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NEWS

American, Qantas seek antitrust immunity for joint business
American Airlines and Qantas Airways are striving to develop a joint business agreement that is immune from antitrust issues so the carriers can set fares and schedules. American is preparing to file a request with the U.S. Department of Transportation, and Qantas has already applied with regulators in Australia and is working on an application for authorities in New Zealand.
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American Airlines, Sabre continue to battle
Chris Kroeger, senior vice president of marketing at Sabre, wrote an email to customers regarding the global distribution system's battle with American Airlines. "Recently, American Airlines (AA), through discussions and presentations with travel agencies and corporations, has indicated that it could be completely out of the Sabre global distribution system as of June 1, 2011," he wrote. American Airlines spokesman Ryan Mikolasik said the carrier has been discussing contingencies if a GDS removes or otherwise disrupts the airline's content. "Despite the confusion created by other parties in this matter, the fact remains we fully intend to uphold our end of the existing agreements," Mikolasik said.
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GE touts benefits of required navigation performance technology
General Electric has released a report saying that required navigation performance technology could save millions of dollars for the aviation industry by deploying it at midsize airports. RNP procedures allow aircraft to fly along a precise corridor of airspace by using onboard guidance and navigation equipment. The change helps decrease track distance when compared with other GPS-based airport approaches.
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Price gaps between primary and secondary airline hubs narrow
Data from the Department of Transportation show that average fares at major airports have fallen while fares at secondary airports have risen. "You're seeing a reversal," said Thomas Kinton, CEO of the Massachusetts Port Authority, which operates Boston's Logan International Airport. "Customers we were losing now have come back." The trend is partially due to the entrance of more discount carriers into major hubs.
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FAA releases supplemental pilot training proposed rule
The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed supplemental rules for training airline pilots. "This is a major effort to strengthen the performance of pilots, flight attendants and dispatchers all through better and enhanced training," said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. The proposal is similar to measures considered more than two years ago.
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Airlines prohibit use of Bluetooth gadgets in flight
Companies that manufacture and sell Bluetooth computer accessories continue to market them to air travelers even though they are generally banned by airlines. Bluetooth wireless keyboards and other gadgets use signals similar to those of short-wave radios. Airlines, as well as the Federal Communications Commission, say Bluetooth devices could interfere with the electronics of an airplane.
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Officials can't explain spate of incidents involving unruly travelers
Recent outbursts by travelers on commercial jetliners should not cause other passengers to worry about their safety, experts say. They note that cockpit doors were strengthened after 9/11 and that exit doors cannot be opened while a plane is in the air. Meanwhile, experts and airline officers could offer no explanation for the recent spate of incidents involving unruly travelers. A spokesman for American Airlines noted that such incidents are rare. "The only reason anybody is talking about this is because Osama bin Laden was killed last week," he said.
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House panel says GE, Rolls-Royce can continue to work on F-35 engine
General Electric and Rolls-Royce Group have been working to develop an alternative engine for the F-35 fighter jet, but the Pentagon formally canceled the project last month. The House Armed Services Committee has given the companies the green light to continue working on the project using their own funds. GEO and Rolls say the business will eventually be worth more than $100 billion.
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Boeing plans to maintain price on C-17
Boeing faces challenges with its C-17 program, including a backlog of orders and more orders expected from India. Meanwhile, Boeing is dealing with possible gaps in its delivery schedule, reduced production rates and no new orders from the Air Force. However, Tommy Dunehew, business development vice president for the C-17 at Boeing, said "the goal is to maintain the same price."
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Air Force creates office for new bomber program
The Air Force's new office for its bomber program will work on developing a firmer production plan and detailed requirements. "We've got a general mandate from the Secretary of Defense to go forward with standing up the program office, so we're just at the beginning of that work," said Air Force Undersecretary Erin Conaton.
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Singapore Airlines' fiscal-year profit leaps to $885 million
Singapore Airlines earned a S$1.09 billion ($885.3 million) net profit for its fiscal year ended March 31, a more than fivefold increase over net income of S$215.8 million in FY2009-10 and exceeding the S$1.06 billion profit posted in FY2008-09. The strong results were achieved even with SIA making a S$201.8 million provision for paying cargo antitrust fines to the US, EU and South Korea.
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British Airways, cabin crew reach agreement
British Airways and its cabin crew, represented by the Unite union, reached an agreement Thursday aimed at ending their long-running industrial dispute. The deal follows changes at the top of both BA and Unite and lifts the threat of strike action by cabin crew.
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Air Berlin posts large first-quarter loss
Air Berlin reported a loss of €120.6 million ($159.8 million) for the first quarter ended March 31, significantly widened from a deficit of €93.6 million in the year-ago period, or €102.4 million on a pro forma basis to include the results of Niki, which was fully incorporated into the group as of July 1, 2010. March 2011 quarter results were net of a tax benefit of €53.1 million. Pre-tax loss was €173.7 million.
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F-35A may need mods to fix range shortfall
An internal report predicts the Lockheed Martin F-35A conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variant is falling short on a key performance requirement, forcing program officials to consider a range of aircraft modifications to fix the problem. Combat radius, the maximum distance of an out-bound leg with a full load of weapons and fuel, has dropped to 1,080km (584nm) for the F-35A, according to a leaked copy of the 2010 F-35 selection acquisition report (SAR).
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Turkish Aerospace Industries to design new light-twin helicopter
Turkish Aerospace Industries general manager Muharrem Dorktasli has announced plans for the company to develop a light-twin helicopter for military and civilian applications.
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Airbus sticks to A350 schedule as first-quarter earnings rise
Airbus is sticking to its schedule of starting A350 XWB final assembly at the end of this year, with entry into service in the second half of 2013.
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Airbus transporters to be equipped for satellite landings
Airbus's modified A300-600ST transporters are set to become the first large type to be approved for satellite-based approaches using the new European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS)
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Other News

