NEWS
German Ground Handlers To Strike Tuesday
Lufthansa cancelled hundreds of flights for Tuesday at Germany's largest airports in anticipation of warning strikes by ground handlers in a dispute over pay.
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Nigeria Gives BA, Virgin Ultimatum On Fares
Nigeria has given British Airways and Virgin Atlantic 30 days to lower fares or face a ban from flying to the West African nation, its aviation minister said.
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Lufthansa May Abandon Freighter Fleet
Lufthansa's air freight arm may give up on its freighter fleet should a recently imposed ban on night flights at Frankfurt airport be confirmed by a court in Leipzig on April 4, the unit's chief executive told a German magazine.
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Sikorsky tables new CH-53K proposal
The US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is evaluating a proposal from Sikorsky to build four production-representative CH-53K Super Stallion heavy-lift helicopters, says the US Marine Corps' program manager. "We're looking at the proposal now," says Col Robert Pridgen. NAVAIR received the proposal at the beginning of March, he says. A contract award is expected some time after this has been evaluated, although Pridgen says: "I don't want to nail down a date."
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China Eastern chairman seeks government aid for big three Chinese carriers
China Eastern Airlines chairman Liu Shaoyong has called on the Chinese government to make an $18 billion-$20 billion capital injection into China’s big three state-owned carriers to alleviate increasing financial pressure. The debt ratio of China’s big three airlines— Haikou-based MU, Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines and Beijing-based Air China —all reportedly exceed 70%.
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WN says no furloughs planned in 717 buyer search
Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) has no plans to furlough pilots and flight attendants as it searches for a buyer for 88 Boeing Co. (BA) 717s acquired when it purchased AirTran Holdings Inc. in May, Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly told employees today.
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BA gains Russian approval to fly 747 London-Moscow route
British Airways (BA) received approval Friday to fly a Boeing 747 on its London (LHR)-Moscow Domodedovo (DME) route, just two days before the first scheduled flight began Sunday. In September, BA disclosed plans to fly the 747 on its LHR-DME route but Russian authorities denied it gave approval.
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JAL takes delivery of its first 787
Japan Airlines (JAL) took delivery Monday of its first two Boeing 787-8s, the second airline to add the Dreamliner to its fleet and the first to take GE GEnx-powered aircraft. JAL president Yoshiharu Ueki said at the delivery ceremony at Boeing’s Everett, Wash., facility that the airline will use its 787s on new routes, including to Boston starting in April and to San Diego later this year.
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American Eagle reportedly could end service to Puerto Rico
American Airlines plans to end service to Puerto Rico in 2013, according to El Vocero, a Puerto Rican newspaper. American Eagle employs around 150 employees on the island. However, American Airlines spokeswoman Dori Alvarez said the carrier has not announced any changes to its service in San Juan.
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British Airways' parent may buy stake in American Airlines
British Airways' parent company may buy a stake in American Airlines, according to a report in the Sunday Times. Willie Walsh, CEO of International Airlines Group, is said to be considering several options. IAG spokeswoman Laura Goodes had no comment.
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German airports face strike action Tuesday
Germany’s airports will face disruptions and flight cancellations Tuesday due to a public sector strike across Germany affecting ground handling and transportation staff. Passengers will likely experience delays at Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Cologne/Bonn, Munich and Stuttgart airports. Berlin airports could also be affected.
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A4A criticizes proposed airline security tax hike
A proposal by the House Budget Committee that includes an increase in airline security fees from $2.50 per segment to $5 each way met with criticism from airline group Airlines for America, which pointed out the negative effect it could have on passengers. "We cannot continue to put more taxes on airline passengers -- who already pay more than $60 in taxes on a typical $300 round-trip ticket -- with this disappointing and shortsighted approach that ultimately will discourage business travel and tourism," said A4A CEO Nicholas E. Calio.
