News
Robbers Seize Gems At Brussels Airport
Armed robbers stole diamonds worth EUR€350 million (USD$467 million) while the gems were being loaded onto a plane at Brussels Airport on Monday evening, Belgian state broadcaster VRT reported. Two vehicles carrying four armed men drove up to a security van near the Swiss passenger plane, officials said.
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Swelling Found In Second ANA 787 Battery
Cells in a second lithium-ion battery on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner forced to make an emergency landing in Japan last month showed slight swelling, a Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) official said on Tuesday. The jet, flown by All Nippon Airways, was forced to make the landing after its main battery failed. "I do not know the exact discussion taken by the research group on the ground, but I heard that it is a slight swelling (in the auxiliary power unit battery cells). I have so far not heard that there was internal damage," Masahiro Kudo, a senior accident investigator at the JTSB said in a briefing in Tokyo.
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Striking Iberia Workers Clash With Police
Striking union workers clashed with police at Madrid's Barajas airport on Monday on the first day of a week-long strike over more than 3,800 pending job cuts at Iberia. More than 80 Iberia flights were cancelled as workers at the carrier began a series of five-day walkouts that are expected to cost the airline and struggling national economy millions of euros in lost business. Hundreds of workers flooded into Terminal 4 at Barajas - the biggest airport in Spain - to noisily protest, chanting and whistling, with one group staging a sit-in. About 2,000 people demonstrated outside the terminal.
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Dozens Of Iberia Flights Cancelled As Strike Starts
Dozens of Iberia flights were cancelled on Monday as workers at the Spanish flag carrier began a five-day strike over job cuts that is expected to cost the airline and struggling national economy millions of euros in lost business. There was little sign of chaos on Monday morning at Madrid's Barajas airport, Iberia's hub, as the airline had already rescheduled most passengers on other flights or returned them their money. Staff, including baggage handlers, are holding the strikes in February and March to protest management plans to cut 3,807 jobs and reduce salaries at the airline. Workers kicked off the action with demonstrations at airports and plan a street protest in central Madrid on Wednesday evening.
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Heathrow Boss Calls For Faster UK Airports Report
A decision on how and where to expand the UK's airport capacity should be fast-tracked to prevent Britain falling behind competing hubs in Europe and the Middle East, according to the boss of London's Heathrow airport, which wants a third runway. In terms of timing, we'd like the decision quicker... we think it's urgent," Colin Matthews, the chief executive of Heathrow Ltd, formerly the UK airport operator BAA, said on Monday. The Davies Commission was set up late last year to examine ways to expand UK airport capacity but is not due to report until after the next general election in 2015. Options being considered include building a third runway at Heathrow, west of London, an entirely new four-runway hub in the Thames estuary to the east or expansion of the capital's secondary airports at Gatwick to the south of the capital or Stansted to the northeast.
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Etihad, Jet Airways deal delayed
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, which was close to sealing a deal to acquire a 24% stake in India’s Jet Airways, is reportedly revising the planned agreement. A Reuters report on Sunday quoted Etihad chairman Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan as saying there is a need to revise the deal. The markets had expected the Etihad board to conclude the deal this week.
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Korean Airlines mulls CSA Czech stake
Korean Airlines is reportedly in talks with CSA Czech Airlines to acquire up to a 44% stake in the Czech flag carrier. If the deal is completed, the CSA stake would be Korean Air’s first attempt to invest in a foreign carrier as it seeks to increase its European presence. The financially troubled CSA Czech Airlines has been seeking a strategic investor for many years. Czech Aeroholding, the carrier’s controlling shareholder, did not respond to requests for further information. According to several media reports, Korean Air would leave the managerial control to Czech Aeroholding.
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TNT may sell aircraft, cut jobs after UPS deal failure
TNT is considering cutting its headcount and selling some of its long-haul fleet after the European Commission blocked its planned tie-up with United Parcel Service (UPS). Speaking at the release of the company’s full-year results, interim CEO Bernard Bot said TNT Express is now “looking firmly at a standalone future.” However, he added that “trading conditions remain difficult” and TNT Express now needs to press ahead with “a number of actions which were suspended because of the UPS offer.”
