miamiair/forum/images/avatars/gallery/first/user54/1.pngoffline(netAirspace FAA) 02 Jun 09, 08:58
NEWS
Air France A330 assumed lost over stormy Atlantic Search aircraft scoured wide swaths of the South Atlantic yesterday in search of any trace of the Air France A330-200 that lost contact with Brazilian ATC after possibly encountering a severe thunderstorm Sunday night. http://atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=16771
Search hunts for A330 locator signal in vast ocean area Search and rescue teams have still not traced any locator signal from Air France flight AF447, more than 24 hours since the Airbus A330 departed Rio de Janeiro on its ill-fated voyage. The Brazilian defence ministry's air command says there has been "no capture" of any locator transmission from the aircraft, such as the sonic emission from a flight recorder. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... -area.html
Brazilian ministry details last track of missing Air France A330 Brazil's defence ministry has detailed the last known track of the missing Air France Airbus A330-200, and indicated that the jet may have reported a pressurisation problem as well as an electrical fault. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... rance.html
Flydubai lifts off Flydubai's inaugural flight departed from Dubai International's Terminal 2 yesterday morning on its way to Beirut, marking "an opening of the skies for low-cost travel to and from the Emirate," the startup said. http://atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=16773
Air Malta faces minimal cuts thanks to cautious approach Air Malta is enjoying a reasonably stable ride through the current industry crisis thanks to decisions made several years ago, but it remains weighed down by excess staff, CEO Joe Cappello said recently. http://atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=16774
Global Hawk Emergency Prompts Hard Landing A U.S. Air Force Global Hawk unmanned air system (UAS) experienced an in-flight emergency May 28 during a test sortie at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., that resulted in a hard landing, according to service officials. The incident took place late in the evening, they say. The aircraft involved, which is parked on the dry lakebed at the base, is in the Block 20 configuration. This Global Hawk version has an extended wingspan and is designed to carry 3,000 pounds of payload. Air Force officials expect this configuration to eventually assume the high-altitude surveillance role now handled by the U-2. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/ ... 060109.xml
ANA and Virgin Atlantic to codeshare on London to Tokyo All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Virgin Atlantic Airways will be codesharing on the Tokyo Narita-London Heathrow route starting in August. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... tokyo.html
ATR plans to start flight-testing new -600 variant in June Flight-testing of the upgraded ATR 42/72-600 variant is due to begin this month. The new models incorporate a Thales flightdeck avionics suite (pictured) along with higher-thrust Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127M engines, interior enhancements and increased payload. ATR head of sales John Moore says flight-testing will begin this month, with certification and service entry due in the second half of 2010. Certification of the larger 70-seat ATR 72-600 will occur first, with the 50-seat ATR 42-600 following. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... nt-in.html
US Navy terminates VH-71 presidential helicopter contract The US Navy today formally terminated the Lockheed Martin/AgustaWestland VH-71 contract awarded in 2004 to develop a presidential helicopter. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... tract.html
Other News
Assn. of European Airlines members said last week that there remains no indication about when an economic recovery might begin and that the current downturn could have a "profound impact on the market" well past this year. IATA said last week, "The worst may be over. However, we have not yet seen any signs that recovery is imminent." AEA Chairman and Croatia Airlines President and CEO Ivan Misetic said, "The economic downturn is of unprecedented dimensions because all global economies are in a deep recession and we do not know when the downturn will bottom out." He added, "What we do know is that it has severe repercussions on all airline business models. Passenger volumes are in steep decline and the airfreight market has suffered what can only be described as collapse."
European government officials and regulators continue to raise taxes at the same time the industry is dealing with severe financial challenges, the executives agreed. They also concurred that all sectors of the air transport industry need to work together to identify and secure "efficiency gains." Misetic claimed that despite falling traffic, AEA remains a strong supporter of finding solutions to the global environmental issues. "By the December climate change conference in Copenhagen, we could see broad support worldwide for a system which could deliver genuine environmental benefits with a minimum of competitive distortion," he said.