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Blog: GOP lawmakers object to proposed cut in gun program for pilots
House Republicans are objecting to budget cuts proposed by the Obama administration for training airline pilots to carry guns. "The Federal Flight Desk Officer program serves as the last line of defense in the event of a terrorist attack on the cockpit of an airplane," writes Rep. Chip Cravaack, R-Minn., a former pilot, in a letter to the House Appropriations Committee. President Barack Obama has proposed a 52% reduction in the program.
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GDSs, airlines continue battle over technology
Airlines and global distribution systems continue their war of words in an article in Airlines International. The articles says that "a GDS screen today looks much like a screen from the 1970s. They are unable to handle the rapidly increasing range of product offerings from airlines." However, a Sabre spokesman says the technology can display ancillary services.
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JetBlue sees mobile as integral to travel convenience
Noting that mobile devices are an "imperative" in the travel industry, JetBlue Airways senior producer of mobile products Jonathan Stephen said it is equally important for airlines to offer mobile services to their customers. Airlines should take into account how consumers use their devices, Stephen advised, as well as the key touchpoints, including discovery, pre-flight planning, in-flight service and destination management.
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Other News
Bolivia state-owned Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) announced that passenger traffic grew 30.5% in 2011, up to 966,400 boarding passengers. BoA has a 49% market share of the Bolivian market.
Russian S7 Group will announce its regional network development strategy at the end of the year, S7 Group CEO Vladislav Filev said. The S7 Group includes Sibir and Globus.
IATA reported that international premium traffic for January was up 2.9% compared to the year-ago month, slightly down from 3.7% in December.
Italian manufacturer [b]Piaggio Aero is eager to prove at the ABACE show that the first two P.180 Avanti IIs in China represent just the opening of the door into the Chinese business aviation market.
Bombardier expects the market for business aircraft in China to total 2,360 jets over the next 20 years, the company's vice president of business aircraft sales said Monday.
NASA has flown an automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast (ADS-B) transponder on a large unmanned air vehicle (UAV) for the first time.
Boeing Business Jets has already begun pitching a VIP variant of the re-engined 737 Max - the BBJ Max - to potential customers for 2018-19.
Bombardier is holding a delivery ceremony at its Montreal, Canada headquarters today to celebrate entry into service of its first Global 5000 jet equipped with the Global Vision flight deck.
Ops & Maintenance NewsEgyptAir Maintenance & Engineering has performed a 2A check and fuel leak repair for EgyptAir Airbus A320 aircraft. It also performed a C check on an Air Nigeria Boeing 737, the fourth aircraft in two months.
AFI KLM E&M has extended a component support contract with Yemenia Airways, originally signed in 2005. The renewed contract operates under the same terms, covering component support with pool access and repairs for two Airbus A330s.
EDAC Technologies Corp. has a four-year agreement valued at $13 million, with a division of GE Aviation to provide booster cases for two engines used on aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A330.
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AVIATION QUOTE
When a flight is proceeding incredibly well, something was forgotten.
— Robert Livingston, Flying The Aeronca.
ON THIS DATE
---In 1907... Romanian Trajan Vuia begins tests of his airplane, newly fitted with steering surfaces. He makes a short flight of 33 feet in Paris, France.
---In 1927... Young American airmail pilot Charles A. Lindbergh registers his entry in the Raymond Orteig challenge for the first man to cross the Atlantic Ocean solo. The challenge and a $25,000 prize, has been issued in 1920, but no one has so far been successful in making the flight.
---In 1931…TWA Flight 599, a Fokker F-10 (NC-999) crashes in Chase County, Kansas, killing all 8 aboard. The wood laminate construction of the aircraft became weak over time until a wing spar failed and separated from the aircraft. This brought upon the very first every grounding of an aircraft type.
---In 1945…The final V-2 missile to hit England falls in Kent.
---In 1946... An air agreement is signed by France and the US giving Air France the right to serve the cities of Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago.
---In 1951…A Douglas Dakota DC-3, being operated by Air Transport Charter crashes shortly after takeoff from Runway Airport in Manchester, England. Ice forms on the carburetor after the Captain fails to properly use the heat controls, making the engines unable to gain enough power to climb. Of the 6 aboard, 4 die.
