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NEWS

Alaska Air sees Seattle as "template" for NextGen program
Alaska Air CEO Bill Ayer says a "Greener Skies" initiative at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will convince skeptics of the value of NextGen. Alaska joined with Boeing, the Port of Seattle and the FAA to create the initiative, which includes Required Navigation Performance procedures designed to reduce emissions by 22,000 metric tons annually. "We believe that what we are doing in Seattle can serve as a template for advancing NextGen in other parts of the country," Ayer told an FAA conference on Tuesday, adding that NextGen's "lack of specificity creates some confusion and some naysayers within the aviation community."
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American creates social media channels for frequent fliers
American Airlines says its new Facebook and Twitter accounts dedicated to communicating with AAdvantage frequent fliers are a first for the U.S. airline industry. "Other airlines have their own airline-specific places on those social media channels, but not dedicated to mileage benefits," says American's vice president of partner marketing for AAdvantage. "We are giving a very specific channel here for people who want to learn how to earn miles." American plans to use its social media accounts to offer special mileage promotions that are not available to the general public.
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Navy official: Pentagon still committed to F-35 purchase
Navy Vice Adm. David Venlet says that despite a substantial restructuring that postponed the production of 124 F-35 fighter jets until after 2016, the Pentagon is still committed to purchasing 2,443 of the Lockheed Martin jets. Venlet told industry executives that the Air Force still intended to buy 1,763 of the stealthy fighter jets, and the Navy planned to buy 680.
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House votes to retain funding for V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft
The House voted Tuesday to retain $415 million in funding for the V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft being built by Boeing and Textron's Bell Helicopter unit. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., had called the V-22 a "boondoggle" and introduced the measure to cut the funding in an amendment to a Republican bill cutting domestic spending for the remainder of fiscal 2011.
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Boeing eyes incremental improvements to the 777
Boeing is looking for ways to make incremental improvements to its 777 craft as its steps up production of the staple in the 300-to-400-seat market. In the longer run, it will consider a major overhaul, such as a re-engining or outfitting the plane with new wings. Boeing plans to increase production from five to seven planes per month this year. In Q1 2013, it will bring production up to 8.3 planes per month.
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Model rocket class helps launch student interest in technology
Schools around the nation, like one on Millville, Calif., are working to find innovative ways to enhance their science and math departments to boost student interest in science-related jobs. At the Millville school, the effort has focused on a model rocketry elective class that the teacher says mixes science, math, engineering, technology and fun.
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Air Force's block buy approach designed to improve space budget
A new procurement approach focusing on block buys for space-related purchases such as satellites could generate at least 10% in savings for the Air Force, officials say. Under the plan, the Air Force is asking Congress to allow it to buy two Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellites built by Lockheed Martin starting in fiscal 2012, and two Lockheed Space Based Infrared System satellites the following year. The approach is part of the Pentagon's overall drive to become more efficient and could eventually be used for other satellite programs.
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Norwegian posts $32.5 million net profit in 2010
Norwegian Air Shuttle reported a net profit of NOK189 million for 2010 ($32.5 million), down 57.6% from the NOK446.3 million it earned in 2009 despite a 21.2% increase in passengers to 13 million and a 17.6% rise in revenue to NOK8.6 billion. Operating expenses increased 24.4% to NOK7.4 billion on a 31% increase in capacity to 17.8 billion ASKs. EBIT narrowed 63.1% to NOK210.2 million from NOK571.9 million in 2009. Annual load factor was 76%, down two percentage points from 2009.
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Pratt's PW1000G geared turbofan completes initial ground tests
Pratt & Whitney said it "successfully completed initial ground testing" on its first PW1000G series engine. The powerplant, which went through nearly 200 hr. of tests beginning last September at the company's West Palm Beach facility, is the PW1524G for the Bombardier CSeries.
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EADS outlines bidding strategy for KC-X win
As the KC-X competition enters perhaps its final week, EADS North America has revealed a major shift in pricing strategy and outlined how its proposal may prevail over Boeing's bid. After a seven-month evaluation phase, the US Air Force allowed both competitors to submit final changes on 11 February. A week before the deadline, EADS chief executive Tom Enders ruled out making any "hectic, last-minute" changes before the deadline, according to a Reuters story.
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India plots first flight for Nirbhay cruise missile
India's Nirbhay subsonic cruise missile will make its first flight during 2012, with systems integration work under way, says Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief V K Saraswat.
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Qantas 1H pre-tax profit up 56% to A$417 million
The Qantas Group saw first half profits before tax jump 56% to A$417 million ($417 million) in the six months to 31 December, but reports an uneven recovery between domestic and international operations.
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Qantas's damaged A380 to return to service this year
The Qantas Airbus A380 aircraft damaged last November during an uncontained Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine failure will return to service this year. "We'll be in the air by the end of the year with that aircraft," says Qantas CEO Alan Joyce. He cautions, however, that "it could take as long as September until it is fully repaired."
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Qantas favors commercial settlement with Rolls-Royce
Qantas is prepared to wait for a commercial settlement with Rolls-Royce in regard to the repair and other costs stemming from a November uncontained Trent 900 engine failure on a Qantas Airbus A380 aircraft.
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Bombardier's Mirabel plant to undergo big expansion for CSeries
Bombardier is gearing up to significantly expand its Mirabel plant, outside of Montreal, in preparation for assembly of its new CSeries narrowbody. The Canadian airframer currently produces CRJ700, CRJ900 and CRJ1000 regional jets at Mirabel. "One of the first things we'll be doing in advance of building a prototype [CSeries] airplane is to perform modifications to the [existing CRJ] hangar," says Jean-Guy Blondin, Bombardier CRJ programs director.
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Other News

A&F Aviation, the ANA-First Eastern Investment Group low fare airline, Airbus announced that they selected the A320 to launch services from Osaka Kansai International beginning in the second half of FY2011. According to Airbus, A&F will lease 10 CFM56-powered A320s from GECAS. Aircraft will be configured for 180 passengers in a single-class layout, Airbus said.

