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NEWS

Arab air carriers urge EU to withdraw unilateral ETS
The European Union (EU) should withdraw plans to impose a unilateral European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) on non-EU airlines, the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) said at its annual meeting in Abu Dhabi.
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FAA approves single operating certificate for United, Continental merger
United Continental Holdings received FAA approval Wednesday for a single operating certificate, the final regulatory step integrating United Airlines (UA) and Continental Airlines (CO). It will take effect in the first quarter of 2012.
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Boeing selects Renton for Max production
Boeing plans to build the new 737 Max at its Renton, Wash., facility pending union approval, the company announced Wednesday. The manufacturer said that if it can secure a new accord with the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the union representing hourly employees in Washington, Oregon and Kansas, and agree on an early contract extension, then it is prepared to locate production of the re-engined Max in Renton.
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Midwest Attendants Win Appeal In Seniority Case
Republic Airlines and the Teamsters union unlawfully deprived hundreds of Midwest Airlines flight attendants of their job seniority when the two airlines merged, a US appeals court ruled on Wednesday.
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Airbus conducts first A320 'sharklet' flight

Airbus has completed the first flight of its fuel-saving sharklet wing-tip devices on the company’s A320 development aircraft (MSN 001). The flight marks the start of flight testing to capture data for fine-tuning the flight laws, as well as for certification and performance validation. Sharklets are around 2.5 m. (8 ft.) tall and will replace the aircraft’s current wingtip fence. Offered as an option on new-build aircraft, sharklets are designed for the Airbus A320 family to reduce fuel burn by up to an additional 3.5%, corresponding to an annual carbon dioxide reduction of around 700 tons per aircraft, according to Airbus.
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Scoot to launch Sydney services in mid-2012
Singapore Airlines' (SIA) new long-haul low-cost carrier, Scoot, has chosen Sydney as its first destination. The low-cost carrier will launch a daily service between Singapore and Sydney from mid-2012, said Australia's New South Wales state premier, Barry O'Farrell.
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Switzerland picks Gripen for F-5 replacement deal
Saab's Gripen program has received a major boost, with the Swiss government confirming its selection of the type to replace its air force's Northrop F-5s. Announced on 30 November, the decision to choose the Gripen comes at the expense of rival offers from Dassault, with the Rafale, and the Eurofighter consortium, which had been promoting the Typhoon.
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AgustaWestland completes transaction of AW609 tiltrotor
AgustaWestland has completed its acquisition from Bell of the 609 tiltrotor programme and is gearing up to bring the much delayed civilian aircraft - now dubbed the AW609 - to market in early 2016. "All legal and regulatory approvals have now been successfully completed," said the Finmeccanica-owned company. Along with the two flying AW609 prototypes, the deal includes all assets and drawings from Bell, but no intellectual property related to the military's Bell-Boeing V22 tiltrotor, on which the 609 is based.
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UK military to end SAR helicopter service
The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced its plans for the future of search and rescue (SAR) provision in the UK, and confirmed that the Ministry of Defence will stop delivering services following the retirement of its current Westland Sea Kings in early 2016.
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American Airlines Workers Face Pension Plight
Millions of Americans remember US Airways pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger. In 2009, he became an instant hero for saving 155 lives by landing on New York City's Hudson River when his aircraft lost power after it was struck by birds shortly after taking off.
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Costs Key For AMR - Fleet, Routes Need Work
Bankruptcy will help American Airlines reduce costs, but Chapter 11 is not a silver bullet for operational problems that dropped American from its top position among US carriers to No. 3 in the last few years, experts say.
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American Airlines CEO talks about restructuring
Tom Horton, the new CEO of American Airlines, said the company filed for bankruptcy to restructure after being faced with "cost gaps." Horton assured customers that all flights would proceed as scheduled. "I would say it was really the thinking that now is the time to get on with restructuring the company to make it competitive and successful for the long term," Horton said. He also indicated that reductions, along with job cuts, are likely as the carrier seeks to lower expenses.
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US Airways could merge with American Airlines, analysts say
Analysts say US Airways could be an attractive partner for a merger after AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines, emerges from bankruptcy. "American potentially needs a partner to achieve more scale," said Kevin Crissey, an analyst with UBS Securities.
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S&P, Fitch Ratings downgrade American Airlines
Credit rating companies Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor's downgraded American Airlines after its bankruptcy filing, but say the company's long-term outlook should be stable. "American will likely lose some customers to competitors, but the experience of large U.S. airlines that previously operated in Chapter 11 and emerged successfully should limit passenger switching," S&P analyst Philip Baggaley said.
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FAA increases safety inspections of American Airlines
The Federal Aviation Administration told its safety inspectors to increase oversight of American Airlines after the carrier filed for bankruptcy Tuesday. A representative for American Airlines said the carrier is "committed to continuing to provide safe and reliable service in all aspects of our operations." The FAA says it routinely increases oversight when a carrier files for bankruptcy.
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American Airlines is likely to keep Boeing order of 200 jets
American Airlines ordered 200 aircraft from Boeing over the summer, but will likely maintain the order even though the carrier's parent company filed for bankruptcy Tuesday. "New, fuel-efficient airplanes will be a key part of their ongoing success," said Boeing spokesman John Kvasnosky. "So we expect these Boeing airplanes to be a part of it."
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House approves bill to expedite airport security for troops
The House of Representatives has unanimously voted to expedite airport-security screening for U.S. troops on official duty. The House approved the bill on Tuesday in a 404-0 vote, and the bill will head to the Senate for a vote. The bill gives the Transportation Security Administration six months to create a system for the troops.
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Airport scanners remain controversial after EU ban
The controversy over backscatter scanners used by the Transportation Security Administration continues after the European Union voted to ban the body scanners Nov. 14 because they emit low-level radiation. "We rigorously test our technology to ensure it meets our high detection and safety standards before it is placed in airports," said Sari Koshetz, spokeswoman for the TSA
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Other News

