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Europe begins public consultation on US sanctions
The European Commission (EC) has launched a public consultation on a preliminary list of US exports that could be subject to tariffs in the latest stage of the Airbus-Boeing subsidies saga.
The consultation will last until May 31.
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No simulator sessions needed for revised MAX training, FAA says
An FAA update of minimum training required for pilots to fly the Boeing 737 MAX will cover the aircraft’s maneuvering characteristics augmentation system (MCAS), but simulator sessions will not be needed, a draft of a new report reveals. The updated flight standardization board (FSB) report for the 737 family, posted for public comment April 16, adds MCAS as a “special emphasis area” for pilot training.
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EU bans Moldova in latest air safety list update
The European Commission has blacklisted Moldova and put Belarus and the Dominican Republic under closer scrutiny in its latest European Union (EU) Air Safety List update, while also lifting bans on two Angolan airlines.
Airlines that appear on the EU Air Safety List—more commonly known as the EU blacklist—are subject to EU operating bans or restrictions because of shortcomings in their air safety oversight.
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FAA panel adds MCAS review to 737 Max pilot training standards
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) panel has updated pilot training standards to ensure 737 Max pilots understand the aircraft’s manoeuvring characteristics augmentation system (MCAS).
The updated standards are included in a revised report written by an FAA flight standardisation board – a body that determines pilot training requirements and ensures competency of cockpit crew members.
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Hong Kong International Airport records steady traffic growth in March
Passenger volumes, flight movements and cargo all saw a continued steady increase in March, as mainland China and Japan record significant increases in traffic from the airport.
Passenger volume rose by 0.3 per cent to 6.4 million compared to the same month in 2018, while flight movements increased by 1.3 per cent to 36,735. Cargo throughput recorded year-on-year growth of 0.2 per cent; reaching 432,000 tonnes.
LinkAirlines
US CEOs say AA-DL-UAL are waging ‘disinformation campaign’
FedEx chairman and CEO Fred Smith has joined with the CEOs of Atlas Air Worldwide and JetBlue Airways to strongly rebuke an open letter to US President Donald Trump from the CEOs of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines claiming that Qatar Airways’ stake in Air Italy breaches the US-Qatar Open Skies agreement.
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United doubles 1Q profit on cost management, pre-tax margin growth
United Airlines doubled its profit in the first quarter, reporting net income of $292 million, up 98% from $145 million in the year-ago quarter, capping out the best first quarter for the Chicago-based carrier in three years.
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Air Nostrum and pilots reach labor agreement, ending strike action
Pilots of Spanish regional operator Air Nostrum, represented by the SEPLA union, have reached an agreement, ending a strike that had been planned for six days, from April 15-17 and April 22-24.
Air Nostrum canceled 47 flights April 16, but the airline expects normal operations to resume April 17.
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OP-ED: Open Skies under attack again
For over four years American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines—the Big Three—have waged a multi-million dollar lobbying campaign to frustrate competition in the US-EU market where—together with foreign alliance and JV partners—they control nearly 90% of the seats.
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Virgin Atlantic sets sights on becoming second UK flag carrier
UK long-haul operator Virgin Atlantic is planning to use its acquisition of UK regional Flybe and closer ties with new shareholder Air France-KLM to become a more comprehensive competitor to UK incumbent British Airways (BA). “This business has grappled with the fact that it didn’t have a domestic and short-haul network to compete with BA,” new Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss told ATW during an exclusive interview.
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AirAsia terminates Vietnamese JV plan
AirAsia has decided not to pursue its plan to create a joint venture (JV) airline in Vietnam, at least in the short term.
The carrier revealed in a Malaysian stock market filing that it has “amicably agreed” with its Vietnamese partners to terminate the JV.
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American A321 suffers ‘un-commanded’ roll during takeoff incident
An American Airlines Airbus A321 experienced what a pilot called an “un-commanded” roll and struck runway equipment during takeoff on 10 April from New York John F Kennedy.
The aircraft took off from the airport at about 20:40 local time, bound for Los Angeles as American flight 300.
Link
India's Jet the latest to hit trouble in tough year for airlines
When, on 17 April, it was forced to temporarily suspend operations, India's Jet Airways became the biggest carrier to pull the plug on flights this year.
A dozen carriers, many of them European, had ceased operations altogether during 2019's first quarter.
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India's Jet Airways suspends operations
Jet Airways is suspending flight operations after failing to secure emergency funding to continue operations.
