NAS Daily 28 FEB 19

airtrainer 27 Feb 19, 20:42

News

Commercial

India, Pakistan close commercial airspace as airstrikes raise tensions
Airspace over Pakistan and large swathe of northwestern India has been closed to commercial flights after a series of airstrikes ratcheted up tensions between the two countries.
Pakistan closed its airspace to all virtually all commercial air traffic Feb. 27, with international air services that would normally cross the country were routed around into Iran or toward Oman.
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DOT bans passenger airlines from carrying lithium-ion batteries
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) on Feb. 27 issued an interim final rule that prohibits passenger airlines from carrying rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) cells or batteries as cargo, noting their potential of causing uncontrollable fire in cargo holds.
The interim rule, a regulation issued without advance public notice as a proposed rule, also requires that Li-ion batteries and cells be shipped at no more than a 30% state of charge aboard cargo-only aircraft.
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CFM LEAP-1A deliveries back on track as -1B falls further behind
CFM International LEAP-1A engine deliveries for Airbus A320neos are now on time after being delayed, but production of LEAP-1Bs for Boeing 737 MAX aircraft has fallen further behind.
The GE-Safran Aircraft Engines joint venture has stabilized LEAP-1A production, recovering from a delay three months ago, and is delivering “16 or 17” turbofans a week for the A320neo, Safran group CEO Philippe Petitcolin said.
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Two Boeing executives land on Aerion's five-member board
Supersonic business jet developer Aerion named two Boeing executives to its five-member board of directors, giving Boeing significant sway over a company in which it recently invested.
Aerion's new directors include Mike Sinnett, Boeing's vice-president of product strategy and future airplane development, and former chief engineer of the 787 programme, Aerion says.
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ANALYSIS: Business jet shipments rise, but performance mixed
The business jet market experienced a modest hike in shipments in 2018. While performance across each segment was mixed, there is a widespread consensus that the industry has finally turned a corner, aided by a strong US economy and the introduction of a plethora of new, innovative and reinvigorated aircraft models.
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ANALYSIS: Why Global 7500 is key to Bombardier's future
At entry into service, any new aircraft is the apple of its manufacturer's eye, and from that perspective the Bombardier Global 7500 is no different.
But over the past 12 months, the success of the ultra-long-range business jet – each with a list price of $72.8 million – has become even more vital to the Canadian airframer.
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Airlines

Seeking more influence, Dutch state increases Air France-KLM stake
The Dutch government has more than doubled its stake in Air France-KLM and announced its intention to match the French state’s interest in the group—a move that raised questions about whether greater public ownership will help or hinder plans for closer integration of the two national carriers.
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Dutch Caribbean InselAir ceases operations
Dutch Caribbean carrier InselAir ceased operations Feb. 16, but announced the closure via Facebook on Feb. 25.
“On behalf of the entire InselAir family, past and present, we thank every one of our passengers for their loyalty over the past 12 years,” the airline said in its final Facebook post.
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Vietnam carriers finalize orders for Boeing aircraft
Vietnam LCC Vietjet Air and startup Bamboo Airways have confirmed the purchase of a combined 110 Boeing aircraft worth $15.7 billion at list prices. Both deals were witness by US President Donald Trump and General Secretary and President of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong on Feb. 27.
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TAP Air Portugal to expand Porto operations
TAP Air Portugal is planning to expand operations from Portugal’s second main airport, Porto Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport, to São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) Airport; New York/Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and several European destinations.
Starting from June, the Star Alliance member will offer 3X-weekly flights from Porto to São Paolo. TAP has also announced increases of frequencies between Porto and New York/Newark from two to six weekly services, which will be operated by Airbus A321LRs.
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Southwest Airlines pilots blast management over maintenance issues
The simmering battle between Southwest Airlines and its mechanics saw a new group join the fight, as the airline’s pilots’ union blasted management for “tribalizing and scapegoating” technicians to cover for an “ineffective” operation.
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Human remains recovered from Atlas Air 767 crash scene
Searchers on Feb. 26 recovered human remains from the scene of the Atlas Air flight 3591 crash, but flight-data recorders still had not been found three days after the Boeing 767-300 dived steeply into a marsh in Trinity Bay, Texas, according to witness reports.
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Air Canada and Air New Zealand to pursue joint venture
Star Alliance partners Air Canada and Air New Zealand have agreed to pursue a joint venture, subject to government approvals.
"A deeper, more integrated partnership will provide greater customer choice, comprehensive benefits and an expanded trans-Pacific network," says Air Canada on the memorandum of understanding with Air New Zealand to form a joint venture.
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Wizz considering Russian flights from UK
Wizz Air is examining the possibility of starting flights from the UK to Russia.
Speaking to FlightGlobal in London today, its chief executive Jozsef Varadi said the carrier could use the air operator's certificate acquired for its Wizz Air UK subsidiary to serve Russian destinations.
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PICTURES: Comair 737 Max arrives in British Airways livery
South African airline Comair has begun its fleet renewal programme with the delivery of the first of eight Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft.
The first aircraft is adorned with the livery of British Airways, for whom the Johannesburg-based carrier operates under franchise. Comair's existing all-Boeing fleet includes 18 737NG and seven 737 Classic aircraft, which are operated on the BA franchise and by its Kulula division.
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Citilink launches new services to Kuala Lumpur
Indonesia's Citilink began new services to Kuala Lumpur in recent days, by launching Surabaya-Kuala Lumpur on 30 January and Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur on 26 February.
Citilink's booking engine indicates that both services are operated daily, using Airbus A320 aircraft.
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VIDEO: NTSB video shows Atlas 767 debris field
The US National Transportation Safety Board has released video and photographs showing the debris field left by Atlas Air flight 3591, that crashed southeast of Houston killing three people on 23 February.
The NTSB's video, released on 25 February, shows a wide swath of wreckage strewn about what appears to be marshland and shallow water.
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Airports

