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Boeing to add safety oversight; examine flight deck design, training
Boeing is adding a top-level layer of safety oversight, implementing early lessons learned during the ongoing 737 MAX crisis. The US manufacturer is expected to create a centralized safety-centric organization and plans to examine how flight-deck design and pilot training can change to better serve operators. The moves, announced Sept. 25, are Boeing’s most substantive publicly announced organizational changes since the mid-March 737 MAX grounding.
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Probe finds FAA MAX safety inspectors not properly credentialed
The US Office of Special Counsel (OSC) has substantiated a whistleblower complaint alleging that FAA safety inspectors who served on the Boeing 737 MAX Flight Standardization Board (FSB) were not properly credentialed, contradicting earlier claims made by senior FAA officials.
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German and Polish tour operators fall after Cook failure
Several Thomas Cook Group companies in Germany have newly filed for insolvency following the collapse of the main UK company on 23 September.
The insolvency filings, on 25 September, cover Thomas Cook GmbH, plus Thomas Cook Touristik, and Bucher Reisen & Oger Tours.
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Boeing expects strong Asia demand for converted freighters
The Asia-Pacific region will lead air cargo growth in the next 20 years, with demand for converted freighters forming two-thirds of this demand.
Boeing Global Services, in its 2019 outlook, estimates that the region will see 340 new freighters delivered over the next 20 years, forming almost a third of global freighter deliveries.
LinkAirlines
WORLD ROUTES 2019: Wizz Air in expansion talks with India
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is in discussions with Central and European LCC Wizz Air on plans to use longer-range Airbus aircraft to connect airports in western and northern India.
“Hungary based LCC @wizzair is ready to acquire [Airbus] A320XLRs for expansion of their services. They held a meeting with #AAI & expressed interest in connecting Indian cities by 2021. Proposal have been given for connecting airports in western & northern India at first,” Airports Authority of India said Sept. 23 via its official Twitter account.
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ANALYSIS: The breakdown of Adria's fleet as CRJ leases are ended
Lessors have moved to repossess aircraft in Adria Airways' fleet while the Slovenian carrier continues its hunt for fresh capital.
The airline disclosed on 23 September that it had "temporarily" halted operations and was "intensively searching" for a financial solution that enables it to restart flights.
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TUI yet to assess full impact of Thomas Cook failure
Leisure firm TUI Group has yet to assess the impact of rival Thomas Cook Group's collapse on its own operations, but stresses that it is facing its own external pressures which are likely to continue into the next fiscal year.
Thomas Cook's failure occurred on 23 September, in the final week of TUI’s 2018-19 fiscal year.
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Thomas Cook repatriation to involve over 1,000 flights
Over 1,000 flights are being planned for the two-week 'Operation Matterhorn' repatriation programme following leisure giant Thomas Cook Group's collapse.
The first day of the programme, 23 September, involved 64 flights and the transport of more than 14,700 passengers – over 95% of those due to return from holiday on that date, says the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
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SilkAir cleared to move 737 Max fleet to Alice Springs
Australia’s civil aviation safety authorities have given Singaporean carrier SilkAir the go-ahead to move its grounded Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft from Singapore to Alice Springs for storage.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) states in a notice put up on 23 September evening that it has repealed a temporary prohibition of 737 Max operations in Australian airspace.
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Virgin Australia eyes ANA partnership, Haneda slot
Virgin Australia wants to establish itself in the Australia-Japan market by launching its own service and forming a new strategic partnership with All Nippon Airways (ANA).
Virgin announced it is applying for a coveted slot at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, which it wants to use for a daily flight from Brisbane. While the airline has previously signaled it would seek a Haneda slot, it had not specified the route.
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Jetstar to cease turboprop operations in New Zealand
Qantas subsidiary Jetstar plans to end regional turboprop services in New Zealand, although the LCC will continue flying trunk domestic jet routes in that country.
Jetstar CEO Gareth Evans revealed a proposal to withdraw from the turboprop routes after November.
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Air New Zealand firms order for eight 787-10s
Air New Zealand has confirmed an earlier commitment to order eight Boeing 787-10s and is also moving closer to selecting a new CEO.
The carrier’s shareholders approved a firm order for the 787-10s on Sept. 25, with options for 12 more.
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German aid to Condor incenses UK pilots
German carrier Condor's escape from the impact of parent Thomas Cook Group's insolvency has ignited fury from UK pilot representatives.
