NewsCommercial
Boeing Shows Off 737 MAX To Media
Boeing on Monday showed off its new 737 MAX, a second major revamp of the workhorse jet it introduced 50 years ago, amid signs that demand for the fuel-efficient airliner may be ebbing. At its Renton, Washington, factory, Boeing showed media the second 737 MAX to be built and a new assembly line in a no-frills ceremony marking a major milestone in the jet's development. On Tuesday, employees and guests will see the first finished plane parked outside the factory.
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EASA certifies ATR 72-600 high-density cabin layout
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified the high-density seating configuration option for the ATR 72-600. ATR said that using the existing airframe, the new high-density configuration option “is achieved by optimizing the pitch and adjusting forward cargo compartment, bringing the aircraft maximum capacity from 74 to 78 seats. ATR’s greater passenger capacity further enhances airline revenue potential. The option will also be available as a retrofit.”
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Alitalia revamps its short- and mid-haul interiors
Alitalia is rolling out a “major cabin refurbishment” across its fleet of 96 short- and mid-haul aircraft under a project due for completion by April 2016. The Italian carrier’s engineering and maintenance department will be upgrading Alitalia’s Airbus and Embraer fleets, equipping them with leather seats, wood effect bulkheads and new colored headrests.
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American Airlines: How Does a Giant Get Bigger?
It’s at least conceivable that certain of the largest corporations in the world might no longer be with us in a few years. Giants of social media could find themselves at the end of a tiresome trend that’s finally run its course. But it would take imagination and invention on a cosmic scale for large airlines to fall. Commercial jetliners aren’t perfect, but they’re about as close as technology gets.
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AA, VA & NK will be especially well off if oil prices remain lower for longer
Last week, OPEC once again failed to reach any agreement on reining in production to stabilize oil prices. The group didn't even attempt to set a production quota -- not that it would have mattered, since OPEC has been routinely exceeding its collective production target of 30 million barrels per day this year.
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Carpatair ATR crash probe highlights pilots' experience gap
Investigators have disclosed that a Carpatair ATR 72-500 captain breached operating procedures while attempting an approach to Rome in strong gusting crosswinds, before a bounced landing which badly damaged the aircraft. It had been operating a service to Rome Fiumicino on behalf of Alitalia on 2 February 2013. The crew had been informed of 22kt winds gusting to 37kt.
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Emirates unveils fleet plans through 2018
Dubai-based Emirates Airline has announced fleet plans through 2018. In 2016, Emirates will retire 26 aircraft, comprising 12 Airbus A330-300s, four A340-300s, one A340-500, six Boeing 777-200ERs, two 777-300s and one 777-300ER. In 2017, 13 more aircraft will be retired and another 13 will be retired in 2018. Balancing its aircraft retirement program, Emirates will take delivery of 36 new aircraft in 2016, comprising 20 A380s and 16 777-300ERs.
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Hawaiian Airlines adds Tokyo Narita to its routes
Hawaiian Airlines has announced plans to begin daily nonstop service between Honolulu and Tokyo’s Narita Airport in July. The new route will complement the carrier’s existing daily nonstop service between Honolulu and Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.
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JetBlue to launch service from upstate N.Y. to Fla.
JetBlue Airways plans to launch flights on Thursday to two Florida cities from Albany International Airport. The carrier will offer nonstop service from Albany, N.Y., to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.
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Lufthansa Group to centralize flight operations in Vienna
Lufthansa Group, which is aiming to reduce overall management positions 15%, has assigned Austrian Airlines CEO Kay Kratky to take over responsibility for Lufthansa Group’s flight operations in Vienna, as of Jan. 1, 2016. The move is part of Lufthansa’s new organizational structure to reduce the current four management levels below the group’s executive board to three.
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Monarch profits to continue in 2016
Monarch Airlines is hopeful of following its return to the black for its financial year just closed with improved profits in 2016. The evolving leisure carrier, which embarked on a major restructuring after securing fresh investor in November 2014, is forecasting underlying full-year earnings of more than £40 million ($60 million). The figure exceeds its profit expectations and marks a turnaround on the losses in the previous year.
