Tiger Airways Australia names new CEO Tiger Airways Australia (TT) appointed former COO of Virgin Australia Andrew David as the airline’s new CEO, replacing Tony Davis who resigned last month. Davis was formerly CEO of TT’s Singapore-based parent, Tiger Airways Holdings, but stepped down in July to get the troubled Australian carrier back into the air after it was grounded for almost six weeks owing to safety issues. Link
COMAC reportedly may delay ARJ21 delivery to Chengdu Airlines Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC) may postpone its first ARJ21 delivery to Chengdu Airlines (EU), according to an industry insider, who said some key parts haven’t passed flights tests. The aircraft is scheduled to be delivered at the end of the year. Link
BCA president: Make NextGen the next big American aerospace project The US should make the creation of a next-generation air traffic management system a rallying project that maintains the country’s position as a global leader in the aerospace industry, Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) president and CEO Jim Albaugh said Tuesday. Link
Delta plans no follow-on aircraft order anytime soon Delta Air Lines has quashed speculation that it intends to place a second aircraft order following its decision last month to order 100 Boeing 737-900ERs. Previously Delta had stated it could order up to 200 aircraft, and praised the technological advances offered by the Bombardier CSeries. Link
BAE eyes 'Adaptiv' camouflage to cloak helicopters BAE Systems has introduced a new "smart" camouflage system, which could eventually be adapted for use on helicopters. Called Adaptiv and described as "a thermal TV screen", the system comprises a series of interlocking hexagonal tiles that can be programmed to mimic the heat signature of a vehicle's surroundings by heating or cooling accordingly. Link
Delta and other airlines make Dow Jones Sustainability Index The Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America lists four global airlines, including Delta Air Lines, and more than 100 other companies as "sustainability leaders" on the stock market index. "The recognition underscores Delta's ongoing commitment to corporate responsibility across its global network," Delta said in a statement. Link
Analyst reduces Southwest 2011 earnings on higher fuel costs Raymond James Analyst James D. Parker has downgraded Southwest shares from "Outperform" to "Market Perform." Parker says Southwest faces higher costs in the second half of 2011 because of higher fuel costs, and he reduced his estimate of Southwest's 2011 earnings by 20%, to 40 cents per share. While Southwest's revenue per mile of flying rose 6% in August, the analyst says jet-fuel costs were higher than expected. Link
Airlines ask seat manufacturers to tweak armrests Airlines are striving to accommodate larger passengers by selling them two seats, but the airlines face a challenge and have asked aircraft-seat manufacturers to help. The armrests on some Airbus A350 economy-class seats can be pushed back, but the hinge points on some of them stick out into passengers' backs. Airbus has asked the manufacturers to look into moving the hinge point. Link
LightSquared's battle over proposed broadband network continues LightSquared has suggested making more changes to its planned broadband wireless network to ensure that it doesn't interfere with GPS, although the company says there's been enough testing to prove it isn't an issue. However, government witnesses at a recent congressional hearing said that more testing was needed to ensure that the network would not compromise GPS. Link
House bill would undercut NLRB's lawsuit against Boeing House Republicans are pushing legislation that would ban the National Labor Relations Board from demanding that a company relocate workers or close facilities. If the legislation becomes law, it would undercut the NLRB's lawsuit against Boeing for locating a plant in South Carolina. Link
Other News
Turkish Airlines (TK) said Tuesday it placed a firm order for 20 Boeing 737-800s and 15 737-900ERs. Two 737-800s and two 737-900ERs will be delivered late this year. Delivery of all 35 737s ordered should be completed by the end of 2015, the carrier said. TK said the additional 737s are needed for ongoing fleet expansion. According to its website, the airline currently operates three 737-400s, 14 737-700s and 52 737-800s.
Bangkok Airways (PG) canceled an order for four Airbus A350-800s after shelving its long-haul ambitions, according to the Bangkok Post. PG president Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth told the newspaper that the cancellation was in line with the carrier's revised strategic plan to shelve its intercontinental start-up and prepare for domestic and regional expansion. The order was placed at the end of 2005.
Delta Air Lines (DL) has launched its first Wi-Fi-equipped regional jet, a Bombardier CRJ700 operated by Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines, with Gogo’s inflight Internet service. Last year DL announced its plan to equip its fleet of regional jet aircraft operated by Delta Connection carriers with the onboard connectivity service. The carrier said it is “the first airline in the world to provide inflight Internet service onboard its regional aircraft.”
