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NEWS

Southwest CEO views "strong" future demand
Southwest Airlines Chairman and CEO Gary Kelly remained optimistic about demand trends as the company posted "very strong" numbers for May and June bookings. Kelly added that the company has no plans to lower its dividend despite the rising costs of jet fuel, but that any raise in payout would have to wait.
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United and Continental start integrating operations
Executives at United Airlines and Continental Airlines are working to answer thousands of questions about everything from the color of the baggage tags to the best way to lift a Labrador retriever into a plane's cargo hold as they strive to integrate the carriers' operations. For example, the combined company recently announced that it is integrating the process for passengers to check in and receive their boarding passes. The airlines are expected to complete this integration process by the middle of next year.
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Sometimes a flight's number is more than that
Flight numbers are generally assigned by the airlines at random, but in some cases they are not random at all. For example, Southwest Airlines makes a nod to the craps tables with its Flight 711 from San Antonio to Las Vegas. Some "legacy numbers" also remain, such as Flight 1 from JFK to LAX on American Airlines.
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Raising PFC would be "direct tax on passengers"
Airport deregulation could allow airports to raise Passenger Facility Charges, a move not supported by the Air Transport Association. "We're opposed to raising the PFC because it is like a direct tax on passengers who already pay high taxes," said Sharon L. Pinkerton, senior vice president of the ATA. "And airports are in far better financial shape than their airline partners."
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Delta to roll out "economy comfort" section
Delta Air Lines plans to launch its new "economy comfort" section for some international flights in June. For an extra fee, passengers will receive a seat that reclines up to 50% more and offers up to four inches of additional legroom. The move is part of a larger $2 billion investment to "improve the customer experience" in the air as well as on the ground.
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Bombardier says demand for business jets is slowly recovering
Bombardier, one of the world's largest plane makers, said that it sees the business jet market returning to "sustained growth." Gary Scott, president of commercial aircraft at Bombardier Aerospace, said China will emerge as a leading customer of the aviation industry over the next 20 years. "China is incredibly important," Scott said. "The bottom line is that China is the No. 2 economy in the world, at around $5 trillion, and they're still growing at 7% a year."
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Arizona airport to play host to International Learn to Fly Day
Falcon Field airport in Mesa, Ariz., will host International Learn to Fly Day on Saturday. Arizona Aviation Flight Services will hold an open house from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The flight school at Falcon Field was established in 1982.
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Windward Performance works on high-altitude glider
Windward Performance in Bend, Ore., is working on the Perlan project, a glider designed to soar to 90,000 feet above sea level. The high altitude presents a challenge of strong winds, as well as thin and cold air. "We'll be practically going into space -- without a rocket," said Greg Cole, president of Windward Performance.
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Pilot recalls fun times in taildragger
Columnist Richard Parkhurst fondly recalls his years as a pilot and the first aircraft he purchased. "Somehow I fell in love with an Aeronca Champ 7AC taildragger and purchased it. It had no electrical system, so one had to hand-prop it to start -- I was back to basics and I loved it," he writes.
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Air Force says it's using streamlined acquisitions process on LRS
Lt. Gen. Mark Shackelford said the Air Force is not forgoing its traditional acquisitions process but instead using a streamlined version for its new Long Range Strike program, which is being run out of the Rapid Capabilities Office. "We are not ditching the classic acquisition approach. What we are doing is taking advantage of some streamlining that is available when you get the senior decision makers more directly involved in the acquisition," Shackelford said.
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Air France KLM Group returns to full-year profit
Air France KLM Group reported a profit for the fiscal year ended March 31 of €613 million ($873.5 million), reversed from a €1.6 billion deficit in its 2009-10 fiscal year, citing a “more favorable economic environment” and cost-cutting controls for the turnaround. Annual results benefitted from €1.04 billion gain on its Amadeus shares partly offset by a €127 million provision related to investigations into cargo price-fixing. The company said that restated for non-recurring items, AF-KLM had an annual loss of €234 million versus a loss of €1.23 billion on a similar basis in the 2009-10 fiscal year.
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AirBaltic CEO says carrier must strengthen its capital base before renewing fleet
AirBaltic President and CEO Bertolt Flick reiterated that the carrier will need to strengthen its capital base if it proceeds with an order for narrowbodies to renew its medium-haul fleet, which he asserts is becoming urgent owing to the high fuel prices.
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Delta, transatlantic JV partners, to cut transatlantic capacity 7%-9% this fall
SkyTeam members Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM and Alitalia announced they will reduce transatlantic capacity between Europe and the US and Canada offered through their joint venture by 7%-9% this fall in response to significantly higher fuel prices "and fluctuating seasonal demand." Separately, DL President Ed Bastian, speaking at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Transportation Conference available via webcast said that DL will reduce its own transatlantic capacity by 10%-12% year-over-year via market cancellations and frequency reductions, which is an increase over the 8%-10% figure the carrier mentioned during its first-quarter conference call. Overall, DL will reduce post-Labor Day capacity by 4% compared to the year-ago period.
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ATR: 72-600 EIS opens up North American market
ATR Head of Sales John Moore said that EIS later this year of the ATR 72-600 should enable the turboprop manufacturer to make inroads in North America. In a Wednesday interview on the sidelines of the Regional Airline Assn. Annual Convention in Nashville, Moore said, "We'd really like to have a bigger presence in the [North American] market. We've been successful everywhere else and I don't see why North America should be any different."
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Airbus raising monthly A320 production to 42 next year
Airbus is to raise A320-family production rates to 42 aircraft per month from the fourth quarter of next year, in stages from the current monthly rate of 36.
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Australia could get first two A330 tankers in June
Australia could take delivery of its first delayed A330-based multi-role tanker/transports in June, while Airbus Military has received certification for a safety modification to the type's fly-by-wire refuelling boom.
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Air Canada pilots reject tentative agreement
Air Canada's pilots have voted not to adopt a tentative collective bargaining agreement that included a proposal by the airline to create a new low cost carrier.
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NATO's Tiger Meet turns 50
France is hosting the 50th anniversary NATO Tiger Meet at its Cambrai air base, with squadrons from 14 nations participating in the event from 17 May.
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Other News

