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Airbus embarks on "aggressive" ETOPS certification for A350
Airbus Group is testing the ability of the A350 to fly up to seven hours away from emergency landing strips. Under Extended-range Twin Operations, Airbus has received approval for its A330-300 to fly up to four hours away from emergency landing sites. "This is the first time we are targeting such an aggressive ETOPS certification," said Fernando Alonso, senior vice president for flight testing at Airbus.
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BAE Systems researches electronic skin for aircraft
BAE Systems is developing an electronic skin with sensors that can help aircraft monitor damage and weather conditions. "The idea is to make platforms 'feel' using a skin of sensors in the same way humans or animals do," said Lydia Hyde, a senior research scientist. Hyde's inspiration for the project came when she was doing laundry and noticed the dryer had a sensor to detect overheating.
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BOC Aviation orders 80 Boeing 737s
BOC Aviation has placed an order for 80 Boeing 737s, which includes its first order for the re-engined Max variant. The deal comprises of 30 737-800s and 50 737-8 Max aircraft, to be delivered between 2016 and 2021. The lessor also ordered two additional 777-300ERs, which have already been placed with an existing customer.
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First Flight For New Goodyear Airship
Goodyear officially launched its newest blimp over the weekend, with a christening ceremony and a ceremonial flight from its base in Akron, Ohio. The airship, built from aluminum and carbon fiber, is the first of a new generation of blimps built for Goodyear by the Zeppelin factory in Germany. The former blimp fleet recalled Goodyear's heritage, with traditional controls including a ship-like wheel to control the elevator. The Zeppelins are larger -- about 250 feet long -- and use fly-by-wire controls and swiveling engines for precise maneuvering. Goodyear will add two more new Zeppelins to its fleet over the next four years, as the older blimps are retired.
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Website offers online calculator for ancillary services
You plan your vacation. You scan for the best fare. But there's more to a trip's cost than the ticket price. What if you checking bags, or the kids want an in-flight snack? What about Wi-Fi? How much is the final tab? Finding those answers, and the best deal among several airlines, is not so easy.
LinkAirlines
Delta growth spurs hiring of more flight attendants
Delta Air Lines plans to hire at least 1,800 flight attendants. "We anticipate 2015 to be another big year for flight attendant hiring and pilot hiring due to our expected growth," said Richard Anderson, CEO of Delta. The carrier started accepting applications for flight attendants last week.
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Delta adds nonstop service from Utah to Mexico
Delta Air Lines will add nonstop service between Mexico City and Salt Lake City. Starting Dec. 20, the carrier will fly one daily round-trip flight on the route using Airbus A319 aircraft. Delta says the new route from its Utah hub is part of strategy to grow in Mexico by connecting key Mexican business markets to its "international hubs in the United States."
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Hawaiian tests Tag@Home program for baggage at 2 airports
Hawaiian Airlines has rolled out testing for an initiative that lets customers print out baggage tags at home. The Tag@Home program is being offered for a trial period of 60 days at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Oakland International Airport.
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IAM asks National Mediation Board to get involved in Southwest Airlines contract talks
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said Monday it has asked the National Mediation Board to enter its contract talks with the carrier. The union represents about 6,000 Southwest customer service agents and representatives. Here are the comments from IAM District 142 President Tom Higginbotham:
“Southwest earned nearly a billion dollars last year, is on pace to report a larger profit for this year, has the most productive workforce in the airline industry and yet refuses to offer any real improvements.
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United Airlines launches self-service kiosks for luggage
United Airlines debuted self-service kiosks that allow travelers to tag their own luggage last week at Chicago O'Hare airport. Ken Bostock, United managing director of airport strategy, said the 24 kiosks help the carrier "to reduce our lines and the wait time for customers."
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United Airlines seat recliner scrum leads to early landing
Airline passengers have come to expect a tiny escape from the confined space of today's packed planes: the ability to recline their seat a few inches. When one passenger was denied that bit of personal space Sunday, it led to a heated argument and the unscheduled landing of their plane, just halfway to its destination. The fight started on a United Airlines flight because one passenger was using the Knee Defender, a $21.95 gadget that attaches to a passenger's tray table and prevents the person in front of them from reclining.
LinkRegulatory
NTSB Bars UPS And Pilots Union From Investigation
The NTSB said on Monday it has revoked the party status of both the Independent Pilots Association and UPS Airlines relative to its ongoing investigation of UPS Flight 1354, an A300-600 air cargo flight that crashed on approach to Birmingham, Ala., last August, killing both crew members on board. The board said it took the action because IPA and UPS "violated the terms of the party agreement that each had signed at the start of the investigation." The NTSB said both IPA and UPS "took actions prejudicial to the investigation by publicly commenting on and providing their own analysis of the investigation prior to the NTSB's public meeting to determine the probable cause of the accident."
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Aviation Quote
"I wondered how I was ever going to get my work done because I just wanted to stay
glued to the window."
— Richard Searfoss, astronaut, interview in The Guardian newspaper, 30 July 2013.
On This Date
--- In 1925... In a record that would stand until Feb. 24, 1983, Farman Parker of Anderson, Indiana becomes the world’s youngest pilot to fly solo. Born on January 9, 1912, he flies at the age of 13 years, 7 months, 17 days.
---In 1929... The first flight of the largest trimotor transport aircraft built by Fokker, the F.IX, takes to the air on its first flight. The prototype (PH-AGA) was handed over to KLM on May 8, 1930, and given the name Adelaar (Eagle).
--- In 1959... President Eisenhower replaces his airplane with a jet, a USAF VC-137A, which is a modified Boeing 707 jet-airliner. The switch allows the President to cut his travel time in half.
---In 1959... French flyer Jacqueline Auriol, piloting the Mirage III, becomes the first woman to attain the speed of Mach 2.
---In 1975…First flight of the McDonnell Douglas YC-15 72-1875.
---In 1985…TWA is purchased by Jordan Cahill and associates.
---In 1986…the CFM56 turbofan is flight tested for the first time.
---In 1988, Cebu Pacific Airlines is founded.
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