United Airlines temporarily grounded its fleet of 96 Boeing 757s on Tuesday for emergency checks on air data computer systems, but said the fleet was nearly back to normal by Wednesday afternoon. The carrier said 15 flights were canceled on Tuesday owing to the checks but none on Wednesday. The checks were spurred by an internal discovery that UA hadn't conducted all of the operational checks on the equipment mandated by a 2004 FAA Airworthiness Directive. The checks took about 60-90 min. per aircraft and all air data computers were found to be "fully functional," UA said, adding that the checks caused "very minimal impact on operations." The grounding was voluntary on UA's part, FAA said. Continental Airlines' 757s were not affected.

The Assn. of German Airlines forecast the new eco-tax, which took effect Jan. 1, will prevent five million passengers from flying in 2011 and 2012, thus destroying the creation of 15,000 new jobs in the German aviation industry, BDF President Ralf Teckentrup said at the Aviation Press Club in Frankfurt on Tuesday.

Air Transport Assn. President and CEO Nicholas Calio, who took over from James May in January, continues to put his stamp on the trade group, announcing a shake-up on Tuesday that saw the departure of long-time Executive VP and COO John Meenan and Chief of Staff Patty Higginbotham.

Malev Hungarian Airlines announced it will begin offering customers in Amsterdam the option of online check-in for departures. Beginning Feb. 25, passengers will be able to input reservation and ticket info on the carrier’s website up to 36 hours before departure and select a preferred seat. Online check-in is now available at 25 airports in Malev’s network, it said.

Air Cargo Germany named Markus Gloeckler as CFO.

Wizz Air transported 9.6 million passengers in 2010, a 23% year-over-year improvement. Load factor stayed flat at 84%.

Intersky, a small Austrian LCC, transported 210,000 passengers last year, up 21% compared to 2009.

Lufthansa Cargo said it transported 1,200 tons of roses for delivery on Valentine's Day on Feb 14, equivalent to 34 million roses, or 14 fully booked MD-11Fs.



AVIATION QUOTE

A pilot who doesn't have any fear probably isn't flying his plane to its maximum.

— Jon McBride, astronaut.



ON THIS DATE

February 17th

• In 1904... The Wright brothers inspect the grounds where the St. Louis aeronautical exposition will be held in April.

• In 1934... The first airmail flight from Australia to New Zealand is flown by Charles T. Ulm in his Avro Ten, a license-built Fokker F. VIIB/3m registered as VH-UXX.



DAILY VIDEO





EDITOR’S CHOICE





HUMOR

Teaching The Child

As a crowded airliner is about to take off, the peace is shattered by a 5-year-old boy who picks that moment to throw a wild temper tantrum. No matter what his frustrated, embarrassed mother does to try to calm him down, the boy continues to scream furiously and kick the seats around him.

Suddenly, from the rear of the plane, an elderly man in the uniform of an Air Force General is seen slowly walking forward up the aisle. Stopping the flustered mother with an upraised hand, the white-haired, courtly, soft-spoken General leans down and, motioning toward his chest, whispers something into the boy's ear.

Instantly, the boy calms down, gently takes his mother's hand, and quietly fastens his seat belt. All the other passengers burst into spontaneous applause.

As the General slowly makes his way back to his seat, one of the cabin attendants touches his sleeve. "Excuse me, General," she asks quietly, "but could I ask you what magic words you used on that little boy?"

The old man smiles serenely and gently confides, "I showed him my pilot's wings, service stars, and battle ribbons, and explained that they entitle me to throw one passenger out the plane door on any flight I choose."



TRIVIA

Tail ID

1.


2.


3.


4.


5.


6.


7.


8.


9.


10.

1. Air Amsterdam
2. Finnair
3. Emirates
4. Etihad
5. Bulgaria Air
6. Transaero
7. Air Venuzuela?!
8. Air Seychelles
9.
10. Spicejet?

I can get 2-4, but the fail is strong this morning.

I went looking for help (not that it got me right answers for the two I found - but I didn't cheat looking at the other answer - unless double-checking what I first found on number 6 counts ).

1.
2.
3. Emirates
4.
5.
6. Transaero
7.
8.
9.
10. Air Madagascar

1.
2. Finnair
3. Emirates
4. Etihad
5. Bulgaria Air
6. Transaero
7. Ecuatoriana
8. Air Seychelles
9.
10. Air Madagascar

ANSWERS:

1. 2H, European Airlines
2. AY, Finnair
3. EK, Emirates
4. EY, Etihad Airways
5. FB, Bulgaria Air
6. UN, Transaero Airlines
7. EU, Ecuatoriana
8. HM, Air Seychelles
9. KW, Carnival Airlines
10. MD, Air Madagascar