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FAA forms multi-agency panel of experts to review MAX software fix
The FAA has assembled a new, multi-agency Technical Advisory Board (TAB) to review the proposed software fix for the Boeing 737 MAX’s maneuvering characteristics augmentation system (MCAS), the flight-control law implicated in two crashes of the aircraft type that killed 346 people over a five-month period. The panel will be comprised of a team of experts from FAA, NASA, the US Air Force and Volpe National Transportation Systems Center.
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Two more African countries implement Open Skies
Nigeria and Burkina Faso have become the latest African states to sign the memorandum of implementation (MOI) for the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), removing all bilateral restrictions on intra-African flights.
African air-transport liberalization is based on the 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision (YD), which was signed by 44 African Union (AU) countries in 1999 and became legally binding in 2002.
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Pilatus eyes crucial year for PC-24 with sales to resume
Pilatus believes that 2019 will be a crucial year, as it ramps up production of its PC-24 superlight twinjet and adds new capabilities.
These include securing approval for steep-approach and rough-field operations. In addition, the reopening of the orderbook for the Williams International FJ44-4A-powered type is "imminent"; the Swiss airframer sold the initial batch of 84 aircraft within 36h of sales starting in 2014.
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ANALYSIS: Asia-Pacific April 2019 deliveries report
Asia-Pacific airlines received 49 of the 106 new aircraft delivered in April 2019, followed by European carriers with 21 deliveries and North American carriers with 19.
The region’s 49 deliveries were down from 54 in March, but sharply up from 33 in April 2018, according to Cirium’s Fleets Analyzer.
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ANALYSIS: Superjet fire puts focus on evacuation threat
Survivability analysis of the Aeroflot Sukhoi Superjet 100 accident at Moscow will inevitably examine the effect of passengers’ stopping to retrieve cabin luggage during evacuation.
While the phenomenon has been highlighted during previous emergencies, the nature of the 5 May accident and the high number of fatalities – more than half those on board – is likely to raise questions as to whether lives were lost as a direct result.
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FAA requires 787 power control unit checks due to lightning risk
The Federal Aviation Administration is requiring airlines to inspect Boeing 787 ailerons and elevator power control units due to risk that lightning strikes could make the aircraft difficult to control.
A new airworthiness directive, which takes effect on 3 June, follows “reports of hydraulic leakage caused by damage to aileron and elevator actuators from lighting strikes”.
LinkAirlines
Emirates’ full-year profits drop on high fuel costs, competition
Emirates Airline’s 2018-19 profits have fallen 69% to AED871 million ($237 million), under the strain of high fuel prices, “cut throat” competition and unfavorable exchange rates. “2018-19 has been tough, and our performance was not as strong as we would have liked. Higher oil prices and the strengthened US dollar eroded our earnings, even as competition intensified in our key markets.
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Russia’s Yamal Airlines cancels options for 10 SSJ100s
Russian regional carrier Yamal Airlines will not take the last of 10 Sukhoi Superjet 100s (SSJ100s) from an order of 25, Yamal CEO Vassily Kryuk reportedly told the Interfax newswire this week.
The decision was apparently made because of economic reasons, not the crash landing of Aeroflot’s SSJ100 at Moscow Sheremetyevo May 5 that killed 41 people.
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Norwegian offers staffing options to deal with Gatwick crew surplus
Scandinavian LCC Norwegian Air Shuttle is offering staff part-time working and unpaid leave in a bid to get around a temporary crew surplus at London’s Gatwick Airport. The surplus is caused by wet-leasing aircraft following ongoing issues with the Rolls-Royce Trent engines that power its Boeing 787s. Norwegian has wet-leased four aircraft to cover capacity shortfall for the summer season because between two and four of 13 Gatwick-based 787s are out of action at any one time for ...
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Eurowings to open first Eastern Europe base in Pristina
Lufthansa’s lower-cost affiliate Eurowings will open its first Eastern Europe base, in the Kosovo capital of Pristina, from June 19.
Eurowings will base one Airbus A319 in Pristina, and plans to operate 60 weekly frequencies to destinations in Switzerland, as well as to Dusseldorf, Munich and Stuttgart (Germany).
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Air France to begin voluntary redundancy plan for ground staff
Air France plans to launch a voluntary redundancy plan for short-haul ground staff at a works council meeting May 13.
The airline said it also sees a need for significant recruitment—for more than 1,000 full-time permanent roles—in numerous areas of the business for 2019 and beyond.
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Qantas boosts outlook on revenue gains, capacity cuts
Qantas says it is on track to fully offset higher fuel prices with revenue improvements in its current financial year, and the Australian flag carrier has a generally positive demand outlook.
The group’s revenue increased 2.3% to A$4.4 billion ($3.1 billion) for the three months through March 31, its fiscal third quarter.
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Azul to receive first E195-E2 around September
Azul expects to receive its first Embraer 195-E2 around September, says the airline's founder and chairman David Neeleman.
The Brazilian carrier, which is the launch operator of the aircraft, expects to end 2019 with six E195-E2s.
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American adds Acapulco and Huatulco this winter
American Airlines will add Acapulco and Huatulco in Mexico to its network among 16 route additions this winter.
The Oneworld Alliance carrier will connect the Mexican destinations with its Dallas/Fort Worth base twice-weekly with 76-seat Embraer 175s on a seasonal winter and summer basis from 21 December, it says today. It previously served Acapulco until 2011, Cirium schedule data shows.
LinkAirports
Airlines allocated space at Berlin's new airport
Berlin airports operator FBB has started planning for where airlines will be based in the German capital's new hub, ahead of its scheduled opening next year.
The airport in Brandenburg is set to open in October 2020, and the major airlines serving Berlin now know where their flight operations will be based, FBB said today.
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Adelaide Airport to create its own unique gourmet destination concept
Adelaide Airport has awarded Lagardère Travel Retail the concession to create a new destination concept it is calling 'Southern Providore'.
According to Lagardère Travel Retail, the new concept will bring a truly unique and iconic South Australian experience to Adelaide Airport.
LinkMilitary
Boeing kicks off design work for EA-18G upgrade
Boeing has started design work to upgrade the US Navy’s (USN) fleet of EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft.
The upgraded aircraft will be designated Growler Block II and include features already on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, such as the advanced cockpit system and conformal fuel tanks. It will include improved sensors and an upgraded electronic attack package.
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AI targeting upgrade planned for Su-25SM3 attack jets: report
Moscow plans to upgrade its Sukhoi Su-25SM3 attack aircraft with a targeting system that uses artificial intelligence (AI), and continues to work on the cruise missile capabilities of its bombers.
The system will allow pilots to select a target, and then let an AI engine prosecute the attack, according to a report by Russian news agency TASS quoting an unnamed defence official.
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Aviation Quote
This entire industry is in a death spiral, including this company, and I can't get us out of it. Deregulation is an abysmal failure and we have no more furniture left to burn.
- Bruce Lakefield, CEO US Airways, while between bankruptcies and before being taken over by America West, October 2004.
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US Navy Aircraft Name Scramble
1. DUGYNHOER
2. EYHKAEW
3. AVTENIGLI
4. KKAYWHS
5. DRCERUAS
6. OSEIDPON
7. EMNTRO
8. TJANOR
9. LAITCNAA
10. YCRMREU
