miamiair/forum/images/avatars/gallery/first/user54/1.pngoffline(netAirspace FAA) 16 May 11, 09:01
NEWS
US majors lose $1.01 billion in first quarter The US's eight largest airline companies (counting United Airlines and Continental Airlines as one and Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways separately) incurred a collective 2011 first-quarter net loss of $1.01 billion, has been calculated. The deficit was slightly widened from a net loss of $985.7 million in the 2010 March quarter as rising fuel costs offset strong revenue gains. Link
French investigators to reveal if AF 447 data recorders are usable French Air Accident Investigation Bureau (BEA) will know Monday if the digital flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder recovered from the Atlantic almost two years after the crash of Air France flight 447 contain usable data. Industry sources say that the BEA is likely to make any meaningful data available as soon as possible to prevent “out of context leaks” as there are so many parties to the investigation. Link
EADS posts first-quarter loss; Airbus considers further A320 production increase Airbus parent EADS incurred a €12 million ($17.1 million) first-quarter net loss, reversed from a €103 million net profit in the year-ago period, but pointed to gains in revenue and operating income as evidence of "positive momentum" warranting a potential A320 production increase. Link
Shenzhen Airlines sells 24% stake to local government Shenzhen International Total Logistics Co., a subsidiary of government-controlled Shenzhen International Holdings, purchased a 24% stake in Shenzhen Airlines for CNY789 million ($121.4 million), increasing its holding in carrier to 49% from 25%. The stake was previously held by Huirun Investment Co. and put up for bid earlier this year as part of Huirun’s court-ordered bankruptcy liquidation. Link
Russia eyes high-speed helicopters Russia looks set to join Eurocopter and Sikorsky in the race to commercialise a high-speed helicopter, with the allocation of Rb3.6billion ($1.3 billion) in government cash to support development of concepts by Russian Helicopters' Kamov and Mil design bureau. Link
Other News
ARC reported that ticket sales volume through participating travel agencies climbed just 1.7% in April compared to the same month in 2010 to $7.34 billion. The number of transactions declined 6.3% after a 1.2% decline in March. Credit card sales rose 1.1% to $6.55 billion on a 7.1% drop in transactions while cash sales rose 7.2% to $791.4 million on a 0.9% drop in transactions.
Boeing VP-Air Traffic Management Neil Planzer said that China is well situated to lead a transformation in air traffic management, owing to its continued economic growth and young air fleet.
Fokker Technologies confirmed Friday that it signed an MOU with COMAC. The agreement was signed Thursday in Shanghai by COMAC President Jin Zhuanglong and Fokker Technologies CEO Sjoerd Vollebregt. It would not confirm any further details.
Air Astana President Peter Foster said that Ukraine-based AeroSvit approached Air Astana about forming a possible partnership and will hold talks this month. Foster said the two carriers “have a lot in common,” such as a Boeing fleet, and he believes the network of both carriers would “fit perfectly,” but didn’t provide additional details on the potential deal.
Southwest Airlines announced Friday it reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year contract with the carrier’s approximately 260 appearance techs, represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Assn. The contract becomes amendable February 2015. The current agreement became amendable in February 2009.
GECAS announced it will deliver a total of 20 new leased aircraft to China this year, representing an investment of $7 billion in the country. It will deliver 11 new Boeing 737s, two new 777Fs, and seven new Airbus A320s in 2011, representing a 10% increase of its leased portfolio in China, it said.
Lufthansa took delivery of its seventh Airbus A380, scheduled to begin daily Frankfurt-San Francisco operations May 10. The carrier has ordered a total of 15 A380s.
TAAG Angola Airlines said its first 777-300ER has completed final assembly in Boeing's Everett, Wash., factory. “TAAG is the first airline in all of Africa to purchase, own and operate the Boeing 777-300ER," said TAAG Chairman Antonio Luis Pimentel Araujo. The carrier ordered two 777-300ERs with rights to an additional two. It said it will use the aircraft for route expansion to new destinations including direct routes to Beijing, and will apply to fly the new 777 to the US.
Transaero, the biggest operator of widebody aircraft in Russia, took delivery of its 15th Boeing 747, a two-class -400 series.
AVIATION QUOTE
Keep the aeroplane in such an attitude that the air pressure is always directly in the pilot's face.
— Horatio C. Barber, 1916
ON THIS DATE
May 16th
• In 1919... The first transatlantic flight is made in stages by the U.S. Navy’s Curtis N-4 seaplane flown by Lt. Cdr. A. C. Read and his crew.
• In 1929... At the first Academy Award ceremonies in Los Angeles, the Oscar for Best Picture for 1927-1928 goes to the Paramount movie, Wings. This World War I flying epic remains a classic today.
• In 1968... A British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) Super VC10 on a routine service from Chicago and Montreal makes the airline’s first fully automatic approach and landing in London.
DAILY VIDEO
EDITOR’S CHOICE
HUMOR
Towel Heads
Recently I received a warning about the use of this politically incorrect term.
Please try to pay attention.
We have been informed that the Islamic terrorists do not like to be called "Towel Heads" since the item they wear on their heads is actually a small folded sheet.
Therefore, from this point forward, please refer to them as "little sheet heads."
Thank you for your support on this delicate matter.
And let's get one thing straight. There's a big difference between a pilot and an aviator. One is a technician; the other is an artist in love with flight. — E. B. Jeppesen
And let's get one thing straight. There's a big difference between a pilot and an aviator. One is a technician; the other is an artist in love with flight. — E. B. Jeppesen
