NAS Daily 24 APR 20

airtrainer 23 Apr 20, 21:48

News

Commercial

Alafco Sues Boeing for Non-delivery of Max Jets
Kuwaiti aircraft lessor Alafco has filed suit against Boeing in federal court in Chicago for failure to return payment on undelivered 737 Max 8 jets. The filing claims rights to the return of $336 million in advance payments for the first 10 of 40 aircraft on order, the first delivery of which Boeing had set for March 2019. All global aviation authorities grounded the 737 Max by March 13, when the U.S. FAA became the last to do so.
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European Regulators Resume Embraer-Boeing Merger Probe
European Commission antitrust officials have resumed their review of plans by Boeing to buy 80 percent of Embraer’s commercial airplane operation and set a new deadline for completion of their investigation of August 7.
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Significant growth in business aviation amid COVID-19 outbreak
The current situation in the world regarding COVID-19 has seen private aviation companies report an increase of 400% in queries and bookings. The massive explosion in the aforementioned sector can be attributed to travel restrictions and social distancing recommended by health officials.
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Boeing reportedly resumes 777X flight test campaign
As the production in its Washington State plants is restarting, Boeing reportedly scheduled a test flight for the 777X prototype N779XW. The campaign, which was stopped a month ago, could resume on April 23, 2020.
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Russia’s 737 MAX Alternative: The MC-21-300 Resumes Flight Testing
On Wednesday, United Aircraft Russia announced that it had resumed the test-flight program for its MC-21-300 aircraft after a pause to calibrate operations in compliance with coronavirus measures. The Russian manufacturer’s alternative to Boeing’s 737 MAX has now completed almost half of the flights needed to secure certification.
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Airlines

Ex-Lufthansa subsidiary LGW declares insolvency due coronavirus
With cash reserves draining throughout the entire airline industry, another airline joins the list of carriers forced out of business due to the current pandemic. Luftfahrgesellschaft Walter or LGW, as it was better known, declared insolvency in the Düsseldorf Local Court.
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Turkish Airlines flight TK1920 draws crescent and star in sky
On April 23, 2020, Turkish Airlines Boeing 777 jet embarked for one of the kind flights TK1920. While the flight is already predetermined to land just where it took off from, Ankara, it is not the destination, but the journey that catches attention.
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Abu Dhabi’s New Low Cost Carrier Secures Operating Certificate
Abu Dhabi’s new low-cost carrier has moved one step closer to becoming a reality. The airline, being launched as a co-operation between Etihad and Air Arabia, today received its air operating certificate (AOC).
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49% Stake In Angkor Air Sold By Vietnam Airlines
Vietnam Airlines has sold its 49% share of Cambodia Angkor Air to an undisclosed buyer. The remaining 51% share of Cambodia’s Angkor Air is owned by the Cambodian government, who has said they do not want to nationalize the airline fully.
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Air Greenland Operates Incredible 8 Hour Non-Stop Turboprop Flight
We most definitely are getting used to seeing some unusual routes and epic flights on the radar these days. As previously reported, Air Greenland and its crew are not afraid of taking their turboprop planes for long-haul excursions. On Monday, it operated one of its Dash 8-200 aircraft on a first-ever nonstop flight from Copenhagen to Nuuk. Flight time: 7 hours and 52 minutes.
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Wizz Air Wants To Fast Forward Abu Dhabi Plans
Despite global air travel being at a virtual standstill, Wizz Air plans to fast-track the launch of its new airline in Abu Dhabi before the fall. The Hungarian ultra-low-cost airline says it’s trying to launch Wizz Air Abu Dhabi this year, earlier than first planned.
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There Are No Airbus A380s Flying Right Now
Airlines have been grounding aircraft left, right, and center as a result of the current aviation crisis. This means that most of the world’s Airbus A380s have been grounded until further notice. Consequentially, there are currently no Airbus A380s flying according to data from FlightRadar24.com.
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Brand New American Airlines Boeing 787-8 Flies Straight To Storage
American Airlines has sent a brand new Boeing 787-8 into storage. Making the move on March 31st, the aircraft initially flew to the airline’s largest base in Dallas after delivery. There, it spent some time on the ground before being ferried to storage in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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This Non-Existent Boeing 747 Airline Applied For US Government Aid
US carrier Avatar Airlines has applied for US$15 million in funding through the CARES Act. The application was submitted to the US Secretary of Treasury, Steve Mnuchin, on Tuesday. The Las Vegas airline has had a presence in the United States for almost 30 years, albeit only on paper.
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Southwest Under Fire For Refusing To Refund Canceled Flights
Several carriers have already faced legal action over their refund policies amid flight cancellations due to global travel restrictions. Now, Southwest Airlines is being sued by a man who alleges that it refused to give him a cash refund for two tickets on a canceled flight that was supposed to leave for Havana from Baltimore on March 22nd.
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Ryanair Boss Says Airline Won’t Operate With Social Distancing Rules
Ryanair’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary, claims that the airline will not start flying again if forced to leave the middle seat empty. This is an idea that has gained widespread adoption recently. It is far from clear whether it will work, or be forced on airlines, but it certainly will not fit with Ryanair’s operating model.
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Finnair Has A Mammoth 100,000 Unprocessed Flight Refunds
Refunding passengers is just one of the problems faced by airlines during the current coronavirus crisis, and many have large backlogs. Recent reports suggest that Finnair may now have over 100,000 refunds in the queue.
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Airports

Melbourne Airport Wants Virgin Australia To Call It Home
With Virgin Australia in voluntary administration and a restructure underway, several deals are in progress on the sidelines of the main game. One of the more interesting happenings is the various State Governments and airports trying to lure a restructured Virgin Australia away from its home base in Brisbane.
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Sustainable aircraft taxiing trialled by Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) and its partners have announced that they are to begin a sustainable aircraft taxiing trial at the airport, involving aircraft being brought to the runway by a special tow vehicle – known as the ‘taxibot’ – which allows for aircraft engines to mostly remain turned off during taxiing.
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Edmonton International Airport tests new water filtration system
Edmonton International Airport (EIA) has embraced Earth Day and increased its support of local innovation by testing a new water filtration system that works to release clean water back into the local ecosystem.
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Moscow Sheremetyevo reports Q1 rise in cargo volumes
Moscow Sheremetyevo (SVO) handled 73,000 tons of cargo and 11.5 thousand tons of mail in the first quarter of 2020, increases of 9.3% and 6% respectively over the same period in 2019.
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Military

U.S. Air Force F-35 Fighters Arrive in Alaska
Two Lockheed Martin F-35As touched down at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska on April 21 to begin the equipment of the 354th Fighter Wing (FW) with the type. The unit is the first in the Pacific Air Forces theater command to receive the stealthy fighter after the first pair flew in direct from the Fort Worth, Texas factory with refueling provided by KC-135s.
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Aviation Quote

In flying I have learned that carelessness and overconfidence are usually far more dangerous than deliberately accepted risks.

- Wilbur Wright in a letter to his father, September 1900.