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IAI targets aerostructures pact with Airbus
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) says it is in advanced negotiations about a contract that would lead to it manufacturing parts for Airbus. "We are close to an agreement about manufacturing aerostructures for Airbus," confirms Gad Cohen, IAI's corporate executive vice-president for commercial aviation.
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MoM poses next question for Boeing presence in Washington cluster
Spread over about 71,000sq miles2, the state of Washington is home to diverse climates, with the Cascade mountains dividing a temperate rainforest in the west and semi-arid steppe in the east. It is also home to a diverse aerospace industry – anchored by Boeing. On the state’s southern border with Oregon is a thriving band of suppliers of unmanned air systems, including some of the original innovators in that rapidly growing field. Insitu, now owned by Boeing, was established in 1994 to design long-endurance, small UAVs and serves clients ranging from climate researchers and the fishing industry to the US and foreign militaries.
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CALC to buy another Airbus A320-200
Hong Kong-based China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC) has agreed to buy an Airbus A320-200, following an order for two A320 aircraft April 3. These aircraft are scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2017. CALC said in a statement that its fleet will reach at least 103 aircraft by the end of this year.
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AerCap posts $7.2 billion in 1Q 2017 financing transactions
Dublin-based lessor AerCap signed $7.2 billion in financing transactions during the first quarter of 2017, eclipsing—by $2.6 billion—the company’s financing transactions for the full year of 2016. In January, AerCap reported the company has signed $4.6 billion in financing transactions in 2016.
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Zodiac blames Safran talks for results delay
French aircraft equipment company Zodiac Aerospace has pushed back the publication of its interim results because of the extra workload created by an acquisition bid from high-technology group Safran. Zodiac was scheduled to release its full figures for the period from Sept. 1, 2016 to Feb. 28, 2017 on April 20, but this has now been pushed back to April 28.
LinkAirlines
Air Canada A330 takes off after losing wheel during taxi
An Air Canada Airbus A330 lost a rear wheel while taxiing at Montreal on 16 April, then took off and safely completed a flight to London Heathrow airport, according to the Montreal-based airline. "Preliminary information indicates that a wheel separated from the aircraft while taxiing down the runway before takeoff in Montreal, and came to rest beside the runway," Air Canada says in a statement. "As the landing gear is comprised of eight wheels, this had no impact on the safe operation of the flight."
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American Airlines to offer new Ohio-N.C. connection
Toledo-area travelers will soon have another option for passenger air service out of Toledo Express Airport. Officials announced the start of direct daily, nonstop flights by American Airlines to Charlotte, N.C., beginning Aug. 22, seven days a week, twice daily. Paul Toth, president and chief executive officer of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, announced the new passenger flights today at the airport near Swanton. He said the airport received a $750,000 grant from the federal government in 2011 that would help subsidize the cost of the flights. The grant was extended three times with the help of the northwest Ohio congressional delegation.
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Atlas Air & Polar Air Cargo dispatchers ratify labor agreement
Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo flight dispatchers, represented by the Teamsters union, have voted to ratify changes to their existing contract. According to a union statement, 100% of flight dispatchers voted, with 74% voting in favor of ratification.
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Horizon Air to increase pilots' pay
Alaska Air Group subsidiary Horizon Air has reached a tentative agreement with 620 unionized pilots regarding a contract amendment that will boost pay and help retain pilots. "This deal will allow us to successfully compete for talent and grow our airline," said Horizon Air's Brad Lambert.
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Jet Airways' code going on 9 Virgin Atlantic London-US routes
Jet Airways will place its code on Virgin Atlantic flights connecting London and the cities of Atlanta, Boston, Newark, N.J.; New York, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.
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Malaysia Airlines first to sign up for global flight tracking
Malaysia Airlines has become the first customer to sign up for SITAONAIR, Aireon and FlightAware’s global flight tracking service, designed to prevent incidents similar to the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines MH370.
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Southwest providing millions in free air travel to patients in need
The Southwest Airlines Medical Transportation Grant Program has provided free air travel to almost 60,000 people since it was established in 2007. Southwest has also been a longtime partner of Miracle Flights, a nonprofit that arranges complimentary air transport for sick children undergoing medical treatments that require travel.
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TAP Portugal to launch London City services
TAP Portugal plans to launch twice-daily weekday flights from Lisbon to London City Airport (LCY) starting Oct. 29, becoming the only airline to operate between the two destinations. There will also be one flight each on Saturdays and Sundays.
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United to unveil policy changes April 30 following ‘broad’ review
United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz encouraged the public, the carrier’s customers and investors to patiently wait for April 30 to hear a more detailed response from the airline about how last week’s passenger bumping incident will change United’s policies and procedures. “We are looking at a broad array of issues … [related to] our broader customer experience,” Munoz told analysts and reporters during an April 18 conference call on Chicago-based United’s first-quarter earnings
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United grows revenue in first quarter
United Continental Holdings increased revenue by 2.7% in the first quarter and predicts that passenger unit revenue will increase by up to 3% for the current quarter. "In the first quarter of 2017, our financial and operational performance gives us a lot of confidence about the foundation we are building," CEO Oscar Munoz said.
LinkAirports
New arrival method for MSP planes benefits environment
A new way most planes land at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has brought significant environmental benefits, the Metropolitan Airports Commission reported Monday. When the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rolled out new technology two years ago for arrival procedures — called optimized profile descents, or OPD — officials at the airports commission decided to measure the environmental effects.
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IAH to host Wings for All event
A Wings for All event today at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport will allow disabled travelers and their families to practice going through a typical airport experience, including checking in, going through security and boarding a plane.
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Military
Norways starts F-35 braking parachute tests
Norway has begun testing of the braking parachute it will employ on its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35As. Initial efforts at Edwards AFB in California will focus on how the Joint Strike Fighter handles with the parachute fitted, as well as braking on both dry and wet runways. A later phase, running until early 2018 at Eielson AFB in Alaska, will evaluate its performance on icy runways.
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IAI updates Panther UAV design after landing mishap
After investigating the cause of a landing mishap involving its hybrid Panther unmanned air vehicle late last year, Israel Aerospace Industries is to update the vertical take-off and landing design's fuselage and wing to boost performance. IAI is developing the Front Engine Panther variant in co-operation with South Korea's Hankuk Carbon, which supplies composite materials and other subsystems. During a first demonstration performed last December, the air vehicle was slightly damaged during a hard landing.
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Aviation Quote
All of the people involved in the program, to my knowledge, felt 'Challenger' was quite ready to go and I made the decision, along with the recommendation of the team supporting me, that we launched.
- Jesse W. Moore, NASA associate administrator for space flight, reported in the New York Times, 29 January 1986.
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Aircraft Names
Provided is the name, you provide the designation
1. HAVOC
2. BALTIMORE
3. BOLO
4. DRAGON
5. JETMASTER
6. DESTROYER
7. VENTURA
8. TORNADO
9. CANBERRA
10. HUSTLER
