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China’s Y-20 transport conducts maiden flight
China has conducted the maiden flight of the Xian Y-20 strategic transport from the Yanlian airbase. Footage on Chinese state television shows the four-engined aircraft, bearing number 20001, taking off, landing, and taxiing. It does not appear to have retracted its landing gear during the flight, a common practice on maiden flights. Official Chinese news agency Xinhua also posted images of the first flight. The news comes just weeks after Beijing officially confirmed that it is developing the aircraft, following the emergence of images on Chinese defence sites during the last week of 2012.
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NTSB Still Unable To Find Cause Of 787 Fire
Further testing still has not found the cause of a battery fire aboard a Japan Airlines Boeing 787 in Boston earlier this month, the National Transportation Safety Board said. In a statement released on Sunday, the safety regulator said "no obvious anomalies were found" in its initial investigation of an undamaged battery aboard the plane and that a more detailed examination would follow.
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ANA and JAL extend grounding of 787s
Japanese carriers All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) have extended the grounding of its Boeing 787 fleet, following reports that official investigations into the 787 incidents could still be far from over. ANA will be grounding its 787s until 31 January at least, and is using older Boeing 767s and 777s on some services originally scheduled to be operated by the problematic aircraft type. The carrier is expecting to cancel a total of 459 flights - 398 domestic and 61 international - since the grounding of the 787s on 16 January until 31 January.
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Fixing 787 Problem May Cost Boeing Dearly
The slow progress of investigations into battery problems on Boeing's 787 Dreamliner suggest the new plane could be grounded for months, raising fears that the financial hit to Boeing will be greater than had been initially predicted. Wall Street had been working on the assumption that safety inspectors would find the root cause of two battery incidents in the United States and Japan within weeks and Boeing would implement a speedy fix costing no more than a few hundred million dollars.
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Ryanair Lifts Profit Forecast On Resilient N. Europe
Ryanair increased its full-year profit forecast on Monday as strong demand in Northern Europe lifted average fares dramatically in the last three months of 2012. Dublin-based Ryanair, Europe's biggest low-cost airline, which has used its size and low costs to undercut struggling flag carriers, increased its profit forecast to EUR€540 million (USD$728 million) for the year to March, up from an earlier EUR€490 million - EUR€520 million range.
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US Airways, AMR Deal Could Come Soon
US Airways and American Airlines parent AMR are in the final stages of negotiating a merger, with the final price and management structure still to be resolved, four people familiar with the matter said. The two airlines, as well as AMR's creditors and its bondholders, have focused their efforts in recent weeks on reaching a merger agreement, and a deal could come in the next two weeks, the people said on Friday.
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US Airways, flight attendants reach merger pact
US Airways and its flight attendants have reached a tentative agreement on a collective bargaining deal that would provide job protection, increased pay and set the stage for a potential merger with American Airlines. The carrier’s 6,800 flight attendants are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA). “The tentative agreement, reached under the supervision of the National Mediation Board, would allow for immediate economic improvements and provide all US Airways flight attendants with the strongest position possible for any discussions related to the next merger,” AFA said in a statement.
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Airbus to stabilize A320, A330, A380 production rates this year
Airbus said production rates for the A320, A330 and A380 will remain the same this year. Airbus COO Guenter Butschek, told ATW the A320 production rate will stay at 42 aircraft per month, which was announced in October. “We will remain at this rate for the time being” to stabilize its supplier chain for this aircraft, Butschek said, adding that some suppliers could not speed up their production in time to meet the Airbus target.
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Bankruptcy court approves new aircraft for AMR Corp.
A US bankruptcy judge granted AMR Corp. permission to purchase new aircraft. The ruling allows American Airlines to follow through with Airbus and Boeing orders it made prior to entering Chapter 11 protection. "We are pleased to achieve this significant milestone in our restructuring related to our fleet plan,” an AMR Corp. spokesperson told ATW. “By receiving these approvals from the court, we can continue to build the most modern, fuel-efficient fleet among US network carriers in less than five years.”
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German airports hit by security staff strike
German airports are facing flight disruptions and cancellations for the second day as security staff continue a strike over pay. Air Berlin SVP-Operations Control Ibrahim Gülcan said in a statement that the Verdi trade union, which represents German airport security staff, wanted to hit flight operations hard without prior warning. “Because of the lack of clear information, the response time we had available was very short,” he said.
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Other News

Yakutia Airline has launched its Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) on its first commercial flight to the country’s Far East. The airline, which took delivery of the SSJ100 last month, operates the aircraft on flights from Khabarovsk to Magadan and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Last year, the SSJ100 achieved certification to operate in the high north latitude area following trials at Yakutia’s Tiksi Airport. Yakutia Airline has two SSJ100s on order with two options. According to the carrier, it will exercise the option if it is satisfied with the aircraft’s operational results in the Far East region.

