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IATA Summit Highlights Shift Of Power
Qatar sealed its position on a new aviation map this week as host to the annual meeting of the airline industry's International Air Transport Association (IATA), but it and other Gulf countries drew criticism from rivals about trade and investment policies. Senior representatives of over 200 airlines attended the IATA meeting in Doha, making Qatar the first Gulf country to host the summit, which was attended by its fiercest critics. "I hope people understand that although we are a small country, we are a very relevant country in this region," said Qatar Airways' chief executive Akbar Al Baker.
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Airlines Debate Costs Of Aircraft Tracking
Moves by airlines to keep track of their aircraft in real time following the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 could push up ticket prices for passengers - but governments should also pay part of the bill, airline industry leaders said on Tuesday. Senior executives attending IATA's annual meeting in Doha this week said they needed to install a tracking system to ensure no more airliners could simply vanish as the Malaysian Boeing 777-200ER did in March. Passengers, however, would have to bear at least some of the cost of automated tracking that is eventually expected to become mandatory.
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Venezuela Must Play Fair Over Airlines' Money -IATA
Venezuela is being "willfully irresponsible" in its treatment of airlines that have more than USD$4 billion of revenue trapped in the country, IATA said on Tuesday. President Nicolas Maduro's government requires airlines to sell tickets in the bolivar currency but has been slow to allow them to repatriate the earnings. The Venezuelan government said last week that it would begin releasing USD$2.1 billion in hard currency to companies that have struggled to obtain dollars as a result of the controls. The country's senior economic official said airlines would receive USD$486 million of the total earmarked for disbursement.
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Lufthansa Backs CSeries Despite Engine Failure
Lufthansa said it met Bombardier on Monday and assured the Canadian plane maker it still believes in the USD$4.4 billion CSeries despite an engine failure last week. A problem with the plane's newly developed Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan (GTF) engine during stationary maintenance testing last Thursday has sparked concerns about further delays in the already-overdue CSeries development. "We still very much believe in this aircraft," spokesman Nils Haupt said in an email. "Lufthansa is fully confident that Bombardier will be able to solve the issue... but we hope that no further delays will occur."
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Alitalia Job Cuts Seen At 2,400-2,500
Italy's employment minister Giuliano Poletti said on Tuesday he sees job cuts at Alitalia reaching 2,400-2,500 as the loss-making airline negotiates an investment by Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways. "From what I understand there are talks of 2,400-2,500 jobs cuts," Giuliano Poletti said in Milan, adding that the matter is still subject to negotiation with relevant parties, including unions.
[url=http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1401801103.html
Operations start at Heathrow’s Terminal 2
London Heathrow opened its new Terminal 2 this morning. Star Alliance member United Airlines operated the first flight to arrive at the terminal, where Star carriers are to dominate. UA958, a Boeing 767-300 service from Chicago, landed at 05:43 and reached gate B38 6min later. The US carrier has moved all 17 of its daily Heathrow flights to the terminal, from Terminals 1 and 4, and for three weeks will be the sole operator at the new facility, where activity is being stepped up in phases.
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Thai Airways’ first 787 unveiled
Thai Airways' first Boeing 787-8 has been unveiled after completing paint works at Boeing's Everett plant. The aircraft will have 264 seats in a two class configuration with 24 business and 240 economy class seats. Its business class section will feature 78in (198cm) long full-flat beds in a 2-2-2 configuration, while the economy class seats will have 32in (81.3cm) of pitch and 18in (45.7cm) of width in a 3-3-3 configuration, says the carrier.
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Indian Ocean acoustic data could yield clues about MH370
A team of Australian researchers recorded an unusual acoustic event around the time Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 would have crashed owing to fuel exhaustion. The signal was detected by underwater acoustic sensors 40km off Australia’s Rottnest Island at 01:30 GMT on Saturday 8 March. “[The signal] could have resulted from Flight MH370 crashing into the Indian Ocean but could also have originated from a natural event, such as a small earth tremor,” says a statement from Curtin University’s Centre for Marine Science and Technology. They add that researchers from the United Nations Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) and Geoscience Australia have also been involved in the analysis of the data
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SOFIA telescope declared operational, but funding threat looms
Three months after announcing plans to ground the aircraft, NASA has declared the stratospheric observatory of infrared astronomy (SOFIA) operational after 18 years in development. The astronomical observatory mounted on a Boeing 747SP has been gathering data since 2010, but was officially still listed in a prolonged developmental phase. A NASA review of the program on 29 May allowed SOFIA to pass a key decision point that formally transitions the program into operational status. “That’s the equivalent of a launch for a space mission,” says Paul Hertz, NASA’s astrophysics division director, in a statement released by the agency.