The UK government did not step in to offer bridge funding to Thomas Cook when it sought financial assistance during the late stages of negotiating a rescue deal with Chinese firm Fosun Tourism Group.
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ANALYSIS: Why Thomas Cook's UK fleet stayed grounded
One of the more frustrating aspects of the Thomas Cook Group failure has been the necessity of creating, at short notice, a major UK carrier to repatriate customers, while the leisure company's fleet remained dormant.
Thomas Cook Group's fleet comprised around 100 aircraft of which a third was operated by its UK division Thomas Cook Airlines.
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Thomas Cook's Scandinavian arm resumes services
Thomas Cook Airlines' Scandinavian division has resumed flights, restoring services a day after the collapse of the main UK tour operator.
The Scandinavian arm, based in Copenhagen, had initially been forced to ground its fleet – about a dozen Airbus A330s and A321s – after Thomas Cook Group filed for insolvency.
LinkAirports
Beijing's new mega hub opens for business
The world’s newest major airport, Beijing Daxing, opened for business today as China marked another major milestone in the modernisation and expansion of its aviation infrastructure.
The new $12.9 billion gateway is one of the key developments in the modernisation and expansion of its airport infrastructure as China prepares to replace the US as the largest aviation market on the planet by as early as 2022.
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Fast growing Budapest airport wins route development accolade
Budapest Airport has been declared the Overall Winner of the World Routes 2019 Marketing Awards in Adelaide, Australia.
The Hungarian gateway beat off strong rivalry, not only in the highly competitive ‘4-20 million passengers’ category, but also from airports around the world to take the highest accolade at the event.
LinkMilitary
PICTURE: Taiwan unveils “Brave Eagle” AJT
Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen has unveiled the prototype of a new indigenous Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) at the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) facility in Taichung, christening it the "Yung Yin” or Brave Eagle.
Designated “A1”, the prototype is one of four that will be produced for ground and flight tests.
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F/A-18 and EA-18 reach 80% mission capability as F-35 struggles
The US Navy’s (USN) Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler have surpassed an 80% mission capability rate, complying with a directive set by former defense secretary Jim Mattis last year.
But the USN’s premier fighter aircraft, the Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II carrier variant, will not reach the US Department of Defense’s (DoD) 80% goal, the USN announced on 24 September.
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US government clears AH-6I for possible Thailand deal
The US Department of Defense has approved the possible sale of eight Boeing AH-6I attack helicopters to Thailand as the Southeast Asian nation contemplates its attack helicopter requirements.
The $400 million deal, to be conducted through the US government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process, includes a range of weapons, sensors, training, and other support, according to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency statement.
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Aviation Quote
It is not enough to just ride this earth. You have to aim higher, try to take off, even fly. It is our duty.
- Jose Yacopi, Argentine Luthier.
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Trivia
General Trivia
1. What large aircraft was considered so slow that its pilots used to say the navigator needed a calendar more than a chronograph?
2. Normal, Utility and Aerobatic category aircraft are stressed for 3.8, 4.4 and 6 Gs, respectively. What is the maximum allowable load factor for transport category jetliners?
3. Many airplanes are equipped with electrical inverters. What is the purpose of an inverter?
4. A pilot on a cross-country flight looks down and sees the tallest waterfall. Where is he?
5. Many multi-engine airplanes are equipped with ice protection plates. Where are they installed and what is their specific purpose?
6. What did aircraft designers Larry Bell, Donald Douglas and James McDonnell have in common?
7. What was the only American-built airplane to see action in WW1?
8. True or false; The simple square knot is one of the best to use when tying down an airplane with rope.
9. True or False; The circumnavigating Rutan Voyager, and the Spirit of St. Louis and at least one thing in common. Neither of them had brakes.
10. True or False, Two space shuttles are orbiting the Earth at the same speed and altitude. One however is a thousand miles behind the other. For the laggard to catch up with the leader, he should add thrust in the direction of travel.
11. Flutter can destroy an airplane and is a function of:
Calibrated Air Speed
Equivalent Airspeed
Indicated Airspeed
True Air Speed
12. Which of the following does NOT belong:
Emu
Gooney
Kiwi
Ostrich
Penguin
13. With respect to pilot qualifications, which of the following does not belong?
Controllable-pitch propeller
Flaps
Engine with more than 200 hp
Retractable landing gear
