NewsLufthansa cancels order for 747-8I test aircraft
Lufthansa has formally cancelled a Boeing 747-8I order after the manufacturer asked to retain the respective aircraft for internal purposes. The aircraft in question, RC021, which is registered N6067U, was part of Boeing's three-strong flight-test fleet and used to test cabin systems such as air conditioning, galley and lighting equipment. It has been furnished with Lufthansa's cabin interior and visited the German carrier's base in Frankfurt in December 2011 for promotional filming work and ground operational tests prior to the first delivery in April.
LinkUnited juggles 787 international schedule on reliability issues 
United Airlines has delayed the launch of the majority of its planned international flights on the Boeing 787, as it works with the airframer to improve aircraft reliability. The Chicago-based Star Alliance carrier will begin flights between Los Angeles and Tokyo Narita on 3 January as planned but has delayed the launch of flights between Houston Intercontinental and Lagos, London Heathrow and Amsterdam, according to an employee newsletter. Service to Lagos will begin in "late January" instead of 3 January, London on 1 March instead of 4 February and Amsterdam on 24 February instead of 23 February.
LinkBoeing crosses 1,000-order mark with 737 Max 
Boeing's 737 Max program crossed over the 1,000-order mark after Aviation Capital Group (ACG) finalized an order in late December for 60 re-engined single-aisles. The $6 billion deal at list prices for 50 737 Max 8s and 10 737 Max 9s raises Boeing's total order book for the 737 Max to 1,029 aircraft 15 months after launching the program.
LinkTu-204 directive warns pilots to check thrust-reverse status 
Russian authorities have ordered immediate action by Tupolev Tu-204 operators in the wake of two runway overruns by Red Wings aircraft, including the fatal accident at Moscow Vnukovo. Federal aviation authority Rosaviatsia has issued an airworthiness directive highlighting the 29 December crash at Vnukovo - in which five crew members were killed - and an incident on 20 December during which another Red Wings Tu-204 rolled beyond the end of the runway while landing at Novosibirsk. Rosaviatsia says Tupolev has developed a technical response for Tu-204 and Tu-214 twinjets, powered by Aviadvigatel PS-90 engines, which centres on lubricating mechanisms linked to limit-switches on the landing-gear, notably during low-temperature operations.
LinkLinkKingfisher still confident of restart despite licence expiry
Grounded Indian carrier Kingfisher Airlines says it remains confident of securing approval to restart operations despite the imminent expiry of its scheduled carrier licence. The Indian airline, which was grounded in October, submitted a plan to the Indian directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) on how it intends to restart operations. Indian civil aviation minister Ajit Singh was subsequently quoted as saying that parent the UB Group needed to provide more details on the airline's funding plan.
LinkIberia Pilots Agree To Talks About Job Cuts
Iberia has reached a preliminary agreement with pilots over plans to restructure the loss-making airline by laying off staff and cutting salaries. However, the agreement to sit down to talks does not necessarily mean that the union will support the restructuring. The airline's unions, which have been demanding a growth plan from Iberia, have until January 31 to support the airline's plans.
LinkJet Airways Front-Runner For Etihad Investment
India's Jet Airways is the front-runner for an investment by Gulf carrier Etihad Airways, a senior Indian government source told reporters on Wednesday, adding a deal was likely in 10 days. Etihad, seeking to widen operations in India and other Asian markets, is in the final stages of talks to buy part of either Jet Airways or grounded rival Kingfisher Airlines, an Indian government official had said on December 17.
LinkKenya Airways Flight Makes Emergency Landing
A Kenya Airways plane with 56 passengers on board made an emergency landing in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, after an engine caught fire. The Cairo-bound Boeing 737-700 took off from Khartoum after a scheduled stopover following a flight from Nairobi. But it had to return to the Sudanese capital after 20 minutes.
LinkFAA, aerospace companies face new sequestration deadline The US FAA and US aerospace companies have been temporarily spared from the consequences of steep across-the-board federal government budget cuts that were scheduled to become law Wednesday. Congress on New Year’s Day passed a “fiscal cliff” deal that revised US tax rates and postponed the cuts known as budget sequestration—but the budget reductions are now set to take effect March 1.
