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Aircraft crash next to P&W factory may be intentional
The FBI is investigating an aircraft crash across from the main entrance of a Pratt & Whitney engine factory in East Hartford, Connecticut. An initial investigation of the 11 October crash by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) “indicates the crash is the result of an intentional act”, the board says in a statement.
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A350-1000 test fleet nears completion
Airbus’s first A350-1000 remains on course for a maiden flight in the current quarter, as the test fleet nears completion. The first A350-1000, MSN59, has been fitted with its Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines while the second aircraft, MSN65, is being equipped with a full passenger cabin.
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Russia certifies Embraer E170, E175 aircraft
The Federal Air Transport Agency of the Russian Federation has validated type certificates for Embraer’s E170 and E175 jets, paving the way for Russian airlines to acquire the two aircraft types. The E190 and the E195 were certified in 2012 and Saratov Airlines is currently flying the E195.
LinkAirlines
Air NZ sells remaining stake in Virgin Australia
Air New Zealand has sold its remaining 2.5% stake in alliance partner Virgin Australia in a series of off-market transactions. The carrier disclosed to the New Zealand stock exchange that the sale was to “investors, including Nanshan Group, for a total consideration of A$65.7 million [$49.8 million].”
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AirBaltic to recruit 1,000 employees by 2021
AirBaltic plans to recruit 1,000 employees over the next five years to support the Latvian flag carrier’s growth under its Horizon 2021 business plan. AirBaltic SVP-human resources Daiga Ergle said Oct. 11 the carrier is scheduled to take delivery of its first Bombardier CS300 aircraft in the fourth quarter of 2016.
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American Airlines, flight instructors ink tentative deal
American Airlines reached a tentative labor contract with its flight instructors, pending union approval. "We have the best instructors in the business and we're pleased to have reached an agreement that recognizes their importance and contributions to our airline," said Kimball Stone, vice president of flight for the carrier.
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Binter Canarias orders six ATR 72-600s
Binter Canarias, which operates regional services between Spain’s Canary Islands, has placed an order for six 72-seat ATR 72-600s valued at $160 million at list prices. The deal is a new, firm order, which Binter will use for fleet renewal. Deliveries will begin in 2019 and will run until 2021.
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China Southern orders 12 Boeing 787-9 aircraft
China Southern Airlines has ordered 12 Boeing 787-9 aircraft in an effort to facilitate its rapid international expansion. The deal is worth $3.25 billion at list prices, according to a filing released by the Guangzhou-based carrier through the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The 787-9s are scheduled to be delivered between 2018 and 2020. Five aircraft will be delivered in 2018, four in 2019 and three in 2020. The transaction still needs China Southern shareholder and government approval.
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Poor repairs on speed brake cited in Lion Air 737 accident
Lion Air failed to properly rectify a fault with the auto speed brake on one of its Boeing 737-400s before it was involved in a runway overrun accident at Pontianak on 2 November 2010. The aircraft, registered PK-LIQ, was operating a service to Pontianak from Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International airport, and were aware of difficulties in selecting thrust reversers and speed brake deployment on the aircraft. This had been previously reported 13 times, Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee says in its final report on the accident.
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Monarch Air Gets GBP£165 Million Cash Injection
UK-based leisure carrier Monarch Airlines has arranged a GBP£165 million (USD$215.5 million) investment from its majority shareholder, Greybull Capital. The airline said in a statement that as a result of the investment it has renewed its ATOL licenses for 12 months and will be able to fund its growth plans.
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Sept. unit revenue beats expectations at United, American
Buoyed by Labor Day travel, American Airlines and United Airlines both posted better-than-expected unit revenue for September. Both carriers raised their profit margin forecasts for the third quarter.
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United to introduce "innovation lanes" at LAX for speedy security
United Airlines is investing in innovation lanes at Los Angeles International Airport, which are expected to reduce passengers' security wait times by as much as 30%. The carrier is funding the project and working collaboratively with the Transportation Security Administration to implement the innovation lanes in Terminal 7.
LinkAirports
Monaco Planning Nice Airport Stake - Report
The Principality of Monaco is planning a EUR€150 million investment in Nice Airport, according to a media report. A 64 percent stake in the southern France airport was sold to an Italian-led consortium, with the French government expecting proceeds of the sale to reach EUR€1.22 billion.
