NewsAccidents/Incidents
Tail strike in Moscow: Azur Air Boeing 767 suffers belly damage
An Azur Air Boeing 767-300 suffered significant belly damage during a tail strike incident in Vnukovo airport (VKO), Russia.
The incident occurred on September 22, 200, when the aircraft, registered as VQ-BEN, arrived from Antalya, Turkey to Moscow.
LinkCommercial
Rolls-Royce completes world’s fastest all-electric jet testing
Rolls-Royce has completed tests of its world’s faster all-electric aircraft on a full-scale replica of the plane’s core called “ionBird”.
The aircraft will be powered by a 500hp electric powertrain with enough potential to set world record speeds for electric aircraft and a battery density to supply 250 homes, the engine manufacturer said in a statement on September 24, 2020.
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The Battle Of The Big Planes: Why Airbus And Boeing Won The Race
When it comes to aircraft choices, Airbus and Boeing dominate the market and have done so for decades. How did this duopoly come to be, and how have Boeing and Airbus taken on the competition over the past years ?
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Panasonic Avionics Reveals Touchless And Wellness Solutions
Panasonic Avionics has unveiled a range of solutions designed to support airlines through the post-COVID recovery period. Tackling everything from IFE to bad smells, the suite of solutions, called the ‘Welcome Aboard’ Collection, can be adapted to suit individual airline’s needs.
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The World’s Most Interesting Boeing 747s
2020 has been a tough year for aviation, and one of the most significant casualties when it comes to the industry is the Boeing 747. The Queen of the Skies is being retired at a rapid rate. Therefore, let’s look at some of the most interesting units of the jumbo over the decades.
LinkAirlines
Ryanair staff threatened by unpaid leave without government aid
Ryanair’s pilots and cabin crew are at risk of unpaid leave for the winter period without extended government aid, the airline’s CEO Michael O’Leary said on September 24, 2020.
The carrier expects to operate at 20-30% of normal capacity starting December, which would be insufficient to pay the airline’s staff.
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easyJet Switzerland flies near full capacity through summer 2020
easyJet Switzerland, easyJet subsidiary, retained 80% of its network while flying at near full capacity between July and August 2020, the company's CEO revealed.
The low-cost carrier has only grounded eight aircraft during the pandemic, two Airbus A319s and six Airbus A320s, which is less than a third of its entire fleet. The airline also served around 120 destinations from Geneva, Basel and Zurich, while keeping an average passenger occupancy of 84%.
Link
Ryanair puts $200 million in Beauvais base, criticizes Air France
Irish budget airline Ryanair is opening a new base in Paris-Beauvais Airport (BVA) in France. While announcing the launch of a $200 million-worth project, the airline did not miss an opportunity to point the finger at weakening French competitors.
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Cathay crew agrees to take one-year unpaid leave
Cathay Pacific Airways Flight Attendants Union said their members agree to go on unpaid leave for up to a year to keep their jobs.
Although a survey of the union's 7,000 members indicated that the majority wanted an early retirement or voluntary redundancy scheme, the workers agreed to be furloughed in case the employer does not offer a better solution.
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Amazon Air’s flights and fleet grow rapidly amid pandemic
Amazon Air has experienced unprecedented growth this year, expanding its fleet by an additional 12 freighters and ramping its flight activity to over 100 daily flights since May 2020.
An analysis released by Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development said that the cargo airline grew its fleet size by 29% since the end of spring. At the same time, Amazon Air performed 108 daily flights on August 20, 2020, in contrast to 85 on April 23 of the same year.
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Hi Fly's A380 Completes First Cargo Flight Since Conversion
Hi Fly’s Airbus A380 is back in the skies. However, this time the aircraft is back with a difference. Hi Fly’s Airbus A380 is currently sporting a temporary cargo configuration, becoming the only superjumbo to fly with such an arrangement.
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United Airlines Begins Offering Passenger COVID-19 Tests
United Airlines has begun to offer COVID-19 testing for travelers before flying. The airline is initially launching the pilot program for passengers departing San Francisco bound for Hawaii.
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Questions Raised Over New El Al Ownership
On September 16th, an aviation company named Kanfei Nesharim took a 42.85% stake in Israeli flag carrier El Al. It’s been just over a week, and there is already some controversy over the airline’s ownership structure as directors of El Al’s board are appealing to members of the Israeli government to re-evaluate the situation.
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Is Buy One Get One Free The Next Big Thing For Low-Cost Carriers ?
