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NEWS

AMR shares drop on bankruptcy concerns
Shares of AMR, parent company of American Airlines, took a sharp hit on concerns that it may have to file for bankruptcy. Andrew Backover, a spokesman for AMR, acknowledged speculation that the company is headed toward bankruptcy. "Regarding rumors and speculation about a court-supervised restructuring, that is certainly not our goal or our preference," he said. "We know we need to improve our results, and we are keenly focused as we work to achieve that."
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American Airlines will resume contract talks with pilots
After a drop in AMR's shares on concerns that a bankruptcy filing may occur in the near future, American Airlines is poised to resume talks with its pilots over their contracts. The two sides have been negotiating since 2006. "More and more of our pilots are worried about the viability of our company and the bankruptcy potential to affect pensions," said Sam Mayer, a spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association.
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Shaky American 'keenly focused' on improving financial performance
American Airlines' parent AMR Corp.'s stock price regained some ground Tuesday following a plunge of more than 40% at one point Monday. Company shares were sold off at such a fast rate Monday that automatic stops in trading AMR shares were triggered on the New York Stock Exchange.
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American declares stock price plunge will not force Chapter 11
American Airlines has moved to quash speculation that a dramatic fall in its stock price on 3 October is a precursor to a Chapter 11 reorganisation.
American and its parent AMR have repeatedly prided themselves over the fact the carrier has never filed for Chapter 11, especially during the 2000-2010 timeframe when nearly every other US major declared bankruptcy. The result is American has battled consistently higher labour costs than its peers and is currently in negotiations with a large number of employee groups to achieve more cost effective collective bargaining agreements.
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SriLankan in talks to add six 777s or A330s
SriLankan Airlines is looking to add six widebodies as part of a plan to double its fleet during the next five years, and is considering the Airbus A330-300 and the Boeing 777. Speaking to Flightglobal's Airline Business Daily at the World Route Development Forum in Berlin, SriLankan's newly-appointed chief executive Kapila Chandrasena said the carrier wants to add "roughly six widebodies" to its fleet to replace its Airbus A340-300s, with deliveries beginning in 2014. The airline is in talks with Airbus and Boeing but has yet to decide whether it will purchase or lease the aircraft. "We are looking at a possible blended approach, where we own 25% and lease 75%," said Chandrasena.
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Guatemala close to concluding Super Tucano purchase
The Guatemalan government has confirmed that it is finalising negotiations with Brazilian and Spanish banks to finance the planned purchase of a defence package to include six Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucanos.
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Group: Airlines will struggle to pass on EU carbon allowance costs
An international airline group says that because of strong price competition, carriers will likely fail to pass on to passengers the costs of the European Union's carbon allowances. The EU recently established benchmarks for calculating how many free permits airlines will receive when they join the emissions trading system.
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Fee-disclosure rule would impose "outsize burden," ATA says
The Air Transport Association has filed a letter with the Department of Transportation in opposition to a proposed rule that would require airlines to disclose revenue from ancillary fees separately in 19 categories, as well as report how many bags are transported. "The proposal would impose an outsize burden" and inhibit airline growth, the ATA's letter says.
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TSA will buy equipment to check for boarding-pass fraud
The Transportation Security Administration aims to crack down on fraudulent boarding passes by using new equipment called Credential Authentication Technology -- Boarding Pass Scanning Systems, or CAT_BPSS. "This technology will automatically verify passenger identification documents and boarding passes to further enhance security," said TSA Administrator John Pistole. "This technology will help facilitate risk-based security, while making the process more effective and efficient."
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TSA launches risk-based security screening pilot program
The Transportation Security Administration has selected airports in Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, Detroit and Miami to participate in a security screening pilot program. Select travelers at the chosen airports will be asked to participate in the risk-based program by volunteering additional personal information.
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Airline freight activity declines in August, group says
Airlines are preparing for tough conditions ahead, as growth in air travel slows and freight activity declines, because of fragile consumer confidence and the global economy, an international airline group says. The organization reported a 3.8% drop in the air-freight market in August, compared with the same month the previous year.
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Airline efficiencies lead to less jet noise at LAX
Efficiencies within the airline industry over the past 20 years have resulting in less noise being generated by jetliners as they take off and land at Los Angeles International Airport, according to officials. Scott Tatro, environmental affairs officer at LAX, said noise levels in communities surrounding the airport have dropped by as much as six decibels.
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Other News

Boeing forecast Tuesday that North American airlines will take delivery of about 7,530 new commercial aircraft worth $760 billion over the next 20 years. Around 73% of new deliveries will be for fuel-efficient, single-aisle jetliners, it said. The North American fleet will grow from 6,610 airplanes to about 9,330 airplanes by 2030, taking retirements into account, Boeing forecast.

