NAS Daily 16 OCT 19

airtrainer 15 Oct 19, 21:14

News

Commercial

Rolls-Royce to use former Qantas 747-400 for flying testbed
Rolls-Royce has selected a Boeing 747-400 formerly operated by Australian carrier Qantas Airways for conversion to a flying testbed as part of preparations for developing its UltraFan and other next-generation commercial and business jet engines. The aircraft, which made its final commercial flight from Sydney to Los Angeles Oct. 13, was ferried Oct. 15 to Moses Lake, Washington, where it is expected to be modified by Seattle-based engineering, testing and certification ...
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Russia, Germany agree to fifth freedom cargo rights
Russian and German aviation authorities have agreed to grant fifth freedom rights to one designated Russian all-cargo carrier on routes via Leipzig and to the US. The consultations record, published Oct. 14, stated the Russian airline will be able to operate 2X-weekly flights between points in Russia to Leipzig to points in the US, with fifth freedom rights between Leipzig and the US.
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Russian and Saudi wealth funds to create aircraft lessor
Russian sovereign investment fund RDIF is to create a passenger aircraft leasing organisation through a project in which its Saudia Arabian counterpart, the Public Investment Fund, will also participate.
The leasing organisation, named ROAL, is intended to become a "leader in aircraft leasing" in Russia, says RDIF.
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Airlines

Flybe to be renamed Virgin Connect
UK regional carrier Flybe will be rebranded as Virgin Connect, reflecting its new ownership.
The 40-year-old Exeter-based carrier was bought earlier this year by Connect Airways, an acquisition vehicle made up of Cyrus Capital (40%), fellow UK regional airline Stobart Group (30%) and long-haul specialist Virgin Atlantic (30%).
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Jazeera Airways to introduce three-class A320neos
Kuwaiti LCC Jazeera Airways will mark the launch of the Middle East’s first long-haul, low-cost route later in October with the introduction of a premium economy class on board its new Airbus A320neos.
Unusually for an LCC, the carrier will operate the aircraft in a three-class configuration when it starts the Kuwait-London Gatwick service as the northern hemisphere winter season gets underway Oct. 27.
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Tap Air Portugal introduces EconomyXtra class
Star Alliance member TAP Air Portugal has launched a new travel class—EconomyXtra—which is located between the traditional Economy and Business Class on medium-haul flights.
The EconomyXtra Class is available on TAP’s mainline fleet of Airbus A319, A320, A321, A321LR und A330 aircraft with the following features:
Extra legroom
Front row with seat reservation
Reclining and more spacious chair
Adjustable headrest
Electric and USB plug in place
Tablet Support
Improved meals and drinks service
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Third Swiss A220 failure spurs urgent engine checks
Swiss has cancelled dozens of Airbus A220 services in order to conduct technical inspections on the fleet, following a third incident involving an engine failure in as many months.
All three incidents have involved A220-300s operating services between Geneva and London Heathrow.
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Airports

Award for Vietnam's new Van Don international airport
Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh Province in Vietnam has been named 'Asia's Leading New Airport 2019' at the World Travel Awards (WTA) Asia & Oceania.
Developed by the Sun Group, and completed in late 2018, Vietnam's first privately built commerical gateway is the first airport in the country to receive the accolade.
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Which? names Manchester as worst UK airport for security queues
The consumer advice group, Which?, has compiled 6,327 member experiences of flying to and from an UK airport in the past year to estimate the worst and best security wait times.
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Military

PICTURES: UK F-35s make debut on new aircraft carrier
UK-owned Lockheed Martin F-35Bs have landed on the deck of the Royal Navy (RN) aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time, slightly more than a year before the combination will be declared operationally ready.
Short take-off and vertical landing aircraft assigned to the Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) 17 Sqn operational evaluation unit are conducting embarked trials during the RN’s Westlant 19 carrier strike group deployment, being conducted off the US East Coast.
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ADEX: KAI guns for heavily-armed Surions
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is conducting feasibility studies into armament options for the Surion Korea Utility Helicopter (KUH).
Its research into attack options for the Surion reflect local requirements such as a Korean Marine competition for 24 attack helicopters, as well as international opportunities. KAI says militaries in the Asia-Pacific are interested in utility helicopters that can also carry precision weapons.
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