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Boeing revises "obsolete" performance assumptions
A visitor to Boeing’s web site this week will be in for a shock: the listed seat-counts and range specifications for nearly all of the company’s models have changed, some dramatically. But Boeing officials say not to be alarmed. The underlying aircraft performance is no different. Boeing has simply updated a set of generic weight and configuration assumptions used to calculate aircraft range.
LinkAirlines
Air Canada accepts Dreamliner delivery
Air Canada has received its first 787-9 Dreamliner. The craft is the second Dreamliner to enter service, and it will begin service between Toronto, Canada, Delhi, India, and Dubai this November.
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Citilink Plane Skids Off Runway, Three Injured
A Citilink plane skidded off a runway in western Indonesia on Sunday, injuring three people and forcing the airport to close. The Citilink Airbus A320 was carrying 174 passengers en route from Jakarta to Padang when it bounced off the runway upon landing, transport ministry spokesman Julius Barata told Reuters news agency. "The plane is blocking the runway, so the airport is still closed," Barata added.
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Delta Air Lines rolls out A319s with new passenger amenities
Passengers will enjoy in-seat entertainment options, expanded overhead bins and more amenities on Delta Air Lines domestic flights on new Airbus A319s. The airline also plans to retrofit all of its A320 and A319 aircraft to feature the upgraded seats and services.
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Iran Plans To Buy 80-90 Aircraft A Year
Iran plans to buy up to 90 planes each year from Boeing and Airbus to update its antiquated fleet once Western sanctions are lifted, state news agency IRNA quoted a senior aviation official as saying. "Iran will buy a total of 80-90 planes per year from the two aviation giants in the first phase of renovating its air fleet," said Mohammad Khodakarami, the caretaker director of Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation, according to IRNA.
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Reunion debris confirmed to be from 777
The flaperon-like debris discovered on a beach on Reunion Island last week has been confirmed to be from a Boeing 777 aircraft, although it has not been determined whether the part belongs to the Malaysia Airlines 777-200 that went missing last March. Malaysia’s transport minister Liow Tiong Lai says in a tweet that the French authorities and Boeing have “officially identified” the flaperon as being part of a 777.
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Barnacles On Debris Could Provide Clues
Barnacles on the piece of aircraft debris that washed up on the French island of Reunion might help unravel the mystery of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 that disappeared last year with 239 passengers and crew on board. Malaysia said on Sunday the piece of debris, a 2-2.5 m (6.5-8 feet) wing surface known as flaperon, had been identified as being from a Boeing 777, the same model as the missing Malaysian plane. Investigators in France are expected to determine whether or not the piece came from MH370 by Wednesday.
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Southwest gives boost to local travelers
Southwest Airlines will increase its flights between Charleston, S.C., and Dallas Love Field to daily service. The airline currently operates the route on Saturdays only.
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Southwest keeps its business plan simple for success
Southwest Airlines has reported record profits for the past nine quarters. The airline has also bucked industry standards by expanding across the country, not just in hub cities, and by sticking to a fleet of exclusively 737s. By keeping its business simple Southwest has found an alternative path to success.
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United Airlines to begin Belfast service
United Airlines will begin year-round service between Newark International Airport and Belfast, Northern Ireland.
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United's first female pilot passes away
United Airlines' first female pilot, Gail Gorski, passed away in July, according to an announcement from the airline. Gorski was hired in 1978 and became a founding member of the International Society of Women Airline Pilots.
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UPS boosts holiday delivery ability with Coyote Logistics acquisition
UPS is looking to improve its handling of holiday deliveries by acquiring Coyote Logistics for $1.8 billion. "UPS is enthusiastic about this acquisition on many levels because there are opportunities for growth, synergistic efficiencies and transfer of best practices and systems across all of our operating segments," UPS CEO David Abney said.
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Vietnam Airlines’ first 787-9 arrives in Hanoi
Vietnam Airlines’ first Boeing 787-9 aircraft has arrived at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport, and is expected to launch its first commercial service on 4 August. With the arrival of the aircraft, which bears registration VN-A861, Vietnam Airlines becomes the first Asia Pacific carrier to operate both the 787-9 and A350-900, says the flag carrier in a statement.
LinkAirports
Pittsburgh International's new CEO discusses competition
Community members began sending handwritten letters to Christina Cassotis at Pittsburgh International Airport shortly after she took over in January. Some said, “Good luck.” Others hint at destinations they would like to see. “People understand the link between this airport's success and their quality of life,” Cassotis said. “It shows you how critical getting it right here is.”
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Tri-Cities Airport is on track for record traffic
Tri-Cities Airport reports 4,000 more passengers have boarded planes so far this year than in the first half of 2014. With Delta and Alaska Airlines both planning new flights, it's likely that the airport will break its 2012 traffic records.
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Military
British Army Air Corps retires Lynx AH7 helicopter
The British Army Air Corps (AAC) retired its six remaining AgustaWestland Lynx AH7 battlefield reconnaissance helicopters on 31 July, making way for the service's Wildcat replacements. Prior to retirement the Lynx AH7 was used for operational conversion to type by 671 Sqn, during which some three months and 200h of flight training would qualify students to fly the Lynx AH9, Boeing Apache AH-64 or Wildcat AH1 in a tactical environment.
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C-27J winglets deliver performance boost
Alenia Aermacchi is to offer its C-27J medium transport with a winglet modification, after performing flight-tests with the enhancement. Benefits of the winglet integration include “improved hot-and-high runway performance, increased payload, range and endurance, and a reduction in operating costs,” the Italian manufacturer says.
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Dutch KDC-10 tankers support Polish F-16 training
As part of the increasing Europe-wide co-operation in air-to-air refuelling, the Royal Netherlands Air Force has sent one of its two McDonnell Douglas KDC-10 tankers to Powidz air base in Poland to assist with training of Polish air force Lockheed Martin F-16C/D crews. The F-16s will participate in the forthcoming Trident Juncture NATO exercise from 21 October to 6 November, and Warsaw's pilots require additional practice at night-time refuelling operations ahead of the event.
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Israel completes CH-53 upgrade work
Israel has completed an upgrade program covering its air force fleet of Sikorsky CH-53 heavy-lift rotorcraft. Launched in 2006, the enhancement work is designed to the keep the “Yasur” helicopters flying until 2025.
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Russia grounds Mi-28 fleet following display crash: reports
A fatal crash of a Mil Mi-28 helicopter has led to the Russian ministry of defence grounding its entire fleet of the attack type, according to local media reports. The incident on 2 August involved a Mi-28 flown by the Berkut aerobatics display team performing at the Aviadarts 2015 flight competition near Ryazan in Russia. Reports have blamed the crash on hydraulic failure. Footage of the incident on social media shows the aircraft performing its display routine, before beginning to descend vertically, apparently spinning out of control. The tail rotor also does not appear to be turning under power during the footage.
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US Special Forces receive first AC-130J Ghostrider gunship
US Air Force Special Operations Command has received its first Lockheed Martin AC-130J Ghostrider gunship ahead of operational testing that is due to start later this year. The aircraft arrived at Hurlburt Field in Florida last week and is now assigned to the 1st Special Operations Group’s second detachment for the flight trials. It is just the second Ghostrider to be produced, and does not have the 105mm cannon that will feature on every future AC-130J starting with the third aircraft.
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Aviation Quote
There has always been a certain romanticism associated with the airline business. We must avoid its perpetuation at Eastern at all costs.
— Frank Borman
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