NAS Daily 13 DEC 19

airtrainer 12 Dec 19, 22:34

News

Commercial

Recaro Aircraft Seating inaugurates expanded Chinese plant
German aircraft-seating manufacturer Recaro has inaugurated a new 7,500 sq m production facility in Qingdao, China, paving the way for further Asia-Pacific growth.
The Qingdao expansion, which has been under construction since July 2018, will house up to five new assembly lines, increasing Recaro’s Chinese production capacity to 60,000 seats per year.
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Emergency directive orders load limits on Bedek 737 freighters
Israeli regulators have issued an urgent directive containing loading restrictions for Boeing 737 converted freighters, following the discovery of a manufacturing flaw in the 9g rigid barrier.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has classified the directive, from the Israeli civil aviation authority, as an emergency publication with action to be taken before the next flight.
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Embraer’s first E175-E2 takes to the skies in Sao Jose dos Campos
Brazilian airframer Embraer has completed first flight of its E175-E2 regional airliner, making good on its aim of having the third and last variant of the E2 family take flight before year end.
The aircraft departed at 11:07 local time on 12 December from Sao Jose dos Campos, home to the company’s Faria Lima manufacturing complex, and flew for 2h, 18min, Embraer says.
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FAA chief to meet with Boeing CEO amid Max timeline concern
Federal Aviation Administrator Steve Dickson will meet today with Boeing chief executive Dennis Muilenburg to discuss Boeing’s “not realistic” 737 Max return-to-service timeline, the FAA says in a letter US lawmakers.
The letter also says the FAA has concern that Boeing’s statements about the Max timeline may be perceived as intended to hurry the FAA’s review.
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FAA faces pressure to scrutinise Boeing’s Renton 737 production line
US lawmakers pressured Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) chief Steve Dickson on 11 December to ensure his agency thoroughly reviews allegations of safety and quality problems at Boeing’s 737 production plan in Renton, Washington.
Dickson faced pressure in response to testimony from a former Boeing production manager who alleged safety concerns warrant a temporary shutdown of the Renton facility. The testimony came during a hearing held by the US House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
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Airbus acquires robotics firm just outside Boeing plant
Airbus has acquired an industrial automation firm, MTM Robotics, in the vicinity of arch-rival Boeing as part of its efforts to modernise its production systems.
MTM Robotics is located just outside Paine Field, where Boeing’s Everett production and delivery centre is sited.
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Airlines

Korean startup Hi Air set to begin ATR services
South Korean regional startup Hi Air will launch domestic turboprop operations this month, manufacturer ATR said.
The carrier has obtained its air operator’s certificate and will start with a route between Seoul Gimpo Airport and Ulsan.
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Cathay Pacific to cover Air New Zealand’s Hong Kong route
Cathay Pacific Airways has agreed to temporarily take over its partner Air New Zealand’s (ANZ) Hong Kong flights, which will help ANZ cover for a shortage of international capacity.
Air New Zealand has been forced to cut back certain flights because some Boeing 787-9s have been taken out of service. The airline is one of several 787 operators that have been affected by issues with Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines.
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Southwest Airlines, Boeing reach deal on partial MAX damages
Southwest Airlines will share $125 million with employees as part of a deal struck with Boeing that covers part of what the airline is losing because of the 737 MAX groundings, the carrier said Dec. 12. “The company continues to engage in ongoing discussions with Boeing regarding compensation for damages related to the MAX groundings,” Southwest said. “The details of these discussions and the settlement with Boeing are confidential.”
Link

Taiwan’s Far Eastern Air Transport ceases operations
Far Eastern Air Transport (FAT) announced Dec. 12 it will stop operations from Dec. 13, as a result of mounting financial pressure.
The company’s official website has also ceased to function, displaying only a holding page to announce its termination of services.
Link

Wizz Air to set up joint-venture Abu Dhabi carrier
Central European budget carrier Wizz Air has provisionally agreed to establish a low-cost carrier venture in Abu Dhabi, the second such budget airline plan to emerge in the emirate in recent weeks.
The Abu Dhabi government says a preliminary agreement has been reached with Wizz to launch the venture in the second half of 2020, using Airbus A321neos.
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Emirates retains 777-8s in revised 777X order
Emirates has explained that 11 of its Boeing 777X orders are subject to reconfirmation, following a revision of Boeing’s figures for the Middle Eastern carrier’s 777X commitments.
The Dubai-based carrier had already cut its original order for 150 777Xs – comprising 115 777-9s and 35 777-8s – by 24 aircraft, as part of a new agreement under which it is taking 30 Boeing 787-9s.
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Airports

BLR becomes first airport in India with independent parallel runways
Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR Airport) has commenced operations on its new south runway. This makes BLR Airport the first in the country to operate independent parallel runways, enabling aircraft to land or take-off simultaneously on both runways.
“It is a historic day for us at BLR Airport as we commenced operations on the new runway,” said Hari Marar, MD and CEO, Bangalore International Airport Limited, operator of the BLR Airport.
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EIB provides $50 million to rebuild Sint Maarten’s hurricane-hit airport
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to finance the reconstruction of Princess Juliana International Airport’s passenger terminal following the devastation of hurricanes Irma and Maria.
During the hurricanes, the terminal building and the air traffic control tower were predominantly damaged by wind and rainwater.
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VINCI Airports completes Salvador Bahia Airport renovation project
Following beginning operation of the Salvador Bahia Airport concession in January 2018, VINCI Airports has delivered a works programme designed to extend and upgrade the airport.
The project resulted in an approximately €160 million investment and was completed within 18 months. The renovations have increased the airport’s capacity from 10 million passengers to 15 million passengers annually.
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Military

US Marines try to cut MV-22 downtime with first CC-RAM delivery
Bell Boeing has delivered to the US Marine Corps (USMC) the first MV-22 Osprey modified into a “common configuration”, part of a programme to boost the type’s 55% readiness rate by increasing fleet commonality.
The Common Configuration – Readiness and Modernization (CC-RAM) programme aims to help MV-22s reach an 80% mission capability goal.
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Aviation Quote

You must take the war to the enemy. You must attack and go on attacking all the time.

- Major Willy Omer François Jean Coppens de Houthulst, Belgian Air Service, 37 victories W.W.I.