News
Legalized slot trading comes a step closer in Europe
European Union (EU) transport ministers have agreed a general approach on proposed changes to the 1993 slot allocation rules that could make it legal for airlines to buy and sell slots. Proposals for freeing up the slot allocation market have been under discussion since the 1993 regulation was implemented. However, EU legislators have remained wary of throwing the doors open to either primary or secondary trading.
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WestJet regional subsidiary to be headquartered in Calgary
WestJet (WS) has decided to base its regional turboprop subsidiary, set to launch next year, in its home market of Calgary. The Canadian low-cost carrier (LCC) had also considered basing the regional, named Encore, in the eastern half of the country, with Toronto a strong candidate. Encore will operate with a fleet of Bombardier Q400s and plans to take delivery of five of the turboprops before launching services.
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AENA wins union backing for 10% workforce reduction
Spanish airport operator AENA has won union agreement to cut its 15,000-strong workforce by just over 10%, with 1,600 voluntary layoffs before the end of the year. It said it would fund the redundancies from its own resources without the need to resort to additional state aid.
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Airlines Look To Resume Full New York Schedules
Major US airlines moved to build up service in the New York area on Thursday, with the number of cancelled flights easing as LaGuardia Airport re-opened for business in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
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United Takes Delivery of Second 787
United Airlines said on Thursday it had taken delivery of its second 787 Dreamliner from Boeing, following a delay by the aircraft maker, and that another three 787s due to arrive this year could also be delayed.
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United May Upgrade Some A350 Orders
United Airlines is considering upgrading some of its Airbus A350 orders to the largest member of the European aircraft family in a possible setback for Boeing’s 777 mini-jumbo, industry sources said.
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United staff bolsters efforts to resume operations
Employees across the country from United Holdings have temporarily moved to the Northeast to help the airline recover from superstorm Sandy. It will be "a number of days" before the airline returns to full operation, said a United spokeswoman.
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Airlines beginning to return to normal operations
Newark Liberty and JFK international airports have opened with reduced schedules, and airlines expect LaGuardia Airport to open today. U.S. airlines proactively canceled flights before Hurricane Sandy hit. Airlines "were able to put the planes and the passengers out of harm's way and ensure that people could stay home and not at the airport," said an Airlines for America representative. Hundreds of workers have been deployed by airlines to rebook or cancel tickets for those travelers affected by the storm.
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Canada launches review into F/A-18 fighter replacement
Canada has initiated an independent assessment into the acquisition process used to replace its air force fleet of Boeing F/A-18 combat aircraft, which has so far favoured the purchase of Lockheed Martin's F-35A Joint Strike Fighter. The Public Works and Government Services Canada body on 26 October issued a request for proposals "to obtain the services of a firm to conduct an independent review of the steps taken up to June 2012 in the acquisition process for the replacement of the CF-18".
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RAF forms second Reaper unit, with UK control
The Royal Air Force has formed its second squadron to be equipped with the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Reaper remotely piloted air system and introduced the ability, for the first time, to manage operations of the type over Afghanistan from the UK. Stood up at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire on 26 October, 13 Sqn will enable the UK to double the strength of its Reaper force, which will eventually total 10 of the armed type. New infrastructure in place at the site includes ground control stations and satellite communication equipment required to fly the aircraft remotely.
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Other News
Lufthansa Group’s new business model for its non-hub, short-haul European operations is essential to the health of the overall company and its long-haul intercontinental business, LH Group chairman and Christoph Franz said. Briefing reporters in Frankfurt earlier this week, Franz said, “The entire European Lufthansa business has been operating at a loss for years. But now we have reached the point where we can no longer have our intercontinental business compensating for losses in our European business.” Lufthansa (LH) will present its new point-to-point European business model based on its low-cost subsidiary Germanwings (4U) in early December and begin those operations from January.
Turkish Airlines (THY) has delayed plans to launch Istanbul Ataturk- Australia services because of the Qantas (QF) -Emirates (EK) tie-up. THY CEO Temel Kotil said, the carrier has “less of an appetite” to operate to Australia because of the QF-EK link. “Because they (QF/EK) will feed Europe, we pushed [the plan] a bit backward,” Kotil said, without giving details on a new timeline. Kotil said the QF/EK deal was expected “because it is natural they are working together.”
