NewsCommercial
Cargo rebound could lift sales of 747-8
Strength in the air cargo market has led to a boost in demand for the Boeing 747-8, according to the aircraft manufacturer.
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MTU Q1 Sales Boosted By Strong US Dollar
MTU Aero Engines reported a surge in first quarter profits and sales, helped by the strong US dollar and growth at its maintenance business. MTU, whose customers include Boeing and Airbus, reported revenues up 20 percent to about EUR€1.1 billion (USD$1.20 billion) and adjusted earnings before interest and tax up 10 percent to EUR€97.7 million.
LinkAirlines
American Airlines embarks on remodel of Admirals Clubs, other facilities
American Airlines is beginning its revamp of Admirals Clubs in Phoenix and Sao Paulo, part of more than $2 million in spending on aircraft and airport facilities. "In the future, when our customers see an Admirals Club sign anywhere in the world, they'll know they'll find a reliable, modern space where they can charge their devices, grab a bite to eat, get caught up on work or unplug from the world around them," said AA's Fernand Fernandez.
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Sole Bid For Asiana Parent Lower Than Expected
South Korean builder Hoban Construction has bid KRW600.7 billion won (USD$561.88 million) for a controlling stake in Asiana Airlines' parent firm, a source said, possibly making it easier for the former owner of the parent to regain control. Before the auction, the controlling stake in Asiana parent Kumho Industrial was seen fetching KRW400 billion above Hoban's bid because of the airline's value, news wire service Yonhap said.
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Cargolux bans lithium-ion batteries after fire analysis
Freight operator Cargolux is preparing to suspend transport of lithium-ion battery consignments in light of recent re-assessment of the potential hazards they pose. Cargolux has reviewed data from ICAO, the US FAA and Boeing centred on the effectiveness of on-board extinguishing systems against lithium battery fires. Last August the FAA presented the results of a full-scale fire test, using a Boeing 727 freighter, to an air safety forum.
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Comfort Plus on Delta makes cross-country trip enjoyable
Reviewer Charyn Pfeuffer was pleased with her cross-country flight on her birthday in the Comfort Plus section of Delta Air Lines. "When it was all said and done, we were happy, relaxed and able to quickly de-board the plane and get on with our birthday festivities," she writes.
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New web site for Hawaiian Airlines touts more user features
Hawaiian Airlines has launched a new website that is easier to navigate and features more options and a guide to the Hawaiian Islands. “This is our biggest sales channel and accounts for more than half of our total revenue,” said Avi Mannis, vice president of marketing at Hawaiian Airlines. He noted that the traffic is high from the U.S. and Hawaii, with less from its international market.
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JetBlue reports 1Q earnings of $137M
JetBlue shares soared Tuesday after the airline gave an April revenue forecast that was much stronger than those from competitors. The airline said it was getting a boost from its Mint premium service on coast-to-coast flights and from schools in the Northeast spreading spring break over several weeks.
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Overseas deliveries and lower fuel costs boost 1Q income for UPS
Lower fuel costs and an increase in overseas deliveries has helped increase first quarter net income for United Parcel Service, Inc. by 13% to $1.03 billion, say company officials. The company says it remains on track to boost its adjusted profits this year by 6% to 12% over last year.
LinkAirports
Delta Air Lines adds larger planes to N.D. airport
Delta Air Lines is expected to have two larger planes in service at the Grand Forks International Airport in North Dakota by early May. The planes will seat 76 passengers instead of the 50 seats currently available on smaller aircraft Delta flies to Grand Forks, said airport officials.
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Storm Knocks Out Power To New Orleans Airport
A line of storms moving through Louisiana on Monday knocked out power to New Orleans Airport, sent train cars tumbling from an elevated bridge and left some 168,000 customers without power. There were no immediate reports of injuries from the storms, which also left the criminal courthouse in New Orleans without power and caused several area schools, including the University of New Orleans, to cancel classes.
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Officials consider scrapping monorail system at Newark airport
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is considering scrapping and replacing the 19-year-old AirTrain monorail system at Newark Liberty International Airport. A recommendation to replace the service was made in 2011 after the monorail experienced power outages and other problems causing delays for passengers.
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O'Hare offers Mobile Passport Control app for customs
Chicago O'Hare International Airport offers passengers the ability to use the Mobile Passport Control application. Three other U.S. airports feature the app, which allows passengers to enter information requested by Customs and Border Protection and use an express lane for customs.
