NewsCivil Aviation
Qatar Air Not Interested in Boeing 777X
Qatar Airways is not interested in ordering Boeing's proposed 777X wide-body jet, its chief executive said. Asked whether the Gulf carrier was looking at ordering a revamped version of Boeing's 777 mini-jumbo, Akbar Al Baker said "we are not interested in buying". Qatar Airways is among several major carriers being courted by Boeing as it finalises plans for a larger version of the 777, which is expected to be launched at next month's Dubai Airshow. Baker was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event in Qatar's capital Doha.
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Consortium In Talks To Buy 81 Pct Of ILFC
A private consortium is seeking to raise a USD$2.1 billion syndicated loan to back the purchase of an 81 percent stake in US insurer AIG's aircraft leasing unit ILFC, banking sources said on Thursday. AIG said in December 2012 that it had reached an agreement to sell a stake of up to 90 percent of California-based ILFC to a consortium of investors, based mainly in China, for USD$4.7 billion. The investor group - P3 Investments and Taiwan's Fubon Group - is now buying an 81 percent stake and AIG will hold the remaining 19 percent, the sources said.
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El Al orders two more 737-900ERs
Israeli carrier El Al has finalized an order for two additional Boeing 737-900ER aircraft, bringing the number of 737-900ERs ordered by El Al to eight, according to a Boeing media release. The order comes two weeks after El Al took delivery of its first 737-900ER.
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Korean Air orders more Boeing widebodies
Korean Air has finalised an order for 12 Boeing aircraft, including five 747-8s, six 777-300ERs and one 787, according to a Boeing media release. The deal has a value of $3.9 billion at list prices, says Boeing. Korean Air made a commitment for the 747s and 777s at the Paris air show in June. With the order, Korean Air now has orders for 10 747-8s, 10 777-300ERs and 11 787s.
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FAA chief calls for conversation on agency's funding model
US Federal Aviation Administration chief Michael Huerta today endorsed calls for a “thoughtful conversation” about how the agency is funded and which services it should provide. A clearly agitated Huerta, who described 2013 as “a hell of a year”, acknowledged previous such discussions have been difficult, but need to be revisited as budgetary sequester and Congressional gridlock create turmoil within his agency’s finances. “I think we need to ask ourselves and to ask you, our stakeholders, whether we really want to and need to – need to do everything the way we’ve always done it,” says Huerta, speaking to a lunch meeting of the Aero Club of Washington DC.
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Air Niugini ATR failed to rotate before overrun
Initial inquiries into the Air Niugini ATR 42-300 overrun accident in Papua New Guinea indicate that the crew aborted the take-off after the aircraft did not rotate on command. French investigation authority BEA says the aircraft had been departing runway 25 at Madang, destined for Tabubil, on 19 October. It was transporting 3.5t of cigarettes which had been loaded at Madang airport, says BEA, citing preliminary information from Papua New Guinea authorities. “When the captain rotated during the take-off run, the nose-wheel did not lift off the ground,” the BEA states. “The captain reported the flight controls felt very heavy in pitch.”
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EC225 grounding cost Bond £4.1 million in three months
Bond Offshore Helicopters has become the latest operator to detail the financial impact of last year’s effective grounding of much of the global Eurocopter EC225 fleet. n its accounts for the year to 31 December 2012, recently filed at the UK’s Companies House, the Aberdeen-based operator says the grounding of the Super Puma helicopters from October 2012 cost it £4.17 million ($6.74 million) in barely three months. The accounts state that “turnover and profitability on a pro-rata basis decreased in 2012, primarily as a result of the issues affecting the Eurocopter EC225 fleet.
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Kazakh emergencies ministry takes first upgraded Mil Mi-26T
Russian Helicopters has delivered the first Mil Mi-26T heavy transport helicopter to Kazakhstan's emergencies ministry following overhaul of the former military aircraft by the manufacturer. The aircraft, and a sister example, had been in storage for 20 years before being brought back into service by the ministry, the first time the type has been in civil operation in Kazakhstan.
