News
Boeing applies to conduct 787 test flights
Boeing has applied to the US Federal Aviation Administration to conduct test flights on its grounded 787 aircraft. "We have submitted an application to conduct 787 test flights and it is currently under evaluation by the FAA," says a spokesman. The fleet of 787s worldwide has been grounded since 16 January after the FAA issued a directive following an incident where an All Nippon Airways' 787 had to make an emergency landing because of a battery-related problem. Transport ministries worldwide then issued similar directives to ground the aircraft type.
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Ryanair To Pay Flybe To Take Aer Lingus Routes
Ryanair has offered rival Flybe EUR€100 million (USD$136 million) to take some Aer Lingus routes off its hands, a source close to the deal said on Monday, as the European Commission prepares to decide on its EUR€694 million offer for the Irish airline. Ryanair's latest concession to regulators follows EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia's comments last week that Europe's biggest low-cost carrier has one more chance to convince him of the merits of the Aer Lingus deal. Ryanair, which is making its third takeover attempt of Aer Lingus, needs to make concessions that would retain healthy competition in air transport to and from Ireland.
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Russia May Ban Inflight Duty-Free Consumption
Russia may soon crack down to stop boozy flights after a spate of brawls involving drunken passengers. State television on Monday broadcast amateur footage of several drink-soaked punch-ups after a plane made a forced landing in Uzbekistan on the way to Thailand on Sunday because a Russian had attacked other passengers. The footage included shots of a man butting a steward during one flight and a fight among passengers waiting for the toilet during another. In a third incident, a man was tied to his seat and his mouth taped shut after passengers got fed up with him. A senior member of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, said the assembly could soon draw up legislation to ban duty-free alcohol and cigarettes being brought on board planes, even in sealed bags.
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Finnair State Ownership Rule May End Soon
Finland's parliament will likely vote in the next few months for a change allowing the government to cut its stake in Finnair, a minister said, opening the way for alliances and M&A deals by the struggling state-controlled airline. Heidi Hautala, the minister overseeing state ownership in firms including Finnair, told reporters she was speeding up plans to scrap a clause obliging the government to hold a majority stake in the airline. Finnair is expected to have turned profitable on an underlying basis in 2012 for the first in four years after cutting costs and focusing on profitable long-haul flights to Asia. But it faces tough competition from discount carriers.
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JAL Will Talk To Boeing About 787 Compensation
Japan Airlines said it would talk to Boeing about compensation for the grounding of the 787 Dreamliner, adding that the idling of its jets would cost it nearly USD$8 million from its earnings to the end of March. JAL said robust demand on European, North American and Southeast Asian routes would help offset the impact of the 787's grounding, and it increased its annual operating profit forecast by almost 13 percent.
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Etihad Triples Profit On Passenger Growth
Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways, which is edging closer to an investment in India's Jet Airways, on Monday said net profit tripled in 2012 as its fast-expanding global network attracted more passengers. Etihad, which has stakes in Air Berlin and Virgin Australia, earned a net profit of USD$42 million in 2012, compared with USD$14 million the previous year. Revenue rose 17 percent in 2012 to USD$4.8 billion from USD$4.1 billion in 2011, the airline said in a statement.
The eight-year old carrier made its first profit in 2011. Etihad carried 10.3 million passengers last year, up 23 percent over 2011. The average seat factor was 78.2 percent, up 2.4 percent over 2011.
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Get set for big delays at FLL
In three months, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International will become America's busiest passenger plane airport operating with just one runway. Starting May 6, when one of the two runways at FLL airport is taken out of service, travelers will spend extra time sitting on the tarmac waiting for takeoff, airport officials predict. They might arrive a bit late to their destinations. And if something happens to tie up the sole runway — a plane's tire goes flat, for example — air travel will shut down until the runway is cleared.
