Boeing to purchase 787 aft fuselage plant from Vought for $580 million Boeing said yesterday that it has reached agreement to purchase Vought Aircraft Industries' facility in North Charleston, S.C., that builds the 787's aft fuselage sections. Link
Star, Continental: DOJ ATI analysis 'flawed. . .should be disregarded' Current members of Star Alliance and aspiring member Continental Airlines pushed back strongly against the US Dept. of Justice's opposition to the extension of antitrust immunity to CO when it joins in October, arguing in a filing with the Dept. of Transportation that DOJ favors a "myopic policy" that would "abandon almost two decades of highly successful international aviation policy." Link
Patel promises 'heads will roll' as AI expects loss to exceed $1 billion Air India parent National Aviation Co. of India Ltd. is expected to report a loss of approximately INR50 billion ($1.02 billion) for its fiscal year ended March 31, some 25% more than the figure targeted last month, Indian Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel informed the national parliament's upper house yesterday. Link
Yemenia threatens to 'reconsider' A350 order Yemenia Yemen Airways yesterday threatened to "reconsider" its order for 10 A350-800s valued at $2 billion because it believes Airbus has been unsupportive following last week's A310-300 crash in the Indian Ocean that killed 152. Link
USAF Considers New Direction For GMTI The U.S. Air Force is conducting a sweeping review of requirements for ground surveillance that could lead to major funding decisions in the next few budget cycles, according to senior service officials. At issue is how best to collect, process and disseminate ground moving target indications (GMTI), a specialized type of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) designed to track, and if necessary, target moving objects on the ground or at sea. Link
Raytheon: Data ink problems are over Raytheon believes it has finally overcome the delay of a single technology that may have scuttled funding for one weapons program and also imperiled the company's pursuit of two other contracts Link
Embraer's 1H deliveries nearly reach year-earlier tally Embraer during the second quarter delivered to customers a total 56 aircraft, four more than in the same period in 2008. Link
RAF's first Chinook HC3 flies after 'reversion' work The UK's non-operational fleet of eight Boeing CH-47 Chinook HC3 transport helicopters has moved a significant step closer to entering service, with a first example flying for the first time after undergoing a so-called "reversion" package of modifications. Link
FAA issues new $13 million rulemaking for 737 operators The US FAA is set to release a final airworthiness directive tomorrow requiring operators of more than 500 legacy Boeing 737 models (-100 though -500) to replace certain wire bundles in the outboard landing light and fuel shutoff valve wire harnesses within five years at a total cost of approximately $13 million fleet-wide. Link
Other News
SunExpress, the Antalya-based joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, ordered six 737-800s worth $460 million at list prices, Boeing announced yesterday. It currently operates 16 737NGs and three 757s. The manufacturer did not provide a delivery schedule. Meanwhile, Groupe Sonatrach subsidiary Tassili Airlines, based in Algiers, decided to order four 737-800s and three E-190s as part of a plan to add nine aircraft to its fleet. It also plans to order two 70-seat aircraft. Neither Boeing nor Embraer confirmed the orders.
According to its Orders and Deliveries website, Boeing had sold a net one aircraft as of yesterday, comprising 85 gross orders and 84 cancellations. It sold two 767s to an unidentified customer and suffered the cancellation of one 737, one 777 and 15 787s (Qantas).
European Court of Justice imposed a €2 million ($2.8 million) fine on the Greek government for failing to recover state aid illegally granted to Olympic Airways, the predecessor of Olympic Airlines, which was privatized in March. The penalty will be increased by €16,000 each day if Greece fails to recover the money within one month.
The ruling relates to a longstanding dispute between the European Commission and Greece over state aid to its loss-making flag carrier. The EC argued in 2002 that certain aid granted to OA was incompatible with the common market and thus had to be recovered. When Greece failed to do so, the Commission took the case to the ECJ, which ruled in 2005 that Greece failed to fulfill its obligations. The EC then revived the case, contending Greece still had not complied with the court's judgment and failed to recover €104.5 million in illegal state aid. The Greek government argued that most had been repaid.