In an update to the Indian stock market, the carrier confirms that it has cancelled all domestic and international flights after today.
Link
SpiceJet to take five more Q400s
Indian budget carrier SpiceJet will add five more Bombardier Q400s to its fleet by June to back-fill some of the capacity lost in the market due to Jet Airways’ financial difficulties.
Three of the turboprops are expected to be delivered within the next 10 days, with the final two to arrive by June.
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PICTURE: Uganda Airlines receives first Bombardier CRJ900
Uganda Airlines has received its first Bombardier CRJ900 regional jet.
The carrier received two aircraft on 16 April, out of four it ordered in July 2018 at the Farnborough air show. Configured with 76 seats in a two-class configuration, it is also the first African operator to select the Atmosphere cabin fitting option.
LinkAirports
New Abu Dhabi carriers to expand UAE-India subcontinent flights
Links between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Indian subcontinent continue to grow with the arrival of two new carriers in Abu Dhabi. Thousands of expatriates from the subcontinent work in the UAE.
Nepal’s Himalaya Airlines has begun services from the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu to Abu Dhabi International Airport (ADIA) with 3X-weekly flights.
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French court rules to annul 2015 privatization of Toulouse airport
A French court has ruled to annul the controversial 2015 privatization of Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, in the latest step in a long legal process that could eventually see the airport sale being canceled.
The Paris Administrative Court of Appeal said April 16 it was annulling the decisions that were taken with the objective of selling 49.99% of the airport operator to Chinese company Casil Europe because they did not follow correct procedure with a company joining the consortium partway through the sale process and then leaving again before the final decision was made.
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Shenzhen Bao’an to get third runway
Shenzhen Bao’an International airport has been given the green light by Chinese authorities to build a third runway, as part of expansion plans.
In a notice on 16 April, China’s National Development and Reform Commission gave the go-ahead for the project, which will cost CNY9.35 billion ($1.39 billion).
LinkMilitary
US offers to renew Taiwan F-16 training at Luke AFB
The US Department of Defense has approved a possible deal for the continuation of a training and support programme for the pilots of Taiwanese Lockheed Martin F-16s at Luke AFB, Arizona.
If accepted by Taipei, the possible $500 million package includes flight training, exercise participation, and other services and equipment consistent with the Luke contingent.
Link
Boeing in $14.3bn deal for B-1, B-52 modernisation
Boeing has secured a $14.3 billion contract for upgrade work for US Air Force B-1 and B-52 bombers.
“This B-1/B-52 Flexible Acquisition and Sustainment contract provides for the upcoming modernisation and sustainment efforts to increase lethality, enhance survivability, improve supportability, and increase responsiveness,” says the US Department of Defense in a 12 April contract award.
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Chinook Block II delay vexes Boeing
The US Army’s decision to delay Block II upgrades to its CH-47F Chinook fleet for five years has left a sizable hole in Boeing’s production schedule.
The company had anticipated contracts for 473 CH-47F and 69 MH-47G Block II upgrades, with the first units delivered in 2023. Boeing is under contract to develop three remanufactured CH-47F Block II aircraft as engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) examples.
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No word on missing Japanese F-35A
The search continues for a Lockheed Martin F-35A operated by the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force that crashed last week in the northern Pacific Ocean.
Japanese media reports indicate that that the aircraft’s tail has been recovered, but the aircraft’s fuselage and the body of the pilot have yet to be located.
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US Army undecided on FLRAA acquisition numbers
The US Army may not replace its Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopter fleet one-for-one with its next generation of Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA).
Responding to a question about how the US Army would afford its proposed $43 million FLRAA – a price more than twice the cost of the UH-60 – the service says it will base its decision on budget constraints as well as the capabilities of whatever rotorcraft it ultimately decides to acquire.
Link
Distributed Aperture Sensor test flown on Bell V-280
Lockheed Martin’s Pilotage Distributed Aperture Sensor (PDAS) was test flown aboard the Bell V-280 Valor tiltrotor in March.
PDAS is a series of six infrared cameras arrayed around an aircraft that provide 360° imagery to pilots or passengers wearing helmet-mounted displays. The system stitches together images gathered from those cameras into a seamless spherical video of what is happening outside the aircraft.
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Aviation Quote
This is the most important aviation development since Lindbergh's flight. In one fell swoop, we have shrunken the earth.
- Juan Trippe, founder of Pan Am on the introduction of jet aircraft.
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