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ATL wins most top rankings in business travel survey
The busiest airport in the world, serving nearly 2,500 landings and departures a day, has been ranked as the best airport for business travelers to make a connection and get good food and helpful amenities. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport won most of the top rankings in a survey of 930 travel agents, managers and others who book travel for Travel Leaders Group, one of the nation's largest travel companies. Los Angeles International Airport was ranked eighth among best airports for business traveler services. Airport features business travelers look for include good wireless Internet access, ample places to recharge a phone or laptop battery, on-site conference rooms, comfortable lounges and plenty of food choices, said Kathy Gerhardt, a spokeswoman for the Minneapolis travel company.
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Rule exemption means batteries that led to 787 grounding can fly as cargo
At the time the government certified Boeing's 787 Dreamliners as safe, federal rules barred the type of batteries used to power the airliner's electrical systems from being carried as cargo on passenger planes because of the fire risk. Now the situation is reversed. Dreamliners worldwide were grounded nearly three weeks ago after lithium ion batteries that are part of the planes led to a fire in one plane and smoke in a second. But new rules exempt aircraft batteries from the ban on large lithium ion batteries as cargo on flights by passenger planes. In effect, that means the Dreamliner's batteries are now allowed to fly only if they're not attached to a Dreamliner.
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Spain offers Eurofighters to Peru
Spain's government has tendered a proposal to its Peruvian counterpart covering the possible sale of 18 Tranche 1 Eurofighter combat aircraft currently in service with its air force. Reportedly valued at €45 million ($61 million) per aircraft, the proposal was submitted at the request of the Peruvian defence ministry. If negotiations go forward, the intention would be to transfer all of the fighters to Peru within one year of a contract signature. The airframes have flown an average of around 600h each, sources suggest. Faced with a looming shortfall in its air defence capabilities, the Peruvian air force has placed requests for information for the Eurofighter Typhoon, as well as for the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale, RAC MiG-35, Saab Gripen NG and Sukhoi Su-30/35.
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Israeli experts dismiss Iran's Qaher fighter claims
Israeli experts say the "indigenous fighter jet" Iran presented on 2 February is nothing more than a "very sleek plastic model". Still images and video footage released by Iranian state media reveal the Qaher 313 as having design features, including distinctive faceted edges and angles, resembling those on US stealth aircraft such as Lockheed Martin's F-22 and F-35. The new type also has large, but seemingly fixed, canards behind its cockpit, and short wings.
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Other News
Air Lease has underpinned the Airbus A350-1000 by ordering five of the type as well as 20 A350-900s. The leasing firm has also firmed options on 14 A321neo twinjets. Airbus says the company has options for five more A350-1000s. The deal marks the third endorsement of the largest member of the A350 family since its redesign. The order takes the A350 backlog to more than 600 aircraft.
Japan Airlines Co Ltd President Yoshihiro Ueki said on Monday that Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, which has been grounded worldwide after two battery incidents, should stay at the centre of its fleet strategy. "It's a shame about the battery, but it is a wonderful aircraft," Ueki said.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that Ryanair must compensate passengers stranded due to the 2010 eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano. Ryanair has warned the landmark ruling against the airline “will materially increase the cost of flying across Europe.” European law states that, if a flight is cancelled, the air carrier is obliged to “provide care” to passengers as well as compensation. Providing care is defined as providing refreshments, meals and—where appropriate—hotel accommodation, airport transfers, and a means of communication with third parties free of charge. This obligation exists even when the cancellation is caused by “extraordinary circumstances,” except the carrier is not required to pay compensation if it can prove the flight cancellation was caused by such circumstances. The case was brought before the Dublin Metropolitan District Court (Ireland), which referred to the ECJ for a decision on whether the ash cloud disruptions over Europe went beyond the category of “extraordinary circumstances” and if the carrier was therefore exempt from providing care. The ECJ responded it did not recognize different degrees of “extraordinary circumstances” and confirmed that, in any event, these do not release carriers from their obligation to provide care. In addition, the ECJ stated there was no defined limitation, either temporal or monetary, on the obligation to provide care. It stated: “All the obligations to provide care to passengers are imposed on the air carrier for the whole period during which the passengers concerned must await their re-routing.” The court acknowledged that the obligation to provide care “entails financial consequences for air carriers,” but stressed that the protection of passengers “may justify even substantial negative economic consequences for certain economic operators.” However, it pointed out that carriers could “pass on the costs incurred as a result of that obligation to airline ticket prices.”
