Lithium batteries among cargo on crashed Asiana 747-400F A Boeing 747-400F operated by South Korea's Asiana Airlines was carrying electronic products and liquids when it crashed in sea off Jeju Island. The electronic products comprised mobile phones, liquid crystal displays and light-emitting diodes, said an Asiana spokesman. Some of the products had lithium batteries, while the liquids included paints and resins. He added that the cargo was in accordance with IATA regulations. Link Discussion
Tiger Airways Australia suspension extended to 1 August Tiger Airways Australia's domestic operations will remain suspended until 1 August after a court hearing that was scheduled for 28 July had been adjourned, the carrier said in a statement on Thursday. Link
Boeing reaffirms 787-9 EIS Despite analyst doubts and media reports of a coming production slip and delay in the first delivery of the larger 787-9, Boeing CEO Jim McNerney has affirmed the company's guidance. "Our projections as to the ramp, the certification and [first] deliveries are the same. We have not changed any of those," said McNerney during a 27 July earnings call. 787 type certification with Rolls-Royce engines is expected by the end of August followed by first delivery to All Nippon Airways in September. Boeing plans to build 10 787s per month by the end of 2013. Link
Boeing CEO: Re-engined 737 'low risk, low capital' Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Jim McNerney said the company's decision to re-engine the 737NG instead of developing and producing an all-new aircraft was reached after months of careful consideration leading to the conclusion that there was much less risk in re-engining. Link
Delta's second-quarter profit dips 58% as fuel costs rise 36% Delta Air Lines reported second-quarter net income of $198 million, down 58% from a $467 million net profit in the year-ago period. CEO Richard Anderson said Wednesday that "high fuel prices are putting significant pressure on the industry" and touted DL's "solid profit … despite more than $1 billion in higher fuel expense." DL stated that it is "recalibrating its business to succeed in a permanent, high fuel price environment." Link
Lockheed is prepared for possible defense cuts, CEO says Bob Stevens, CEO of Lockheed Martin, said the company is as prepared as possible for changes in global military programs, including possible cuts to defense spending by the U.S. The defense contractor raised its full-year profit outlook after reporting a 3.9% increase in profit for the second quarter. Lockheed Martin posted a $742 million profit for the quarter, compared with $714 million in the same quarter last year. Link
FAA gives GE year to modify engines for Boeing jets The Federal Aviation Administration said flight tests on the 787 Dreamliner and 747-8 jumbo jet have shown releases of fuel into the air once the engines have been shut down. The situation has prompted the FAA to order General Electric to modify its engines for the new jets. "Small quantities of fuel (up to 5.5 ounces) are being released intermittently under certain conditions," said the FAA in a filing. "Under certain atmospheric conditions this release of fuel results in a visible vapor." Link
Union says Boeing request to block info access is too broad The International Association of Machinists, which represents workers at Boeing in Washington state, scrutinized the company's plan to prohibit access to what it deems "proprietary information" during government hearings. Boeing is battling a complaint that it built a nonunion assembly plant in South Carolina for its new 787 Dreamliner in retaliation for past strikes by the company's unionized workers. Link
Europe wants to be part of NASA's space exploration plan The European Space Agency and NASA are negotiating the idea of modifying parts of Europe's Automated Transfer Vehicle to travel with the U.S.' Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle. "Our interest is firstly to capitalize on what we have already developed," said Jean-Jacques Dordain, director general at the European Space Agency. "The ATV is a major development for Europe." Link
Other News
Lufthansa ordered 30 A320neo family aircraft, confirming a commitment announced by the airline’s supervisory board in March. The order comprises 25 A320neos and five A321neos, which will be powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1100G geared turbofan engines.
The Air Line Pilots Assn. said it reached an agreement with American Eagle Airlines and American Airlines to provide "all Eagle pilots the opportunity to be hired by American Airlines in the future" following the planned divestiture of Eagle, AA's longtime regional affiliate. ALPA said the "job progression and protection agreement" was "negotiated in anticipation of the potential divestiture of American Eagle from AMR Corp."
