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Airbus, Siemens end collaboration on hybrid-electric E-Fan X
First flight of the Airbus E-Fan X hybrid-electric regional aircraft demonstrator has slipped into 2021, from 2020. But the manufacturer said hybrid-electric propulsion technology has shown its technological and commercial feasibility earlier than expected. As a result of that progress, Airbus has ended its collaboration on hybrid-electric propulsion research with electric drivetrain developer Siemens earlier than planned.
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Boeing finishes MAX proposed MCAS changes
Boeing has edged closer to returning the grounded 737 MAX fleet to service by completing development of the proposed package of changes for the aircraft’s maneuvering characteristics augmentation system (MCAS) as well as associated simulator and training testing. The company, which conducted engineering test flights of the updated MCAS 12.1.1 software in mid-April on its 737-7 development aircraft at Boeing Field, Seattle, said it is preparing for “the final certification ...
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Mitsubishi MRJ70 redesign nicknamed 'The Concept'
Mitsubishi Aircraft is redesigning its MRJ70 aircraft so much that executives now call it “The Concept”, a design intended to comply with seating and weight limits faced by airlines while leaving room to include more passengers if those US scope-clauses change.
Executives overseeing the Mitsubishi Regional Jet programme spoke with reporters on 10 May during the opening of Mitsubishi Aircraft’s new US headquarters in Renton, Washington.
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ANALYSIS: P&W and CFM boost output despite supply-chain stress
The two major narrowbody aircraft engine makers have successfully accelerated production in recent months, though they are still battling with supply-chain stress. CFM International and competitor Pratt & Whitney (P&W) more than doubled output of their latest-generation turbofans – CFM's Leap and P&W's PW1000G – in the first quarter of 2019 versus the same period a year ago.
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ANALYSIS: Engine makers prep for next narrowbody launch
One of the more animated discussions in civil aviation recently has surrounded the choice of engine – or engine options – to power Boeing’s proposed new mid-market airplane (NMA). But with that programme’s launch now downgraded from "anticipated" to "prospective", the engine question has perhaps become academic. But while both CFM International and Pratt & Whitney – the only apparent contenders for an NMA engine contract – decline to discuss the NMA specifically, both have already done a great deal of work developing their next engines for narrowbody aircraft.
LinkAirlines
US DOT proposes 12 Tokyo Haneda routes to four airlines
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has proposed 12 tentative daytime slots at Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) to four US carriers: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines and United Airlines. Atlanta-based Delta, which had requested six routes from DOT, received five—the most of any carrier. The five routes will be operated from Atlanta; Detroit; Honolulu, Hawaii; Portland, Oregon and Seattle.
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EasyJet widens 1H loss on rising costs, Gatwick drone incidents
EasyJet reported a widened first-half loss, but the UK LCC said it was better prepared for expected air traffic controller (ATC)-related disruption in European skies over the peak summer period. EasyJet reported a headline loss before tax of £275 million ($351 million), compared with £18 million in the same period last year, blaming a variety of factors including the Ryanair pilot crisis and UK leisure carrier Monarch Airlines’ bankruptcy, which swelled the previous ...
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Freight startup CargoLogic Germany nears AOC
German express cargo startup CargoLogic Germany has taken delivery of two converted Boeing 737-400 freighters and is working to secure its air operator’s certificate (AOC). CargoLogic Germany GmbH was set up in 2018 as a sister company to London Stansted-based freight airline CargoLogicAir. Both companies are subsidiaries of CargoLogic Holdings, which has the same shareholders as Russia’s Volga-Dnepr Group—the parent company of Russian freight specialists Volga-Dnepr ...
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Saudia reports significant growth in transit traffic
Saudi Arabian national carrier Saudia is reporting a significant increase in its number of transit passengers, as the airline grows rapidly and seeks to become a rival to the “ME3” of Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways.
Commercial aviation in Saudi Arabia is growing rapidly. Domestically, the liberalization of air services has led to five airlines competing for passengers compared to only two a few years ago.
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China Eastern’s move to Daxing to be complete in 2020
China Eastern Airlines said it will complete the transfer of operations to Beijing Daxing International Airport in its 2020 summer flight schedule, following an initial shift during the 2019-20 winter schedule.
Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM, partners of China Eastern in the SkyTeam alliance, will coordinate flights with the Chinese carrier in forming four daily sets of arrival and departure banks, designed to shorten transfer times.
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Virgin Australia to cut capacity, network on poor financial forecast
Virgin Australia forecasts a significant drop in its financial performance for the fiscal year through June 30, prompting the airline to plan capacity and network cuts.
In a trading update issued May 17, Virgin predicted its underlying earnings will be at least A$100 million ($68.7 million) down from the previous fiscal year.
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Crashed Superjet's pitch fluctuated before fatal touchdown
Russian investigators have disclosed that the Sukhoi Superjet 100 involved in a fatal accident at Moscow Sheremetyevo was 1.6t over its maximum landing weight, and experienced two impacts in excess of 5g as it bounced on landing.
The Interstate Aviation Committee says it has completed an initial analysis of information from the flight-data recorder retrieved from the Aeroflot jet after the 5 May event.
LinkAirports
US approves $779 million in more funding for airport infrastructure
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced plans to distribute $779 million in supplemental funding for infrastructure grants to 127 airports across all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
“This supplemental funding allows us to invest in important infrastructure needs at the nation’s airports, especially those serving smaller and rural communities,” DOT secretary Elaine Chao said in a statement May 15.
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Southwest to build first maintenance hangar in Denver
Southwest Airlines plans to begin constructing its first maintenance hangar at the Denver International Airport (DEN) this summer.
According to a representative for the Dallas-based carrier, the decision to add a new hangar in Denver was based on flight activity in the city and the airline’s “aggressive plans for the future” to continue supporting its network within the western half of the US.
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London Luton serves 17 million passengers in 12 months
April 2019 was the busiest-ever April for Luton Airport with a 10.4 per cent increase on the same period in 2018.
Marked by April 2019, for the first time ever London Luton Airport (LLA) has served 17 million passengers over a 12-month period.
LinkMilitary
Greek navy takes initial reactivated P-3B
Greece has received its first revived Lockheed Martin P-3B Orion as part of a “rebirth” of the country’s maritime patrol capability as it brings stored aircraft back to service.
Following work performed by Hellenic Aerospace Industries (HAI), the initial aircraft, described as an “interim” step, was presented to Greece’s navy on 17 May.
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Switzerland earmarks Swfr6 billion for fighter replacement
Switzerland's government has allocated Swfr6 billion ($5.85 billion) to replace by 2030 the nation's ageing Boeing F/A-18 and Northrop F-5 fighters as part of a wider overhaul of its air defences.
The government states that the federal defence department has been tasked to draft by early September a procurement proposal, which has then to be approved first by the country's parliament and then voters via a referendum.
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Boeing suggests propulsor, winged AH-64 Apache variant for US Army
Boeing is showing off conceptual images of what it calls a Compound AH-64 Apache, a variant of the attack helicopter with a pusher propeller and small wing.
The company says it would have increased range and speed – capabilities initially envisioned for the US Army’s Future Vertical Lift Capability Set 3, a medium-lift utility and attack rotorcraft.
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Aviation Quote
Good flying never killed [an enemy] yet.
- attributed to Major Edward 'Mick' Mannock, RAF, ranking British Empire fighter ace of W.W. I. 61 victories.
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General Knowledge
1. When a US Army Air Corps pilot earned their wings in WW2, the center of the wings contained a shield. Some wings contained a star(Command or Senior pilot), a "G"(a Glider pilot), or an "L"(a Liason pilot). What pilot wings contained a diamond?
2. True or False, a tandem airplane has two seats, one behind the other.
3. In 1943, the RAF's 617 Squadron flew Avro Lancaster bombers exactly 60 feet over three reservoirs at night before dropping "bouncing bombs" to destroy three German dams that were protected by torpedo nets. Altimeters were not sufficiently accurate, and there were no radio altimeters at that time. How did these pilots, "The Dam Busters" level off and maintain the required sixty foot height?
4. Estimate within ten knots the highest surface winds ever recorded anywhere (and not associated with a hurricane or tornado).
5. What biplane was produced in the greatest numbers?
6. Class A airspace begins at Flight Level 180. Flight into that airspace requires that a pilot have an instrument rating, that the airplane be IFR equipped and first receive an appropriate ATC clearance. How may a VFR-only pilot fly at FL240 without meeting any of these requirements and without special permission?
