Zak/forum/images/avatars/gallery/first/user2/2.pngoffline(netAirspace FAA) 11 Mar 15, 10:52
News
Accidents & Incidents
Midair Helicopter Crash Kills 10 In Argentina All ten people on board were killed when two helicopters collided while filming a reality show in Argentina's Andes Mountains on Monday evening. The French program, called "Dropped," takes sports stars into the wilderness and follows their efforts to find their way back to civilization. The two pilots were Argentinian, but the rest of those who died were French. Link Discussion
NTSB Searching For Cause Of Delta Accident The NTSB issued an update Monday on its investigation into last week's runway accident involving a Delta MD-88 at LaGuardia Airport, in New York, but the cause is not yet clear. The safety board said investigators were examining and testing the jet's antiskid, autobrake and thrust reverser systems on Monday. The board also reported that it has interviewed the flight crew, and the pilots said they based their decision to land on ATC's reports that braking conditions were "good." Link Discussion
NTSB Reports On Harrison Ford Crash The NTSB's preliminary report, posted online on Tuesday, revealed no new details about Harrison Ford's accident in Santa Monica last week, and reports on the actor's recovery also are sparse. Local news outlets have reported that Ford, age 72, underwent surgery to repair broken bones at UCLA Medical Center, and according to a statement from his publicist, he is expected to fully recover from his injuries. Link Discussion
Commercial
Udvar-Hazy reveals preferences for Boeing's next project Air Lease Corp founder Steven Udvar-Hazy flashes a squinty grin and says he cannot reveal Boeing’s design secrets for the still-unlaunched clean-sheet aircraft concept to follow the 777X family into service after 2022. Link
ICBC Financial Leasing signs for 30 COMAC ARJ21s ICBC Financial Leasing has signed a purchase agreement with Comac for 30 ARJ21-700 regional jets. The agreement, signed on 9 March, follows ICBC’s commitment in 2011 for 45 Comac C919 narrowbody aircraft. Link
Pratt & Whitney Hikes GTF List Prices Pratt & Whitney will increase the list prices of its PW1000G geared-turbofan family later this year to reflect what it believes will be increased value from better-than-anticipated performance. Link
MH370 Prompts Rockwell Collins Latest Flight Tracking Solution On March 9, the anniversary of the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, Rockwell Collins debuted its new ARINC MultiLink flight tracking solution, which unites six different data feeds from both the aircraft and air traffic sources. The new technology merges data from avionics systems and capabilities already on board the aircraft as well as position data from Eurocontrol and Rockwell Collins own network performance tracking products to allow airlines and operators to access more comprehensive and frequent tracking data. Link
Boeing Unveils Efficiency ‘Bridge’ to 777X Boeing has revealed five new distinct aerodynamic improvements in the 777 as it continues to prepare for the transition to the 777X starting in 2018. While appearing Monday at the International Society of Transport Aircraft Traders conference in Phoenix, Boeing Commercial Airplanes marketing vice president Randy Tinseth said the aerodynamic changes, coupled with engine efficiency improvements and 1,200 pounds worth of weight reductions, will result in a 2 percent reduction in fuel burn by the third quarter of 2016. Link
Airlines
Aeromexico Adds Its Boeing 787 Dreamliner To The Los Angeles Route Aeromexico, Mexico's global airline, announced that it will begin to operate four weekly flights between Mexico City and Los Angeles with its Boeing 787 Dreamliner as of April 5th, 2015. Link
Alaska Airlines Seeks Approval to Begin Service from California to Mexico Alaska Airlines submitted its application today to begin two nonstop service from Orange County, California, to Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The flights are pending approval by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Mexico Direccion General de Aeronautica Civil (DGAC). The planned year-round service will operate thrice-weekly between Orange County and Puerto Vallarta and four-times weekly between Orange County and Los Cabos. Link