Yesterday, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines launched a nifty little buy one get one free promotion. They called it unprecedented. Under the terms of the deal, if you buy a flight ticket, you can take along a mate for free. It’s a gussied-up half-price offer. But unlike a standard half-price offer, this deal gets two people on the plane.
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First Airbus A320neo For Japan's Peach Completes Its Customer Acceptance Flight
Peach Aviation, a Japanese airline, has undertaken the second customer acceptance flight of its inaugural Airbus A320neo in France. This plane is the first of ten Airbus A320neos headed to the Japanese low-cost carrier.
Link
United Airlines Delays Pilot Furloughs Until November
Chicago based United Airlines has reached an agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) to avert an imminent involuntary furlough threat affecting nearly 3,000 pilots. United Airlines management has agreed to delay any pilot furloughs until October 31, giving the pilots and their union some breathing space.
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Air Canada Refinances 18 Airbus A220 Aircraft
Air Canada has secured two longer-term refinancing transaction agreements worth about C$1.52 billion (~US$1.14 billion), replacing short-term facilities. The first transaction, worth C$787.7 million (~US$588.7 million), covers financing for 18 Airbus A220 aircraft. The refinancing lowers Air Canada’s short-term cash expenditures, which is a win for the carrier.
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American And United Roll Out New Digital Tools For Passengers
American and United have separately rolled out new digital tools to help passengers navigate a unique travel experience. While American’s is app-based, United has rolled out a new online search map for flights. Here are the latest tools available to passengers.
LinkAirports
Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport Gears Up For Coronavirus Vaccine
At Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, the pharma cargo community has joined together to ensure that the integrity of the “cold chain” will not be compromised when a functioning coronavirus vaccine is ready. A task force has begun working on four different temperature scenarios for transportation and distribution of the substance that many feel is necessary for commercial aviation to truly recover from the impact of the pandemic.
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McCarran International Airport’s C Concourse to undergo renovation
The C Concourse at McCarran International Airport, known as the Las Vegas base of operations for Southwest Airlines, will soon receive a significant renovation.
Planned changes include new fixtures that will create more space for passengers, updated flooring and more amenities; establishing a more consistent experience throughout Terminal 1.
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Vending machine for ready-made meals introduced at Brisbane Airport
With current passenger numbers unable to warrant the reopening of food and beverage retailers in the terminal, Brisbane Airport has installed ready-made meals in vending machines.
LinkMilitary
First Indian female fighter jet pilot upgrades to Dassault Rafale
Lieutenant Avani Chaturvedi, the first female pilot of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to have completed a solo flight, will make history again. Assigned to the Squadron No. 17 “Golden Arrows”, she will pilot the Dassault Rafale fighter jet, the latest addition to the IAF arsenal.
Link
Open Skies treaty: why Russian “spy planes” fly above France
Usually, reconnaissance aircraft (colloquially referred to as "spy planes") approaching foreign airspace provoke a strong reaction, often in the form of an interception and an official diplomatic complaint. However, another means exists to access the airspace of a foreign country and observe its territory without a hitch: open skies overflights. In September 2020, at least two such flights will be carried out thanks to the "Treaty on Open Skies."
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Aviation Quote
Pilots believe in clean living. They never drink whiskey from a dirty glass.
- Anonymous
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Editor's Choice
Trivia
General Trivia
1. A pilot is practicing an on-pylon. He notices during the turn that the pylon is slipping ahead of the wingtip. He should
a. climb and reduce airspeed.
b. climb and increase airspeed.
c. descend and reduce airspeed.
d. descend and increase airspeed.
2. A pilot is practicing an around-pylon in a counterclockwise direction while under the influence of an easterly wind. On which of the following headings will rate of turn be greatest?
a. 090 degrees
b. 180 degrees
c. 270 degrees
d. 360 degrees
3. There are three types of airmets. A phonetic letter names each type. _____ refers to IFR conditions and/or extensive mountain obscurations; _____ is issued for turbulence, high winds, and low-level wind shear; and _____ advises of icing and freezing levels.
a. Airmet Sierra, airmet Tango, airmet Zulu
b. Airmet Tango, airmet Sierra, airmet Uniform
c. Airmet Uniform, airmet Zulu, airmet Sierra
d. Airmet Zulu, airmet Tango, airmet Sierra
4
. A U.S. military fighter pilot broadcasts the word Winchester. What is the significance of this transmission?
5. What was the first type of jet aircraft to fly nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean?
6. In the jargon of flight attendants, what is a thumper?