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American to hold 1st shareholders meeting since merger
American Airlines Group enters its first shareholders meeting on Wednesday as a profitable carrier since merging with US Airways. "We feel really bullish, not just on the industry but even more bullish on the future of American Airlines and what we'll be able to accomplish," said President Scott Kirby. American reported net income of $402 million, excluding special items, for the first quarter.
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Delta to streamline hiring pilots from regional subsidiary
Delta Air Lines plans to streamline the process for Endeavor pilots to be hired at Delta. Under a new program, Endeavor pilots can be hired by Delta without an additional interview process.
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Fuel remains largest cost center for airlines
Airline leaders discussed the effect of high fuel prices, which accounted for 32% of the cost base for airlines in 2013. "Anything that is a third of your unit cost structure is huge," said Dave Barger, CEO of JetBlue Airways. In 2001, fuel accounted for 11% of the cost base for airlines.
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Airlines plan luggage tags with GPS
In an effort to better handle luggage and help travelers track their bags, some airlines are working on developing electronic luggage tags equipped with GPS technology and works with a smartphone app.
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Only the best: The top five first-class cabins
Etihad Airways recently unveiled a 125-square-foot flying apartment with a bed, private bath and personal butler. Etihad isn't the only airline in the race for high-class travel. Here's a look inside five of the world's most luxurious first-class cabins.
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Aviation Quote
Do not let yourself be forced into doing anything before you are ready.
— Wilbur Wright
On This Date
---In 1783... In Annonay, France, the Montgolfier brothers, Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Etienne, give the first public demonstration of their hot-air balloon by sending up a large model made of linen lined with paper.
--In 1784... Madame Elisabeth Thible of Lyons, France, is the first woman to make an untethered balloon flight.
---In 1927... The first non-stop flight from New York to Eisleben, Germany is made by Americans Clarence D. Chamberlain and Charles A. Levine in a Bellanca monoplane. They fly 3,905 miles in 42 hours, 15 minutes.
---In 1942…Battle of Midway is fought, the turning point in the Pacific War. Japan loses four carriers, Akagi, Kaga, Sōryū, and Hiryū. America loses USS Yorktown.
---In 1959… Max Conrad flies a Piper Comanche from Casablanca to New York, setting a new lightplane distance record of 7,683 miles (12,365 km).
---In 1969…The USAF Thunderbirds perform their first show with the Mc-Donnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II.
---In 1974…Construction of OV-101, the first Space Shuttle, begins. It later will be named Enterprise.
Daily Video
Editor’s Choice
Humor
You Know You're A Skydiver When:
BOC goes from meaning "Blue Oyster Cult" to meaning "Bottom of Container".
You're making love to your partner and they whisper "I've never done this before" and you yell out "THAT'S a case of beer!".
On cloudy/windy days you go to the drop zone anyway and bitch about the weather.
On cloudy/windy days you pull out your parachute and pack it just to say that you've done something skydiving-related.
You "dirt-dive", "post-dive" and critique your love-making sessions.
The smell of bug spray makes you think of skydiving.
Whenever a passenger in a fast-moving car, you stick your head out the window and yell "FIVE LEFT" to the driver.
Whenever leaving an establishment you yell "DOOR" to all the patrons before opening the door.
You don't own any clothing that you didn't get at a boogie.
Every single one of your whuffo friends is to the point of wanting to kill you every time you mention skydiving.
You think of Jack Jeffries, Tamara Koyn and Norm Kent as "famous".
You analyze every flag you see in terms of it's too windy/not too windy to jump.
You analyze every flag you see in terms of which direction you'd face to land.
It's a dark sky with low clouds and you're thinking "Hop -n- Pops!".
It's so windy that trees are bending over and you're thinking "Cross country!".
You allow a maximum 55 seconds of "working time" when making love.
You can't think of a good reason to pick up your mail for three weeks after your issues of "Skydiving" and "Parachutist" arrive.
You feel naked without at least one jump ticket in your wallet.
You sign your checks with your name and USPA number.
You know to the tenth of a mile how far it is from your driveway to the drop zone's driveway.
Every time someone's beeper goes off you look at your watch to see if it's break-off altitude.
You don't remember your anniversary or your mother's birthday, but you know down to the second how much accumulated freefall time you have.
You analyze sessions of love-making in terms of "points turned".
You refer to your recent break-up as an "intentional cut-away".
You can't remember the true meanings of the words "Stilletto" "Javelin" "Talon" "Racer" .....
You walk everywhere watching the sky.
You show up at the dz even on the worst-weather days because at least you can sit around drinking beer.
You can't mention the word "first" in casual conversation, at work, or ever in reference to yourself.
You have your paycheck direct-deposited into the dz account.
