NewsCommercial
Boeing unveils first image of 737 Max 10X
Boeing’s marketing chief Randy Tinseth unveiled the first image of the proposed 737 Max 10X on 6 March at the ISTAT Americas convention in San Diego, amidst the first of likely a series of rhetorical duels with his Airbus counterpart. The 43.8m (143.7ft)-long 737 Max 10X was revealed as a relatively straightforward, 1.68m stretch of the 737 Max 9, featuring the latter’s distinctive mid-aft exit door and no other obvious differences besides length. Boeing is continuing to evaluate several options to extend the rotation point of the landing gear, allowing more flexibility on take-offs despite the longer fuselage.
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Latest Boeing and Embraer derivatives make their debuts
The latest derivatives of two new airliner types broke cover today at roll-out ceremonies in North and South America. In Renton, Washington, Boeing rolled out the first 737 Max 9, the second variant of its re-engined narrowbody family (below). Powered by CFM International Leap-1B engines, the first Max 9 will start flight-testing in the “coming weeks”, says Boeing.
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Boeing rolls out first 737 MAX 9
Boeing rolled out the first 737 MAX 9, the second variant of the re-engined 737, at its Renton, Washington facility March 7. The 737 MAX 9, which is 138 ft. and 2 in. long, has a maximum capacity of 220 passengers and a range of 3,515 nm. The aircraft’s first flight is expected “in the coming weeks,” according to Boeing. The CFM International LEAP-1B-powered MAX 9’s debut comes just over 13 months after the MAX 8 achieved first flight.
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Embraer brings E195-E2 flight test forward
Embraer expects the E195-E2 to enter flight testing ahead of schedule, as it prepares to roll out the aircraft later today. "Our expectation is that the aircraft will enter the flight-test campaign in the first half of this year," Embraer commercial aviation chief executive John Slattery
LinkAirlines
Wet-leased airberlin A320s begin service for Austrian Airlines
The first of five airberlin Airbus A320s, operating in Austrian Airlines colors, launched March 7 on services from Vienna, Austria to Skopje, Macedonia. The flight is part of a six-year wet-lease agreement between airberlin and the Lufthansa Group, which was approved unconditionally at the end of January by federal antitrust authorities. Austrian Airlines is a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group.
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Premium economy proving a good model for airlines
American Airlines is bringing a premium economy option to long-haul flights, while United is considering a similar move. So far, premium economy has attracted passengers from economy class, rather than prompting business-class passengers to downgrade.
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Czech Airlines posts $9.4M profit for 2016
CSA Czech Airlines (CSA) reported a 2016 net income of CZK241 million ($9.4 million), up 8% from a CZK223 million profit a year ago. “In 2016, all transport indicators grew, we launched 11 new routes, expanded our fleet by one ATR 72 aircraft and increased the number of flights year-on-year by more than 9%,” CSA chairman Jozef Sinčák said.
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FedEx requests extension for entry deadline into Cuba
FedEx is trying to delay its entry into the Cuban market – while yesterday, the country’s president launched a verbal attack on his new US counterpart. The integrator has applied for a six-month postponement of the launch of its air cargo services between Miami and Varadero, citing “business challenges”.
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French ATC Strike Causing Flight Cancellations
A five-day strike by some French air traffic controllers has led to the cancellation of over 1,000 flights. Flights to and from French airports are affected plus some flights using the country’s airspace, as controllers in Brest and Bordeaux strike until 19:00 Friday.
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Hawaiian Airlines' RPMs, seating capacity, passenger traffic up in Feb.
Hawaiian Airlines reported a 4.8% increase in revenue passenger miles for February, hitting 1.1 billion. The airline grew both capacity and passenger count for the period.
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Freight Demand Continues Slow Recovery
Air freight demand was up 6.9 percent in January as export orders rose and the shipping of consumer electronic parts saw a steady rise, IATA said in its monthly update. Africa saw the biggest regional jump in demand, 24.3 percent, but from a low base as it makes up only 1.6 percent of the world total. Of the busier freight regions, Europe again lead the pack with an 8.7 percent lift from the same period of 2016.
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IAG to announce details of foray into low-cost, long-haul market
International Airlines Group (IAG) expects to formally announce details of its new low-cost, long-haul operations out of Barcelona’s El Prat Airport imminently. Speaking at the World ATM Congress in Madrid Tuesday, IAG CEO Willie Walsh said this “next generation, long-haul operation” was expected to begin operating services with two Airbus A330 aircraft this summer, probably June.
