NewsAccidents/Incidents
Video: Sao Paulo Runway Damaged By Direct Lightning Strike
Sao Paulo’s runway 09R/27L was closed after a lightning strike impacted the asphalt. The lightning left a crater in the ground, as can be seen in a video posted on social media.
LinkCommercial
AerCap confirms GECAS purchase
AerCap, a major aircraft leasing company, confirmed that the company is currently in active discussions with General Electric (GE) regarding the latter’s aircraft leasing business subsidiary, General Electric Capital Aviation Services (GECAS).
Link
Norway blocks Rolls-Royce asset sale to Russians, cites security concerns
The government of Norway suspended the sale of Bergen Engines, a Norwegian engine maker owned by Rolls-Royce Holdings, to THM Group, a company controlled by Russia.
The Norwegian National Security Authority (NSM) expressed doubts over the $178 million sale of the Norwegian engine manufacturing company owned by Britain’s Rolls-Royce to Russian-controlled company THM Group.
Link
Boeing posts first net positive orders since November 2019
Boeing began March 2021 with a very positive note, as the company’s latest Orders and Deliveries data pointed that it managed to achieve its first net positive orders since November 2019.
All in all, the planemaker booked 82 aircraft orders in February 2021.
Link
Boeing 747-8 Not Taken By Lufthansa Reportedly Sold
Boeing has reportedly sold a passenger 747-8 parked up in the Mojave desert. The aircraft was due to go to Lufthansa, being painted in the airline’s colors. However, the aircraft never ended up with the German flag carrier.
Link
Boeing Begins To Bounce Back: Orders Outpace Cancellations
After a couple of poor years, it seems that Boeing is beginning to make its comeback when it comes to aircraft orders. Indeed, in February, the airline posted its first net-increase in orders since November 2019 following a wave of cancellations prompted by the 737 MAX grounding.
LinkAirlines
LATAM provides an update on Chapter 11 proceedings
LATAM provided an update on its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, which the carrier has operated since May 2020, during its latest financial result announcement.
First things first, LATAM asked the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York for an extension for the deadline to file its reorganization plan, which the court granted.
Link
Cathay Pacific moves 46% of jets for long-term storage
Cathay Pacific Group, the parent company of the Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways, announced that it has moved 92 aircraft for long-term storage in Alice Springs in Australia and Ciudad Real in Spain. The company also disclosed having suffered a record loss of $2.8 billion in 2020 and sent 34 unspecified type aircraft for early retirement.
Link
Breeze Airways Officially Receives Its AOC
Breeze Airways has officially received an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC). The airline, now cleared for takeoff, is going to make a splash in US aviation. With regulatory approval under its belt, it is now up to Breeze to secure slots, gates and hire and train relevant personnel to start its routes.
Link
Neos Wants To Begin Passenger Flights To The US
Italian leisure airline Neos has filed an application with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for flying rights to the states. The filing, lodged on March 5th, gives no details of the flights planned, although the airline is eager for a rapid response. Its fleet of Dreamliners could well pick up some of the slack from Air Italy and, to some extent, the exit of Norwegian from the transatlantic market.
Link
Airlines Using Sustainable Fuels Have A Competitive Disadvantage
In a CAPA Live interview on Wednesday, leading Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) producer Neste’s Executive Vice President Thorsten Lange said that it is imperative to level out the playing field for airlines using SAF. As production costs are expected to remain much the same for the foreseeable future, until passengers begin choosing carriers solely based on sustainability, airlines incorporating it will be at a competitive disadvantage against those who do not.
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Ryanair Launches In-App Health Passport
Today, Ryanair revealed that it has launched a new in-app health passport. The airline has developed its own solution to allowing passengers to prove their COVID-19 status ahead of its summer schedule plans. Developing health passport solutions is currently a top priority across the aviation industry.
Link
Wow: Ryanair Plans 1,800+ Routes For Summer 2021
Ryanair expects 1,809 routes this summer across 221 airports and 37 countries. Its top-10 route list will see big changes, with Italy now more important than ever. Italy, Spain, and the UK are Ryanair’s largest countries, with more than three-quarters of all flights touching them.
LinkMilitary
T-45 to receive new oxygen system after hypoxia reports
The US Navy fleet of McDonnell-Douglas T-45 Goshawk trainer jets will receive a new generation of oxygen supply systems to put an end to the series of hypoxia events reported in the past years.
Cobham Mission Systems, which already manufactures the GGU-7 installed on the T-45, announced it won a contract from the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to provide a number of GGU-25 oxygen concentrators.
Link
Belgium grounds F-16 fleet following engine mishap
Following a technical investigation into an engine incident, the whole fleet of F-16 fighter jets of the Belgian Air Component was grounded from March 9, 2021, pending review.
Link
Germany Updates Air Force VIP Airbus A350 Paint Scheme
Germany has updated the livery of its Airbus A350s designated for VIP travel. Notably, the livery now features a fully painted wingtip, in addition to a new font for the words “Bundesrepublik Deutschland”.
Link
Aviation Quote
The Air Corps . . . does not, at this time, feel justified in obligating . . . funds for basic jet propulsion research and experimentation.
- Brigadier General George H. Brett, Chief of Material, U.S. Army Air Corps. Letter to Professor Robert Goddard regards the rejection of rocket research proposals. 1941.
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Trivia
Airliners And Their First Operators
1. What airline was the first operator of the Airbus A310-200?
Lufthansa
Delta
Air France
Austrian
2. The Boeing 767 is the most common aircraft on transatlantic flights. But what airline is the first user of the Boeing 767-300?
Condor
Japan Airlines
Qantas
American Airlines
3. The Dash 8 is a successful regional Canadian aircraft. Do you know the name of the airline that introduced it for the first time in commercial service?
DLT
Air BC
NorOntair
Air Canada
4. The Boeing 737 is the best-seller of Boeing, many versions of this aircraft are flying around the world. Can you tell me what airline made the inaugural flight of the Boeing 737-400?
British Airways
Varig
United Airlines
Piedmont
5. What was the launch airline of the Boeing 747-300?
Swissair
Saudia
UTA
Japan Airlines
6. The Dutch company Fokker created the Fokker 100 specially designed for short-regional routes with a capacity of 85-107 passengers. Do you know what airline is the first operator of this aircraft?
KLM
Malev
American Airlines
Swissair
7. The consortium Airbus Europe designed the A300 for short-medium haul and high-density routes, it became a successful aircraft and a serious rival for some Boeing models. The question is, can you tell me the name of the first user of the Airbus A300-600R?
American Airlines
Pan Am
Lufthansa
Eastern
8. Who was the first user of the Canadair CL-600-100?
Comair
Air France
Maersk
Lufthansa CityLine
9. Who was the first commercial user of the MD-90?
Delta
SAS
Saudia
Swissair
10. And finally we finish with the aircraft of the future. The Airbus A380 will be the biggest commercial aircraft ever built. Do you know what airline made the first order of this big airplane?
Virgin Atlantic
Emirates
Lufthansa
Singapore Airlines
