You are at netAirspace : Forum : Air and Space Forums : netAirspace Daily News

NEWS

AirAsia posts $48 million second-quarter profit
AirAsia Group posted a slight increase of 0.06% in profit before tax of MYR145 million ($48 million) for the second quarter ended June 30, compared to the year-ago period.The airline group recorded a 15% increase in revenue to MYR1.08 billion. Each unit had numbers in positive territory.
Link

Swiss CEO: Fleet investment will keep airline competitive
Swiss International Air Lines (LX) CEO Harry Hohmeister said the carrier is making further investments to compete against Gulf carriers and achieve the right size to compete in the tough European aviation environment.
Link

Two A300s destroyed in Tripoli conflict

Images from Libya's main international airport at Tripoli show that at least two Airbus A300s, one from each of the main airlines, have been destroyed in the conflict between rebel forces and those loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.
Link

ANA to receive first 787 on 26 September
Boeing will deliver the first 787 to launch customer All Nippon Airways (ANA) on 26 September. The aircraft will take off from Boeing facilities in Everett on 27 September, and arrive in Tokyo on 28 September, said the Star Alliance member in a statement.
Link

NTSB investigates repeat RJ near-miss at O'Hare
Two Embraer regional jets under air traffic control guidance came close to colliding at the Chicago O'Hare international airport on 8 August in clear weather, an incident that appears very similar to a near-collision in the same location on 16 May. According to the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) preliminary report issued on 25 August, Chautauqua airlines Flight 5021, an Embraer ERJ-135 with 36 passengers and 3 crew, passed within 38m (125ft) vertically and 106m laterally of Trans States airlines Flight 3367, an ERJ-145 with 42 passengers and three crew, above runway 32L at 1100 local time that day.
Link

Southwest CEO stresses importance of maintaining airline's culture
Southwest Airlines has been in business for four decades, and yet the carrier remains a bit of a maverick as it defies industry trends by not charging for luggage. Speaking at the Global Business Travel Association convention, Southwest CEO Gary Kelly acknowledged that maintaining the company's culture isn't always easy, but it is important.
Link

JetBlue and TAM Airlines team up on U.S.-to-Brazil flights
JetBlue Airways and TAM Airlines have reached an interline partnership that will allow travelers to purchase e-ticket itineraries that combine flights on the networks of both carriers. The deal will offer consumers greater choices when flying between the U.S. and Brazil, as well as other destinations.
Link

Delta Air Lines confirms Boeing jet order
Delta Air Lines confirmed its order of 100 737s from Boeing, but has deferred ordering 100 smaller narrow-body planes until next year, according to a source. The carrier has postponed talks with Embraer and Bombardier regarding the smaller jets. "After talks with Delta, Embraer expects that Delta's decision whether to buy its planes or equivalents from competitors will only be made next year," said Paulo Cesar de Souza e Silva, executive vice president at Embraer.
Link
Link

WestJet opposes Air Canada and United's proposed venture
WestJet Airlines has officially moved to prevent the proposed joint venture between United Continental Holdings and Air Canada. "WestJet is directly affected and will suffer competitive consequences if the relief sought is not granted," according to an affidavit from Hugh Dunleavy, executive vice president of strategy and planning at WestJet.
Link

ATA predicts 0.5% cut in airline capacity in Q4
The Air Transport Association is predicting that airlines in the U.S. will reduce the number of seats for sale in the fourth quarter by 0.5% from the same period the previous year. John Heimlich, chief economist at ATA, said the slow economy is not significantly hurting demand, and that the carrier's bookings are "holding their own" midway through the current quarter. "Things are better and holding up reasonably well," Heimlich said.
Link

Airline alliances struggle with trans-Atlantic profitability
Airlines have teamed up in an effort to offer trans-Atlantic flights at a profit. Summer months are fairly busy, but airline alliances struggle for year-round profitability. The situation is forcing carriers to make adjustments to capacity, as well as other changes, in an effort to solve the trans-Atlantic puzzle.
Link

Authorities are investigating New Jersey laser reports
The Federal Aviation Administration recently received reports of lasers pointed at a commercial jetliner and a business jet bound for New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, state police and the FBI are investigating. Both planes landed safely.
Link

Miami airport embraces Known Crewmember program
Miami International Airport launched the Known Crewmember program on Tuesday. The program allows pilots and flight-crew members to pass through expedited security screening, which will in turn shorten screening lines for airline passengers. The Air Transport Association worked with the Air Line Pilots Association International and the Transportation Security Administration to develop the program.
Link

Column: Variety of factors contribute to air fares
Columnist Scott McCartney delves into the world of airline ticket prices. He explains how various factors contribute to wildly different fares at nearby airports, using two airports in Texas 29 miles apart as examples.
Link


Other News

Air China (CA) reported a first-half net profit of CNY4.06 billion, down 13.4% compared to CNY4.694 billion in the year-ago period. The Beijing-based carrier blamed the dip on “continuous depression of western economy,” “unstable political situation in North Africa” and “surging fuel prices,” although it said domestic market demand stimulated by fast-growing Chinese economy supports stable growth.

Cathay Pacific (CX) will launch a premium economy product on its Boeing 777-300ERs from March 2012. The aircraft will be in a 340-seater configuration and be dubbed a 77G in the GDS inventory. The 777 will have 40 business class seats, 32 premium economy seats in a 2-4-2 layout and 268 economy seats in a 3-3-3 design. This layout contrasts with the two 777-300ER versions—77A and 77D—which have six first-class suites, and either 57 or 53 business-class beds and 238 economy seats.

