NOTE: In observance of Independence Day, The NAS Daily will not be posted on Monday. We’ll be back on Tuesday.
NEWS
American Airlines plans to buy 250 aircraft, sources say American Airlines is negotiating with Boeing and Airbus to purchase 250 or more jets to replace roughly 38% of its current fleet, sources said. The order, if completed, would be worth about $15 billion. Boeing has had a lock on American's business for years, but sources said the carrier is also eyeing Airbus' family of A320 airplanes. Link
Pakistan International Airlines touts restructuring program, seeks partnerships Pakistan International Airlines is in the midst of a five-year restructuring program started in 2010 that includes 76 "strategic points" for improving the carrier and contemplates PK establishing a formal partnership with another airline. Link
Air Jamaica, Caribbean Airlines further integration Air Jamaica flights starting Friday will operate under Caribbean Airlines' 'BW' code, part of the ongoing integration of the carriers. Link
KLM calls 737-800 biofuel flight a success KLM Royal Dutch Airlines said that scheduled Wednesday Amsterdam-Paris Charles de Gaulle-AMS flights using a Boeing 737-800 partially powered by biofuel operated "exactly the same—as expected—as flights on traditional kerosene." Link
Air Malta will reportedly slash more than 500 jobs Air Malta last week confirmed details of a long-awaited restructuring plan, which it said is needed to “to save the airline and hundreds of jobs.” However, as airline officials remained vague on the plan, details leaked to a national newspaper disclosed that almost 40% of KM’s workforce, or 500 jobs, will be cut. Link
Flight attendants at United Continental choose AFA Flight attendants at the newly merged United Continental Holdings have chosen the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA to represent them. The AFA has represented United flight attendants in the past, while the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers formerly represented flight attendants from Continental. "We look forward to a constructive working relationship with the Association of Flight Attendants," said United Continental. Link
OnePass to be rolled into United's loyalty program United Continental Holdings said it will phase out Continental Airlines' OnePass loyalty program by the end of this year. OnePass miles will automatically roll into United's Mileage Plus program. Travelers who are enrolled in both the United and Continental programs can link their accounts. Link
U.S. formally objects to EU ETS; environmental groups are unhappy American diplomats have formally objected to European Union plans to regulate airline emissions, prompting criticism from environmental groups in the U.S. The EU plans to require any carrier operating to or from an airport in the EU to participate in its cap-and-trade scheme starting Jan. 1. U.S. airlines and the government argue that the EU lacks jurisdiction over foreign carriers. Link
KLM says it's first airline to operate commercial flight on biofuel On Wednesday, KLM operated its first scheduled flight with an aircraft running on biofuel. The Boeing 737-800 flight traveled from Amsterdam to Paris, powered by biokerosene. The Dutch airline said KLM is "the first airline in the world to operate a commercial flight carrying 171 passengers on biokerosene." Link
Texas pat-down bill fails to get final approval Texas legislation that would have criminalized Transportation Security Administration pat-downs in some circumstances did not get final approval before the end of the state's special legislative session. Versions of the bill passed both houses, but the state Senate adjourned before passing the House version. Bill sponsor Rep. David Simpson indicated that he still supports the measure and that he is "not giving up." Link
Orders for airline "aftermarket" services are on the rise Airlines have been postponing nonessential aircraft maintenance for the past few years in an effort to keep costs down during the economic downturn. Pent-up demand, however, is prompting airlines to ramp up orders for "aftermarket" services, such as retrofitting, overhauls and maintenance. Link
Hawaiian adds 717s for new interisland push Hawaiian Airlines is making an interisland push with three additional Boeing 717s being leased from Boeing Capital to support 20 additional flights in October. Link
Russian govt to sell off Aeroflot stake Russia's government has reiterated its intention to sell a state stake in Aeroflot following its enlargement and reorganization. Vice premier and finance minister Alexei Kudrin said the 51% state-owned airline had been put on the extended list of strategically important enterprises scheduled for privatization. Link
First flight of Japanese ATD-X likely in 2014 Tokyo has reaffirmed its plan for a 2014 first flight of its experimental Mitsubishi ATD-X Shinshin stealth demonstrator, while it also considers three fighters for its F-X requirement. Link
Other News
UPS Airlines said it will retrofit the cockpits of its cargo aircraft with "quick-donning, full-face oxygen masks with integrated smoke goggles" produced by France's Zodiac Aerospace. "Safety is an absolute priority for our employees, our customers' shipments and our aircraft," UPS Airlines President Mitch Nichols stated. Installation of the new masks on UPS's Boeing 747-400Fs, MD-11Fs, 767Fs and 757Fs is expected to occur over the next two years, beginning with the MD-11 and 747 fleets, UPS said, noting that its Airbus A300Fs are already equipped with integrated masks.
