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VIDEO: Airbus marks 50th anniversary with flypast
Airbus kicked off its 50th anniversary celebrations in style today with a flypast over its Toulouse headquarters.
The date is significant for the European manufacturer as it was this day in 1969 that the original Airbus partnership agreement was signed at the Paris air show in Le Bourget, signalling the launch of the A300B programme.
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Muilenburg: 777X on track despite certification reviews
In-depth internal and external reviews of aircraft certification processes have not led to changes that will alter Boeing’s 777X program, the company’s CEO said, while acknowledging that yet-to-be-discovered factors could influence the new widebody’s final stages of development.
“I don’t see anything there right now that would significantly alter the timeline for the 777X,” Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said at the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference May 29 in New York.
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Airbus-Siemens agreement redefined as E-Fan X progresses
Airbus confirmed its exclusive collaboration agreement with Siemens to develop hybrid-electric propulsion systems for the experimental E-Fan X demonstrator and other vehicles is concluding a year ahead of schedule, but said the two companies will continue to partner on projects.
Airbus and Siemens first announced a five-year cooperation contract in 2016, which was targeted at hybrid-electric systems in three thrust classes: 100 kW, 2 megawatts and up to 10 megawatts.
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Thailand passes ICAO safety review
Thailand’s aviation system has passed an ICAO safety audit as the country continues to work on improving its FAA rating.
ICAO conducted a coordinated validation mission in Thailand May 13-22 and gave the country an effective implementation score of 65.07%, with 60% being the ICAO target, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) said in a statement.
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IATA AGM 2019: De Juniac calls for global lifting of MAX ban
IATA director general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac urged global regulators to lift the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX in unison, even while acknowledging that the model’s return to service is still likely a few months away.
De Juniac said May 29 that IATA was strongly hoping for a “comprehensive, consistent and collaborative approach” as certification authorities evaluate whether and how to lift the 737 MAX operations bans that have been in place since mid-March.
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Airbus at 50: Looking forward
At 50, Airbus is comfortable in its middle age. Led by a new, streamlined executive committee headed by a new CEO, the company has its own identity and the jabs at “our friends in Seattle” have all but disappeared.
The A300 program was launched at the end of May 1969, putting a new player in the airliner market. What really transformed Airbus’ fortunes, however, was the A320 family that goes head to head with the Boeing 737 in almost every narrowbody competition.
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Gogo to build 5G cellular network for aviation
Inflight connectivity provider Gogo will build a 5G cellular network for aviation, with a plan to begin offering the broadband service in 2021.
The new air-to-ground network is designed for use on business aviation aircraft, regional jets and smaller mainline airliners operating in the US and Canada, Gogo announced May 29.
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Chinese trade group forecasts $580 million in MAX-related losses
Chinese airlines will incur losses of CNY4 billion ($580 million) if their grounded Boeing 737 MAXs do not return to the air by June 30, the China Air Transport Association said.
The loss will be greater if the grounding extends into the second half of the year, the association said. Its calculations include the impact of the airlines’ inability to use aircraft already delivered and those for which the companies are awaiting delivery.
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Boeing offers services and cash to make Max operators whole
Boeing’s compensation to airlines for the 737 Max grounding could include aircraft services, training support, adjusted delivery schedules or simply cash, the company’s chief executive Dennis Muilenburg said on 29 May.
His comments, made during an investor conference hosted by AllianceBernstein, shed light on how Boeing might mollify airlines for the cost and logistic headaches caused by removing the 737 Max from their operations and fleet plans.
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Mitsubishi Aircraft promises 'several announcements' at Paris
Mitsubishi Aircraft has confirmed it is planning to make "several announcements" at the Paris air show next month.
However, the Japanese airframer says a media report of plans for an MRJ rebrand "do not accurately reflect our strategy, which will become clear as we make our official statements at the air show."
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Airbus firmly rejects claims of position shift over Brexit
Airbus has flatly denied any change in its position regarding the UK’s planned withdrawal from the European Union, after a report emerged which has been widely interpreted as a shift in its plans.
The airframer has been vocal in its opposition to ‘Brexit’ as well as the UK government’s lack of progress in providing certainty to companies which, like Airbus, depend on just-in-time manufacturing and smooth international integration processes.
LinkAirlines
Asiana Airlines, Korean Air set to upgrade narrowbody fleet
South Korea’s two largest carriers are set to begin major narrowbody fleet upgrade programs over the next two years, although delivery delays have disrupted planning efforts. Korean Air was expecting to start receiving Airbus A321neos and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft around the middle of this year, but both types have been delayed. Asiana Airlines, meanwhile, is scheduled to start receiving A321neos in July.
