You are at netAirspace : Forum : Air and Space Forums : netAirspace Daily News

NEWS

JAL to 'minimize risk' by sticking with American, rejects Delta
Months of high-stakes jockeying between oneworld's American Airlines and SkyTeam's Delta Air Lines over partnering with troubled Japan Airlines came to an end yesterday when JAL announced it will stay in oneworld and jointly apply for antitrust immunity on transpacific routes with AA.
Link

SAS loses $400 million in 2009, extends cost cuts
SAS Group lost SEK2.95 billion ($400 million) in 2009, improved 53.7% from the SEK6.36 billion deficit suffered the year before, but the company felt additional cost cuts were necessary and extended its Core SAS reduction program by SEK2 billion to SEK7.3 billion.
Link

DOT requires US, DL to sell slots to receive okay for LGA/DCA deal
The US Dept. of Transportation yesterday tentatively granted the slot swap transaction involving Delta Air Lines' Washington National slots and US Airways' New York LaGuardia slots but said the approval is contingent on the sale of 20 of the 125 LGA pairs and 14 of the 42 DCA pairs.
Link

Jazz returns to profit, orders up to 30 Q400s
Jazz Air parent Jazz Air Income Fund yesterday announced a 2009 profit of C$92.6 million ($86.5 million), reversed from a C$9.4 million loss in 2008, and said it signed a letter of intent to purchase 15 Q400 NextGens plus 15 options for Air Canada's regional partner. Jazz Air parent Jazz Air Income Fund yesterday announced a 2009 profit of C$92.6 million ($86.5 million), reversed from a C$9.4 million loss in 2008, and said it signed a letter of intent to purchase 15 Q400 NextGens plus 15 options for Air Canada's regional partner.
Link

Death Of Murtha Leaves U.S. Defense Vacancy
The chairman of the U.S. House Appropriations defense subcommittee, Rep. John P. Murtha (D-PA), died Feb. 8, leaving a vast and sudden vacancy in one of the most powerful aerospace and defense lawmaking positions on Capitol Hill.
Link

USAF issues KC-X update, ignores Northrop demands
The US Air Force has issued a "presoliciation notice" for the KC-X tanker contract that suggests at least two of the three changes demanded by the Northrop Grumman/EADS North America team will not be incorporated in the final request for proposals (RFP).
Link

Thai's new A330s delayed due to seat problems
Thai Airways International has had the delivery of five new Airbus A330-300s delayed due to problems with aircraft seats manufactured by Japanese seat maker Koito Industries.
Link


Other News

Southwest Airlines reportedly is under investigation by FAA for another possible safety violation related to aircraft maintenance. Multiple media reports cited sources with knowledge of the probe and The Dallas Morning News stated that FAA's Fort Worth office confirmed it but declined to provide details. According to reports, FAA is investigating whether a Seattle-based repair station contracted by the LCC used unapproved procedures to repair as many as 44 737s that then operated more than 100,000 flights.

SWA declined to comment on the specifics and said only that it regularly cooperates with FAA and that its maintenance practices "promote aviation safety." It was forced by the agency last year to replace unapproved parts on approximately 39 737-300s/-500s and agreed to pay a $7.5 million fine stemming from its operation of 46 737 Classics for nine days in March 2007 after it disclosed that the aircraft were in noncompliance with an airworthiness directive.

Separately, The Wall Street Journal reported that FAA imminently will issue a proposed fine against American Airlines regarding alleged MD-80 maintenance violations. Additionally, the paper said the Dept. of Transportation inspector general is preparing to issue a negative report on AA's maintenance program.

Australian government announced a A$200 million ($174.1 million) commitment to boost airport security across the country by 2011. All international airports are to be equipped with full-body scanners and machines that can detect liquid explosives, with A$28.5 million to be spent on a variety of screening technologies. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said full-body scanners will be introduced by early next year, the Australian Associated Press reported. Australia will spend A$32 million to increase security at regional airports. More federal police (A$12.3 million) and sniffer dogs (A$17.7 million) also will be added and intelligence sharing between customs and law enforcement agencies will be increased to the tune of A$24.9 million. Among other expenditures announced was a A$54.2 million investment in cargo x-ray screening and explosive trace detection technology.