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MAS A380 pilgrimage unit set for 2019 launch
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) could announce the name and brand of its Airbus A380 subsidiary by April. Speaking to FlightGlobal, chief executive Peter Bellew says that the carrier “is finalising the cost of re-configuring the aircraft with Airbus”, which will conduct the seat replacement procedures.
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UTair boosts international network
Russia’s UTair Aviation plans to launch daily Boeing 737 service from Moscow Vnukovo to Berlin, Munich and Vienna this spring and summer. Munich service will begin April 17; Berlin Tegel and Vienna services are scheduled to start June 1. The Moscow-Berlin service is currently operated by Russia’s Sheremetyevo-based Aeroflot, which flies to Berlin Schönefeld, and S7 Airlines, which started Moscow Domodedovo-Berlin Tegel flights in March 2016.
LinkAirports
Construction to begin soon at Orlando, Fla., airport
Work on the new South Terminal Complex will start soon at Florida's Orlando International Airport. "The South Terminal is designed to be intuitive so the passenger is drawn from one element to the next, creating an exciting and memorable arrival into the city of Orlando," said Phil Brown of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.
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Berlin Brandenburg airport replaces top management
The new Berlin Brandenburg International Airport (BER) has appointed Engelbert Lütke Daldrup as its new CEO, replacing Karsten Mühlenfeld, effective immediately. Daldrup was formerly a member of the Berlin state senate. This is the second CEO position change in two years and the fourth CEO change since construction work began in 2006. Latest estimates project the much-delayed airport could open in 2018.
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Military
BlueBird transforms MicroB UAV for Indian contest
Israeli manufacturer BlueBird has updated its MicroB unmanned air vehicle to satisfy the requirements of an Indian army competition. BlueBird chief executive Ronen Nadir reveals that the new version will not use the flying wing shape of the original MicroB. “We came to the conclusion that this shape limits the aerodynamic capabilities of this small UAV,” he says.
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Aviation Quote
And I have yet to find one single individual who has attained conspicuous success in bringing down enemy aeroplanes who can be said to be spoiled either by his successes or by the generous congratulations of his comrades. If he were capable of being spoiled he would not have had the character to have won continuous victories, for the smallest amount of vanity is fatal in aeroplane fighting. Self-distrust rather is the quality to which many a pilot owes his protracted existence.
- Captain Edward V. 'Eddie' Rickenbacker, USAS, 'Fighting the Flying Circus.'
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Trivia
Saturn V Trivia
1. Which company served as the prime contractor on the Saturn V's first stage, the S-IC?
Boeing
North American
Douglas
Lockheed
2. The Saturn V's first stage was powered by five Rocketdyne F-1 engines. During the Saturn V's first launch, in November, 1967, how much thrust did each F-1 engine produce?
1 million pounds (4,448 kilonewtons)
1.5 million pounds (6,673 kilonewtons)
2 million pounds (8,896 kilonewtons)
2.5 million pounds (11,120 kilonewtons)
3. Which company was the primary contractor on the Saturn V's second stage, the S-II?
McDonnell
North American
Lockheed
Grumman
4. The Saturn V's second stage was powered by five Rocketdyne J-2 engines. Which of the following fuels was used to propel the J-2?
Refined kerosene (RP-1)
Liquid hydrogen
Gasoline-kerosene mix (JP-4)
Alcohol-kerosene mix
5. The Saturn V's second and third stages used small ullage motors in addition to the J-2 engines. For what purpose were the ullage motors used?
To settle propellants in their holding tanks
To add extra speed to the rocket
To provide minor course corrections
To disengage the rocket's self-destruct systems
6. Which company served as prime contractor of the Saturn V's third stage, the S-IVB?
General Dynamics
McDonnell
Douglas
Grumman
7. The Instrument Unit, or IU, provided the brains for the Saturn V. Which company served as the IU's prime contractor?
RCA
IBM
General Electric
Westinghouse
8. In the Apollo configuration, how tall was the Saturn V?
316 feet (96 meters)
430 feet (131 meters)
363 feet (111 meters)
289 feet (88 meters)
9. A variant of the Saturn V, the Saturn INT-21, was used to launch the Skylab space station in 1973.
True
False
10. All Saturn V rockets lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. What number was given to the launch complex from which the Saturn V rockets were launched?
Launch Complex 37
Launch Complex 39
Launch Complex 34
Launch Complex 42