"The court finds that Greece's failure to fulfill obligations has lasted for more than four years," the ECJ said. It concluded that Greece did not recover nor could prove the repayment of €24.8 million in aid, yet decided that this "constitutes only a relatively small part of the total sum." It therefore imposed the €16,000 daily penalty, whereas the EC had sought more than €50,000, "in order to allow Greece to demonstrate that it has ended the failure to fulfill obligations."
Austrian Airlines Group yesterday confirmed that its Tyrolean Airways subsidiary, which operates under the Austrian Arrows brand, will reduce its fleet from the current 55 aircraft to 41 over the next year. A spokesperson told ATWOnline that AAG will phase out 50-seat CRJs, which no longer are economical due to the decline in business demand, especially to Eastern Europe. All 10 CRJs and four of 14 Dash 8-300s will be removed. "This will affect a total of 400 fulltime employees. Up to 280 are from Tyrolean," the spokesperson said. AAG will operate those routes with larger aircraft like Q400s or 737NGs in order to improve seat-mile costs. It will add one new Q400 this year and three more next spring. It has two unconverted options. Seven 737-800s from Lauda Air likely will be integrated into the mainline fleet to fill the capacity gap. Lauda mainly operates on leisure routes and could slash its charter operation by 50% or more to satisfy the European Commission investigation into AAG's planned acquisition by Lufthansa.
"We are holding to our strategy of being a network carrier with a focus on the markets in Central and Eastern Europe. However, we must respond to the massive changes in the market. These changes are structural. We anticipate that demand for the high-price business travel segment will remain weak in the coming years. We must adjust our fleet structure to this development," Austrian Executive Board Members Peter Malanik and Andreas Bierwirth said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Austrian Cargo signed a marketing agreement with Shenzhen-based Jade Cargo International, in which Lufthansa Cargo holds 25%. Jade will operate twice-weekly Incheon-Shanghai-Vienna-Frankfurt-Incheon 747-400ERF flights. Jade Executive VP-Sales & Marketing Reto Hunziker said the carrier wants "to develop Vienna into a 'sub-hub' in our network" and plans to "connect other points in China" with VIE this year.
Transaero Airlines reported a RUB109.4 million ($3.5 million) profit in 2008, a 7% increase over the prior year, on an 82.4% surge in revenue to RUB37.4 billion. Passenger numbers rose 50% to 4.9 million, boosting its market share by 3.6 points to 14.3%. Traffic was up 49% to 17.5 billion RPKs. It said it is "following through with its ambitious domestic route network expansion plans."
EU and Azerbaijan signed an aviation agreement yesterday granting all EU carriers the right to fly between any member state and Azerbaijan. More than 210,000 passengers flew between the markets in 2007, the EU said.
United Airlines flew 10.57 billion consolidated RPMs in June, down 7.5% from the year-ago month, while capacity fell 8% to 12.31 billion ASMs. Load factor rose 0.5 point to 85.9%.
Southwest Airlines said June passenger RASM decreased an estimated 9%-10% year-over-year. It flew 6.73 billion RPMs in June, down 2.1%, against a 3.8% fall in capacity to 8.46 billion ASMs. Load factor rose 1.3 points to 79.5%.
JetBlue Airways said June preliminary passenger RASM fell 12% year-over-year. It flew 2.23 billion RPMs last month, down 3.3%, against a 0.1% drop in capacity to 2.77 billion ASMs. Load factor dropped 2.8 points to 80.3%.
Alaska Airlines flew 1.64 billion RPMs in June, a 2.6% decline year-over-year. Capacity was down 4.1% to 2.04 billion ASMs and load factor rose 1.2 points to 80.7%.
Turkish Airlines and Jet Airways linked their loyalty programs yesterday.
Ameco Beijing signed a deal with Air India Charters covering C checks on eight 737-800s.
Lufthansa Systems signed a five-year deal with Chanchangi Airlines to provide its Lido Flight Management System.
IBS and Malaysia Airlines reached a deal for implementation of the AvientCrew crew management system over the next two years.