Embraer won a $250 million component support contract from Republic Airways. The contract will cover up to 308 aircraft. Embraer’s flight hour pool program will support more than 400 repairable part numbers including hydraulic, electrical and engine components. "As we look to achieve best-in-class economics in the operation of our aircraft fleet, we believe it makes sense to leverage our manufacturing partners’ expertise at the component MRO level,” Republic CEO Bryan Bedford said. “We are very confident that the Embraer flight hour pool program will provide the quality, timely service and necessary maintenance savings for our growing E-jet fleet from this leading aircraft manufacturer.”
Aeroflot said it will need government subsidies to create a regional carrier in the Russian Far East. The airline, which did not disclose the amount of subsidy, said the state support is needed at least through 2016. Aeroflot announced its decision to create a regional carrier—by combining the sister companies Vladivistok Avia and SAT Airlines—after Rostechnology completed the asset transfer of five regional carriers to the airline. Aeroflot CEO Vitaly Saveliev earlier said the new airline will be a co-ownership with the regional governments, but Aeroflot will be the majority shareholder. Vladivostok Avia operates Airbus A330s, A320s and Tupolev Tu-204-300s. SAT Airlines’ fleet comprises Antonov An-12s, An-24s, Boeing 737-200/500s, and Bombardier Dash 8-200s and -300s.
The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Delta Air Lines have met to discuss passenger complaints about flight delays, cancellations and customer service on US-Accra routes. The GCAA said it “was compelled to summon Delta as the airline’s operations are critical to the growth of the aviation industry in Ghana as well as contributing to the economic development of the country.” In a bid to resolve the issues, Delta has stationed a maintenance engineer in Accra to mitigate flight delays and cancellations caused by technical problems and will be sending a senior maintenance engineer to re-asses its local maintenance partners, according to the GCAA, which said will increase the rate of safety audits for the airline.
M1 Composites Technology has opened a 24,000 sq. ft. composites repair facility and manufacturing plant in Montreal to provide rapid turnaround of damaged commercial and military aircraft components.
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.
FL Technics won a three-year PBH support agreement from Enter Air covering the Polish carriers’ four Boeing 737-800s.
Rockwell Collins signed a five-year agreement with Emirates Airline to provide MRO of Rockwell Collins avionics on the carrier’s fleet. The agreement provides fixed repair costs and guaranteed turnaround times.
Aviation Quote
The three best things in life are a good landing, a good orgasm, and a good bowel movement. A night carrier landing is one of the few opportunities to experience all three at the same time.
Anonymous
On This Date
---In 1919... The first regular, daily passenger service in the world is launched at Berlin’s city airfield. A German airline, Deutsche Luft Reederei, operates the new service on route from Berlin to Weimar via Leipzig.
---In 1920…The Royal Air Force College is established in Cranwell, Licolnshire.
---In 1929... Frank Hawks and Oscar Grubb land their Lockheed Air Express in New York after a record flight of 18 hours 20 minutes from Los Angeles.
---In 1946…TWA begins transatlantic service with the Lockheed Constellation flying the New York-Gander-Shannon-Paris route.
---In 1949... An Eastern Air Lines Lockheed Constellation lands at LaGuardia, New York, at the end of a flight of 6 hours 18 minutes from Los Angeles, a coast-to-coast record for transport aircraft.
---In 1951... The United States and Canada announce the establishment of the Distant Early Warning (DEW), the air defense system that uses more than 30 radar stations located across the northern portion of the continent.
---In 1958…A B-47 Stratojet on a simulated training exercise out of Homestead Air Force base in Florida collides with an F-86 Sabre. The bomber is carrying a 7,600-pound hydrogen bomb, which was jettisoned in an effort to reduce weight for a safe landing. The Sabre pilot ejects, the B-47 plane made it to Hunter Army Airfield safely, and the bomb, let go into the Atlantic Ocean, was never found. If you happen to reel it in on a fishing trip, please contact the United States Air Force.
