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NEWS

JetBlue: Own JFK customs hall could help international links
David Barger, CEO of JetBlue Airways, said building the airline's own customs point at John F. Kennedy International Airport would enhance international transfers and JetBlue's alliances with global carriers. JetBlue has pacts with eight international airlines, but it is not a member of a global airline alliance, and transfers can be cumbersome at JFK.
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Airlines continue to make changes as price of fuel rises
Airlines spend nearly $330 on fuel to fly a passenger round-trip from New York to Los Angeles, a figure that is 48% higher than it was last year. To cover the increased price of fuel, airlines have raised fares and fees. "The passenger has to understand that the airline industry in the United States is not meant to be a low-cost mass transit system. The airlines are in business to be profitable," said Robert Herbst, an airline analyst.
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Alaska Airlines to issue iPads to all pilots
Alaska Airlines announced plans to issue iPads to all pilots to replace electronic flight bags, following a successful trial of the Apple technology. The iPads, which weigh 1.5 pounds, replace up to 25 pounds of paper in the electronic flight bag. "We've been exploring the idea of an electronic flight bag for several years, but never found a device we really liked," said Gary Beck, Alaska Airlines vice president of flight operations. "When the iPad hit the market, we took one look at it and said this is the perfect fit."
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Alaska pilots not allowed to access Internet in the cockpit due to interference issue
Alaska Airlines is not permitting its pilots to use their new iPads to access the Internet in the cockpit after witnessing Wi-Fi interference with Honeywell Phase 3 display units [DUs].
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Air France crash raises questions, is expected to prompt changes
A report into the 2009 Air France crash into the Atlantic Ocean is shedding light on what happened and is expected to lead to changes in the airline industry's training procedures. The pilots of Flight 447 appeared to have been confused by stall warnings and airspeed indications that fluctuated wildly. The pilots continued to pull back on the controls as the plane plunged toward the ocean, according to the report.
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TSA rejects more claims for stolen items
The Transportation Security Administration is rejecting more claims for items allegedly stolen from travelers or damaged in the screening process. In 2009, for example, the TSA rejected about 75% of claims submitted to its reimbursement program, compared with 50% in 2005. The number of claims submitted to the TSA now averages about 12,000 per year.
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Las Vegas to launch $13 million makeover of Concourse C
McCarran International Airport is planning a $13 million renovation of the interior of Concourse C, which is used by Southwest Airlines. The concourse will have new lights, carpeting, restroom fixtures and gate signs. The Las Vegas airport will also replace the air-conditioning controls and apply new window tinting.
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EC study: Slot review could result in more than €5 billion in benefits by 2025
A European Commission study on the EU’s slot regulations asserts that reviewing rules on allocating slots for landing and takeoff at the EU’s busiest airports could result in more than €5 billion ($7.14 billion) in economic benefits by 2025. The EC in the fall will present a policy package on airports, including a review of the current slot rules.
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Aegean Airlines narrows first-quarter loss to €16.3 million
Aegean Airlines said it managed to reduce its first-quarter net loss to €16.3 million ($23.3 million) from a €25.6 million deficit in the year-ago quarter despite weak demand in Greece, combined with the 40% year-over-year rise in the price of fuel. Efforts to improve competitiveness, as well as capacity cuts implemented during the winter months, were the main contributors to the loss containment, Aegean said.
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China Southern to buy six 777Fs; China Eastern re-launches cargo unit
China Southern Airlines said Tuesday in a widely cited filing with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that it reached an agreement with Boeing to purchase six 777 freighters valued at $1.58 billion based on list prices, although it noted that it received "price concessions" making the cost "significantly lower" than list prices. Meanwhile, China Eastern Airlines officially relaunched China Cargo Airlines, finalizing the integration of its cargo unit with Shanghai Airlines' airfreight subsidiary.
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Bombardier turns to automation to cut CSeries assembly time
Bombardier aims to cut more than 40h from the cycle time joining fuselage sections for the 100 to 149-seat CSeries, with the assistance of six 10.9t robots.
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P&W gears up for next-generation military engine
Not too long ago - October 2007, to be precise - engine maker Pratt & Whitney seemed painted into a strategically perilous corner.
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Other News

