NAS Daily 27 MAY 19

airtrainer 26 May 19, 20:13

News

Commercial

Elwell: No speculation on when FAA will lift MAX ban
FAA’s decision to allow the Boeing 737 MAX back into the air could be based at least in part on input from foreign regulators, though consensus will not be necessary for the US agency to move forward, FAA acting administrator Dan Elwell said. Speaking to reporters following an FAA-hosted gathering of regulators from around the world May 23, Elwell confirmed that Boeing’s final application for changes to the MAX’s maneuvering characteristics augmentation system (MCAS) has ...
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US lawmakers propose $17.7 billion for FAA in FY2020
The US House Appropriations transportation subcommittee is seeking to send $17.7 billion to FAA in FY2020, $267 million more than the 2019 enacted level and $614 million above the Trump administration’s budget request.
Within the subcommittee’s proposed $10.6 billion operations budget for the agency, roughly $7.8 billion would go toward the Air Traffic Organization, $1.6 billion toward aviation safety activities, $61 million for NextGen planning, $114 million for security and hazardous materials safety, and $25 million for commercial space—all of which are roughly flat from 2019 enacted levels.
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Full-automated drone deliveries begin in China
Beijing-based international express delivery company DHL-Sinotrans has launched a full automated drone delivery service under a strategic partnership with autonomous aircraft developer Ehang.
The initial route, created for a DHL-Sinotrans customer, links the logistics company’s service center in Liaobu, Dongguan with the Songshanhu district of the city, which is in Guangdong Province.
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ANALYSIS: ‘Differences training’ under scrutiny after 737 Max crashes
The recent pair of fatal crashes involving Boeing 737 Max 8s in Indonesia and Ethiopia has generated considerable debate about crew training for the type, sparked by the interim reports from the two investigating agencies. According to the reports, both crews failed to intervene successfully to save the aircraft following a technical malfunction.
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Airlines

Regulator denies Qantas-Cathay codeshare application
Australian regulators have rejected an application for Cathay Pacific to codeshare on certain Qantas international flights, following objections from Virgin Australia. Australian flag carrier Qantas applied to the International Air Services Commission (IASC) in January for an amendment to its air service allocation between Australia and Hong Kong
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10 more Chinese carriers file Boeing MAX compensation claims
Following the lead of the China’s three state-owned carriers, 10 more Chinese airlines have filed compensation claims with Boeing over the grounding of the 737 MAX 8 this week.
The airlines include 9 Air, Fuzhou Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Kunming Airlines, Lucky Air, Okay Airways, Shandong Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines and XiamenAir.
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New Belgian startup Air Antwerp hopes to find profitable niche
Dutch national carrier KLM and Ireland-based regional airline CityJet are the two main shareholders behind a Belgian startup—Air Antwerp—being created to operate both scheduled services and provide capacity for others.
Air Antwerp has applied for an air operator’s certificate (AOC) from Belgian authorities. Its two directors are Johan Maertens, former CEO of defunct Belgian regional carrier VLM, who is CEO of the new airline; and Willem Hondius, former CEO of African LCC Jambojet Kenya and a longtime manager at KLM.
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Delta takes first A330neo
Delta Air Lines took delivery of its first A330-900, one of 35 A330neos the Atlanta, Georgia-based airline has on order.
Delta was the launch customer for the type, ordering 25 in November 2014 and an additional 10 last year.
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Report: SalamAir evaluating two new Airbus types
Omani LCC SalamAir is considering two new aircraft types to join its small but growing fleet, according to a regional news outlet.
The carrier said it was looking at the possibility of acquiring Airbus A321s or A220s. SalamAir’s current fleet comprises three A320s and a single A320neo.
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UIA, EgyptAir launch codeshare partnership
Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) and EgyptAir launched a codeshare partnership May 23.
Under the agreement, UIA’s PS code will be added on EgyptAir flights between Cairo, Egypt, and Istanbul, Turkey. EgyptAir will place its MS code on UIA flights between Cairo and Kiev, Ukraine, and on the Kiev-Istanbul route.
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PICTURES: SAA A340s join presidential inauguration flypast
Two South African Airways Airbus A340-600s have taken part in a large flypast to mark the 25 May inauguration of president Cyril Ramaphosa.
The aircraft (ZS-SNE and ZS-SNH) departed Johannesburg’s OR Tambo international airport and circled south-east of Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld stadium, the scene of the event, before conducting the flyover.
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Avianca Brazil grounded by regulator
Brazil’s civil aviation authority ANAC has suspended the operations of Avianca Brazil, dealing what could be the final blow to the airline which has operated under bankruptcy protection since December 2018.
ANAC says in a statement that it has decided “to suspend all operations of Avianca Brazil as a precautionary measure”.
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Chile's Supreme Court bars LATAM JVs with American and IAG
Chile's Supreme Court has struck down proposed joint ventures by LATAM Airlines with Oneworld partners American Airlines and IAG, siding with appeals filed against the deals last year by Chilean tourism and consumer organisations.
Four judges behind the court's decision say that the proposed joint ventures will result in the airlines acquiring a market position that would be "difficult to challenge" in an industry that already has high barriers to entry.
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Ryanair ready to place more 737 Max orders: O’Leary
Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary is eager to demonstrate his confidence in Boeing and the under-fire 737 Max by being the first to buy more once the aircraft has been cleared to return to service.
The Irish low-cost carrier is a major customer for the 737. According to Cirium’s Fleets Analyzer, it operates a fleet of 431 737NGs and hold orders for 135 of the Max variant along with 75 options.
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Vistara taking first 737s under fresh lease deal with BOC
Indian carrier Vistara is to lease six more narrowbodies from lessor BOC Aviation, including its first Boeing narrowbodies as it moves to fill capacity vacated by the grounding of Jet Airways.
The Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines joint venture carrier is taking delivery of four Boeing 737-800s this month from BOC.
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ANALYSIS: Lauda's darkest day echoes in 737 Max crisis
Late motor-racing champion Niki Lauda will be associated not just with his airline entrepreneurship but with an investigation which resulted in scrutiny of design assumptions, and the adequacy of testing and certification methods, similar to that now being given to the Boeing 737 Max.
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PICTURE: SunExpress to wet-lease 11 A320s
Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa’s joint venture SunExpress has increased the number of Airbus A320s it is to wet-lease from Lithuanian operator Avion from five to 11.
SunExpress, an all Boeing 737 operator, will begin operations with the first A320 today. All 11 wet-leased A320s will be in service with the Antalya-based leisure carrier by the end of June.
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Airports

