NewsCommercial
Boeing looks to 3D-print thermoplastic aircraft parts
Making aircraft parts on 3D printers is becoming increasingly popular, despite several stubborn constraints. Among the most limiting features are the laptop computer-sized dimensions of the 3D-printing machines. Coupled with a relatively plodding material lay-down rate, 3D printers are confined to making only the smallest and usually most intricate parts in the aerospace catalogue. Stratasys, a pioneer in 3D printing since the mid-1980s, thinks it may have solved part of the technology’s size constraint. The Minneapolis- and Tel Aviv-based company has unveiled a demonstrator for a new 3D printer with an “unlimited” capacity for length-wise deposition of thermoplastic composites.
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Third MRJ takes flight; ANA warned on further technical delay
Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. has confirmed it is in talks with launch customer All Nippon Airways (ANA) over a further technical delay, although it insists no decision has been made. On Oct. 3, Mitsubishi issued a statement rejecting reports the Regional Jet (MRJ) program has been delayed again.
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Air Freight Demand Rose 3.9 Pct In August - IATA
IATA released data on Wednesday for global air freight markets showing that August demand rose 3.9 percent compared with 2015. Capacity (in available freight tonne kilometres) increased by 4.1 percent in the month over the same period last year.
LinkAirlines
Aeromexico Reports September 2016 Traffic Results
Grupo Aeromexico S.A.B. de C.V. today reported September 2016 operational results. Grupo Aeromexico transported 1 million 573 thousand passengers in September, an 11.0% year-on-year increase. International passenger numbers increased by 12.4%, while domestic passenger numbers increased by 10.3%. Demand, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPKs), increased by 12.6%, year-on-year. Aeromexico's capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometers (ASKs), increased by 8.2% year-on-year.
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Airlines expand flexible rebooking for Hurricane Matthew
US airlines are announcing additional flexible rebooking to accommodate customers who may be affected by Hurricane Matthew.
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Alaska Airlines welcomes Embraer 175 to fleet
Alaska Airlines started flying an Embraer 175 on select routes, including flights from Santa Barbara, Calif., to Seattle and Portland, Ore.
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Alaska Air sees uptick in RPMs for Sept.
Alaska Air Group reported a 7.4% year-over-year increase in revenue passenger miles for September, reaching 2.83 billion RPMs. The airline also reported growth in load factor and capacity.
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American to debut premium economy cabin for international flights
Starting in November, American Airlines will begin offering premium economy seating for select international flights. The cabins will be available on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and will offer wider seats, extendable footrests and adjustable headrests, as well as enhanced individual in-flight entertainment options.
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Etihad, TUI, Air Berlin In Talks On Leisure Airline
Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways and German travel group TUI said they are in discussions to create a European leisure airline group. Air Berlin said it will also join the discussions to form the new airline that will focus on connecting popular tourist destinations.
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GOL Makes First Commercial Flight in South America with Internet On Board
Brazil's largest air transportation group, informs its shareholders that began operations with internet on board, becoming the first South American airline to offer this facility to its customers. The first commercial flight with this connection was between Congonhas-Brasilia-Congonhas, which took off at 10:45 a.m. Passengers on board used this new facility, browsing freely.
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LOT Polish Airlines to launch service to Newark, Los Angeles in 2017
Warsaw-based LOT Polish Airlines plans to boost its summer 2017 north transatlantic services with the launch of 4X-weekly Warsaw-Los Angeles and 3X-weekly Warsaw-Newark services, starting from April 2017. Los Angeles, California will be LOT’s eighth long-haul route and its fifth destination in North America.
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Lufthansa shows off painted A350
German flag-carrier Lufthansa has shown off its first Airbus A350, after livery painting of the aircraft was completed at Toulouse. The aircraft (MSN74), yet to have its Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines fitted, has spent 11 days in the paint-shop.
