Qantas wins dispute over pilot pay Qantas (QF) won a significant battle Tuesday over the Australian and International Pilots’ Assn. (AIPA) after industrial arbitrator Fair Work Australia (FWA) dismissed a pilots’ claim over pay. Link
Air France considers more cuts after €197 million 1Q loss Air France-KLM (AF) Group and AF CEO Pierre-Henri Gourgeon met with trade unions Monday to discuss potential new cost savings in light of the uncertain economic outlook, the company confirmed. AF stressed that no specific numeric target had been discussed. Link
Bangkok Airways appears to cancel A350-800 order Asian carrier Bangkok Airways appears to have cancelled its order for A350s, axing its deal for four -800 aircraft. The erasure of the deal from Airbus's latest backlog figures is a further setback to the fortunes of the -800, which has experienced a shedding of orders by customers migrating to the larger -900. Link
UK studies accelerating Voyager's air-to-air refuelling mission The long-distance operating demands of the NATO campaign in Libya have prompted the UK to consider accelerating the introduction of its Airbus A330 Voyager fleet's air-to-air refuelling (AAR) capability. Link
FAA shutdown looms as key sticking point is still unresolved Lawmakers return to work this week and are at odds over a chief sticking point for avoiding another shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration. The dispute centers on a National Mediation Board decision to issue a rule that makes unionizing easier in the airline and railroad industries. Link
United Continental and flight attendant union will speed up talks United Continental Holdings and the union that represents its flight attendants are working toward a contract for employees at United. Flight attendants at Continental have a contract in place. The National Mediation Board will run "expedited mediation" between the airline and the union. Link
9/11 forced US Airways to make changes for the better Doug Parker, the CEO of US Airways, recalls the tragedy of 9/11 and its 10-year aftermath that has led his airline to make several key changes, including a merger. "The merger is generally considered to have been successful, despite a failure to integrate pilot groups due to a controversial seniority ruling," Ted Reed writes. Link
Air traffic controller errors surge from 2007 to 2010 Operational errors by air traffic controllers were up 81% from 2007 to 2010, according to data from the Federal Aviation Administration. The errors include incidents in which planes got too close to an object or another aircraft. The FAA attributed the jump to changes in the way such errors are categorized and reported. Some insiders, however, say the increase is due to a variety of reasons, including inadequate training and controller inexperience. Link
More pilots retire early at American Airlines American Airlines reported that 111 pilots are planning to retire this month. In a usual month, about 10 to 20 pilots retire. The retirements might have something to do with the carrier's stock price, which has dropped significantly in the past couple of months. Pilots are able to retroactively lock in stock prices as part of their retirement fund. Link
Competition heats up for business- and first-class fliers American Airlines, Virgin America and other carriers have improved their offerings in an effort to attract more business- and first-class passengers and improve customer loyalty. Enhanced offerings include wireless Internet service, live sports broadcasts and free pajamas. "That sort of stuff is an enticement to try to get people to swing over," said Tom Parsons, CEO of Bestfares.com. "When it comes to the business- and first-class passengers, it's been a war." Link
"Known Crewmember" program speeds up pilot-boarding process "Known Crewmember," the pilot-identification program that can help speed up flight-crew boarding, is approved by the Air Transport Association of America. This feature notes that the ATA is providing laptops that use ID numbers to quickly validate the employment status of a pilot. Link
Column: Trusted Traveler Program could give relief to frequent fliers The Transportation Security Administration's Trusted Traveler Program has the potential to change the nation's aviation security process significantly, writes Brett Snyder on CNN.com. The TSA is testing the program with a select group of frequent fliers at a limited number of airport hubs, he writes. "Once the first test is completed, we should know more about whether this is a viable program in the eyes of the TSA," Snyder writes. "If it is, then it could provide some relief for those frequent fliers who are tired of day-in day-out hassles." Link
Other News
Boeing has rolled out its first 747-8 Intercontinental from its paint facility in Everett, Washington state, for launch customer Lufthansa (LH). After completing ground tests, the aircraft will begin initial test flights in November. It is scheduled to go into service next spring with the registration D-ABYA, LH said in a statement. The 747-8I is 6 m. longer than the 747-400 and, at 76.3 m., is the world’s longest passenger jet. LH said it has ordered 20 747-8s, which are due for delivery from the beginning of 2012 through mid-2015; it also has options for a further 20 aircraft.
Lufthansa Systems (LHS) said it will open a new data center in Welwyn, near London, as part of the IT service provider’s growth strategy.
SkyWork Airlines launched Bern service to Rome Fiumicino (5X-weekly) and Vienna (6X-weekly).
Ryanair will cease Dublin service to Kerry and Cork on Sept. 7 and Oct. 30, respectively.
Eastern Airways will increase 11X weekly Bristol service to Aberdeen and Leeds Bradford to 16X weekly Oct. 3.
Virgin America will launch 5X weekly San Francisco-Puerto Vallarta service Dec. 2.
AVIATION QUOTE
The Cub is the safest airplane in the world; it can just barely kill you.
— attributed to Max Stanley, Northrop test pilot.