EasyJet (U2) has been awarded rights to operate between Milan Linate (LIN) and Rome Fiumicino (FCO), bringing to an end Alitalia’s (AZ) monopoly on this key Italian route. U2 will begin operating five flights a day on the route, which it describes as “arguably the most important route for the Italian economy,” in early 2013 using Airbus A319 aircraft.
China’s major carriers have all reported a third-quarter profit decline, mainly due to foreign exchange losses resulting from yuan depreciation. The fluctuation between the Chinese yuan and the US dollar is a major factor for Chinese carriers because much of their aircraft purchasing cost is in US dollars. Air China reported a third-quarter net profit of CNY3.17 billion ($504 million), down 16.5% compared to net income of CNY3.8 billion in the year-ago quarter. Operating revenue rose 2.17% to CNY28.75 billion against a 5.52% increase in operating expenses to CNY24.65 billion. The Beijing-based carrier reported CNY2.1 billion in net finance expenses for the first nine months due to the “depreciation of RMB against the USD,” a sharp contrast from CNY1.39 billion in exchange gains earned in the year-ago period.
Etihad Airways (EY) has been forced to postpone the launch of flights to Addis Ababa, which were scheduled Nov. 2, until further notice. According to an EY statement, the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority rejected the airline’s application for an operating permit. EY said the action was taken despite the existence of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) concluded by the governments of Ethiopia and Abu Dhabi (AUH) in June 2007. Under terms of the agreement, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) began operating scheduled passenger services to AUH in July 2008, but suspended the service 12 months later.
Aeroflot (SU) has taken delivery of an Airbus A330-300, its 100th Airbus aircraft. The aircraft is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines and will be used on numerous routes on SU’s medium- and long-haul network.
Indonesian Sky Aviation’s first Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) aircraft has arrived at Ulyanovsk for painting and cabin outfitting at the facilities of Aviastar-SP. The Indonesian airline has ordered 12 SSJ100s.
Russia’s regional carrier Angara Airlines has taken delivery of its first 75-seat Antonov An-148. Before the end of the year the airline will take the delivery of two more aircraft of the type.
Taiwan’s Eva Air (BR) has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321. The aircraft is being leased from Aviation Capital Group and is the first of 12 A321s ordered by the US lessor. BR plans to introduce 12 leased A321s into its fleet between now and the end of 2014 for operation on regional routes. The airline has specified a high comfort two-class layout for the aircraft seating 184 passengers. BR’s A321 fleet will be powered by CFM International CFM56 engines.
Russia’s Tatarstan Airlines (U9) and its sister carrier Ak Bars Aero (2B) will increase their Airbus A320s family and Bombardier CRJ200s fleets. U9, which operates two Airbus A319-100s, will expand its fleet to include 10 A320s by 2015. The airline wants to replace its Boeing 737-400s and two 737-500s with the Airbus aircraft. 2B, which has 13 CRJ200s, will expand to 35 of the type. By the end of the year, it will take delivery of two additional CRJ200s.
Aviation Quote
The man who enters combat encased in solid armor plate, but lacking the essential of self-confidence, is far more exposed and naked to death than the individual who subjects himself to battle shorn of any protection but his own skill, his own belief in himself and in his wingman. Righteousness is necessary for one's peace of mind, perhaps, but it is a poor substitute for agility . . . and a resolution to meet the enemy under any conditions and against any odds.
— Major Robert S. Johnson, USAAF.
On This Date
---In 1931... The USS Akron, a purpose-built aircraft-carrying airship, is commissioned.
---In 1947…First flight of the Hughes H-4 Hercules ("Spruce Goose").
---In 1954…the VTOL Convair XFY transitions from vertical to horizontal flight and back.
---In 1964… A U.S. Air Force HH-43F helicopter conducts the first night resuce by the Air Force's Air-Sea Rescue Service in Southeast Asia.
---In 1992…First flight of the Airbus A330-300.
---In 1995…First flight of the Fokker F60.
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Humor
Out In The Field
While on a training deployment the Captain and the 1st Sgt were in the field. As they hit the rack for the night, the following exchange took place.
1st Sgt: "Sir, look up into the sky and tell me what you see?"
Capt: "I see millions of stars."
1st Sgt: "And what does that tell you, sir?"
Capt: "From an astronomy perspective, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Theologically, it tells me that God is great and that we are small and insignificant. Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Time wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three in the
morning. Meteorologically, it tells me that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you?"
1st Sgt: "Well sir, it tells me that somebody stole our tent!!"
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miamiair wrote:10. NQS, Key West NAS, Key West, FL
