News
Bombardier completes assembly of first CSeries fuselage
Bombardier confirms the final section for the CSeries structural test aircraft will be delivered to the Montreal factory by the end of the month, and final assembly should be "pretty much complete" by the end of October. With the first flight test vehicle (FTV-1) following in production, finishing the complete airframe static test (CAST) aircraft is a critical step towards reaching first flight in less than 107 days.
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NTSB urges grounding for certain GEnx-powered 787 and 747-8s
US aircraft safety investigators have called for grounding certain Boeing 787s and 747-8s powered by General Electric engines until they are inspected for cracks and also revealed that a cracked fan midshaft was discovered on a third engine last month. The recommendations issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) offer the clearest explanation yet for the rash of zero- or low-time GEnx engine failures since 28 July.
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New fighter aircraft emerges in China
Images of a new fighter aircraft resembling the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter have appeared on Chinese defence sites. The images were reportedly taken at the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation airfield and appeared over the weekend of 15-16 September 2012.
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Virgin unveils second stage of domestic routes
Virgin Atlantic (VS) has unveiled plans for a series of London to Scotland routes as it seeks to extend UK domestic service. The carrier announced last month it will launch a 3X-daily London Heathrow (LHR)-Manchester (MAN) service in March 2013. Unlike the MAN service, which will use existing VS slots, the proposed services—from LHR to Edinburgh (EDI) and Aberdeen (ABZ)—will depend on the European Commission’s (EC) decision on which airline will receive the 12 remedy slot pairs that British Airways (BA) had to surrender after BA parent International Airlines Group purchased British Midland International. VS has put in a bid for all the slots. The EC decision is expected later this year.
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Air Astana CEO wants to stay independent of alliances
Kazakhstan-based Air Astana (KC) sees no need for joining a global alliance as the rapidly expanding carrier offers a “unique network in this part of the world,” KC president Peter Foster said.
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Boeing trims vacated 787 delivery slots to reduce risk
Boeing has trimmed the pace of future 787 deliveries to reduce the risk of over-burdening the production system as it executes a swift and critical ramp-up. Ray Conner, president of Boeing Commercial Aircraft, also is reviewing plans to ramp up to two 747-8 deliveries per month, and taking a less strident approach than his predecessor on speeding up delivery rates.
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Lukewarm response from markets to EADS-BAE merger plans
Reactions to merger talks between EADS and BAE Systems have been distinctly lukewarm, with one investor describing it as a "deal without logic". The two manufacturers released a joint statement detailing the merger plan after the stock markets closed on 12 September. Trading the on the 13 September has shown precisely what investors think: EADS's share price fell 9%, with BAE Systems not far behind losing 8% of its value.
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Airbus 2050: the details are all in the future
Airbus has, for several years now, been promoting a vision of air travel in 2050. Starting with the basic structure, the "concept plane" was an attempt to imagine what might come to be if materials and aerodynamic ideas could be combined into a sort of "engineer's dream".
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Intersky eyes further expansion
Austrian regional Intersky (3L) is eyeing further expansion by taking over regional routes from mainline carriers. The carrier, which recently confirmed an order for two ATR 72-600s, is also looking to expand its fleet from three Bombardier Dash 8 Q400s to seven or eight aircraft.
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Airline Cutbacks Hit Smaller US Cities
Banana seller Chiquita Brands this month will close its headquarters in Cincinnati in large part because of cutbacks in air service to the area.
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India To Allow FDI In Its Airlines
India has decided to allow foreign airlines to buy stakes of up to 49 percent in local carriers, Heavy Industries Minister Praful Patel said on Friday.
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Kingfisher Says Eased FDI To Help Investment
India's ailing Kingfisher Airlines, hungry for funds, said on Friday it will now be able to re-engage with prospective investors in a "more meaningful manner," after the government allowed foreign carriers to invest in local airlines.
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Airlines Grapple With Food v. Biofuel Debate
Airlines battling to cut costs and pollution may not find a quick fix in biofuels, as concerns grow that using feedstocks to create an alternative to aviation kerosene will push food prices higher.