Garuda pilots set to hold 24-hr. strike Thursday: The International Transport Workers’ Federation announced Wednesday that Garuda Indonesia pilots will hold a 24-hr. strike "for pay parity" Thursday. "Unions have accused Garuda management of imposing regulations, intimidating union members and refusing to implement a collective bargaining agreement since 2009," ITF said in a statement.
Lufthansa Systems received a US FAA Supplemental Type Certificate for installation of its wireless inflight entertainment system, BoardConnect, onboard an undisclosed customer's Airbus aircraft.
Aircell, the Ill.-based in-air connectivity provider, officially changed its name to Gogo—the brand name of its inflight Wi-Fi product. The company says the name change, along with a revamped brand, "portrays Gogo as more than just a connectivity company and will help Gogo in its evolution from a connectivity provider to an in-air e-commerce and media brand." The name Aircell will still apply in reference to its business aviation groups.
Emirates launched a "Destination Radio App" for the iPhone and iPod touch, providing passengers with live-streaming radio stations from 97 cities around the world.
AVIATION QUOTE
There's no such thing as a natural-born pilot
— Chuck Yeager
ON THIS DATE
July 28th
---In 1933... Dr. Albert Forsythe and Charles Alfred “Chief” Anderson land at Atlantic City to complete the first return flight to the West Coast by African-American pilots.
---In 1934... Nelly Diener becomes Europe’s first air stewardess.
---In 1945…a U.S. Army B-25D bomber crashes into the Empire State Building in heavy fog, killing 11 people in the building and all three of the plane’s crewmen.
---In 1950... The first scheduled passenger service flown by a gas-turbine powered airliner (turboprop) is British European Airway’s (BEA) Vickers V. 630 Viscount.
---In 2003…First flight of the Adam A700 AdamJet.
---In 2009…Air Cargo Germany makes its first revenue flight.
---In 2010…Airblue Flight 202, operated with an Airbus A321, crashes in the Margalla Hills near Islamabad.
---In 2010… Boeing C-17 Globemaster III 00-0173 of the United States Air Force crashed near Elmendorf Air Force Base killing all four people on board.
DAILY VIDEO
EDITOR’S CHOICE
HUMOR
Mid-Air Refueling
During a commercial airline flight a Navy pilot was seated next to a young mother with a babe in arms.
When the baby began crying during the descent for landing, the mother began nursing the infant as discreetly as possible.
The pilot pretended not to notice and, upon debarking, he gallantly offered his assistance to help with the various baby-related paraphernalia.
When the young mother expressed her gratitude, the pilot responded, "Gosh, that's a good looking baby...and he sure was hungry!"
Somewhat embarrassed, the mother explained that her pediatrician said nursing would help alleviate the pressure in the baby's ears.
The Navy pilot sadly shook his head, and in true pilot fashion exclaimed, "Damn! And all these years I've been chewing gum."
TRIVIA
General Trivia
1. How long should a pilot wait after refueling to drain the tank(s) to check for the possible presence of water contamination? a. 5 minutes per foot of tank depth b. 10 minutes per foot of tank depth c. 15 minutes per foot of tank depth d. 20 minutes per foot of tank depth
2. True or false; Robin Hood Airport is near Sherwood Forest and serves Nottingham.
3. True or false; The first successful man-carrying balloon flight was made on November 21, 1783, and was particularly hazardous because buoyancy was generated by fire and the balloon was made of paper.
4. True or false; Tropical storms become hurricanes when their steady-state winds reach 74 mph or greater. This is the minimum wind speed required for a discernible eye to develop.
5. True or false; Like Gulfstream IVs and Vs, space shuttle orbiters are not equipped with a standby magnetic ("whiskey") compass.
6. True or false; SpaceShipOne's two historic space flights on September 29 and October 4, 2004, reached sufficient altitude to qualify its pilots, Mike Melvill and Brian Binnie, as astronauts, but neither flight achieved the altitude reached by Maj. Robert M. White on July 17, 1962, in the rocket-powered North American X-15.
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
