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NEWS

Southwest eyes 2013 for fleet expansion
For the first time since its no-growth policy took effect in 2009, Southwest Airlines says, it is considering a fleet expansion. "We're trying to restore profitability to the point where it is finally justified to commit to buying airplanes," said CEO Gary Kelly, adding that the company is looking at 2013. "We don't have any plans to grow our fleet in 2011," he said. "I think 2012 is probably a little aggressive to think about a step-up in our fleet mix." Southwest has shifted some existing orders to the larger Boeing 737-800, but Kelly said he remains ambivalent about Boeing's next-generation narrow-body. "They are not moving fast enough for Southwest," he said.
Link

Japan looms large in Delta's global strategy
Delta Air Lines' Tokyo hub generates about 8% of the company's annual revenue, and President Edward Bastian says up to $400 million could be at risk this year because of the earthquake that struck Japan on March 11. Delta has announced capacity cuts in Japan for the next six to nine months, but Bastian says that "the financial shock of Japan is quite manageable." Many analysts agree, noting that Delta's hub at Tokyo Narita airport is crucial for connecting traffic in the lucrative Asian market. "There's no telling how much pent-up demand there will be when the economy recovers," says Standard & Poor's airline analyst Philip Baggaley.
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Could NextGen reopen New York's "ghost airport"?
Less than five miles from perennially overburdened John F. Kennedy International Airport sits Floyd Bennett Field, a former Navy base with four runways that are used only a few times a year. New York's Regional Plan Association says reopening Bennett Field as a commercial airport would cause airspace conflicts with JFK, but with the advent of satellite-guided air traffic control, "That's not really a valid excuse anymore," says Paul Freeman, head of flight testing for ITT Corp. "We're working on technology that will really free up a lot of the traditional limits of air traffic control. It definitely would allow something like a Floyd Bennett Field to be active again."
Link

FAA reports reveal construction-related safety issues at O'Hare
A newspaper investigation of FAA data has found at least four aviation safety incidents attributed to construction at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. But the city says it has learned from its experience and that safety measures will be enhanced during the second major construction phase at O'Hare. "Following those events, the (Chicago Department of Aviation,) along with multiple other key stakeholders, participated in the FAA's simulations process, which provided enhanced safety, mitigation strategies and additional processes for future construction activities at the airport," a spokeswoman says.
Link

ATA: Fuel prices could squeeze airline profit
The Air Transport Association released data for the third quarter showing an average airfare profit of $33.45 for a $506.62 ticket. Fuel consumes the majority of the airfare, with $97.85 for jet fuel. ATA projects a 30% increase in fuel prices would cut the profit to $4.10 on the same ticket.
Link

FAA orders wake-up calls for airport towers
Congressional Republicans and other critics are blasting a Transportation Department order to double staff at many airport control towers during slow overnight shifts. Last week's order, which came after an air traffic controller admitted to falling asleep at Washington Reagan National Airport, "is a typical bureaucratic response," says Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Meanwhile, the FAA has told regional controllers to contact individual airport towers when a plane is approaching in order to "confirm that there is a controller prepared to handle the incoming flight." If the airport tower fails to respond, pilots would have the option of diverting to another airport.
Link

Affluent air passengers are unhappy with service, survey finds
Airlines are cutting capacity, raising airfare and charging for everything from luggage to pillows. Not surprisingly, passengers are increasingly dissatisfied with carriers' service. A recent survey found that higher-income fliers are particularly unhappy. Business travelers and other well-heeled fliers complained that they aren't getting their money's worth.
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EC commits to ‘Transport 2050’ to increase mobility, reduce emissions
The European Commission on Monday said it is committed to a “complete modernization of Europe's air traffic control system by 2020, delivering the Single European Sky … and the completion of the European Common Aviation Area of 58 countries and 1 billion inhabitants by 2020.” The statements are part of the EC’s transport white paper, “Transport 2050 Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area,” which outlines a comprehensive plan for a more competitive and efficient transport system in Europe while reducing carbon dioxide emissions in transport 60% by 2050.
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MA600 begins formal operations with Civil Aviation Flight University of China
The MA600, the AVIC-produced 60-seat turboprop, began formal flight operations over the weekend when the Civil Aviation Flight University of China put it into operation to replace a phased out Yun-7.
Link

