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NEWS

Finnair downgrades earnings forecast on weak business travel
Finnair (AY) downgraded its full-year profit guidance Thursday, predicting the 2011 second half will be “slightly negative,” owing to weak business travel. It had expected to return to profitability by the end of 2011.
Link

Accra-based startup takes flight with BAe 146-300s
Starbow, a startup airline based in Accra, said it commenced services in late September. The carrier is operating domestic flights in Ghana using two BAe 146-300s leased from Riva Investments, which purchased them from Falko Regional Aircraft. The aircraft are configured with 94 seats, including eight in business class.
Link

Reports: Germany may reduce planned departure tax fees
The German government is reportedly evaluating reducing its widely criticized departure tax, which becomes effective Jan. 1, 2012.
Link

737 Max to give BBJs 700nm range boost
Boeing Business Jets expects the new 737 Max platform to boost the range of the aircraft in a VIP configuration by several hundred nautical miles. The Boeing-GE joint venture's studies have shown that the initial variant of the revamped 737 - the -8 model due to enter airline service in 2017 and equivalent in size to the existing -800, used as the platform for the BBJ2 - will offer "700nm [1,300km] more range, which makes the [Max-based] BBJ2 slightly longer-range than today's BBJ," said Boeing Business Jets president Steve Taylor.
Link

BAe 146 takes on firefighting role in Texas
Prince Edward Island, Canada-based Tronos has converted a BAe 146 into an aerial firefighting tanker, that is now being used on wildfires in Texas by Neptune Aviation Services. The four-engine aircraft is equipped with a 11,375 liter (3,005USgal) tank under the center fuselage to carry water or fire retardant, that is gravity-dropped through doors.
Link

Rolls-Royce to deliver first F-35B lift fan from US factory
Rolls-Royce has completed the first lift fan for the Lockheed Martin F-35B to be produced at a $13 million final assembly plant opened 17 months ago. The London, UK-headquartered manufacturer was due to deliver the first module - the 12th lift fan to be completed overall - to Lockheed on 4 October. The roughly 1,220kg (2,690lb) lift fan activates in short take-off and vertical landing modes for the F-35B, generating an output of 19,000lb-thrust (85kN).
Link

Boeing backs away from 2012 prediction for F-15 shutdown
Boeing has backed off from previous forecasts that the 40-year-old F-15 production line would shut down next year in the absence of new orders, adding that there are a "number of pending" orders for the type. "It is premature and inappropriate for us to even speculate on when the production line might close," Boeing said in a statement responding to questions from Flightglobal. On 21 October last year, the Obama administration notified the US Congress of a possible sale of 72 F-15Es to Riyadh, but the deal with Saudi Arabia has now been pending for almost a year.
Link


Other News

Nigeria's Arik Air was revealed as the previously unidentified customer for two Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental aircraft. It joins Korean Air and Lufthansa as airlines with the passenger version of the 747-8 on firm order. The order is valued at $635 million at list prices.

Embraer said GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) has inked a contract for six Embraer 190s, plus six options, with the right to convert to the E-195. The total value of the deal is $256.8 million at list prices. Delivery will begin in the 2012 fourth quarter, Embraer said.

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said 29 airports across the country, none of them major hubs, are slated to receive the first of the 300 L-3 Security ProVision advanced imaging technology (AIT) body-scanning machines recently purchased by the agency for $44.8 million.

Alaska Airlines (AS) and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Assn. (AMFA) on Thursday jointly announced they have reached a tentative agreement on a proposed five-year contract for the carrier's 626 aircraft technicians.


Iberia has signed a seven-year MRO contract with British Airways covering its CFM56-5B engines, powering its Airbus A318 aircraft.

Quantum Control was selected by Air France Industries KLM Engineering and Maintenance to further support its Total Component Care program. AFI subsidiary EPCOR has been managing its aircraft services business using Quantum Control for over six years.

Pratt & Whitney was selected by Wizz Air to provide its EcoPower engine wash system on the carrier’s fleet of Airbus A320s for five years. The carrier will perform engine washes at Budapest International and will have mobile wash capability at many airports within its route structure, it said.

Delta TechOps signed a five-year agreement with Air Canada to provide repair and overhaul services for the carrier’s fleet of 18 PW4060 engines, powering nine Boeing 767s.



AVIATION QUOTE

It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.

— Aesop, Fables, The Jay and the Peacock.



ON THIS DATE

October 10th

---In 1898... Augustus Herring pilots a powered biplane based on Octave Chanute’s glider design.

---In 1907... Robert Esnault-Pelterie makes the 1st airplane flight with a control stick, using a single, broom handle-like lever.

---In 1933…A United Airlines Boeing 247D crashes near Chesterton, Indiana while making a multi-stop transcontinental flight between Newark and Oakland, killing all four passengers and three crew on board. Investigators determine that a nitroglycerin bomb had exploded in the baggage compartment, marking history’s first air sabotage incident. No motive or suspects were ever named.

---In 1954…An RAF English Electric Canberra wins the Christchurch Centenary air race, flying 11,792 miles (18,976 km) from England to New Zealand in 23 hours 50 minutes

---In 1968… SR-71 (977) lost due to a wheel/tire failure on takeoff at Beale AFB on 10 October 1968. RSO Jim Kogler ejected, Pilot Gabrial Kardong rode the aircraft to a stop at the end of the runway. Both crew members unharmed. (Q)

---In 1972…Competitive fly-off between the Northrop YA-9 and Fairchild YA-10 begins, continuing until December 9.

