News
Ryanair Planes Had Enough Fuel - IAA Report
Three Ryanair aircraft that made emergency landings in Spain in July were carrying more than the required level of fuel, but the company should still review its policy, the Irish Aviation Authority said on Thursday.
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American Air Pilot Union Denies Job Action
The union representing pilots at American Airlines said it has called no job action at the bankrupt carrier, which this week cancelled hundreds of flights citing increased pilot maintenance reports and sick leave usage.
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Air Canada To Hire 1,100 Workers
Air Canada plans to hire more than 1,100 new employees over the next 12 months, partly in preparation for the launch of its low-cost carrier next year.
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AirAsia In Talks To Buy Zest Air - Report
Malaysia's AirAsia is seeking to acquire the Philippines low cost carrier Zest Airways, according to a report in the Philippine Business Inquirer newspaper.
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Merkel, Hollande To Discuss EADS-BAE Merger
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she would discuss the planned merger between Britain's BAE Systems and Airbus-owner EADS with French President Francois Hollande when they meet on Saturday.
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FAA unveils Florida NextGen initiative
US FAA has announced a program to modernize approaches and descents to six Florida airports, including Miami and Orlando, as part of the transition to a satellite-based NextGen ATC system. Acting administrator Michael Huerta explained the initiative Thursday at JetBlue Airways’ training facilities in Orlando. JetBlue has partnered with FAA on NextGen projects.
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Former bmi CEO joins Air Berlin in management restructure
Former British Midland International CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer will join Air Berlin (AB) as its chief strategy and network planning officer as part of the carrier’s management reorganization under CEO Hartmut Mehdorn. Prock-Schauer will join the carrier Oct. 1. Mehdorn said in today’s “increasingly challenging environment” the company will benefit from “Wolfgang’s experience and management expertise.”
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Lufthansa to build logistics center at Frankfurt Airport
Lufthansa (LH) has announced plans to build a modern logistics center at Frankfurt Airport (FRA). The center, which will replace the existing Lufthansa Cargo Center (LCC), is expected to open in 2018. “We are investing in the future and in our FRA base,” LH CEO and chairman Christoph Franz said. FRA will remain the central hub for the LH Group’s cargo business, despite the night-flight ban
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German army gets first Tigers upgraded for Afghan duty
Eurocopter expects the German army to make its first operational deployment to Afghanistan with the Tiger support helicopter in late 2012 or early next year, having already delivered a first batch of aircraft to have been modified for such a commitment.
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Southwest, union turn to federal mediators
Southwest Airlines and the Transport Workers Union, which represents about 8,500 of Southwest's ground workers, have requested help from federal mediators to reach a labor agreement. The National Mediation Board will mediate between the parties, which have been negotiating new labor contracts for 14 months. "Mediation is another method to assist in the collective bargaining process, and we look forward to working with a mediator to arrive at a contract that is acceptable to everyone," said Southwest spokesman Paul Flaningan.
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China and EU come to terms on greenhouse gas emissions
China and the European Union have reached an agreement over the EU's emissions-trading scheme. Chinese and European officials signed a deal that aims for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in China. The European Union will contribute $33 million and technical guidance toward several projects. "The results of these projects will benefit all of us and contribute to our common objective: a sustainable development of the planet," EU Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs.
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BWI airport's passenger count is set to surpass Dulles'
With a passenger record in July, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport will pass Dulles International Airport in passenger count this year if the numbers continue their trends. "BWI has seen steady and consistent growth in recent years and has set a number of records for passenger traffic," said Jonathan Dean, BWI spokesman. Dulles recorded 2.1 million passengers in July, a 6% decrease from the year before. BWI was up 0.8% with 2.2 million passengers.
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AA flight attendants to begin using Galaxy Note devices onboard
American Airlines has announced a plan to deploy 17,000 first-generation Galaxy Notes for flight attendants to use onboard. The personal electronic devices will be used to record fliers' meal and beverage preferences, as well as access pertinent passenger information, including special needs. A flight attendant manual and other features will also be added, ending the need for heavier paper manuals. Pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, the devices will also receive updated information about delays, connections and weather midflight.
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Other News
Wideroe (WF) has approved the acquisition of three Bombardier Dash 8-Q400s from SAS. It is also considering a fourth aircraft. Two of the aircraft, which were on lease to Malev Hungarian Airlines, has been returned following the carrier’s bankruptcy earlier this year. Including the new Q400s, the Norwegian regional carrier operates a fleet of 39 Dash-8 aircraft. WF has not decided on which routes the new aircraft will fly.
The European Commission (EC) has launched an initiative aimed at coordinating and focusing European research and innovation in transport. The EC said its goal was “speeding up deployment of new transport means and solutions to achieve a competitive and affordable European transport system.” As a first step, it will define a set of deployment roadmaps for technologies and innovation in 10 areas of transport, including aviation. Work on these is starting this month.
Flydubai (FZ) is ready to double the number destinations from Dubai to Russia if the United Arab Emirates and Russia make changes in their bilateral agreement, FZ CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said. According to the agreement, the carrier can now operate flights to four Russian cities.