---In 1958…Vanguard TV-3 back-up launches into Earth orbit; reaches 6 km.
---In 1962... A Sikorsky HSS-2 Sea King of the US Navy sets a world helicopter speed record of 210.6 mph, in the course of a flight between Milford and New Haven, Connecticut.
---In 1962…Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn within 16 degrees.
---In 1963…Soviet lunar probe failure.
---In 1967…Lunar Orbiter 3 - USA Lunar Orbiter launched. Orbited the moon, photographed the far side for potential Apollo 12 landing sites, then impacted on command.
---In 1972…First series of three SR-71 HABU flights launched at Kadena. At 14:16, 14:18 and 15:22. These missions were coordinated sorties to lay down sonic booms over the Hanoi Hilton POW camp. These flight were designed to show solidarity with the prisoners. (Q)
---In 1972…Airlines in the United States begin mandatory inspection of passengers and baggage for weapons and explosives.
---In 1972…Aeroflot and Lufthansa team up to operate joint Moscow-Frankfurt flights.
---In 1972… NASA and de Havilland Canada extensively modify a C-8 Buffalo for STOL experiments.
---In 1974…Mariner 10 - USA Mercury/Venus Flyby - 526 kg - (November 3, 1973 - March 24, 1975) flew past Venus for a gravity assist to the planet Mercury. Mariner 10 was the first dual planet mission. Mariner 10 was the first spacecraft to have an imaging system. It recorded circulation in the Venusian atmosphere and showed the temperature of the cloud tops to be -23°C. Mariner 10 flew past Mercury 3 times on March 29, 1974, September 21, 1974, and March 16, 1975. These three encounters produced over 10,000 pictures with 57% planet coverage. It recorded surface temperatures ranging from 187°C to -183°C on the day and night sides. A weak magnetic field was detected but it failed to detect an atmosphere. Mariner 10 is now in a solar orbit.
---In 1982…Laker Airways ceases operations.
---In 1987…Soyuz TM-2 launches.
---In 1994…Clementine - USA Lunar Orbiter - (launched January 25, 1994) spent 70 days (between February 6 and May 5, 1994) in lunar orbit. The official name for Clementine is Deep Space Probe Science Experiment (DSPSE). It was a Department of Defense program used to test new space technology. Clementine was a new design using lightweight structure and propellant systems. Its four cameras mapped the surface of the Moon at 125-250 meters/pixel resolution. Clementine also used a laser to gather altimeter data which will make it possible to generate the first lunar topographic map.
---In 2012…MatlinPatterson, the private equity firm in control of World Airways and North American Airlines, takes its Global Aviation Holdings subsidiary carriers into Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization less than four years after shuttering fellow subsidiary carriers ATA Airlines and Arrow Air.
Daily Video
Editor’s Choice
Humor
Two Moose Hunters
Two moose hunters got a pilot to fly them into the Canadian wilderness, where they managed to bag two big Bull Moose.
As they were loading the plane to return, the pilot said the plane could take only the hunters, their gear and one Moose.
The hunters strongly objected saying, "Last year we shot two, and the pilot let us take them both ... and he had exactly the same airplane as yours."
Reluctantly the pilot, not wanting to be outdone by another bush pilot, gave in and everything was loaded. However, even under full power, the little plane couldn't handle the load and went down, crashing in the wooded wilderness.
Somehow, surrounded by the moose, clothing and sleeping bags, Stosh and Stan survived the crash.
After climbing out of the wreckage, Stosh asked Stan, "Any idea where we are?"
Stan replied, "I think we're pretty close to where we crashed last year!"
Trivia
World Helicopter ID
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
ShanwickOceanic wrote:1. Death-whisk
2. Death-whisk
3. Death-whisk
4. Death-whisk
5. Death-whisk
6. Death-whisk
7. Death-whisk
8. Death-whisk
9. Death-whisk
10. Death-whisk
Specifically, I think 1 is a Lynx. Otherwise, I'm stumped.
HT-ETNW wrote:And is #10 a CH-53E Super Stallion ? At least it is one mean looking machine ...
-HT