AVIATION QUOTE
"I learned the discipline of flying in order to have the freedom of flight....Discipline prevents crashes." --Captain John Cook, British Airways, Concorde Pilot
AEROSPACE TERM
Geocentric Parallax
The difference in the apparent direction or position of a celestial body measured in seconds of arc, as observed from the center of the earth and a point on its surface.
DAILY VIDEO
HUMOR
No Frills Airline
You'll Know It's a No-Frills Airline If:
1. They don't sell tickets, they sell chances.
2. All the insurance machines in the terminal are sold out.
3. Before the flight, the passengers get together and elect a pilot.
4. If you kiss the wing for luck before boarding, it kisses you back.
5. You cannot board the plane unless you have the exact change.
6. Before you took off, the stewardess tells you to fasten your Velcro.
7. The Captain asks all the passengers to chip in a little for gas.
8. When they pull the steps away, the plane starts rocking.
9. The Captain yells at the ground crew to get the cows off the runway.
10. You ask the Captain how often their planes crash and he says, "Just once."
11. No movie. Don't need one.
12. Your life keeps flashing before your eyes.
13. You see a man with a gun, but he's demanding to be let off the plane.
14. All the planes have both a bathroom and a chapel.
TRIVIA
[b]Test/b]
1 What is the principal advantage of a sweepback design wing over a straightwing design? A) Sweepback will accelerate the onset of compressibility effect. B) Sweepback will increase changes in the magnitude of force coefficients due to compressibility. C) The critical Mach number will increase significantly.
2 Which of the following is considered an auxiliary flight control? A) Ruddervator. B) Leading-edge flaps. C) Upper rudder.
3 For a given angle of bank, the load factor imposed on both the aircraft and pilot in a coordinated constant-altitude turn A) varies with the rate of turn. B) is constant. C) is directly related to the airplane's gross weight.
4 What is the safest and most efficient takeoff and initial climb procedure in a light, twin-engine airplane? Accelerate to A) best engine-out, rate-of-climb airspeed while on the ground, then lift off and climb at that speed. B)an airspeed slightly above VMC, then lift off and climb at the best rate-of-climb airspeed. C) VMC, then lift off at that speed and climb at maximum angle-of-climb airspeed.
5 How soon after the conviction for driving while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs shall it be reported to the FAA, Civil Aviation Security Division? A) No later than 60 days after the motor vehicle action. B) No later than 30 working days after the motor vehicle action. C) Required to be reported upon renewal of medical certificate.
6 An air carrier airplane's airborne radar must be in satisfactory operating condition prior to dispatch, if the flight will be A) carrying passengers, but not if it is "all cargo." B) conducted IFR, and ATC is able to radar vector the flight around areas of weather. C) conducted under VFR conditions at night with scattered thunderstorms reported en route.
7 Scanning procedures for effective collision avoidance should constitute A) looking outside for 15 seconds, then inside for 5 seconds, then repeat. B) 1 minute inside scanning, then 1 minute outside scanning , then repeat. C) looking outside every 30 seconds except in radar contact when outside scanning is unnecessary.
8 A pilot, acting as second in command, successfully completes the instrument competency check specified in FAR Part 61. How long does this pilot remain current if no further IFR flights are made? A) 90 days. B) 6 months. C) 12 months.
9 What is the hijack code? A) 7200. B) 7500. C) 7777.
10 A person may not act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft if alcoholic beverages have been consumed by that person within the preceding A) 24 hours. B) 8 hours. C) 12 hours.
11 Why do some airplanes equipped with inboard/outboard ailerons use the outboards for slow flight only? A) Aerodynamic loads on the outboard ailerons tend to twist the wingtips at high speeds. B) Increased surface area provides greater controllability with flap extension. C) Locking out the outboard ailerons in high-speed flight provides variable flight control feel.
12 Under what condition does ATC issue safety alerts? A) If the aircraft altitude is noted to be in close proximity to the surface or an obstacle. B) When weather conditions are extreme and wind shear or large hail is in the vicinity. C) When collision with another aircraft is imminent.
13 Which is a purpose of ground spoilers? A) Increase the rate of descent without gaining airspeed. B) Aid in rolling an airplane into a turn. C) Reduce the wings' lift upon landing.