Heathrow, UK airports avert strike-induced gridlock
Reports from London indicate that Wednesday's UK public sector strike, in which a large number of Border Agency immigration officers are participating, has not caused gridlock at London Heathrow (LHR) and other major UK airports as had been feared. LHR operator BAA CEO Colin Matthews said "pandemonium" had been averted through careful planning. Some airlines canceled flights while others waived change fees for rebooking, significantly lowering the number of arriving passengers. Also, BAA told The Guardian that immigration authorities in five nations, including the US, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, conducted passport checks on passengers before they boarded UK-bound flights, enabling faster processing upon arrival at LHR and other airports.

Honeywell Process Solutions will invest its engineering services and equipment to accelerate the commercial deployment of AliphaJet’s renewable drop-in biofuels, it announced Wednesday at the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative Expo in Washington.

Qatar Airways’ (QR) outspoken CEO Akbar Al Baker took another swing at American and European regulators and governments, calling their comments that Gulf carriers distort the level playing field “pure hypocrisy.” Speaking during a debate at the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) annual general meeting in Abu Dhabi, Al Baker criticized the new practice by some EU member states to include a fair competition clause in their air services agreements (ASA) with a number of Gulf States. “I do not understand what all this ‘level playing field’ is about. We do not get access to slots and traffic rights in a market where there is clear demand for our services. Yet we do create huge amounts of jobs by placing large aircraft orders [with Airbus] and we do not get anything back.” He argued the Gulf carriers and their governments should be dictating what is included in the ASAs, “not vice versa.”

Gogo and OnAir, Inflight Wi-Fi rivals, have been selected by Inmarsat as partners to bring its Global Xpress satellite service to the aviation market. Global Xpress will enable the two to utilize the first global Ka-band solution, which OnAir CEO Ian Dawkins dubs “the next generation of inflight connectivity,” with expected transmission speeds of up to 50 megabits per second.

Finnair (AY) will return four Airbus A320s at the end of their lease periods in the fall of 2012 as part of its €140 million ($186.6 million) cost-savings program, to be completed by 2014. According to the Finnair Group website, AY operates 65 aircraft, comprising 11 A319s, 12 A320s, six A321s, eight A330-200s, seven A340-300s, four 757-200s, five Embraer 170s and 12 E-190s. Twelve of the 29 A320 family aircraft are leased.

Emirates and AFI KLM E&M have signed a five-year nonexclusive agreement for component services, and a general terms agreement, on its Boeing 777 and Airbus A330/A340 fleets.

Airbus signed an agreement with SR Technics and Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies, both part of Mubadala Aerospace’s global MRO network, for the implementation of the Airbus Managed Inventory (AMI) service. The implementation of AMI will ensure the replenishment of the high-usage and non-repairable Airbus parts.

Royal Jordanian has selected AFI KLM E&M to provide component support for its three Airbus A330 passenger jets. The contract includes repairs and access to the spares pool as part of a per-flight-hr.contract.

MTU Aero Engines opened a new sales office in Seoul in South Korea, managed by Kyoo Joo Chae, who will market the German engine manufacturer's high-tech repair procedures.




AVIATION QUOTE

It was war. We were defending our country. We had a strict code of honor: you didn't shoot down a cripple and you kept it a fair fight.

— Captain Wilfrid Reid 'Wop' May, RFC, 13 victories WWI.



ON THIS DATE

December 1st

---In 1783... J. A. C. Charles and another man make the first trip in a hydrogen balloon, flying 27 miles from Paris to Nesle, France. After landing, Charles goes up again by himself, achieving the first solo balloon flight.

