News
New Berlin Airport Likely To Be Delayed Again
Berlin looks set to postpone the opening of its long-delayed new airport for a third time, shareholders in the project said on Tuesday, dealing another blow to a flagship project that has embarrassed the German capital.
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AMR, Creditors To Meet For Update
AMR chief executive Tom Horton is to meet creditors on Tuesday and provide an update on talks after pilots rejected a contract offer from the bankrupt parent of American Airlines last week, according to people familiar with the matter.
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BAA July Traffic Drops As Brits Stay Home
British airport operator BAA reported a 4.1 percent fall in July passenger traffic on last year as Britons stayed home to watch the Olympics and tourists deferred their travel until after the Games.
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Thai Air Posts Smaller Net Loss In Q2
Thai Airways reported a quarterly net loss of THB1.53 billion baht (USD$49 million) on Tuesday as aggressive promotions and fierce competition dragged down passenger yields, even as passenger numbers improved.
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Malaysian Reports Lower Q2 Net Loss
Malaysia Airlines on Tuesday posted a smaller net loss of MYR349.248 million ringgit for the second quarter.
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Ethiopian receives first 787
Ethiopian Airlines received its first Boeing 787-8 from the manufacturer during a ceremony in Seattle on 14 August. The delivery is the first of 10 787s that Ethiopian will receive through 2016. The airline is the first outside of Japan to receive the type. "Today begins the first day in a new era of flying for our passengers and brings us even closer to our vision for the future," says Tewolde GebreMariam, chief executive of Ethiopian, in a statement. "This airplane is going to move Ethiopian Airlines to the forefront of aviation leadership around the globe."
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Pakistan’s Airblue to double fleet within two years
Pakistani carrier Airblue has plans to double its fleet to 12 aircraft within the next two years. The carrier wants to add four 70-seater turboprops to its fleet by early 2013, says Airblue's general manager for commercial, Raheel Ahmed. It is considering the ATR 72 and the Bombardier Q400, though the airline has not decided whether the aircraft will be bought or leased.
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Virgin America A320neos to come from Mobile: Cush
Low-cost carrier Virgin America will begin taking delivery of its Airbus A320neos during the first quarter of 2016 from Airbus' new final assembly facility in Mobile, Alabama. The Burlingame, California-based carrier, which is the US launch customer of the A320neo with 30 of the type on order, is likely to take all of them from Mobile, the airline's chief executive David Cush said.
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American to end flights to Brussels in November
American Airlines will end its services between New York's JFK airport and Brussels on 6 November. The Oneworld carrier cites reviewed route performance, market forecasts and future outlook as reasons for the cancellation. This move is in line with similar hub-to-spoke route cancellations by Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, which favour services to their alliance partners' hubs in Europe.
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Air fares prompt unexpected rise in UK inflation
UK consumer prices rose unexpectedly between June and July as a surge in air fares lifted the annualised rate of inflation from 2.4% to 2.6% in June. According to the UK Office for National Statistics, air fares rose by 21.7% between June and July - the biggest June-to-July increase since 2004 and eclipsing the 9.8% rise between the two months last year. Flights to European destinations were the main contributor.
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Embraer cuts first metal for Legacy 450 business jet
Embraer has cut the first metal for its Legacy 450 business jet as it targets late 2014 for certification of the mid-light business jet. "Even as we have been making progress on the Legacy 500, we have been anticipating this event for the Legacy 450," says Embraer Executive Jets president Ernest Edwards. "The first metal cut for the Legacy 450 is a landmark event for the programme and is the latest step in bringing this, the second of our revolutionary jets, to reality."
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Asiana profits fall as expansion continues
Asiana Airlines (OZ) reported a non-consolidated net loss of KRW47.3 billion ($41.8 million) for the second quarter, reversed from the year ago quarter’s KRW17.7 billion profit, largely owing to “the continuous high fuel cost and the increment of operating cost as the operation expands,” it said.
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LATAM posts 2Q $49.7 million profit in first consolidated report
LATAM Airlines Group reported a second-quarter net income of $49.7 million and an operating income of $23.2 million, its first consolidated results since LAN Airlines and TAM merged June 22. Numbers comprise the eight days of consolidation in June, which produced a net income of $46.3 million but an operating loss of $13.9 million.
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Southwest Airlines considers expanding headquarters
Southwest Airlines is considering expanding its corporate headquarters in Dallas. "We have about 3,500 employees and with our projected growth over the next five to 10 years, we will need more space," said Marilee McInnis, a spokeswoman with the airline. Southwest recently acquired AirTran.