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United to offer basic economy fares in 2016
United Airlines plans to offer "no-frills" fares in 2016, while American Airlines is considering a similar move, sources say. The basic economy fares reportedly do not come with any extras such as complimentary upgrades.
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United vows to beat American, Delta in 2016 operational performance
United Airlines, trying to reverse its poor operational performance reputation, has promised its corporate customers that it will best American Airlines and Delta Air Lines in both flight completion and on-time arrival performance in 2016.
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Pilot errors preceded US Airways flight 1702 crash: NTSB
National Transportation Safety Board documents confirm that pilots of US Airways flight 1702 failed to enter required takeoff information into the aircraft’s flight computer prior to a March 2014 crash in Philadelphia. The documents, released in recent weeks, also show that the carrier has since updated its pilot handbook to address issues highlighted by the safety regulator.
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Fraport To Sign Greek Airports Deal Within 10 Days
German airport operator Fraport will sign a EUR€1.2 billion (USD$1.3 billion) deal to lease and manage 14 provincial Greek airports this month. "We will proceed with signing the agreement with Fraport within the coming 10 days," the head of privatisation agency HRADF, Stergios Pitsiorlas, told a news conference.
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Heathrow Decision Likely To Slip Again
UK Prime Minister David Cameron is unlikely to give final approval for expanding London's Heathrow Airport as expected this month, further delaying the decision which has been 25 years in the making. Cameron had promised a decision on whether to back the GBP£23 billion expansion by the end of the year but Reuters news agency reported that a person familiar with the process said this was now likely to come next year, possibly only after London's mayoral election in May.
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LAX takes the cake for healthiest airport menus
Los Angeles International Airport offers the healthiest airport menus in the US, according to a review by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. The committee found that 90% of eateries at LAX offered at least one healthy entree. "We're looking for fiber-packed menu items that prevent blood sugar levels from spiking and promote fullness," the committee said.
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Military
IAI to offer surplus Hercules to France
Israel Aerospace Industries' (IAI) Bedek group will make an unsolicited proposal for the supply of four upgraded Lockheed Martin C-130Es to the French air force. Sources in France confirm that they expect to receive a proposal from IAI. France's DGA defence procurement agency recently issued a request for proposals for the purchase and modification of four C-130s to Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, Ogma and Sabena Technics.
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Italy receives first Cameri-assembled F-35A
Italy has received its initial Lockheed Martin F-35A – the first example of the stealthy type to have been assembled outside of the USA. The Joint Strike Fighter, aircraft AL-1, was handed over to the nation’s defence ministry on 3 December, during a closed-doors ceremony at Italy's final assembly and check out (FACO) facility at Cameri air base.
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USN moves to modify Super Hornet for Blue Angels role
The US Navy has started a process to replace the Blue Angels demonstration team’s aircraft with a squadron of Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornets. Boeing will receive a contract to draw up the engineering plans needed to convert the single-seat Super Hornet into a configuration specific to the Blue Angels role, the navy said in a 3 December acquisition notice.
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Aviation Quote
Do not let yourself be forced into doing anything before you are ready.
— Wilbur Wright
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Editor’s Choice
Trivia
General Trivia
1. During World War II, _____ Tuskegee Airmen were deployed overseas as fighter pilots.
a. 155
b. 355
c. 955
d. 1,555
2. Why does an airplane with a constant-speed propeller have a shorter takeoff roll than an identical airplane with a fixed-pitch propeller?
3. The Lake Sport Mermaid, an amphibious light sport airplane marketed by the Czech Aircraft Works,
a. Has tricycle landing gear legs that must be operated individually.
b. Has wing flaps that the pilot can operate individually (one side at a time).
c. Utilizes an iPad as its primary flight display.
d. Can be modified by adding an exterior seat.
4. Why are Gary Burrell and Min H. Kao so well known in general aviation circles?
5. True or False? An airport without a published instrument approach procedure may be designated as an alternate airport when filing an instrument flight plan.
6. Why is landing a landplane in water called ditching?
7. True or False? The “Five Blackbirds” were an aerobatic team consisting of African-American pilots.
8. What is missing from the following list of VFR maneuvers?
a. touch-and-go landing
b. low approach
c. missed approach
d. full-stop landing