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F-35’s price may limit sales, hinder overseas exports
The high price the Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter and the future scarcity of less-expensive options could hamper exports of US military fighters in the coming years, says industry analyst Richard Aboulafia on 24 October. With fewer exports, US industry and the economy could suffer along with US strategic relations, adds Aboulafia, vice president of consulting firm Teal Group, while speaking at an event held the Air Force Association’s Mitchell Institute for Airpower Studies in Washington, DC. Aboulafia estimates F-35s will cost roughly $125 million each.
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P&W trims costs on latest F-35 engine deal
Pratt & Whitney will deliver a package of 38 F135 engines, spares and support items under a deal valued at a total of $1.1 billion, the company and the US government’s procurement office announced on 24 October. The deal covering the sixth lot of low rate initial production includes a 2.5% unit price reduction for the conventional takeoff and landing and carrier variants of the engines that power the Lockheed Martin F-35, according to a joint statement by P&W and the joint program office. The price on the more complex and expensive short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) version dropped 9.6% compared to fifth lot of low rate initial production, the statement says.
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Swiss investigators locate crashed F/A-18D data recorder
Accident investigators have located the flight data recorder from a Swiss air force Boeing F/A-18D which crashed into a mountainside on 23 October, as efforts to recover its second crew member continue. The body of one pilot has now been retrieved, the nation’s defense ministry says, with recovery efforts having been hampered by difficult terrain at the accident site. The flight data recorder is expected to be removed for analysis “during the course of the day”, it adds. A pair of Hornets took off from Meiringen air base at 13:35 local time to conduct a sortie planned to include air policing and air combat training, the defense ministry says. The two-seat trainer crashed near Alpnachstad during the activity, after which the pilot of a single-seat F/A-18C returned to Meiringen.
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First Israeli Hercules completes Bedek upgrade
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has delivered the first Lockheed Martin C-130H to the Israeli air force, after performing an extensive refurbishment including replacing the transport's centre wingbox and wiring. Two years ago, the Israeli air force selected IAI to replace the centre wingbox section on a number of C-130Hs, as part of a life extension program for the variant. IAI's Bedek Aviation Group completed work on the first aircraft and returned it to the service. It began working on the second example shortly after. In addition to replacing the centre wing section, scheduled maintenance was performed to cut down the overall grounding time. The aircraft's wiring documentation was also updated to meet international standards.
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Alaska reports adjusted net income of $157M
Alaska Air Group, the parent company of Alaska Airlines, reported adjusted net income of $157 million for the third quarter. "These results represent our best quarter ever and mark Alaska's 18th consecutive quarterly profit," said Brad Tilden, Alaska Air Group CEO.
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Southwest Airlines posts $259M profit for Q3
Southwest Airlines reported net income of $259 million for the third quarter, compared to $16 million in the same quarter of last year.
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United Continental reports Q3 earnings of $379M
United Continental Holdings, the parent company of United Airlines, reported a profit of $379 million, or 98 cents per share, for the third quarter. During the quarter, revenue rose by 3% compared with the same quarter last year to $10.23 billion.
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Merger would benefit carriers, US Airways exec says
Both American Airlines and US Airways reported profitable third quarters, but executives said a merger would still benefit both carriers. "Strong companies merge all the time and the point of this merger is, we will be stronger," said US Airways President Scott Kirby. "We will be able to attract more customers."
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JetBlue rolls out red livery to honor NYC Fire Department
JetBlue Airways introduced a red livery in a nod to the New York City Fire Department. JetBlue flew the themed plane over the Hudson River on Wednesday to honor the FDNY Foundation, a nonprofit arm of the department. "Like all New Yorkers, we have a special place in [our] hearts for the brave men and women of the New York City Fire Department," said JetBlue on its blog.
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U.S. airlines improved on-time arrivals in August from the month before
U.S. airlines improved their on-time arrival rates in August to 78.8%, compared with 73.1% in July, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report by the Department of Transportation.
