NewsAirlines
Delta's unretired NWA Boeing 747 makes emergency landing in Ireland
The ex-Northwest Airlines Boeing 747 that was unretired by Delta Air Lines Inc. this week made an emergency landing due to a smoke alarm Friday. Delta Flight 73 from Amsterdam to Atlanta diverted to Ireland's Shannon Airport and landed without incident or any injuries, Delta confirmed. The plane was carrying 376 passengers and 16 crew.
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Emirates CEO Tim Clark Blasts Big 3 U.S. Airlines
Emirates CEO Tim Clark makes it clear that he finds Delta to be the most problematic of the big three U.S. carriers. Clark doesn’t like American or United much either, but he singled out Delta during his talk Tuesday at the National Press Club. Clark noted that Emirates delivers 500,000 passengers to U.S. carriers annually. “We do feed passengers to them (and) maybe $100 million or $150 million a year in incremental revenue,” he said. “I haven’t heard them saying they don’t want it.”
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Ryanair To Move Copenhagen-Based Aircraft
Ryanair will move its only Copenhagen-based aircraft out of the country following a court ruling that airport staff in the Danish capital had the right to refuse to service its flights. Europe's largest low-cost airline's policy of employing people in countries such as Denmark under the less generous terms of Ireland, rather than local rules, has incurred the anger of Danish unions.
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TransAsia probe indicates crew should have aborted take-off
Pilots of an ill-fated TransAsia Airways ATR 72-600 should have aborted its departure from Taipei Songshan airport after noting that a power-control system had not armed, investigators have indicated. Flight GE235 crashed into the Keelung river shortly after take-off when the crew inadvertently reduced power from its healthy left-hand engine, instead of the right-hand engine which was exhibiting problems.
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Volaris Announces 50 Million Transported Customers Milestone
Volaris, the ultra low cost Mexican airline with the most extensive route network servicing Mexico and the US, announced today that nine years after having started operations, the carrier has now reached a record 50 million transported Customers, of these 43 million are domestic passengers and 7 million are international passengers.
LinkAirports
Dispute Disrupts Flights At Toronto Airport
A disruption by workers that refuel planes at Toronto's Pearson airport caused flight delays and cancellations on Friday, as the city prepared for the start of the Pan American Games on July 10. In a bulletin posted online, Pearson Airport said a dispute could disrupt flights. By 1:20 pm, its website showed 45 cancelled departures and more than 70 delays affecting a range of airlines. It was not clear how many were routine, and how many were caused by the dispute.
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Military
UK parliament debates Syrian air strikes
The UK House of Commons has debated the potential extension of its counter-terrorism air strike campaign from Iraq into Syria, following an extremist attack in Tunisia on 26 June during which British citizens were killed. It was decided by the Commons in September that the Royal Air Force would join a coalition effort to carry out strikes in Iraq against Islamic State (IS) militants, but Prime Minister David Cameron claimed at the time the UK would not participate in Syrian attacks unless it was approved by the Commons through a vote.
LinkRotary WIng
Russian Helicopters plans comeback for amphibious Mi-14
Russian Helicopters is evaluating restarting assembly of the Mil Mi-14 amphibious helicopter, which has been out of production since the mid-1980s. Based on the long-running 13t Mi-8 platform, the variant gains a sealed, streamlined hull and side-float-containing sponsons, along with a number of other modifications to make it suitable for operating on water.
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NHI works to address 'blade flap' rotor head issue
NH Industries is working to deliver a solution to an issue with the main rotor head on NH90 military helicopters that means the blades can impact the tail structure when starting or stopping the rotors during high winds. Although the problem emerged in the media over the past week following tests with Australia’s MRH90 Taipan fleet, this phenomenon has also been experienced by other operators. The NH90, in common with other rotorcraft, is fitted with stops on the rotor hub which prevent excessive blade flapping during low-RPM operations.
LinkGeneral Aviation
Solar Impulse reaches Hawaii on record-setting trans-Pacific journey
The Solar Impulse 2 round-the-world flight project scored its biggest triumph to date with the completion of a multiple record-setting leg from Nagoya to Hawaii – a five-day segment that pushed limits for the aircraft’s solar-only power system, its ground control team and its solo pilot. Pilot André Borschberg arrived in Hawaii just before 5pm London time after nearly 118hr in the air and covering 8,214k.
LinkBriefs
Air Algerie plans to lease four aircraft to expand its fleet during summer 2015.
Air India took delivery of its 21st B787 on 28 June 2015, following a direct delivery from the manufacturer.
Airbus Group is considering producing aircraft parts in Vietnam and is also willing to set up maintenance facilities in the country.
Avolon (Ireland) delivered another A320-200 to Pegasus Airlines (Turkey), its eighth aircraft on lease to the carrier.
Boeing raised the cost for the largest version of its updated B777X to US$400 million as it boosted 2015 aircraft prices 2.9% across the board.
Cebu Pacific long term plans include all jet operations, while turboprop operations for provincial and short routes will be placed under subsidiary Cebgo.
Comair (South Africa) mandated Nedbank (South Africa) to provide Ex-Im Bank (US) backed financing of US$175.2 million for purchase of four new B737-800s delivering between October 2015 and November 2016. Two of the aircraft to be operated by subsidiary kulula.
Condor took delivery of its 13th B767-300, serial 30840, on lease from GECAS (US).
Congo Airways acquired two used A320-200s from Alitalia (Italy) for US$50 million, with delivery ahead of planned August 2015 launch of operations.