JAL emerges from bankruptcy, faces major demand drop
Japan Airlines on Monday completed its court-monitored bankruptcy restructuring under Japan's Corporate Rehabilitation Law, and also announced more flight reductions as it contends with a steep drop in demand in the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami crisis that devastated the country.
Link

BA cabin crew vote for further strike action
British Airways could be heading for more strikes following the vote by cabin crew members, represented by the Unite union, to take industrial action. Unite announced the results of the four-week ballot Monday and said that 83% of the 6,981 members who returned a valid paper voted yes to industrial action. Some 10,000 were sent voting papers.
Link

Inquiry details crashed Ethiopian 737's erratic flightpath
Lebanese investigators have detailed the erratic course followed by the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-800 which crashed off the coast of Beirut last year, showing that it failed to follow instructed headings before straying and entering a sharp left-hand spiral dive.
Link

India's business jet fleet soars
India's business jet fleet has climbed by nearly 50% in the past 36 months, according to US consultancy Firestone Management. In its first biannual report on the subcontinent's private jet landscape, Firestone says there were 136 business jets registered in India on 15 March - 95 of which were less than 10 years old. In the past 36 months alone, 43 jets have been added to the Indian aircraft register, representing a 46% rise. Link

DOD, DOT slam FCC over GPS interference concerns
The US Department of Transportation and Defense Department on 25 March issued a strongly worded letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) expressing concern over elements of an ongoing analysis on the potential effects on GPS of a newly approved broadband system.
Link


Other News

Cameroon Airlines Corp. announced that its new airline, Camair-Co, began operations Monday with an inaugural flight from its base in Douala via the country’s capital Yaounde to Paris Charles de Gaulle using a Boeing 767-300ER. The South African airline, which operates under the IATA code QC, succeeds defunct Cameroon Airlines

Southwest Airlines on Monday launched service at Newark International, its 72nd destination, with six daily flights to Chicago Midway and two daily services to St. Louis. SWA leased 18 slot pairs at EWR from United Airlines and Continental Airlines after the US Dept. of Justice expressed concern about competition in the New York market following the UA/CO merger; UA/CO agreeing to lease the slots to SWA precipitated DOJ's clearance of the transaction.

Olympic Air and Cyprus Airways signed a wide-ranging cooperation accord aimed at “strengthening of the presence of the two airlines in the wider region of Southeastern Europe,” OS said in a statement. Under terms, the carriers’ codeshare began March 27 on flights from/to Athens, Rhodes, Heraklion and Thessaloniki to/from Larnaca and Paphos. From April 15, it will be expanded to cover most domestic and international destinations of OA and CY.

Alaska Airlines and regional affiliate Horizon Air were forced to cancel 150 combined flights on Saturday affecting around 12,150 passengers owning to computer system problems. In a YouTube.com video posted by Alaska, President Brad Tilden explained that "a transformer blew and took down the central computer systems for both Alaska and Horizon." In addition to the cancellations, there were also extensive delays, the company said. The systems were restored by Sunday. "I offer my profound apology to customers inconvenienced by this disruption," Tilden stated.

US Transportation Security Administration head John Pistole traveled last week to Switzerland and Belgium to discuss "supply chain security efforts" with, among others, the World Customs Organization and the Universal Postal Union. He said in a statement that the US is pushing for "enhanced international focus and cooperation on cargo security." ICAO and the World Customs Organization earlier this month announced an agreement pledging "expanded cooperation" on air cargo security.

UPS Airlines launched four-times-weekly Boeing 747-400 freighter flights between Hong Kong and Cologne (operating once daily Monday-Thursday). The new flights are in addition to the seven-times-weekly HKG-Dubai-CGN services already offered by the cargo giant. UPS stated that shipments can now "be delivered in one day to 18 countries and 39 cities across Europe." The new direct flights "significantly reduce the transit time between Hong Kong and Europe," added UPS Asia/Pacific President Derek Woodward.

FedEx Express started four-times-weekly flights between its Memphis hub and Seoul Incheon using a Boeing 777 freighter. The new route will enable the express operator to "deliver documents and packages from the US, Canada and select markets in Latin America to Seoul in two to three business days," it said.

Tel Aviv International posted an 11% rise in cargo traffic in 2010 compared to 2009, according to the Israel Civil Aviation Authority.



AVIATION QUOTE

Rule books are paper - they will not cushion a sudden meeting of stone and metal.

— Ernest K. Gann, 'Fate is the Hunter.'



