Civil AviationAccused LAX Shooter Could Face Death PenaltyThe 23-year-old man accused of opening fire at Los Angeles Airport, killing an airport security officer and wounding three other people, could face the death penalty after being charged with murder, a federal prosecutor said. Paul Anthony Ciancia was charged with murder of a federal officer and committing violence at an international airport, US Attorney Andre Birotte told reporters a day after the shooting that touched off panic and chaos at the world's sixth busiest airport. Ciancia carried a signed note that called Transportation Security Administration officers "traitorous" and he targeted them during his rampage at the airport's Terminal 3, FBI special agent in charge David Bowdich said. Ciancia was dropped off at the airport, said Bowdich, who declined to say if the FBI knew who drove the suspected gunman there.
LinkDiscussionTSA Agent Killed, Three Wounded In LAX ShootingA lone gunman stormed into a packed terminal at the Los Angeles Airport and opened fire with an assault weapon on Friday, killing an unarmed federal security agent before he was shot and captured, authorities said. The gunfire in Terminal 3 set off panic and chaos at one of the world's busiest airports as hundreds of people ran for safety. At least one airport security agent was wounded by gunfire, in addition to the one who was shot and killed, and a number of other people were hurt in the pandemonium. Nearly 750 flights were halted, grounded or diverted as police evacuated passengers and closed three terminals. Streets around the airport were blocked off for hours, snarling traffic for miles. "An individual came into Terminal 3 of this airport, pulled an assault rifle out of a bag and began to open fire in the terminal," Patrick Gannon, chief of the Los Angeles airport police, said at a news conference.
LinkFlight data recorder of crashed Lao Airlines ATR 72-600 recoveredThe flight data recorder from the Lao Airlines ATR 72-600 that crashed into the Mekong river near Pakse was recovered on 31 October, more than two weeks after the fatal accident. “The recovered black box is well kept by the authority, more information will be released later on,” says the airline’s vice-president Somsamay Visounnarath. It is unclear whether a decision has been made to send the flight data recorder overseas or to keep it in Laos for analysis. The turboprop's cockpit voice recorder, however, has not yet been recovered.
LinkEmbraer Investigated For Bribery In Aircraft DealsUS and Brazilian authorities are investigating whether Embraer bribed officials in Argentina and the Dominican Republic to secure deals for commercial and military aircraft, according to legal documents seen by Reuters. The investigations involve the sale of 20 passenger jets to Argentina's Austral airline, worth about USD$900 million at Embraer list prices, and a USD$92 million deal with the Dominican armed forces for eight Super Tucano light attack planes, according to documents prepared by prosecutors. The world's third-largest commercial plane maker disclosed two years ago that it had been under investigation by the US Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission since 2010 regarding sales of aircraft abroad.
LinkSpirit AeroSystems reports new forward losses on A350 fuselage workSpirit AeroSystems today disclosed a new, $112 million forward loss on the fuselage sections that it supplies for the Airbus A350 program. The disclosure is the latest in a string of forward losses reported by Spirit AeroSystems over the past seven financial quarters totalling more than $1 billion, while chief executive Jeff Turner resigned and was replaced by former Lockheed Martin executive Larry Lawson. “We are making progress but there is more work to be done,” Lawson says in a press release. The A350 write-downs includes a $79 million forward loss due to “early development discovery and changes and associated production efficiencies”, according to the press release. The program also faces higher test and transportation costs.
LinkAir France Sets Tough Conditions On Alitalia - ReportAir France-KLM has set tough conditions, including 5,000 job cuts, for investing more money in Alitalia, financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore reported on Sunday. In an unsourced report, the Italian newspaper said Air France-KLM, which is Alitalia's biggest shareholder with a 25 percent stake, had dictated its conditions to Italian Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi "around ten days ago". The paper said the two sides were locked in a tug-of-war. Air France-KLM's conditions, it said, included the removal of Alitalia's board of directors and a restructuring of its debts of nearly EUR€1 billion (USD$1.35 billion) to reduce them by 70 to 80 percent. The 5,000 job cuts would be more than double the number Alitalia's chief executive Gabriele del Torchio has pencilled in as part of a revised restructuring plan to keep it in business, the newspaper said.