---In 1934... The first airway traffic control center is opened in Newark, N.J., operated by staff of Eastern Air Lines, United Air Lines, American Airlines and TWA.

---In 1951…F/O Bruce Gogerly of 77 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), flying a Gloster Meteor, shoots down a Soviet-piloted MiG-15, the first of four air-to-air kills for RAAF pilots during the Korean War.

---In 1961…Britannia Airlines founded.

---In 1969... The first legislation to limit aircraft noise levels at airports is introduced in U.S. Federal Air Regulation, Part 36.

---In 1977…First flight of the Lockheed Have Blue, predecessor to the F-117.

---In 1984…Intentional crash of Boeing 720 in the NASA Controlled Impact Demonstration program at Edwards AFB.

---In 2001…Trans World Airlines ceases operations (absorbed into American Airlines).



DAILY VIDEO





EDITOR’S CHOICE





HUMOR

Charley the Wal-Mart Greeter

Charley, a new retiree greeter at Wal-Mart, just couldn't seem to get to work on time. Every day he was 5, 10, 15 minutes late. But he was a good worker, really tidy, clean shaven, sharp minded and a real credit to the company.

One day the boss called him into the office for a talk. "Charley, I have to tell you, I like your work ethic, you do a fantastic job, but your being late so often is bothersome. I know you're retired from the Armed Forces. What did they say if you came in late there?"

"They said, 'Good morning, General. Coffee this morning, sir?'



TRIVIA


General Trivia

1. Baron Manfred von Richthofen, aka "The Red Baron" was German's top-ranked ace with 80 Allied aircraft shot down. How many kills did America's top WWI ace, Eddie Rickenbacker, have to his credit?
A.26
B. 36
C. 56
D. 76
E. 96

2. The Enola Gay dropped the atom bomb on Hiroshima. What was the name of the plane that dropped the bomb on Nagasaki?
A. Bock's Car
B. Enterprise
C. Bodega Bay
D. Botany Bay
E. Blue Chip

3. Who was the first female pilot to break the sound barrier?
A. Jacqueline Cochran
B. Pancho Barnes
C. Amelia Earhart
D. Christopher Strong
E. Alexis Carrel

4. What was the name of the plane flown around the world by Wiley Post in his historic flight?
A. Winnie May
B. Bobbie Sue
C. Loretta Lynn
D. Betsy Lou
E. Mary Kate

5. In 1986, Jeana Yeager and Richard Rutan flew what craft on the first non-stop around the world flight?
A. Voyager
B. Albatross
C. Cormorant
D. Courage
E. Endeavour

6. The Robert J. Collier Trophy is presented annually by the National Aeronautic Association for "the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in American aviation." Who won the first two Collier Trophies, awarded in 1911 and 1912 by the Aero Club of America?
A. Glenn Curtiss
B. Donald Douglas
C. Howard Hughes
D. Wright Brothers
E. Elmer Sperry

7. What Wisconsin city hosts the Annual Experimental Aircraft Association International Fly-In Convention and Sport Aviation Exhibition?
A. Oshkosh
B. La Crosse
C. Rhinelander
D. Milwaukee
E. Lake Geneva

8. What European city was served by an airlift beginning on June 26, 1948 that lasted 277,000 flights?
A. Berlin
B. Moscow
C. Paris
D. Prague
E. Rome

1. 26 (just a guess, all other answers are A)
2. Bock's Car
3. Jacqueline Cochran (read about it in Wired)
4. Winnie May
5. Voyager
6. Glenn Curtiss (just a guess, all other answers are A)
7. Oshkosh
8. Berlin

ANCFlyer the Wal-Mart Greeter

ANCFlyer, a new retiree greeter at Wal-Mart, just couldn't seem to get to work on time. Every day he was 5, 10, 15 minutes late. But he was a good worker, really tidy, clean shaven, sharp minded and a real credit to the company.

One day the boss called him into the office for a talk. "ANC, I have to tell you, I like your work ethic, you do a fantastic job, but your being late so often is bothersome. I know you're retired from the Armed Forces. What did they say if you came in late there?"

"They said, 'Good morning, Sergeant Major. Coffee this morning, Sergeant Major?'

Works either way . . .

Trivia:
1. ?
2. Bock's Car
3. A
4. A
5. A
6. ?
7. A
8. A

Maybe I should guess A on 1 and 6 too

Cool pic today . . .

ANCFlyer wrote:Cool pic today . . .

Cool video today too, I never have seen video of the original Hopeless Diamond with the more conventional tail.

ANSWERS:

1. A. 26
2. A. Bock’s Car
3. A. Jaqueline “Jacky” Cochran
4. A. Winnie Mae
5. A. Voyager
6. A. Glenn Curtiss
7. A. Oshkosh
8. A. Berlin