News
Japan probe finds signs of thermal runaway, short-circuit in ANA 787 battery
Japanese safety investigators have released new data showing signs of thermal runaway and a short-circuit in the main battery failure on an All Nippon Airways Boeing 787 in January. The findings, released in a 12-slide presentation, appear similar to the evidence released last week by the US National Transportation Safety Board, which also reported evidence of a short circuit and thermal runaway that led to a fire on a parked Japan Airlines 787 in Boston earlier the same month. But there also appear to be certain differences in the heat damage caused in the two incidents. Whereas the most damage on the JAL auxiliary power unit (APU) battery was located in the fifth of eight cells, the ANA battery showed the most extensive thermal damage in the third and sixth cells, including a hole in the side of the sixth cell and a meltdown of the anode - or the positive electrode - in the third cell, according to the briefing by the Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB).
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Boeing Asks FAA To Allow 787 Test Flights
Boeing has asked the US Federal Aviation Administration for permission to conduct test flights of its 787 Dreamliner, a move suggesting the company is making progress in finding a solution to the battery problems that prompted regulators to ground the entire 787 fleet two weeks ago. Boeing said it had submitted an application to conduct test flights, confirming a report in the Seattle Times. The newspaper reported that the FAA might grant permission as soon as Monday night, citing sources with knowledge of the matter. The FAA did not respond to a request for comment.
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Strong BA Growth Boosts IAG Traffic
International Airlines Group posted a slight rise in January traffic, as strong growth at British Airways again made up for weakness at Iberia. Traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometers, rose 0.7 percent versus January 2012 on capacity 1 percent lower, while passenger load factor was up 1.3 percentage points at 77.0 percent. IAG said its first and business-class travel rose 2.7 percent, while non-premium traffic rose 0.3 percent.
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Thomas Cook To Merge Airline Operations
Thomas Cook has announced a shake-up of its airlines businesses that will see German operation Condor, Thomas Cook Airlines UK and Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium combined into one operation. The moves also include the retiral of Frank Pulman, managing director of the group's UK airline business. The businesses will be combined from March 1 under a new group airline board chaired jointly by Christoph Debus, group head of air travel, and Ralph Teckentrup the Condor chief executive.
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Kingfisher Losses Mount As Planes Sit Idle
Debt-ridden and with no customers, Kingfisher Airlines posted a INR7.55 billion rupees (USD$142 million) loss in the three months to December 31 as its planes sat idle, creditors circled and regulators rebuffed the Indian airline's revival plans. Kingfisher, which has been stripped of its flying license, owes an estimated USD$2.5 billion to banks, staff, airports and oil companies, but maintained it was "a going concern" in its results statement. The airline, once India's second biggest, has spent the past few months negotiating with its creditors and India's aviation authorities. The country's civil aviation minister has said Kingfisher needs at least USD$186 million to fly again.
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Gol To Take USD$70 Mln Webjet Hit
Gol, Brazil's number two airline, said it would take a BRR140 million reais (USD$70 million) one-off charge for non-recurring expenses in the company's fourth-quarter results related to the shutdown of its subsidiary Webjet. The airline announced a decision to close Webjet on November 23, which resulted in the dismissal of 850 staff. The decision to fire the staff and close Webjet has resulted in a series of legal lawsuits against Gol.
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China’s SkyTeam carriers will move to new Beijing airport
SkyTeam member carriers that currently operate out of Beijing Capital Airport are planning to move to the new airport in Daxing. The new airport, currently under construction, is expected to be completed by October 2017; formal operations are scheduled to begin in 2018. China’s SkyTeam members—including China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Xiamen Airlines—currently operate in Beijing Capital Airport’s Terminal 2. SkyTeam managing director Michael Wisbrun has reportedly discussed the plan to move to the new airport with the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
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ERA eyes expansion to Eastern Europe, Central Asia
The European Regions Airline Association (ERA) is looking to expand to new regions including Eastern Europe and Central Asia. ERA DG Simon McNamara told ATW in Salzburg that its 51 member airlines continue to feel the pinch of the economic downturn. “It is a very challenging period for regional airlines, but it is not new when we look back on the past five years,” he said. Several regional airlines—including Cirrus Air and OLT Express Germany—have ceased operations over the past year. Others face uncertain futures as mainline carriers end partnerships with regional carriers. “There is no doubt consolidation in the industry is going on, particularly in the core of Europe,” McNamara said.