Boeing confirmed that Lufthansa Cargo finalized a previously announced order for five 777 freighters valued at $1.35 billion based on list prices. “The 777 freighter is highly regarded for its fuel efficiency and a noise footprint significantly smaller than comparable freighters,” said LHC Chairman and CEO Karl Ulrich Garnadt. “We are certain that these airplanes will benefit our customers greatly, as experienced by our AeroLogic joint venture [with DHL Express], which already operates eight 777 freighters.” The 777s will be needed for LHC's growth from 2016-2020.

Scandinavian Airlines announced Thursday it signed a letter of intent with Singapore Airlines to further develop and enhance their partnership. “This may cover additional codeshare flights, as well as network cooperation on potential new sectors between Scandinavia and Singapore,” SAS said in a statement.

GE Aviation is developing a next-generation regional jet engine to replace the CF34 that could be ready for a 2016 EIS, according to GM-Regional and Large Business Aviation Chuck Nugent.

AirAsia X selected GE’s CF6-80E1 engines to power three firm and two option Airbus A330-200s ordered in March. The aircraft, which is scheduled for delivery from 2012, will be operated on the carrier's expanding network, offering low-fare service to destinations in Europe, Asia and the Pacific.

Bombardier said it has begun installing semi-automated jigs at its new wing facility in Belfast to support assembly of the advanced composite wings for the CSeries. The jigs are being installed in the second phase of a new 600,000 sq. ft. manufacturing and assembly facility. The first phase, which will accommodate the fabrication of the composite components, was completed at the end of 2010.

Atlantic Southeast Airlines is "about halfway through" the process of merging with ExpressJet, ASA President Brad Holt told reporters at the Regional Airline Assn. Annual Convention in Nashville. He said the SkyWest Inc. subsidiaries expect to receive a single operating certificate "by late November, early December."

Pinnacle Airlines Corp. Senior VP Buddy Casey said the Memphis-based regional airline company has narrowed its CEO search to two undisclosed candidates. A new CEO will be "on board sometime in June," he noted. Long-time President and CEO Philip Trenary resigned in March.

Island Air CEO Lesley Kaneshiro said the Hawaiian carrier is "actively looking to add one or two Dash 8-100s to our fleet."



AVIATION QUOTE

If you can't afford to do something right, then be darn sure you can afford to do it wrong.