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SkyTeam introduces online frequent flyer retro-crediting
The SkyTeam alliance has introduced an online, retroactive credit tool to make it easier for frequent flyers to keep their account balances up-to-date. Already available across most of SkyTeam’s 20 members, the tool works in real-time to validate retroactive requests for eligible flights. According to SkyTeam, the new tool eliminates the need for manual processing of post-travel claims such as when a Frequent Flyer Program (FFP) number has not been entered into a reservation. Customers log into their FFP account, enter flight details and the system validates the request in seconds. Eligible flights are credited to their account automatically and retroactive requests can be made as little as one week after the date of travel.
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United CEO: Airtime connects airline employees with customers in measureable ways
Oscar Munoz, the CEO of United Airlines, said Airtime -- the company's web-based interactive tool designed to help facilitate conversations with its customers -- has helped the carrier enhance the amenities customers want when they travel. "There simply is no substitute for hearing directly from customers, which is why one year ago we launched Airtime to help us connect with you directly, answer your questions honestly and get your ideas on how we can keep improving each day," he writes.
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VivaAerobus receives first A320neo
Mexican low-cost carrier VivaAerobus has received its first Airbus A320neo, becoming the third airline in Latin America to take delivery of the re-engined narrowbody jet. The Monterrey-based airline has orders for 40 A320neos, from an order of 52 A320 family aircraft that it announced in 2013.
LinkAirports
UK To Make Runway Decision 'Shortly'
UK Prime Minister Theresa May said a decision on where to add additional runway capacity in the south-east of England will be made soon. "We will shortly announce a decision on expanding Britain's airport capacity," the Prime Minister told the annual conference of her ruling Conservative party.
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Military
First flight for Yak-152 trainer
Russian airframer Irkut has performed the first flight of its new Yakolev Yak-152 basic trainer. Flown by experimental test pilot Vasily Sevastyanov, the maiden sortie took place on 29 September from the manufacturer’s Irkutsk facility in the far east of the country. "The flight mission is done completely, the aircraft performed well,” says Sevastyanov.
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Army will not pursue AH-64F model Apache
As Boeing prepares for a possible F model Apache as a bridge between the legacy helicopter and the Future Vertical Lift aircraft, the US Army says it will not pursue the development of the AH-64F. Boeing’s plan includes securing a second multi-year buy for the Apaches, which would be followed by the second iteration of the E model or an F model, Kim Smith, Boeing’s vice president for attack helicopter programs told reporters at the AUSA Annual meeting in Washington DC. The customer would choose the designation for the helicopter, she says.
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Train like Air Force special ops with new mobile VR app
US Special Ops VR is a mobile app for Android and iOS that lets users train like members of Air Force Special Operations Command. App users get a sense of what it's like to be the gunner of a CV-22 Osprey among other missions.
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Iran reveals newest RQ-170 attempt
Iran has revealed its newest attempt at reverse engineering the Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel unmanned air vehicle, which according to local media has been dubbed the Saeqeh, or "Lightning". The American UAV was downed in December 2011 over the city of Kashmar, approximately 120nm (222km) from the Afghanistan border, while carrying out a surveillance mission. Since then, Tehran has made no secret of its mission to produce its own version of the Sentinel, and an earlier attempt at a variant made its debut flight in 2014.
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Aviation Quote
Whatever the lengths to which others may go, His Majesty's Government will never resort to the deliberate attack on women and children and other civilians for purposes of mere terrorism.
- British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, House of Commons, 14 September 1939.
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Trivia
General Trivia
1. What is a deceleron?
2.When air traffic control advises pilots of other traffic, many pilots advise the controller that the traffic is not in sight using the colloquial and unofficial phrase "no joy." From where does this expression originate?
3. The Waco CG-4A glider was used during World War II (especially during the Normandy invasion) as a cargo and troop carrier. Why was it referred to as a "flying coffin"?
4. Almost all general aviation piston engines have a wet sump, a built-in oil reservoir, instead of an external or separate oil tank. How can you determine by looking at the oil dipstick of a wet-sump engine the minimum oil quantity with which the engine can be operated safely?
5. True or False, James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle was the first solo pilot to perform a blind takeoff and landing using only cockpit instruments and radio aids.
6. True or False, Two Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses took off from Hilo, Hawaii, on August 6, 1946, without anyone on board. Both landed safely at Muroc Dry Lake, California.
