CommercialBoeing nears entry into service for 787-9Boeing’s 787-9 is nearing entry into service with launch customer Air New Zealand, and is on schedule for a mid-year start of operations. So far the programme has been seemingly unscathed by the developmental and testing breakdowns that plagued the introduction of the 787-8 – more than three years late – in 2011. Functional and reliability testing – the last step in the certification process – has started on a 787-9 in All Nippon Airways livery, after the flight-test team accumulated 550 flights and 1,300 flight hours since first flight in September 2013. As a group of journalists were allowed to tour one of the four 787-9 test aircraft for the first time on 29 April, at Boeing Field in Seattle, company officials again emphasised how the painful lessons from the 787-8 should lead to a smoother path to certification and a reliable start to operational service for the 6m (20ft)-longer variant.
LinkMalaysia Releases Missing Plane ReportMalaysia on Thursday released its most comprehensive account yet of what happened to Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, in a preliminary report that detailed the route the plane probably took as it veered off course. The report revealed the confusion that followed as it showed four hours elapsed between the first sign that the aircraft had failed to report in and the decision to mount a search operation. That time included lapses of communication and a false lead from the airline itself. The document, dated April 9, also contributed to a growing safety debate by urging the ICAO, the UN body that oversees aviation, to consider introducing a system for tracking commercial aircraft. The call comes ahead of a meeting at ICAO later this month to address mounting pressure for improvements to fill communications blind spots over the world's oceans, but until now regulators have said such systems still need to be proven despite lobbying by the satellite industry.
LinkNTSB Wants FAA To Audit Alaska ChartersThe US NTSB has urged the FAA to audit several Alaska-based carriers after a series of accidents over 19 months in which six people were killed. In an urgent recommendation to the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board asked for a comprehensive audit of Era Aviation, Corvus Airlines, Hageland Aviation Services, Frontier Flying Service, Ravn Alaska and Ravn Connect. It also asked for an independent review of the FAA's oversight of the carriers. Ravn Connect is the largest charter service operating in Alaska and was formerly known as Hageland, the NTSB said. It operates 1,200 flights a week with 58 planes.
LinkBombardier Profit Dips As Aerospace DragsBombardier reported lower first quarter revenue in its aerospace division as it earned less from the sale of its aircraft. Bombardier, which has poured billions of dollars into aerospace programs such as the CSeries, said revenue in the division fell 9 percent to USD$2.1 billion in the first quarter. Total revenue rose about 2 percent to USD$4.35 billion. Net income fell to USD$115 million in the quarter ended March 31, from USD$148 million a year earlier. The company delivered a total of 56 aircraft in the quarter, compared to 53 a year earlier.
LinkBoeing looks at easing jet lag aboard 777XBoeing engineers are considering ways to minimize jet lag through cabin design on the 777X. A boost in cabin pressure and humidity can help passengers avoid the symptoms of jet lag. "That's what we're going for on all these new products -- how do we make it a better experience," said Jim Haas, director for product marketing at Boeing.
LinkEmirates, Airbus in talks over A380 upgradesEmirates Airline is in discussions with Airbus over upgrades to the A380 to boost the aircraft's fuel efficiency. "For the longer term, we are constantly looking at ways to continually enhance our aircraft and to anticipate our customers' future needs through incremental innovation," said Airbus.
LinkRyanair orders 5 additional Boeing 737-800s Ryanair Holdings Plc agreed to buy five more Boeing Co. 737-800s, boosting Europe’s biggest discount carrier’s order book to 180 jets as it seeks to increase passenger numbers to 110 million people by 2019. The deal brings the total value of Ryanair orders to more than $16 billion at current list prices, the Dublin-based airline said in a statement today. Ryanair will take delivery of 21 jets, up from 17, between this September and July 2015. The purchase involves five production slots that became available. The Irish carrier concluded a deal for 175 current-model 737-800s at the Paris Air Show in June and Chief Executive Officer Michael O’Leary has said he is also evaluating the 737 Max model. Ryanair is pursuing new television commercials and a website overhaul in a push to tame its no-frills image and draw previously untapped customer groups such as business passengers and older travelers.