Boeing 747 Chief Pilot Mark Feuerstein said the 747-8 freighter "performed as expected and handled just like a 747-400" during Monday's 3 hr. 39 min. first flight. The aircraft departed from Paine Field in Everett and followed a route over western Washington state before returning. The manufacturer said it successfully underwent tests for "basic handling qualities and engine performance." The GEnx-2B-powered aircraft reached a cruising altitude of 17,000 ft. (5,181 m.) and a top speed of 230 kt. Two more test -8Fs will take to the skies over the next month. Total flight hr. in the program are expected to reach 1,600.

Monday's flight was the first for a GEnx-powered aircraft. General Electric GEnx Program GM Tom Brisken said it marked "the culmination of about five years of engine design, development and testing. . .Compared to the CF6 engine, the GEnx-2B engine will offer 13% improved fuel efficiency, which translates to 13% less CO2. The engine achieves these improvements with aerodynamic advancements that enable higher pressures and improved energy extraction from a more compact core architecture that has significantly fewer parts." The GEnx-1B-powered 787 flight test aircraft, the final two of six in that program, have not flown yet.

Ryanair will establish a base at Kaunas, its 40th, in May with two 737-800s. Routes from the airport will double to 18, including new service to Berlin Schoenefeld, Dusseldorf Weeze, Edinburgh, London Gatwick, Bergamo, Oslo Rygge, Paris Beauvais, Tampere and Girona. The LCC said the new base represents an investment of more than $140 million and that it "is in continuous negotiation with four other Central European airports" regarding new bases.

Turkish Airlines is negotiating a two-year dry lease of three Jet Airways 777-300ERs, a THY spokesperson confirmed. The widebodies would join the THY fleet in April and be painted in its red-and-white livery. In December 2008, Turkish agreed to wet-lease three 777-300ERs from Jet for six months. It has a firm order for 12 of the type with delveries starting in October. It is scheduled to take delivery of five this year and seven in 2011.

RUAG Aviation announced that Lufttransport of Norway ordered a Do 228 NG, becoming the European launch customer for the upgraded version of the twin-turboprop utility and transport aircraft manufactured by Dornier from the early 1980s until 1999 and by India's Hindustan Aeronautics under license. According to RUAG, the 228 NG "is a completely modernized and enhanced version" of the Do 228-212. Fuselage, wings and tail unit for the new version are being manufactured by Hindustan in Kanpur and transported to Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich, where RUAG will carry out final assembly and outfitting. The NG includes a digital glass cockpit, new navigation and communication systems, five-bladed composite propellers and an updated cabin. Aircraft will be delivered to Lufttransport in September and brings the Do 228 NG order book to 12, RUAG said.

Skynet Asia Airways of Japan announced the lease of one 737-800 from AWAS for delivery in the summer of 2011. It currently operates nine 737-400s. Aircraft will feature the Boeing Sky Interior.

Continental Airlines suspended Wednesday operations at its Newark hub as it anticipated a winter storm. A second significant snowfall was forecast to hit the US Mid-Atlantic region, which yesterday was still suffering flight cancellations as a result of the storm that hit last Friday and Saturday. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said it does not expect any flights to operate at either Dulles or National today.

Greek air traffic controllers planned a 24-hr. strike today, grounding all flights to and from Greece. Athens-based Aegean Airlines said it was "forced to cancel all flights on its network."

AirTran Airways announced that flight dispatchers at its Orlando control center represented by the Transport Workers Union ratified a new 48-month collective bargaining agreement.

American Airlines will begin charging economy passengers $8 for a blanket and inflatable pillow on North and Central American flights lasting more than 2 hr. on May 1.

OpenSkies will launch five-times-weekly Paris Orly-Washington Dulles service on May 3 aboard a 757 with 72 business class seats. The British Airways subsidiary commenced operations in June 2008 with an ORY-New York JFK service and soon acquired Paris-based L'Avion, which operated 10 weekly 757-200 all-business-class flights between ORY and Newark. OpenSkies planned to be flying six 757s by the end of 2009 but dropped its Amsterdam-JFK route last summer owing to lack of demand. On Jan. 4 it transferred all New York-area operations to EWR and now operates 17 ORY-EWR flights per week.