ON THIS DATE
September 7th
--- In 1904... The Wright brothers 1st use their weight-and-derrick-assisted take-off device in order to make themselves independent of the wind and weather. When the heavy weight is released, the rope pulls the aircraft, which sits on a flatbed truck, over the launching track, thus assisting its take-off.
---In 1909... The U.S. Army's 1st "aerodrome", an airfield or airport, is established in College Park, Maryland.
---In 1941…The Grumman Martlet fighter makes it first carrier deployment aboard Royal Navy aircraft carriers on convoy protection duties. It is the first combat use of any variant of the F4F Wildcat.
---In 1942…First flight of the Consolidated C-32 Dominator heavy bomber. Because first deliveries would not occur until 1945, the aircraft’s impact in World War II was minimal. Production was halted with the 118th copy. Sadly, there no C-32 airframes remaining.
---In 1946…Royal Air Force Gloster Meteor established a new world absolute air speed record of 615.65 mph (990.79 km/h) flown by Group Captain E.M. Donaldson off the coast of West Sussex, England.
---In 1955…First flight of the Sukhoi S-1, prototype of Su-7.
---In 1956…the Bell X-2 research aircraft is flown by Captain Iven C. Kincheloe to a new altitude record of 126,200 ft (38,466 m).
---In 1965…First flight of the Bell AH-1 Cobra.
---In 1997…First flight of theLockheed F-22 Raptor takes place over Georgia.
---In 2008…Futura International Airways ceases operations.
DAILY VIDEO
EDITOR’S CHOICE
HUMOR
God And The General
One day, when an Marine general went to heaven, he was talking to God when He showed him his house in heaven. It was a nice house, normal sized and everything, with a Marine Corps flag hanging off a post near the front door. The General and God got to talking, and the General noticed up on a hill a massive mansion, gleaming pearly white, with Grecian style columns around the front, each with a big Army flag flying gracefully in the breeze. The Marine general asked God, "How come I get this normal house, when that Army Corp General gets that big, white mansion up there?" God laughed and replied, "That’s not an Army General's house up there. That’s my house!"
TRIVIA
Airlines Past And Present
1. ATI and Air Inter are domestically-operated air carriers of what country? Italy Thailand France Turkey
2. Iberworld and Futura International Airways fly globally for which nation? Belgium Ghana Luxembourg Spain
3. UTA is a former French international carrier whose main routes served which world area? the Caribbean Canada Southeast Asia the South Pacific
4. As late as the 1970s, a US airline flew 'Yellowbirds' before being acquired by Delta. What was its name? Capital National Northeast Lake Central
5. Martinair is an international carrier from which country? Holland St. Maarten Mauritius Luxembourg
6. TWA, was formerly known as ?
7. Which was the only US carrier to fly the French-built Caravelle twin engine jet? Braniff Pan Am United Continental
8. Which is the USA's busiest airport for landings and take-offs as well as total number of passengers? Los Angeles Intrnational JF Kennedy-New York Hartsfield-Atlanta Chicago-O'Hare
9. What was the USA's busiest airport with regard to cargo in 1999? Seattle, Washington Chicago-O'Hare Memphis International Newark-New York
10. Howard Hughes was closely associated with what now-defunct airline? Pan American Republic Braniff Air West
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. ATI and Air Inter are domestically-operated air carriers of what country? France
2. Iberworld and Futura International Airways fly globally for which nation? Spain
3. UTA is a former French international carrier whose main routes served which world area? the Caribbean Canada Southeast Asia the South Pacific Hmm, tough to decide, as both "Southeast Asia" and "the South pacific" were in UTA`s network - but mainly it was "Africa" ...
4. As late as the 1970s, a US airline flew 'Yellowbirds' before being acquired by Delta. What was its name? Northeast ???
5. Martinair is an international carrier from which country? Holland (The Netherlands)
6. TWA, was formerly known as ? back in 1930: Transcontinental & Western Air
7. Which was the only US carrier to fly the French-built Caravelle twin engine jet? United
8. Which is the USA's busiest airport for landings and take-offs as well as total number of passengers? Hartsfield-Atlanta
9. What was the USA's busiest airport with regard to cargo in 1999? Memphis International
10. Howard Hughes was closely associated with what now-defunct airline? TWA - but that one was not on the list ?????
-HT
Use your time wisely; remember that today is the first day of the rest of your life.
1. ATI and Air Inter are domestically-operated air carriers of what country? Umm Air Inter became part of Air France and ATI part of Alitalia so should be two answers.... 2. Iberworld and Futura International Airways fly globally for which nation? Spain 3. UTA is a former French international carrier whose main routes served which world area? Mainly French colonies found in Caribbean, Africa, Indian Ocean and South Pacific - I'll go for the South Pacific 4. As late as the 1970s, a US airline flew 'Yellowbirds' before being acquired by Delta. What was its name? Northeast 5. Martinair is an international carrier from which country? Holland 6. TWA, was formerly known as Transcontinental & Western Air 7. Which was the only US carrier to fly the French-built Caravelle twin engine jet? United 8. Which is the USA's busiest airport for landings and take-offs as well as total number of passengers? Hartsfield-Atlanta 9. What was the USA's busiest airport with regard to cargo in 1999? Memphis International 10. Howard Hughes was closely associated with what now-defunct airline? As TWA is not on the list I'll go for Air West.