LinkGermany sends letters of sanction to carriers over emissionsGermany has levied fines against foreign operators for emissions from aircraft, sparking protests from the U.S. and other countries. German officials sent letters of sanction to 44 operators in other countries, as well as 17 German carriers. The total amount of fines was around $3.7 million.
LinkRepublic CEO discusses effect of 1,500 hour ruleBryan K. Bedford, president and CEO of Republic Airlines, testifying on behalf of the Regional Airline Association, told a House subcommittee that regulations requiring newly hired co-pilots to have 1,500 hours of flight experience are making it difficult for regional airlines to hire enough pilots.
LinkTSA says 40% of U.S. fliers get expedited screeningThe Transportation Security Administration has good news for fliers: 40% of travelers are being screened at expedited security lanes, resulting in faster-moving checkpoint lines. TSA Administrator John Pistole has said the agency plans to provide expedited screening to half of all fliers by the end of 2014. Travelers enrolled in the TSA's PreCheck program, military personnel and travelers deemed low-risk on a per-trip basis are given access to expedited security screening.
LinkAirlines cater to customers with special mealsFliers who have special dietary needs -- or who just want to enjoy something special -- are in luck at many airlines. Delta provides 16 types of special meals and has had gluten-free options available for several years. United offers nine different options for dietary and religious needs, and continues to expand healthy and gluten-free options, in addition to looking to switch to sustainable grass-fed beef. American has been adding gluten-free crackers and breads into regular meal service due to improvements in taste of gluten-free products.
LinkDelta proposes increase in board of directorsDelta Air Lines has proposed increasing the size of its board of directors from 14 members to 18 members. The carrier has submitted the proposal to its shareholders. "If approved, increasing the number of the board members will provide flexibility for new directors to join prior to these retirements, allowing them to become familiar with Delta and its operations, the industry and workings of the board and its committees," said Betsy Talton, a spokeswoman for Delta.
LinkSouthwest CEO looks to boost operational performanceSouthwest Airlines will adjust flight schedules to further improve its on-time record, says CEO Gary Kelly. The airline will add time between flights and reduce the number of flights with extremely close connection times. "We've got significant schedule changes that are planned for the summer," Kelly said. "That's when I want to be monitoring the on-time performance and making sure that we see the improvement that we need."
LinkBoeing banking on new jetliner familiesBetween its 737 MAX, 777X and stretched 787-9 Dreamliner, Boeing is betting big that the three new jets will open the door to more than 50% of the company's sales for the next two decades. The three new families are based on technology used in the previous Dreamliner, along with new, fuel-efficient engines. "What we have in work today really is the future of Boeing Commercial Airplanes," said Scott Fancher, senior vice president for airplane development.
LinkWill FAA step in on tornado drone use? Will the dramatic footage captured by drones deployed to fly over tornado-stricken areas in Arkansas and Alabama draw the ire of the Federal Aviation Administration? That's the question experts are asking. "As drone technology continues to spread into the hands of more journalists we can expect to see more questions raised about how far the FAA's authority extends, and what happens when that claimed authority intersects with First Amendment rights," writes law professor Greg Neal.
LinkAerospace mergers surge as budgets get bleakAerospace company mergers jumped 14% in the first quarter, compared with the same period a year earlier, as firms began to feel the effects of government defense budget tightening. Among the most recent deals are Orbital Sciences and Alliant Techsystems, which announced this week they'll combine to form Orbital ATK. "We are on the cusp of a major merger wave in aerospace and defense," said Stephen Perry, managing director at Janes Capital Partners. "As budgets decline, it's very logical for these firms to go out looking for ways to combine businesses."
Link 
