NewsCommercial
FAA joint task force to scrutinize Boeing MAX certification
FAA is launching a joint task force with NASA and international regulators into the certification of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 and its maneuvering characteristics augmentation system (MCAS), part of an effort to “ensure the safety” of the jetliner, the agency announced April 3. FAA said it is establishing a Joint Authorities Technical Review (JATR), chaired by former National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chairman Chris Hart, that will include a team of experts from FAA, ...
Link
AIX Hamburg 2019: Airbus promotes lower-cost business class seat
Airbus is promoting the newly created “Settee Corner” concept for business class, combining flexible use and lower production cost.
Named after a British English word for sofa, the seat can only be used during taxi, takeoff and landing phases.
Link
AIX Hamburg 2019: ATR plans assistance for hearing-impaired
Turboprop manufacturer ATR is developing a system designed to make its cabins more accommodating for passengers who wear hearing aids.
A significant proportion of hearing-impaired passengers switch off their aids when boarding, ATR VP-marketing Zuzana Hrnkova said at the 2019 Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX).
Link
AIX Hamburg 2019: Questions emerge over lightweight cabin durability
Airlines are beginning to report problems with the durability of lightweight cabin materials, adding to costs in the longer term, according to panelists at the 2019 Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX).
Lightweight aircraft-cabin interiors have become increasingly popular over recent years, as airlines seek to cut aircraft weight to minimize fuel burn and reduce overall operating costs.
Link
Boeing takes 'responsibility' for eliminating MCAS risk: CEO
Boeing's chief executive has acknowledged the company's responsibility to address risk posed by 737 Max software issues, which he calls one "link" in an event chain preceding two crashes that killed a combined 346 people.
In a video message posted 4 April, chief executive Dennis Muilenburg describes recent events as the most emotionally difficult in his career while vowing Boeing will eliminate the possibility of another similar incident.
Link
A350s and undisclosed A320neo deal help offset order dip
Airbus has disclosed an order for 20 A320neo jets from an unidentified customer, as activity in March picked up following a slow start to the year.
Lufthansa’s agreement for 20 A350s and Taiwanese carrier Starlux Airlines’ order for 17 A350s took gross orders for the first quarter to 62.
Link
ANALYSIS: Seating manufacturers focus on customisation
Two or three years ago, with production of airliner programmes ramping up fast and demand for cabin refits soaring, airframers and their airline customers had one obsession when it came to seats: ensuring the supply chain was a robust enough to provide choice and competitive pricing, and prevent the sort of snarl-ups that affected Safran subsidiary Zodiac.
Link
PICTURES: Tests end for new model of world's biggest helicopter
Russian Helicopters has completed preliminary flight tests of the new Mil Mi-26T2V helicopter, pending its handover to the Russian defence ministry for joint evaluation.
The rotorcraft first flew in August 2018, and testing has been conducted from the Mil Moscow Helicopter plant. Russian Helicopters says the Mi-26 is the world’s largest helicopter, with a maximum take-off weight of 56t and capable of carrying a 20t payload.
LinkAirlines
Trim cut-out puzzle emerges from Ethiopian crash probe
Preliminary information from the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 crash indicates the crew initially successfully engaged the stabiliser trim cut-out in response to automatic nose-down commands.
But the inquiry has yet to confirm why, nearly 3min after this cut-out, the aircraft responded to another automatic nose-down command which pushed it into a final fatal dive.
Link
Japan Airlines to Start A350 Flights in September
Japan Airlines is set to begin Airbus A350 operations this September, with the first aircraft nearing completion on the assembly line.
The airline announced today that it would commenced flights with the new type on 1 September, 2019, between Tokyo Haneda and Fukuoka.
Link
Malaysian regulators approve new services on 53 routes
Malaysian aviation regulators approved 53 requests for air traffic rights allocations in the first quarter, with AirAsia accounting for nearly half of the applications.
The Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) said it approved all applications it received from Malaysian carriers for the three months through March 31, although one was only partially approved.
Link
Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa begin joint Europe-Hong Kong cargo shipments
Cathay Pacific Cargo and Lufthansa Cargo have begun eastbound joint shipments from Europe to Hong Kong, following the full expansion of their joint business agreement (JBA).
The carriers signed a JBA in May 2016, and the following October Lufthansa Cargo moved its local freight handling into the Cathay Pacific Cargo terminal in Hong Kong.
