NewsLights hit as 767 freighter lands short in Puerto RicoUS investigators have disclosed that a Boeing 767-300ER freighter landed short of the runway in Puerto Rico on 4 October. The aircraft, on a service from Miami, appears to have conducted its approach to San Juan's runway 10, in good daylight visibility and no adverse weather conditions.
LinkEasyJet claims benefit from BA and Ryanair strikesEasyJet is expecting a full-year headline pre-tax profit of £420-430 million ($516-528 million), down on the previous level of £578 million. This figure is towards the upper end of its £400-440 million estimate, disclosed in July.
LinkSingapore Airlines continues to dominate US flightsSingapore Airlines (SIA) is the current title holder of the world’s longest flight – the 19h Singapore-Newark – which has helped it reach near-monopoly status on the Singapore-USA market. The Star Alliance carrier has four non-stop, ultra-long-haul flights to the USA under its belt, along with Los Angeles, San Francisco, and most recently, Seattle. Ranging from 16h to 19h, these are some of the world’s longest flights.
LinkSouthwest pilots sue Boeing for 737 Max damagesThe Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) on 7 October announced it filed a lawsuit against Boeing seeking damages for the 10,000 pilots represented by the association who have lost compensation since the grounding of Boeing 737 Max in March 2019. The lawsuit filed in the District Court of Dallas County, Texas, where Southwest Airlines is based, alleges that Boeing deliberately misled the airline and its pilots that 737 Max aircraft were airworthy and not significantly different from the previous generation 737NG aircraft. The full complaint is available online.
LinkHawaiian revises Q3 revenue and cost expectationsHawaiian Airlines has raised its forecasted operating revenue per available seat mile (RASM) for the third quarter of the year due to better-than-expected yields in long-haul markets, especially international travel, the company says on 7 October. In addition, its economic fuel cost per gallon is expected to be lower than originally forecast. Cost per available seat mile (CASM) and fuel consumption estimates are narrower than earlier guidance.
LinkA220 deal helps lift Airbus net orders total above 100Airbus has disclosed an order for 14 A220s, comprising both variants of the twinjet, from an undisclosed customer. It includes 10 A220-100s and four of the larger -300 model.
LinkVolotea to operate Toulouse-Hamburg shuttle for AirbusAirbus has selected low-cost carrier Volotea to operate its corporate shuttle service between its primary production centers of Toulouse and Hamburg. Volotea is to take up the role for five years, commencing 4 November.
LinkLOT to launch San Francisco flights in 2020Polish flag carrier LOT will begin flights to San Francisco from Warsaw on 5 August 2020. The route will be operated four times a week with Boeing 787s, Star Alliance member LOT says.
LinkSingle-aisle concerns drive EU to probe Boeing-EmbraerConcerns over the competition impact on the single-aisle aircraft market have spurred the European Commission to open an in-depth investigation into the planned tie-up between Boeing and Embraer. The regulator says it will particularly examine the situation in the 100- to 150-seat sector – in which the two airframers have "to a certain extent" aircraft types which address the same market.
LinkAustrian receives A320 to begin Q400 replacementAustrian Airlines has taken delivery of the first of 10 additional Airbus A320s that will be introduced to replace its Bombardier Q400 turboprop fleet by 2021. The Lufthansa Group carrier says the 2012-built A320 (OE-LZD) arrived in Vienna on 6 October and is currently being modified by maintenance department Austrian Technik before joining the fleet later this month.
LinkDrone detection technology to be trialled at YOWThe Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport Authority has partnered with NAV CANADA and QinetiQ Canada to trial the company’s Obsidian Counter UAS System at Ottawa International Airport (YOW). “The trial with QinetiQ’s Obsidian Counter UAS System will provide all parties the opportunity to test a viable detection and mitigation system at an active airport,” said Mark Laroche, President and CEO of the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport Authority, and member of the Blue Ribbon Task Force.
LinkMQ-9B to demonstrate National Airspace flight above San DiegoGeneral Atomics Aeronautical Systems signed an agreement with NASA to perform a demonstration flight of its MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned air vehicle (UAV) within the National Airspace System in the summer of 2020. The flight is aimed at helping NASA find ways to integrate UAVs into the USA’s National Airspace System, allowing unmanned aircraft to safely fly in the same airspace of other aircraft, such as manned commercial airliners, General Atomics says in a media release on 7 October. The National Airspace System includes the USA’s air navigation facilities, air traffic control facilities, airports, flight rules and regulations which are governed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
LinkBulgarian PM: F-16 acquisition means long-term partnership to benefit Air ForceThe acquisition of the F-16V Block 70 fighter jets is not just a purchase, but a long-term partnership that enables the Bulgarian Air Force to successfully meet the new challenges in the sector, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov said at a meeting with representatives of Lockheed Martin, a government statement said. The focus of the October 7 talks was the long-term co-operation that will result from the industrial partnership program, the statement said.
LinkTurkey launches airstrike after US confirms withdrawalThere are fears for more than 60 Australians detained in a Syrian camp after a US withdrawal paved the way for attacks from Turkey. US President Donald Trump said he would "totally destroy and obliterate" Turkey's economy if it took action in Syria that he considered "off limits" following his decision on Sunday to pull 50 American special forces troops from northeastern Syria.
LinkUS Army Aviator Killed In SA Training CrashThe first few times Chief Warrant Officer 4 Paul J. Reidy flew Boeing’s AH-6i light helicopter, the instructor was surprised at the caliber of pilot he was teaching. Reidy worked hard, exercised good control touch over the delicate airframe and understood its systems. There was one problem, though. Reidy had very little experience on small, single-engine aircraft. Normally that wouldn’t be an issue. He had nearly 4,000 hours of flight time, the vast majority of which was spent flying the much larger AH-64 Apache. He was a skilled aviator, and with time, he would get used to the more finicky AH-6i.
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