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Why the A380 is a Neo too far
Slightly more than a decade ago, it was Boeing’s turn to make a hard decision. Airbus had launched the A380, so the company weighed up whether to respond with a clean-sheet design or a simpler product revamp. Boeing decided that the safer bet was to install a new engine and a composite wing on the 747, focus on the air cargo market and hope to pick off a few orders from the European superjumbo. If Boeing had to make that decision all over again today, a hindsight-empowered executive team might select a third option: walk away, and leave the disappointing A380 market alone to its rival.
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Trial To Improve Flight Tracking A Year After MH370
Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia are launching a trial to allow air traffic controllers to more closely track aircraft traversing remote oceans such as the Indian Ocean, believed to be the final resting place of Malaysia Airlines slight MH370. No trace has been found of the Boeing 777 which disappeared a year ago this week carrying 227 mainly Chinese passengers and 12 crew in what has become one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history.
LinkAirlines
More Snow And Ice Hits Flights In Northeast US
Snow and ice spread across the northeastern United States again on Sunday and into early Monday, causing flight disruptions at several major airports as February's onslaught of bitter winter weather dragged into the first days of March. The snow and freezing rain wreaked havoc on airline traffic into and out of several airports. JFK and LaGuardia airports in New York both reported weather-related disruptions of flight activity on Sunday.
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Boeing 787 is a major part of American strategy
Columnist Alexander MacLennan examines American Airlines' strategy in adding the 787 to its fleet. "[T]he Boeing 787 is set to play a big role in American Airlines' strategy to reduce its exposure to volatile fuel prices and capture more passengers by offering a better experience," he writes.
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American to monitor US Airways' Twitter
US Airways, which merged with American Airlines in late 2013, stopped posting to Twitter on Feb. 28. Posts tagging the carrier will be monitored by the American Airlines social media team.
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Avianca Holdings Reports an Operating Profit1 of $118.4 Million for the Fourth Quarter of 2014
Avianca Holdings S.A., the following results pertain to the 4Q 2014, financial and operational information is provided in millions of US dollars unless stated otherwise. The following information is presented in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
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Hundreds of FedEx Pilots Participate in Contract Rally
In a strong show of support of their union Negotiating Committee, hundreds of FedEx pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), participated in a contract rally on Sunday, March 1, 2015. With a turnout of more than 700 pilots, the group demonstrated their dissatisfaction with FDX management’s approach to bargaining.
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Hawaiian Airlines to offer more seasonal flights to Kona Airport
Hawaiian Airlines has announced plans to increase both interisland and transpacific seasonal service to the Big Island of Hawaii this spring and summer, due to increased demand. The carrier will add a second daily flight from both Oakland and Los Angeles to the Kona Airport, beginning in June and running through August.
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JetBlue Pilots Set to Open Contract Negotiations
The pilots of JetBlue Airways, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), today sent official notice to company management requesting to open contract negotiations under the federal Railway Labor Act. The notice marks the first labor negotiations in the history of JetBlue from any segment of its workforce. Currently, JetBlue pilots are the only unionized workforce at the airline.
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Malaysia Airlines Restructuring Gathers Pace
Malaysia Airlines is re-negotiating contracts, reviewing its fleet and routes, and identifying almost a third of staff to lay off as part of a state-led restructuring, sovereign wealth fund Khazanah said. Khazanah's update is the first since it took the carrier private in December under a MYR6 billion ringgit (USD$1.8 billion) government bailout, following years of losses. MAS will emerge as a new company by July 1, putting behind it the hit to both brand and bottom-line from the disappearance of MH370 in March and the shooting down of MH17 over Ukraine in July.
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Norwegian Air Pilot Strike Affects Mainly Domestic Flights
A strike by pilots at Norwegian Air led to some cancellations of domestic flights on Sunday, but long-haul routes to the US and Asia were operating as normal, the airline said. The strike, which started on Saturday after wage talks with the airline broke down, involves 70 pilots. The number of those striking could go up to 650 from Wednesday if there is no agreement, the Norwegian pilots' union has warned.
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Southwest Airlines to tweak Rapid Rewards program
Southwest Airlines is joining competitors Delta and United Airlines in changing its frequent flier program. Travelers are probably not going to love it. “The cost of [Southwest's Rapid Rewards frequent flier] program has risen, and we needed to increase the number of points required to manage that cost,” says Rapid Rewards director Jonathan Clarkson.
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United, American consider nonstop flights to New Zealand
United Airlines and American Airlines are weighing service to Auckland, New Zealand. Air New Zealand is currently the only carrier that offers direct service between the U.S. and New Zealand.
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United plans to upgrade United Clubs in 7 cities
United Airlines unveiled plans to revamp United Clubs in seven cities in 2015. "These renovations will incorporate the same modern design elements as our other recently renovated club locations and will include artwork featuring United's unique aviation history, panoramic views, more comfortable seating and updated amenities," said Michael Landers, United Clubs director, in a note to employees.
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WestJet again lands in top 100 Canadian brands
WestJet announced today that Brand Finance, one of the world's leading brand valuation consultancies, has once again ranked WestJet in the top 100 Canadian brands with a valuation of $629 million USD as of January 1, 2015 . The airline's enterprise value, which is the combined market value of the equity and debt of a business less cash and cash equivalents, is pegged at more than $3 billion USD . Today's announcement moves WestJet seven spots up the ranking from last year to 67.
