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NASA seeks demos of electric propulsion for commercial aircraft
NASA is assessing industry proposals for flight demonstrations of electrified aircraft propulsion systems with the goal of rapidly maturing the technologies for use in commercial transports that could enter the fleet by 2035.
The agency has set itself the goal of demonstrating technologies for the practical integration of high-power—1 megawatt or greater—electric propulsion with advanced airframes for initial application to thin-haul, regional and single-aisle aircraft.
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Alaka'i unveils concept for hydrogen-powered electric aircraft
Massachusetts aerospace company Alaka'i Technologies has thrown its hat into the urban air mobility ring, announcing development of an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
The power system differentiates the company's conceptual five-passenger aircraft, called Skai, from other high-profile battery- and hybrid-powered designs unveiled in recent months.
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LHT extends operations in Berlin Schonefeld until 2022
Berlin airports operator FBB and Lufthansa Technik have extended the lease on maintenance facilities at the German capital's Schonefeld gateway until the end of 2022.
The contract for the site, which is located close to Berlin's Brandenburg airport, had been due to expire in March 2021, five months after the new airport is scheduled to open.
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Aireon gets EASA approval for space-based aircraft tracking
US company Aireon has had its space-based aircraft tracking system endorsed by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.
Aireon says its certification as an air navigation service provider follows a three-year collaboration to prove the performance of its data for use in aircraft surveillance.
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Bell gains high-altitude approval for 505
Bell has received certification permitting high-altitude operations of its 505 Jet Ranger X light-single, following a series of demonstration flights earlier this year.
The airframer says the 505, which is powered by a single Safran Helicopter Engines Arrius 2R, is now cleared for operations up to a density altitude of 22,500ft, an increase on the previous limit of 16,000ft.
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One-time checks ordered for Superjet fleet
Russian authorities have ordered carriers to conduct a one-time inspection of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 fleet, in the wake of the fatal Aeroflot accident at Moscow Sheremetyevo last month.
Federal air transport regulator Rosaviatsia says the work must be conducted "within the shortest possible time", and that findings must be submitted to the authority's airworthiness management department.
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Corrosion cuts life limit of A220 and E2 compressor hubs
Airbus A220 and Embraer E2 operators are being advised of cycle limit amendments to the high-pressure compressor hub on their Pratt & Whitney engines.
The measure is being taken after corrosion on a front hub was discovered during routine engine overhaul.
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PICTURE: MA700 gears up for static tests
AVIC has finished construction of large fuselage parts for its MA700 turboprop programme, paving the way for static testing.
With this, the Chinese airframer says the programme moves into its the next stage of development, the main component delivery stage, before the aircraft will be assembled by year’s end.
LinkAirlines
Airbus confirms both A350 variants viable for Qantas Sunrise bid
Airbus has confirmed that it can offer ultra-long-range versions of both A350 variants to Qantas to meet its "Project Sunrise" requirement for an aircraft able to operate nonstop flights between Sydney and London.
Speaking at the IATA AGM in Seoul, Airbus chief commercial officer Christian Scherer said he was "very, very excited" about Airbus's ability to respond Qantas's requirement for "ultra-long-range flying and high-capacity flying, with the A350".
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Hawaiian Airlines accuses DOT of favoring US majors
Hawaiian Airlines is objecting to the US Department of Transportation’s (DOT) decision to award it just one of 12 available daytime slot pairs to Tokyo Haneda Airport, arguing the route allocation proceeding revealed a “prevailing, longstanding bias against smaller air carriers.” Hawaiian also requested that DOT transfer control to the airline of one of the slot pairs currently allocated to its larger rivals for service out of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which ...
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Air Austral 787 grounded following Trent 1000 engine check
Air Austral has grounded one of its two Boeing 787-8s for at least two months following a June 3 planned check of its Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, leaving the La Reunion-based carrier looking for solutions to maintain flight schedules over the peak summer season. The Indian Ocean-focused carrier—which in partnership with Air Madagascar aims to expand its network and boost long-haul growth—grounded the aircraft, registered 8 F-OLRC, on the evening of June 3 following the ...
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SpiceJet on track for major fleet growth in 2019
Indian LCC SpiceJet expects dramatic fleet growth this year as it leases aircraft formerly operated by Jet Airways and eyes the resumption of Boeing 737 MAX deliveries. The carrier has reached agreements to obtain 30 ex-Jet Airways Boeing 737-800s, SpiceJet chief customer service officer Kamal Hingorani said. The airline has taken delivery of 25 of these so far, all on short-term leases. The additional aircraft will boost capacity by 50% in 30 days, Hingorani said during a CAPA Center for ...
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Emirates Airline to use A380 on short hop to Oman
Emirates Airline will launch the world’s shortest Airbus A380 scheduled sector on July 1.
The Dubai-based carrier will begin a double-daily A380 service to Muscat, the capital of Oman, which lies just 340km (184nm or 211 mi.) to the southeast.
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South Africa’s Comair acquires Star Air
South African carrier Comair has acquired South African leasing and cargo specialist Star Air, as part of its continuing strategy of diversification.
Comair—which is a British Airways franchisee and has its own LCC brand, Kulula—said in a stock market filing that it had “acquired the assets to extend its diversification strategy into the leasing of aircraft, while also providing Comair with the expertise and systems to establish a base for heavy maintenance checks on its fleet of [Boeing] 737-800 aircraft.”
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IATA AGM 2019: Korean Air to vigorously compete against LCCs
Korean Air is planning to compete more vigorously against the LCCs that are increasingly moving into Korean’s markets, chairman Walter Cho said.
The Seoul-based carrier has previously “been passive” in its reaction to the rising LCC threat, Cho said during the IATA annual meeting. However, it intends to “take more aggressive action from now on.”
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EgyptAir plans Washington increase as it eyes Chicago
EgyptAir plans to add frequencies on its new service to Washington Dulles airport in the "near future" as part of a larger push into North America.
The Star Alliance carrier began three-times weekly service to Dulles from its Cairo base with a Boeing 787-9 today. Washington, DC is EgyptAir's second US destination after New York, and third in North America after Toronto.
LinkAirports
London Gatwick's noise footprint reduced by 7% in 2018
London Gatwick may be one of the UK's busiest airports with rising passenger numbers, but its noise footprint is getting smaller, according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The CAA's noise exposure contour analysis shows that Gatwick’s noise footprint (54dBA Leq) reduced by 7% in 2018.
LinkMilitary
Jordan military tries to sell off ‘knock-off’ Chinese drones
The Royal Jordanian Army and Air Force (RJAF) is attempting to sell more than two dozen aircraft, including six recently delivered Rainbow CH-4B unmanned air vehicles (UAV) built by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
The country’s armed forces posted its intent to sell the aircraft online on 3 June without explanation. It will close bidding on 1 July. The RJAF did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Tokyo to end search for crashed F-35A
Tokyo will end its search for the Lockheed Martin F-35A that crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of Japan on 9 April.
Japan's Kyodo news agency has quoted defence minister Takeshi Iwaya as saying that the search will be called off.
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US prices Bulgarian F-16V deal at $1.67 billion
The US government has detailed its proposed $1.67 billion sale of Lockheed Martin F-16V fighters to Bulgaria.
The package includes the eight fighters in addition to a broad range of sensors, weapons, training devices, software, training, support, and spares according to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) filing.
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Aviation Quote
Air battle is not decided in a few great clashes but over a long period of time when attrition and discouragement eventually cause one side to avoid the invading air force.
- Dale O. Smith
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