Fraport raises majority stake in Lima’s Jorge Chávez airport
Frankfurt-based Fraport AG has acquired an additional 10% stake in Lima Airport Partners (LAP), raising its ownership to 80.1% of the operator of Jorge Chávez International Airport in Peru.
Fraport purchased the stake from AC Capitales’ Infrastructure Fund, which held it for over 10 years.
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Detroit Metro steps up its recycling efforts in north terminal
The sustainability of Detroit Metropolitan Airport was firmly on the mind of Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) this week when it unveiled plans to revamp its public recycling programme in the North Terminal.
It says that the modifications being made to the programme are in response to customer suggestions and the State of Michigan’s efforts to improve recycling throughout the state.
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Schiphol becomes WeChat Pay’s first smart airport in Europe
Schiphol offers Chinese passengers a unique travel and shopping experience with WeChat services around the airport.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has partnered with WeChat to provide Chinese passengers a unique travel and shopping experience using the services that are available via the application.
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Military

Pompeo pushes $8.1bn in arms sales citing unnamed Iranian threats
In a controversial move, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, citing unnamed threats from Iran, bypassed approval from the US Congress and pushed through the sale of $8.1 billion of arms to Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Pompeo said in a press release issued late in the day on 24 May, titled “Emergency Notification,” that the State Department had approved the sale of 22 arms sales agreements, including tactical unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), missiles, aircraft spare parts, logistics support and military training.
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USAF claims 100 years cut from weapons development cycles
The US Air Force claims to have cut 100.5 years of what it deems “unnecessary schedule” from its weapons development programmes since May 2018.
As part of its “Century Challenge” goal, the service is trying to streamline and accelerate development programmes to keep pace with adversaries such as Russia and China who are rapidly innovating in areas such as hypersonic missiles and anti-aircraft defences.
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Aviation Quote

You don't think much of the individual, because you don't think you've hit him and you hope that he will bail out or something; it's the aeroplane you've hit . . . normally it was more of a game if you like, you were outwitting and shooting down another aircraft, you were simply hitting metal.

- Wing commander Pete Malam Brothers, RAF, 16 victories WWII. Imperial War Museum Sound 7462.