You plan your vacations around skydiving boogies.
On a full moon night, you look up and think "Night jumps!"
You know the dz phone number while you don't even know your own.
Anytime you have sex with someone for the first time you think "Beer!"
You've kissed more people in freefall than you have on the ground.
Your whuffo friends just don't understand why you would want to "do" a horny gorilla.
You drive a beaten-up car because you really need that new canopy more.
You have no idea what is happening on the weekends in your town.
You have more pairs of Tevas than you do sneakers.
You catch yourself flaking the bed instead of making it
The term "PC" makes you think of pilot chutes, not personal computers
You name your dog "Toggles"
You wonder what whuffos _DO_ with themselves on gorgeous summer weekends
You look at your DVD and think, "Hmm, that's gotta be worth a few jumps."
You forget to lower your voice when talking to your jumper friends in a restaurant about the weekend's lost dildos, loose legstraps and lack of penetration
You refer to Weddings, Funerals, Birthdays, etc. as 'Relative Work'
You wish for wind, rain, snow, earthquakes, locusts, tornados, etc. on days you have to work or have other 'Relative Work' to do.
You can't imagine how anyone can go on vacation without a parachute.
Your rig costs more than your trailer.
You love the smell of 'Jet A' in the morning!
Losing your job is a reason for celebration!
Your 'work' clothes have grippers.
You wear a Skydiving T-shirt and bring a six pack to a job interview.
You try to convince the State Trooper that your "D" license allows you to do ANYTHING!
Your log book is thicker than any book you've ever read.
You stop by the New River Bridge and take a look. All the others are saying 'damn, look how high it is' and you're saying 'damn, look how low it is'.
When you buy anything you calculate how many skydives it will cost.
When you wear your rig on commercial passenger flights, just in case.
When seeing seats in a twin otter gives you the willies.
When you go to divorce court and give your ex everything as long as you can keep all your skydiving gear.
When buying a house seems like a terrible waste of jump money.
When you own three rigs, three altimeters, three dytters....
When you log a jump on December 25 and the fact it is Christmas doesn't enter your mind.
Your six year old son can teach the first jump course.
You put your arms down and back in a full track when running down stairs.
You estimate your chances of pulling off a hard front riser turn when looking out any window above four stories.
When you wake up with a mean hangover in a tent, the first thing you check is your rig.Then the person sleeping next to you.
You find yourself mentally telling the pilot when to flare while landing on a commercial flight.
Your christmas tree has more skydivers on it that an Otter can carry.
Your thinking about taking all the but the driver's seats out of your car.
Everytime you get pulled over for speeding you tell the cop you just made your first skydive in the hopes that he will let you go.
Your favorite movie in the world is just over sixty seconds long.
Your whuffo friends only call if the weather man says the weekend will be shitty.
Your friends look at the sky and say, "look at all those clouds", and you say, "look at all those holes!".
You wake up in the morning feeling like death warmed over, after having a few too many beers the night before, and your solution to this consists of riding in an extremely loud vehicle for about twenty minutes, throwing yourself out the
door and NOT! killing yourself.
You can't think of a better way to relax other than falling 10,000 feet.
You fill out your packing data card in braille and try to convince the drop zone owner it's legal.
You consider sleeping in a slanted plane as comfortable.
You see an incredibly beautiful woman and you think, "hmm, I wonder if I can talk her into......skydiving!".
Your girlfriend holds out her left hand and says the word diamond. You picture a fourway formation, look at your girlfriends hand realize the diamond she's talking about is going to cost over 200 jumps, and then, with a smile, picture
your girlfriends suitcases on the porch.
Your friend says "let's go to the beach", and you grab your rig.
You try to convince the flight attendant on a commercial flight that you really! would be much more comfortable sitting on the floor.
Your friends think it's funny to, when you are sleeping, blow a fan in your face and set a beeper off near your ear.
When someone asks you where you're from, you reply with the name of your dz, not your hometown.
Trivia
AIRCRAFT SCRAMBLE
1. HYNOOPT
2. NTPOHMA
3. IERCAGTT
4. NTLRASACE
5. BLAIDRBCK
6. TTBRNHEULDO
7. TRPROA
8. LHGGINITN
9. CANERRIUH
10. GIITGNHLN
JLAmber wrote:7. TRPROA - Raptor (like a parrot, only much less chatty)
vikkyvik wrote:JLAmber wrote:7. TRPROA - Raptor (like a parrot, only much less chatty)
Hah! That makes me slightly embarrassed....
I didn't even think anymore once I came up with Parrot, because I just thought an airplane named Parrot would be hilarious.
JLAmber wrote:There is one - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CZAW_Parrot and a fine looking machine it is too.
