NewsCommercial
Airbus A321P2F Freighter Conversion Wins EASA Certification
ST Engineering’s joint venture with Airbus, Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), has received a Supplement Type Certificate (STC) from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for its A321 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) conversion.
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Textron Wins Order for Five Medevac-equipped King Airs
An Australian operator has ordered five Beechcraft King Air 350is from Textron Aviation in an air ambulance configuration, the Wichita-based airframer announced yesterday. Deliveries of these turboprop twins to Pel-Air are expected to begin later this year and continue into 2021.
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Amid Virus Scare, Comac’s Flight Test Programs Press Ahead
Chinese airframer Comac is pushing ahead with efforts to maintain its C919 and ARJ21 test flight programs as public health officials continue to grapple with the coronavirus outbreak.
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Terrain-mapping An-140 to commence test flights
Test flights are set to commence with an Antonov An-140 turboprop modified to carry out aerial terrain mapping by Russia’s Myasishchev experimental facility.
The twin-engined aircraft has been adapted with specialised equipment for cartographic work, says United Aircraft.
LinkAirlines
Qatar strikes deal to restore American Airlines partnership
Middle East carrier Qatar Airways has struck a revived codeshare deal with its Oneworld partner American Airlines, two years after the US carrier ended their co-operation.
American and Qatar initially began codesharing in 2013. But the partnership came under strain amid the growing subsidy row between the US majors and Gulf carriers.
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Air New Zealand Wants To Trial Flat Beds In Economy
One of the greatest luxuries of flying in business or first class is the ability for passengers to lay back and stretch their legs out on long journeys. Those with economy tickets could also soon enjoy this benefit with Air New Zealand’s Economy Skynest.
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Can Viva Aerobus Extend Its Good Fortune Into 2020?
Viva Aerobus had a great 2019. It had record numbers in almost every financial and operative indicator. The biggest them of all was an increase of 27.8% in its annual earnings, posting a total of $675 million USD.
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Environmental Protesters Take Aim At Flybe's Government Aid
A number of people have gathered at UK regional airline Flybe’s Exeter home today, but not to cheerlead the struggling airline to victory. No, these people are angry. Identifying as members of the climate campaign group Extinction Rebellion, the protesters are hoping to stop the government from offering any more state aid to Flybe, and are instead hoping to watch it fail.
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Virgin Atlantic Is Launching Direct India Flights From Manchester
British airline Virgin Atlantic has announced new routes for the winter 2020 season, including a new service between Manchester and Delhi. Other new routes are planned out of both Manchester and London Heathrow beginning October 2020.
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THAI Smile Joins Star Alliance As A Connecting Partner
The regional low-cost carrier THAI Smile has been announced as a Star Alliance Connecting Partner. It joins Shanghai-based Juneyao Airlines as the second carrier to participate in the program.
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How Lessors Are Helping Chinese Airlines Cope With Coronavirus
Aircraft leasing firms are in danger of losing a share of the world’s next biggest aviation market unless they intervene to relieve struggling Chinese carriers affected by the coronavirus.
LinkAirports
Airport Air Traffic Control Tower celebrates its 100th birthday
A familiar and sometimes iconic site at airports across the globe, the air traffic control tower, celebrates its 100th birthday today.
The world’s first air traffic control tower was commissioned by the UK government at London's Croydon Airport in a move that helped usher in the age of mass air travel.
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Hidden disabilities lanyard introduced at JFK Airport Terminal 4
By offering the sunflower lanyards, T4 has become the first Northeast U.S. terminal to offer the initiative to its passengers with hidden disabilities.
The operator of Terminal 4 (T4) at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), JFKIAT, has announced a new partnership with UK-based Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
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Stansted Airport Is Slowly Becoming London's 3rd Long-Haul Hub
London Stansted Airport has a reputation for being London’s low-cost hub. However, as slot constraints continue to impact other London’s airports, Stansted is slowly redefining itself as a long-haul hub.
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Vienna Airport Decides Against Building Airbus A380 Gates
The operators of Vienna International Airport have decided not to go ahead with plans to build a new air bridge with three gates capable of handling the Airbus A380. Since the airport upgraded one of its terminals to handle the A380 in 2014, only Dubai-based Emirates Airlines has used Gate D27 on the West Pier for the giant plane.
LinkMilitary
Azerbaijan and Leonardo to discuss M-346 industrial work
The president of Azerbaijan has signed an agreement with Leonardo for negotiations related to the company’s M-346 advanced jet trainer. The agreement covers “the launch of formal negotiations for the definition of an industrial cooperation based on the supply of the M-346 aircraft,” the company says.
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Aviation Quote
A single lifetime, even though entirely devoted to the sky, would not be enough for the study of so vast a subject. A time will come when our descendants will be amazed that we did not know things that are so plain to them.
- Seneca, Book 7, first century CE
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Editor's Choice
Trivia
World Airlines
1. What is the oldest airline still operating under its original name?
KLM
Northwest Airlines
Deutsche Lufthansa
Qantas
2. What airline carried the most passengers in 2005?
British Airways
American Airlines
United Airlines
Japan Airlines
3. Which of these low-cost airlines is not based in India?
Air Blue
Go Air
SpiceJet
Paramount Airways
4. What colour is associated with EasyJet?
Dark Blue
Purple
Orange
Maroon
5. Which of these is not an international airline?
Continental Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Delta Air Lines
6. Which of these European Airlines is not operating?
SABENA
Air Dolomiti
Eurowings
Luxair
7. Which of these is a French airline?
GB Airways
Air Scotland
Brit Air
Aurigny Air Services
8. MALEV was the flag-carrier of what country?
Czech Republic
Lithuania
Iceland
Hungary
9. Which of these is not a Japanese Airline?
Skymark Airlines
All Nippon Airways
Asiana Airlines
Hokkaido International Airlines
10. Which of these is a Mexican Airline?
Aero California
Mesaba Airlines
Frontier Airlines
Chautauqua Airlines
