NewsCommercial
FAA requests more comments on proposed MAX MCAS training
FAA has posted the draft of revised Boeing 737 minimum training standards that incorporate the MAX’s maneuvering characteristics augmentation system (MCAS) for a third public comment period.
The new comment deadline is May 15.
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French ATC strike cancels 550+ flights, affects 75,000 passengers
French air traffic controllers (ATCs) are set to begin a 35-hour strike from 7 p.m. May 8, the third national ATC strike in Europe this year, according to Airlines for Europe (A4E).
The strikes are part of a national public sector strike.
The French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) asked airlines flying to and from several airports in France to reduce flight schedules by 30% in advance of the strike, forcing the cancellation of around 550 flights by A4E airlines, impacting around 75,000 passengers.
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Bombardier sells five Learjet 75s to undisclosed customer
Bombardier has received an order for five Learjet 75 aircraft from an undisclosed customer.
The deal is worth $69 billion based on 2019 list prices, says the company.
“The ultimate business tools, Learjet 75 aircraft feature industry-leading performance and help drive direct bottom line results,” says Bombardier senior vice-president.
LinkAirlines
WestJet 1Q profit up 30%; no short-term leases for MAX coverage
Despite the loss of revenue from 18 days of grounded Boeing MAXs at the end of last quarter, WestJet posted a C$45.6 million ($33.8 million) profit, up 30% from $34.2 million in the year-ago period. Revenue totaled $1.26 billion, up 6% year-over-year. Systemwide RASM was up 0.2%. CASM rose 0.9%, while CASM-ex fuel and profit sharing rose 0.6%.
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Icelandair widens 1Q net loss on higher costs, MAX uncertainty
Icelandair posted a first-quarter net loss of $55 million, widened from a $35 million net loss in the year-ago quarter as pressure on airfares, higher costs and Boeing 737 MAX grounding created uncertainty.
The airline reported a 7% decline in operating income to $249 million. Expenses dropped 8% to $263 million in the quarter.
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Poland’s Enter Air buys former Swiss charter unit of defunct Germania
Privately owned Polish carrier Enter Air has agreed to acquire 49% of Germania Flug, the former Swiss charter unit of Berlin-based leisure carrier Germania.
Swiss carrier Germania Flug was established five years ago in partnership with Germania, which held a 40% stake in the airline.
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Taiwan’s China Airlines adds A321neos, Boeing 777Fs
Taiwan’s China Airlines (CAL) has launched a narrowbody passenger aircraft and freighter replacement program to include Airbus A321neos and Boeing 777 freighters.
CAL plans to introduce 14 leased A321neos, which are scheduled to enter into service from 2021. Negotiations for an additional 11 firm orders and five options will be initiated simultaneously.
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Spain’s Volotea to add six more Airbus A319s
Spanish LCC Volotea plans to add six more 156-seat Airbus A319s this summer, as part of a planned transition to a single-type fleet by 2022.
Volotea specializes in point-to-point routes between small- to mid-sized cities that are typically too thin to attract the major LCCs. The airline was established by the founders of Spanish LCC Vueling in 2012 and has historically been a Boeing 717 operator.
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Air Italy plans North American growth despite US protests
Air Italy plans to announce at least two additional North American destinations for the summer of 2020, as the airline expands transatlantic service despite opposition from US legacy carriers.
The carrier also hopes to unveil its first US interline partner later this year, chief operating officer Rossen Dimitrov tells FlightGlobal.
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PICTURE: Biman Q400 overruns Myanmar runway during heavy rain
A Biman Bangladesh Airlines Bombardier Q400 turboprop overran the runway at Myanmar’s Yangon International airport while landing during heavy rain on the evening of 8 May, according the Yangon airport.
No casualties have been reported among the 30 passengers and six crew aboard the aircraft, which has serial number 4367, according to the airport and Bombardier.
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PICTURES: Space agency revamps fleet with Tu-204
Russian space agency Roskosmos’s Cosmonaut Training Centre has taken delivery of a second Tupolev Tu-204-300 as part of a plan to modernise the organisation’s fleet.
The centre says the twinjet (RA-64044) arrived on 7 May, just before 16:00, at the ministry of defence’s Chkalovsky airfield, north-east of Moscow.
