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Airbus to reduce A330 production rate in 2015
Airbus will reduce its production of A330s from 10 to nine per month from the fourth quarter of 2015 as it transitions to the re-engined A330neo. Tom Williams, Airbus’ executive vice-president programs says that the reduction will allow it to maintain a smooth production flow as it transitions to the enhanced type. “With the recent commercial success we’ve seen following the launch of the A330neo, in addition to the new 242 tonne weight variant and the A330 optimized for regional routes, we are confident we will sustain a steady production towards the A330neo ramp up period,” he adds.
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Fusion power key to unlimited aircraft endurance – Lockheed Martin
Researchers at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works claim they may have opened a technology channel that could finally realize the Cold War dream of nuclear-powered aircraft with essentially unlimited endurance – a “compact fusion reactor” they say could fit in a shipping container, reach prototype stage in five years and be operational in a decade. Fission reactors create heat to drive steam turbines by splitting atoms, but also release radiation and generate toxic waste. Fusion units, however, would release vast amounts of clean energy by recreating on Earth the nuclear reactions that power the Sun. Fusion is the power behind H-bombs, but 60 years of research have so far failed to contain these forces to generate electricity.
LinkAirlines
Air France, Pilots See Transavia Deal Next Month
Air France and its main pilots' union SNPL said they have reached a tentative deal aimed at ending a dispute over the airline's low cost unit Transavia France. Air France said it expected the text they had agreed on to be signed in mid-November. Air France-KLM's plans to grow its budget brand Europe-wide had angered pilots at the French arm of the business, who went on strike for two weeks in September, forcing it to revise its plans. Pilots feared the project would erode their own pay and conditions. As the dispute worsened, Air France-KLM scrapped its scheme for Transavia Europe, but pressed ahead with its plan to expand Transavia France.
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American plans to expand service at MIA to Frankfurt
Doug Parker, the CEO of American Airlines, emphasized the carrier's ongoing relationship with Miami International Airport. On Wednesday, American announced plans to offer direct service to Frankfurt from Miami in 2015. "The airline's never been stronger and our goal is to continue to get stronger, and expanding in Miami is critical to that," Parker said.
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Delta Air Lines exceeds expectations in Q3 earnings
Delta Air Lines reported earnings per share of $1.20 for the third quarter, exceeding analyst estimates of $1.18 per share. Delta also forecast a strong fourth quarter with operating margins of up to 12%.
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Elite passengers to benefit from Delta changes to loyalty program
Delta Air Lines plans to offer elite-status passengers the opportunity to accrue more miles in 2015. Elite passengers will earn double or triple miles for qualifying flights. Anthony Black, a spokesman for Delta, said "the 2015 SkyMiles program will more fairly reward customers who spend more on Delta."
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Frontier pulls A320 from service due to Ebola threat
Frontier Airlines has removed from service and quarantined an Airbus A320 after a passenger who flew on the aircraft tested positive for the Ebola virus. The aircraft, tail number N220FR, operated Frontier flight 1143 on 13 October from Cleveland to Dallas/Fort Worth International airport, says the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The following day, a healthcare worker on that flight tested positive for Ebola after reporting to a Dallas-area hospital with a fever, the CDC says. Early on the morning of 15 October the CDC notified Frontier that the patient had taken the flight. “Customer exhibited no symptoms or sign of illness while on flight 1143, according to the crew,” says Frontier. “Frontier responded immediately upon notification from the CDC by removing the aircraft from service and is working closely with CDC to identify and contact customers who may traveled on flight 1143.
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PAL Offers To Buy Out Minority Shareholders
Philippine Airlines owner Lucio Tan is buying out minority shareholders in parent PAL Holdings at a discount. The voluntary tender offer comes on the heels of the USD$1 billion deal to acquire San Miguel's 49 percent stake in the parent firm PAL Holdings, that in turn controls around 90 percent of Philippine Airlines.
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Southwest focused on enhancing the travel experience
Southwest Airlines is sending a letter to some frequent flyers stressing the carrier's commitment to providing the best customer service and travel experience possible. Teresa Laraba, senior vice president for customers, writes of the carrier's operational performance, "we know this impacted you and, as a result, we have a laser focus on improving to ensure your continued loyalty."
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United to offer Wi-Fi on regional jets
United Airlines will partner with Gogo to provide in-flight Wi-Fi service on its two-cabin regional jets. The service will be available later this year and will include an array of streaming in-flight entertainment options.
