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NEWS

Southwest maintains its low-fare stance amid change
As fuel prices go up and fuel hedges run out, Southwest Airlines is increasing fares. The airline is also broadening its route network and making other changes, but Southwest maintains that it is sticking to its roots. "We don't like the fact that we have had to increase prices, but we absolutely would continue to hold out that we are America's leading low-fare airline," said Dave Ridley, chief marketing officer at Southwest.
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Partnership allows Delta passengers to connect to Chinese cities
Delta Air Lines and China Eastern have signed a code-share marketing partnership that allows Delta's passengers to connect to 21 cities in China. The Chinese carrier also will put its "code" on certain flights operated by Delta. Delta offers several U.S.-to-China routes and is planning to launch others.
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Commentary: Trans-Atlantic airline capacity will go up 5.5%
Columnist Scott McCartney explains that although airlines are reining in capacity in many markets, trans-Atlantic routes are being expanded, a recent survey shows. Airlines are reacting to strong demand and the ability to raise fares for summer trips across the Atlantic by boosting airline-seat capacity by 5.5% between the U.S. and Europe for the summer. Much of the increase can be attributed to the Airbus A380, which Lufthansa and Air France use for flights to the U.S.
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GE is optimistic about flight test progress on GEnx-1B-powered 787
General Electric said it is confident that the ETOPS and functional and reliability tests will start in the middle of next month on the GEnx-1B-powered Boeing 787. "We're several weeks from entry-into-service of the GEnx-1B-powered 787 in October with Japan Airlines," said Bill Fitzgerald, GEnx product line vice president and general manager. Meanwhile, the Rolls-Royce-powered 787 is 96% through its test program, according to Boeing.
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TSA tells Alaskans that it continues to consider risk-based system
The Transportation Security Administration is continuing to consider a "risk-based" approach to airport security, said Scott Johnson, the TSA field operations manager who met with Alaska residents Wednesday. Johnson attended a round-table discussion that included Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, and state Rep. Sharon Cissna, a cancer survivor concerned about the TSA's pat-down techniques. Begich said the TSA's interest in a risk-based system is a positive sign. "This whole idea of risk assessment ... trying to determine what's high risk, what's a low risk, how they manage that, I think was a good statement and a new policy that they have," he said.
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Court orders American Airlines to put flight data back on Orbitz
The Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County ruled Wednesday that American Airlines must let Orbitz Worldwide resume online ticket sales of its flights. American Airlines said that it disagrees with the court's decision, but will comply with the order for now while it evaluates its options.
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Kenya Airways fiscal-year profit jumps 74%
Kenya Airways reported a net profit of KES3.54 billion ($41.8 million) for its fiscal year ended March 31, up 73.9% over a KES2.04 billion profit in the prior fiscal year.
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Air Lease Corp. inks lease agreements for 20 aircraft
Air Lease Corp. announced Thursday it signed lease agreements for 20 additional aircraft. ALC will lease 10 new aircraft to Alitalia, comprising five Embraer 175s and five E-190LRs under 12-year leases. SriLankan Airlines will lease three new Airbus A320-200s, one of which was delivered in May; the remaining two aircraft will be delivered in October and November on 12-year leases. S7 Airlines is leasing three new A320-200s for eight years, which will be delivered in January, February and May 2012. Kenya Airways has entered into an eight-year lease agreement for three new Embraer 190ARs, scheduled for delivery in August and September, and May 2012. ALC acquired one A320-200 (MSN 1686), on lease to Spring Airlines.
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Bernstein: Boeing to re-engine 737
New York-based Bernstein Research said in a recent report that Boeing will be forced to re-engine the 737. It said that options for making incremental improvements and reducing the price, which was seriously considered through 2010, are no longer viable.
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Lockheed F-35C emerges as candidate for future US Navy contract
The Lockheed Martin F-35 has emerged for the first time as a candidate to replace a fleet of 556 Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets as a carrier-based air dominance fighter for the US Navy after 2025.
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Hong Kong airport unveils masterplan
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has unveiled its 20-year masterplan for the future development of the airport, which includes the possibility of building a third runway.
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Other News

US Dept. of Transportation Thursday said it assessed civil penalties against Continental Airlines and US Airways for violating its rules prohibiting deceptive price advertising in air travel. CO was assessed a civil penalty of $120,000 for not including fuel surcharges on its website and US was fined $45,000 for not providing an explanation of fees and taxes on its website.

Japan Airlines and American Airlines said they are engaging in "closer cooperation" on international cargo operations as part of their transpacific joint venture launched in April. The two carriers said they've begun using Los Angeles, Chicago O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York JFK and Honolulu "as key transfer points for cargo traffic" in the US and similarly are using Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya as transfer points in Japan.