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Military
Brazil signs weapons deal for Gripen NG fleet
Brazil has further advanced its acquisition programme for the Saab Gripen NG, by signing a roughly $245 million contract for the type’s weapons. Announced on 24 April, the deal is between the company and the Brazilian dence ministry’s aeronautics command. Saab declines to detail the individual weapon systems included in the package, but says all export authorisations should be received during the second half of this year. “The acquisition contract includes weapon deliveries by Saab and suppliers which have been selected by the customer,” it adds.
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IAI details 767 tanker conversion plans
Israel Aerospace Industries' Bedek group will operate a dedicated conversion line for Boeing 767s to be adapted to the company's multi-mission tanker transport (MMTT) configuration. Yosi Melamed, Bedek Aviation Group executive vice-president and general manager, says the line will receive used Boeing 767-300ERs and make the necessary modifications to the airframe and systems to enable the new role. This work will include incorporating a new glass cockpit and the installation of replacement GE Aviation CF6-80C2 engines, plus under-wing hose-and drogue refuelling pods and a boom, if required by the customer.
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Aviation Quote
We have clearance, Clarence. Roger, Roger. What's our vector, Victor?
— Cockpit crew in the movie Airplane.
On This Date
---In 1905... In Santa Clara, California, Daniel Maloney is launched from a tethered balloon to make a free flight in a tandem-wing glider, which “Professor” Montgomery, a schoolteacher and keen amateur aviator, has designed.
---In 1931... The Boeing B-9 bomber flies for the first time and marks the next step in airframe development in the evolution of the Boeing 247, the first modern-type airliner.
---In 1961… Saturn booster firing of 30 seconds using timer at predetermined setting was successful in flight qualification test.
---In 1964... British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) introduces the VC10 jet airliner into regular passenger service, on its route to Lagos, Nigeria.
---In 1968... United Air Lines becomes the first carrier to put the Boeing 737-200, a larger capacity version of the standard 737, into service.
---In 1982…An Avro Vulcan bomber deploys to Ascension Island as part of the Falklands War build-up of British forces in the South Atlantic Ocean.
---In 1984…TWA starts services to ten new cities in one day, the largest single day expansion in the carrier's history.
---In 1988... The first flight of the Boeing 747-400 is made. This Advanced Superjet has a crew of two and can carry between 412 and 509 passengers over 8,000 miles. Sales in 1990 of 170 of these wide-body transports broke all records.
---In 1988… The Airbus A320 enters service with British Airways.
---In 2002…First flight of the Saab JAS 39C Gripen.
---In 2013…National Airlines Flight 102, a Boeing 747 freighter, stalls and crashes shortly after takeoff from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, due to load shifting, killing all seven crew members on board.
Daily Video
Trivia
General Trivia
1. Why was Kiwi International Air Lines, a U.S. scheduled air carrier from 1992 to 1999, named after a flightless bird (a kiwi)?
2. In fighter-pilot parlance, tallyho means that enemy aircraft have been sighted. It is colloquially used in civil aviation to mean that traffic is in sight. What is the source of this expression?
3. The Century-series fighters began with the North American F-100 Super Sabre, the McDonnell Douglas F-101 Voodoo, the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, and so forth. The McDonnell F-110A Spectre became better known as what famous airplane?
4. What is VH and why is it more significant now than it has been in the past?
5. Frequently presented by the president of the United States in a White House ceremony, the Robert J. Collier Trophy probably is aviation's most prestigious award. Who was Robert J. Collier?
ORFflyer wrote:I had to reinstall Firefox on my work computer, and now all videos won;t play. Shows a grey screen with "A plug-In is required to play this video" but it doesn't say what plug-in.
Any ideas?
miamiair wrote:1. Why was Kiwi International Air Lines, a U.S. scheduled air carrier from 1992 to 1999, named after a flightless bird (a kiwi)?
Queso wrote:You need Flash. Instructions: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/in ... ions-games
vikkyvik wrote:Van Halen. More significant now because they are back recording and touring with David Lee Roth.
ORFflyer wrote:Yes they are, but I've seen a couple recordings, and he is awful!
vikkyvik wrote: I don't think DLR was ever particularly good, though he worked for classic VH.