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Air Lease Corp. finalizes 737 MAX, 787-9 order
Los Angeles-based Air Lease Corp. has finalized an order with Boeing for 12 737 MAX aircraft, previously announced at the 2017 Paris Air Show. The agreement also includes two new orders for the 787-9 Dreamliner.
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Airbus delivered 47 aircraft, firmed $1 billion in orders for July
In July, Airbus booked $1 billion in new orders and delivered 47 aircraft to 23 airlines and eight lessors, including 12 A320ceos, nine A320neos, 15 A321ceos, four A330-300s, six A350-900s and one A380.
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Adjusted earnings up for ATSG
US-based aircraft provider, converter and leasing company Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) reported adjusted earnings from continuing operations (excluding non-cash warrant-related items) up 64% at $13.9m for the quarter ended June 30.
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Pilotless freighters ‘by early 2020s’, says report
Pilotless freighter aircraft could be a reality by the early years of the next decade, considers a report by UBS evidence lab.
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Airbus Engineless Glider Reaches New High Altitude in Argentina
Airbus’ Perlan reached a new high altitude during its second season of flight testing, Airbus said. The Airbus Perlan Mission II aims to fly a glider without an engine to the edge of space to collect data on climate change, weather, high-altitude flight and radiation effects on pilots and aircraft.
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Lessors Still See Strong Market for 250- to 350-seat Widebodies
Despite struggles with programs at the top end of the widebody market, trends point to solid demand for the core segment of smaller twin-aisle aircraft, top leasing executives say.
“We are seeing single-aisle capacity being replaced by the smaller 250- to 300-seat widebody aircraft,” Air Lease Corporation executive chairman Steven Udvar-Hazy said on a recent earnings call. “There’s a large migration in that direction, and part of that is the traffic density on a lot of these city pairs is reaching the point where airlines run out of frequencies with their single-aisle operations.”
LinkAirlines
Emirates accident investigators study human performance, weather notification
The United Arab Emirates’ aviation regulator has identified possible improvements to weather information transmitted to aircraft, following the August 2016 crash of an Emirates Airline Boeing 777-300 at Dubai International Airport.
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Robust growth fuels Air Arabia 2Q profit
Sharjah-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Air Arabia posted a 2017 first-half net profit of AED261 million ($71 million), up 7% compared to AED245 million for 2016 1H. Turnover for the first six months reached AED1.72 billion, down from AED1.84 billion in the year-ago half.
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Austrian Airlines completes Embraer E195 deliveries
Lufthansa subsidiary Austrian Airlines has taken delivery of its 17th and final Embraer E195 from Lufthansa’s former CityLine fleet, which is gradually replacing Austrian’s Fokker fleet.
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South Africa’s Airlink begins Embraer E190 operations
South African regional carrier Airlink has begun operations with the first of its incoming fleet of Embraer E190s, operating scheduled flights on its Pietermaritzburg (South Africa) and Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) routes.
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Russian Azur Air’s fleet reaches 20 aircraft
Russia’s Azur Air has taken delivery of its fourth 189-seat Boeing 737-800, bringing its fleet to 20 aircraft. The aircraft began first flights to Turkey and Spain Aug. 5, carrying 765 passengers on the first day of operations.
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Hainan Airlines to launch six international routes
Hainan Airlines plans to open six international routes soon as the Haikou-based carrier continues its expansion to meet the increasing demand of Chinese outbound travelers.
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Alitalia sale process enters new phase
Alitalia has opened a new phase in its sale process, setting a deadline of 15 September for expressions of interest in making a binding bid.
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Qatar flights granted access to UAE corridor
Qatar Airways flights have been granted limited access to United Arab Emirates airspace in order to ease operations over the Gulf.
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Malaysia Airlines eyes 30% cost drop from A350s on London route
Malaysia Airlines expects unit costs to fall by around 30% on its Kuala Lumpur-London route when it starts to replace its Airbus A380s with A350-900s from the end of the year.
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American plans to launch new Beijing flight in November
American Airlines plans to launch its new flight to Beijing from Los Angeles in November, after securing economically viable slots at the Chinese airport.
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Strong second quarter for Canada’s Cargojet
Canadian overnight air cargo operator Cargojet said its total revenues were up 11.2% over the previous year to $88.2m, in its results for the quarter ended June 30.
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Swiss C Series Makes First Flight Into London City
The Bombardier C Series CS100 completed its first revenue service into London City Airport with a flight by Swiss International Airlines from Zurich, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced Tuesday. Plans call for a Swiss CS100 to operate regularly from Zurich starting Tuesday, and from the airline’s main hub in Geneva starting next summer.
LinkAirports
Frankfurt Airport offers movies, gaming for waiting passengers
Germany’s Frankfurt Airport now offers a selection of movies and gaming activities for waiting passengers in Piers A and Z in Terminal 1. Both are free services.
LinkMilitary
New Kratos UAV will enter production this year
A secret unmanned air vehicle (UAV) from Kratos Defense and Security Solutions is expected to move into production by the end of this business quarter, Kratos’ chief executive says on 8 August.
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Israel grounds Apaches after fatal accident
The Israeli air force has again temporarily grounded its Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter squadrons, following a 7 August crash which caused the death of a pilot.
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Aviation Quote
No guts, no glory. If you are going to shoot him down, you have to get in there and mix it up with him.
- General Frederick C. 'Boots' Blesse, USAF.
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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.