LinkUS Airways pilot union to file "friend of court" motionThe US Airline Pilots Association, a union that represents pilots at US Airways, has asked permission to file a "friend of the court" brief in support of the proposed US Airways-American Airlines merger. Meanwhile, 68 House Democrats wrote a letter to the Justice Department asking the agency to allow the merger. "We are concerned that the DOJ's lawsuit creates an atmosphere of uncertainty for our respective congressional districts and constituents," the letter said.
LinkDelta restarts Trainer, Pa., refineryDelta Air Lines announced it is restarting its fluid catalytic cracker at the carrier's oil refinery in Trainer, Pa., which outputs 185,000 barrels a day.
LinkAtlas Air adjusts full-year forecast to reflect airfreight demand Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings (AAWW) significantly lowered its full-year earnings expectations, citing a much weaker commercial airfreight peak season than previously anticipated. Annual adjusted earnings are predicted to total $3.40 to $3.80 a share, down from its prior view of $4.80. The company also expects to report adjusted third-quarter earnings of about $1.13 a share, below estimates of $1.34 from analysts polled by Thomson Reuters. Atlas Air, a freighter-aircraft company, provides outsourced aircraft and aviation operating services, such as cargo service and military cargo and passenger charters. The company said that while commercial-airfreight volumes are strengthening, airfreight yields remain under pressure. Also, military-cargo volumes have declined at a more rapid rate.
LinkColumn: Airlines fly with considerable fuel marginsAirline pilot and author Patrick Smith writes that airlines are required to not only have enough fuel to reach a destination but to also have extra to fly to an alternate one, plus for an additional 45 minutes, and that pilots cannot depart with less.
LinkOpinion: DOJ merger opposition is "perplexing"The Justice Department's attempt to prevent a proposed merger between US Airways and American Airlines is "perplexing," writes Jeffrey Shane, general counsel at the International Air Transport Association. "If the Justice Department blocks the merger, it will drag us back three or four decades in aviation policy... Worst of all, consumers won't reap the benefits of increased competition," he writes.
LinkFAA's clearance of PEDs for takeoff and landings applaudedMany applauded the move by the Federal Aviation Administration to expand the use of personal electronic devices to include takeoff and landing. Southwest Airlines frequent flier Nick Skytland said, "I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for this change. I think this ruling will single-handedly make me 50 percent more productive." Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who has been one of the strongest advocates for this change, called the development "great news for the traveling public -- and frankly, a win for common sense."
LinkDelta answers questions on PEDs in FAQDelta Air Lines has provided a FAQ for airline passengers on the Federal Aviation Administration's policy change for expanding the use of personal electronic devices. "Approved PEDs may be used from gate to gate on flights operating within the U.S.," the FAQ states. International flights may still have restrictions on PEDs, according to Delta.
LinkFlight attendant unions applaud FAA policy change on PEDsUnions representing flight attendants said they approved the Federal Aviation Administration's policy change on personal electronic devices. "Flight attendants' top priority is passenger safety, but we're always looking to improve the air travel experience," said Laura Glading, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants.
LinkAirlines could offer customers more electronic content and devices, experts sayNow that the Federal Aviation Administration allows passengers to use personal electronic devices on all phases of flight, airlines could offer more electronic content and devices as well. "That could easily include ... iPads to rent, seatback entertainment that can be enjoyed from gate to gate, or even e-reader in-flight magazines," said John Walton, director of data for Routehappy.
LinkIATA: Global air traffic rose 5% in SeptemberThe International Air Transport Association reported that global airline traffic increased by 5% for September on a year-over-year basis. "We are seeing a more positive environment for air travel demand, based on rising business confidence, a strong increase in export orders in September and better performance of key emerging markets," said Tony Tyler, CEO of the IATA.
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