14 Which is a purpose of leading-edge flaps? A) Direct airflow over the top of the wing at high angles of attack. B) Increase the camber of the wing. C) Reduce lift without increasing airspeed.
15 The illusion of being in a noseup attitude which may occur during a rapid acceleration takeoff is known as A) inversion illusion. B) somatogravic illusion. C) autokinesis.
16 When are outboard ailerons normally used? A) Low-speed flight only. B) High-speed flight only. C) Low-speed and high-speed flight.
17 While on an IFR flight in controlled airspace, the failure of which unit will precipitate an immediate report to ATC? A) Airborne radar. B) One engine, on a multiengine aircraft. C) DME.
18 Hazardous vortex turbulence that might be encountered behind large aircraft is created only when that aircraft is A) operating at high airspeeds. B) developing lift. C) using high power settings.
19 When setting the altimeter, pilots should disregard A) effects of nonstandard atmospheric temperatures and pressures. B) corrections for instrument error. C) corrections for static pressure systems.
20 What is the minimum number of flight attendants required on an airplane having a passenger seating capacity of 188 with only 117 passengers aboard? A) Five. B) Four. C) Three.
21 If an air carrier airplane's airborne radar is inoperative and thunderstorms are forecast along the proposed route of flight, an airplane may be dispatched only A) when able to climb and descend VFR and maintain VFR/OT en route. B) in day VFR conditions. C) in VFR conditions.
22 What procedure is recommended for an engine-out approach and landing? A) The altitude and airspeed should be considerably higher than normal throughout the approach. B) The flightpath and procedures should be almost identical to a normal approach and landing. C) A normal approach, except do not extend the landing gear or flaps until over the runway threshold.
23 An applicant who is scheduled for a practical test for an airline transport pilot certificate, in an approved flight simulator, is A) required to have a first-class medical certificate. B) not required to have a medical certificate. C) required to have at least a current third-class medical certificate.
24 An applicant who is scheduled for a practical test for an airline transport pilot certificate, in an aircraft, needs A) a second-class medical certificate. B) a first-class medical certificate. C) at least a current third-class medical certificate.
Last edited by miamiair/forum/images/avatars/gallery/first/user54/1.pngoffline on 28 Apr 11, 08:43, edited 3 times in total.
Reason:Fixed video link.
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
Thanks a lot for putting together the Daily each day, Miamiair!
I like the plane in the video, it's like an SR-71 with props!
1 What is the principal advantage of a sweepback design wing over a straightwing design? C) The critical Mach number will increase significantly.
2 Which of the following is considered an auxiliary flight control? C) Upper rudder.
3 For a given angle of bank, the load factor imposed on both the aircraft and pilot in a coordinated constant-altitude turn B) is constant.
4 What is the safest and most efficient takeoff and initial climb procedure in a light, twin-engine airplane? Accelerate to B) an airspeed slightly above VMC, then lift off and climb at the best rate-of-climb airspeed.
5 How soon after the conviction for driving while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs shall it be reported to the FAA, Civil Aviation Security Division? B) No later than 30 working days after the motor vehicle action.
6 An air carrier airplane's airborne radar must be in satisfactory operating condition prior to dispatch, if the flight will be A) carrying passengers, but not if it is "all cargo."
7 Scanning procedures for effective collision avoidance should constitute A) looking outside for 15 seconds, then inside for 5 seconds, then repeat.
8 A pilot, acting as second in command, successfully completes the instrument competency check specified in FAR Part 61. How long does this pilot remain current if no further IFR flights are made? C) 12 months.
9 What is the hijack code? B) 7500.
10 A person may not act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft if alcoholic beverages have been consumed by that person within the preceding B) 8 hours.
11 Why do some airplanes equipped with inboard/outboard ailerons use the outboards for slow flight only? A) Aerodynamic loads on the outboard ailerons tend to twist the wingtips at high speeds.
12 Under what condition does ATC issue safety alerts? B) When weather conditions are extreme and wind shear or large hail is in the vicinity.
13 Which is a purpose of ground spoilers? C) Reduce the wings' lift upon landing.
14 Which is a purpose of leading-edge flaps? B) Increase the camber of the wing.
15 The illusion of being in a noseup attitude which may occur during a rapid acceleration takeoff is known as B) somatogravic illusion.