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RAF takes delivery of BAe 146 C3 transports
The UK Royal Air Force has accepted two freshly modified BAe 146 quick change transports, with the pair to be deployed to Afghanistan following the completion of training activities and electronic warfare system trials. Previously operated by TNT Airways, the passenger/freighter aircraft have been brought up to the new C3 operating standard under an urgent operational requirement deal contracted with BAE Systems during 2012. Now in grey service markings, the aircraft carry the military registrations ZE707 and ZE708.
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Other News
Norwegian Airlines reported a full-year net profit NOK456.6 million ($82.9 million), up from a NOK122.1 million profit year-over-year. The airline said the results were due to solid traffic growth and international expansion. “We are pleased with the 2012 results, particularly with an improved result of more than NOK200 million in a [fourth] quarter usually less profitable for many airlines. The load factor remains stable and the traffic growth is satisfactory,” CEO Bjorn Kjos said. Revenue rose 22% to NOK12.9 billion, producing an EBITDA operating profit of NOK788.7 million, up 11% from a NOK709.9 million operating profit in the prior-year. Traffic rose 17% to 20.4 billion RPKs on an 18% increase in capacity to 25.9 billion ASKs, producing a load factor of 79%, down one point. Passenger numbers rose 13% to 17.7 million. Yield rose 5% to NOK0.55 as RASKs increased 4% to NOK0.43 and CASK increased 4% to NOK0.47. RASK ex-fuel was NOK0.32, up 4%.
Exasperated airlines draw up blueprint for Single European Sky: A group of airline organizations has published a report to outline a roadmap to achieve Single European Sky (SES) goals. The report—“A Blueprint for the Single European Sky,” published by IATA, the Association of European Airlines and the European Regions Airline Association—is aimed at providing an overall plan of the SES concept that will help influence the development of the so-called SES II+ proposals currently being developed by the European Commission. This third package of amendments to the original and relatively basic SES legislation aims to accelerate SES implementation, complementing some initiatives that are not yet complete, and strengthening existing legislation. Proposals are expected to be ready by the summer. Speaking at the World ATM Congress in Madrid, IATA DG and CEO Tony Tyler said the airlines hoped the report would provide a platform for defining a proper blueprint.
US carriers posted an 81.85% on-time arrival rate in 2012, compared to 79.6% in 2011, according to the US Dept. of Transportation’s (DOT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). In addition, the 15 reporting carriers reported 42 tarmac delays longer than three hours on domestic flights in 2012, down from 50 delays in 2011, the first full year the rule limiting tarmac delays was in effect. Between May 2009 and April 2010, the final 12 months before the rule took effect, the carriers reported 693 tarmac delays of more than three hours, DOT said. For December 2012, reporting carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 76.6%, down from 85.7% reported in November and 84.4% in the year-ago month.
Iberia has taken delivery of first of eight Airbus A330-300s on order. The aircraft is equipped with the new business and economy class interiors for long-haul flights. Iberia has canceled 39% of its schedule for the week of Feb. 18-22 in preparation for staff walkouts to protest its restructuring.
Raytheon has opened a new silicon carbide manufacturing foundry facility in Scotland. The company is investing in silicon carbide as a “next-generation semiconductor technology,” applicable in several industries including aerospace. “What was previously unachievable is now possible with silicon carbide,” Raytheon UK chief executive Bob Delorge said, “as it allows for smaller and lighter electronics to operate in harsh environments, and addresses a real customer need for significant energy efficiency savings in the manufacture of power switching and rectifying components (AC/DC converters).”
Aviation Quote
Things which do you no good in aviation:
Altitude above you.
Runway behind you.
Fuel in the truck.
A navigator.
Half a second ago.
Approach plates in the car.
The airspeed you don't have.
Anonymous
On This Date
---In 1473...Born: Nicolaus Copernicus, Torun, Poland, astronomer, heliocentrism.