China Southern Airlines received government approval for a private placement of 721.2 million A shares worth more than CNY2.28 billion ($333.4 million), SinoCast reported. Proceeds will be used to pay off loans and are part of a capital increase that also will include 721.2 million H shares. Both reportedly will be subscribed to by an overseas subsidiary of CZ parent China Southern Air Holding Co.
Gate Gourmet announced the purchase of United Airlines' Tokyo Narita flight kitchen and will provide catering and provisioning services to UA under a new long-term deal. The company said the acquisition will more than double its production capacity at NRT.
Amadeus said total travel bookings fell 2.1% last year to 526.6 million but its revenue was up 2.2% from 2007 to €2.86 billion ($4.05 billion). It said its market share rose 1.7 points to 35.6%. In the first quarter of 2009, its travel agency bookings slid 9.1% year-over-year and the entire GDS market dropped an estimated 13.2%, it said.
SkyTeam said the first level of its first co-branded alliance lounge, located in London Heathrow's Terminal 4, will open Thursday. Facility eventually will consist of two floors covering more than 1,600 sq. m. Second level is scheduled to open in November. Eligible passengers on Delta Air Lines, KLM, Continental Airlines and Kenya Airways will have access immediately, with more coming as additional SkyTeam carriers shift operations to T4.
Emirates yesterday began serving Toronto (thrice-weekly) and Bangkok (daily) with the A380. EK's next new A380 destination will be Incheon on Dec. 1. It also announced the addition of 22 weekly flights to India, bringing the number to 185 in the coming months. It serves 10 Indian cities.
Royal Jordanian yesterday launched twice-weekly Amman-Benghazi service. It also added a fourth daily flight to Beirut.
AirAsia yesterday launched daily service from Singapore to Penang and Langkawi.
Bmi added its code to Virgin Atlantic Airways flights from London Heathrow to six US destinations, Dubai, Nairobi and Delhi.
LAN Peru received DGAC approval to fly RNP procedures into Cuzco, Naverus announced.
BCI Aircraft Leasing sold one 737-200 to Alok Group for operation by Uganda's SkyJet. Aircraft is powered by JT8D-15As.
ALTA unveiled Bombardier Commercial Aircraft and Hahn Air as affiliate members.
AAR was selected by IAI's Bedek Aviation Group to provide the cargo system for its 767-300 conversion program. AAR and IAI developed a GMF system for the 767-200 conversion in 2002.
Aviareps subsidiary Avianet will take over distribution of computer reservations system and support services for Condor Airlines.
AVIATION QUOTE
I've learned that it is what I do not know that I fear, and I strive, outwardly from pride, inwardly from the knowledge that the unknown is what will finally kill me, to know all there is to be known about my airplane. I will never die. — Richard Bach
AEROSPACE TERM
Gauge Theory
A field theory in which symmetrics of the theory are implemented locally in space and time. This leads to theories where forces are generally carried by vector bosons. Some gauge theories are electrodynamics, quantum chromodynamics, and Yang Mills theory.
DAILY VIDEO
HUMOR
A Pilot In Heaven
A minister dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates. Ahead of him is a guy who's dressed in sunglasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket, and jeans.
Saint Peter addresses this guy, "Who are you, so that I may know whether or not to admit you to the Kingdom of Heaven?" The guy replies, "I'm Joey Shasta, retired pilot, of Pittsburg, PA."
Saint Peter consults his list. He smiles and says to the pilot, "Take this silken robe and golden staff and enter the Kingdom."
The pilot goes into Heaven with his robe and staff.
Next it's the minister's turn. He stands erect and booms out, "I am Joseph Snow, pastor of Saint Mary's for the last 43 years." Saint Peter consults his list. He says to the minister, "Take this cotton robe and wooden staff and enter the Kingdom."
"Just a minute," says the minister. "That man was a pilot and he gets a silken robe and golden staff. How can this be?"
"Up here, we work by results," says Saint Peter. "While you preached, people slept; while he flew, people prayed."
TRIVIA
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And let's get one thing straight. There's a big difference between a pilot and an aviator. One is a technician; the other is an artist in love with flight. — E. B. Jeppesen
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