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SA Express claims former executives committed fraud
South African regional carrier SA Express is preparing to press fraud and corruption charges against several former executives after an investigation turned up financial irregularities.
The decision came after a forensic investigation flagged several transactions that may have cost the airline millions of rand prior to its temporary grounding in May 2018, SA Express chairperson Tryphosa Ramano said in a statement.
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Aeroflot lambasts governor over Superjet accident claims
Russian flag-carrier Aeroflot has sharply criticised comments from the regional governor of Khabarovsk suggesting the fatal accident involving a Sukhoi Superjet 100 was entirely the result of human factors.
The Khabarovsk region includes Komsomolsk-on-Amur, where the Superjet assembly line is based.
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PICTURES: ANA to raise premium seat count on 19 777s and 787s
All Nippon Airways (ANA) will reduce the overall seat count on 19 Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft, by adding more premium class seats and reduce economy class seating.
The Star Alliance carrier says on eight 777-200s, it will reduce the number of seats from 405 to 392. This will be done by raising the number of premium seats from 21 to 28, and reducing the economy seats by 20 to 364.
LinkAirports
New software designed to boost retail sales at Bengaluru-Kempegowda
Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport used GrayMatter to install a real-time point of sales (PoS) data integration and commercial analytics across all concessionaires at the Indian gateway.
GrayMatters' Airport Analytics (AA+) solution is intended to provide a better passenger shopping experience at the airport through targeted positioning of products and relevant offers.
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Hamad International to implement biometrics across terminal touch points
The second phase of HIA’s ‘Smart Airport’ programme sets to initiate a major digital transformation of the passenger journey across all key terminal touch points.
Hamad International Airport (HIA) has launched the second phase of its ‘Smart Airport’ programme which sets to initiate a major digital transformation of the passenger journey through facial biometric recognition across all key touch points.
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MIA installs state-of-the-art 3D-checkpoint technology
A new CT scanner at Miami International Airport is expected to help relieve the pressure point of security lines within the terminal.
A state-of-the-art computed tomography (CT) scanner is now present at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at Miami International Airport, providing improved explosive-detection capabilities.
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Finnair starts biometric boarding with Vision-Box at LAX
Finnair is offering biometric boarding at Los Angeles Airport, with a solution that has been running under the U.S. Biometric Exit trial programme.
After the successful go live of the contactless biometric self-boarding solution at Los Angeles Airport, Finnair is the next airline to enable passengers flying out of the country to board without needing to show boarding passes or passports.
LinkMilitary
Middle East demand could boost F-35 sales to 4,600 units: Lockheed
Lockheed Martin believes that worldwide sales of the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter could reach 4,600 units, a 15% increase from its previous projection.
The company said as recently as 24 May that it projected the F-35 to have a lifetime sales potential of 4,000 aircraft.
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KAI lands contract for Thai T-50TH work
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has entered a $52 million contract related to Bangkok’s purchase of T-50TH advanced jet trainers.
“The deal is an Upgrade & Modification program which aims to equip the T-50TH Jet trainers which RTAF operates with radars and the [radar warning receiver], and [counter measures dispenser system],” says KAI.
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Tokyo's VVIP 747-400s to be parted out
Two Japan Air Self-Defense Force VVIP-roled Boeing 747-400s will be sold and parted out following their replacement by a pair of 777-300ERs.
The two 747s were officially replaced by the 777s in April, and will be sold for Y1.3 billion ($11.9 million), says JASDF.
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Poland reaffirms interest in F-35
Poland has deepened its interest in the Lockheed Martin F-35, with the country’s defence minister indicating that it intends to purchase 32 examples of the fifth-generation fighter.
Mariusz Blaszczak says it intends to acquire the A-model variant to replace its Soviet-era RAC MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-22 aircraft under the Harpia programme.
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Aviation Quote
If the pilot survives the accident, you'll never find out what really happened.
- Doug Jeanes
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Editor's Choice
Trivia
General Trivia
1. The Douglas DC-3 has been known as the Gooney Bird, Old Methuselah, the Dizzy Three, the Placid Plodder, and other nicknames. It also has been called the Dakota (primarily by the British). What is the origin of that name?
2. True or False; The Wright brothers made their first powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903.
3. The Lomcevak, which loosely translated from Czechoslovakian means headache or hangover, is an aerobatic maneuver during which the airplane tumbles head over heels about the pitch (lateral) axis while moving in a lateral direction. How does a pilot execute such a maneuver?
4. How many beds are aboard a Boeing 747 built to be used as Air Force One?
5. The first airplane used by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the 3600th Air Demonstration Unit, was the
1. F-84F Thunderstreak.
2. F-84G Thunderjet.
3. F-86 Sabre.
4. F-100 Super Sabre.
6. Where did the first air traffic controller work, and how did he control traffic?
