NewsCommercial
Boeing 737 NG Aircraft Fitted With AerSafe™ Exempted From Pending AD
AerSale, a global supplier of aircraft, engine, and OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) used serviceable material, reports that Boeing 737 NG series aircraft equipped with its product AerSafe™ are exempted from compliance with the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) No. FAA-2016-6139, released on May 3, 2016, requiring modification of the fuel quantity indicating system (FQIS). "If the proposed amendment to the Airworthiness Directive (AD) 14 CFR part 39.13 is approved later this year, it will mandate all operators of Boeing 737-600, -700, 700C, -800, -900 and -900ER worldwide to find a viable solution to the FTFR rule," said Nicolas Finazzo, Chief Executive Officer of AerSale. "Currently we have a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approving AerSafe for the Boeing 737 NG series, and are working on the 737 Classic and 767 with expected approvals by mid-June. We are studying other Boeing and Airbus models and by the time this AD becomes effective, we expect to have an AerSafe solution for virtually all of the commercial models affected by the AD."
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Leap-powered A320neo certified by EASA and FAA
European and US authorities have granted type certification to the Airbus A320neo powered by CFM International Leap-1A engines. The approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency and the US FAA enables Airbus to start delivering the Leap-powered variant from mid-2016, says the airframer.
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Airbus Boosts A320ceo Output To Make Up For A320neo
Airbus is sticking to 2016 delivery targets despite a slow start caused by supplier problems, but is having to fall back on an older version of its best-selling jet to make up for delays in the A320neo. Deliveries fell 7 percent in the first quarter after problems at engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney left about two dozen A320neos without engines, creating what its operations chief called on Monday a queue of "gliders".
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Lithium ion batteries to fly again on Airbus A350-900
Lithium ion batteries will be installed on A350-900 aircraft delivered to customers by the end of the year after passing a series of extended safety reviews precipitated by battery fires that grounded the Boeing 787-8 three years ago. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has approved the lithium-ion battery and installation on the A350-900, allowing the Saft-made systems to enter the production flow for aircraft destined for European customers, Airbus executive vice-president of engineering Charles Champion told Flightglobal in a 31 May interview.
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Airbus’ Leahy: Boeing ‘Mad MAX’ concept of no concern
Airbus COO, customers, John Leahy is not concerned about considerations that Boeing reportedly is giving to stretch the 737 MAX further using higher-thrust CFM International LEAP-1A engines that have been developed for the Airbus A320neo. They will try to get close to a 'me-too' aircraft, but are not quite get there," Leahy told media May 31 during briefings at Airbus Innovation Days in Hamburg.
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Second MRJ joins flight test program
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp.’s second MRJ flight test aircraft (FTA-2) has completed its first flight from Nagoya Airport in Japan. The aircraft, an MRJ90, is the second of five aircraft slated to join the MRJ flight test program. Mitsubishi Aircraft president Hiromichi Morimoto said in a statement that FTA-2 “had a quiet, smooth first flight.”
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ATSB: poor weather updating caused 737 low-fuel landings
A failure to update flight crews about deteriorating weather conditions at Adelaide resulted in two Boeing 737 aircraft landing at Mildura in foggy conditions with fuel below the fixed reserve. In its final report about the 18 June 2013 incident, the Australian Transport Safety Board (ATSB) identifies several factors as contributing to the incident, but highlights two safety issues.
LinkAirlines
Air Canada transports 300 South African firefighters to northern Alberta
Three hundred South African firefighters have arrived in Alberta to help battle wildfires raging in the province's north. An Air Canada jet picked them up in Johannesburg Sunday morning and landed in Edmonton late last night after refuelling in Barbados. Kim Connors of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre says the mobilization represents the largest group of wildland firefighters ever brought into Canada.
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Cathay newest A350 operator as Airbus works XWB ramp-up
Cathay Pacific Airways has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350 XWB, becoming the sixth airline to place the new widebody in its fleet. The aircraft was delivered to the Hong Kong-based airline May 28 and will begin service June 1. The aircraft, the first of 22 -900 variants Cathay has on order, initially will be used on flights between Hong Kong and Manila and then other regional routes. The airline also has 26 of the larger -1000 variant on order.
