NewsIncidents/Accidents
Plane crashes into car dealership parking at Medford, Oregon; two reported dead
Two people are dead after a plane crashed into the parking lot of a Chevrolet car dealership on the evening of December 6, 2021.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) incident report shows that the aircraft, with a registration number of N64BR, was a 1977 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain. The aircraft was registered to Donald Sefton, 69 of Fallon, Nevada.
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EASA issues warning over lightning protection issues on 13 Airbus A350 jets
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued a preliminary warning over the potential safety risks of lightning protection that may have not been installed properly on a number of Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft.
According to the proposed airworthiness directive (AD), Heavy Expanded Copper Foil (HECF), which are used to safely disperse lightning strikes when needed, might have been installed incorrectly on the wing covers of 13 Airbus A350-941 and A350-1014 aircraft.
LinkCommercial
777 Partners orders 30 additional Boeing 737 MAX airplanes
Boeing and 777 Partners have announced the Miami-based investment firm will nearly double its 737 MAX order book with the purchase of 30 additional jets. The new order expands 777 Partners’ commercial aircraft portfolio to a total of 68 737 MAXs, in its fourth order this year for the fuel-efficient, single-aisle jets. Valued at $3.7 billion at list prices, the order will enable 777 Partners to expand 737 MAX operations across the fleet of its affiliated global low-cost carriers.
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Airbus A321XLR completes airframe assembly, proceeds to testing
Airbus announced that the prototype of the A321XLR, the latest addition to the company’s A320 family, is nearing the end of its assembly process. The aircraft’s airframe has been assembled, and testing is about to commence.
The airplane is being constructed at the company’s final assembly facility in Hamburg.
The fuselage, the empennage and the wings of the prototype have already been riveted together, and most of the internal components, including the fuel tanks, hydraulic systems and cabin systems, have also been installed.
LinkAirlines
Alaska unveils a “Merrier Together” holiday logo jet with Starbucks
Holiday spirit is IN THE AIR today at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, as we unveiled our newest special-edition aircraft featuring one of our favorite hometown friends, Starbucks. The plane, tail number N238AK, showcases Starbucks famous red cups filled with their signature holiday drinks. The Boeing 737-900ER made its inaugural flight from Seattle (SEA) to Chicago (ORD) this morning and will fly throughout the network this holiday season.
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Chrono Aviation to base its first Boeing 737-800F in Winnipeg
In April, Chrono Aviation announced the addition of a Boeing 737-800. It has now been revealed what this aircraft will be used for, as the Quebec company will be the very first in Canada to offer the 737-800 SF. With this new addition, Chrono Aviation now has an aircraft exclusively dedicated to cargo, with service starting in January 2022. This also marks Chrono Aviation’s first presence in Western Canada, with the new aircraft to be based in Winnipeg.
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QANTAS will convert two of its Airbus A330 passenger aircraft into freighters
Qantas will convert two of its Airbus A330 passenger aircraft into freighters to support the significant shift towards consumers shopping online.
One of the converted widebody freighters will be used in Qantas Freight’s international network, while the other will be a new addition to the dedicated fleet that serves Australia Post’s domestic parcel and mail business.
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SAS announces the number of travelers stabilized in November, but uncertainty remains
In November more than 1.3 million passengers traveled with SAS, an increase by just over 300% year on year. At the same time SAS increased its capacity by 143% compared to last year and came in at a similar level versus the previous month. The flown load factor was 61%, which is up 36 percentage points (p p) compared to last year and 1.6 p p increase compared to October. Eased travel restrictions subsequently lead to increased ticket sales both internationally and domestically, which is clearly seen comparing numbers with last year as well as with earlier months.
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Finnair adds Seattle/Tacoma to its network and continues direct flights from Stockholm to Los Angeles and New York during the summer season
Finnair expands its network in the United States and opens flights from Helsinki to Seattle/Tacoma starting June 1, 2022. In the summer season 2022, Finnair will operate three weekly flights to Seattle on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Finnair also continues to expand its presence in the US by continuing direct flights to New York John F. Kennedy Airport and Los Angeles International Airport from Stockholm, Sweden, through the summer season. From May 1, 2022, Finnair will increase frequencies for these connections. Finnair will fly from Stockholm to New York daily, and to Los Angeles four times a week.
LinkMilitary/Space
NASA selects three companies to build ISS successors
NASA has selected three teams to develop proposals that could replace the International Space Station (ISS).
The participating companies signed the agreements on December 2, 2021, a NASA press release states. They will receive $415.6 million for further development and be offered the chance to participate in the second phase of the program, which will see NASA purchasing their services.
The first team, consisting of Nanoracks, Voyager Space and Lockheed Martin, will receive $160 million. Their proposal, a space station called Starlab, is expected to launch in 2027. Initially very small, Starlab will consist of a single inflatable module with an internal volume slightly smaller than that of half the ISS. According to NASA, the station will be built with the potential to add both internal and external extensions, as demand emerges.
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Reports: Finnish military selects F-35, government undecided
The Finnish Defense Force (FDF) has selected the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II to replace the country’s ageing fleet of F/A-18 Hornets, and has proposed the deal to the country’s Ministry of Defence.
The decision was announced by Finnish news outlet, Iltalehti, which referred to several anonymous sources close to the matter.
Finland is yet to notify the US Department of Defense of its decision, as the Finnish government is yet to confirm the deal. According to Iltalehti, the process can take up to 10 days, and the newspaper’s sources consider it unlikely that the government will challenge the FDF’s choice.
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Aviation Quote
The thing I'll remember most about the flight is that it was fun. In fact, I'm sure it was the most fun that I'll ever have in my life.
- Sally K. Ride, first woman to orbit Earth aboard the Space Shuttle, 1983.
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Editor's Choice
Trivia
Airliners
1. Which company built the ill-fated Comet?
Hawker Siddeley
De Havilland
Handley Page
Vickers
2. Which of the following does not belong?
DC-5
DC-6
DC-4
DC-7
3. Who was primarily responsible for the design and development of the Constellation?
Juan Trippe
Malcolm Loughhead (Lockheed)
Howard Hughes
Glenn Martin
4. Which Convair model was the company's last entry in the commercial airliner market?
990
240
880
340
5. Which passenger plane was never used as Air Force One?
Douglas DC-7
Lockheed Constellation
Douglas DC-6
Boeing 707
6. Which of the following is not a jumbo jet?
Boeing 747
McDonnell Douglas MD-82
Lockheed L-1011
Douglas DC-10
7. What was the designation of the four-engine jet airliner being produced by Airbus prior to the A380?
A350
A321
A320
A340
8. Before Boeing introduced its long-haul 747-400 series, a smaller version of the 747 was built that had a range of almost 7,000 miles. What was the designation of this popular 'mini-jumbo'?
747-250
747-SB
747-SP
747-200
9. During the 1950s turboprop aircraft made up a large portion of the commercial airliner fleet. Which of the following was not a turboprop?
Lockheed Electra II
Bristol Britannia
Vickers Viscount
Martin 404
10. In the romantic era of the Clippers, Pan Am bought flying boats from Martin, Sikorsky and Boeing. What was the designation of the airplane built by Boeing for service in the fabled Clipper fleet?
307
247
377
314