---In 1962…A Cubana de Aviacion Ilyushin IL-14 (CU-T819) crashes into the sea about a mile from Santiago, Cuba, killing all 22 aboard.
--- In 1968... Yuri Gagarin, in April 1961 first man in space, is killed in the crash of a MiG-15UTI trainer near the Soviet capital Moscow.
---In 1969…Mariner 7, one of two robotic probes sent to inspect Mars’ atmosphere and ice caps, launches.
---In 1972… Venera 8 USSR Venus Lander launched.
---In 1975…First flight of the de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7.
---In 1977…The Tenerife Disaster, the deadliest plane crash in history, takes place on a foggy day at Tenerife North Airport (then known as Los Rodeos Airport). Several aircraft, including a KLM Boeing 747-200 (PH-BUF) and Pan Am Boeing 747-100 (N736PA “Clipper Victor”), divert to Tenerife because of a bombing at their original destination, Las Palmas Airport in Gran Canaria, Spain. Tenerife, being a small airport with only one runway and taxiway, requires that the 5 or so diversions park on the taxiway, and then back-taxi and turn around on the runway when it came time to depart. The KLM aircraft taxied into takeoff position while the Pan Am taxied down the runway from the other end, but they are not visible due to each other due to the very dense fog. The KLM Captain either misunderstands ATC or decides on his own, commences takeoff. Only in the final moments do they realize they are on a collision course. The Pan Am attempts to vacate the runway unsuccessfully as the KLM rotates early, dragging its tail, but the belly of the KLM 747 rips into the main cabin and its right engines go right through the upper deck of the Pan Am aircraft. The KLM continues almost a quarter-mile before bursting into flames with its full fuel tanks. All 248 aboard the KLM aircraft perish and there are only 61 survivors among the 335 Pan Am occupants…a total death toll of 583.
---In 1984... British Airways inaugurates a Concorde service from London to Miami twice weekly. The service operates through Washington-Dulles, necessitating a 50-minute stopover. The overall trip lasts 6 hours 35 minutes, a saving approximately 2.5 hours over the direct flight by subsonic airliners. The round-trip fare is quoted a £2,509.
---In 1990…An Uzbek Civil Aviation Administration Ilyushin IL-76D (CCCP-78781) stalls on final and crashes before reaching Kabul, Afghanistan. All 11 aboard are killed.
---In 1990…An Angolan Government CASA C-212 Aviocar 300 is shot down near Kuito, Angola by UNITA forces, killing all 25 on-board.
----In 1994…The Eurofighter Typhoon, a twin-engine fighter designed by Alenia Aeronautica, BAE Systems and EADS, makes its maiden flight.
---In 1999…A Soviet anti-aircraft missile(SA-2 Guideline) takes down an F-117 Nighthawk in the Kosovo War for the first and only time thus far in its career.
---In 2004… NASA's X-43 pilotless plane breaks world speed record for an atmospheric engine by briefly flying at 7,700 kilometers (4,780 miles) per hour (seven times the speed of sound).
---In 2007…The last Airbus A300 leaves the Airbus assembly line.
DAILY VIDEO
EDITOR’S CHOICE
HUMOR
Young Trooper Seeking Info From Wise Sergeant Major
Young SF trooper at the feet of an old wise SGM.
Youngster asks SGM about the officer rank insignia and what is the significance and relationship of insignia to the rank?
SGM says, "Pop me another Bah Muey Bah, there young troop and I'll explain".
"2LT, has a gold bar, soft metal, is easily workable, and needs shining.
1LT, has a single silver bar. Harder, more experienced and easier to shine.
CPT, of course has two silver bars. Twice as good as a 1LT, ready for command of a company.
COL, has an silver eagle, is ready to soar and be a great leader.
Generals, of course have stars. They are up in the firmament. That about covers it youngster."
"Hmmm", says the young-un. "But what about Majors and Lt. Colonels?"
The old SGM takes another pull on his beer and says,
"Well, son, ever since Adam and Eve got kicked out of the garden, we have covered our pricks with leaves."
TRIVIA
Aircraft ID
Soviet Heavy Metal
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