---In 1982…First flight of the Mil Mi-28.

---In 1988…The US Air Force publicly unveils the F-117 Nighthawk.

---In 1990…First flight of the Learjet 60.

---In 1997…Austral Líneas Aéreas Flight 2553, a DC-9-32 (registred LV-WEG) crashes in Uruguay, killing all 69 passengers and five crew. The accident is blamed on a frozen pitot tube, which prevented the crew from receiving accurate speed measurements.

---In 1998…A Lignes Aériennes Congolaises Boeing 727 (registered 9Q-CSG) is struck by a shoulder-fired missile just after takeoff from Kindu, Democratic Republic of Congo. The crew attempts an emergency landing but fails, and all 41 on board perish. Local rebels claim responsibility for the attack.



DAILY VIDEO





EDITOR’S CHOICE





HUMOR

Proper Radio Transmissions

Sometimes when we are stressed we forget to think before we key the mike. This actually happened after the oil line blew.
N1234: Manchester (N.H.) tower Cherokee N12324 is five miles northwest with a total engine failure.
MHT (Using that standard FAA terminology): What are your intentions?
N1234: I intend to land!
MHT (that standard terminology again): Roger, how many souls on board?



TRIVIA

Who Is The Airport Named After

1. Where is Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport located?
San Jose, Costa Rica
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Caracas, Venezuela
Madrid, Spain

2. Toussaint Louverture International Airport is located here:
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Montreal, Canada
Paris, France
Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

3. You have just landed in Kingston Jamaica. That airport is named after:
Colin Powell
Bob Marley
Norman Manley
Edward Seaga

4. Cheddi Jagan International Airport is located here:
Islamabad, Pakistan
Freeport, Bahamas
Georgetown, Guyana
Mumbai, India

5. The International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is named after which Saudi King?
Faisal
Abdullah
Khalid
Abdul-Aziz

6. Amilcar Cabral International Airport is located here:
Lisbon, Portugal
Bogota, Colombia
Sal, Cape Verde Islands
Lima, Peru

7. The Tel-Aviv International Airport in Israel is named after this leader. What was his name?
Steven Spielberg
Golda Meir
David Ben-Gurion
Moshe Dayan

8. Ninoy Aquino International Airport is located here:
Manila, Philippines
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Quito, Ecuador
Havana, Cuba

9. Where is Murtala Muhammed International Airport located?
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Lagos, Nigeria
Tehran, Iran
Cairo, Egypt

10. The international airport in Taiwan is named after Chinese leader Mao Tse-Tung.
True
False

Here goes nothing:

2. Toussaint Louverture International Airport is located here:
Port-au-Prince, Haiti

3. You have just landed in Kingston Jamaica. That airport is named after:
Norman Manley

5. The International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is named after which Saudi King?
Khalid

7. The Tel-Aviv International Airport in Israel is named after this leader. What was his name?
David Ben-Gurion

8. Ninoy Aquino International Airport is located here:
Manila, Philippines

1. Where is Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport located?
San Juan, Puerto Rico

2. Toussaint Louverture International Airport is located here:
Port-au-Prince, Haiti

3. You have just landed in Kingston Jamaica. That airport is named after:
Norman Manley

4. Cheddi Jagan International Airport is located here:
Georgetown, Guyana

5. The International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is named after which Saudi King?
Khalid

6. Amilcar Cabral International Airport is located here:
Sal, Cape Verde Islands

7. The Tel-Aviv International Airport in Israel is named after this leader. What was his name?
David Ben-Gurion

8. Ninoy Aquino International Airport is located here:
Manila, Philippines

9. Where is Murtala Muhammed International Airport located?
Lagos, Nigeria

10. The international airport in Taiwan is named after Chinese leader Mao Tse-Tung.
False

ANSWERS:

1. San Juan, Puerto Rico, Luis Muñoz Marín (1898-1980) was the first elected Puerto Rican Governor of Puerto Rico. (Airport Code: SJU)

2. Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Toussaint Louverture (1743-1803)is considered the father of the Haitian revolution. (Airport Code: PAP/MTPP)

3. Norman Manley. Norman Manley (1893-1969) was a Prime Minister of Jamaica and a leading political figure. (Airport Code: KIN/MKJP)

4. Georgetown, Guyana. Cheddi Jagan (1918-1997) was Chief Minister (then British Guiana) and President of the nation of Guyana. (Airport code: GEO/SYCJ)

5. Khalid. Khalid bin Abdul Aziz was king of Saudi Arabia from 1975-1982.
(Airport code: RUH/OERK)

6. Sal, Cape Verde Islands. Amilcar Cabral(1924-1973)was a hero of independence for both Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde Islands in Africa against Portugal. (Airport Code: SID/GVAC)

7. David Ben-Gurion. David Ben-Gurion (1886-1973) was the first Prime Minister of Israel. (Airport code: TLV/LLBG)

8. Manila, Philippines. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino (1932-1983)was a Filipino politician who was assassinated at the Manila Airport. His widow, Corazon, eventually became the nation's president replacing the dictator, Ferdinand Marcos. (Airport code: MNL/RPLL)

9. Lagos, Nigeria. Murtala Muhammed (1938-1976)was a Nigerian military strongman who ruled for less than one year (1975-76) before being assassinated in an attempted coup. (Airport code: LOS/DNMM)

10. False. The international airport in Taiwan is named after Chang Kai-Shek, a Chinese nationalist leader and a fierce opponent of Mao.

I got them all right?!