 (962) left Kadena AFB. Tail art was a tombstone which read: “DET 1 RIP 1968-1990”

---In 2004…NASA’s Mars Exploration Robot-A (MER-A) Spirit ceases communication from the red-planet because of a flash memory issue. The problem would be fixed two days later remotely from Earth.

---In 2010…Cargolux Flight 7933, operated by Boeing 747-400 LX-OCV struck a vehicle on landing at Luxembourg International Airport. The van suffered major damage and the aircraft sustained a damaged tire. Three investigations have been launched into the incident.

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Editor’s Choice

Trivia

General Knowledge

1. What well-known production airplane never flew out of, or in to the US airport where it was manufactured?

2. True or false, a turbocharged engine developing 36 inches of manifold pressure and 2,700 rpm at sea level produces 300 horsepower. The same manifold pressure and rpm at 20,000 feet results in the same horsepower.

3. Why did all Trans Atlantic air service terminate in May of 1937?

4. What is believed to be the first diesel-powered airplane in the United States?

miamiair wrote:

On This Date
---In 1990… Last SR-71 (962) left Kadena AFB. Tail art was a tombstone which read: “DET 1 RIP 1968-1990”