NewsThai A330-300 damaged in Bangkok runway excursionThe nose landing gear of a Thai Airways Airbus A330-300 aircraft collapsed after the aircraft made a runway excursion upon landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport on 8 September. The aircraft was operating as flight TG679 on the Guangzhou-Bangkok route, and the accident occurred at 23:20 local time, says a company spokeswoman. The 288 passengers and 14 crew evacuated via the aircraft's slides, which resulted in 13 minor injuries. The spokeswoman could not confirm the aircraft's registration number, but images on social media show the registration as HS-TEF. "After touchdown at Suvarnabhumi Airport, the landing gear malfunctioned and caused the aircraft to skid off the runway," says Thai in a statement. "Sparks were noticed from the vicinity of the right landing gear near the engine; the matter is under investigation. The captain took control of the aircraft until it came to a complete stop and passengers were evacuated from the aircraft emergency exits. The operation was conducted by the captain and cabin crew strictly according to emergency procedures." Images found on social media platforms appear to show that the front landing gear collapsed during the incident, and that the cowling of the aircraft's left side Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engine was damaged.
LinkChicago Mayor May Still Seek Airport DealA day after calling an abrupt halt to a bidding process for the lease of Chicago's Midway Airport, city mayor Rahm Emanuel on Friday sent signals that he still would like to pursue a deal in the future. Emanuel late Thursday halted the city's efforts to privatize operations of Chicago's second-largest airport after one bidding consortium pulled out, leaving the city with only one prospective bidder. A spokeswoman for the mayor, Sarah Hamilton, held out the possibility of future negotiations. "If it were to be considered in the future, it would have to be done with the mayor's same approach that ensures the long-term interests of taxpayers and residents are protected."
LinkIndustry Concerned On US ATC Cuts ImpactIndustry executives urged Congress to help the US Federal Aviation Administration avoid the disruptive air traffic tower closures that created chaos earlier this year as the next round of sequester cuts looms in October. Unless Congress comes up with a budget for the next fiscal year, which begins October 1, air traffic controllers could find themselves facing the same furloughs that caused flight delays in March, when the cuts initially went into effect. ongress moved quickly in April to pass legislation that allowed the Department of Transportation to use about USD$250 million in unspent funds from the Airport Improvement Program to cover immediate salaries of air traffic controllers and other essential employees at the FAA.
LinkBombardier conducts high-speed CSeries trials Bombardier concluded at least four high-speed taxi trials of its new CSeries at Mirabel airport today, before calling it quits for the day due to high winds. Test aircraft FTV-1 conducted at least four taxi runs on runway 24 between 09:00 and 10:34 local time before the CS100 returned to the hangar, confirms the Canadian airframer.
LinkBombardier CSeries First Flight SoonBombardier's new CSeries aircraft completed high-speed taxi trials on Friday as anticipation mounted that the narrow-body plane could make its inaugural flight within the next week or so. The 100- to 149-seat CSeries is the first newly designed narrow-body plane in its category in decades and is Bombardier's attempt to break into an extremely competitive market dominated by Airbus and Boeing. Bombardier released on Friday a video of its CSeries taxi trial on a runway in Mirabel, Quebec. The test is the last of the main important ground tests before first flight.
LinkAirAsia, MAS Fined Over Competition RulesMalaysia's competition watchdog on Friday fined national carrier Malaysia Airlines and budget carrier AirAsia MYR10 million ringgit (USD$3 million) each for breaking competition rules in a pact that later fell through. The Malaysia Competition Commission said in a statement that the carriers had entered an agreement in 2011 aiming to share markets in domestic routes in breach of competition regulations.
LinkAeros gains airworthiness certificate for new hybrid airship The US Federal Aviation Administration has cleared Aeros to operate planned research flights of a new kind of hybrid, heavy-lift airship. The 81m (266ft)-long proof of design aircraft - now christened the Aeroscraft Dragon Dream - is now allowed to perform a series of vertical take-offs and landings. "This airworthiness certificate helps us move full speed ahead with testing desired to further accelerate Aeroscraft fleet development," says Aeros chief executive and founder Igor Pasternak. The tests will examine the performance of Aeros' unique control of static heaviness (COSH) system.
LinkNASA prepares for first Minotaur V launchNASA is preparing to launch the first Orbital Sciences Minotaur V from Wallops Island, Virginia. Though it marks the Minotaur V's first flight, previous versions have flown a total of 13 times into orbit. The 6 September launch will loft the Lunar Atmosphere Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) into orbit around the moon. The Minotaur series was specifically designed to use excess solid-fuel engines from retired Minuteman and Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). The Minotaur IV+ and Minotaur V are also topped by additional commercial motors to carry heavier payloads.
LinkUK, Norway could share F-35 support workNorway and the UK are to explore increased co-operation on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, saying opportunities exist in "technical maintenance and sustainment, as well as within training of pilots and technical personnel." Confirmed following a bilateral meeting held in London on 5 September, the pact builds on a wider co-operation agreement which was established by the nations' defence ministries last year. "Both nations are encouraged by recent progress in the development and manufacture of the F-35," the Norwegian defence ministry says. "Both agree that it is of vital importance a capable, adequate and affordable sustainment solution is in place to support the first European F-35s when they begin arriving in Europe in the second half of this decade."
LinkUS naval aviation to take hit in fiscal year 2014 budgetNaval aviation operations, maintenance and procurement accounts will all take a hit in fiscal year 2014 under Congressionally-mandated sequestration budget cuts, says chief of naval operations Adm Jonathan Greenert. "We'll cancel a lot of aircraft availabilities - about 190," the service's top uniformed official said at the American Enterprise Institute on 5 September. "Last year we cancelled about 90, so we're getting a backlog that is concerning." Even if the budget were to be restored overnight, it would take the USN more than five years to catch up on deferred aircraft maintenance, Greenert says. Naval aviation training for non-deployed forces will also be sharply cut back, and a number of carrier air wings will be required to operate at a reduced readiness level.
LinkRecord earnings to result in bigger payday for Delta employees After earning record quarterly profits, Delta will issue a raise to its approximately 80,000 employees next year. Workers who deal directly with customers will get up to 3% more money effective April 1. This follows previous rounds of employee pay raises at the airline. Other employees will receive increases that vary based on performance, among other factors. As a result of the health care reform, premiums will go up next year. However, Delta will cover 85% of the $100 million in additional costs.
LinkUS Airways, American will rally in D.C. for merger supportLeaders with American Airlines and US Airways are encouraging their employees in the area to visit Washington D.C. on Sept. 17 and 18 for a “fly-in" where they plan to meet with lawmakers to boost support for the merger. "The event will culminate in an employee rally in the middle of Capitol Hill, and all D.C.-area employees are welcome to attend as well," an American message stated. The carriers are also urging staffers to submit a letter to lawmakers via
www.newamericanarriving.com. The two airlines said the following in an employee newsletter yesterday: “This is one way that you can make a real difference. If every one of our more than 100,000 employees of American and US Airways participates, over half a million letters will be sent to various government and elected officials across the country. That’s quite a statement of support!”
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