16 When are outboard ailerons normally used? A) Low-speed flight only.
17 While on an IFR flight in controlled airspace, the failure of which unit will precipitate an immediate report to ATC? A) Airborne radar.
18 Hazardous vortex turbulence that might be encountered behind large aircraft is created only when that aircraft is B) developing lift.
19 When setting the altimeter, pilots should disregard C) corrections for static pressure systems.
20 What is the minimum number of flight attendants required on an airplane having a passenger seating capacity of 188 with only 117 passengers aboard? B) Four.
21 If an air carrier airplane's airborne radar is inoperative and thunderstorms are forecast along the proposed route of flight, an airplane may be dispatched only A) when able to climb and descend VFR and maintain VFR/OT en route.
22 What procedure is recommended for an engine-out approach and landing? A) The altitude and airspeed should be considerably higher than normal throughout the approach.
23 An applicant who is scheduled for a practical test for an airline transport pilot certificate, in an approved flight simulator, is B) not required to have a medical certificate.
24 An applicant who is scheduled for a practical test for an airline transport pilot certificate, in an aircraft, needs B) a first-class medical certificate.[/quote]
Lockheed to update Japanese defenses at sea Amid worries over missile tests by North Korea, the Pentagon has awarded Lockheed Martin Corp. a $7 million contract to support Aegis modernization on Japanese destroyers. "This modification includes options which, if exercised, would increase the cumulative value of the contract by $41 million," according to the award announcement. Link
June traffic numbers point to "ugly" losses in Q2 As major airlines completed reporting their June traffic figures, analysts said the monthly results portend another quarter of "losses across the board." All of the eight largest U.S. carriers saw falling traffic in June, with an average decline of 6.1%. Unit revenues were also under pressure, with most carriers seeing double-digit declines. "Everybody is in the same boat on demand and pricing," said an analyst with Stifel Nicolaus & Co., predicting "some pretty ugly earnings numbers" for the second quarter. Link
Opinion: Alliances are better than bailouts With airlines struggling against rising oil prices and falling demand, Wall Street Journal columnist Holman W. Jenkins says the Obama administration could end up with yet another nationalized industry on its hands if it insists upon blocking alliances due to antitrust fears. "The new administration seemingly won't let companies fail, and won't let them succeed either," Jenkins writes of Justice Department opposition to antitrust immunity for Continental Airlines and the Star Alliance. Such alliances, he argues, are the industry's "self-help solution" for companies looking "to share losses and preserve capacity in a downturn." By denying that option to struggling carriers, Obama may soon be forced to "add the airlines to the collection of failed industries being run out of the White House." Link
General aviation increasingly concerned over climate bill The general aviation sector is increasingly wary of efforts to impose a cap-and-trade system on carbon emissions, worried that the plan would result in higher costs and increased bureaucracy. "We're all deeply concerned by this legislation," says the president of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, adding that a straightforward carbon tax might be preferable to the European-style cap-and-trade proposal. Both GAMA and the National Business Aviation Association are insisting that any funds collected from aviation under the new climate bill should be reinvested in the air transportation system. Link
Special report details progress on satellite-based ATC In a special report, Flight International looks at the promise of NextGen in the U.S. The article notes a "burgeoning NextGen funding stream" topping $800 million next year, with a road map in place to achieve "NowGen" by 2018. To illustrate the "baby steps" taken in rolling out the complex system, the report includes three sidebar articles on the implementation of ADS-B. Link
Cyber attacks cause "massive outage" at DOT, other federal networks The Department of Homeland Security is confirming "malicious Web activity" in a wide-ranging cyber attack on federal computer networks. According to reports, the attack began over the July 4 weekend, and some networks were still experiencing the effects on Tuesday evening. The Transportation Department, Secret Service and Federal Trade Commission were among the agencies affected. The so-called denial of service attack blocked access to federal Web sites for hours at a time, with the DOT site "100% down" for two days, according to one security company official. Link