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Virgin Australia Buys Out Tiger Australia JV
Virgin Australia will buy full control of its ailing 60 percent-owned Tiger Australia Airways business for just AUD$1, with plans to cut a bloated fleet that has hobbled turnaround efforts. Announcing its plan to buy 40 percent of Tiger Australia from Singapore-listed Tiger Airways Holdings, Virgin said it will cut growth in Tiger Australia's fleet to cope with "ongoing subdued consumer demand in the Australian domestic market". Virgin Australia bought its original 60 percent stake from Tiger for AUD$35 million (USD$30.74 million) 14 months ago. Australia's domestic aviation market has been under intense pressure as local carriers, including Qantas, engaged in a bitter price war just as demand fell amid a faltering economy.
LinkAirports
Ferrovial Consortium To Buy Three UK Airports
Spanish infrastructure company Ferrovial has teamed up with Macquarie Infrastructure Fund to buy three regional British airports for GBP£1.048 billion (USD$1.7 billion). Ferrovial and Macquarie Infrastructure Fund 4 will become joint owners of Aberdeen and Glasgow airports in Scotland and Southampton airport in southern England, following a deal which extends Ferrovial's involvement in the regional airports. The three airports were sold by Heathrow Airport Holdings (HAH), the owner of Heathrow airport. Ferrovial has a 25 percent stake in HAH and is its largest shareholder alongside Qatar Holding, Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, GIC, Alinda Capital Partners, China Investment and the Universities Superannuation Scheme.
LinkMilitary
US Navy declares first E-2D squadron operational
The US Navy on 10 October announced the initial operating capability of its Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft. The E-2 radar, communication and command and control aircraft was first introduced in 1964 to improve the radar range of aircraft carrier strike groups at sea. The E-2D improves upon its predecessors with a passive electronically scanned radar array, more powerful datalinks and a fourth crew member to handle mission data. “This is not an E-2C with upgrades,” says Cmdr John Hewitt, commanding officer of VAW-120, the E-2 squadron in charge of training and transition of units from the C-model to D-model Hawkeyes. “This a brand new platform. There are some legacy systems shared between the two platforms, but those similarities end very quickly.”
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Aviation Quote
For those of us who live in the shadow of this noisy monster, there aren't too many of us who are sorry to see it go.
— Anthony D. Weiner, Congressman for the 9th district of New York regards Concorde.
On This Date
---In 1922... Lieutenant V.C. Griffin, in a Vought VE-7SF airplane, achieves the 1st take-off from the USS Langley, America’s 1st operational aircraft carrier.
---In 1945…LACSA formed in Costa Ricas.
---In 1974…First flight of the Sikorsky YUH-60 73-21650.
---In 1977…The US ban of the Concorde was lifted when the Supreme Court of the United States declined to overturn a lower court's ruling rejecting the Port Authority's efforts to continue the ban.
Daily Video
Editor’s Choice
Humor
Flight Attendants
A flight attendant was out golfing one day off when she hit her ball into the woods.
She went into the woods to look for it and found a frog in a trap.
The frog said to her, "If you release me from this trap, I will grant you 3 wishes."
The flight attendant freed the frog and the frog said, "Thank you, but I failed to mention that there was a condition to your wishes-that whatever you wish for, your captain will get 10 times more or better!"
The flight attendant said, "That would be okay," and for her first wish, she wanted to be the most beautiful flight attendant in the world - beautiful enough to make people stop flying SQ. The frog warned her,
"You do realize that this wish will also make your captain the most handsome pilot in the world, an Adonis, that other flight attendants will flock to."
The flight attendant replied, "That will be okay because I will be the most beautiful flight attendant and he will only have eyes for me."
So, KAZAM - she's the most beautiful flight attendant in the world!
For her second wish, she wanted to be the richest flight attendant in the world.
The frog said, "That will make your captain the richest pilot in the world and he will be ten times richer than you."
The flight attendant said, "That will be okay because I'm such a devoted flight attendant that what is mine is my captain's and what is my captain's is mine."
So, KAZAM she's the richest flight attendant in the world!
The frog then inquired about her third wish, and she answered, I'd like a mild heart attack."
Moral of the story: Flight attendant are clever bitches. Don't **** with them.
Trivia
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