NewsCommercial
MRJ delay confirmed; system revisions cited
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), the parent of Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp., has made official a further two-year delay in the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) program. MHI said Jan. 23 that the first delivery of the MRJ90 to Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) would be pushed back to mid-2020 from mid-2018, meaning first delivery will be nearly seven years later than what was planned in the program’s original timetable. Four MRJ90 flight test aircraft are currently flying, with a fifth slated to join flight testing this year, but the MRJ program—Japan’s reentry into commercial aircraft manufacturing for the first time since production on the NAMC YS-11 turboprop ended in 1974—has been beset by numerous delays over the years.
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ATR receives orders for 36 aircraft in 2016
Turboprop manufacturer ATR logged orders for 36 aircraft and delivered 80 aircraft in 2016, generating a $1.8 billion turnover. During the 12-month period, ATR received orders for 34 ATR 72-600s and 2 ATR 42-600s. The 80 deliveries represented the third-highest level on record, in turn creating the second highest turnover for ATR.
LinkAirlines
ACT Airlines 747F recorders significantly damaged
The flight data recorder (FDR) and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) retrieved last week from the ACT Airlines Boeing 747 freighter crash site and sent to Moscow for analysis have significant mechanical damage and high temperature traces, according to Russia’s Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC). The IAC said in a statement it is not possible to read the information in a traditional way.
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Alaska Airlines pilot to donate kidney to colleague
Anchorage-based Capt. Jodi Harskamp will undergo surgery in March to donate her kidney to Jenny Stansel, a colleague and flight attendant for Alaska Airlines. "Jenny is a fabulous person. I'd like to see her stick around for a long time," said Harskamp.
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Delta-Aeromexico execs appointed to lead JV
Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico have announced leadership changes as the two carriers move to establish a transborder joint venture (JV) between Mexico and the US. Delta VP-Seattle Mike Madeiros was appointed COO of Aeroméxico and Delta VP-Latin America and the Caribbean Nicolas Ferri was named VP-Mexico and Aeroméxico/Delta Joint Business.
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Emirates Stokes Ire of U.S. Airlines With Flights Through Greece
Emirates will begin a new daily route linking Dubai and the New York area via Athens, adding fuel to a dispute with U.S. airlines over whether Persian Gulf carriers are unfairly flooding the skies with flights to the world’s largest aviation market. The route will be Emirates’ second to arrive in the U.S. after touching down in Europe, enabling the airline to pick up passengers thousands of miles from its home base in the United Arab Emirates. The flights are “commercially and operationally feasible,” the airline’s president, Tim Clark, said in a statement Monday.
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Fastjet shareholders back share sale
Shareholders in African low-cost carrier (LCC) fastjet have approved the sale of a 28% stake to Johannesburg-based Solenta Aviation Holdings. Fastjet confirmed the approval in a stock market disclosure, detailing the results of a general meeting held Jan. 23.
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United Flights Restart After IT Problem
A ground halt of United Airlines flights has been lifted and scheduled flights were resuming late on Sunday evening. United tweeted that “We experienced an internal IT issue, which is now resolved. Airport crews are working to restore flight service.”
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United Airlines' performance, stock could be poised for gains
Analysts say United Airlines is poised to boost financial performance under the leadership of company President Scott Kirby. "It seems clear his handle on [United's] business is growing firmer by the day," says Wolfe Research analyst Hunter Keay.
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United eyeing 767 replacement in fleet review
United Airlines is evaluating options for a replacement of its Boeing 767 fleet, as part of its on-going widebody fleet review. The 767 is the only aircraft that the Chicago-based carrier does not have a “line of sight” in terms of a replacement in its fleet, said president Scott Kirby in a recorded question and answer session with employees in Denver viewed by FlightGlobal.
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New investors seek to resurrect VLM Airlines
Moves are underway to revive Belgian regional and charter operator VLM Airlines, which declared bankruptcy in June 2016. A group of Dutch and Hong Kong-based Canadian investors has set up a corporate vehicle, SHS Aviation, in the Netherlands in an attempt to restore the airline.
LinkAirports
Fog Hits Heathrow Airport, Some Cancellations
About 100 flights have been cancelled at London’s Heathrow Airport for Monday morning as fog reduced visibility down to a hundred yards. The low visibility meant the airport was operating on reduced capacity with many flights delayed and further cancellations possible.
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Berlin Brandenburg airport opening delayed again
The much-delayed opening of Berlin Brandenburg International Airport (BER) is expected to be postponed once again, after the discovery of new technical glitches with the control systems in the terminal doors, which present a fire safety risk. According to German news agency dpa, 1,200 doors need to be cabled to secure fire protection. If the doors do not close properly in the event of a fire, sufficient smoke extraction would be not possible.
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Philadelphia's Wi-Fi speeds among the fastest at a US airport
Philadelphia's gateway to the world offers some of the fastest airport Wi-Fi connection speeds in the US, according to a study released today. Philadelphia Intrernational Airport (PHL) ranks second among the country’s top 20 busiest airports in providing this essential service to its passengers, according to Speedtest by Ookla. The findings, which are based on analysis of public Wi-Fi speeds during the last three months of 2016, discovered that PHL’s Wi-Fi download speed was second only to Denver International Airport.
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Pittsburgh enjoys busiest year in nearly a decade as bond ratings rise
The annual upturn in passenger numbers represents the biggest year-on-year rise since 2010. The last time the airport handled more traffic in a calendar year was in 2008 when 8.7 million passengers passed through its facilities. The busy holiday travel months of November and December each saw significant gains in passenger traffic – 2.5% in November and 3.4% in December.
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Military
Israel wings it on F-35
On 12 December 2016, Israel underscored its Middle East air supremacy by receiving its first pair of Lockheed Martin 5-35I “Adir” stealth fighters. Dignitaries gathered at Nevatim air base to mark the occasion included Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu; the US ambassador to Israel, Daniel Shapiro; US defence secretary Ashton Carter; and Marillyn Hewson, the president of Lockheed Martin.
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Hero 30 on target for June live-fire test
Raytheon and Uvision plan to perform a live demonstration of their jointly developed Hero 30 loitering weapon system, with the activity likely to be conducted in the USA during June. Previous demonstrations attended by US Army special forces representatives used an inert warhead, but the pending test will use a live charge developed in the USA.
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BAE develops digital HUD replacement for F-22
BAE Systems will develop a digital replacement for the cathode ray tube-based Lockheed Martin F-22 head-up display (HUD). The contract awarded by Lockheed calls for BAE to develop a system that fits the dimensions and power used by the current system. BAE anticipates that a follow-on order will lead to a retrofit production program for the roughly 180 F-22s in the US Air Force fleet.
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Aviation Quote
There are a lot of people who say that bombing cannot win the war. My reply to that is that it has never been tried. . . and we shall see.
- Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Arthur "Bomber" Harris, 1942.
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