NewsJAL 777-200 makes emergency landing after engine troubleA Japan Airlines (JAL) Boeing 777-200 aircraft had to make an emergency landing on 5 September, after its pilots discovered issues in its right engine. The aircraft, registration JA007D, was on the Fukuoka-Tokyo Haneda route when the incident happened. Data shows that the aircraft is fitted with Pratt & Whitney PW4074 engines, and has been in service since 1998. The flight crew on board JAL304 discovered issues with the aircraft's right engine shortly after take off at 08:27 local time, and decided to shut down the right engine and perform an emergency landing back at Fukuoka, says a JAL spokesman. Upon landing, engine oil and hydraulic oil were found leaking from the right engine.
LinkVirgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo makes second powered flightVirgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo has completed its second rocket-powered flight. The 5 September flight marks only the second in-flight ignition of the RocketMotorTwo rocket, and the second supersonic flight. During the 20s motor burn, SpaceShipTwo reached M1.43 speed and 69,000ft altitude, the fastest and highest yet. "In addition to achieving the highest altitude and greatest speed to date, the test flight demonstrated the vehicle's full technical mission profile in a single flight for the first time, including a high altitude deployment of the unique wing "feathering" re-entry mechanism. All of the test objectives were successfully completed," says the company.
LinkHuman factors loom in Sumburgh crash reportA terse statement by the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch has provided basic facts downloaded from the cockpit voice and flight data recorder of the CHC Scotia AS332L2 Super Puma helicopter (G-WSNB) involved in a fatal crash on approach to Sumburgh, in the Shetland Isles, on 23 August. Crucially, no technical failure has been detected, the statement says, noting that both engines continued to deliver power until the helicopter impacted the sea. Four passengers were killed during the accident. It adds: "To date, no evidence of a causal technical failure has been identified; however, detailed examination of the [combined cockpit voice and flight data recorder] and the helicopter wreckage is continuing."
LinkEU Concession Eases Fears Of Aviation Trade WarFears of an aviation trade war eased on Thursday after the European Union offered to abandon attempts to apply its rules for curbing emissions outside its airspace in exchange for international co-operation to set up a global scheme. A provisional deal at the governing council of the United Nations' aviation body ICAO on Wednesday was seen as a diplomatic breakthrough after more than a year of tensions between the EU and a broad front of critics led by China and the United States.
LinkInvestment Firm Buys Bombardier's FlexjetBombardier announced the sale of its Flexjet aircraft ownership business on Thursday, and the new owners agreed to order up to 245 Bombardier business jets valued at USD$5.2 billion. A group led by Ohio-based private investment firm, Directional Aviation Capital, is buying the fractional ownership business for USD$185 million in a deal expected to close before the end of the year. Flexjet offers clients the option of chartering a private jet or purchasing large blocks of time with access to a crew.
LinkUnited To Return Cash To ShareholdersUnited Airlines plans to return cash to shareholders after paying down debt next year, and the airline is on track to hit its target of 10 percent return on capital, the chief financial officer said on Thursday. United Continental Holdings plans to pay off USD$800 million in debt next year, which will strengthen the balance sheet enough to allow it to return cash to shareholders, CFO John Rainey said at the Reuters Aerospace and Defense Summit. Rainey also said he thinks the airline industry is strong enough to weather disruptions that a possible US war in Syria could bring.
LinkAirbus Wins 942 Gross Orders In Year To AugustAirbus won 942 gross aircraft orders in the first eight months of the year. This takes it closer to its full-year target of more than 1,000 passenger jet orders for 2013. Airbus said net orders were 902 in the same period and that it had delivered 394 aircraft.
LinkBoeing Ups Forecast For China Plane DemandBoeing expects China to need more than 5,500 aircraft in the next 20 years, a six percent increase over last year's two-decade estimate, citing growing demand for single-aisle and small wide body planes as travel within Asia-Pacific surges. China, currently the world's second-biggest aircraft market, is key to Boeing's long-term global strategy and the company said its estimate of 5,580 planes valued at USD$780 billion represents a tripling of China's fleet. "Tourism in China and intra-Asia travel will help spur demand," said Randy Tinseth, vice president of marketing at Boeing commercial planes, adding that China will overtake the United States as the world's single-biggest aircraft market by 2032.
LinkUK hails Hawk T2 training performanceEarly use of the Royal Air Force's BAE Systems Hawk T2 advanced jet trainer has dramatically boosted the quality of instruction being provided to UK students, program officials say. A first course of four ab initio pilots completed their training on the T2 with 4 Sqn at Valley in June 2013, before progressing to the RAF's 29 Sqn operational conversion unit (OCU) for the Eurofighter Typhoon at Coningsby in Lincolnshire.