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FAA aims to reassure airline pilots about UAS integration
The Federal Aviation Administration has taken on the effort to reassure pilots that unmanned aerial systems will be incorporated safely into U.S. airspace. "We're doing this in an organized and structured fashion," said Richard Prosek, manager of flight technologies and procedures in the FAA's UAS Integration Office. Prosek spoke at the Air Line Pilots Association Air Safety Forum last week.
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Report: If sequestration occurs, it could affect FAA's budget
An aerospace industry group has released a report that predicts the Federal Aviation Administration budget would be reduced by 6.3% from existing levels if Congress does not act on a deficit-reduction plan. Because the White House hasn't defined how the cuts would occur, the report cites two potential outcomes -- either NextGen implementation would be slowed, or the number of flights would be reduced.
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Other News
Jazz Air parent Chorus Aviation reported second-quarter net income of C$22.9 million ($22.3 million), up 35.3% from a C$16.9 million profit in the year-ago period. “Cash flow remains strong, and we remain focused on strengthening our foundation, improving our cost competitiveness and building the core value for all our stakeholders,” president and CEO Joseph Randell said.
United Airlines (UA) has extended a lease in Chicago’s Willis Tower, where it houses a network operations center, to include its corporate headquarters with terms extending through to 2028. The company will then occupy 25% of the 110-story building, for a total of 830,000 sq. ft. on 16 floors. The move will have more than 4,000 UA employees working in downtown Chicago, and more than 14,000 in the city, including its O’Hare operations and reservations center. UA began moving its headquarters downtown from its Elk Grove campus in March 2007; 2,800 jobs moved downtown in 2009.
GoAir (G8) and Lufthansa Technik have signed a 10-year component support contract, effective from this month. The agreement covers the airline’s current fleet as well as the 72 Airbus A320neo aircraft it plans to receive from 2016. The component support will be handled via the Lufthansa Technik Group network. Spare parts shall be supplied to G8’s bases at Mumbai and Delhi. The contract also gives G8 access to Lufthansa Technik’s technical operations, WebSuite, which will allow just-in-time inventory management for both parties.
United Airlines (UA) has reached an agreement with the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) to enter into expedited contract negotiations with the assistance of the National Mediation Board for six classifications covering 35,400 employees at the airline.
Liebherr-Aerospace announced its Airbus A380 supplemental cooling system has entered into service, with a delivery to Malaysia Airlines. The system provides additional cooling to areas such as galleys and electronic bay.
FLY Leasing Limited has closed a new $395 million senior secured term loan, using the proceeds to refinance its remaining 2012 debt maturities and outstanding debt under a facility that matures in 2013. The loan will be secured by 23 aircraft and will mature in August 2018.
Compass Point Aviation has acquired and has leased one new Boeing 777-300ER to Emirates.
Thai Airways International’s first GE-90-115B-powered Boeing 777-300ER has entered service. The aircraft is one of eight leased from BOC Aviation. The carrier also has six GE-90-115B-powered 777-300ERs on order.
Aviation Quote
Nothing makes a man more aware of his capabilities and of his limitations than those moments when he must push aside all the familiar defenses of ego and vanity, and accept reality by staring, with the fear that is normal to a man in combat, into the face of Death.
— Major Robert S. Johnson, USAAF.
On This Date
---In 1951... Powered by a Roll Royce Dart, a DC-3 of British European Airways becomes the first turboprop aircraft operated on a freight run.
---In 1951... Test pilot Bill Bridgeman reaches a record altitude of 79, 494 ft. in the #2 Douglas D-558-II rocket research aircraft, although this does not qualify for FAI (Federal Aeronautique Internationale) recognition.
--- In 1958... Congress approves a bill creating the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) to regulate all US commercial and military aviation.
Daily Video
Editor’s Choice
Humor
Joint Rules for the Army-Navy-Air Force-Marine Corps Game
New SecDef Directive: Joint Rules for the Army-Navy-Air Force-Marine Corps Game.
The Pentagon announced new rules for the fall 2005 Army-Navy-Air Force-Marine Corps football tournament:
Recently the Pentagon announced new rules for the annual Army-Navy-Air Force-Marine Corps football tournament. It is now known that fully integrated teams will take to the gridiron only after negotiating the following:
1. Only flag football will be played. The Joint Chiefs of Staff deemed tackle and touch football too dangerous. First, because of the CNN factor, the public will no longer tolerate even one field casualty. Second, touching another player today -- even the congratulatory pat on the behind -- is court-martial bait.