Link
AIX Hamburg 2019: American A321neo takes off with Airbus XL baggage bins
American Airlines has begun using Airbus’ Airspace XL overhead baggage bins in revenue service on an A321neo, thus becoming the first carrier to operate the new equipment.
Designed to follow the increasing proportion of passengers traveling with a roller suitcase, the Airspace XL bins make the suitcase-to-passenger ratio close to 1:1 on American Airlines’ 196-seat Airbus A321neos, according to American VP-global marketing Janelle Anderson.
Link
Qantas to boost cargo capacity with two Boeing 747-8Fs
Qantas plans to increase capacity on its freighter operations by replacing two leased Boeing 747-400Fs with 747-8Fs.
The Australian airline said it intends to wet-lease two -8Fs from Purchase, New York-based Atlas Air, which will replace the -400Fs from July.
Link
Ethiopian crash probe details pilots' 737 Max experience
Investigators have disclosed that the captain of the crashed Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max had logged a total of 103h on the type, while the first officer had 56h.
While the captain had accumulated total flying time of more than 8,100h, including over 1,400h on 737s, neither pilot had extensive experience in operating the re-engined version of the twinjet.
Link
American and LATAM tout new routes in case for joint venture
American Airlines and LATAM Airlines Group promise millions of dollars in consumer benefits in their application to US authorities for an immunised joint venture.
The Oneworld Alliance carriers tout up to $273 million in annual benefits from their proposed tie up that would cover flights between the USA and Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay if approved, in an application to the US Department of Transportation on 3 April.
Link
Ethiopian inquiry underlines investigators' independence
Ethiopian accident investigators have stressed that they are acting independently in the probe into the fatal crash of a Boeing 737 Max on 10 March.
Transport minister Dagmawit Moges told a 4 April briefing, at which preliminary findings were released, that the “major objective” of the inquiry was “not to blame”.
Link
Ethiopian crash pilots 'repeatedly' attempted recovery
Preliminary findings from the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 crash inquiry reveal that the crew was unable to control the aircraft despite repeatedly performing required recovery procedures.
The Ethiopian transport ministry has released initial recommendations in the wake of the 10 March crash, which occurred as the aircraft departed Addis Ababa for Nairobi as flight ET302.
Link
Macau A320 accident highlights bounced landing dangers
Beijing Capital Airlines has beefed up training related to bounced landings following a serious incident involving one of its Airbus A320s landing at Macau last year.
During the 8 August 2018 incident the aircraft (registered B-6952) lost its front nosewheel and suffered significant damage to both engines while attempting to land on Macau International airport’s runway 34, before declaring a mayday and diverting to Shenzhen Bao'an International airport.
LinkAirports
LAX plans concourse 0 and terminal 9 expansions
Los Angeles International airport has plans for two long-dreamed terminal extensions east of the existing complex, adding sorely needed gates to the congested facility.
The proposed "concourse 0" and "terminal 9" would add 21 domestic and international gates east of terminals 1 and 8, respectively, under the conceptual plans in the LAX Airfield & Terminal Modernisation initial study that is due out today. The projects would replace existing remote bus gates on the west side of the airfield.
Link
New flights to take Exeter Airport over one million passenger mark
Three new Ryanair routes are set to start from Exeter this week, with the airport predicting the exra flights could take it beyond one million passengers per year.
The twice-weekly flights to Malaga, Malta and Napoli are expected to attract up to 85,000 customers a year.
LinkMilitary
US Army looks for another quadcopter drone for its squads
The US Army is looking for production sources and product information on off-the-shelf commercial quadcopter drones that could provide real time situational awareness to squads on the battlefield.
The search for a “Squad Class 1 Unmanned Aerial System” is one of several US Army efforts to purchase and distribute small reconnaissance unmanned air vehicles (UAV) to its lower echelons. Other initiatives include the “Short Range Reconnaissance System Platform” and “Soldier Borne Sensor.”
Link
Aviation Quote
Every time we hit an air pocket and the plane dropped about five hundred feet (leaving my stomach in my mouth) I vowed to give up sex, bacon, and air travel if I ever made it back to terra firma in one piece.
- Erica Jong, Fear of Flying, 1973.
Daily Video
Editor's Choice
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.