LinkEmbraer hands over first modernized A-1M to BrazilEmbraer has delivered the first modernized A-1M subsonic attack aircraft to the Brazilian air force in Gavião Peixoto. "The A-1 fighter jets are fundamental elements for the defence of Brazil, including its territorial coastal waters," says Gen Juniti Saito, the service's commander. "We have been very successful in using this aircraft on such highly complex operations as the Cruzex and Red Flag exercises. Its modernisation presents a big gain in capability," he adds.
LinkCrowsnest AEW project to cost up to £500mn, UK saysFurther details of the UK Royal Navy's Crowsnest next-generation airborne early warning program have been disclosed by the nation's Ministry of Defence, with the effort expected to have a maximum cost of around £500 million ($782 million). Aiming to provide replacements for the Fleet Air Arm's current Westland Sea King 7 airborne surveillance and control system helicopters, Crowsnest recently entered a second assessment phase. This is concerned with candidate radars and mission systems to be installed aboard eight upgraded AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin HM2 rotorcraft from later this decade. Merlin HM2 program prime contractor Lockheed Martin is offering its Vigilance mission suite, combined with a Northrop Grumman radar for Crowsnest, while Thales is promoting an update of its Cerberus system and Searchwater 2000 sensor already used with the Sea King 7. Elta Systems and Selex ES are also offering radars for the requirement, according to evidence given to the UK Public Accounts Committee by MoD officials earlier this year.
LinkJapan scrubs Epsilon launch with seconds to spareJapan saw a last-minute launch abort on 27 August as first flight of its Epsilon launch vehicle was cancelled only seconds before ignition of the first stage solid-fuel rocket due to an attitude abnormality alert. The alert has been traced to a .07s timing mismatch between the rocket's internal computer and the ground controller's computer. The mismatch between timing signals led the ground computer to automatically abort the launch sequence, according to Japanese space agency JAXA. A second attempt is expected later in September, although the date is yet to be announced. Epsilon is a three-stage, solid-fuel rocket, making the short notice of the launch abort particularly compelling: once solid fuel is ignited it cannot be shut off, unlike liquid-fuelled engines.
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Pilots agree to seniority list at United ContinentalUnited Continental pilots have agreed to an integrated seniority list, nearly three years after United and Continental completed their merger. The seniority list covers more than 12,000 pilots, and allows pilots and crews to fly any United Continental flight.
LinkAA offers merger supporters letter template to send to DOJAmerican Airlines is offering a template of a letter to send to the Justice Department on its website, newamericanarriving.com. The letter encourages the DOJ to allow a merger between American and US Airways.
LinkDelta traffic rose 2.7% in AugustDelta Air Lines reported a 2.7% increase in traffic for August, as compared to the same month last year. The carrier's consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile also rose by 4% in August.
LinkUnited announces recall of furloughed pilotsUnited Airlines announced a recall of all of its furloughed pilots on Thursday. The recall affects almost 600 pilots. "We look forward to welcoming back our co-workers as we complete work to integrate all of our pilots into a single work group," said Howard Attarian, senior vice president of Flight Operations at United.
LinkAlaska Air Group’s August traffic grew 7.3%August passenger traffic for Alaska Air Group rose 7.3%, with passengers flying 2.6 billion miles during the month as compared to 2.45 billion miles in August 2012.
LinkUS Airways' August traffic grew 5.6%US Airways reported its passenger traffic was up 5.6% in August on a year-over-year basis. Meanwhile, passenger revenue per available seat mile increased approximately 5%.
LinkAnalyst: Boeing 787-9 should incorporate lessons from 787-8The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will soon embark on its first test flight, and industry analysts say expectations are high for the new variant. Boeing has set a goal of 99.7% dispatch reliability for the 787-9.
LinkAirbus 320s certified for LiveTV's Ka-band connectivityLiveTV, a subsidiary of JetBlue Airways, has obtained Federal Aviation Administration approval for its Ka-band system. LiveTV expects to roll out the product on three more planes by the end of the year. The system is also currently being certified for United's Boeing 737-900 jets.
LinkFedEx accepts delivery of Boeing aircraftFedEx Express has received its first new Boeing 767-300 Freighter planes, the latest step in the Memphis-based company’s fleet modernization efforts. These planes are 30 percent more fuel efficient than the MD-10 planes they replace and will reduce operating costs by 20 percent, according to James R. Parker, executive vice president of air operations at FedEx Express. “The net effect is an aircraft that is more affordable to operate and has lower carbon emissions because of better fuel efficiency,” he said.
LinkWWII veterans embark on Honor Flight courtesy of SouthwestWorld War II veterans from Boise, Idaho, received a free trip to Washington, D.C., through Honor Flight. "This is great that the World War II veterans are receiving all this recognition. It's very rewarding," said Jack Stuart, 86, who joined 25 other veterans. Southwest Airlines donated the airline tickets for the Honor Flight.
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