Southwest will try to keep flights to cities served by AirTran Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly said the carrier will try to maintain flights to smaller cities that AirTran Airways serviced after Southwest's acquisition of the airline. However, Kelly stopped short of ensuring that smaller towns won't see changes. "So we'll look at all that, and we'll make a judgment about what routes we want to change," Kelly said. Link
American rejects flight attendants' "cash only" offer The Association of Professional Flight Attendants says it made a "short-term, cash-only" offer to American Airlines for a 6% wage hike that would postpone all other issues for 18 months. "Unfortunately, the proposal did not address critical productivity and benefits cost issues hindering American's ability to compete," said an American spokeswoman, noting that American's own proposal would increase wages by nearly 10% if accompanied by productivity hikes and healthcare reforms. Link
Pilots union recall vote could slow United-Continental merger The pilots union at United Airlines has postponed until Thursday a vote to recall Captain Wendy Morse, the union president viewed by some members as too conciliatory toward airline management. One Morse supporter says ousting her would lead to "mayhem" in contract talks aiming to integrate pilots from United and merger partner Continental Airlines. Link
US Airways could be a model for 737 inspections, experts say With 58 older-model Boeing 737s in its fleet, US Airways conducts rigorous inspections that could serve as a benchmark for the industry, according to safety experts. Every 2,500 cycles, the airline uses electrical testing to search for tiny cracks along the lap joint on older aircraft; previously the inspections took place every 35,000 cycles. John Goglia, a former member of the National Transportation Safety Board, says the US Airways inspection regime "should be a model" for the industry. Link
Analysis: U.S. airline safety rankings are meaningless Though some organizations continue to issue annual rankings of the safest airlines in the U.S., experts say the data have no real meaning. "There aren't enough data points to draw distinctions between the very safe and the extremely safe," says Bill Voss of the Flight Safety Foundation. With a handful of incidents to report out of tens of thousands of flights every day, airline safety numbers are carried out to seven decimal places, where small differences have absolutely no bearing on a passenger's odds of injury or death, according to experts. Link
Airports vie for 747-8 approval, but some neighbors aren't so sure With air cargo growing quickly, smaller airports are eager to accommodate the huge new 747-8 freighter, but some airport neighbors are skeptical of Boeing's claims that the bigger plane will be 30% quieter than current models. The FAA so far has issued waivers to allow the 747-8 at 14 airports, and 13 others are seeking to win approval. Once the big new jet begins service in those markets, Boeing believes any neighborhood opposition will disappear. "They'll find out they're more quiet than previous generations," says a company spokesman. "It shouldn't be a problem at all." Link
FAA plans test of in-cockpit weather data The FAA is testing technology to bring real-time satellite weather data into airplane cockpits, a more effective storm-tracking technique than current radar. The satellite-based technology, part of the upcoming NextGen system, would be especially useful on transoceanic flights that take aircraft beyond the reach of ground-based radar, experts say. The search for a new technology became more urgent after an Air France A330 disappeared off the coast of Brazil in 2009. Investigators believe the plane encountered violent thunderstorms in the so-called intertropical convergence zone, where intense storms occur year-round. Link
TSA in Florida gets aggressive on arresting travelers with weapons Authorities at South Florida's three largest airports arrested about 200 people last year for attempting to take weapons through airport security stations. They noted that none of the individuals were linked to a terrorist plot. "Our job is not just to be sure that we keep terrorists off planes, but also to be sure that we detect and deter," said Tim Lewis, TSA security director at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. "No one wants to be sitting on a plane next to a terrorist, or for that matter a violent gang member or other nefarious person with a gun or knife." Link
IPad could lighten pilots' load by more than 16 pounds Alaska Airlines is testing the use of iPads in cockpits with a "select group of pilots," according to a company spokeswoman. The iPad, at 1.5 pounds, could replace laptop computers that weigh up to 18 pounds. Business jet charter provider Executive Jet has been approved to use iPads after conducting 250 successful certification flights. Link
NTSB investigating Air France A380 wingtip clipping incident US National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation of a wingtip clipping incident that occurred between an Air France Airbus A380 carrying 510 people and a Bombardier CRJ700 operated by Comair as a Delta Connection flight Monday night while both aircraft were taxiing at New York JFK. There were no reported injuries, although both aircraft sustained damage and were taken out of service. The incident occurred at 8:25 p.m. EST, according to NTSB. Link
Kallas: US, EU airlines' competiveness with carriers in Asia, Middle East in question European Commission VP-Transport Siim Kallas said that Asia/Pacific and Middle East airlines are regularly outperforming European and US rivals, driving the need for EU and US regulators to focus more intently on improving their airlines' long-term ability to compete globally. Link
Simulation exercise to test new volcanic ash crisis procedures One year after the Eyjafjallajokull eruption, ICAO—in cooperation with the European Commission, Eurocontrol and EASA—is organizing a volcanic ash simulation exercise on April 13-14 to test the effectiveness of changes to its volcanic ash procedures and contingency plan for Europe. The crisis exercise also involves more than 70 airlines, 14 air navigation service providers, 10 national regulatory authorities, as well as the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in London. Link
Airbus grants exception to permit Koito seats on SIA A380s Airbus has granted an exceptional authorization to allow the installation of business class seats from Koito Industries on Singapore Airlines' delayed Airbus A380 aircraft, despite the embattled Japanese manufacturer's admitted falsification of data on some 150,000 seats in the world fleet, ATI and Flightglobal has learned. Link
GE launches TRUEngine for the CF6 GE Aviation has launched its TRUEngine designation for the CF6 engine with Nippon Cargo Airlines being the first recipient for its 43 CF6-80C2s powering its fleet of Boeing 747s. Link
Analyst thinks Boeing will back away from all-new 737 Buckingham Research, a boutique New York investment bank with a good track record of forecasting Boeing moves, has issued a note in which it says the Seattle airframer is moving away from unveiling an all-new 737 replacement. Link
Other News
The African Airlines Assn. criticized the “uncontrolled” opening of market access to foreign airlines and called on the continent’s governments to support their local airlines. It also called on African carriers to forge closer cooperation to address some of the major challenges to ensuring growth and sustainability.