ATR said Tuesday it received EASA certification for its ATR 72-600. Flight testing began in the summer 2009 and delivery of the first aircraft will occur this summer to Royal Air Maroc, which ordered four ATR 72-600s and two ATR 42-600s. Since launching the ATR 42-600 and ATR 72-600 programs in October 2007, ATR has received orders for a total of 141 aircraft in the series.

Aer Lingus pilots, represented by the Irish Airline Pilots' Assn., notified the carrier they will start industrial action next week in protest over the introduction over new rosters on the Airbus A320 and A330 fleets. IALPA, which is a branch of the Impact trade union, balloted its members over possible strike action last month and was approved by approximately 87% of its pilots.

Amadeus won a contract from ANA Group to deploy the Amadeus Altea suite of customer solutions including flight reservations, inventory and departure control systems, across the airline’s global network. ANA is the first Japanese airline to choose Altea.

The US Airline Pilots Assn., the union representing more than 5,000 US Airways pilots, said Tuesday it has filed a complaint in a federal court in New York alleging that US management has "unilaterally" imposed new work rules in the absence of a new labor contract, agreement on which USAPA claimed is being held up by "bad faith" negotiations aimed at delaying a deal.

Sim Industries received an order from Pan Am International Flight Academy for one Level D Boeing 737NG full-flight simulator, which will be installed at its Miami training center in July. The company said the 737-800W full motion simulator “uses state of the art motion and visual systems to give the industry's most realistic 737 training platform."

Baltic Aviation Academy has “increased capabilities to be able to train more pilots from the Russian Federation.” It now employs 120 instructors and operates 16 full flight simulators, giving it the capability of training 700 pilots a year to operate Western aircraft types, 500 of which to come from the Russian Federation.

CAE announced it has begun pilot training for the Bombardier Q400 at its training center in Montreal.



AVIATION QUOTE

It is hard enough for anyone to map out a course of action and stick to it, particularly in the face of the desires of one's friends; but it is doubly hard for an aviator to stay on the ground waiting for just the right moment to go into the air.

— Glenn Curtiss, 1909



ON THIS DATE

June 1st

• In 1925... A car dealer covers himself in stamps worth $718 in a bid to be sent airmail from San Francisco to New York; the U.S. Post Office refuses to accept him.

• In 1940... U.S. Army Air Corps announces plans for the construction of the world’s most powerful wind tunnel at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio.

• In 1949... A survey conducted by a firm of New York aviation consultants shows that for the first time in history air travel volume is greater than first class rail travel. Revenue passengers-miles for domestic airlines totals 603 million compared to 582 million for Pullman trains.



DAILY VIDEO





EDITOR’S CHOICE





HUMOR

British Airways Captains

A British Airways mechanic passes away...
Upon being met at the Pearly Gates, he is asked by St. Peter what is his most hearfelt desire. "To NEVER be around any BA captains!" was his emphatic response.
A few weeks later, while relaxing in the Angel's lounge who should walk in but a British Airways captain in all his regalia. Furious, the mechanic marches off to find St. Peter to complain.
St. Peter calms the man by saying, "There are no BA captains in Heaven. That was God... he just likes to pretend that he's one."



TRIVIA

Silhouette ID

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4 looks like a Hawk with a broken beak...

ANSWERS:

1. Aermacchi MB-339
2. Aero L-39 Albatros
3. Aero L-29 Delfin
4. BAe/Boeing T-45A Goshawk
5. Canadair CL-41 Tutor
6. Cessna T-37 Dragonfly
7. Dornier Dassault AlphaJet
8. Fouga CM-170 Magister
9. Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
10. Northrop T-38 Talon
11. Rockwell International T-2 Buckeye