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Military
Boeing promotes F-15 as air-to-air missile truck
Boeing believes there are several upgrades that can be applied to Tokyo's fleet of F-15J air superiority fighters, which could both extend the type’s service life and greatly enhance its capabilities. Jim Armington, Boeing’s defense head in Japan, says the airframer has shared ideas about possible F-15 upgrades with Tokyo, but declines to comment on specifics.
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India US-2 deal sees no progress
Shinmaywa continues slow production of its US-2 amphibian, as it awaits word about a possible sale of the type to India. Shinmaywa officials say that six US-2s have been delivered to the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) for the search and rescue (SAR) mission. Of these, one was lost in April 2015 in an accident at sea.
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Kawasaki sees unique niche for C-2 transport
Kawasaki Heavy Industries expects to deliver its second C-2 transport aircraft to the Japanese Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) in 2017. The first aircraft is already in service with JASDF after being delivered in June, says a company representative.
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Norway requests 12 F-35As in proposed block buy
Norway could buy 12 more Lockheed Martin F-35As for delivery in 2021 and 2022 under a new spending plan submitted to Parliament. The proposal, if approved, would raise the total number of authorized F-35A purchases to 40 aircraft, or only 12 short of the Norwegian air force’s requirement.
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Aviation Quote
I want to go in the air, not a bathtub.
- A. Scott Crossfield. quoted in the Washington Post as having said this the day before his fatal flight, 'Clues Surface in Death of Expert Pilot,' published September 16, 2007. He had written many years before in 1960 that, "Death is the handmaiden of the pilot, sometimes it comes by accident, sometimes by an act of God." Scott's last known words, calmly spoken, were "Atlanta, this is Seven Nine X-ray. I'd like to deviate south. Weather." 19 April 2006.
Daily Video
Editor's Choice
Trivia
Airline Accidents
1. Scandinavian Airlines Flight 751 crashed in Scandinavia after losing power to both engines due to the intake of ice. Where did it take off from?
Oslo Gardemoren
Stockholm Arlanda
Helsinki Vantaa
Copenhagen Kastrup
2. An SAS McDonnell Douglas crashed near a major city in the US at night in the 1960s. Which city was this?
San Francisco
Los Angeles
New York City
Atlanta
3. In 1986, an Aeromexico DC-9 collided with a private plane above Cerritos, Los Angeles. What was the doomed Aeromexico jet's flight number?
498
489
576
984
4. A mid air collision occurred above the Amazon in 2006 when a Boeing 737 and an Embraer business jet collided at 37,000 feet. What commercial operator owned the 737?
TAM Airlines
Gol Linhas Aereas
Aerolineas Argentinas
Avianca
5. A fatal crash in Brazil occurred in 2007 when TAM Airlines Flight 3054 skidded off the runway and slammed into a TAM Express building. What airport was this at?
Sao Paulo Guarulhos
Rio De Jainero Santos Dumont
Rio De Jainero Galelao
Sao Paulo Congonhas
6. In 2005, a runway overrun occurred when an Air France jet overran the runway in Toronto. The media dubbed this the miracle of runway...
24R
24L
35L
9R
7. Air France had three deadly crashes that happened between 2000-2010. One was Air France Flight 447 and another was Air France 358: what was the third?
Air France Flight 8969
Air France Flight 4590
Air France Flight 7
Air France Flight 117
8. Air France Flight 8969 was a hijacking that took place in 1994. The hijackers intended to crash the plane into which famous French monument?
Notre Dame
Eiffel Tower
Arch Du Triomphe
The Louvre
9. In 1976, an Air France Flight was hijacked by Palestinian and German terrorists when flying out of Athens. Where did the hijackers demand to be flown?
Mogadishu Airport
Jomo Kenyatta Airport
Dar Es Salaam Airport
Entebbe Airport
10. In 1977, an Boeing 737 aircraft named Landshut, otherwise known as Lufthansa flight 181, was hijacked and flown to Mogadishu in Somalia. The plane survived and continued in service until 1985, when it was sold by Lufthansa to which Brazilian airline?
TAM Airlines
WebJet Linhas Aereas
Gol
TAF Linhas Aereas
Boeing promotes F-15 as air-to-air missile truck