Alice Springs Airport and Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage inked an agreement to build and operate the first dedicated aircraft storage facility outside the US in the Northern Territory in Australia. The ASP location was selected due to its climatic suitability, significant existing infrastructure and capacity for major expansion. According to APAS Managing Director Tom Vincent, the facility is an extremely exciting step for aviation in Australia. “This project represents the first Asia/Pacific-based alternative for customers with aircraft based, or operating through, the region whilst aircraft operators/owners have historically ferried aircraft to the West Coast of the US,” said Vincent.

Boeing has added Skymark Airlines to its 737 Component Services Program. "The program can help airlines save as much as 30% on inventory, repair and administrative costs," Boeing said. Skymark, which launched operations in 1998, operates a fleet of 19 737-800s and will take additional aircraft on lease during the coming months.

Spirit AeroSystems signed an agreement with Scandinavian Airlines to supply spare parts for the carrier’s fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft.

Enigma, an MRO software company headquartered in Burlington, Mass., announced it has opened an office in Singapore "to address the increased demand for aviation maintenance and field service solutions in the Asia Pacific region." It also operates offices in Tokyo, Tel Aviv and London. It named Craig McLeod to head the operations at its new office.

Relativity Capital agreed to acquire Arizona-based Evergreen Maintenance Center, an aircraft storage and maintenance facility with 20 million sq. ft. of ramp and storage area, accommodating over 400 aircraft, it said. EMC is an FAA-approved FAR Part 145 repair station with an FAA Class IV Airframe Rate.



AVIATION QUOTE

He moves not through distance, but through the ranges of satisfaction that come from hauling himself up into the air with complete and utter control; from knowing himself and knowing his airplane so well that he can come somewhere close to touching, in his own special and solitary way, that thing that is called perfection.

— Richard Bach, A Gift of Wings



ON THIS DATE

June 3rd

• In 1785... Jean-Pierre Blanchard experiments with a parachute, releasing a silk parachute 20 feet in diameter, loaded with weight over England. Later he drops dogs attached to parachutes from his balloon.

• In 1936... The British Air Ministry awards a contract to Hawker for 600 Hurricane Mk. 1 fighters, the first of a new breed of high-speed, eight-gun interceptors for the RAF. This is the biggest peacetime order placed in Britain to date.

• In 1973... The first crash of a supersonic transport aircraft occurs as a Tupolev Tu-144 goes down during a demonstration flight at the Paris Air Show.



DAILY VIDEO





EDITOR’S CHOICE





HUMOR

Military Memo

To: All Commands
Subject: Inappropriate T-Shirts
Ref: ComMidEastFor Inst 16134//24 K

1. All commanders promulgate upon receipt

2. The following T-shirts are no longer to be worn on or off base by any military or civilian personnel serving in the Middle East:

"Eat Pork Or Die" [both English and Arabic versions]

"Shrine Busters" [Various. Show burning minarets or bomb/artillery shells impacting Islamic shrines. Some with unit logos.]

Calvin cartoon figure urinating on the Koran.

"Napalm, Sticks Like Crazy" [Both English and Arabic versions]

"Goat- it isn't just for breakfast any more." [Both English and Arabic versions]

"The road to Paradise begins with me." [Mostly Arabic versions but some in English. Some show cross-hairs from sniper scope.]

"Guns don't kill people. I kill people." [Both Arabic and English versions]

"Pork. The other white meat.' [Arabic version]

"Infidel" [English, Arabic and other coalition force languages.]

3. The above T-shirts are to be removed from Post Exchanges upon receipt of this directive.

4. The following signs are to be removed upon receipt of this message:

"For Sale. Iraqi Government Rifles. Never Fired, only dropped once."

"Islamic Religious Services Will Be Held at the Firing Range At 0800 Daily."

"Do we really need 'smart bombs' to drop on these dumb bastards?"

5. All commands are instructed to implement sensitivity training upon receipt.



TRIVIA

General Trivia

1. Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin were first to walk on the moon. Altogether, how many men have walked on the moon, and who were the third and fourth astronauts to do so?

2. The tires of some turbofan-powered airplanes have chines. What are these and what purpose do they serve?

3. What is the greatest speed ever achieved by a man-made object?

4. Who was apparently the only pilot to intentionally solo a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress?

5. True or false; The Boeing JB-17G Flying Fortress was a single-engine, propeller-driven version of the famed bomber.

6. True or false; When filing flight plans, pilots should include cadavers when indicating the number of persons on board the aircraft (or mention them in the Remarks section).

The various documents put out by the Hong Kong Airport Authority might making interesting reading for some of you.

http://www.hkairport2030.com/en/


Edited link to English page (in lieu of Traditional Chinese)

3) Rail gun?