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NEWS

Virgin America aims to accelerate growth, CEO Cush says
David Cush, CEO of Virgin America, said the 4-year-old carrier is planning a 35% capacity expansion in 2012 and a 10% expansion in 2013. "We've had quite rapid growth and we're picking up growth again," Cush said. He also said he expects jet fuel prices to rise further, driving demand for engines that are more fuel-efficient.
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American Airlines pilots report progress in contract talks
American Airlines pilots say progress is being made in their labor discussions. The thawing relationship is seen as a step forward as the airline has been negotiating with its three biggest unions for a while. Jeffrey Brundage, senior vice president of human resources at American Airlines, said the carrier has "seen real progress in its talks" with pilots and "in getting closer to a workable agreement." He also said that the decision to lower the rhetorical temperature of the talks was crucial. "What you're watching -- and not just American -- you're watching a transformation in how that business is done," Brundage said.
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Albaugh says Boeing will avoid doing major programs at same time
Boeing's attempt to develop the 787 and the 747-8 together taught the company valuable lessons. "We will never again do two major development programs simultaneously," said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Boeing is still working on how to evolve its 737 and 777, but plans to stagger development of the two projects.
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Tablets won't replace in-flight entertainment systems, insiders say
Some industry observers have been speculating that tablet computers, such as Apple's iPad and Samsung's Galaxy Tabs, might take over the role played by in-flight entertainment systems. However, Thales and Panasonic Avionics say that the popular tablets are not a threat to IFE. "Our grand vision is that the airlines be connected, on the edge of the cloud," said Panasonic Avionics CEO Paul Margis. "You'll have personal devices, and streaming video in some cases. You'll have onboard TVs, and there are occasions where the airline may need something in the middle, based on a route structure or market need."
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Boeing 747-8F to set transatlantic biofuel record
Boeing announced that its 747-8 Freighter will become the first commercial aircraft to fly across the Atlantic Ocean powered by "biologically derived fuel." The 747-8F is traveling to the Paris Air Show, which starts Monday, and will be on display at the air show. The freighter will run on a blend of fuel that includes 15% camelina-based biofuel, Boeing says.
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JetBlue revamps Even More Legroom product with new perks
JetBlue Airways said it is adding perks to and rebranding its Even More Legroom product. The discount airline's new Even More Space product will include early boarding and access to additional bin space, along with its option of roomier seats. JetBlue is also offering Even More Speed, an option that sends passengers through expedited security screening at select airports.
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Pentagon delays review for F-35 Lightning II
Vice Admiral David Venlet, the top official on the Joint Strike Fighter program, said a Defense Acquisitions Board review has been postponed again. The review, now scheduled for the fall, is expected to establish a new cost baseline for the F-35 Lightning II. "That is not a sign of alarm," Venlet said of the delay. "It is, I think, a determination to continue in a deliberate fashion with good solid fundamentals applied to get things done."
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Agencies team up to intercept fake military parts
Operation Chain Reaction is a joint effort between various law enforcement agencies, military and border patrol to target counterfeit military parts sold to the U.S. "Counterfeiting has evolved to such a great extent that intellectual-property thieves will sell just about anything that will make them a buck, with no regard for the integrity of the federal supply chain or the safety of our war fighters," said John Morton, director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
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Czech Republic withdraws from U.S. missile defense program
The Czech Republic was unhappy with its diminished role in the U.S. missile defense project and has decided against participating. Under President George W. Bush, the U.S. had proposed stationing a radar facility in the Czech Republic, along with ground-based interceptors in Poland. The Obama administration proposed a revised program in 2009 with the role of the Czech Republic unspecified.
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Boeing boosts 20-year aircraft demand forecast 8.4%
Boeing forecast demand for 33,500 new commercial aircraft worth $4 trillion through 2030 in its latest "Current Market Outlook" released Thursday. The 20-year aircraft demand projection is up 8.4% from the manufacturer's 2010 demand forecast and up 15.5% from its 2009 projection. Market value over 20 years is up 11.1% from $3.6 billion projected last year.
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APD debate heats up in UK
The debate and lobbying on the controversial Air Passenger Duty in the UK intensified this week with the government’s consultation on ADP reform due to close Friday. British Airways reiterated its call for a “three-pronged approach” to ADP reform, encompassing a reduction of the current four distance bands to two—namely flights of up to 2,000 miles and flights of more than 2,000 miles, which it says would “help to address the current disproportionate burden on long-haul flights and the discrepancies that arise by using capital cities to determine bands.” It also believes that so-called premium economy seats should be taxed at the same rate as economy seats, rather than at the higher rate for business and first class. Also, BA argued, the APD should not be increased beyond present levels and should start to be phased out once revenues from the EU’s Emission Trading Scheme “start flowing to the UK Treasury in 2013.”
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Lessor ANI inks MOU for five MRJs
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. said it signed an MOU with ANI Group Holdings, a Hong Kong-based lessor that places aircraft with Indonesian airlines, for five MRJs.
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Other News

European Commission officially closed its infringement procedure against the Republic of Ireland for levying what it called “discriminatory aspects of its air travel tax,” following the Irish government’s modification of the tax to a single rate of €3 ($4.30) per passenger on all European routes. The change was made in March.