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Boeing Q3 earnings buoyed by 787 Dreamliner
Boeing reported earnings per share of $1.80 for the third quarter, a 16% increase from the same quarter last year. The aircraft manufacturer's earnings exceeded analyst expectations, partly due to the success of its Dreamliner 787. Boeing also announced plans to ramp up 787 production to 12 per month in 2016.
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Airbus considers options for A380
Airbus has not booked any orders for its A380 this year, and is considering trimming production, but will keep the design of the jumbo jet. "We are not in any rush to make any decisions to change the design of the A380, and there is no such decision," said Tom Williams, executive vice president for programs at Airbus.
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United cuts wind drag with split scimitar wingtips
United Airlines is testing wingtips called split scimitars, which improve fuel efficiency by reducing wind drag on the aircraft wing, according to this article. "There are still some basic physics that we use to minimize the drag on the airplane, and that hasn’t changed over the years," said Robert D. Gregg, III, the chief aerodynamicist at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
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Airlines add seats in business and economy cabins
Airlines are installing lie-flat seats in business class and additional seating in economy class. Last year, Boeing delivered almost 70% of its 777s with 10 seats per row in economy cabins instead of nine. Tom O'Toole, United's senior vice president of marketing and loyalty for United-Continental Holdings Inc., said the airline recognizes that customers have varying needs. "We are mindful that we serve a wide range of customer types and our aircraft need to be configured accordingly," he said. He added that seat width isn't the only consideration for passenger comfort, noting the airline has received very positive feedback from customers regarding its Dreamliner cabin features.
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Aviation Quote
The Navy can lose us the war, but only the Air Force can win it. Therefore our supreme effort must be to gain overwhelming mastery in the Air. The Fighters are our salvation . . . but the Bombers alone provide the means of victory. . . . In no other way at present visible can we hope to overcome the immense military power of Germany.
— Prime Minister Winston Churchill, memorandum for the Cabinet, 3 September 1940.
On This Date
---In 1930…Using Douglas DC-2 aircraft, TWA, then known as Transcontinental & Western Air, commences the Lindbergh Route, the first scheduled service between New York and Los Angeles. The initial schedule included an overnight stop in Kansas City.
---In 1939... The prototype Handey Page Halifax (serial no. L7244) makes its first flight from RAF Bicester with J.L.B.H. Cordes at the controls.
---In 1944…Japan’s first kamikaze mission sinks the carrier USS St. Lo.
---In 1951…Japan Airlines commences operations.
---In 1955…First flight of the Saab Draken.
---In 1960…First flight of the Boeing Vertol Model 107, predecessor to the CH-46 Sea Knight.
---In 1985…Emirates operates its first revenue flight, from Dubai to Karachi using an Airbus A300 leased from Pakistan International Airlines.
---In 1991…First flight of the Airbus A340.
---In 1994…U.S. Navy Lieutenant Kara Hultgreen, the first female aircraft carrier-based fight pilot, is killed off San Diego, California, in the crash of an F-14 Tomcat fighter she is piloting on final approach to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72).
---In 1999…Crash in South Dakota of a Learjet 35 killing professional golfer and 1999 U.S. Open winner Payne Stewart and five others.
---In 2007…The Airbus A380 enters service with Singapore Airlines.
---In 2009…CSA Czech Airlines discontinues all long-haul routes from Prague, including New York and Toronto.
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Trains and Planes
A large, two-engined train was making it's way across America. While crossing the Western mountains, one of the engines broke down. “No problem, we can make it to Denver and get a replacement engine there.” the engineer thought, and carried on at half power. Farther on down the line, (if you didn't guess) the other engine broke down, and the train came to a standstill in the middle of nowhere.
The engineer needed to inform the passengers about why the train had stopped, and always trying to look on the bright side of things, made the following announcement: “Ladies and Gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that both engines have failed, and we will be stuck here for some time until the additional engines arrive. The good news is that you didn't take this trip in a plane!”
Trivia
Airports, Google Earth
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HT-ETNW wrote:#9: located equidistant between Fort Worth and El Paso: MAF
