NewsBoeing 787 Fuel Leak Traced To Faulty Valve
A faulty valve caused a fuel leak on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner at Boston's Logan Airport earlier this week, Japan Airlines said on Thursday. In one of several problems relating to Boeing's newest model in recent weeks, about 40 gallons of fuel spilled onto the taxiway in Boston, compelling the plane to cancel take-off and to return to the gate.
LinkBritish Airways to lease 777s from ALC 
British Airways is to lease a pair of Boeing 777-300ERs from Air Lease (ALC) under 10-year operating lease contracts. The deliveries are scheduled for May and June 2014. The aircraft are part of a five-strong 777-300ER order the lessor placed with Boeing in August 2011, along with 14 737-800s. The remaining three 777-300ERs are expected in 2015.
LinkCathay Pacific's new cargo terminal to open in February 
Cathay Pacific's new cargo terminal at Hong Kong International Airport will start partial operations on 21 February. The terminal will take a three-stage approach to achieve full operations in the second half of 2013, says Cathay Pacific Services. When it starts operations in February, the terminal will handle valuable cargo, transit civil mail and interface transfer transshipments for launch customers, Cathay Pacific and Dragonair.
LinkUK MoD reviews retirement plans for RAF transports, tankers
Faced with a looming shortfall in its ability to perform air-to-air refuelling and tactical transport duties, the UK Ministry of Defence is to extend the planned out-of-service deadlines for three of its current aged types. Previously due to have been retired last month, some of the Royal Air Force's remaining eight Lockheed Martin C-130H transports will remain in use until October 2013. The step carries an associated cost of £16 million ($26 million), according to data contained within the UK National Audit Office's (NAO) Major Projects Report, published on 10 January.
LinkCivil Chinook helicopter crashes in Peru, killing seven 
Seven Columbia Helicopters employees were killed when a commercial model of the Boeing CH-47 Chinook crashed in Peru. The Model 234 tandem-rotor crashed shortly after take-off in the afternoon on 7 January from Pucallpa, Peru, according to the US National Transportation Safety Board, which has dispatched an accident response team to help local investigators.
LinkChinese investors acquire Enstrom HelicopterMichigan-based Enstrom Helicopter has been acquired by a Chinese investment firm in a move aimed at helping the company grow in the rapidly developing Asian market. The company has delivered 168 light helicopters over the past decade and has revealed plans to increase production rates in Menominee, Michigan, with capital provided by new owners Chongqing Helicopter Investment (CQHIC).
LinkGerman Efficiency In Doubt After Airport Debacle
Germans take pride in their engineering skills and efficiency, but that reputation has been tarnished by a farcical series of delays in building Berlin's new international airport. Although the postponements in opening have drawn the most attention, Germany's stifling bureaucracy, red tape and planning rules have also blighted dozens more big projects. The embarrassing and expensive delays in multi-billion euro projects such as Berlin's airport, Hamburg's new opera house, Germany's BND spy agency headquarters, Cologne's underground, Stuttgart's train station, and thousands of kilometers of overhead power grid are no laughing matter for a country whose reputation for engineering excellence is a major selling point.
LinkAirAsia Planning Indian Airline JV - Report
AirAsia is planning to launch an Indian airline in partnership with an Indian business group, according to a report in the country's Economic Times. The report quotes two sources it says are close to the plans as saying that it could involve the setting up of a company that would be 51 percent owned by the Indian business group.
LinkAvolon Signs USD$1.9 Bln Airbus A320neo OrderAirbus on Thursday said aircraft leasing company Avolon had signed a firm order for 20 A320neo planes in a deal worth USD$1.9 billion at list prices. Avolon had originally announced a commitment for 15 of the aircraft in July at the Farnborough Airshow.
LinkPorter Sees No Flight Disruption From StrikeCanada's Porter Airlines said on Wednesday that none of its flights would be affected by an imminent strike by employees who refuel its planes at its Toronto airport base. Porter said 22 employees of a subsidiary, which also provides hangar and office service at the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, have indicated they will go on strike at 12:01 .m (0501 GMT) on Thursday. "We can assure all passengers and airport tenants that regular service will continue," Porter said in a statement, adding that it has fully trained and certified staff and management to step into any jobs left vacant by the strike.
LinkKingfisher Airlines’ aircraft to be impounded
Kingfisher Airlines’ revival plans got tougher Thursday following an Indian Service Tax Dept. notice that it will impound all its aircraft, PTI news agency said. According to the notice, the aircraft cannot be flown outside the airports where they are already parked. The airline owes INR1.9 billion ($34.6 million) to the service tax department, of which about INR1.27 billion is under litigation. It has enlisted the help of Customs to lay claim over the aircraft.
LinkBlue Air cancels order for five 737s
Romanian budget carrier Blue Air has terminated its order for five Boeing 737NGs following financial difficulties at one of its major shareholders. In a statement, Blue Air said it has reached an agreement with Boeing over the cancellation of the aircraft order. “Based on the current troubled financial situation at Romstrade SRL, major shareholder of Blue Air, SC Blue Air Transport Aerian SA is not in a position to continue the commitment for the $462,200,000 obligation to The Boeing Company,” Blue Air said.
LinkRussian authorities begin inspecting Red Wings aircraft
Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, has begun inspecting Red Wings Airlines’ Tupolev Tu-204 aircraft. The inspections follow a Dec. 29 crash of a Tu-204 when it overshot a runway at Moscow Vnukovo Airport, killing five people. The inspections will run through Jan. 16, according to Rosaviatsia. The Interstate Aviation Committee said it is evaluating the Tu-204’s continued airworthiness, which includes brakes and thrust reversers, MRO documentation and weather conditions at the time of the crash.
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