NewsCommercial
Lufthansa Technik, GE Aviation engine MRO shop opens in Poland
Lufthansa Technik and GE Aviation have launched a new MRO facility, XEOS, in southwest Poland to overhaul GEnx-2B and GE9X engines.
Located in Środa Śląska near Wrocław, the facility, which officially opened Sept. 30, accepted its first GEnx-2B in April and will see a total of 20 this year. Construction of the $250 million, 350,000 sq. ft. (32,500 sq m) plant, a joint venture of the two companies, began in August 2017.
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German startup to develop 10-seat electric regional aircraft
A startup formed by two German aviation companies has revealed plans to develop a 10-seat electric aircraft for short-haul regional flying.
Scylax has been formed by solar-powered light aircraft developer Elektra Solar and aerospace engineering services company EADCO.
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US pilots positive on new MAX software
US pilots who have tested the new Boeing 737 MAX flight-control software have given it positive reviews and some carriers are beginning to finalize step-by-step MAX return-to-service plans, suggesting that Boeing’s notional timeline of getting FAA approval by year-end may come to fruition.
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FAA to require high-time 737NG inspections
The FAA is working with Boeing to finalize an inspection order on higher-time 737NGs after cracks were discovered in fuselage frames and related parts on three 737-800s being converted to freighters.
The directive is expected to require inspections within a week for aircraft with 30,000 or more cycles, a source with knowledge of the situation told ATW.
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Boeing restates commitment to ultra-long-range 777-8
Boeing says it remains fully committed to the development of the ultra-long-range 777-8 variant despite its decision to shelve development to focus on recovering the schedule of the baseline 777-9.
The US manufacturer confirmed in August that it was to “adjust” the -8’s schedule to “[reduce] risk in our development programme, ensuring a more seamless transition to the 777-8”.
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Boeing leverages 777F sales to aid production bridge to 777X
Boeing says that strong demand for the 777 Freighter is aiding the production transition from the current 777 to the new 777X as it works to mitigate the impact of the latter's delay.
The key difference between the current production 777s and the new 777X, which comprises the 777-8 and -9 variants, is the wing structure, which is switching from "metal" to carbonfibre.
LinkAirlines
XL Airways suspends all flights through Oct. 3
Insolvent French low-cost, long-haul airline XL Airways is suspending all flights as a court deadline for finding an investor or liquidating the airline nears.
“In great financial difficulties, XL Airways unfortunately finds itself obliged to suspend all its flights from Sept. 30, 2019 at [3:00 p.m. local] time until Thursday, Oct. 3 inclusive,” XL Airways said in a statement on its website.
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American Airlines boosts frequencies to Latin America, Europe
American Airlines has announced plans to increase flying to Latin America from its Miami hub, part of an effort to shore up its position in the region following rival Delta Air Lines’ acquisition of a 20% stake in LATAM Airlines Group.
The expanded service offerings, announced Sept. 30, would see Dallas/Fort Worth-based American increase its operations from Miami to Santiago, Chile and São Paulo, Brazil beginning Winter 2020, as well as Lima, Peru, starting April 7, 2020.
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Qantas completes A380 cabin upgrade
Qantas has completed a cabin upgrade on the first of its Airbus A380 fleet, and the airline expects to finish another two by the end of this year.
The A380 with the refurbished and reconfigured cabin is being introduced on the carrier’s London-Singapore-Sydney route, arriving in Sydney on Oct. 2.
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Ryanair needs MAX back by early 2020
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary is expecting the Boeing 737 MAX to return to European service in early 2020, although the LCC’s current contingency plan will hold until the end of February. O’Leary expects the MAX to return to North American operations “this side of Christmas,” with the European re-entry into service around the same time, or slightly later.
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SAS to add 14 direct routes for summer 2020
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) plans to add 14 direct routes for summer 2020, including five new destinations that are not currently served by the airline.
The new destinations are Bari (Italy), Rhodes (Greece), Tivat (Montenegro), Zadar (Croatia) and Valencia (Spain).
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Air Transat to link Montreal and Copenhagen
Air Transat says it will offer direct flights from Montreal to Copenhagen next year during the airline’s summer season, further expanding its international network to 27 European destinations.
The flights will operate twice a week from 16 June thorough 20 September 2020 on an A321LR, the Montreal-based airline says on 1 October. With this new link, Air Transat will be the only air carrier offering non-stop service between the two cities.
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Brussels Airlines steps in after Adria failure
Brussels Airlines has already stepped up to maintain Star Alliance links to the Slovenian capital Ljubljana, following the collapse of Adria Airways.
The Belgian carrier says it will open a six-times-weekly service from Brussels from 4 November, using Airbus A319s configured with 141 seats.
LinkAirports
Uzbekistan implements Open Skies at several airports
The Uzbekistan government has introduced Open Skies at several of the country’s airports from Oct. 1.
Fifth freedom rights are granted to the carriers operating to Karshi, Nukus and Termez. In addition, fifth freedom with the right to carry foreign passengers has been granted to airlines flying to Bukhara, an ancient city with hundreds of historic sites.
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Istanbul’s new airport prepares for further capacity boost
The new Istanbul Airport anticipates its third parallel runway will open in the 2020 first half, giving it a capability exceeded in Europe only by Amsterdam Schiphol, chairman Kadri Samsunlu said Sept. 27.
The new airport, which will have an eventual annual capacity of 200 million passengers, has now passed the six-month mark since its opening.
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Philippines' Bulacan airport cleared to begin construction
Manila has given its approval to begin the construction of Bulacan International airport, in hopes of reducing congestion at the Philippine capital's Ninoy Aquino International airport, and to complement Clark International airport.
The country's Department of Transportation (DOT) says in an 18 September statement that it signed a concession agreement with developer San Miguel Corporation (SMC), permitting its wholly-owned unit San Miguel Aerocity to build, operate, maintain, finance and design the new airport.
LinkMilitary
US Navy plans cargo UAV fly-off competition in January 2020
The US Navy (USN) plans to host a fly-off competition in Yuma, Arizona in January 2020 to find a tactical cargo resupply unmanned air vehicle (UAV) for the US Marine Corps (USMC).
The competition is called the small Unmanned Logistics Support – Air (ULS-A) effort, says the USN in a media release on 30 September.
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Aviation Quote
The readiness to blame a dead pilot for an accident is nauseating, but it has been the tendency ever since I can remember. What pilot has not been in positions where he was in danger and where perfect judgment would have advised against going? But when a man is caught in such a position he is judged only by his error and seldom given credit for the times he has extricated himself from worse situations. Worst of all, blame is heaped upon him by other pilots, all of whom have been in parallel situations themselves, but without being caught in them. If one took no chances, one would not fly at all. Safety lies in the judgment of the chances one takes.
- Charles Lindbergh, journal entry 26 August 1938, published in The Wartime Journals, 1970.
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Trivia
General Trivia
1. Pilots know the general meaning of scud running, but what is the meteorological definition of scud?
2. What made the three Eagle Squadrons of WW2 unique?
3. To dress a propeller is:
a. file the leading edges
b. repaint the backs of the blades
c. balance it
d. prepare it for shipping
4. Estimate within 10,000 the number of military aircraft manufactured by the United States for use during WW2.
5. True or false, prior to being certified, a new light plane design must be flown faster than Vne.
6. Trying to stay in business during the post-WW2 slump, what aircraft manufacturer resorted to making coffins?
7.Why is a max-performance climbing turn combined with a change in direction called a chandelle?
