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NEWS

Japan: aerospace survives the flood
On 11 March the sleepy Japanese airport at Sendai was the focus of the world. Aerial footage from Japanese television showed a tsunami of muddy seawater and debris, unleashed by a 9.0-magnitude offshore earthquake, sweeping across the airport, flooding runways and taxiways. The airport handles around 40 flights daily, but no commercial aircraft were present when the tsunami hit.
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Lufthansa to order 30 A320neos, five 777 freighters
Lufthansa's supervisory board on Wednesday approved orders for 35 new aircraft comprising 25 Airbus A320neos, five A321neos and five Boeing 777 freighters.
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U.S. airlines' work force grows
In January, total full-time airline employees reached 380,949 -- the highest since August 2009. Network carriers' work force rose 0.3%. Delta Air Lines had the largest increase, of 2.7%, then Continental, now part of United Continental Holdings at 1%.
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Fed mediation board to decide if UPS manager pilots can unionize
The UPS pilots union says it has collected enough signatures to unionize managers the company uses as fill-in pilots. The union claims threats to job security as the substitutes render regulars easily replaceable. UPS spokesman Mike Mangeot challenges the unionization move, claiming that federal labor law dictates that "management officials" cannot be unionized. UPS stands by its claim that the availability of the supervisors aids in fulfilling extra demands and managing sick leave.
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India's Jet Airways may join Delta/Air France-KLM/Alitalia alliance
Code-sharing on airline tickets, cooperation on client reward programs and other services such as engineering on some overseas routes are some collaborations that would occur if India's Jet Airways joins the trans-Atlantic venture among Delta, Air France-KLM and Alitalia. The airline is examining its existing partnerships before reaching a decision. Joining the Delta group would allow Jet Air to cost-effectively expand its overseas operations.
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U.S. airlines report no significant service changes to Japan
There were no reported significant changes to U.S. airline service to Japan, but the FAA is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to take action if the nuclear crisis worsens. "So far, we're looking at very, very low levels of radiation, but it's still atmospheric," said John Nance, an industry consultant.
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Boeing's largest jumbo jet prepped to make first test run Sunday
The Boeing 747-8 has greater length and fuel-efficiency than Boeing's 747 double-decker jumbo jet, and it is being prepped for its first test flight this weekend. "The 747-8 Intercontinental first flight window will open Sunday, March 20, 10 a.m. (1700 GMT) at Paine Field in Everett, Washington," Boeing said Tuesday. The 747-8 is capable of carrying 467 passengers over long-haul international routes.
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NTSB tackles tiredness
The National Transportation Safety Board is cracking down on pilot fatigue in order to minimize crash potential. Efforts include restricting pilots' schedules and allowing pilots diagnosed with insomnia to take sleeping medication to ensure a proper night's rest before takeoff. Currently prohibited by the Federal Aviation Administration, pills such as Ambien are banned for fears of side effects, including extended drowsiness that could impair flying abilities.
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Report recommends ways to ease security bottlenecks
A new report is urging the Transportation Security Administration to put a voluntary "trusted traveler" program in place. The report, sponsored by the U.S. Travel Association, also asks airlines to allow travelers to check one bag for free and recommends additional training for TSA screeners.
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Atlanta remains busiest world airport, Beijing takes second place
Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International is facing stiff competition from Beijing's Capital International Airport for the title of busiest airport in the world. The Atlanta airport retained the title, according to a preliminary report released Tuesday by Airports Council International. However, the Beijing airport took second place by surpassing London's Heathrow Airport in passenger traffic. Observers noted that the combination of a strong global carrier and a low-fare airline in the Atlanta market helped the airport retain the title.
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Udvar-Hazy: Boeing 737 replacement will include 757-size offering
Air Lease Corp. CEO Steven Udvar-Hazy, whose statements on aircraft programs have long carried significant weight, said Boeing's 737 replacement solution will likely include a larger aircraft offering for which the twin-aisle concept makes sense. According to the Seattle Times, he told reporters at the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading conference in Phoenix that he believes the upper end of Boeing's new family will be a 757-size jet with more than 200 seats. Boeing insiders said earlier this month that the company is moving "far more aggressively" toward a 180-250 seat twin-aisle replacement for the 737.
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Air Berlin prepares for 2012 entry into oneworld
Air Berlin CEO Joachim Hunold said on the sidelines of ITB Berlin last week that the carrier is busy completing the necessary requirements to join oneworld by April 2012.
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Conceptual 787-10 'would be a good airplane': Udvar-Hazy
Boeing's conceptual 787-10 will provide an ideal replacement to the A340-300 and 777-200 on routes from the US west coast to Asia and trans-Atlantic missions, says Air Lease CEO Steven-Udvar Hazy.
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Kuwait's Wataniya Airways ceases operations
Kuwaiti carrier Wataniya Airways has ceased operations effective immediately, having run into financial trouble. Wataniya started up two years ago after the Kuwaiti Government carried out plans to create additional airlines in the small Gulf state. It built a fleet of seven Airbus A320 aircraft but towards the end of last year admitted it would be slashing its network and removing three of the jets from service.
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Other News