Spirit Airlines said in a regulatory filing on Thursday that its IPO will comprise 20 million shares of common stock priced at $14-$16 each.

A UK government report concluded that London Heathrow Airport was not prepared to cope with last December’s snow and its owner, BAA, failed to invest in sufficient snow equipment, despite the fact that winter 2010-11 was the UK’s third coldest and severest winter in succession.

All Nippon Airways announced Thursday it signed a cooperation agreement with Mongolia-based Eznis Airways in a broad range of areas, such as “management, operations and charter flight services between Mongolia and Japan.”

Syrian Airlines will reduce its European operations during the summer schedule. Twice-weekly service from Damascus to Bucharest Otopeni, Copenhagen, Frankfurt and Paris Orly will operate weekly, and four-times-weekly DAM-Istanbul Ataturk service will decrease to twice-weekly. It canceled services to Marseille and Milan Malpensa.

Carpatair will launch thrice-weekly Constanta-Istanbul Ataturk service June 15, the first airline to connect the two cities, it said.

Pegasus Airlines will launch thrice-weekly London Stansted-Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen-Tehran service May 15.

Iberia will launch twice-weekly Madrid-Rabat Airbus A320 service July 1.

Lufthansa will upgrade its thrice-weekly Munich-Riyadh-Jeddah service to a three-class Airbus A340-300 operation beginning Oct. 31, replacing a wet-leased dual-class Boeing 737-800 from PrivatAir.

MTU Maintenance Hannover was selected by Biman Bangladesh Airlines to carry out repair and overhaul services on its CFM56-7s under a five-year exclusive contract.

Aveos said it won a seven-year contract from Air Transat to provide full inventory and repair and overhaul support, covering the carrier's fleet of 11 Airbus A330s.

Airbus signed a contract with China Southern Airlines to provide the carrier with customized Flight Hour Services for its fleet of five A380s, slated to be in service from the second half of 2011.

Helvetic Airways is investing SFR1.5million ($1.7 million) in establishing a Zurich-based maintenance center to service its fleet of six Fokker 100s. Helvetic is reportedly looking to join the third-party MRO business for this aircraft type and hopes to get business from approximately 200 F70 and F100s operating worldwide.



AVIATION QUOTE

A pilot must have a memory developed to absolute perfection. But there are two higher qualities which he also must have. He must have good and quick judgment and decision, and a cool, calm courage that no peril can shake.

— Mark Twain, speaking about Mississippi River pilots.



ON THIS DATE

May 13th

• n 1927... Colonial Air Transport offers a sightseeing trip from Teterboro, New Jersey, around New York City for just $8, less than the price of a similar trip in a taxi.

• In 1940... The first successful free flight of a true helicopter is made by Igor I. Sikorsky’s single-rotor VS-300.



DAILY VIDEO





EDITOR’S CHOICE





HUMOR

French Jokes

Q. How many Frenchmen does it take to screw in a lightbulb? A. One, because he holds the bulb and all of Europe revolves around him
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Q: How do you confuse a French Soldier?
A: Give him a rifle and ask him to shoot it.
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Q: What's the motto of the US Marine Corps?
A: Semper Fi (Always Faithful)
Q: What's the motto of the French Army?
A: Stop, drop, and run!
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Q. Why don't Master Card and Visa work well in France? A. They do not know how to say "CHARGE!"
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Q: What do women who are snipers in the French military use as camouflage?
A: Their armpits.
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Q: What’s the difference between a Frenchman and a bucket of crap?
A: The bucket
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The recent tremors felt throughout France have been attributed to the fifty six thousand+ WWI & WWII U.S. soldiers spinning in their graves.
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Q: Why do the French people seem so hell bent on kissing Jacques Chirac's ass?
A: Because the French, in general are less sensitive to bad smells and certainly more tolerant of bitter flavors!!
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Q: What do you call a French man killed defending his country?
A: I don't know either, its never happened!
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Q: What Does "Maginot Line" mean in French?
A: "Speed bump ahead"
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Q: What’s the new French flag look like?
A: A white cross emblazoned on a white background!
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Q: Why did the Post Office have to recall its series of stamps depicting famous Frenchmen?
A: People were confused about which side to spit on.
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Q: How many Frenchmen does it take to shingle a roof?
A: 3 if you slice them thin enough.
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TRIVIA

Google Airports

Need a hint? PM me.

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6. MSP?

9. NCE - Nice Cote d'Azur

Not a clue about any of the rest though.