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NEWS

EC issues 'statement of objections' to AA/BA/IB cooperation
The European Commission confirmed Friday that it sent a "statement of objections" to American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia in September, warning the carriers that their proposed cooperation on transatlantic services "may be in breach of European rules on restrictive business practices."
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Mitsubishi breaks through outside Japan with Trans States MRJ order
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. said Friday that it has signed a letter of intent with Trans States Holdings, parent of US regional carriers Trans States Airlines and GoJet Airlines, covering a firm order for 50 MRJs plus 50 options.
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Malaysia Airlines' new CEO focuses on cutting expenses, improving service
Malaysia Airlines' new MD and CEO Azmil Zahruddin told reporters Friday in Kuala Lumpur that the carrier will accelerate its "business transformation plan" with a focus on lowering costs while raising service standards.
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Air Niugini orders two Q400NGs
Air Niugini, the Papua New Guinea flag carrier, placed a firm order for two Q400 NextGen turboprops valued at $92 million plus one option.
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Call For USAF To Share Boeing Tanker Pricing
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) is introducing an amendment to the fiscal 2010 senate defense spending bill that would block the use of funds for the U.S. Air Force’s KC-X competition unless the service agrees to disclose pricing data about Boeing’s proposal in 2008 to rival Northrop Grumman.
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HK introduces shorter flight routes to help airlines save fuel
Hong Kong's Civil Aviation Department (CAD) has shortened the flight routes to Hong Kong's airport which means aircraft arriving from Europe, China, the Middle East and southeast Asia save 14mins on the flight time.
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SIA hands over Penang route to SilkAir
Singapore Airlines (SIA) is handing over the Penang route to its subsidiary SilkAir.
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Jat Airways 737-300 slides off runway at Istanbul
Investigations have begun after a Jat Airways Boeing 737-300 came off the runway at Istanbul Ataturk Airport.
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Other News

Continental Airlines revealed last week that its September mainline RASM plunged an estimated 20%-21% year-over-year, larger than its August mainline year-over-year RASM drop of 17.9%, raising concern across the US industry that carriers could be in for a difficult autumn. The RASM numbers were particularly alarming given that its mainline load factor for the month was 82.2%, up 4.8 points compared to September 2008. The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation noted that CO's monthly RASM decline was its third-largest contraction in the past 12 months and eighth consecutive double-digit drop, "reflecting continued discounting and ongoing weakness in premium travel demand." It described CO's yield performance as "dire."

JAT Airways resumed flying Friday after reaching an agreement with JAT Tehnika to begin paying debt it owes to the MRO company today. JAT Tehnika's mechanics, which service JAT Airways aircraft, stopped working for two days last week to protest the airline's failure to pay the maintenance company in a timely fashion, forcing the Serbian carrier to ground its fleet temporarily. JAT Airways has admitted that it owes JAT Tehnika about $1.5 million and is a month behind in making payments. JAT Tehnika said Friday that the airline promised to begin making partial payments by today.

Air Berlin and subsidiary LTU reached a tentative agreement with the Vereinigung Cockpit pilots union on a new labor contract retroactive to Jan. 1, 2009. It includes a guarantee of no pilot layoffs through Dec. 31, 2010, when the contract will expire. The VC membership will vote on ratification at a Nov. 13 meeting.

Etihad Airways moved its thrice-daily London Heathrow-Abu Dhabi service from LHR's Terminal 3 to the new Terminal 4. The carrier is investing £200 million ($124.2 million) in its space at the new terminal, building a lounge, spa and shower facilities and installing Wi-Fi capability.

Oman Air last week launched four-times-weekly Frankfurt-Muscat service and thrice-weekly Muscat-Munich flights aboard A330-200s.

Wizz Air will launch service from its new base in Wroclaw to Paris Beauvais (twice-weekly starting Dec. 18), Oslo Torp (thrice-weekly starting Dec. 17), Eindhoven (twice-weekly starting July 19), Forli Bologna (twice-weekly starting July 19), Cork (twice-weekly starting July 18), Milan Bergamo (thrice-weekly starting July 17) and relaunch service to Dortmund (thrice-weekly starting Dec. 17) and Doncaster Sheffield (twice-weekly starting July 19). Additionally, it will increase service from Wroclaw to London Luton to seven-times-weekly from July 17.