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SpiceJet launches business class
Indian budget carrier SpiceJet has opened reservations for its new domestic business class product that will operate on select domestic routes.
Using Boeing 737NGs formerly operated by Jet Airways, the SpiceBiz product offers 2-2 seating, gourmet meals, lounge access, and priority check-in and boarding.
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More Jet Airways 737s, ATR 72 set to leave
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has received more requests to deregister five aircraft that were operated by Jet Airways, comprising three Boeing 737-800s, one 737 Max 8, and an ATR 72-500.
Filings show that Pembroke Aircraft Leasing has requested the deregistration of 737-800s with MSNs 36825 and 36827, while owner Wings Aviation 37961 has requested the third of the type (37961) to be deregistered.
LinkAirports
Indonesia’s new Yogyakarta airport begins operations
Indonesia’s new Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) began operations May 6. The new airport was built to replace Adisutjipto International.
The event was marked by the landing of its first commercial flight, a Citilink flight from Jakarta carrying 96 passengers. Indonesian LCC Lion Air and subsidiary Batik Air will begin operations to YIA from May 10.
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Fraport group enjoys "successful" start to 2019
Fraport today revealed that the first quarter of the 2019 financial year has been a "successful" one for the company, with both traffic and revenues showing healthy growth.
According to Fraport, its higher revenue and earnings in the first three months of 2019 has been supported by solid passenger growth at Frankfurt Airport and almost all of its airports worldwide.
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Manchester Airport reveals the finer details to PremiAir terminal
With a range of options for guests to choose from, PremiAir is designed to add an extra level of convenience, comfort and style to the airport experience.
MAG has announced more details regarding what passengers can expect from its new and innovative private terminal at Manchester Airport, PremiAir, which will open its doors to guests travelling with partner airlines in September 2019.
LinkMilitary
Saab to set up Indiana factory for T-X work
Saab will open a new manufacturing site in Indiana to support its contribution to the T-X advanced jet trainer, which it jointly developed with prime contractor Boeing, and other advanced projects.
The facility will be located in West Lafayette, at the Discovery Park District, which is affiliated with Purdue University. From 2020, when construction will start, Saab says it has earmarked $37 million for the development. Ultimately the new facility will create up to 300 jobs.
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MQ-25 first flight could be one month away: US Navy
The Boeing MQ-25 Stingray manned in-flight refuelling tanker could conduct its first test flights within a month, says the US Navy (USN)
Speaking at the Navy League Sea-Air-Space conference in National Harbor, Maryland, Angie Knappenberger, deputy director of air warfare, says that because Boeing had already built an initial example of the unmanned air vehicle before being awarded the tanker contract in August 2018, the company has been able to test the aircraft on an accelerated schedule.
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PICTURE: UK's first Poseidon takes shape in Renton
Boeing has mated the wing and fuselage of the UK’s first 737NG-based P-8A Poseidon, as the Royal Air Force (RAF) advances preparations to restore its lapsed maritime patrol aircraft capability.
Posting an image of its lead aircraft on Boeing’s final assembly line in Renton, Washington on Twitter, the RAF on 7 May said that its Marshall Aerospace-produced long-range fuel tanks will be installed “in the coming weeks”.
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New Delhi approves navy Ka-31 buy
India’s defence ministry has given its nod for a navy procurement of 10 additional Russian-built Kamov Ka-31 airborne early warning helicopters.
The purchase approval came from the Defence Acquisition Council, which is led by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The deal is valued at approximately $515 million.
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Aviation Quote
Today it is even more important to dominate the . . . highly sophisticated weapon systems, perhaps even more important than being a good pilot; to make the best use of this system.
- General Adolf Galland, Luftwaffe.
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From Largest to Smallest (by Wingspan)
1.Convair XC-99
2. Saunders-Roe Princess
3. Douglas XB-19
4. Boeing 747
5. Bristol Brabazon
6. Lockheed C-5A Galaxy
7. Hughes H-4
8. Antonov An-225 Mriya
9. Convair B-36 Peacemaker
10. Antonov An-124 Condor
11. Airbus A-380-800
12. Boeing 747-8i
13. Boeing 777-300ER
