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Airbus Wins 705 Net Orders January-July
Airbus overtook Boeing in unadjusted aircraft orders for 2014 after last month's Farnborough Airshow, but continued to lag its US rival when taking into account cancellations, company data showed on Monday. Airbus won 980 aircraft orders between January and July, with 705 net orders, beating its newly introduced net order target for the year. Airbus has said its haul of orders at Farnborough marked its best ever performance at the UK's biennial aerospace event. Boeing, whose officials argue net orders are the most sensible benchmark for the fiercely contested order race between the world's largest plane makers, reported 837 gross orders and 783 net sales after cancellations between January 1 and July 29.
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Antonov completes fuselage assembly of first An-178
Antonov has completed fuselage assembly of the first An-178, a freighter variant of the An-148 and An-158 regional jet. The aircraft is set to undergo mating of the wings, empennage and engine pylons. Antonov expects the An-178 to replace older types including the popular An-12.
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China's Jet Fuel Demand Growth To Hold Steady
China's jet fuel demand growth is likely to hold at around 10 percent this year even as the world's second biggest economy faces a broad slowdown, the chief executive at China Aviation Oil (Singapore) said on Monday. Growth in consumption should hold at about the same pace as in 2013, despite stiff competition from fast and affordable rail, said CAO's chief executive Meng Fanqiu. Jet fuel use in China is growing as its population gets richer and flies more often. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) plans to add nearly 80 new airports by 2020, with China to replace the United States as the world's largest aviation market in the next two decades.
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Hacker To Show Passenger Jets At Risk Of Cyber Attack
Cybersecurity researcher Ruben Santamarta says he has worked out how to hack the satellite communications equipment on passenger jets through their WiFi and inflight entertainment systems - a claim that, if confirmed, could prompt a review of aircraft security. Santamarta, a consultant with cybersecurity firm IOActive, is due to lay out the technical details of his research at this week's Black Hat hacking conference in Las Vegas, an annual convention where thousands of hackers and security experts meet to discuss emerging cyber threats and improve security measures. His presentation on Thursday on vulnerabilities in satellite communications systems used in aerospace and other industries is expected to be one of the most widely watched at the conference. "These devices are wide open. The goal of this talk is to help change that situation," Santamarta, 32, told Reuters news agency.
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IAG to exercise options for Airbus A350-900s
International Airlines Group plans to exercise options for eight A350-900s from Airbus, and also deploy eight A330-200s for Iberia. "Retaining an all-Airbus long-haul fleet will also generate cost savings in maintenance and crewing," said CEO Willie Walsh.
LinkAirlines
Atlas Air CEO: Demand for air cargo is improving
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings posted net income of $15.9 million for the second quarter. "Airfreight demand is improving, and we are encouraged about our full-year outlook," said Atlas President and CEO William J. Flynn.
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Delta completes testing for safe PED use during all phases of flight
Delta Air Lines will now allow passengers on international flights to use personal electronic devices when the plane is flying below 10,000 feet. In a statement, Delta said "the FAA allows carriers to expand PED use as long as the proper testing and analysis is conducted. We have completed testing to ensure the safe operation of passenger portable electronic devices during all phases of flight." Cellphone calls are still forbidden, and devices with cellular service must be turned off or in airplane mode for the duration of the flight.
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Delta reports 2.8% increase in July system traffic
Delta Air Lines posted a 2.8% in system traffic for July on a year-over-year basis. The carrier also reported a 3% rise in consolidated passenger unit revenue for July, as compared to the same month last year.
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United converts majority of 787-8 orders to -10 variant
United Airlines has converted seven of its eight remaining Boeing 787-8 orders to the larger 787-10, as it prepares to take its first 787-9. The Chicago-based carrier will take the seven 787-10s from 2018 under the deal that was reached with Boeing in July, it says in a quarterly stock exchange filing. The 787-8s were scheduled for delivery in 2017 and 2018. United now has firm orders for one 787-8 that will be delivered later in 2014, 26 787-9s and 27 787-10s, based on calculations and the Ascend Fleets database. The change will leave it with just 12 787-8s in its fleet after the final delivery.