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JetBlue venture unit accelerates innovation
JetBlue's venture capital unit is looking for new ideas about how to stand out among airlines, including through technology and customer service innovations. JetBlue Technology Ventures operates as a nimble testing ground for new ideas, including mobile payments, high-speed Internet and other ways to make the passenger experience better.
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LATAM Airlines Joins Venezuela Exodus
LATAM Airlines has became the latest carrier to suspend its operations in Venezuela, blaming "the current complex economic scenario in the region." International airlines have struggled for years to repatriate revenue held in Venezuela's local bolivar currency, as the cash-strapped government failed to convert it to hard currency amid tight exchange controls.
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Oman Air plans for expansion in Iran market & fleet growth
Muscat-based Oman Air is looking to provide crew training and MRO services to Iranian airlines, the carrier’s CEO, Paul Gregorowitsch, told ATW.
“Iran is becoming a hot spot for aviation. Oman Air will offer its new simulator capacities to the airlines of Iran. We are already in talks about where we can cooperate together, such as in the maintenance, repair and overhaul business,” he said.
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Startup POP plans UK-India flights
UK startup People Over Profit (POP) is seeking £5 million ($7.3 million) in funding to launch long-haul, low-cost flights to India, using a chartered Airbus A330-300. London Stansted-based POP is looking to start flying 3X-weekly flights to the Indian secondary city of Amritsar in the fourth quarter. It will operate the flights using an A330 in a 378-seat, all-economy layout.
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Republic, United finalize long-term operating agreement
Republic Airways and United Airlines have finalized a pact that provides for the long-term operation of 54 E170 and E175 aircraft by Republic for United.
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Thai AirAsia X to open new Muscat route
Thailand-based long-haul low-cost carrier (LCC) Thai AirAsia X is to start new services to Muscat, Oman, from its base at Don Mueang International Airport, Bangkok.
The service will offer a 3X-weekly schedule using Airbus A330 aircraft and will start late June 2016. Thai AirAsia X (Thai AAX) claims it is the first LCC to launch direct flights from Muscat International Airport to Bangkok.
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United plans to roll out basic economy fares this year
United Airlines has confirmed it is on track to launch basic economy fares in 2016. "We'll look for the second half of 2016 to roll out entry-level fares; that's obviously a great opportunity to improve segmentation in the marketplace," said Jim Compton, chief revenue officer for United.
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HNA Group to take 13% stake in Virgin Australia
HNA Group has agreed to take a 13% stake in Virgin Australia Holdings, becoming its fourth major shareholder. In a statement, Virgin Australia says its domestic and international business units have entered into a "heads of agreement" with HNA Aviation Group to form a “strategic commercial alliance”, which will accelerate the group’s access to the Chinese travel market. The agreement is understood to be non-binding.
LinkMilitary
Israel prepares ground for F-35I testing
The Israeli air force's chief flight test engineer wants an early as possible delivery of its Lockheed Martin F-35 test asset, to expedite the process of adapting locally-produced weapon systems to the aircraft. Israel's contracts for the F-35I "Adir" include a test example, which will be operated by its flight-test center.
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Israel steps up interest in KC-46 tanker
Israel's air force has been briefed on the status of the US Air Force's in-development Boeing KC-46A tanker, and has an immediate request for at least two examples. A recently-announced delay to the USAF program is one reason behind the Israeli air force pushing for a decision, a source in the country indicates. "An early decision will expedite the delivery," the source adds.
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German airframer pitches Qatari-funded surveillance aircraft
Reiner Stemme Utility Air-Systems has debuted the new Q01 German-Qatari intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft for the first time outside of the Middle East, which is being funded by the Gulf state. The high-wing aircraft, powered by a Technify Motors CD-300 diesel and with a constant-speed MT-Propeller unit, will have a two-pilot crew and will be capable of carrying a variety of sensors, according to Edmund Maestele, who handles marketing and sales for Reiner Stemme.
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Aviation Quote
The very existence of aviation is proof that man, given the will, has the capacity to accomplish deeds that seem impossible.
— Eddie Rickenbacker, Rickenbacker: An Autobiography, 1967.
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