NAS Daily 02 JUN 11

miamiair (netAirspace FAA) 02 Jun 11, 09:15

NEWS

United to keep 3-class cabins on some jets following merger
United Airlines is bucking an industry trend of switching to two-class cabins by keeping its first-class seats on some wide-body jets as it integrates fleets with Continental Airlines. United CEO Jeff Smisek said that keeping the first-class seats is a good move for international routes where some travelers are willing to pay for the increased luxury. "There are certain markets in which that makes a lot of sense and there are others where it doesn't," Smisek said. "We'll have a good mix of aircraft and we can move those aircraft around."
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American Airlines focuses hubs on premium international growth
American Airlines said that it is using its Miami hub as an example as it aims to build a global route system for premium passengers. "The manner in which we are trying to build share is unconventional, in the sense that historically airlines have built franchises through buying them, or built them when the market was soft," said Vasu Raja, managing director of corporate planning at American Airlines. "But we have done this before [in Miami]. We have a line of sight on how we will build five world-class hubs, and we have partnerships in place to help us do that."
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Virgin America aims to up the multimedia ante
Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines are rushing to equip their aircraft with Internet access in a game of catch-up with Virgin America. Rather than resting on its Wi-Fi laurels, however, Virgin is adding a variety of multimedia elements, including real-time geolocation services, specialized social media privileges and social gaming. "We are focused on the Red [in-flight technology] product not getting stale," said David Cush, CEO of Virgin America. "We do not want to be overly dependent on just one media partner."
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Boeing calls problem with 777 landing gear a "workmanship issue"
Landing gear on a new 777 jet had been improperly installed, forcing an emergency landing during a test flight last month. Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration are looking into the problem. Debbie Heathers, a Boeing spokeswoman, said it was a problem with the way mechanics adjusted the landing gear. "It is a workmanship issue," said Heathers.
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Flashing lasers at aircraft is growing problem; FAA increases penalties
Individuals who flash laser beams at aircraft could face fines of up to $11,000 under new Federal Aviation Administration rules. The FAA has increased the penalty in response to an increase in the number of incidents. "Our top priority is protecting the safety of the traveling public," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. "We will not hesitate to take tough action against anyone who threatens the safety of our passengers, pilots and air transportation system." Meanwhile, legislation pending in Congress would make it a federal crime to point a laser at an aircraft.
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Insiders expect continued change in in-flight entertainment
At the recent Aircraft Interiors Expo in Germany, exhibitors said they expect the in-flight entertainment industry to undergo "another seismic change," Lumexis CEO Doug Cline said. He said advancements in technologies has led to an increase in competition. "The industry is on the cusp of the next step up in IFE," said Bob Lange, head of cabin marketing at Airbus, noting that the key will be the ability to identify the most viable technologies.
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Sabre to hold off on biasing American Airlines flights
Chris Kroeger, senior vice president of marketing at Sabre, said the global distribution system doesn't intend to start biasing American Airlines flights despite today's deadline, in which the legal proceedings between the two companies can resume. Kroeger said a temporary restraining order will still keep Sabre from biasing the flights, which generally makes them difficult for travel agents and other GDS users to find and use.
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Bombardier wins Braathens Leasing order for 10 CSeries aircraft
Braathens Leasing Limited, a subsidiary of Braathens Aviation of Sweden, placed a firm order for five Bombardier CSeries100s and five CSeries300s valued at $635 million at list prices, providing a boost to the Canadian manufacturer's narrowbody aircraft program. Braathens also took options on an additional 10 CSeries aircraft, potentially lifting the value of the order to $1.37 billion at list prices.
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ANA, Lufthansa get ATI approval for JV
All Nippon Airways and Lufthansa won antitrust immunity approval from the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to launch a joint venture operation on Japan-Europe routes. The companies plan to coordinate schedules and cooperate on pricing, sales and network planning, while sharing revenue on the routes with the venture launching during the 2011 winter timetable."Customers will benefit from seamless transfers and better connections," the airlines said in a joint statement Wednesday.
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Cathay likely to consider 747-8I, A380
Cathay Pacific Airways CEO John Slosar said in Sydney that the airline will examine the viability of very large aircraft for its network over the next two years. He said the airline’s prime focus was on frequency but conceded that an increased capacity aircraft, above the Boeing 777-300ER, might be needed on some routes.
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FAA sets bar for head-up synthetic vision system
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a series of special conditions that Bombardier and avionics provider Rockwell Collins must meet to certificate head-up synthetic vision for the Global Vision cockpit.
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FAA guts block aircraft registration program
The Federal Aviation Administration has made final its decision to remove a tail number tracking exemption now available to certain aircraft. The block aircraft registration request (BARR) programme, managed by the National Business Aviation Association for the FAA, allows requestors to have their registration numbers removed from publicly available flight tracking systems, an option that more than 3,000 operators now use for privacy, safety or competition reasons.
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Seat maker Koito's deception results in FAA airworthiness directive
Despite receiving numerous objections from multiple parties the US FAA has issued a new airworthiness directive for aircraft seats made by embattled Japanese manufacturer Koito Industries, which falsified test data on some 150,000 seats in the world fleet.
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Other News