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Other News
Air Berlin has raised its Turbine 2013 cost-cutting goal from €400 million ($534.9 million) to €450 million by the end of 2014. According to Air Berlin’s staff magazine, CEO Wolfgang Prock Schauer was quoted as saying, “It is necessary that all parts of the Air Berlin Group, from management to operations, are included with cost-cutting measures.” Air Berlin announced last month it would cut 900 jobs and reduce salaries as part of the restructuring program. The carrier will reportedly ask employees to temporarily stop a 13th month salary. The plan also calls for a 10% salary cut for senior management and a 5% salary cut for all remaining employees. The company said 85% of the €450 million cost-cutting goals should be reached through negotiations with suppliers, airports and operational improvements. Its fleet could also be reduced from 159 to 142 aircraft.
Embraer estimates it will deliver between 90 and 95 commercial jets in 2013, a slight decrease from 106 aircraft delivered in 2012. In its latest outlook, Embraer said that executive jet deliveries are expected to grow from 77 light jets to between 80 and 90 aircraft, and from 22 large jets to between 25 and 30 large aircraft. Total net revenue is estimated to be between $5.9 and $6.4 billion, of which commercial aviation is expected to generate from $3.2 billion to $3.3 billion, representing 52% of the total. The executive jet segment is expected to contribute from $1.4 billion to $1.6 billion, estimated 25% of the total, while defense and security should put in 21%; other business will make up the remaining 2%.
Russian aviation authorities have given Aeroflot permission to operate its Boeing 777-300ER. Last month, Aeroflot had to postpone the aircraft’s first flight due to the missing type certification. The first flight—from Moscow to Bangkok—was immediately rescheduled for Feb. 4. Aeroflot—which has 16 of the type on order—received its first 777-300ER Jan. 30 in Seattle, Wash. It had planned a flight to Moscow Jan. 31; its first commercial service from Moscow to Bangkok was scheduled for Feb. 1.
Hawaiian Airlines and its flight attendants have reached a tentative agreement on new contract terms covering the operation of Airbus A321neos. The carrier’s 1,400 flight attendants are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA). On Jan. 7, the airline agreed to acquire 16 new A321neos, plus nine options. The new acquisitions were contingent upon new agreements with its pilots and flight attendant unions. Hawaiian’s 600 pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), ratified a similar agreement Jan. 28. The A321neo fleet expansion is expected to generate roughly 1,000 additional jobs for the carrier. The airline said the 190-seat A321neo aircraft will “complement Hawaiian’s existing fleet of widebody, twin-aisle Boeing 767 and Airbus A330 aircraft used for long-haul flying between Hawaii and the US West Coast.”
Aviation Quote
Fighter pilots make movies, attack pilots make history.
Anonymous
On This Date
---In 1916... The airline Deutsche Luft Reederei flies its first service, which is freight only, between Berlin and Weimar.
---In 1933…Pioneer Jim Mollison flies a de Havilland Puss Moth from the United Kingdom to Brazil, vwith a stop in Senegal, across the South Atlantic. He becomes the first person to fly solo across the North and South Atlantics.
---In 1946... A TWA Lockheed Constellation lands at Orly airport, Paris, from LaGuardia, New York, to complete the airline’s first scheduled international flight.
---In 1956... William Judd lands his Cessna 180 in Paris after a solo flight of 25 hours 15 minutes across the North Atlantic from the US.
---In 1958…British European Airways Flight 609 crashes on its third attempt to takeoff at Munich-Riem Airport in West Germany. The Airspeed AS-57 Ambassador (G-ALZU) was attempting to become airborne on a slush-covered runway, when it tore through a fence and hit a nearby house. There are 21 survivors among the 44 people on the aircraft.
---In 1959…The first successful test firing of the Titan ICBM takes place.
---In 1964…United Airlines puts the Boeing 727 into service, 5 days after delivery.
---In 1978…Senator Howard Cannon of Nevada introduces the airline Deregulation Act, which would be passed the next October.
---In 1982…Freddie Laker's Laker Airways flies for the last time.
---In 1996…Birgenair Flight 301, a Boeing 757-225 (TC-GEN) crashes into the Caribbean Sea, killing all 189 aboard. The crash is due to one of the aircraft’s 3 pitot tubes having been blocked, giving the aircraft erroneous airspeeds. Blame has been placed on the pilots because they proceeded to takeoff even after realizing the airspeed issues on departure.
---In 2009…FedEx closes its first hub for the first time in history when their Asian-Pacific center at Subic Bay International Airports ceases operations, which were then transferred to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport in southern China.
Daily Video
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Humor
Lost Snack
After a long, bumpy flight, our passengers were glad to finally land.
They disembarked, and the other attendants and I checked for items left behind.
In a seat pocket, I found a bag of home-made cookies with a note saying, "Much love, Mom."
Quickly, I gave the bag to our gate agent in hopes it would be reunited with its owner.
A few minutes later, an announcement came over the public-address system in the concourse: "Would the passenger who lost his cookies on Flight 502, please return to the gate?"
Trivia
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