The impact for European airlines and airports owing to the Japanese earthquake, tsunami and crisis at the Fukushima nuclear plant should be limited to global GDP, FX rates, fuel prices and a possible shift of capacity away from Japan, according to a research report by Citi Investment Research & Analysis.

Rolls-Royce said Wednesday that Asiana Airlines selected the Trent 900 to power the six Airbus A380s the Seoul-based carrier has on order for delivery from 2014-2017. The contract includes a TotalCare long-term service agreement.

Air India pilot strike postponed. The planned strike by the Indian Commercial Pilots Assn., the union representing 800 Air India pilots who were Indian Airlines pilots prior to the 2007 merger, has been deferred for four weeks as talks begin with the labor commissioner.

AENA, the Spanish airport operator and unions reached a preliminary agreement to call off 22 days of strike action between April and August, AENA said on Wednesday. “The agreement was reached after nearly 20 hours of talks,” it noted in a press release, adding that the accord still had to be voted on by workers.

Sargent Aerospace & Defense said its Aftermarket Services group is acquiring more than 1,200 Boeing 737-300 and NG line-replaceable units ranging from avionics, fuel pumps, electromechanical actuators, engine components, to landing gear top assembly units, valued at approximately $4 million. The majority of the LRUs will be "in overhauled condition ready for outright sale, as well as exchange and lease programs." Non-overhauled material will be used for inventory, improving stocking levels for subassemblies and piece part items, the company, a unit of Dover Corp., said.

Swiss International Air Lines announced that, due to the unfolding nuclear crisis in Japan, it will reroute its daily Zurich-Tokyo Narita flight via Hong Kong in both directions so the carrier can avoid making crew changes in Japan. The flight will now leave ZRH in the evening instead of in the afternoon.

Continental Airlines will launch daily 757-200 Newark-Stuttgart service June 9, subject to government approval. Route frequency will decrease to five-times-weekly during the winter months to account for decreased demand, it said.

Lufthansa will operate seasonal weekly service from Munich to Antalya, Ibiza and Palermo. It will also operate service from Frankfurt to Bastia (weekly), Genoa (twice-weekly), Olbia (twice-weekly), Split (twice-weekly), Westerland Sylt (twice-weekly) and Rostock Laage (twice-weekly); weekly service from Munich to Dublin and Malta; and weekly Dusseldorf-Bergen service.

Qatar Airways will launch service from Doha to Kolkata (daily, July 27), Sofia (four-times-weekly, Sept. 14), and Oslo (five-times-weekly, Oct. 5).

Eastern Airways will launch daily Jetstream 41 Dijon-Nantes service May 16.