Jazz Air parent Chorus Aviation reported net income of C$14.7 million ($15.1 million) for the first quarter ended March 31, a slight decrease from a C$16.4 million net profit in the 2010 first quarter. Operating profit of C$21.6 million was up 36.2% year-over-year as revenue lifted 24.7% to C$443 million.

Bernstein Research said Boeing is closer to resolving the weight reduction challenges of the 787-9, which will lead to a compelling 787-10. In a client report, Bernstein said that Boeing leadership now believes it can "launch a 787-10 stretch (potentially going as high as 335 seats) that would have a range greater than 6,000 n.m., without requiring a redesign of the main gear or extensive changes to the wing."

Omni Air International, based in Tulsa, Okla., announced it has received US FAA approval to operate Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, including 180-minute ETOPS authority. It is the first US registered non-scheduled airline to operate the aircraft type in passenger service. It said it will add a second aircraft to the certificate in mid-July.

Qatar Airways moved its New York JFK operations from Terminal 4 to 8 resulting in "improved benefits for our flights departing and arriving at New York JFK," including a dedicated check-in area and enhanced baggage facilities.

Skyways agreed to acquire Gothenburg-based City Airline after which both carriers will operate under the name Skyways, according to Swedish media. The carrier operates to 13 domestic and seven international destinations using 11 Fokker 50s, two Saab 340s and one E-145. City Airline operates seven E-135/145s and three MD-80s.

Aeromexico chose Discover the World Marketing to serve as its GSA in Bosnia, Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Macedonia, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Ukraine.

Hainan Airlines appointed ECS Group to serve as its GSA in Switzerland.

Delta Air Lines and China Eastern Airlines launched a codeshare agreement under which DL will place its code on 49 CEA-operated domestic flights in China as well as nonstop transpacific flights connecting Shanghai with Los Angeles and New York JFK. CEA will place its MU code on 38 DL-operated US domestic flights as well as on transpacific service connecting Detroit and Atlanta to Shanghai.

FlyNext, a new German charter carrier, launched operations Wednesday with Berlin Tegel-Kos service. The carrier plans to operate two Airbus A319s during the summer, with one based in Bremen and the second to be based in Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden. Both aircraft currently operate for Germania. The carrier said it intends to offer aircraft capacity for ad hoc leases.

Etihad Airways will launch four-times-weekly Airbus A320 Abu Dhabi-Mahe service Nov. 1, subject to government approval.

Egyptair will launch daily Airbus A320-200 Alexandria-Dubai service June 20.

AVIATION QUOTE

The way I see it, you can either work for a living or you can fly airplanes. Me, I'd rather fly.

— Len Morgan

ON THIS DATE

June 2nd

• In 1794... J. M. J. Coutelle and N. J. Conte of the French army’s “Aerostiers” at Mauberge, France make the first military use of a balloon, when they observe enemy positions from their captive balloon.

• In 1910... Charles Rolls makes a non-stop double crossing of the Channel from Dover, England, in one hour, 35 minutes.

• In 1957... The first solo balloon flight into the stratosphere (the upper portion of the atmosphere above seven miles) is made by U.S. Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr. In his plastic balloon Manhig 1, he stays in the air for six hours, 36 minutes and reaches an altitude of 96,000 feet.

• In 1986... The greatest distance achieved by a hang-glider is made by American Randy Haney who flies an unpowered hang-glider 199.75 miles (321.47 km) from his takeoff point.

DAILY VIDEO

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Image © Hickory Shampoo, 2011

HUMOR

Noise Abatement

"Trans Global 341, for noise abatement turn right 45 degrees."

"But Center,we are at 35,000 feet. How much noise can we make up here?"

"Sir, have you ever heard the noise a 747 makes when it hits a 757?"

TRIVIA

Tail ID

1.

10.

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

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