Virgin Atlantic returns to profit Virgin Atlantic made a pre-tax profit of £14.4 million ($21.7 million) last year – its first positive result since 2011. In 2013, it incurred a pre-tax loss of £51 million. The UK carrier attributes its improved performance in 2014 to "strategic changes in the business along with operational and cost efficiencies" including the "significant benefit from its joint-venture partnership with Delta Air Lines". Link
Iberia Says TAP Not A Priority For IAG Iberia's executive chairman Luis Gallego said that flag carrier TAP Portugal was not a priority for IAG when asked at an event if IAG would be interested in buying the airline. Link
United Mulls Potential Mid-Range Options United Airlines is looking at the latest upgraded A321 model from Airbus as well as concepts being touted by Boeing as potential replacements for its Boeing 757 fleet, but does not see a purchase in the near future. Link
Airports
Ryanair To Use Spain's 'Ghost' Airport Ryanair is set to announce commercial flights from Spanish 'ghost' airport Castellón, a symbol of profligate government spending during the country's property boom, El Pais reported. Link
Frankfurt Airport Achieves Strong Passenger Growth assenger numbers at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) continued to advance in February 2015: Germany's largest aviation hub welcomed some 3.8 million passengers, representing an increase of 4.6 percent year-on-year. Passenger growth was largely attributable to increased domestic traffic and a rise in demand for tourist destinations in Europe and North Africa - as well as the non-recurrence of strikes which negatively impacted FRA's traffic volumes in February 2014. Cargo throughput (airfreight + airmail) also grew in the reporting month, climbing by 1.8 percent to 162,068 metric tons. Link
Aviation Quote I might have been born in a hovel, but I determined to travel with the wind and the stars. — Jackie Cochran
On This Date
---In 1910... Lieutenant J. W. Dunne’s D5 tailless biplane is tested at Eastchurch, Kent, England. It has a 60-hp Green engine and was built by Short Brothers.
---In 9141…A record for heaviest payload for a commercial aircraft is set by a Lockheed Super constellation flying for Flying Tiger Lines from Newark, New Jersey to Burbank, California.
---In 1955…Orient Airways is merged into a new government-owned airline to become Pakistan International Airlines.
---In 1957... The prototype Boeing 707 jet lands after a press demonstration flight from Seattle, Washington to Baltimore, Maryland during which it covers 2,350 miles in a record time of 3 hours 48 minutes.
---In 1957…a Flying Tiger Lockheed Super Constellation sets a new payload record for a commercial aircraft, carrying 41,749 lb (18,937 kg) on a flight between Newark, New Jersey and Burbank, California.
---In 1958…Boeing B-47E Stratojet, 53-1876, and an F-86 Sabre collide during a training mission. The damaged B-47 is forced to jettison a nuclear weapon casing. Because there’s no fuel capsule installed on the bomb, there is no nuclear detonation. The bomb would never be found.
---In 1960…US Probe, Pioneer 5 Solar Monitor launched. Space probe is now in a solar orbit.
---In 1982…Winderoe Flight 933, a Twin Otter (LN-BNK) crashes into the Barents Sea after structural failure of the aircraft’s tail due to severe clear-air turbulence. All 15 on the aircraft perish.
---In 1986…Japanese probe Sakigake flies by Halley's Comet at 6.8 million km.
---In 1993…First flight of the Airbus A321.
---In 1997…Ashes of Star Trek creator, Gene Roddenberry are launched into space.
---In 1998... The first two of four Boeing E-767 airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircrafts are officially handed over to the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force.
---In 2005…JetsGo ceases operations.
---In 2005…China’s first privately-owned carrier Okay Airlines begins operations with a flight from Tianjin to Changsha. Their fleet currently consists of five Boeing 737s and two Xian MA-60s.
---In 2011…An 8.9 magnitude earthquake strikes off Japan’s northeast coast, generating a massive tsunami which sweeps away entire towns in Japan, washes out Sendai Airport and forces Tokyo’s Narita Airport to shut down.