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes has abandoned plans to set up a joint venture (JV) airline in Singapore and hinted at the flotation of AirAsia Indonesia. At last year’s Farnborough Airshow, Fernandes said he would love a chance to open an airline in Singapore or to buy Singapore Airlines. However, now Fernandes has apparently dismissed the plan. He recently tweeted: “No Singapore. We serve it well already from all our airlines. No Laos. No Brunei. Asean is done. We are very strong there. So no more JVs.” However, Fernandes added that he has just completed an analysis of all the AirAsia businesses covering the next five years.

Lufthansa will cancel flights from Frankfurt to two Russian cities—Kazan and Perm—from April 1. The carrier has flown these routes for 15 years, but said increases in fuel prices, airport taxes, and other fees have made these routes unprofitable. Russia’s Perm Airport is losing one out of two international destinations in Western Europe; Prague remains the only route connecting with European cities. Russia’s Tatarstan Airlines operates flights from Perm to Prague; Czech Airlines will launch flights to Prague March 31.

AJW Group said it is “significantly increasing” the size of its engine lease portfolio, aiming to grow its lease pool to over 60 engines this year. A J Walter Leasing and A J Walter Aviation have recently added three GE Aviation CF6-80C2s, five CFM International CFM56-3C1s and one Pratt & Whitney PW4056-3 to the lease portfolio of PW2040 and CFM56 series engines.

Commsoft developed an interface for BA CityFlyer to connect to NVable’s Appixo Electronic Technical Log (fitted on the carrier’s entire fleet), with Commsoft’s OASES MRO IT system. Commsoft said the interface allows for more proactive maintenance.

SR Technics will open a component repair shop in Kuala Lumpur in the fourth quarter 2013.

MNG Technic won a contract from Oren Air to provide base maintenance services covering four Boeing 737-800s. C checks will take place at MNG Technic facilities at Istanbul Ataturk Airport.

Aviation Quote

Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd planned to speak to you tonight to report on the state of the Union, but the events of earlier today have led me to change those plans. Today is a day for mourning and remembering. Nancy and I are pained to the core by the tragedy of the shuttle Challenger. We know we share this pain with all of the people of our country. This is truly a national loss.

Nineteen years ago, almost to the day, we lost three astronauts in a terrible accident on the ground. But, we've never lost an astronaut in flight; we've never had a tragedy like this. And perhaps we've forgotten the courage it took for the crew of the shuttle; but they, the Challenger Seven, were aware of the dangers, but overcame them and did their jobs brilliantly. We mourn seven heroes: Michael Smith, Dick Scobee, Judith Resnik, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe. We mourn their loss as a nation together.

For the families of the seven, we cannot bear, as you do, the full impact of this tragedy. But we feel the loss, and we're thinking about you so very much. Your loved ones were daring and brave, and they had that special grace, that special spirit that says, 'Give me a challenge and I'll meet it with joy.' They had a hunger to explore the universe and discover its truths. They wished to serve, and they did. They served all of us.
We've grown used to wonders in this century. It's hard to dazzle us. But for twenty-five years the United States space program has been doing just that. We've grown used to the idea of space, and perhaps we forget that we've only just begun. We're still pioneers. They, the members of the Challenger crew, were pioneers.

And I want to say something to the schoolchildren of America who were watching the live coverage of the shuttle's takeoff. I know it is hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen. It's all part of the process of exploration and discovery. It's all part of taking a chance and expanding man's horizons. The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we'll continue to follow them.

I've always had great faith in and respect for our space program, and what happened today does nothing to diminish it. We don't hide our space program. We don't keep secrets and cover things up. We do it all up front and in public. That's the way freedom is, and we wouldn't change it for a minute. We'll continue our quest in space. There will be more shuttle flights and more shuttle crews and, yes, more volunteers, more civilians, more teachers in space. Nothing ends here; our hopes and our journeys continue. I want to add that I wish I could talk to every man and woman who works for NASA or who worked on this mission and tell them: "Your dedication and professionalism have moved and impressed us for decades. And we know of your anguish. We share it."

There's a coincidence today. On this day 390 years ago, the great explorer Sir Francis Drake died aboard ship off the coast of Panama. In his lifetime the great frontiers were the oceans, and a historian later said, 'He lived by the sea, died on it, and was buried in it.' Well, today we can say of the Challenger crew: Their dedication was, like Drake's, complete.

The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for the journey and waved goodbye and 'slipped the surly bonds of earth' to 'touch the face of God.'
Thank you.

President Ronald Reagan - January 28, 1986

On This Date

---In 1613... Galileo may have unknowingly viewed undiscovered planet Neptune.

---In 1871... The last balloon to leave Paris during the Persian siege takes off with orders for the French fleet to bring food and supplies to replenish the French capital, an armistice having been signed. The flight of the General Cambronne ends a period of almost exactly 5 months during which the advantages of balloons were put to efficient use.

---In 1948…A DC-3 flight chartered by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service crashes into hills west of Coalinga, California, killing 32. The crash became the impetus of the Woody Guthrie song “Deportee.”

