NewsUPS A300 crash probe bids to resolve glidepath puzzleWith no immediate evidence of a technical failure on board the ill-fated UPS Airbus A300-600 freighter, US investigators have yet to explain why the twinjet was approaching Birmingham below the safe glidepath. The straight-in localiser pattern to runway 18, for which the crew briefed, is a non-precision approach that crosses largely featureless, undulating terrain, with few visual reference points at night. Approach charts detail a 3.28° glidepath from a 4.7nm final approach fix designated BASKN. On this glidepath the A300 should have been at 1,380ft - equating to 736ft above the airport - as it passed a waypoint known as IMTOY while still 2nm from the runway. This glidepath should have kept the aircraft above 1,000ft, and some 400ft above the airport, at the point where it struck a bank of trees, about 1nm from the threshold, and collided with a slope.
LinkCanada Fines LATAM For Cargo Price FixingA Canadian court fined LATAM Airlines CAD$975,000 (USD$938,000) after the carrier admitted taking part in an air cargo price-fixing cartel, Canada's Competition Bureau said. The Chile-based airline's guilty plea related to fuel surcharges it imposed on international air cargo shipments from Canada to South America and elsewhere between March 2003 and February 2006, the bureau said in a statement. "LAN Cargo has cooperated closely with Canadian authorities throughout the investigation process," said LATAM in a response statement, and has since strengthened its internal controls.
LinkLATAM Air Posts USD$329.8 Million LossLatin America's largest carrier LATAM Airlines reported a net loss of USD$329.8 million in the second quarter, hit by a weaker Brazilian real and higher costs. For the same period a year ago, the company - which formed in June 2012 when Chile's flagship LAN took over Brazil's TAM - posted the equivalent of a USD$448.8 million loss, according to company figures revised to simulate the merged airline. Costs associated with the merger, a tax overhaul in Chile and cooling demand in regional powerhouse Brazil have all taken a toll on the newly formed carrier's shares in the last year.
LinkAir Canada Studying Bombardier CSeriesAir Canada is studying Bombardier's new CSeries jet as it focuses on deciding by the end of the year which narrow-body to purchase for its fleet, the airline's chief executive said. "It's a big, big decision because it's more than 100 airplanes total," CEO Calin Rovinescu told reporters at the opening of a new operations centre near Toronto's Pearson Airport. Bombardier expects the single-aisle CSeries, with up to 160 seats, to make its first test flight in the next few months and to be in service about a year later.
LinkAeromexico stands by 787 Aeromexico has reaffirmed its faith in the Boeing 787 at the unveiling of its first of the type, despite several high profile incidents involving the 787 so far this year. The SkyTeam carrier took delivery of the first of up to 19 787s on 15 August, and showed off the aircraft in a ceremony at its facilities in Mexico City today. "We feel very, very good about the reliability of the aircraft," Aeromexico chief executive Andres Conesa tells Flightglobal. "We've been monitoring the track record of the planes already flying today, and we know the experience has been excellent in terms of performance and customer feedback." Aeromexico is the second Latin American carrier after LATAM to receive the 787 and the third 787 operator in the Americas. Not being the first operator has helped Aeromexico be "prepared for what will arise", says Conesa.
LinkCSeries flight test program extended into 2015Transport Canada has added six months to the flight test program of Bombardier's new CSeries, as the airframer prepares to begin flight tests during the coming weeks. The programme is scheduled to take 22 months from this August through May 2015, according to an Aeronautical Information Products (AIP) Canada update released by NAV Canada dated 22 August. The update replaces an 18-month timeline from May 2013 to November 2014. The extended flight test program includes testing for the 135-seat CS300 as well as a buffer for any additional tests that are needed, says Montreal-based Bombardier.
LinkTurbo Commander crashed inverted at Connecticut airport: NTSB A Rockwell International 690B Turbo Commander crashed inverted while circling to land in marginal weather at Tweed New Haven airport in Connecticut, according to a preliminary report by the US National Transportation Safety Board. The commercial pilot, the single passenger and two people on the ground were killed in the 9 August accident. The twin-turboprop aircraft (N13622) was built in 1979 and is owned by lessor Ellumax, Flightglobal's Ascend Online database shows. The NTSB says the flight from Teterboro, New Jersey to New Haven was operated by "a private individual". Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and the aircraft was being operated on an instrument flight rules flightplan.
LinkRussia's Polet targets Western jets to boost capacityPrivately owned Russian carrier Polet is looking to reinforce its passenger capacity by acquiring a batch of Western-built narrowbody jets. General manager and majority shareholder Anatoly Karpov has disclosed plans to take at least five Boeing 737 or Airbus A320-family aircraft with up to 150 seats. The carrier, he says, needs additional capacity to fully meet growing demand for charter flights from its Voronezh base to leisure destinations abroad.