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Lufthansa Identifies EUR€1 Bln In Savings
Lufthansa has identified more than EUR€1 billion (USD$1.29 billion) in potential cutbacks in the passenger business, Kay Kratky, an executive said in the company magazine, in a sign that the German airline could be stepping up its cost-cutting.
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Other News
The Uruguayan government postponed the fleet auction of liquidated Pluna Lineas Aereas Uruguayas’ (PU) seven Bombardier CRJ900s, which was scheduled for Sept. 12, to Oct. 1. The government-owned carrier suspended operations July 3. Governmental officials told local media that the auction, which was postponed three hours before it was scheduled to begin, was canceled due to lack of interest after three out of four bidders pulled out. Observers believe the government feared only one bidder—reportedly the Argentine BQB Airline Group—would mean a low offer for the estimated $136 million auction. Observers also believe that a late bidder—reportedly Argentina’s Macri Business Group—asked for a new date so it would have time to prepare an offer.
Air Cargo Germany (ACG) will add two Boeing 747-400ERF aircraft to its fleet of four 747-400SFs next month. The two aircraft will be transferred from AirBridgeCargo, the scheduled operating unit of Volga-Dnepr Group, which holds 49% in ACG. CEO Michael Bock said the company will use the new aircraft to develop additional markets, which could include nonstop routes to Mexico and the Far East. Next year, ACG will return the four 747-400SFs to lessor Martinair and will consider replacing them with either four newer 747-400Fs or 747-400ERFs.
Boeing has confirmed that Air China (CA) has finalized an order for five 747-8Is, which was previously announced in March 2011. A Boeing spokesman told ATW the value of the order is $1.7 billion, based on current list prices. “We did indeed roll the order to our Orders and Deliveries website on Thursday,” the spokesman said in an emailed statement. CA declined to comment.
UK and Ireland to test new direct routes through FAB: As part of the joint High Level Sectors Project, the UK and Ireland are preparing to undertake two ambitious simulations of new airspace designs that allow for direct routes through the UK-Ireland Functional Airspace Block (FAB). The simulations, scheduled for October and November, will demonstrate the revised airspace is at least as safe as the airspace it replaces. The aim of the High Level Sectors Project, which is part of the UK-Ireland FAB initiative, is to increase the region’s network capacity by 5%, generate fuel savings of 57,000 kg. per week and CO2 savings of 182,000 kg. per week, and reduce aircraft track miles by 4,000 nm. per week.
SkyWest has approved an agreement with Raymond James & Associates to repurchase up to 6.5 million shares of SkyWest common stock. The repurchases were permitted to begin 30 days from Friday and may be purchased in the open market or privately negotiated transactions.
Japan Airlines launched JAL Sky Project, a revamp of its inflight products and services on international routes. Under the project the carrier will first install seat design changes to 13 Boeing 777-300ERs.
United Airlines (UA) has joined the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group (SAFUG), an industry working group that aims to accelerate the development and commercialization of aviation biofuels. SAFUG members represent about 32% of commercial aviation fuel demand.
Aviation Quote
Aggressiveness was a fundamental to success in air-to-air combat and if you ever caught a fighter pilot in a defensive mood you had him licked before you started shooting.
— Captain David McCampbell, USN, leading U.S. Navy ace in W.W.II.
On This Date
---In 1908... The 1st fatality in a powered airplane occurs when Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge is killed while flying with Orville Wright at Fort Meyer, Virginia.
---In 1946…Scandinavian Air System (SAS) commences flight operations.
---In 1947…The United States Army Air Forces are separated from the United States Army and become an independent armed service, the United States Air Force.
---In 1959... The North American X-15 rocket plane makes its 1st powered flight at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
---In 1960…East African Airways launches jet service between Nairobi and London.
---In 1976…NASA unveils the Space Shuttle Enterprise, the first space shuttle orbiter. Though not constructed to enter space (it was not built with engines or a proper heat shield), it was used for approach and landing tests Dryden Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base. The Enterprise currently resides as a museum piece at the Steve F. Udvar-Hazy Museum outside Dulles International Airport.
---In 1993…The F/A-18 Hornet logs its 2 millionth flying hour - achieved in only ten years of operations.
