Swiss, pilots reach tentative accord to avoid strike Swiss International Air Lines reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract with its pilots, avoiding a strike that had been threatened for this week. Link
Struggling Cimber Sterling to receive $31.8 million cash injection Following several months of negotiations, financially troubled Cimber Sterling announced Friday it secured a subscription agreement with Mansvell Enterprises, which agreed to inject DKK165 million ($31.8 million) in the Danish carrier “subject to certain conditions.” It will also be part of a new Nordic regional airline to be created by Mansvell. Link
DOJ clears Air New Zealand in cargo cartel probe Air New Zealand has been released from a five-year US Dept. of Justice cargo cartel investigation. The airline received written confirmation Thursday that DOJ has ceased its investigation of the airline on cargo antitrust issues. The department stated that ANZ “is no longer a subject or target of the ongoing grand jury investigation.” The airline has vigorously protested its innocence on all airfreight pricing collusion allegations from various jurisdictions. The New Zealand Commerce Commission dropped its claim against ANZ earlier this year. ANZ was not listed among airlines fined by the European Commission for cargo price fixing last year and also has gained clearance from South Korean authorities. Link
CAA backs Ryanair on Gatwick charges UK Civil Aviation Authority instructed Gatwick Airport Ltd. to implement a more transparent and non-discriminatory pricing structure for check-in and baggage processing by April 2012 and consult its users when revising the pricing system. Link
CASA investigates Jetstar maintenance lapses Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is investigating low-cost carrier Jetstar after the airline did not carry out certain maintenance procedures on time on four Airbus A320 aircraft. Link
Gol firms up plans to acquire WebJet Shortly after formally acknowledging it was in discussions for an acquisition of WebJet, Gol has declared it will purchase its fellow Brazilian low cost carrier for 96 million Reais ($61.3 million). Link
British Army details Apache's success British Army Westland/Boeing Apache AH1 attack helicopters engaged regime targets on 39 occasions during the type's first month of combat use in Libya, the UK Ministry of Defense has revealed. The first offensive mission was launched from the Royal Navy assault ship HMS Ocean on 3 June, using four Apaches flown by pilots from the Army Air Corps' (AAC) 656 Sqn. The aircraft had been embarked in late April as part of an exercise, before the vessel was moved to off the Libyan coast late the following month. Link
Other News
Virgin Atlantic Airways pilots represented by the British Airline Pilots' Assn. withdrew their threat of a strike after reaching a last-minute pay deal with management. Pilots had voted to strike for the first time in the airline's history as part of their ongoing dispute over pay and conditions with management.
Air Berlin reached a codeshare agreement with future oneworld partner Iberia. The agreement, which went into effect Friday, will soon be expanded to the frequent flyer programs of both airlines.
US FAA proposed a $689,800 civil penalty against FedEx Corp. for allegedly violating US hazardous materials regulations. The agencyalleged Friday that in 89 instances from June 13-Sept. 4, 2009, "FedEx failed to provide pilots-in-command with complete, accurate information on the nature, quantity and weight of hazardous materials loaded on their aircraft. Pilots-in-command must be given this information under hazardous materials regulations."
AVIATION QUOTE
We watch the liner in the distance glide out from the sheltered waters of the bay, Into the arms of ocean's vastness won. Enfolded in infinity of tide We lose it, and the last faint smoke line gray Merges into the sunset and is gone. Vanished from sight and lost, art thou, at sea, Swallowed in ocean's blue immensity? Ah, no. Though trackless be the deep, and wide, Thy pilot shall bring thee triumphantly Into the harbor on the other side.
— Edith E. McGee
ON THIS DATE
July 11th
---In 1922... An international convention for the regulation of air navigation begins.
---In 1935... Laura Ingalls arrives in Burbank, California after an 18-hour flight from Floyd Bennett Field, New York, making her the first woman to fly east to west across the United States.
---In 1955... The U.S. Air Force Academy is dedicated at its temporary location, Lowry Air Force Base.
---In 1977…The UK government agrees to fund development of the BAe 146.
A young and stupid pilot wanted to sound cool on the aviation frequencies.
So, this one time he was approaching a field during the night time.
Instead of making any official requests to the tower, he said: "Guess who?"
The controller switched the field lights off and replied: "Guess where!"
TRIVIA
General Trivia
1. There have been several British airplanes named after insects, such as the de Havilland Mosquito. How many American production airplanes have been named after insects?
2. Most pilots are familiar with the PBY, a twin-engine Consolidated Catalina flying boat used initially as a patrol bomber during World War II. What was a PBJ?
3. As any pilot who has studied a sectional chart knows, an RCO is a remote communications outlet used to communicate with distant facilities. What is a GCO?
4. What well-known civilian landplane may land with landing gear retracted during routine operations?
5. True or False, early Lear Jets have a "knife blade" down the center of the windshield. Its purpose is to dissect birds in flight.
6. True or False, After resigning from and selling his interest in TWA, Howard Hughes purchased another airline and named it after himself.
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