---In 1912... One of the most successful pre-World War I airship operations begins with the first flight of the Zeppelin LZ II, Victoria Louise, and its introduction into service with the German airship company DELAG.
---In 1934…The United States Army Air Corps begins flying US airmail after the government cancels all existing airmail contracts due to alleged improprieties by the previous administration during the negotiations of those contracts.
---In 1937... Howard Hughes establishes a new transcontinental speed record of 7 hours 28 minutes 25 seconds from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey.
---In 1955…TWA Flight 260, a Martin 4-0-4 (N40416) crashes into the Sandia Mountains while on a flight form Albuquerque to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Instrument failure giving poor direction is accredited with the deaths of all 16 on-board. The 10,678ft mountain is still the home to some of the wreckage, which can be seen from the Sandia Tram.
---In 1965…Lufthansa signs up as the first customer for the forthcoming Boeing 737.
---In 1970…First flight of the Canadair CL-84 CX8401.
---In 1970…U.S.S.R. launches Sputnik 52 and Molniya 1-13 communications satellite.
---In 1982... The first Boeing 757 takes to the air on its maiden flight. With capacity for between 178 and 239 passengers in a wide variety of configurations, it has a cruising speed of 528 mph and a range of 2,100 mi., or 5,343 mi. at economic cruise.
---In 1985…China Airlines Flight 006, a 747SP (N4522V) flying from Taipei to Los Angeles experiences a #4 engine failure, leading the aircraft to roll and take a 30,000ft dive before regaining control. The aircraft received significant damage to the horizontal stabilizer, and its right main gear became deployed while it also lost a large amount of hydraulic fluid. The aircraft diverts to San Francisco with only two injuries among the 274 people aboard.
---In 1985…Iberia Flight 610, a 727-200 (EC-DDU) crashes after striking a television antenna while on approach to Bilbao, Spain, killing all 148 on-board. The Captain was heard to have yelled “Shut up” several times as the Ground Proximity Warning System told him to pull up.
---In 1986…U.S.S.R. launches Mir space station into Earth orbit.
---In 1988…First flight of the Boeing 737-400.
---In 2002…First flight of the Embraer 170.
---In 2005… British Airways, the No. 2 engine of a Boeing 747–400 G-BNLG surged (whereby the airflow through the engine reverses) and suffered internal damage just after take off from Los Angeles on a flight to London Heathrow with 16 crew and 351 passengers on board.[150] The crew shut the engine down and continued the climb and continued the flight, in line with BA's standard operating procedures for 4 engined aircraft. Because it was unable to attain normal cruising speeds and altitudes, the aircraft diverted to Manchester Airport, England. The United States Federal Aviation Administration had been critical of the Captain's decision and accused BA of operating the aircraft in an non airworthy condition.] In June 2006 the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch recommended that the UK and US authorities review the policy on flight continuation and give clear guidance. This has not happened but the FAA have accepted the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority’s determination that the aircraft was airworthy.
Daily Video
Editor’s Choice
Humor
The Navigator
The pilot was sitting in his seat and pulled out a .38 revolver. He placed it on top of the instrument panel, and then asked the navigator, "Do you know what I use this for?"
The navigator replied timidly, "No, what's it for?"
The pilot responded, "I use this on navigators who get me lost!"
The navigator proceeded to pull out a .45 and place it on his chart table.
The pilot asked, "What's that for?"
"To be honest sir," the navigator replied, "I'll know we're lost before you will."
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miamiair wrote:Robbers Seize Gems At Brussels Airport
Armed robbers stole diamonds worth EUR€350 million (USD$467 million) while the gems were being loaded onto a plane at Brussels Airport on Monday evening, Belgian state broadcaster VRT reported. Two vehicles carrying four armed men drove up to a security van near the Swiss passenger plane, officials said.
There was a similar event here several years ago, except it was loads of cash instead of gems; I recall some of the perps were captured later, but can't remember if the money was found...
miamiair wrote:---In 1982... The first Boeing 757 takes to the air on its maiden flight.