Dallas Airmotive signed three contracts with Brazilian aircraft operators at the 8th Annual Latin American Business Aviation Conference and Exposition in Sao Paulo. The contracts involved TFE731, PW100 and PT6A turbine engines. The company performs major periodic inspections on TFE731, line maintenance on 36 series APUs, and line and hot section inspection services on PW100 and PT6A engines.

Boeing delivered the 737-800, which is used as a flying test bed for the performance improvement package, to United Airlines. It is the carrier's fifth 737 with the sky interior and marks the final 737 delivery for the carrier in 2011. It took delivery of three 737-800s and one 737-900ER this year, and in 2012 will take 19 737-900ERs.

MTU Aero Engines delivered the first GEnx turbine center frame production module to GE Aviation.



AVIATION QUOTE

I don't want monitors here. I want pilots. . . . Our whole philosophy is that the pilot is in charge of the airplane. We're very anti automation here at this airline.

— Greg Crum, System Chief Pilot Southwest Airlines, 1996.



ON THIS DATE

August 26th

--- In 1925... In a record that would stand until Feb. 24, 1983, Farman Parker of Anderson, Indiana becomes the world’s youngest pilot to fly solo. Born on January 9, 1912, he flies at the age of 13 years, 7 months, 17 days.

---In 1929... The first flight of the largest trimotor transport aircraft built by Fokker, the F.IX, takes to the air on its first flight. The prototype (PH-AGA) was handed over to KLM on May 8, 1930, and given the name Adelaar (Eagle).

--- In 1959... President Eisenhower replaces his airplane with a jet, a USAF VC-137A, which is a modified Boeing 707 jet-airliner. The switch allows the President to cut his travel time in half.

---In 1959... French flyer Jacqueline Auriol, piloting the Mirage III, becomes the first woman to attain the speed of Mach 2.

---In 1975…First flight of the McDonnell Douglas YC-15 72-1875.

---In 1985…TWA is purchased by Jordan Cahill and associates.

---In 1986…the CFM56 turbofan is flight tested for the first time.

---In 1988, Cebu Pacific Airlines is founded.



DAILY VIDEO





EDITOR’S CHOICE





HUMOR

Dating A Retired Marine

Two widows, are talking at the Bowling Alley.

Martha says, "That nice George Johnson asked me out for a date.

I know you went out with him last week and I wanted to talk with you about him before I give him my answer."

Edna: "Well, I'll tell you. He shows up at my apartment punctually at 7 P.M. Dressed up like such a gentleman in a fine suit. And he brings me such beautiful flowers! Then he takes me downstairs and what's there but a beautiful car. . . a limousine, uniformed chauffeur and all.

Then he takes me out for dinner. . .marvelous dinner - lobster. Then we go see a show. Let me tell you, Martha, I enjoyed it so much I could have just died from pleasure!

So then we are coming back to my apartment and he turns into an ANIMAL!!! Completely crazy. He tears off my expensive new dress and has his way with me two times! He's a retired Marine!"

Martha: "Goodness gracious! . . so you are telling me I shouldn't go out with him?

Edna: "No . . . I'm just saying, wear an old dress."



TRIVIA

The Mighty Lightning

1. The Lightning was a fully capable fighter almost from the very outset.
True
False

2. The top scoring Lightning ace had how many kills?
52
40
26
30

3. Even after the P-51 was raining destruction on Germany, the Lightning (P-38) was still the "most wanted" aircraft for student pilots?
True
False

4. Luftwaffe pilots dubbed the P-38 the "Gabelschwanzteufel". What does this mean?
the fork-tailed devil
the twin demon
the whistle of death
the destroyer

5. What was the P-38's maximum speed?
376 mph
414 mph
324 mph
358 mph

6. The P-38's concentrated firepower was a weakness because there was less spread of bullets requiring better aiming to hit.
True
False

7. Variants of the P-38 Lightning include:
the F-5 reconnaissance Lightning
all of these
the high altitude XP-49
the XP-58 Chain Lightning

8. What was the total number of Lightnings built?
4658
9924
6913
7117

9. P-38s were built outdoors.
True
False

10. Where was the P-38 was most successful?
Eastern Europe
the South Western Pacific
Western Europe
North Western Pacific

No answers yet ?
I`ll only be able to give one answer here directly from the top of my head:

4. Luftwaffe pilots dubbed the P-38 the "Gabelschwanzteufel". What does this mean?
the fork-tailed devil

-HT

ANSWERS:

1. False. Early Lightnings were poor performers. Early tests resulted in pilots getting frostbite!

2. 40.With 40 kills, Richard Bong was and is America's top scoring ace of all time. Second, with 38 kills, is Tommy McGuire, another Lightning pilot.

3. True. Because of its high acceleration and low-drag shape, the P-38 was very popular among learner pilots.

4. The fork-tailed devil. The "fork-tailed devil" was highly respected by German pilots.

5. 414 mph. Although less maneuverable, the Lightning's speed allowed it to outfly the Mitsubishi AM6 Zero.

6. False. Lightnings have been reported to "saw Zeros in half" with their unique gun layout.

7. All of these. The Lightning had many roles, including serving as a clothesline for the pilots!

8. 9924. This is a small number compared to the 15,686 Mustangs built.

9. True. The P-38 production line had to be moved while the Lockheed plant was modernized.

10. The South Western Pacific. Unless in capable hands, the P-38 had trouble matching the Messerschmitt Bf-109 or the Focke-Wulf 190, but it lit up the skies over the Pacific.