Full Senate takes up Homeland Security spending bill The full Senate began debate Tuesday on the Homeland Security appropriations bill, hoping to move it quickly into a House-Senate conference committee in time for the August recess. The Senate version provides the department with $302 million more than the House version, though both chambers call for more than the amount requested by the White House. Link
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
Southwest says traffic fell more slowly in June Southwest Airlines reports that traffic slipped again in June, though the 2.1% decline was not as steep as the 3.6% drop recorded in May. Southwest's load factor rose 1.3% as the carrier reduced capacity at a faster rate than the fall in traffic. For the year to date, Southwest says traffic is down 2.2%, while capacity has fallen 3.5%. Link
Delta sees 8.7% drop in international traffic Delta Air Lines says system traffic for June, including its Northwest Airlines subsidiary, fell 6.3% from year-ago levels. The company trimmed available seat miles by 5.8%, and June's load factor was down fractionally. Domestic traffic fell 4.7%, compared to an 8.7% drop on international routes. Link
Comair workers brace for more cuts With a 17% capacity reduction looming in September, Comair President John Bendoraitis warned employees Monday that "additional furloughs among our crews will be unavoidable." The Delta-owned regional employs 5,600 workers, with 3,300 based at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Link
On both sides of the Atlantic, pressure grows on oil speculators Regulators in the U.S. and Europe are seeking to crack down on oil speculators, whose secretive trades they feel could prolong the worldwide recession. The leaders of France and Britain have warned that such speculation "could undermine confidence just as we are pushing for recovery," even as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission began considering limits on the value of commodities contracts held by a single entity. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., called the CFTC proposal a "positive first step" toward reining in "oil speculators looking for a quick buck at the expense of American consumers." Link
Inhofe: Senate won't pass climate bill Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., says climate-change legislation may be approved by the Environment and Public Works Committee but will not muster enough votes to pass the Senate. Officials testified Tuesday that reducing American greenhouse-gas emissions will not be enough to alter climate change and that the U.S. cannot afford to lose its manufacturing base to countries that do not reduce emissions, he said. Link
Analysts: June traffic numbers point to probable industry losses in Q2 As major airlines completed reporting their June traffic figures, analysts said the monthly results portend another quarter of "losses across the board." All of the eight largest U.S. carriers saw falling traffic in June, with an average decline of 6.1%. Unit revenues were also under pressure, with most carriers seeing double-digit declines. "Everybody is in the same boat on demand and pricing," said an analyst with Stifel Nicolaus & Co., predicting "some pretty ugly earnings numbers" for the second quarter. Link
Man sets flight record with month-long airplane odyssey An official with Guinness World Records confirms that a man who spent a month living on AirTran Airways has set the record for most flights on a scheduled carrier within 30 days. Comedian and filmmaker Mark Malkoff flew up to a dozen times per day in surpassing the old record of 128 flights, which was set in 1993. Malkoff filmed highlights of his month-long odyssey, posting the clips on this blog. Link
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
ANSWERS: 8391 C) The critical Mach number will increase significantly.
8327 B) Leading-edge flaps.
8396 B) is constant.
8358 C) VMC, then lift off at that speed and climb at maximum angle-of-climb airspeed.
9332 A) No later than 60 days after the motor vehicle action.
8151 C) conducted under VFR conditions at night with scattered thunderstorms reported en route.
9117 A) looking outside for 15 seconds, then inside for 5 seconds, then repeat.
9339 B) 6 months.
9051 B) 7500.
9354 B) 8 hours.
8342 A) Aerodynamic loads on the outboard ailerons tend to twist the wingtips at high speeds.
9050 A) If the aircraft altitude is noted to be in close proximity to the surface or an obstacle
8336 C) Reduce the wings' lift upon landing.
8331 B) Increase the camber of the wing.
9108 B) somatogravic illusion.
8325 A) Low-speed flight only.
8152 C) DME.
9120 B) developing lift.
9099 A) effects of nonstandard atmospheric temperatures and pressures.
8201 B) Four.
8150 B) in day VFR conditions.
8359 B) The flightpath and procedures should be almost identical to a normal approach and landing.
9333 B) not required to have a medical certificate.
9340 C) at least a current third-class medical certificate.
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