LinkGermany denies ongoing Euro Hawk negotiationsGermany has denied that negotiations are ongoing in an attempt to salvage Northrop Grumman's Euro Hawk unmanned air vehicle (UAV) deal, nixed in May over airspace concerns. The German ministry of defence expressed "surprise" with comments by Northrop vice-president Tom Vice, who spoke to reporters on 20 August. "We're continuing to work with the Germans to find a solution on this program," Vice said. "We continue to have discussions, but the thing we continue to point out is that the capability continues to match their needs. The programme is going extremely well we're making a lot of progress, we're having discussions, we'll see where that ends up."
LinkRussia delays air force MiG-35 deliveries to 2016 over industry snags Program delays have postponed the delivery of 37 RAC MiG-35 advanced multirole fighter aircraft ordered by the Russian air force until 2016, instead of this year as originally planned. Yury Borisov, deputy defence minister, blamed the hiatus on the industry's "unreadiness to fulfil the contract". "We are shifting the purchase of the MiG-35s to 2016 and will buy 16 MiG-29SMT aircraft for now," Borisov says. "The finance ministry is not against this," he adds.
LinkIsrael reorganizes transport squadrons ahead of C-130J deploymentIsrael's air force has begun reorganising the composition of its Lockheed Martin C-130 squadrons, ahead of deployment of its new J-model aircraft. The service will consolidate 'Elephants' squadron and 'Yellow Bird' squadron into one unit. However, the former will operate C-130Js - known as Samson in Israeli service - while the latter will fly the upgraded H-model aircraft.
LinkOpinion: Blocking AMR-US Airways merger does not help consumersKelly Riddell, a consultant at Cove Strategies, said the Justice Department's antitrust lawsuit blocking the American Airlines and US Airways merger does not benefit airline employees -- or the flying public. "Not only does the government's suit place unneeded strain on the average, everyday worker, but it's impossible to say that it'll be [a] good thing for the average, everyday flier," she writes.
LinkHyper-competitive airline industry is good for consumersAirlines for America Senior Vice President Jean Medina commented on Allegiant Airlines' announcement that it plans to expand service, saying, "The airline industry remains hyper-competitive, and that's good news for the consumer because it’s meant more routes, affordable fares, more destinations, better product."
LinkAir Canada to open operation center in OntarioAir Canada gave a sneak peek of its new operations center in Brampton, Ontario, this week. The center is scheduled to open in January 2014, and the 75,000-square-foot facility will employ around 400 people. Air Canada headquarters are based in Montreal.
LinkFlight safety experts recommend change in autopilot systemsFlight safety experts recommend a change in the way autopilot systems hand over controls to pilots. Eric E. Geiselman, lead author of several articles on autopilot automation, said systems should notify pilots before automatically disengaging, not after the fact.
LinkUnions urge DOJ to allow mergerMore than 100,000 US Airways and American Airlines employees are uncertain of their status after the Justice Department blocked a merger between the carriers. Unions representing workers at both carriers are urging the department to let the merger proceed. "We are certain that our proposed merger is the best path forward for both airlines and all of our stakeholders," said US Airways spokeswoman Michelle Mohr.
LinkFAA encourages caution when runways are used as taxiwaysThe Federal Aviation Administration issued encouraged caution for aircraft using runways as taxiways. "At many airports, it is common for ATC to use an active or inactive runway as a taxiway [to accommodate] airport geometry, construction, congestion or taxiway restrictions," the FAA said.
LinkAMR remains open to negotiating settlement with DOJThe legal team at American Airlines was taken aback by the Justice Department's move to block the carrier's merger with US Airways. "We knew Justice had some issues or views on the transaction, but we were still surprised and disappointed," said Gary Kennedy, American Airlines general counsel. "We are focusing all of our efforts and energies on winning this lawsuit," he continued. "There’s no Plan B. Our bankruptcy exit plan has as its centerpiece this merger. If the merger, hypothetically, doesn’t go forward, then we have to go back to the bankruptcy court with a new plan." He added that American remains open to negotiating a settlement with the DOJ.
LinkAtlanta boasts best airport restaurantBased on Foursquare user rankings, the most popular airport restaurant in the world is One Flew South in Atlanta. The restaurant in Terminal E of the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport offers a unique mix of sushi and southern food. Other U.S. airports that made the list include Chicago, Los Angeles and Dallas-Fort Worth.
LinkStudy predicts rise in hybrid airline loyalty programsA study found that 72% of frequent business travelers belong to more than one airline loyalty program. The report by Deloitte and Touche also predicted hybrid loyalty programs, based on both money spent and miles earned, will be more popular in the future.
LinkDesigners unveil innovations for middle seats on airplanesDesigners are trying to enhance the middle seat on airplanes. "You have to balance the ergonomics —- making sure it's comfortable -- with getting as many people on board in the smallest amount of space," said Rob Green, a senior design engineer at Dyson. Innovations include the Side-Slip Seat, which staggers the middle seat, and the AirGo seat, which uses less-bulky fabric to create more space.
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