Spirit Airlines will launch five-times-daily Los Angeles-Las Vegas service May 5. Additionally, it will launch twice-weekly Ft. Lauderdale-Toluca service June 3, subject to Mexican government approval.

Ethiopian Airlines will launch five-times-weekly Addis Ababa–Hangzhou service, its fourth destination in China, effective May 1. ET operates daily from ADD to Beijing and Guangzhou, plus four weekly flights to Hong Kong.



AVIATION QUOTE

It's all right if your automobile goes wrong while you are driving it. You can get out in the road and tinker with it. But if your airplane breaks down, you can't sit on a convenient cloud and tinker with that!

— Katherine Stinson, American Magazine, 1917.

ON THIS DATE

March 17th

• In 1911... U.S. Navy Lt. John Rodgers reports to the Wright Co. at Dayton, Ohio for flying instructions. On March 9, the Wrights had offered to train one Navy pilot if that service bought a Wright flying machine at a cost $5,000. The conditional offer was later replaced by one that provided unconditional free training for one would-be Navy pilot.

• In 1921... The first U. S. Marine airman to serve in the Pacific arrives on Guam with responsibility for supporting U. S. land and sea forces in the region. There, 10 pilots and 90 enlisted men operate seaplanes on reconnaissance duty as Flight L, Fourth Squadron, for 10 years.

• In 1935... German authorities make the color-coding at vital aircraft parts obligatory; red for fire circuit-breakers, green for temperature regulators, yellow for throttles and brown for hydraulic circuits.

• In 1936... Smoking in an airplane’s toilet is as serious an offense as smoking at school. An Imperial Airways passenger, caught red-handed while lighting up against airline regulations in a Handley Page HP.42 en route from Paris to London, is fined £10 in Craydon court, England.



DAILY VIDEO





EDITOR’S CHOICE





HUMOR

Young Trooper Seeking Info From Wise Sergeant Major

Young SF trooper at the feet of an old wise SGM.

Youngster asks SGM about the officer rank insignia and what is the significance and relationship of insignia to the rank?

SGM says, "Pop me another Bah Muey Bah, there young troop and I'll explain".

"2LT, has a gold bar, soft metal, is easily workable, and needs shining.

1LT, has a single silver bar. Harder, more experienced and easier to shine.

CPT, of course has two silver bars. Twice as good as a 1LT, ready for command of a company.

COL, has an silver eagle, is ready to soar and be a great leader.

Generals, of course have stars. They are up in the firmament. That about covers it youngster."

"Hmmm", says the young-un. "But what about Majors and Lt. Colonels?"

The old SGM takes another pull on his beer and says, "Well, son, ever since Adam and Eve got kicked out of the garden, we have covered our pricks with leaves."



TRIVIA

Tail ID

1.


2.


3.


4.


5.


6.


7.


8.


9.


10.


11.

Trivia:
1. Nationwide Airlines (South Africa - deceased)
2. Safair (Cargo)
3. Imperial Air Cargo (South Africa)
4. Mango (subsidiary of South African Airways)
5. Kenya Airways (old livery)
6. Air Mauritius (old livery)
7. Kulula (subsidiary of Comair Limited South Africa)
8. One Time (South Africa)
9. South African Airways
10. Air Namibia
11. Executive Aerospace (South Africa)

1. Nationwide?
2.
3.
4. Mango
5. Kenya Airways
6. Air Mauritius
7. Kalula
8. 1time
9. SAA
10. Air Namibia
11.

ANSWERS:

1. CE, Nationwide Airlines
2. FA, Safari
3. (NO IATA CODE) Imperial Air Cargo
4. JE, Mango (subsidiary of South African Airways)
5. KQ, Kenya Airlines
6. MK, Air Mauritius
7. MN, Kulula Airlines
8. 1T, 1Time Airlines
9. SA, South African Airways
10. SW, Air Namibia
11. YB, South African Express