Airline service in Australia returned to normal Thursday as the ash cloud from Chile’s Puyehue-Cordon Caulle Volcano, which has played havoc with the travel plans of tens of thousands of passengers, cleared the continent.

About 700 Frontier Airlines pilots voted this week on whether to ratify a tentative agreement that would give them an equity stake in the airline in exchange for reductions in pay and benefits. Ratification would potentially drop parent Republic Airways Holdings' stake in the carrier to below 50% while allowing it to raise $70 million. It would also clear the way for a restructuring plan aimed at cutting more than $100 million from Frontier's annual costs.

US FAA said it is proposing a $425,000 civil penalty against Atlanta-based Atlantic Southeast Airlines, a SkyWest Inc. subsidiary, for allegedly operating two Bombardier CRJ regional jets when they were not in compliance with FAA regulations. The FAA charged that ASA, flying as Delta Connection, “failed to complete required inspections of the two aircraft after they were struck by lightning. One strike took place on July 21, 2008 and the other on July 23, 2008.” FAA also alleged that “ASA operated the two aircraft on a total of 13 revenue passenger flights between July 22 and 24 when they were not in compliance with regulations.”

Saudi Arabian Airlines said an IPO of its catering unit, estimated to be worth up to $540 million, is expected to be delayed for the second time, Reuters reported. The IPO was initially planned for the third quarter of 2010 and was later delayed to the second quarter of 2011. "We have submitted our file to the Capital Market Authority and haven't been given a date yet but most likely it will be delayed," DG Khalid Almolhem told Reuters.



AVIATION QUOTE

I've never seen an airplane yet that can read the type ratings on your pilot's license.

— Chuck Boedecker



ON THIS DATE

June 17th

• In 1928... Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly across the Atlantic as a passenger as she accompanies pilot Wilmer Stiltz and mechanic Louis Gordon on their flight from Newfoundland to Wales in a Fokker C-2. Less than four years later, she flies the Atlantic alone.

• In 1942... U.S. Army Air Forces conduct a test at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio, successfully picking up gliders from the ground by an airplane flying at more than 100 mph.

• In 1959... The first of the Dassault Mirage IV, the first European supersonic jet bomber, is made in France. This high-performance combat aircraft flies at Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound).



DAILY VIDEO





EDITOR’S CHOICE


Image © Stefan Gebenus, 2011



HUMOR

"Don't get wise with us" file:

A United Airlines 747 captain tries to make light banter with Sydney, Australia, Approach Control ...

Captain: "Good morning, Sydney, this is United XXX, we're 50 miles out and have your island in sight ..."

Approach: "Roger, United ... you're cleared to circle the island twice, then it's okay to land."



TRIVIA

General Trivia

1. What special piece of equipment did Wilbur Wright carry aboard his aircraft when he flew over New York Harbor in October, 1909.
A. A 22 caliber handgun.
B. A silver shamrock for good luck.
C. A red canoe.

2 .True of False: The origin of "logbook" and "logging time" has to do with wood logs.

3. NASA's space shuttle Enterprise was named after:
A. A starship used in TV's Star Trek
B. The USS Enterprise, the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
C. Enterprise Rent-A-Car

4. A pilot flying over a desolate, remote part of the country notices a downed airplane that apparently is the result of an accident. How would he know if that aircraft had already been reported and identified?
A. It would be marked with a large red X
B. The plane would be marked with a yellow cross
C. There would be a large tombstone just off the nose of the aircraft

5. Two WWII aircrafts: One was named - Rhapsody in Glue. The other was named the Wooden Wonder. Name these two WWII aircraft.

6. During World War II, which one of these oldie but goodie comedians was machining part for Douglas for the DC-3 in his garage?
A. Bud Abbott or Lou Costello
B. Stan Laurel or Oliver Hardy
C. One of the Marx Brothers
D. One of the Three Stooges

7. What is the largest airport in the United States - figured on area?

8. There are six commercial airports in the United States named after former presidents. How many can you name?

9. The missing man formation is usually flown over a funeral or memorial event in honor of a fallen soldier. It is customary for the wingman to pull up and pull away, or simply be missing. What does it mean when it's not the wingman, but the formation leader that pulls up and away or is missing?

10. There are atomic clocks aboard the Navstar/GPS satellites. Those clocks are accurate within one second every how many years:
A. 300
B. 3,000
C. 30,000
D. 300,000 years

1. C
2. True
3. A
4. B
5. ???
6. C
7. Denver
8. JFK, IAH, DCA
9. ???
10. D

1. C
2. True
3. A
4. A
5.
6. A
7. White Sands Missle Range
8. Kennedy (JFK), Reagan (DCA), Bush 41 (IAH)
9. When it's a flag officer that's fallen
10. C

7: KDEN
8: DCA, IAH, JFK, DIK