Zodiac targets space between business and first Zodiac Aerospace has enhanced its Fusio business-class seat, introduced as a concept at the Aircraft Interiors show in 2014, and at this year's event is looking for a launch customer to bring it into service as soon as possible. The aircraft interiors manufacturer is marketing the seat as offering "the comfort of first class but the space of business class", says Zodiac executive vice-president of communication and investor relations Pierre-Anthony Vastra. Link
Airlines
Air New Zealand to start Houston this December Air New Zealand has today announced it will expand its North American presence by opening a fifth gateway this December. The airline will soon provide nonstop service between Houston, Texas and Auckland, New Zealand up to five times per week. Tickets are expected to go on sale next month, with flights commencing mid-December. Link
American Airlines CEO to deliver speech at Northwestern Doug Parker, CEO of American Airlines, will give a public speech at the Northwestern University campus in Evanston, Ill. The 2015 William A. Patterson Transportation Lecture is sponsored by the university's transportation club. Link
Delta Air Lines exceeds analyst expectations for Q1 Delta Air Lines posted a profit of $746 million, or 90 cents per share, for the first quarter. During the same quarter last year, Delta reported a $213 million profit, or 25 cents per share. The carrier's quarterly results exceeded analyst expectations. Link
Etihad CEO Warns Europe Against Protectionism Etihad Airways' chief executive James Hogan has warned Europe that it will suffer if it restricts the access of foreign carriers to its market, in a fresh effort by Gulf carriers to head off what they see as Western protectionism. Hogan met the European Union's Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc this week to stress the benefits of Etihad's operations to European consumers and economies, according to an Etihad statement. Link
LOT Polish Airlines Announces 2014 Profit On Core Business LOT ended 2014 in the black. With more than PLN 99 million ($26 million) profit on its core business of flying, LOT earned 40 percent more than it planned. This is the company's first profit in seven years. Link
United to debut purple plane to support March of Dimes United Airlines plans to unveil a plane with purple livery on Thursday to celebrate its 10 years of support for the March of Dimes. So far this year, United has raised $780,000 for the March of Dimes. Link
Airports
Las Vegas airport installs passport control kiosks McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas installed six Automated Passport Control kiosks for international travelers. "We believe they're going to boost travel and tourism because they make things so much easier for international arrivals," said Rosemary Vassiliadis, aviation director for Clark County. Link
JetBlue, hotel developer team up for JFK hotel proposal JetBlue Airways has partnered with MCR Development, a hotel developer based in New York, on a plan to turn an abandoned terminal at John F. Kennedy airport into a hotel. Link
Rotary WIng
AgustaWestland, Bristow offer AW119 to replace US Navy TH-57 fleet AgustaWestland and Bristow Helicopters have teamed up with two other suppliers to replace the US Navy’s fleet of 117 Bell Helicopter 206B3 basic trainers with an upgraded version of the AW119 aircraft on a fee-for-service contract. Since August 2013, the USN has been evaluating options for replacing the TH-57 SeaRanger fleet that entered service 47 years ago. Bell stopped building the 206B3 in 2010, leaving the navy to confront a long list of obsolesce issues as the fleet ages. Link
Regulatory
New UN Conflict Zone Website Issues First Warnings A new United Nations website distributing warnings about risks to aircraft in conflict zones has issued its first advisories, for countries including Libya, Iraq, Egypt and South Sudan. The website was set up after the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over an area of fighting in Ukraine last year and is hosted by the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It went live at the start of this month. Link
Aviation Quote
Too late. No time, no. — Captain Christian Marty, Air France 4590 Concorde, last recorded words. ATC had just warned, "Concorde zero ... 4590, You have flames. You have flames behind you." 25 July 2000.
On This Date
---In 1867... Wilbur Wright born in Millville, Indiana.
---In 1912... Harriet Quimby, the first American woman pilot, lands after a solo flight across the English Channel from Dover to Calais, France.
---In 1941... Igor I. Sikorsky impressively demonstrates the capabilities of his VS-300 helicopter by hovering virtually motionless over Stratford (Connecticut) Airport for one hour, five minutes. Powered by a large, 90-hp engine, it sets a new helicopter record.
---In 1964…The first XAIM-47A air-to-air missile is fired from a YF-12. (Q)
---In 1970…Apollo 16 - USA Manned Lunar Lander (April 16-27, 1972) launched. Crew: John W. Young, Charles M. Duke, Jr., Thomas K. Mattingly II. Young and Duke landed on April 21, 1972, at the Descartes crater located at latitude 9°00' N and longitude 15°31' E. They deployed instruments, drove the lunar rover, and collected 94.7 kilograms of samples during a 71-hour surface stay.
---In 1973... The Florida State Senate votes unanimously to restore the name “Cape Canaveral” to the NASA establishment which was renamed “Cape Kennedy” shortly after the President’s assassination.
---In 1994…A Royal Navy Sea Harrier is shot down over Serbia by a SA-7 Grail. The pilot was later rescued.
Daily Video
Editor’s Choice
Trivia
Tail ID
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
[/quote]
And let's get one thing straight. There's a big difference between a pilot and an aviator. One is a technician; the other is an artist in love with flight. — E. B. Jeppesen
Airplane Birthday Cake by Gaspar's Cakes, on Flickr