A J Walter Aviation has been selected by Air Europa to provide PBH support for its Airbus A330 Trent engine component accessories under a five-year agreement, covering two aircraft. The contract includes the location of a main base kit in Madrid.
SR Technics and Air Europa will continue their partnership for integrated component solution support, following the recent signing of a contract extension. The five-year agreement runs from 2013 through to 2017 and covers component exchange, maintenance and repair, and logistics services on Airbus A330, Boeing 767 and 737-800 aircraft.
MTU Maintenance announced it will perform maintenance on GE90-115B engines powering Air New Zealand’s five Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
Dublin Aerospace won a two-year contract with Aer Lingus for its Airbus A320 base maintenance services at Dublin Airport from Sept. 1. The contract includes full overhaul of eight A320 aircraft for the winter season 2011/2012 and a similar number of aircraft for 2012/2013.
AVIATION QUOTE
If an airplane is still in one piece, don't cheat on it. Ride the bastard down.
— Ernest K. Gann, advice from the 'old pelican,' 'The Black Watch,' 1989.
ON THIS DATE
September 14th
---In 1938…The Graf Zeppellin II makes its maiden flight. A number of events, including the Hindenburg disaster and a United States refusal to provide helium, prevent the most technologically advanced airship of its day from fulfilling its role as a passenger transport. 19 months later it would be scrapped.
---In 1944... The 1st successful flight into the eye of a hurricane is made by a three-man American crew flying a Douglas A-20 Havoc. They demonstrate that valuable scientific information can be obtained in this manner, which is still done today.
---In 1959…The Soviet probe Luna 2 crashes onto the Moon, becoming the first man-made object to reach it.
---In 1973…Israel shoots down 13 Syrian MIG-21s.
---In 1976… A F-14 Tomcat rolls off the deck of USS John F. Kennedy and sinks in international waters. A major salvage operation is launched to retrieve the fighter lest it fall into Soviet hands.
---In 1983…The U.S. House of Representatives votes, 416 to 0, in favor of a resolution condemning Russia for shooting down a Korean Air Flight 007.
---In 1986…A bomb explodes in outside of Ginpo Airport, suburb of Seoul, South Korea, killing five and injuring twenty-nine.
---In 1999… Britannia Airways Flight 226A, a Boeing 757-200 from Cardiff, crashed on approach to Girona Airport, Spain whilst landing in poor weather conditions. Torrential rain, and the extinguishing of runway lights hindered the landing of the aeroplane, which bounced and then landed with its nose pointing down on its second attempt. Fifty five people were injured out of 245 passengers and crew
---In 2001…Air Astana is founded.
---In 2003… USAF Thunderbirds #6 solo crashes into the tarmac at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, while attempting its initial maneuver at the Gunfighter Skies 2003 air show. The pilot safely ejected just moments before impact. Pilot error (insufficient altitude) is determined as the cause and the pilot is reassigned to the Pentagon. Although the desert terrain is similar, the ground elevation at Mountain Home AFB is over 1000 feet higher than the Thunderbirds' home base at Nellis AFB.
DAILY VIDEO
EDITOR’S CHOICE
HUMOR
The Horn Dog Captain
A Captain was known system-wide for his unwelcome sexual advances on layovers. One flight attendant he had made a play for recently decided to get even with him—but good.
She invited him into her hotel bedroom and excused herself to “get into something more comfortable.” He, too, made himself more comfortable by stripping completely in her bedroom. She then invited him into the bathroom on the pretense of having him shower with her.
Standing there in all of his glory, he pulled back the shower curtain. There was the entire crew, fully clothed waiting for him in the tub.
The last laugh was theirs.
TRIVIA
[b] Google Airports
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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
Sofar no answers have been given (or even tried) for pictures #6 and 8 ... Anyone able to give some input ?
combined effort has yielded the following answers for the other airports: 1. NQY 2. BHM 3. NAS Alameda (former) 4. MDW 5. GIB 6. ----------- 7. MAN 8. ----------- 9. BEY 10. MDT -HT
Use your time wisely; remember that today is the first day of the rest of your life.
1. NQY, Newquay Cornwall Airport Airport 2. BHM, Birmingham International Airport 3. NGZ, Nimitz Field, NAS Alameda 4. MDW, Midway Airport 5. GIB, Gibraltar 6. PTY, Tocumen International Airport, Panama 7. MAN, Manchester International Airport, Manchester UK 8. RME, Rome Regional Airport, Rome, NY 9. BEY, Beirut International Airport 10. Aruba (Oranjestad) [Queen Beatrix International Airport], Aruba
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