IATA has urged governments and aviation stakeholders to join airlines in a global partnership to improve aviation security and the experience of both travelers and shippers. Speaking Monday at the AVSEC World Conference and Exhibition in Amsterdam, IATA DG Tony Tyler said the key is the early adoption of IATA’s Checkpoint of the Future (COF), a supply chain approach to cargo security, harmonization of measures among governments and constant vigilance to new threats.

Cargolux said it "reached a tentative agreement with Boeing" clearing the way for it to take delivery of the first two 747-8 freighters that it rejected last month and will spell out the details of the accord following an Oct. 7 board of directors' meeting. The all-cargo carrier is the 747-8F's launch customer, but surprisingly declined to take delivery of the aircraft, citing performance shortfalls (ATW Daily News, Sept. 23). There was wide speculation that Qatar Airways (QR), which owns 35% of CV, played a role in the rejection, in part to register its displeasure with Boeing over 787 delays.

Greek ATC: Several hundred flights have been canceled Wednesday owing to a 24-hr. air traffic controller strike by workers represented by the Greek Air Traffic Controllers Union and the Federation of Assn. of Hellenic Civil Aviation. The strike began Tuesday at 11 p.m. and will run through Wednesday at 11 p.m. local time. Transit flights via Greece airspace (without landing in Greece) are expected to operate normally. Workers are reportedly protesting the government's €6.6 billion ($8.8 billion) austerity plan, which will reduce the pay of 30,000 public workers, raise property taxes and cut wages.

United Continental Holdings deployed 11,000 iPads to all United and Continental pilots, replacing paper flight manuals, a process it hopes to complete by year’s end. Each 1.5 lb. iPad will replace approximately 38 lb. of paper operating manuals, navigation charts, handbooks, checklists, logbooks and weather information.

Alaska Airlines announced it has launched a Facebook application, FlyingSocial, allowing users to view a map with photos of their Facebook friends located in cities to which the airline flies. Users can also view one-way fares and mileage award levels.

American Airlines launched Aprendi.com, a social travel website in Spanish.

Japan Airlines will begin offering high-speed Internet onboard select international flights from the summer of 2012. JAL will roll out Panasonic’s broadband Ku connectivity solution eXConnect on its Boeing 777s on its Europe and North America routes.



AVIATION QUOTE

Let all who build beware
The load, the shock, the pressure
Material can bear.
So, when the buckled girder
Lets down the grinding span,
The blame of loss, or murder,
Is laid upon the man.
Not on the Stuff - the Man!

— Rudyard Kipling, Hymn of Breaking Strain.



ON THIS DATE

October 5th

--- In 1751... Italian Andrea Grimaldi, exhibits a flying carriage: the machine, which remains untested, has a complex structure and a wingspan of 22 feet.

--- In 1905... Wilbur Wright in the Flyer II makes the 1st flight of over a half-an-hour at Simms Station, Ohio.

---In 1907... The 1st British Army dirigible airship, the Nullis Secundus (second to none), makes a spectacular flight over the capital city of London.

--- In 1914... A German Aviatik becomes the 1st aircraft to be shot down in a dogfight by a French Army-owned Voisin airplane.

---In 1967…First flight of the Shin Miewa SS-2.



DAILY VIDEO





EDITOR’S CHOICE





HUMOR

AS Passenger Briefing

"I was flying to San Francisco from Seattle this weekend, and the flight attendant reading the flight safety information had the Whole plane looking at each other like "what the heck?" (Getting Seattle people to look at each other is an accomplishment.)
So once we got airborne, I took out my laptop and typed up what she said so I wouldn't forget. I've left out a few parts I'm sure, but this is most of it."

Before takeoff...
"Hello and welcome to Alaska Flight 438 to San Francisco. If you're going to San Francisco, you're in the right place. If you're not going to San Francisco, you're about to have a really long evening.
We'd like to tell you now about some important safety features of this aircraft. The most important safety feature we have aboard this plane is ..The Flight Attendants. Please look at one now.
There are 5 exits aboard this plane: 2 at the front, 2 over the wings, and one out the plane's rear end. If you're seated in one of the exit rows, please do not store your bags by your feet. That would be a really bad idea. Please take a moment and look around and find the nearest exit. Count the rows of seats between you and the exit. In the event that the need arises to find one, trust me, you'll be glad you did. We have pretty blinking lights on the floor that will blink in the direction of the exits. White ones along the normal rows, and pretty red ones at the exit rows. In the event of a loss of cabin pressure these baggy things will drop down over your head. You stick it over your nose and mouth like the flight attendant is doing now. The bag won't inflate, but there's oxygen there, I promise. If you are sitting next to a small child, or someone who is acting like a small child, please do us all a favor and put on your mask first. If you are traveling with two or more children, please take a moment now to decide which one is your favorite. Help that one "first", and then work your way down.

