NewsCommercial
Bombardier sells CRJ program to Mitsubishi for $550 million
Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Bombardier have struck a deal on the sale of the Canadian manufacturer’s Canadair Regional Jet program for $550 million and assumption of some debt. The companies announced early June 25 that they entered a definitive agreement for the sale, which should wrap up in the first half of 2020.
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TSA: Diversion of border personnel will not affect aviation security
The head of the TSA told US House lawmakers that the diversion of agency personnel to the US-Mexico border “will have no effect on aviation security whatsoever,” adding, “We have baseline aviation security that we do not go below.”
In remarks made during a June 25 hearing of the House Oversight Committee held to discuss TSA security vulnerabilities, TSA administrator David Pekoske reported that the agency has deployed less than 100 transportation security officers (TSO) to the Southern border, all of whom are volunteers.
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ATR sees market for STOL version in South Pacific
Air Tahiti says the short takeoff and landing (STOL) version of the ATR 42-600 will allow it to introduce turboprop service to more islands, and ATR predicts other airlines in the Pacific region will also find the aircraft attractive. Air Tahiti is one of the first customers for the STOL version of the ATR 42, which is known as the -600S. It announced a deal for two aircraft at the Paris Air Show on June 19.
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PICTURE: Researchers test new long-range concept
Russian researchers are conducting windtunnel tests on a new twin-engined aircraft concept with a potential range of nearly 4,900nm (9,000km).
The Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute in Moscow says the development of a "next-generation" aircraft design is a "key challenge", and it is looking at concepts to generate greater range at higher speeds.
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Airbus Helicopters to test back-up battery power system
Airbus Helicopters plans to fly in 2020 a light-single testbed fitted with a battery-driven electric back-up system to provide emergency power in the event of main engine failure.
To be carried out in collaboration with the French transport ministry, the project seeks to develop the system to technology readiness level 6 – the stage immediately prior to industrialisation and certification.
LinkAirlines
US Big 3 glosses over UAE Open Skies outcome
The expression “putting lipstick on a pig” comes to mind reading the US Partnership for Open & Fair Skies’ press release on the US-UAE joint government policy statement on their Open Skies agreement. Except it’s more gloss than lipstick.
The whole saga began some five years ago when American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines were riled about Emirates starting its Dubai-Milan-New York Fifth Freedom service, as permitted within the US-UAE Open Skies agreement.
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Estonian flag carrier Nordica ceases flying under its own colors
Estonia’s national airline, Nordica, will give up operating commercial flights in its own name for the foreseeable future, blaming overcapacity at its home hub at Tallinn Airport.
Nordica will continue to operate public service obligation flights (the European equivalent of US Essential Air Services program) and will use its fleet for ACMI services on behalf of other carriers.
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Airlines learn to navigate the path to ancillary revenue growth
As ancillary revenue becomes increasingly important to their bottom lines, many airlines are finding that determining which products and services to offer is a learning process.
Philippine LCC Cebu Pacific, for example, generates 14% of its revenue from common ancillaries such as seat selection and food sales, and is considering other options.
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Uzbekistan Airways reports passenger traffic up 17% in 2018
Uzbekistan Airways carried 3.173 million in 2018, up 17% year-over-year (YOY). The airline said it carried 1.9 million international passengers and 606,000 domestic passengers; 1.5 million were carried to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Aircraft flying time increased to 10.9 hrs. per day from 8.1 hrs. in 2017 because of aircraft maintenance optimization at Moscow and St. Petersburg airports. The number of weekly flights reached 36.
LinkAirports
Drones again disrupt operations at Singapore Changi airport
Operations at Singapore Changi airport operations were temporarily disrupted on 24 June due to unauthorised drone activities and bad weather.
As a precautionary measure, arrival and departure flights were carefully regulated for short periods between 20:07 and 21:07 local time, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said on 25 June.
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Construction on Melbourne Airport’s new airfield begins
The $300 million investment is the largest airfield investment project since the airport opened in 1970 and is set to increase capacity, facilitate new routes and improve terminal facilities.
An official ground breaking ceremony took place to mark the commencement of works on ‘Taxiway Zulu’, which will create hundreds of jobs for Victorians during the three-and-a-half-year construction project.
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Autonomous baggage dollies enjoy successful trial at Heathrow
Autonomous vehicle specialist, Aurrigo, claims to come up with a new way of transporting luggage around airports, citing the successful trial of the world's first automomoted baggage dolly at London's Heathrow Airport as an example of just what can be achieved.
The company was approached by International Airlines Group (IAG) to use its driverless expertise to develop the world’s first autonomous baggage carrying dolly.
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Asian Street Kitchen opens at DXB's terminal 3
Asian Street Kitchen has become the latest innovative F&B outlet to open at Dubai International Airport (DXB).
Located in Terminal 3's Concourse A, Asian Street Kichen comprises Double Fried Chicken, Ramen & Dumplings, Rice & Noodles and Tiger Beer’s Tiger Street Den, which between them offer a selection of Asian inspired bites, breakfasts and main meals, desserts and drinks.
LinkMilitary
Probe begins into fatal German Eurofighter crash
An investigation is under way into a fatal collision involving of a pair of German air force Eurofighter combat aircraft near Rostock on 24 June.
The two jets were part of a formation of three single-seat Eurofighters from the Luftwaffe's 73 Squadron, which had taken off for a training flight from their base at Rostock airport, close to the Baltic Sea.
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Aviation Quote
Keep thy airspeed up, less the earth come from below and smit thee.
- William Kershner
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Trivia
General Trivia
1. A pilot is number two for takeoff behind a McDonnell Douglas MD–80 and notices that the right elevator of the jetliner is up while the left elevator is down. To whom should he report this?
2. On June 1, 2009, an Air France Airbus A330-200 operating between Rio de Janeiro and Paris crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in the vicinity of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. What is the ITCZ and what causes it to develop?
3. What is the maximum amount of lift that the wings of a typical, 2,000-pound general aviation airplane are allowed to develop?
4. How many aircraft carriers did Germany have during World War II, and what were (was) their (its) name(s)?
5. What well-known aircraft accident was the impetus for establishing the Federal Aviation Agency (later named the Federal Aviation Administration) in 1958?
6. What is unique about the Boeing 737-700IGW?