Daily Video
Editor’s Choice
Humor
From The Squawk Sheets…
• Problem: "Smoke in cabin."
• Solution: "Aircrew reminded fleet is no-smoking these days."
• Problem: "Bad smell in cockpit (B-747)."
• Solution: "Advice crew to wash every day."
• Problem: "Missile slow to leave rail."
• Solution: "Use a real missile. Missile is a Cap9 (captive trainer)."
• Problem: "IFF Knob binding, hard to turn."
• Solution: "IFF 'push to turn' knob works correctly when pushed to turn."
• Problem: "Missile (AIM-9) wont track on the ground."
• Solution: "System fully operational, flightsuit insert inop (side stick controller)."
• Problem: "Missile (AIM-9) tone very weak, almost inaudible."
• Solution: "Turn up the volume."
• Problem: "Rear cockpit HUD repeter unviewable, looked like squiggly porn."
• Solution: "HBO ordered MICAP zero Ballance."
• Problem: "Something loose in cockpit."
• Solution: "Something tightened in cockpit."
• Problem: "Evidence of hydraulic leak on right main landing gear."
• Solution: "Evidence removed."
• Problem: "Target Radar hums."
• Solution: "Reprogrammed Target Radar with the lyrics."
• Problem: "Number three engine missing."
• Solution: "Engine found on right wing after brief search."
• Problem: "DME volume unbelievably loud."
• Solution: "Volume set to more believable level."
• Problem: "Dead bugs on windshield."
• Solution: "Live bugs on order."
• Problem: "Autopilot in altitude hold mode produces a 200 fpm descent."
• Solution: "Cannot reproduce problem on ground."
• Problem: "IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) inoperative."
• Solution: "IFF always inoperative in OFF mode"
• Problem: "Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick."
• Solution: "That's what they're there for."
• Problem: "Left inside main tire almost needs replacement."
• Solution: "Almost replaced left inside main tire."
• Problem: "Test flight OK, except autoland very rough."
• Solution: "Autoland not installed on this aircraft."
• Problem 1: "No. 2 Propeller seeping prop fluid."
• Solution 1: "No. 2 Propeller seepage normal."
• Problem 2: "No. 1, No. 3, and No. 4 propellers lack normal seepage."
• Problem: "The autopilot doesn't."
• Solution: "IT DOES NOW."
• Problem: "Roaches in galley."
• Solution: "Fed and watered roaches"
• Problem: "Laboratory mice loose in bag bin."
• Solution: "No cat this station."
• Problem: "Aircraft handles FUNNY."
• Solution: "Aircraft warned to straighten up, "fly right" and be serious."
• Problem :"UHF does not work in OFFicial mode."
• Solution: " Found short between the headphones."
• Problem: "Anti Collision Strobe Intermitently on."
• Solution: "Removed and Replaced Side Stick Actuator."
• Problem: "Sounds like little man is beating on the bottom of the floor with a hammer."
• Solution: "Took hammer from man and made him promise not to do it again."
• Problem: "Bugs smashed on canopy."
• Solution: "Gave bugs coffee and told them to move along."
• Problem: "Crew door hard to close." (on a KC-135)
• Solution: "Green suit needs to up his Wheaties intake."
• Problem: "No. 3 engine knocks at idle"
• Solution: "No. 3 engine let in for a few beers"
• Problem: "Funny smell in cockpit"
• Solution: "Pilot told to change cologne"
• Problem: "The T/C ball seemed stuck in the middle during my last turn."
• Solution: "Congratulations! You've just made your first coordinated turn."
• Problem: "Transponder inoperative."
• Solution: "Transponder always inoperative in OFF mode."
• Problem: "Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick."
• Solution: "That's what they're there for!"
Trivia
Tail ID’s
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
• Problem 1: "No. 2 Propeller seeping prop fluid."
• Solution 1: "No. 2 Propeller seepage normal."
• Problem 2: "No. 1, No. 3, and No. 4 propellers lack normal seepage."
• Problem: "Sounds like little man is beating on the bottom of the floor with a hammer."
• Solution: "Took hammer from man and made him promise not to do it again."