European Commission and EASA issued the first single air safety authorizations to 22 third country operators. These certifications will be valid throughout the EU. By 2016, all non-EU airlines must comply.
Fiji Link operate scheduled flights between Tongatapu and Vavau in Tonga, as the carrier authorized to conduct scheduled domestic flights within Tonga.
FLYeasy (India) plans to launch services in August 2015 out of Trichy International airport with E190.
IAG reports June 2015 passenger numbers up 9.1% to 7.7 million, with RPKs up 6.7%, ASKs up 5.4%, and passenger load factor up 1.0 point to 83.7%.
Iberia to launch seasonal service from Madrid to Madeira on 04 July 2015, with A319s and A320s. Subsidiary Air Nostrum also plans to launch summer service from Madrid and Bilbao to Madeira.
IndiGo (India) is facing multiple litigations, including those related to income and service tax, involving an amount of at least US$176.1 million.
Indonesia AirAsia, Batik Air, Cardig Air are among 13 airlines that must turn their negative equity positive by 31 July 2015 to avoid suspension of their operating permits.
Jet Airways (India) entered into a frequent flyer partnership with Etihad Regional (Switzerland).
KLM and Air Malta signed codeshare agreement whereby KLM will place its code and flight numbers on flights operated by Air Malta between Malta and Amsterdam.
KLM signed a US$638.7 million revolving credit facility with 10 international banks, finalizing the early refinancing of its credit facility which was due to mature in July 2016.
Lion Air (Indonesia) filed 44 new flight route permits as the new route license suspension was revoked against the carrier on 25 June 2015.
Qantas to pay up to US$68.6 million in bonuses to thousands of staff, but only those who agree to an 18-month wages freeze.
Qatar Airways to remove its A319 all-business class service from Doha to London Heathrow route later on 25 October 2015, and replace it with B787-8.
Qazaq Air (Kazakhstan) took delivery of its first aircraft, a Q400, ahead of planned launch on 20 July 2015.
Ryanair could face strike action in Denmark after a court ruled that Copenhagen airport staff had the right to refuse to service its flights in a dispute over workers’ rights.
Ryanair) to launch new service from Kaunas to Copenhagen on 15 July 2015, replacing its Copenhagen – Warsaw route. Service will also begin from Copenhagen to Bologna and Edinburgh in November 2015.
SAS Scandinavian Airlines began service from Ankara to Stockholm.
Shandong Airlines (China) took delivery of a brand new B737-800NG, serial 44916, its 79th such aircraft.
South African Airways denied it pulled out of an equity partnership agreement with Emirates (UAE) estimated to be worth more than US$163.0 billion. Carriers are in talks to deepen the relationship on a non-binding and mutually beneficial basis.
Southwest Airlines (US) reached a tentative agreement with its Flight Attendants. Terms of the deal were not released.
[b]TAROM (Romania) complains it has not received a response from Russia for over a year in regards to use of its airspace in operating direct flights between Bucharest and Beijing.
Thai Lion Air plans to launch Bangkok Don Mueang – Singapore service, starting 15 August 2015.
Turkish Airlines to obtain Ex-Im Bank (US) backed Yen-denominated loan to fund the delivery of B737s.
[b]United Aircraft (Russia) may establish a leasing subsidiary and a carrier operating SSJ100s in Egypt. Lessor would begin with 5-10 jets for lease to African operators.
Vueling appointed Jaume Beneded as new Fleet & Procurement Director.
Yangtze River Express applied for permission to expand its operation into the passenger service market.
India put on the backburner the proposal to relax the 5/20 condition for airlines to fly abroad. The government is worried that it could be accused of favoring new airlines if it were to change the rule.
India’s civil aviation ministry is likley to come out with a new set of regulations that will differentiate small airline operators from large commercial airlines. India is currently under one blanket regulation.
Aviation Quote
The airline business is crazy. I've not been enamored with the industry in general. You can't depend on anybody and anything. It's dog-eat-dog and one thing or another from one minute to the next. What I understand about it, I don't like what I see.
— Robert Brooks, Hooters Air owner, The Sun News, 21 March 2006.
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Trivia
SOVIET MILITARY AIRCRAFT
1. What Soviet bomber was a "bolt for bolt" clone of the American B-29 Superfortress?
Tu-22
Tu-4
An-12
Il-14
2. What is the only turboprop powered *strategic* bomber ever put into military service?
Tu-4
Tu-95
Tu-22
An-124
3. What BEST describes the original Tu-16 Badger?
Intermediate range bomber
Command and Control
Intercontinental range bomber
Airborne early warning
4. The Tu-22M Backfire is a modification of the Tu-22 Blinder.
True
False
5. What is the American counterpart to the Russian Su-25 Frogfoot?
A-7 Corsair II
A-10 Thunderbolt II
F/A-18 Hornet
A-1 Skyraider
6. What is the world's largest "swing wing" aircraft?
B-1B Lancer
T-160 Blackjack
Tu-95 Bear
Tu-22M Backfire
7. What is the Soviet equivalent of the USAF's C-5 Galaxy?
An-12 Cub
Il-76 Candid
An-124 Condor
An-24 Coke
8. What is the NATO code name for the Mi-24?
Hip
Helix
Havoc
Hind
9. What aircraft would be be found embarked on a Soviet Navy ship?
Mi-28 Hip
Mi-28 Havoc
Ka-25 Hormone
Ka-50 Hokum
10. Which is NOT true about the Ka-50 Hokum A?
It can perform loops
It is single seat helicopter.
It has been produced in large numbers.
It has coaxial rotors.