LinkAirports
Construction to begin this spring on animal facility at JFK
A multimillion-dollar terminal is going up at Kennedy Airport for travelers of a different breed: four-legged passengers and their feathered friends. The ARK at JFK, a modern animal handling facility, promises to take the stress out of air travel for thousands of animals, from pets to racehorses to exotic birds that fly in and out of the Queens airport each year.
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Cargo traffic at LAX soared 12.4% in Jan.
Los Angeles International Airport saw a 12.4% increase in cargo traffic in January on a year-over-year basis. Meanwhile, passenger traffic also posted a modest increase of 0.4% for the month.
LinkMilitary
Boeing holds out for more Super Hornet sales
Boeing remains bullish about the prospects for more sales of its F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet overseas, as the end of production in late 2016 starts to loom. Chris Raymond, vice-president, business development and strategy for Boeing Defense, Space & Security, says the type is still being pitched to several countries, with potential interest in Malaysia, Europe, the Middle East and possibly also the USA.
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UK details extent of combat activity over Iraq
The UK Royal Air Force has conducted 159 air strikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq with Panavia Tornado GR4s since deploying the type to the region late last year, the Ministry of Defence has revealed. Details of the combat activity were disclosed during a visit to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus by defence secretary Michael Fallon on 1 March.
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Boom simulator to sharpen Israeli tanker training
The Israeli air force is evaluating the purchase of an aerial refuelling simulator to answer its growing demand for this capability. Currently, boom operators for Israel’s Boeing 707 tankers are trained on board US Air Force McDonnell Douglas KC-10s and in a simulator for the latter type, which features a different system configuration to Israeli aircraft.
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Safety scares prompt Israeli air force training pause
A series of recent safety incidents prompted Israeli air force commander Major General Amir Eshel on 26 February to order a one-day suspension of all training flights at its bases. The directive was issued to give flightcrews time to go through all required safety procedures, and did not apply to the service’s operational activities.
LinkRotary Wing
Expanded H-60 support deal could serve as new model
A Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky joint venture will expand support of more than 500 naval H-60 helicopters under a $2 billion, five-year contract renewal awarded on 27 February, the companies say. The latest renewal extends the Maritime Helicopter Support Company (MHSCo)’s performance-based logistics contract with the navy through 2019, as the navy transitions to a feel of only MH-60R and MH-60S anti-submarine warfare and maritime patrol variants.
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Aviation Quote
Ah hell. We had more fun in a week than those weenies had in a lifetime.
— Pancho Barnes, quoted in The Happy Bottom Riding Club - The Life and Times of Pancho Barnes, by Lauren Kesler.
[i]On This Date
---In 1911... With Capt. Benjamin D. Foulois navigating a course and Phillip Parmelee at the controls, the Wright Type B on loan from Robert F. Collier sets an official U.S. cross-country record from Laredo to Eagle Pass, Texas. It flies the 106 miles in 2 hours 10 minutes. (F&F)
---In 1915…Natl Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NASA forerunner) created.
---In 1919... Airplane builder William E. Boeing and Eddie Hubbard of Hubbard Air Service make the first international airmail flight from Seattle, Washington to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
---In 1950... Australian Quantas inaugurates a passenger service from Sydney to Tokyo.
---In 1953…A Canadian Pacific Airlines de Havilland Comet crashes on takeoff from Karachi, Pakistan, killing all 11 aboard. Excessive nose-pitch causes it to stall, resulting in first fatal jetliner crash in history.
---In 1959…US Probe, Pioneer 4 made a Distant Lunar Flyby. It is now in a solar orbit.
---In 1960... The longest nonstop flight ever made by a Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft is completed when a Vickers Valiant B.Mk.1 (serial no.XD858) piloted by Sqdn. Ldr. J. H. Garstin flies around the British Isles for a total distance of 8,500 miles aided by two inflight refuelings.
---In 1969…Apollo 9, the second manned launch of a Saturn V rocket, launches to spend 10 days in lower Earth orbit to test the lunar module’s behavior in space.
---In 1973…Ryan International Airlines commences flight operations.
---In 1974... In the world’s worst air disaster, a DC-10-10 of Turkish Airlines loses an aft cargo door after taking off from Paris en route to London, resulting in a complete loss of control. The aircraft crashes, killing 346 passengers and crew. This is the second time a cargo bay door has been lost from aircraft of this type. As a result, a latch modification becomes mandatory.
---In 1987…Pioneer 9, USA Solar Probe (November 8, 1968 - March 3, 1987) died. Still in solar orbit.
---In 1999…United Airlines Flight 585 crashes 4-miles short while on approach to Denver’s runway 35, killing all 25 aboard. The Boeing 737-200 (N999UA) experiences a sudden dive, and the initial investigation comes up with nothing. It is later speculated that a rudder power control unit is at fault.
---In 2005…The late Steve Fossett becomes the first person to fly an airplane around the world solo nonstop without refueling, flying 25,000 miles in 67 hours and 2 minutes.
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