LinkACG finalizes Boeing 737 MAX order Aviation Capital Group (ACG) has finalized an order for 60 737 MAX aircraft, comprising 50 737 MAX 8s and 10 737 MAX 9s. The order is valued at $6 billion at list prices. ACG CEO Denis Kalscheur said the order is a “major step in building our broad portfolio of modern, fuel-efficient airplanes.”
LinkBlog: Delta Air Lines CEO says 2013 will be significantRichard Anderson, the CEO of Delta Air Lines, predicted 2013 will be a watershed year for the carrier. "With many of our competitors still focused on significant integration or restructuring efforts, 2013 is the year for Delta to advance its position around the world," he said in a letter to employees.
LinkAmerican Airlines offers 2 fares without change feesAmerican Airlines is experimenting with eliminating change fees for customers who pay more for a standard ticket. American is offering Choice Essential and Choice Plus fares, which do not include a $150 charge for changing reservations.
LinkFAA will inspect older Boeing 737 jets for cracksThe Federal Aviation Administration is requiring more stringent inspections for cracks on the tops of 109 Boeing 737 planes. The 737-300, -400 and -500 models will be subject to the evaluations, which are estimated to cost $5.2 million. The move comes after a 2009 incident in which a Southwest flight made an emergency landing because of metal fatigue in the aircraft's roof.
LinkTaxiing Plane Clips Parked Jet at Fla. AirportAuthorities say no one was injured when two airplanes got into a sort of fender-bender at a Florida airport. Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue says a taxiing Spirit Airlines Airbus A-320 clipped a US Airways Airbus A-320. The US Airways jet was parked Monday night in a remote area away from the gate at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Spirit spokeswoman Misty Pinson says a flight from Atlanta was taxiing to its gate when its left wing clipped the parked plane. Pinson says all 162 passengers on board got off at the gate as normal, and the plane returned to service.
LinkSenate confirms Michael Huerta as FAA chiefThe Senate confirmed Michael Huerta, the acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, as the chief of the agency. Huerta began his tenure as acting administrator in 2011 after Randy Babbitt's departure. Huerta, whose nomination had been blocked for several months by then-Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., will serve a five-year term. "Michael Huerta's proven leadership and clear grasp of the imperatives of NextGen make him the right choice to continue leading the FAA, and we applaud the members of the U.S. Senate for taking this decisive action on his confirmation," said A4A president and CEO Nicholas Calio.
LinkNarrower seats, tech improvements are in store for air travel in 2013Passengers will be offered more space in 2013 as carriers offer expanded ancillary services. Airlines will also introduce improvements in in-flight entertainment and connectivity.
LinkAdded services are expected to increase travel costs in 2013Travel-service providers such as hotels, cruise lines and rental car agencies are expected to emulate airline practices and introduce more ancillary services this year. Some hotels are already offering services such as luggage storage and room safes.
LinkSyria accused of adapting MiG-21 for unmanned chemical warfare use Syria's air force has adapted the Mikoyan MiG-21 fighter to be flown unmanned and to carry chemical warfare materials, intelligence analysts have claimed. On 21 June 2012, Syrian pilot Col Hassan Hamada took off in a MiG-21 from al-Dumair military airport, northeast of Damascus, and flew to King Hussein air base just across Syria's southern border with Jordan, before requesting political asylum. Unlike in earlier defections, Syria put heavy pressure on Jordan to return the impounded aircraft. According to some sources, the fighter was found to have been fitted with a remote-control system, and with the capability to carry and dispense a "deadly volume" of chemical warfare agents.
LinkElbit to upgrade Israeli C-130H transports Elbit Systems has been awarded a contract to upgrade the Israeli air force's Lockheed Martin C-130H tactical transports, with the work to extend the type's service life and significantly improve its operational capability. The Israeli company says it will integrate cutting-edge digital systems in place of obsolete analogue equipment that has become unreliable and costly to maintain after four decades of intensive service. The enhancements will contribute to reduced operating costs and improved flight safety, particularly in adverse weather conditions and during precision and low-level night flying, it adds.
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