IATA reported that international passenger traffic increased 8% year-over-year in May on an 8.1% rise in capacity. “We saw positive developments for the air transport volumes in May,” said outgoing DG and CEO Giovanni Bisignani, who noted that international passenger load factors lifted 0.8 point from May 2010 to 75.8%. Additionally, trends remained positive as May international airfreight volumes grew 1.2% over April and passenger traffic was up 1.8% compared to the previous month. “These help to alleviate some of the pressure on profits from continued high fuel prices,” said Bisignani, who noted there are “risks associated with political unrest in the Middle East and the European currency crisis.” He reaffirmed IATA's forecast of a $4 billion worldwide industry profit for the full year but warned it would be achieved on "a pathetic 0.7% margin and another shock could alter the industry’s fortunes dramatically. It’s another tough year for a very fragile industry.”
British Airways increased London City-Nice service to twice daily from May-Sept. and London City service to Palma and Ibiza from four-times-weekly to 10-times-weekly July-Sept. The services are operated by BA CityFlyer using Embraer 170 and 190 aircraft.
JetBlue Airways will increase thrice-daily Boston-Chicago O'Hare service to four-times-daily Sept. 7.
US Airways announced it will make an offering of Class C enhanced equipment trust certificates in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $53 million.
Turkish Airlines agreed to join the Arab Air Carrier Organization.
Malev Hungarian Airlines is seeking an additional government cash injection of HUF18.5 billion ($97.25 million), according to the Hungarian Daily Magyar Hirlap.
AVIATION QUOTE
I was always afraid of dying. Always. It was my fear that made me learn everything I could about my airplane and my emergency equipment, and kept me flying respectful of my machine and always alert in the cockpit.
— General Chuck Yeager, 'Yeager, An Autobiography.
ON THIS DATE
July 1st
---In 1872... Louis Blériot, the pioneer aviator who made the world’s first airplane flight across the English Channel, is born in Cambrai, France. After experimenting first with gliders, he designed and built his own monoplane with a 25-hp engine, which took him across the channel.
---In 1917... A School of Aeronautics is established at the University of Toronto in Canada.
---In 1925... The U.S. Air Mail Service begins overnight flights between New York and Chicago over the Allegheny Mountains.
--- In 1926... The Royal Swedish Air Force is formed.
---In 1931... The first mail delivered by rocket in the United States is claimed by three Struthers, Ohio high school students led by philatelist, John Kiktavi. He sends mail from Struthers to Poland, Ohio.
---In 1954…The responsibility for air traffic control over West Germany is transferred from the Allies to German authorities.
---In 1960… British United Airways is formed.
---In 1960… PVO Strany MiG-19 shoots down an RB-47H Stratojet (s/n 53-4281) in international airspace with 4 of the crew killed and 2 captured by the Soviets.
---In 1961… The RAF deploys Hawker Hunter combat aircraft to reinforce Kuwait, which is under threat from Iraq. Simultaneously it deploys Canberras and Valiant aircraft to Malta.
---In 1963…Air Force authorizes the construction of an additional 25 SR-71s. (Q)
---In 1966…The Fairchild FH-227 enters service with Mohawk Airlines.
---In 1970…Melbourne opens its new international airport.
---In 1992…Reno Air commences flight operations, from RNO to SEA.
---In 2002…First flight of the Pilatus PC-21.
DAILY VIDEO
EDITOR’S CHOICE
HUMOR
The Benefits of Confession...
After dropping their wives off at the church bingo, two men were talking about the exploits of their childhood. One of the men began feeling terrible about some of the things that he had done, so he decided to make a stop into his parish church and go to confession.
He told his friend, "Just a minute, I'll be right back."
He went into the church and decided to go to confession. He went into the confessional and said to the priest, "Father, forgive me for I have sinned. I have had two extramarital affairs."
The priest replied, "You need to say forty Hail Mary's, and I also need to know if the women were members of my parish."
The man said, "Yes, Father, they were."
The priest then said that he was required to tell the names of the two women.
The man said, "Father, I don't kiss and tell..."
The priest said, "Well, was one of them Mrs. O' Brian?"
The man said, "No, Father!"
The priest asked, "Well, was one of them Mrs. Swenson?"
Exasperated, the man said, "No, Father, I'm not telling you the names of the women!" and then quickly left the confessional.
As he approached the bottom of the church steps, his friend asked, "So, how did it go?"
The man said, "Great! Only forty Hail Mary's... and I got two hot leads!"
TRIVIA
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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
1. Douglas A-26 Invader (Used to be one sitting in a park near the house where I grew up, kids crawled all over and inside it and nobody worried about getting cut or scraped or falling off.)