WestJet will operate seasonal weekly service from Calgary to Honolulu (March 7-April 25) and Maui (March 6-May 1) and seasonal weekly service from Edmonton to Maui (March 5-April 30).

AirBridgeCargo Airlines today is launching weekly service from Amsterdam to Almaty via Moscow Sheremetyevo aboard a 747 freighter.

Timco signed a five-year contract with Thomson Airways covering maintenance and modification on its 767-300s. Contract includes a two-year option. In the first year of the program, Timco will install APB 767 winglets and new inflight entertainment systems on the 767-300s.

GE Aviation inked a 15-year OnPoint solution agreement with Azul covering maintenance, repair and overhaul of CF34-10E engines that power the carrier's 36 E-190s/-195s on firm order plus four on lease. The agreement is valued at $1 billion. Work will take place at the GE facility in Petropolis.

TAP Maintenance and Engineering Brazil delivered two ERJ-145s formerly operated by Thai carrier PB Air to GECAS after performing a C check. The aircraft immediately went into operation with Passaredo Linhas Aereas.

Travelport said Brussels Airlines selected its ETAT e-ticketing solution to enable approved Galileo-connected users in Rwanda to issue e-tickets on bookings made with the airline.



AVIATION QUOTE

I have found adventure in flying, in world travel, in business, and even close at hand... Adventure is a state of mind - and spirit.

Jacqueline Cochran


AEROSPACE TERM

Grain

1. An elongated molding or extrusion of solid propellant for a rocket, regardless of size.
2. In photography, a small particle of metallic silver remaining in a photographic emulsion after development and fixing. In the agglomerate, these grains form the dark area of a photographic image.
3. An individual crystal in a polycrystalline metal or alloy.


DAILY VIDEO





EDITOR’S PICK





HUMOR

Jet Fuel

Bud and Jim were a couple of drinking buddies who worked as airplane mechanics in Atlanta. One day the airport was fogged in and they were stuck in the hangar with nothing to do.

Bud says, "Man, I wish we had something to drink!" Jim says, "Me too. Y'know, I've heard you can drink jet fuel and get a buzz. You wanna try it?" So they pour themselves a couple of glasses of high octane hooch and get completely smashed.

The next morning Bud wakes up and is surprised at how good he feels. In fact he feels GREAT! NO hangover! NO bad side effects. Nothing! Then the phone rings... It's Jim.

Jim says, "Hey, how do you feel this morning?" Bud says, "I feel great. How about you?" Jim says, "I feel great, too. You don't have a hangover?" Bud says, "No, that jet fuel is great stuff -- no hangover, nothing. We ought to do this more often." "Yeah, well there's just one thing..." "What's that?" "Have you farted yet?" "No....."

"Well, DON'T, 'cause I'm in PHOENIX!!!"



TRIVIA

Tail ID

1.


2.


3.


4.


5.


6.


7.


8.


9.


10.

1 JetBlue
2 Cathay Pacific
3
4 Icelandair
5
6
7 Air Jamaica
8 Kalitta
9 Swiss
10 MEA

1. Jetblue
2. Cathay Pacific
3. forgotten !
4. Icelandair
5. eurofly
6. Uzbekistan
7. air Jamaica
8. Kalitta
9. Swiss
10. MEA

Hey, I can get a few of these, I think!

1. jetBlue
2. Cathay Pacific
3.
4. Icelandair
5.
6.
7.
8. Kalitta Air
9. Swissair
10. MEA

1. B6 Jetblue
2. CX Cathay Pacific
3. ATI - Air Transport International
4. FI Icelandair
5. GJ Eurofly
6. HY Uzbekistan Airways
7. JM Air Jamaica
8. Kalitta Air
9. LX Swiss
10. ME Middle East Airlines (MEA)

1. JetBlue
2. Cathay Pacific
3. Air Méditerranée ?
4. IcelandAir
5. Eurofly
6. Uzbekistan Airways
7. ?
8. Kallita
9. Swiss
10. MEA

ANSWERS:
1. B6, jetBlue
2. CX, Cathay Pacific
3. 8C, Air Transport International Airlines
4. FI, Icelandair
5. Eurofly
6. HY, Uzbekistan Airlines
7. JM, Air Jamaica
8. K4, Kalitta Air
9. LX, Swiss International Airlines
10. ME, Middle East Airlines