US FAA assigned Barbados a Category 2 safety rating, which means that Barbados does not comply with international safety standards set by ICAO, based on an assessment by Barbados’ civil aviation authority. As a result, Barbados’ air carriers, which do not currently serve the US, cannot establish US service.
Etihad Airways has selected Manchester as the location for its newest contact center, to be operational in 2012, joining centers in Abu Dhabi, India and Australia. It is now working with the Manchester Airports Group to find a location on the airport campus. The center is expected to create 160 jobs for the region, Etihad said.
AFI KLM E&M was selected by Air Europa to modify the full-economy class of one recently acquired Airbus A330 to a dual-class cabin.
Driessen-Zodiac Aerospace signed an agreement with Airbus to “progressively” introduce galleys as “Seller Furnished Equipment” on A320 family aircraft. The SFE approach will begin with deliveries from mid 2012 on, it said.
STG Aerospace said it will be the baseline supplier of photoluminescent floor path lighting systems to Goodrich. Goodrich will then supply the product, SafTGlo, to COMAC for the ARJ21 and to Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. for the MRJ100/200.
A J Walter Aviation announced it has acquired a 60-acre site for the development of a “significant global HQ and logistics center,” near London Gatwick Airport. The facility will initially provide more than 175,000 sq. ft. of office and storage facilities for its Airbus and Boeing components, engines and consumables. It is slated to open in fall 2012.
AmSafe Industries was selected by Allegiant Air to supply next-generation lightweight passenger seatbelts for its MD-80 aircraft.
Clariant, a provider of de-icers for aircraft and runways in Europe, acquired New York-based Octagon Process. Terms were not disclosed.
AVIATION QUOTE
"Are you ever afraid when you fly?" "That's a good question. Yeah. I'm always a little afraid when I fly. That's what makes me so damn good. I've seen pilots who weren't afraid of anything, who would forget about checking their instruments, who flew by instinct as though they were immortal. I've pissed on the graves of those poor bastards too. The pilot who isn't a little bit afraid always screws up and when you screw up bad in a jet, you get a corporal playing taps at the expense of the government."
— Lieutenant Colonel Bull Meecham, USMC, in Pat Conroy's book, 'The Great Santini.' I've also got Pat's eulogy to his dad, Colonel Don Conroy, online for all those that have read the book and want to know more.
ON THIS DATE
April 13th
• In 1919... The Vickers Vimy Commercial, a civilian version of the bomber with an enclosed fuselage capable of holding a maximum of ten passengers, makes its maiden flight in Kent, England.
• In 1925... The first regular U.S. air-freight service is initiated by Henry Ford, linking Detroit, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois.
• In 1966... Boeing announces in Seattle an order worth $525 million from Pan Am for 25 Model 747 jumbo jets.
• In 1989... The first flight-tests of the Pratt & Whitney / Alison propfan engine are carried out in the U.S.
A Soldier, a Sailor, an Airman. and a Marine, got into an argument about which service is "The Best."
The arguing became so heated, that they eventually ended up killing each other.
Soon, they found themselves at the Pearly Gates of Heaven. Soon they meet St Peter and decide that only he would be the ultimate source of truth and honesty so they ask him:
"St Peter, which branch of the American Armed Forces is the best?"
St. Peter instantly replies: "I can't answer that. But, I will ask God what he thinks the next time I see him."
Some time later the three see St. Peter again and remind him of the question and ask if he was able to find the answer. Suddenly, a sparkling white dove lands on St. Peter's shoulder. In the dove's beak is a note with glistening gold dust.
St. Peter says to the four men, "Your answer from the Boss. Let's see what he says." St Peter opens the note, trumpets blare, gold dust drifts into the air, harps play crescendos and St Peter begins to read it aloud to the four young men:
MEMORANDUM TO SOLDIERS, SEAMEN, MARINES, AND AIRMEN SUBJECT: Which Military Service Is The Best? "Gentlemen, all the Branches of the Armed Services are Honorable and Noble. Each of you served your country well and with distinction. Being a member of the American Armed Forces represents a special calling warranting special respect, tribute, and dedication. Be proud of that."
Very Respectfully,
GOD,USA SF (Ret.)
TRIVIA
Soviet Fighters
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And let's get one thing straight. There's a big difference between a pilot and an aviator. One is a technician; the other is an artist in love with flight. — E. B. Jeppesen
And let's get one thing straight. There's a big difference between a pilot and an aviator. One is a technician; the other is an artist in love with flight. — E. B. Jeppesen
