NewsCommercial
First A320neo delivery postponed to 2016
First delivery of the Airbus A320neo has been postponed until 2016 because of documentation issues. The delay means the neo misses a long-planned delivery target of late 2015. As recently as last week, Airbus and launch customer Lufthansa insisted the first delivery of the re-engined, more efficient narrowbody would take place at the end of 2015.
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Mitsubishi to beef up MRJ fuselage and wings
Mitsubishi Aircraft will strengthen the MRJ regional jet’s airframe and upgrade its software, following an announcement last week about a year-long delay to the aircraft’s delivery schedule. The Japanese manufacturer says that it has scheduled two months to strengthen the aircraft’s airframe, as well as upgrade the software for its avionics, flight control system and engine control unit. Data gleaned from static strength tests prompted the modifications.
LinkAirlines
EasyJet A319 lands on closed Pisa runway
Italian investigators are looking into an incident involving an EasyJet Airbus A319 which mistakenly landed on a Pisa runway which had not been in operation. Pisa has closely-spaced parallel runways, 04L and 04R, separated by around 200m (660ft).
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German court rules against some Etihad-airberlin codeshares
A German court has ruled that Etihad Airways must cease its codeshare on 29 routes operated by partner airline airberlin, Germany’s second-largest carrier. The decision, which takes effect Jan. 16 through the end of the current IATA winter schedule ending March 30, 2016, was denounced by Etihad, which said it would file an appeal next week.
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Ethiopian Airlines orders two more Bombardier Q400s
Ethiopian Airlines has placed a follow-on order for two Bombardier Q400s, valued at approximately $63 million at list prices. This latest firm purchase agreement will take Ethiopian’s Q400 fleet to a total of 19 aircraft, serving domestic and regional destinations. This fits with plans outlined by the carrier in 2013, to double its Q400 fleet from 13 to at least 26 aircraft by 2026.
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Southwest Airlines, ground crew workers reach tentative agreement
Southwest Airlines reached a tentative agreement with the union representing its ground operations workers Dec. 29; a vote on the new contract is imminent.
The executive board of Transport Workers Union Local 555 -- which represents over 12,000 Southwest Airlines ramp, ground operations, provisioning and cargo agents -- reviewed the Agreement in Principle reached by negotiators Dec. 23 and decided to conduct a ratification vote. A final copy of the tentative agreement will be mailed to union members; voting is expected to begin in January 2016.
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Tianjin Airlines takes China's first E195s
Tianjin Airlines has taken delivery of two Embraer 195s, the first of the type in China. The carrier took delivery of the aircraft, registered B-3100 and B-3108 on 24 December. The regional jets, equipped with General Electric CF34-10E powerplants, are configured with 122 seats in an all-economy layout.
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United offers passengers customized options
United Airlines is offering two bundles with its Economy Plus extra legroom. The Economy Plus Essentials bundle includes extra legroom and one checked bag. Meanwhile, the Economy Plus Enhanced bundle includes extra legroom, one checked bag, United Club access, early boarding and bonus points for loyalty-program members.
LinkAirports
Hundreds Of Flights Cancelled As Snow Hits Istanbul
Hundreds of flights in and out of Turkey were cancelled for Thursday and Friday at Istanbul's two airports after the city was blanketed by heavy snow. Turkish Airlines cancelled 265 flights in and out of Ataturk airport and 37 at Sabiha Gokcen, Istanbul's second airport. Pegasus said it had cancelled 34 flights arriving or departing from Sabiha Gokcen.
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Oregon airport to open small movie theater in spring
Oregon's Portland International Airport plans to debut a small movie theater with seating for 18 people. The theater will show films of 15 minutes or less that showcase Portland and the region. The theater, which will be run by a local nonprofit, is scheduled to open in spring.
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Military
Lockheed ends 2015 with $5.3 billion C-130J deal
Lockheed Martin has capped off 2015 with contracts for 43 C-130J cargo aircraft of various shapes and breeds for the US government, including C-130J-30 stretch-models and KC-130J tactical refuellers destined for the Marine Corps. Of the two contracts announced 30 December, one concludes negotiations for the $5.3 billion multiyear II contract that has been under discussion for almost two years, with money down now for the first 32 of 78 total aircraft.
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Bulgaria retires last MiG-21 fighters
The Bulgarian air force on 18 December held a ceremony to mark the retirement of its last Mikoyan MiG-21 fighters. Involving the nation's last three serviceable examples – two single-seat MiG-21bis's and a two-seat MiG-21UM1 trainer – the event marked the end of regular flight operations, although the former pair will remain available to conduct quick reaction alert sorties until 31 December. The fighters will then be kept in storage at Graf Ignatievo air base, ready to be returned to airworthy status should the need arise.
LinkGeneral Aviation
Epic end to 2015 as E1000 turboprop takes flight
Bend, Oregon-based Epic Aircraft is ending 2015 on a high note after the maiden flight of its first conforming Epic E1000 fight test aircraft. The single-engine turboprop dubbed FT1 launched from Bend Municipal Airport on 19 December.
LinkRotary Wing
Second Bell 525 takes flight
Bell Helicopter’s second 525 flight test vehicle has lifted off in Amarillo, Texas, after completing a series of ground checks. Supporting the development of the first commercial fly-by-wire helicopter, FTV-2 joins its orange sibling (registration N525TA) that conducted the maiden flight of the super-medium type in July.
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Aviation Quote
If you aren't sweating too much before a flight, you surely haven—t asked enough questions. If you are not sweating just a little during the flight, you may not be attentive enough. And, if you are not sweating out the answers with all the experts you can think of after the flight, you may never find that very beautiful pearl in all that pig litter.
— Corwin H. Meyer, Grumman test pilot W.W. II.
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Aircraft Names
1. C-9A
2. B-45
3. P-61
4. F-20
5. F-11
6. F-111
7. F3H
8. F-4U
9. A-7H
10. FH-1
11. F-4F
12. KC-10
13. F-94
