NewsCrash pilots could have stopped ill-fated Tu-204Landing tests using a prototype Tupolev Tu-204SM indicate that the crew of an ill-fated Red Wings flight at Moscow could have stopped the aircraft despite the long, late touchdown. The Red Wings Tu-204 overran Moscow Vnukovo's runway 19 on 29 December after attempting to engage reverse thrust. Russia's United Aircraft recruited one of the two Tu-204SM certification test aircraft, number 64150, to assist the investigation into the fatal crash. It was fitted with video-recording systems and other measurement equipment.
LinkBoeing To Meet FAA On 787 Fixes - SourceA senior Boeing executive will meet the head of the US Federal Aviation Administration on Friday and present a series of measures aimed at preventing battery failures that grounded its 787 Dreamliner fleet for five weeks, according to a source familiar with the plans. Ray Conner, who heads Boeing's commercial planes unit, will explain the proposed changes to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta on Friday, but the plans have already been vetted with lower level US government officials, the source said. If Huerta and US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood accept the proposed plan, that could lay the groundwork for resuming flights of the Boeing 787 by April, said the source, who asked not to be identified.
Link787 Compensation Lifts Qantas H1 ProfitAustralia's Qantas Airways reported a 10.4 percent rise in first-half profit on Thursday, as a turnaround of its loss-making international operations gathers pace. The result included AUD$125 million (USD$128.63 million) in compensation for delays in delivery of Boeing's troubled 787 Dreamliner, part of a package negotiated before the latest series of problems affecting the grounded jet. Qantas, which has been battling high fuel costs, tough competition and a strong Australian dollar that has dented tourism spending, said the operating environment remained challenging and did not provide full-year profit guidance. Underlying profit before tax for the six months to December rose to AUD$223 million from AUD$202 million a year ago.
LinkLOT Suspends Boeing 787 DeliveriesPolish flag carrier LOT has put on hold taking delivery of the three Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets it is scheduled to receive, Polish Treasury Minister Mikolaj Budzanowski said. State-controlled LOT has taken delivery of two 787s and was to receive three others by the end of next month. But last month all 50 Boeing 787s in commercial service after a series of battery-related incidents.
LinkBombardier Signs USD$2.56 Bln Ilyushin DealBombardier announced that Russia's Ilyushin Finance has signed a USD$2.56 billion agreement to buy 32 of the Canadian aircraft manufacturer's CS300 airliners. Ilyushin also has an option for ten more of the 130-seat jets, which would raise the total value of the deal toUSD $3.42 billion, Bombardier said.
LinkLufthansa, United, Air Canada Set To Win EU ApprovalLufthansa, United Airlines and Air Canada are set to win approval from the European Union's competition regulator for their transatlantic tie-up with their offer to give up airport slots, a person familiar with the matter said. The three airlines last year proposed giving up landing and take-off slots at Frankfurt and New York airports following a three-year investigation by the European Commission into their revenue-sharing, pricing and capacity pacts. The EU antitrust authority sought feedback from rivals and third parties in December last year.
LinkPratt & Whitney GTF CSeries engine gains Transport Canada certification Pratt & Whitney’s PW1500G geared turbofan (GTF) engine, set to power the Bombardier CSeries, has received Transport Canada type certification. Pratt said it conducted over 4,000 hours of testing on the engine, including 340 hours of flight testing. “Certification of the PW1500G engine is a significant milestone and a critical step in supporting the progressive transfer of the first CSeries flight test vehicle to the flight test program,” Bombardier Commercial Aircraft VP and GM Rob Dewar said in a statement, adding the manufacturer is “in the process of completing final assembly of the first CSeries flight test aircraft.”
LinkAirAsia, Tata Group plan new Indian LCC Southeast Asia’s biggest budget airline, AirAsia Berhad, has tied up with Indian business conglomerate Tata Group to launch a new airline in India. AirAsia has applied to India’s Foreign Investment Promotion Board to take 49% in the venture with Tata Sons and a third investor-partner, Arun Bhatia. The new budget carrier will increase competition in the Indian skies, where most airlines are losing money. AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes said the company has “carefully evaluated developments in India over the past few years and strongly believe that the current environment is perfect to introduce AirAsia’s low fares, which stimulate travel and grow the market.”
LinkLufthansa deepens cuts; to close head office in Cologne Lufthansa Group has announced more changes and cuts as its cost-savings program SCORE goes into the second year. The Group is planning to close Lufthansa AG’s Cologne head office by 2017, affecting 365 staff. It will also close the Norderstedt location of Lufthansa Revenue Services GmbH. Lufthansa Technik plans to cut 650 jobs by 2015 as part of an extensive reorganization program.
LinkLockheed awarded $6.9 billion F-22 upgrade contract The US Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a ceiling of $6.9 billion to upgrade the service's fleet of F-22 Raptor air superiority fighters. According to Lockheed, the arrangement is a corollary to a previous Raptor modernization contract that was issued in 2003. "The Air Force uses this to authorize the Incremental Modernization capability efforts such as Increment 3.1, Increment 3.2A and Increment 3.2B," the company says. "F-22 modernization provides upgrades that ensures the Raptor maintains air dominance against an ever advancing threat - with capabilities such as advanced weapons, multi-spectral sensors, advanced networking technology and advanced anti-jamming technology."
LinkLeahy questions 787’s heavy reliance on electrical power Airbus chief salesman John Leahy believes that Boeing was wrong to design the 787 with what he views as an over-reliance on electric power for its systems, as it results in reliability headaches rather than performance gains. Speaking to Flightglobal Pro sister publication Airline Business about the Dreamliner's lithium-ion battery issue, Leahy said that while he had "no doubt" that Boeing will make the 787 safe, "game-changing technology should not be on airplanes just to be different." He points the finger at Alan Mulally, who was running Boeing Commercial Airplanes at the time of the 787 launch but left the company during the development phase to head up Ford.
LinkAirbus forecasts demand for larger aircraftAirbus predicts larger aircraft will be in demand for commercial aircraft. "Generally there's been an upscaling in the aircraft people are buying," said Andrew Gordon, director for strategic marketing and analysis. "It's driven by existing routes getting bigger as well as airlines lowering their seat costs."
LinkPresident warns of sequestration's effect on air travelPresident Barack Obama said Tuesday that allowing looming sequestration budget cuts to take effect March 1 would impose spending cuts on the Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration, which could affect air-travel operations. Airlines for America says federal officials have assured that air travel will remain safe. "In this still difficult economy, with the busy travel season a few months away, the traveling public deserves responsible action from Congress and the administration," said Victoria Day, an A4A spokeswoman.
LinkGlobal Entry satellite office in Houston will openA Global Entry office to streamline customs for international travelers is slated to open in Houston. The satellite office at City Hall will allow travelers to apply for the "Trusted Traveler Program" from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Besides U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents, citizens from Mexico, Canada, South Korea and the Netherlands are eligible for the program.
LinkEditorial: AA-US Airways merger could bring stability to airline industryThe merger of US Airways and American Airlines could bring much-needed stability to the airline industry, this editorial states. "[W]e now seem to be on the verge of having what might be the most stable industry structure we've had since this madness began in 1978, and after three decades we're warming to the notion that the price of stability might be worth paying," it says.
LinkDe-icing aircraft has come a long wayThe process of de-icing aircraft used to be performed by dragging ropes over aircraft to break up the ice. Today, de-icing is accomplished by spraying propylene glycol on the planes to prevent freezing. "Last year we de-iced 12,000 airplanes. This year we're on pace for about 14,000," said Craig Palmer, coordinator of winter operations at United Airlines.
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