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Lufthansa Technik Converts First A350-900 for VIP
Lufthansa Technik took delivery yesterday of the first of three Airbus A350-900s for conversion to a VIP interior for the German Federal Government’s Special Air Mission Wing. It’s the first conversion of this kind to an A350-900, according to Lufthansa Technik.
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Did Boeing Build Too Many 737 MAX Aircraft?
Boeing’s CEO, David Calhoun, has affirmed his confidence in the beleaguered 737 MAX aircraft. In an interview with FOX News yesterday, he assured that production would restart this month, albeit at a reduced rate. But, with hundreds of aircraft parked around Boeing’s facilities and airlines not in a hurry to take new planes, you have to wonder whether Boeing already built too many MAX jets.
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Airbus logs nine A320 family aircraft orders in April
Airbus logged net orders in April for nine commercial aircraft from its A320 product line from Avolon.
By April 30th, Airbus’ gross orders in 2020 totaled 365 aircraft. After cancellations the net orders stand at 299 aircraft.
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See inside the the world's largest private jet
The 747-8i Boeing Business Jet is the world's largest private jet currently in active operation.
The dual-level jumbo jet takes private flying to the next level as a flying palace capable of traversing timezones in the absolute pinnacle of luxury air travel.
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Gulfstream Now Has Trio of Test G700s in Flight Testing
Gulfstream Aerospace now has three of its planned five flight-test G700s online, the aircraft manufacturer announced late Friday evening. The third test aircraft—registered as N703GA and dubbed T3 by Gulfstream—made a 3-hour, 2-minute first flight midday Friday from the company’s headquarters at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. T3 reached 45,000 feet and Mach 0.85 during the flight.
LinkAirlines
United Airlines Won’t Guarantee Social Distancing On Flights
Carriers are increasingly coming under pressure to make adjustments to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic. Over the last month, United Airlines has introduced a series of hygiene measures throughout its operations. However, the Chicago outfit is reportedly not able to guarantee that it can adhere to social distancing practices on its flights.
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Miami Air Seeks Liquidation After Almost 30 Years Of Operations
Miami Air International has been forced to cease operations amid struggles during the global health crisis. Additionally, the charter airline is set to go into liquidation this week, impacting the jobs of 350 employees.
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Only One Airline Continues To Fly The Airbus A380
While Emirate’s massive fleet of Airbus A380s rests peacefully at airports around Dubai and British Airways’ A380 fleet sit parked in France, a single China Southern A380 continues to fly. Currently, the aircraft is flying over eastern China and South Korea after crossing the Pacific Ocean. Let’s find out what the only A380 in the world presently flying is up to right now.
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Still Alive: South African Airways Continues Operations
Amid financial difficulties and massive restructuring, South African Airways (SAA) is continuing certain operations as an airline. The carrier had first guaranteed services until May 1st, which was then extended to May 8th. Although we are now three days past this date, the airline says it will continue to operate repatriation and cargo flights throughout the month of May.
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Delta Air Lines Schedules Last MD88 & MD90 Flights
Delta Air Lines has accelerated its timeline for retiring its remaining MD88 and MD90 aircraft. Although subject to change, the airline’s recent schedule filing shows the final flights taking place on the 2nd of June. Both aircraft types were due to retire within the next few years, but the crisis caused by the coronavirus outbreak has led to a swifter timetable.
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Qatar Airways To Reduce Fleet By 25%
Qatar Airways is planning for a ramp-up of operations and is looking at around 80 destinations by the end of June. However, the airline’s CEO Akbar al-Baker believes that travel demand will remain stunted for at least three years, and as such, is planning to operate a reduced fleet.
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Turkey’s Corendon Airlines Begins To Offer COVID Free Holidays
From the 26th of June, leisure airline Corendon will offer “corona-free” holidays to a limited number of destinations in Turkey from Amsterdam. The trips, operated by sister carrier Corendon Dutch Airlines, will begin with passengers being tested for coronavirus at a facility near Schiphol airport. Travelers will then be kept in a COVID-free bubble throughout their holiday until they return home.
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IAG’s Willie Walsh Condemns UK’s Quarantine Plan
Willie Walsh, CEO of the International Airlines Group, has called out the UK Government’s planned 14-day quarantine. He spoke about the issue at a Transport Select Committee held by the House of Commons.
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Flybe Administrators Value Airline’s Assets At £139 Million
Flybe’s assets have been valued by accounting firm EY at £139m ($171m). While most of this money will go to finance companies whose debts were secured on aircraft, it looks like Connect Airways will benefit too.
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AirAsia Donates Food To Over 1,700 Families
Over 1,700 families residing in the villages of Jerantut and Temerloh in Pahang, Malaysia, have received food aid from AirAsia on May 8th. The ‘Give with Ikhlas’ campaign provides native communities in Malaysia with basic food necessities amid the coronavirus pandemic.
LinkAirports
TAV Airports signs agreement to purchase Almaty Airport
TAV Airports, a member of Groupe ADP, has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire 100 per cent of the shares of Almaty Airport, together with its consortium partner VPE Capital.
Almaty Airport will be the 15th airport in TAV’s global network.
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Tampa Airport accelerates construction work during COVID-19
Tampa International Airport has pushed along essential construction projects with approximately $150 million, helping prepare the airport for future growth.
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Abu Dhabi Airports supports efforts to combat COVID-19
Abu Dhabi Airports is supporting global efforts to combat COVID-19 by ensuring safe, secure and efficient transport of essential supplies and equipment through Abu Dhabi International Airport, alongside facilitating repatriation and humanitarian flights.
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Heathrow calls for quarantine exit plan to help UK economy
Heathrow Airport has reported its passenger numbers are down 97 per cent in April 2020, with the airport supporting essential travel for just 200,000 people in the entire month – the same number it would typically serve in one day.
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Aviation Quote
Limited in his nature, infinite in his desires,
Man is a fallen god who remembers heaven.
- Alphonse de Lamertine
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Trivia
General Trivia
1. A British pilot holds the world record for having flown the most different types of aircraft, 487. He also holds the world record for having made the greatest number of carrier landings, 2,407. Unfortunately, not enough pilots know this remarkable pilot's name. What is it?
2. A pilot knows the maximum cruise speed and climb performance of his airplane when flown at maximum gross weight. He is curious to know, however , how this performance could be affected if the gross weight by 25 percent. How can her determine this during flight without actually overloading the airplane?
3. What is the largest, heaviest, most-powerful, piston-engined airplane ever produced?
4. A pilot over the 48 conterminous states flies along a parallel of latitude until he reaches his destination, which is 10degrees of longitude east of his departure point. If the time of sunset at the departure airport is 0020 UTC, what is the time of sunset at the destination airport?
5. True or False, each of two major US airlines have had well-publicized, major accidents involving the same type of airliner on the same day?
6. A most inspiring radio report was transmitted by a World War 2liaison pilot on 23 FEB 45. He transmitted matter-of-factly, "Target Area One Two Three Peter. One flag. Red, white and blue." Where was this target area?