In the seat pocket in front of you is a pamphlet about the safety features of this plane. I usually use it as a fan when I'm having my own personal summer. It makes a very good fan. It also has pretty pictures. Please take it out and play with it now.

Please take a moment now to make sure your seat belts are fastened low and tight about your waist. To fasten the belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle. To release, it's a pulley thing ---- not a pushy thing like your car because you're in an airplane. HELLO !!

There is no smoking in the cabin on this flight. There is also no smoking in the lavatories. If we see smoke coming from the lavatories, we will assume you are on fire and put you out. This is a free service we provide. There are two smoking sections on this flight, one outside each wing exit. We do have a movie in the smoking sections tonight .... Hold on, let me check what it is ....Oh here it is; the movie tonight is... "Gone with the Wind."
In a moment we will be turning off the cabin lights, and it's going to get really dark, really fast. If you're afraid of the dark, now would be a good time to reach up and press the yellow button. The yellow button turns on your reading light. Please don't press the orange button unless you absolutely have to. The orange button is your seat ejection button.
We're glad to have you with us on board this flight. Thank you for choosing Alaska Air, and giving us your business and your money. If there's anything we can do to make you more comfortable, please don't hesitate to ask.
If you all weren't strapped down you would have given me a standing ovation, wouldn't you?"

After landing...
"Welcome to the San Francisco International Airport. Sorry about the bumpy landing. It's not the captain's fault. It's not the co-pilot's fault. It's the Asphalt.
Please remain seated until the plane is parked at the gate. At no time in history has a passenger beaten a plane to the gate. So please don't even try.
Please be careful opening the overhead bins because "shift happens"!!



TRIVIA

General Trivia

1. What popular and well-known US general aviation airport has fewer original residents in the community after which the airport is named than can be carried aboard many of the airplanes that land there?

2. WW1 fighter airplanes had open cockpits. What are three reasons that pilots of those airplanes didn’t want glass canopies even though the technology to make them was available?

3. In weather reports, what is the difference between SKC and CLR?

4. What was the fastest (in level flight), operational American fighter of World War II?

5. What is the only U.S. military turbofan airplane that may be flown using all of its thrust reversers in flight?

6. The landing gear of the space shuttle is not extended until immediately before touchdown. What means are used to ensure that the gear extends in time?

1. Could be wrong, but Oshkosh?

2. Concerns over the shattering glass as it was pre-laminated glass.

5. C17?

6. Radar altimeter?

On the Humor: Somewhere there's a Trip Report I did from a OGG-ANC flight where the AS Flight Attendant did a similar act. Older fella. Wonder if this might be the same FA?

Trivia:

1. ???
2. ???
3. Skattered vs Clear
4. Corsair?
5. ??
6. ???

I suck at this today.

Re: the Super Tucano purchase... the aviation enthusiast in me is going "yay, shiny new airplanes!" while my more practical side is thinking "oh joy, more gov't debt to be paid by me, my children and my children's children "

FlyingAce wrote:while my more practical side is thinking "oh joy, more gov't debt to be paid by me, my children and my children's children "

Did you move to the USA Carmen?

1. Jumbolair?
4. P-38
5. C-17

FlyingAce wrote:Re: the Super Tucano purchase... the aviation enthusiast in me is going "yay, shiny new airplanes!"

Post a trip report and you're dead. Just sayin'.

ANSWERS

1. Teterboro Airport. The official population of Teterboro, New Jersey is only 18.

2. Pilots were concerned that they would not hear the wind in the wires and that damaged canopies would be injurious during crash landings. They also were concerned that they would not be able to “smell the presence of the enemy” when flying through their odorous wakes of burnt castor oil.

3. SKC is most often used in terminal aerodrome forecasts and means that the sky is or will be clear. CLR appears in automated METARS and means “clear below 12,000 feet.”

4. The Republic P–47M Thunderbolt was a souped-up response to the jets being introduced by the Luftwaffe. It had a maximum speed of “475 to 480 mph.”

5. With all four thrust reversers deployed, a Boeing C–17 Globemaster can stabilize in an approximately 70-degree tactical descent while indicating 285 knots.

6. The landing gear is extended conventionally using hydraulics, but a backup system of explosive charges is used should the hydraulic system fail.