— Charlie Nelson



ON THIS DATE

May 20th

• In 1784... The first women to ascend in a tethered balloon are the Marchioness de Montalembert, the Contess de Montalenbert, the Contess de Podenas, and Mademoiselle de Ligarde. Their Montgolfier balloon lifts to the length of the restraining rope.

• In 1927... The first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic is made by Charles A. Lindbergh. In his Ryan monoplane Spirit of St. Louis, he covers 3,600 miles in 33 hours, 29 minutes and wins the Orteig Prize of $25,000.

• In 1929... Charles Lindbergh marries Anne, daughter of Dwight W. Morrow, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and author of an influential report on American aviation.

• In 1932... The first solo flight by a woman pilot across the Atlantic is made by American Amelia Earhart. She flies from Harbor Grace, Newfoundland to Londonderry, Northern Ireland in a Lockheed Vega monoplane in 13 hours, 30 minutes.



DAILY VIDEO





EDITOR’S CHOICE





HUMOR

In Fighter Pilot Heaven

• Everybody's a Captain except God.... He's a Major.
• You only come to work when you're going to fly....
• You fly three times a day except Friday.
• You never run out of gas.
• The missions are only one hour long and no briefings are ever required.
• You are always on TDY and there are no check rides.
• It is always VFR and there are never any ATC delays.
• You can fly out of the area and flight down to 50' AGL is approved.
• There are no "over G's".
• You always fly overhead landing patterns with initial approach at 20', then break left.
• You can go cross-country anytime you desire. The farther the better!
• There are no ORI's (Operational Readiness Inspections).
• There is no SOF (Supervisor of Flying) or mobile tower duty.
• There are no Friday meetings, but Friday evening "Stag Bar" is mandatory.
• There are no Flight Surgeons.
• There are no Wing staff jobs.
• You don't need a kitchen pass, and the kitchen and bar are always open.
• "Happy Hour" begins at 1400 hours and lasts til 0200 hours.
• Supersof is the bartender. The other five are big-bosomed blondes.
• Beer is free, but whiskey costs five cents.
• The bar serves only Chivas Regal, Jack Daniels, and Beefeaters.
• The girls are all friendly and each fighter pilot is allowed three.
• There are no fat women and the thin ones look like Sophia Loren.
• Country and Western music is free on the juke box.
• The craps tables are always HOT and you never lose at blackjack!
• You never lose your room key and your buddies never leave you stranded at the club.
• The sun always shines and you can put your hat in your leg pocket.
• Flight suits are allowed in the Officers Club at all times.
• The motor pool always provides a staff car for visiting fighter pilots.
• The Base Exchange always has every item you ask for. Most are free.
• There are never any cross-wind landings and the runways are always dry.
• Control tower flybys for a wheels UP check can be made at 600 knots.
• There are never any noise complaints.
• Full afterburner climbs over your house are encouraged.
• ER's (Efficiency Reports) always contain the statement "Outstanding Officer".
• Formal functions requiring Class "A" or formal attire never occur.
• "Ace" status is conferred upon all fighter pilots entering Heaven.
• There is no Hell.
• All air traffic controllers are friendly, and always provide priority handling.
• The airplanes never break.



TRIVIA

Google Airports

Need a hint? PM Me.

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4 is SFO, I think
6, pretty sure that's FZO, Bristol Filton. That pointy white thing is the only way I can tell, though.

I'm sure I've seen something very recently about the terminal building in 7, but I can't remember where it is.

4. SFO
5. CVG
7. looks Asian - PEK?

1. Harrisburg IAP
2. NAS Pensacola

ANSWERS:
1. MDT, Harrisburg Int’l, Harrisburg, PA
2. NPA, Pensacola NAS, Forrest Sherm Field, Pensacola, FL
3. TLS, Toulouse-Bagnac, Toulouse, France
4. SFO, San Francisco Int’l, San Francisco, CA
5. CVG, Greater Cincinati Int’l, Covington, KY
6. FZO, Filton, UK
7. PEK, Beijing Int’l, Beijing, China
8. MSY, Louis Armstrong Int’l, New Orleans, Kenner, LA
9. SCL, Arturo Merino Benito, Santiago, Chile
10. SJU, Luis Muñoz Marin, San Juan, Puerto Rico