ON THIS DATE

March 26th

• In 1858... Two men – Brown and Dean – make the first balloon flight in Australia in a hydrogen balloon named the Australasian.

• In 1920... Located about 10 miles due south of the City of London, England, Waddon Airport at Croydon is used for the first time as London’s airport. Until this date, Hownslow has been considered the capital’s main airport.

• In 1951... Flight Safety Inc. begins operations at the Marine Air Terminal at LaGuardia Airport, New York with just one secretary and rented late night hours on a Link trainer simulator.



DAILY VIDEO





EDITOR’S CHOICE





HUMOR

Lies in Aviation

- Pardon me, ma'am, I seem to have lost my jet keys.
- I have no interest in flying for the airlines.
- I fixed it right the first time, it must have failed for other reasons.
- All that turbulence spoiled my landing.
- I only need glasses for reading.
- I broke out right at minimums.
- The weather is gonna be alright; it's clearing to VFR.
- Don't worry about the weight and balance -- it'll fly.
- If we get a little lower I think we'll see the lights.
- I'm 22, got 6,000 hours, a four year degree and 3,000 hours in an F-16.
- We shipped the part yesterday.
- I'd love to have a woman WSO.
- All you have to do is follow the book.
- This plane outperforms the book by 20 percent.
- We in the military aviation are overpaid, underworked and well respected.
- Oh sure, no problem, I've got over 2,000 hours in that aircraft.
- I have 5,000 hours total time, 3,200 are actual instrument.
- No need to look that up, I've got it all memorized.
- Sure I can fly it -- it has wings, doesn't it?
- Your plane will be ready by 2 o'clock.
- We fly every day -- we don't need recurrent training.
- It just came out of annual -- how could anything be wrong?
- I thought YOU took care of that.
- I've got the field in sight.
- Of course I know where we are.
- I'm SURE the gear was down.
- Of COURSE the navigation unit is working.



TRIVIA

General Trivia

1. Why is the radar pod (antenna) usually located under the right wing of a single-engine airplane instead of under the left wing?

2. A normally aspirated piston engine operating at constant rpm and manifold pressure develops _____ power and consumes _____ fuel per hour at altitude than at sea level (assuming standard conditions).
a. more, more
b. more, less
c. less, more
d. less, less

3. An Aeroflot Airbus A310 departed Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport on a routine passenger-carrying airline flight to Hong Kong in March 1994. The subsequent en route crash was caused by:
a. a bird strike at 35,000 feet.
b. both pilots becoming incapacitated.
c. snakes in the cockpit.
d. the captain’s 15-year- old son.

4. Most pilots have never heard of the first airplane to receive an approved type certificate from the government. It was the Buhl-Verville CA-3 Airster in March 1927. The second airplane to be certified was manufactured by
a. Boeing.
b. Douglas.
c. Fairchild.
d. Waco.

5. True or false; Nagasaki was the last Japanese city to be bombed during World War II.

6. True or false; Achieving maximum endurance in a propeller-driven airplane at a given altitude requires maintaining the airspeed (angle of attack) at which the lift-to-drag ratio is at a maximum.

7. True or false; There are occasions when both pilots in the cockpit of an airplane with dual controls may simultaneously serve as pilot in command.

1. I have no idea. Because most designers are right handed?
2. more, less
3. the captain’s 15-year- old son.
4. Waco.
5. false
6. True
7. false

3. d) It was featured in an episode of NatGeo's Mayday.

Oh, and I absolutely LOVE the editor's choice today!

ANSWERS:

1. The farther the pod is from the pilot, the less it impedes his field of vision.

2. (a) With fixed manifold pressure and rpm, the colder air at altitude results in denser induction air, which increases fuel flow and power. Reduced back pressure improves engine efficiency.

3. (d) The captain allowed his son to sit in the left seat. The boy inadvertently disengaged the autopilot, which led to a stall and a spin. The first officer could not reach the flight controls in time because his seat was positioned too far aft.

4. (a) It was the Boeing Model 40A, an open-cockpit biplane (July 1927).

5. False. Five days later, on August 14, 1945, American B–29 Superfortresses bombed Akita, Isesaki, and Kumagaya. All hostilities ceased the next day, V-J Day.

6. False. Flight at L/DMAX results in maximum range. Maximum endurance is achieved by using the minimum fuel flow (power setting) required to maintain altitude.

7. False. Only one pilot can be in command, although there are numerous circumstances when both pilots may log the flight time as pilot in command.