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NASA awards studies for low-boom supersonic transports
Eight newly-launched studies announced by NASA on 3 June will continue the agency’s long-running effort to validate the technology for a new generation of passenger-carrying supersonic aircraft. The focus of the studies launched by NASA’s commercial supersonic technology project ranges widely. NASA awarded Rockwell Collins $698,000 for a two-year study on a “sonic boom display” that shows pilots how the noise created by the aircraft’s speed is being perceived on the ground. In perhaps a related study, Honeywell will evaluate a pilot interface for mitigating sonic boom noise under a $686,000, two-year study.
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PW-powered A320neo to resume flights in 'coming weeks'
Airbus believes it will still be able to start delivering the A320neo before the end of this year, despite not having a specific timeframe for resuming test flights with the Pratt & Whitney-powered variant. Flight-testing with the two PW1100G-equipped aircraft – F-WNEO and D-AVVA – has been “paused” since early May, says Airbus, after discovery of a component manufacturing flaw. Airbus has not indicated when the aircraft might restart their flight campaign, stating only that it is “confident” of returning them to testing “in the coming weeks”.
LinkAirlines
Alitalia unveils conservative new livery
Alitalia has unveiled a conservative new livery as part of a relaunch event for the airline following investment by Middle Eastern shareholder Etihad Airways. The new colour scheme departs little from the previous livery – it retains the characteristic stylised ‘A’ logo on the fin, with the green and red extended over the tail cone.
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Delta introduces complimentary valet service to enhance the boarding process
Delta Air Lines is rolling out its Early Valet service on some flights in an attempt to speed up the boarding process for customers. Passengers may tag their carry bags for early loading and a valet will store it at their seat.
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JetBlue adds new service to Reno
JetBlue recently began service between Reno-Tahoe International and JFK International. RNO CEO Marily Mora says that it's the support of the community that made it possible.
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JetBlue restarts seasonal service between Hyannis, JFK
JetBlue will launch its second year of flights between Hyannis and JFK Airport in New York on Thursday, June 18. According to a release from the Barnstable Municipal Airport, the daily, non-stop flights will continue through Labor Day.
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Portugal To Challenge Court's Suspension Of TAP Sale
The Portuguese government said it will press ahead with the sale of flag carrier TAP, despite a court ruling on Wednesday to suspend it. The government has set Friday as the deadline for final, binding bids in the sale of a 61 percent controlling stake in TAP. "We have no intention of changing the deadline from Friday for the proposals," transport secretary Sergio Monteiro told journalists.
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United Does Not See A Fit For Airbus A380
United Airlines has been in talks about purchasing the Airbus A380, but at the moment does not see it fitting with its fleet, the airline said. United confirmed that its chief financial officer, John Rainey, told aviation news outlet Flightglobal: "We've looked at that and we are looking at it right now it just doesn't really work for us."
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United Airlines adds regional service to Chicago
Service from Evansville Regional Airport to Chicago will begin Thursday via United Airlines. The flights will be operated with Embraer 145 50-passenger jet aircraft.
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United looking at E-Jet E2 to enable further 50-seater reductions
United Airlines is “looking at” the Embraer E-Jet E2 family for its mainline fleet, as part of its plan to further shrink its fleet of 50-seat regional jets. “It’s something that we’re looking at, it is,” says John Rainey, chief financial officer of the Chicago-based carrier, in an interview with Flightglobal on 3 June. “We look at just about every type of airplane and the challenge we have right now is that we are too dependent on 50-seat RJs [regional jets].”
LinkAirports
PreCheck now available at Green Bay, Wisc. airport
Travelers enrolled in the Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck program can now take advantage of expedited security screening at Austin Straubel International Airport in Wisconsin. Program participants use special screening lanes where they are exempt from some regular screening chores, such as removing their belts and shoes.
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Military
Boeing 767-2C tanker completes first flight with boom, wing pods
The first engineering and manufacturing development aircraft of Boeing’s KC-46 tanker programme has completed its first airworthiness flight equipped with an aerial refuelling boom and wing air refuelling pods with a 4.3h flight from Boeing Field to Paine Field in Washington state. The flight was a major milestone for the US Air Force tanker development programme as it is the first time the 767-2C aircraft has flown with aerial refuelling equipment, although the true test will come this summer when the first full-up KC-46A test aircraft known as EMD-2 conducts its first flight and then later refuelling tests with other military aircraft. Those flights will inform a milestone C decision that concludes the development phase.
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USAF moving past cluster munitions, CALCM cruise missile
The US Air Force expects that production of a 500-pound, iron-spraying bomb, among other efforts, will eliminate the need for cluster munitions after 2018, in accordance with a timeline set by the Pentagon in 2008. Although precision-strike weapons like hellfire missiles and small diameter bombs are more commonly used today, the head of Air Combat Command Gen Hawk Carlisle says there is still demand for cluster munition-type capabilities on the Korean Peninsula, where the US maintains a steady presence to deter an attack by the north. And as the January 1, 2019 deadline approaches for ending the use of cluster munitions, which case unintended harm to civilians, Carlisle says the air force has a “pretty good plan” for replacing them.
LinkGeneral Aviation
Sonex CEO, mechanic killed in Oshkosh crash
Two employees of aircraft kit maker Sonex – including chief executive Jeremy Monnett – died in a 2 June accident while flying a company-owned Sport Acro in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Monnett is the son of Sonex founder John Monnett and chief financial officer Betty Monnett. He was inside the acrobatic, single-engined two-seater alongside Sonex mechanic Mike Clark when the crash occurred on the east end of Wittman Regional Airport’s runway 9 around 3:30pm, according to a company statement.
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Aviation Quote
I was engaged in what I believe to be the most thrilling industry in the world—aviation. My heart still leaps when I see a tiny two-seater plane soaring gracefully through the sky. Our great airlines awe me. Yet I know they were not produced in a day or a decade.
— William A. "Pat" Patterson, CEO United Airlines
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