Boeing’s Albaugh: We must inspire a new generation of aerospace engineers. The aerospace industry must inspire the younger generation to pursue careers in engineering, Boeing EVP Jim Albaugh said this week. He told a Wilson Center forum in Washington DC that “about half” of Boeing’s workforce will be eligible to retire by 2015. “It’s not just at Boeing,” he said “and it ripples through our supply chain.” The shortage could lead to the US losing its edge in the global aerospace industry, he cautioned.
Panasonic Avionics won a $400 million inflight entertainment (IFE) and communications (IFEC) contract from Singapore Airlines (SQ). The eX3 IFEC system will be outfitted on 43 aircraft the carrier has on firm order; 20 Airbus A350s, 15 A330-300s and eight Boeing 777-300ERs. The A350s are slated for deliveries from 2014, while the A330s and 777s will begin deliveries next year. SQ said it also plans to enhance its existing Panasonic KrisWorld IFE with wider program selection, new and exclusive content, and “possible” hardware upgrades.
EgyptAir (MS) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ghana’s domestic airline, CTK Network Aviation, to promote air transportation expansion in West Africa. Both parties said in a statement that signing the MOU is the first step in initiating a partnership. Kotoka International Airport in Accra will be used as a hub.
Frontier Airlines[/b] has canceled the launch of Durango, Colo.-Las Vegas service originally slated to begin Oct.4.
Etihad Airways (EY) has signed a codeshare agreement with Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines (MU) that will initially see the MU code appearing on EY flights between AUH and SHA. Subsequent phases of cooperation will see the MU code appearing on all EY flights to destinations not included on the Chinese carrier’s network, with EY planning to codeshare on MU’s domestic services beyond its SHA hub.
American Airlines(AA) and Air Tahiti Nui (TN) have US DOT approval for a bilateral codeshare agreement. From Sept. 10, AA placed its code on TN service between Los Angeles International (LAX) and Faa'a International (PPT) in Tahiti. TN will place its code on AA service from LAX to more than 15 US cities including New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, Boston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami and Washington DC.
Air Berlin (AB) and airBaltic (BT) have a codeshare agreement under which AB will add its code to BT flights to Riga from Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt and Berlin.
Aviation Quote
There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind . . . Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to.
— Joseph Heller, Catch 22, 1955.
On This Date
---In 1802... Frenchman Andre-Jacques Garnerin makes the 1st parachute descent in England, jumping from a balloon over London.
---In 1942…First flight of the Boeing XB-29 Super Fortress.
---In 1951…The United States Marine Corps makes the world's first mass combat deployment by helicopter, landing 228 U.S. Marines on a hilltop near Kansong, Korea, using 12 Sikorsky HRS-1 helicopters.
---In 1954…North Korean pilot No Kum-Sok defects, bringing his MiG-15 with him to Seoul and collecting a $US 100,000 reward.
---In 1964…First flight of the North American XB-70 Valkyrie.
---In 1984…First flight of the Dassault Falcon 900.
---In 1992…Kiwi International commences operations; was founded by a group of Eastern Air Lines pilots.
---In 2005… JetBlue Airways Flight 292, an Airbus A320 makes an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport after its nose wheels got stuck at a 90 degree angle. All 145 people on board survived.
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USAF: Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?
Air Education and Training Command:
The purpose is to familiarize the chicken with road-crossing procedures. Road-crossing should be performed only between the hours of sunset and sunrise. Solo chickens must have at least three miles of visibility and a safety observer.
Special Ops:
The chicken crossed at a 90 degree angle to avoid prolonged exposure to a line of communication. To achieve maximum surprise, the chicken should have performed this maneuver at night using NVG's, preferably near a road bend in a valley.
Air Combat Command:
The chicken should log this as a GCC sortie only if road-crossing qualified. The crossing updates the chicken's 60-day road-crossing currency only if performed on a Monday or Thursday or during a full moon. Instructor chickens may update currency any time they observe another chicken cross the road.
Tanker Airlift Control Center:
We need the road-crossing time and the time the chicken becomes available for another crossing.
Command Post:
What chicken?
Tower:
The chicken was instructed to hold short of the road. This road-incursion incident was reported in a Hazardous Chicken Road-Crossing Report (HCRCR). Please re-emphasize that chickens are required to read back all hold short instructions.
C-130 crewmember:
Just put it in back and let's go.
C-141 crewmember:
I ordered a no. 4 with Turkey and ham, NOT chicken. Besides, where the heck are my condiments?! We ain't taking off til' I get my condiments!!!
Fighter dude:
Look, dude, that was the frag, OK? I've flown my 1.0 for the day and I ain't got time for anymore questions!
B-1 crew:
Missed the whole show--we had an IFE so we couldn't get out to see it; you'll have to ask the SOF.
Air Force Personnel Center:
Due to the needs of the Air Force, the chicken was involuntarily reassigned to the other side of the road. This will be a 3-year controlled tour and we promise to give the chicken a good-deal assignment afterwards. Every chicken will be required to do one road-crossing during its career, and this will not affect its opportunities for future promotion.
John Warden:
The chicken used its unique ability to operate in 2 dimensions to bypass the less important strategic rings on this side of the road and strike directly into the heart of the enemy, thereby destroying the will of the enemy to fight and thus ending the conflict on terms favorable to the chicken.
Congress:
The chicken will do anything to get the C-17 and the F-22.
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