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US Airways Express moves to different terminal at LAX
US Airways Express passengers flying out of Los Angeles International Airport need to check in at Terminal 4 starting Friday, an airport announcement says. Flights used to operate out of Terminal 3 where US Airways' other operations remain. The airline advises passengers to check their tickets or check with US Airways Express to make sure they know which terminal to go to.
LinkAirports
LAX reports more passenger traffic for first half of 2014
Los Angeles International Airport reported a 6.5% increase in passenger traffic during the first half of the year, including a 9% increase in international traffic. The airport handled 34.3 million passengers from January to June of 2014, compared to 32.2 million passengers in the first half of 2013.
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NYC airports need more federal funds
According to the Global Gateway Alliance, airports in the New York City area are not receiving their fair share of federal grants. LaGuardia airport received $3.8 million from the Airport Improvement Program, the same amount as a regional airport in Arizona. Joe Sitt, chairman of the alliance, said funding should be more proportional to the airport's size. "Funding must be fixed to focus on airports like ours in New York and New Jersey that have real national significance," Sitt said.
LinkAirports
China TA-600 amphibian eyes first flight in 2015
China could conduct a maiden flight for the developmental AVIC TA-600 amphibious aircraft in 2015. According to a report in the People’s Daily quoting Fu Junxu, an executive of China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (CAIGA), the design of the four-engine flying boat has been completed, with the aircraft set to enter trial production at Zhuhai in late 2014 or early 2015. The aircraft, to be powered by four turboprop engines, will have a maximum takeoff weight of 53.5t and a range of 5,000km.
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Japanese whitepaper highlights industrial role of F-35A
Japan’s annual defense whitepaper underlines the importance Tokyo places on the industrial participation aspects of the Lockheed Martin F-35A program, and casts a wary eye on airpower developments in China. The whitepaper, produced annually by the Ministry of Defense, touches on all aspects of Tokyo’s security situation, from the disruptive potential of non-state actors to challenges posed by major powers, namely China. It also outlines Tokyo’s plans for developing its combat capabilities and the importance of the country’s defense industry. In regard to specific weapons programs, the report places strong emphasis on Japan’s F-35A acquisition. It notes that Japanese companies have been working to develop the manufacturing processes related to Tokyo’s 2011 decision to obtain 42 F-35As.
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Aviation Quote
If you can fill out the yellow sheet with Jack Black in your hand instead of an I.V. in your arm, it was a good landing.
— Charlie Kisslejack, Commander, US Navy, 1983.
On This Date
--- In 1917... The first Aero Squadron of the Signal Corps leaves the United States for Europe under the command of Maj. Ralph Royce.
--- In 1918... The first American night patrol of the war takes place when a Felixstowe F.2A flying boat crewed by Ens. Ashton W. Hawkins and Lt. George F. Lawrence take off on patrol from RAF Killinghome, England.
--- In 1933... French Air Force pilots Lts. Paul Codes and Maurice Rossi begin a record-breaking straight-line distance flight (5,657 mi.) between New York and Rayak, Syria in their Blériot 110 monoplane.
---In 1971…McDonnell Douglas DC-10 enters service with American Airlines.
---In 1989… Piedmont is merged into USAir.
Daily Video
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Humor
Raining
A flight attendant is on the red-eye to Manila when a water leak develops in the galley, which eventually soaks the carpet throughout the aft cabin of the 747. A very sleepy woman who becomes aware of the dampness tugs at the attendant's skirt as she passes by. “Has it been raining?” she asks the flight attendant.
Keeping a straight face, she replies, “Yes, but we put the top up.”
With a sigh of relief, the woman then goes back to sleep
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