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NEWS

Boeing eyes South Korea as first Silent Eagle customer
Boeing says it has completed radar-cross-section trials for its Silent Eagle semi-stealthy F-15 prototype and that South Korea could be its first customer. The country's upcoming F-X3 competition for 60 fighters could represent the first sales opportunity for the jet, and Boeing says it may consider international co-development partners for a Silent Eagle conformal fuel tank.
Link

Gates travels to India to strengthen military ties
Defense Secretary Robert Gates was to travel to India on Monday to strengthen military relations with that country. The visit comes as the U.S. regards Pakistan as a top foreign policy priority. India has asked the U.S. for assistance in urging Islamabad to crack down on Islamic extremists that were behind the attacks in Mumbai in 2008.
Link

Japan's fighter industry sees engineers dwindle
With as much as 70% of Japan's engineering workforce for the Mitsubishi F-2 fighter assigned to other business units, the country is rapidly losing fighter-plane engineering skills, according to an official review of the industry. The review recommends Japan avoid fully importing combat aircraft, and, taking note of the situation, the Eurofighter consortium and Boeing are offering flexibility to Tokyo in assigning development work on their aircraft to Japanese companies.
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Babbitt predicts busy year at FAA
From pilot fatigue to regional airline training standards to NextGen, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt has a lot on his plate. "It's a huge challenge, but it's a good challenge," Babbitt tells The Wall Street Journal. New rules on pilot rest will probably be published in the spring, allowing more flight time but less overall time on duty. New training standards for regional pilots will also be proposed this year, says Babbitt, who has long advocated "one level of safety" for all pilots. As for NextGen, Babbitt says too much time was "spent on the drawing board," but as the technology begins to show some success, its rollout will be "self-invigorating," he predicts.
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Premium travel continues to struggle
Even after a slight improvement mid-year, premium airline travel remains about 20% below 2008 levels, according to new figures from an international airline group. A burgeoning economic recovery is boosting business travel in South America and the Middle East, while Europe and trans-Atlantic routes continue to see a decline.
Link

A (cannon) shot across the space industry's bow
A former Lawrence Livermore physicist is proposing a 3,600-foot-long cannon that would use super-heated hydrogen gas to shoot cargo into space at 13,000 miles per hour. John Hunter, a co-founder of Quicklaunch, says the system could deliver payloads into orbit at a cost of about $250 per pound, compared to $5,000 per pound using today's rocket technology.
Link

BA looks at wet-leases and temporary crews to beat strike
British Airways is considering wet-leasing aircraft and even providing additional training to enable other staff to fill cabin crew positions, following the renewed strike threat by flight attendants.
Link

JAL likely to file for bankruptcy today
Japan Airlines (JAL) is expected to file for bankruptcy today, and announce drastic cuts to its workforce as the ailing carrier seeks to restructure.
Link

Iran Air A300 engine spouts flame before Stockholm run-off

Video images of the runway run-off by an Iran Air Airbus A300-600 at Stockholm Arlanda indicate that the aircraft suffered a technical problem with its left-hand engine shortly after starting its take-off roll.
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AVIATION QUOTE

Once you get hooked on the airline business, it's worse than dope.

— Ed Acker, while Chairman of Air Florida



AEROSPACE TERM

Halon

A bromofluorocarbon compound that was widely used as an agent for fire suppression and explosion protection. After being recognized as an ozone-depleting substance, the U.S. production and import of halons was banned in 1994.



DAILY VIDEO





EDITOR’S CHOICE


Image by Mr. Chips



HUMOR

Flying

When a flight is proceeding incredibly well, something was forgotten.
(Robert Livingston, "Flying The Aeronca")

Just remember, if you crash because of weather, your funeral will be held on a sunny day.
(Layton A. Bennett, "Never fly the 'A' model of anything")

When a prang seems inevitable, endeavour to strike the softest, cheapest object in the vicinity as slowly and gently as possible.
(Advice given to RAF pilots during W.W.II)

The Cub is the safest airplane in the world; it can just barely kill you.
(Attributed to Max Stanley, Northrop test pilot)

A pilot who doesn't have any fear probably isn't flying his plane to its maximum.
(Jon McBride, astronaut)

If you're faced with a forced landing, fly the thing as far into the crash as possible.
(Bob Hoover)

If an airplane is still in one piece, don't cheat on it; ride the bastard down.
(Ernest K. Gann, advice from the 'old pelican')

Though I Fly Through the Valley of Death I Shall Fear No Evil For I Am 80,000 Feet and Climbing.
(Sign over the entrance to the SR-71 operating location on Kadena)

You've never been lost until you've been lost at Mach 3.
(Paul F. Crickmore)

Never fly in the same cockpit with someone braver than you.
(Richard Herman, Jr., "Firebreak")

There is no reason to fly through a thunderstorm in peacetime.
(Sign over squadron ops desk at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, 1970)

The three best things in life are a good landing, a good orgasm, and a good bowel movement. The night carrier landing is one of the few opportunities in life where you get to experience all three at the same time.



TRIVIA

Tail ID

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10.

1. I'll leave that one for DAL764
2. bmibaby
3. Gulf Air
4. Iran Air
5. Norwegian
6. Malev
7. Egypt Air
8. Dang, I know I've seen this one...
9. Air India
10. bmi (the grown-up version)

1.
2. bmibaby
3. Gulf Air
4. Iran Air
5. Norwegian
6. Malev
7. Egypt Air
8.
9. Air India
10. bmi

Zak wrote:1. I'll leave that one for DAL764

Pfft, as if it's hard to remember an airline from a group of Dutch Islands that has a German name, which would be Insel Air .

Other than that, I'll go with your answers and replace Dang with WestJet.

Zak wrote:2. bmibaby
3. Gulf Air
4. Iran Air
5. Norwegian
6. Malev
7. Egypt Air
8. Dang, I know I've seen this one...
9. Air India
10. bmi (the grown-up version)

DAL764 wrote:

Zak wrote:1. I'll leave that one for DAL764

Pfft, as if it's hard to remember an airline from a group of Dutch Islands that has a German name, which would be Insel Air .

Not hard to remember the name. Now, the livery... that's a different story.

ANSWERS:

1. INC, Insell Air
2. WW, bmiBaby
3. GF, Gulf Air
4. IR, Iran Air
5. Norwegian
6. MA, Malev
7. MS, Egypt Air
8. M3, West jet Airlines
9. AI, Air India
10. BD, British Midland