Thai Airways named Pravich Rattanapira chairman of the executive board, succeeding Wallop Bhukkanasut.

Air Berlin announced the departure of Chief Maintenance Officer Wolfgang Kurth, citing "differences of opinion concerning the future strategic positioning of the technical support companies and their integration in the Air Berlin Group." AB CEO Joachim Hunold will handle Kurth's responsibilities in the interim.



AVIATION QUOTE

I decided there must be room for another airline when I spent two days trying to get through to People Express.

— Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Atlantic.



AEROSPACE TERM

Heat Affected Zone

That portion of the base metal, the structure or properties of which have been altered by the heat of welding or gas-cutting operation. Used for HAZ (metallurgy).



DAILY VIDEO





EDITOR’S CHOICE


Image by Airfoilsguy



HUMOR

The Brothel

The madam opened the brothel door and saw a rather dignified, well-dressed, good-looking man in his late forties or early fifties.

“May I help you sir?” she asked.

“I want to see Valerie,” the man replied. “Sir, Valerie is one of our most expensive ladies. Perhaps you would prefer someone else,” said the madam.

“No, I must see Valerie,” he replied

Just then, Valerie appeared and announced to the man she charged $5000 a visit. Without hesitation, the man pulled out five thousand dollars and gave it to Valerie, and they went upstairs. After an hour, the man calmly left.

The next night, the man appeared again, once more demanding to see Valerie. Valerie explained that no one had ever come back two nights in a row as she was too expensive. But there were no discounts. The price was still $5000.

Again, the man pulled out the money, gave it to Valerie, and they went upstairs. After an hour, he left.

The following night the man was there yet again. Everyone was astounded that he had come for a third consecutive night, but he paid Valerie and they went upstairs.

After their session, Valerie questioned the man, 'No one has ever been with me three nights in a row.

“Where are you from?” she asked

The man replied, ' Ontario '.

“Really?”, she said. “I have family in Ontario.”

“I know,” the man said. “Your sister died, and I am her attorney. She asked me to give you your $15,000 inheritance.”

The moral of the story is that three things in life are certain.
1. Death
2. Taxes
3. Being screwed by a lawyer



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?

4. Should have brought more stuff to shoot with, because he's all out now.

1. B
2. D
3. A?
4. Out of ammo!
5. Hmm. A B-57?
6. Scotty is on-board?

Totally guessing...

1. D?
2. B?
3. no idea
4. ditto
5. Canberra? (I know it set some trans-atlantic record, don't know if it was this one, though)
6. Pretty sure here - someone who constantly kicks the seatback in front of him. Lovely species, preferrably found in the seat behind me...

Jazz returns to profit, orders up to 30 Q400s
Jazz Air parent Jazz Air Income Fund yesterday announced a 2009 profit of C$92.6 million ($86.5 million), reversed from a C$9.4 million loss in 2008, and said it signed a letter of intent to purchase 15 Q400 NextGens plus 15 options for Air Canada's regional partner. Jazz Air parent Jazz Air Income Fund yesterday announced a 2009 profit of C$92.6 million ($86.5 million), reversed from a C$9.4 million loss in 2008, and said it signed a letter of intent to purchase 15 Q400 NextGens plus 15 options for Air Canada's regional partner.

Seems a little aggressive to me. Didn't know they had the capacity to expand like that.

ANSWERS:

1. (d) The pilot is above the pivotal altitude for the existing airspeed. He can descend to the pivotal altitude or he can increase airspeed to raise the pivotal altitude. Doing both simultaneously results in an easier return to pivotal altitude.

2. (c) This is when the airplane will have the greatest groundspeed and, therefore, need to turn the most rapidly to fly a perfect circle. Conversely, groundspeed and rate of turn are at a minimum when on a heading of 090 degrees.

3. (a) Think of it this way: S stands for stratus, T for turbulence, and Z for freezing.

4. Winchester means that all available ordnance on the airplane has been expended.

5. Two Republic F-84 Thunderjets made the crossing on September 22, 1950, with the help of three in-flight refuelings.

6. Someone who seems to enjoy bumping or thumping the seat in front of him. (Such a person almost justifies homicide.)