2. The phrase "making a pass" will be changed to the less ambiguous "throwing the ball." And the Army, Navy and Marines will be blocked from throws beyond 5 yards because of Air Force protests that it alone owns the long-range air attack mission.
3. The Marine Corps may run with the ball, but no more than 25 yards per quarter, the Pentagon ruled. It was prompted by Army objections to long-range naval ground operations.
4. The Navy may not use tailbacks. The term is too sensitive and should be avoided.
5. To promote inter-service cooperation, all teams were ordered to use the same game plan, after receiving suggestions from all four services.
The Army's plan, called "The Game After Next," called for handoffs of a digitized football to the fullback, up the middle, on every play. The Army plan's last chapter, titled "Exit Strategy," was oddly blank, which would leave players with no choice but to set up bunkers and temporary housing on the 50-yard line.
The Navy's "Forward... From the Bench" plan called for players -- each called a ball "carrier" -- to be surrounded by other Navy football players in a pack called "carrier groups." These units would establish a roaming "presence" all over the playing field. Less important than crossing the goal line is the Navy strategy of being able to protect the carrier group wherever it patrols the gridiron. So threatening are these carriers, the Navy strategy goes, that no one would be foolish enough to even mount a defense.
The Marine's "Three-Yard War" plan was predictable: Seize ground, every down, no matter how, regardless of the price, preferably while on the playing field. The linchpin of the Marine game plan called for packing the audience with members of Congress to ensure that the Marines' performance did not go unrecognized.
The Air Force's "Field-Wide Engagement" plan kept calling for very long, accurate throws on every down, during huddles, time outs, halftime, between games, in the parking lot and even in the showers. So fast and accurate would these throws be, went the Air Force strategy, no other team should even bother to take the field.
After examining each team's playbook the Secretary of Defense ruled that none was suitable, leaving each service to its own devices.
The Navy decided victory could be had by not taking the field at all. Instead, its players patrolled up and down the sidelines in breathtaking formation, hoping that would sufficiently deter the other teams from leaving their benches. Likewise, the Army decided against taking the field, at least until several conditions were met: one, that vital U.S. national interests were at stake; two, the conditions for victory were concrete and easily defined; and, three, the president would activate 550,000 reserve and National Guard Army football players if the game actually were to be played.
The Air Force felt victory could be achieved also by not showing up. Secret plans were later leaked to the press that the Air Force had spent $38.7 billion on a system able to fire the football into the end zone from space.
Bolstered by congressional resolution to be the "most ready football team when others are the least," the Marines stormed the playing field and declared themselves the winners.
And there was joy in Mudville.
You may wonder why the Coast Guard didn't participate in the game. Well, the Coast Guard originally suggested a game plan which would save tons of money by using a 35 year old football (painted white with a red stripe, for easy identification on the field); they would also play with hand-me-down uniforms from the Navy. Then, in order to economize, the Coast Guard proposed to play with only six players who would act as both offense, defense, first, second and third string. In order to provide value for service, these same six players would also sell concessions at halftime and sweep the stadium after the game. If asked, the Coast Guard players would also wipe the game ball for the Navy between plays. In order to reflect the right proportions of the smallest U.S. military force, four players would be designated quarterbacks, two as wide receivers, and one as left tackle. Oops, forgot they’d only field six players: forget the tackle.
However, the Coast Guard never made it to the game because Secretary Rumsfeld said the Coast Guard couldn't win on their own; the Coast Guard was told to confine play to the practice field from now on.
Little does the Secretary know the Coast Guard managed to sneak the six players in to the game anyway: dressed as cheerleaders!
Trivia
General Trivia
1.Modern aviation transceivers used in the United States can transmit and receive on as many as _____ frequencies, and their range is 118.00 to _____ MHz.
a. 720, 135.975
b. 720, 136.975
c. 760, 135.975
d. 760, 136.975
2. Everyone knows that Charles Lindbergh was first to fly solo and nonstop from New York to Paris. The second pilot to do this was
a. Giuseppe Bellanca.
b. Clarence Chamberlin.
c. Max Conrad.
d. Wiley Post.
3. Which of the following does not belong?
a. automatic
b. coupled
c. fixed
d. manual
e. pressure
4. True or False: A glider has never been flown nonstop across the United States (without being towed while en route).
5. True or False: Pilots not only are required to turn on their anticollision lights when flying at night, they also are required to turn them on during daylight, VFR conditions in all classes of airspace.
6. True or False: Lycoming began manufacturing engines in 1907, only four years after the Wright brothers’ first powered flight.
7. True or False: No American pilot was an ace in both World War II and the Korean War.
