FAA makes changes to controller scheduling US FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt and US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Sunday announced changes to air traffic controller scheduling practices giving controllers “more time for rest between shifts,” as yet another air traffic controller was suspended Saturday for falling asleep while on duty during the midnight shift at the Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center. The controller “did not miss any calls from aircraft and there was no operational impact,” said FAA, which has been conducting a sweeping review of the ATC system, which included Thursday’s resignation of US FAA Air Traffic Organization COO Hank Krakowski. Link Discussion
Qantas engineers vote to strike; work action could cause major disruptions Concern that travel plans for millions of Qantas passengers could be severely disrupted next month grew after the airline's engineers voted overwhelming to take industrial action to support wage and job security demands. Link
BA, cabin crew continue negotiations; strike averted for now British Airways and its cabin crew, represented by the Unite union, pledged to seek “an honorable and fair settlement to the long-running dispute” and both agreed to continue negotiations, lifting the threat of strikes over the Easter and the Royal Wedding bank holidays. The commitment follows exploratory talks over the last few weeks between new BA CEO Keith Williams (replacing Willie Walsh, who is now CEO of parent International Airlines Group) and new Unite General Secretary Len McCluskey. “Both men accept that a lasting peace is essential for the well-being of all cabin crew and for the benefit of British Airways’ customers,” BA and Unite said in a rare joint statement. Link
Buckingham: 737 replacement announcement likely pushed back to 2012 Buckingham Research predicted that Boeing will push back the announcement of an all-new aircraft to replace the 737NG to late 2012 with launch approval likely in 2014. Boeing Corporate President and CFO James Bell recently downplayed expectations that the manufacturer will soon announce a narrowbody replacement program to challenge Airbus's re-engined A320neo, countering speculation by Buckingham and others that Boeing would announce a new aircraft at the Paris Air Show in June. Link
Southwest, AirTran pilots will begin integration talks Southwest Airlines, AirTran Airways, the Southwest Airlines Pilots' Assn. and the Air Line Pilots Assn. on Thursday signed a "four-party process agreement" that allows the two carriers' pilot groups to move forward with seniority list integration discussions in advance of SWA's acquisition of AirTran closing. Link
Thai Airways gives details of 507-seat A380 configuration Thai Airways has released details of its planned seating configuration for its forthcoming Airbus A380 aircraft. Thai plans to seat 507 passengers in three classes: 12 in first, 60 in business, and 435 in economy, according to Routes. Link
Volga-Dnepr to launch smaller cargo aircraft At the Freighters World conference in London Dennis Gliznoutsa, executive senior vice-president sales for Volga-Dnepr Airlines, revealed that the Russian airline is looking to bring online smaller aircraft in the near future. "We are looking to add to our fleet by bringing on smaller aircraft to promote the hub, distribution and feeder services for the shorter routes in Russia," Gliznoutsa told Air Cargo News. Link
Trade-Oriented Aero called successful Organizers of Aero Friedrichshafen say a shift in focus to a trade show attracted business-oriented attendees and benefited exhibitors. The show wrapped up Saturday in the German city and the final tally shows that 33,400 people from 40 countries attended. There were 630 exhibitors in 11 halls. The show eliminated the airshow and shifted the dates to mostly weekdays (Wednesday-Saturday) to attract a more focused clientele. "Exhibitors widely reported making valuable contacts with many new customers from around the globe, as well as being greatly relieved that the level of interest from trade visitors at the exhibition exceeded all expectations," show organizers said in a news release. Link
Other News
Fokker Aircraft Services reached a contract with Germania Airlines to provide nose-to-tail maintenance and C checks for its five Boeing 737s. After service work, three of the aircraft will retire to FAS’s Boeing storage program, while the remaining two will return to operation until October, after which they will also join the FAS Boeing storage program.
Delta TechOps signed a five-year component maintenance and exchange agreement with Skymark Airlines to provide advance exchange power-by-the-hour services to its fleet of 25 CFM56-7B powered Boeing 737NGs. The contract is an expansion of its current five-year agreement with Skymark; Delta TechOps partners with Evergreen Aviation Technologies to provide engine maintenance services to the carrier's fleet.
A J Walter Aviation was selected by VivaAerobus to provide component power-by-the-hour support for its fleet of 15 Boeing 737-300s.
Sabena Technics’ subsidiary, Barfield, won a contract from US Airways for component maintenance services covering its Airbus and Boeing aircraft.
Ultramain Systems, a New Mexico-based provider of M&E and MRO software products and implementation services, announced it will open an in-region technical support center for its largest customer in Asia, Cathay Pacific Airways near Hong Kong International. The office is planned to expand as a permanent base for its growing sales activities in the region.
AVIATION QUOTE Navigating by the compass in a sea of clouds over Spain is all very well, it is very dashing, but — you want to remember that below the sea of clouds lies eternity. — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, 'Wind, Sand, and Stars,' 1939.
ON THIS DATE
April 18th
• In 1916... The first all-American air squadron in Europe is formed at the French spa town of Luxevil-les-Bains. Nieuport Squadron Nº 124, unofficially know as the "Escadrille Américaine" [American Squadron], is composed of volunteers who will be under the command of a French captain, Georges Thénault.
• In 1917... William E. Boeing’s Pacific Aero Products Company is renamed the “Boeing Airplane Company.”
• In 1952... The biggest jet airline ever built, the Convair YB-60, makes a successful first flight at Carswell Air Force Base at Fort Worth, Texas.
• In 1958... US Navy Lieutenant-Commander George Watkins flies from Edwards Air Base in California to a world record absolute altitude within the atmosphere of 76,932 feet in a Grumman F11F-1 Tiger.
• In 1986... Marcel Bloch, 94, dies. Under his professional name of Marcel Dassault he was the most famous of France’s airplane designers.
DAILY VIDEO
EDITOR’S CHOICE
HUMOR
The Attack Pilot
An A-6 pilot walks into Frederick's of Hollywood to purchase some sheer lingerie for his wife. He is shown several possibilities that range from $250 to $500 in price, the more sheer, the higher the price. He opts for the most sheer item, pays the $500 and takes the lingerie home.
He presents it to his wife and asks her to go upstairs, put it on and model it for him.
Upstairs, the wife thinks, "I have an idea. It's so sheer that it might as well be nothing. I won't put it on, do the modeling naked, return it tomorrow and keep the $500 refund for myself.
So she appears naked on the balcony and strikes a pose. The attack pilot says, "Good Lord! You'd think that for $500, they'd at least iron it!"