---In 1959…Nike-Cajun successfully launched 12-foot-diameter test inflatable sphere to a height of 75 miles over NASA Wallops Island, the sphere inflating satisfactorily.

---In 1964…A U.S. Air Force T-39 Sabreliner strays into East Germany and is shot down by Soviet MiG-19s near Erfurt, killing all 3 crewmembers.

---In 1986…The Space Shuttle Challenger, operating mission STS-51L, explodes 73 seconds after launch at an altitude of 48,000ft. The disintegration is attributed to an O-ring failure on the solid rocket booster (SRB) joint affected by the cold, 36 degree temperature at launch. All 7 members of the crew died, including Christie McAuliffe, the first chosen in the Teachers In Space Program. The crash resulted in a 32-month hiatus on Shuttle flights.

---In 2002…TAME Flight 120, a Boeing 727-134 (HC-BLF) crashes into the side of the Cumbal Volcano in Colombia, killing all 94 aboard. The cause was attributed to the Captain’s decision to continue the approach into Colonel Luis. A Mantilla Airport in poor weather, and poor navigation as well.

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Humor

Midwest ATC

"Expect lower at the end of this transmission."

"Citation 123, if you quit calling me center, I'll quit calling you twin Cessna."

"About three miles ahead you've got traffic 12 o'clock, five miles."

"If you hear me, traffic no longer a factor."

"You got him on TCAS? Great. When you're seven in trail, resume normal speed and call Chicago Center on 120.12."

"I am way too busy for anybody to cancel on me."

"You got any more smart remarks, we can be doing this over South Bend ... go ahead."

"You're gonna have to key the mike. I can't see you when you nod your head."

"It's too late for Louisville. We're going back to O'Hare."

"Put your compass on 'E' and get out of my airspace."

"Don't anybody maintain anything."

"Caution wake turbulence you're following a heavy 12 o'clock, three ... no, let's make it five miles."

"Climb like you're life depends on it ... because it does."

"If you want more room Captain, push your seat back."

"For radar identification throw your jumpseat rider out the window."

"Air Force one, I told you to expedite."

"Listen up gentlemen, or something's gonna happen that none of us wants to see. Besides that, you're (tickin') me off!"

"Leave five on the glide, have a nice ride, tower inside, twenty-six nine ... see ya!"

"Japan Air Ten Heavy, how 'bout a radio check?"
(Response -"Rogah, switching!")

"Approach, how far from the airport are we in minutes?"
"N923, the faster you go, the quicker you'll get here."

"American Two-Twenty, Eneey, meeny, miney, moe, how do you hear my radio?"

"Air Wisconsin Three-Thirty-Five, caution wake turbulence, there is an Air Wisconsin Three-Forty-Five on the frequency."

"I don't mind altitude separation as long as they're not on top of each other."

"We were told Rwy 9...we'll take out the 14R approach plate."
"Captain you got sixty miles to take it out...have a ball."

"The traffic at nine o'clock's gonna do a little Linda Ronstadt on you."
"Linda Ronstadt? What's that?"
"Well, sir, they're gonna 'Blue Bayou'."

"I can see the country club down below...look's like a lot of controllers out there!"
"Yes, sir, there are...and they're caddying for DC-10 drivers like you."

"N07K you look like you're established on the localizer and I don't know the names of any of the fixes, you're cleared for the ILS approach. Call the tower."

"MidEx 726, sorry about that, Center thought you were a Midway arrival. Just sit back, relax and pass out some more cookies...we'll get you to Milwaukee."

"Approach, what's our sequence?"
"Calling for the sequence I missed your callsign, but if I find out what it is, you're last."

"Sure you can have eight miles behind the heavy...there'll be a United tri-jet between you and him."

"Approach, SWA436, you want us to turn right to 090?"
"No, I want your brother to turn. Just do it and don't argue."

"Approach UAL525 what's this aircraft doing at my altitude?"
"UAL525, what makes you think it's YOUR altitude, Captain?"

"Delta 1176, say speed."
"Delta 176, we slowed it down to two-twenty."
"Delta 1176 pick it back up to two-fifty...this ain't Atlanta,
and them ain't grits on the ground."

"Request Runway 27 Right."
"Unable."
"Approach, do you know the wind at six thousand is 270 at fifty?"
"Yeah, I do, and if we could jack the airport up to fifty-five hundred you could have that runway. Expect 14 Right."

"Air Force Four-Five, it appears your engine has...oh, disregard...I see you've already ejected."

"The first officer says he's got you in sight."
"Roger, the first officer's cleared for a visual approach runway 27 Right...
you continue on that 180 heading and descend to three thousand."

"Hey, O'Hare, you see the 7600 code flashing five northwest of Gary?"
"Yeah, I do...you guys talkin' to him?"
(7600 code indicates radio out)

"Approach, what's the tower?"
"That's a big tall building with glass all around it, but that's not important right now."

"How far behind traffic are we?"
"Three miles."
"That doesn't look like three miles to us!"
"You're a mile and a half from him, he's a mile and a half from you...that's three miles

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