GMR Airports to build new airport at Bhogapuram
GMR Infrastructure's airports division has been named as the highest bidder to develop a greenfield international airport at Bhogapuram in India's south-eastern Andhra Pradesh state.
GMR Airports will take responsibility for the design, financing and operation of the airport under a 40 year concession.
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India's Bhubaneswar airport to undergo expansion
Airports Authority of India (AAI) is expanding Bhubaneswar's Biju Patnaik airport, as it works to cater to the growing traffic there.
The state-owned airport operator says Terminal 2 will be refurbished, while a building to link Terminals 1 and 2 is being constructed. This would increase the airport's annual handling capacity from three million to 3.5 million passengers. AAI will invest Rs872 million in refurbishing T2 and constructing the link building.
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No-deal Brexit could result in queues of several hours at Spanish Airports
As Brexit approaches, consumer researcher Which? reports that with extra passport checks in the event of a no-deal Brexit, queuing time at Spanish airports may be increased by up to five hours.
New Which? travel research has found that in the event of a no-deal Brexit, Alicante airport in southern Spain would need the staff and resources to deal with an estimated additional 201 hours of immigration checks on British passport holders, on average, every single day.
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Military

Northrop Grumman pitches AESA radar for Boeing B-52 bomber
Northrop Grumman’s AN/APG-83 active electronically scanned array radar is being considered by Boeing for the Cold War-era B-52 bomber.
The company said it is pitching the modern radar to Boeing as part of the B-52 Bomber Modernisation Radar System initiative, which would include engineering, manufacturing, development and delivery of an initial seven radar units.
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India confirms loss of MiG-21 in Pakistan skirmish
India's foreign ministry has confirmed that one of its air force's Mikoyan MiG-21 fighters has been shot down amid escalating tensions with its neighbour, Pakistan.
In a televised statement, a foreign ministry official said Pakistan had launched an incursion into Indian airspace "targeting military installations" in the disputed region of Kashmir on 27 February.
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AVALON: Kawasaki C-2 makes Down Under debut
The Kawasaki C-2 transport aircraft made its first public appearance in Australia after a flight from Japan via the Philippines.
The twin-engined aircraft appeared in the static park near the Airbus Defence & Space A400m, to which it is the most similar in size.
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PICTURES: Boeing unveils new loyal wingman drone at Avalon
Boeing Australia unveiled at the Avalon air show in Victoria, Australia a mock-up of a new unmanned air vehicle called the Airpower Teaming System, designed to fly as a loyal wingman alongside fourth- and fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
Similar to the US Air Force Laboratory Loyal Wingman concept, Boeing says it is co-developing the drone with the Government of Australia, but has designed the drone not to any specific military requirement.
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Aviation Quote

When a prang seems inevitable, endeavour to strike the softest, cheapest object in the vicinity, as slowly and gently as possible.

- advice given to RAF pilots during WWII