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Commercial

Airbus A350XWB finishes world tour
The Airbus A350XWB has completed its around-the-world tour, visiting 14 destinations in 20 days. "The aircraft has performed remarkably well confirming the high level of maturity that it has been demonstrating all the way during our development and certification tests," said Fernando Alonso, senior vice president of flight and integration tests at Airbus. The A350XWB, which has received 742 orders, is slated for delivery to launch customer Qatar Airways in 2014.
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Airbus to hire managers for A320 facility in Ala.
Airbus, through AIDT on Tuesday, posted two new managerial positions for its A320 final assembly line under construction at Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley. The site security manager will be responsible for defining and implementing the site security plan to protect the site's integrity, people, processes and assets in line with state, federal, airport and transport security requirements. Although a bachelor's degree is preferred, the position requires at least an associate's degree and five years of experience in physical security. A salary range was not provided. Click here for the complete job posting.
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Africa Tightens Ebola Travel Curbs
African countries on Thursday tightened travel curbs in an effort to contain the Ebola outbreak, ignoring WHO warnings that such measures could heighten shortages of food and basic supplies in affected areas. In the West Point slum in Liberia's capital Monrovia, the scene of violent clashes with the army on Wednesday after the area was quarantined to curb the spread of Ebola, hundreds of people jostled their way towards trucks loaded with water and rice. Police used sticks to beat back some locals while aid workers helped others dip their fingers in ink to record their ration. "I ain't eat since yesterday. I have four young children and none of us eat. I feel bad," said Hawa Saah, a pregnant 23-year-old resident of West Point.
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Airlines

Airlines monitor volcanic activity in Iceland
Airlines are on alert as one of Iceland’s biggest volcanoes rumbles to life, threatening ash clouds that could force flight cancellations across the North Atlantic, the busiest international travel market. Air France (AF), Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LHA), EasyJet Plc (EZJ) and Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL) are among carriers watching the Bardarbunga volcano. Iceland’s Civil Protection Agency began evacuating the area north of the volcano today after deciding yesterday to raise the eruption risk to “orange,” the second-highest level.
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Air Berlin Announces New Turnaround Measures
Air Berlin presented new measures to return to profit, including fleet cuts, route changes and plans for closer cooperation with alliance partners. Germany's second largest airline, which late on Wednesday reported a second-quarter net profit for the first time in five years, said it was aiming for a sustainable profit with a secure margin in three years' time. "If we say sustainable it means on a net level and with a certain margin. It doesn't mean that we would only cross into profitability in the third year, it could be earlier," Wolfgang Prock-Schauer said. Air Berlin made its first annual net profit in five years in 2012, but only after 29-percent shareholder Etihad bought a majority stake in its frequent flyer program.
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Air India 787 grounded for engine inspection, repair
An Air India Boeing 787-8 is grounded through at least 23 August while GE Aviation inspects a potential fault in the accessory gearbox of both GEnx-1B engines installed on the aircraft, the engine maker says. GE employees plan to complete the inspection and make replace the gearboxes, if necessary, by 23 August, clearing the aircraft to return to flight status, says a GE spokesman. The same problem potentially affects a population of eight GEnx-1Bs and GEnx-2Bs with accessory gearboxes made by Avio, which is now a GE subsidiary.
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American Airlines hires Ink to produce magazines
For some 48 years, American Airlines employees have written, edited and produced the company’s in-flight magazine, American Way. But that’s going to change. Ink, a London-based company that publishes 36 airline and rail publications, will take over production of American Way in January. It will also take over two other AA titles: Nexos, aimed at Spanish and Portuguese speakers, and Celebrated Living, for passengers in first class and business class. “We’ve partnered with Ink to expand the global reach of our award-winning publications,” Fernand Fernandez, American’s vice president of global marketing, said in an announcement Tuesday. “We believe Ink brings added resources, coupled with a strong global reputation which will help strengthen our three award winning titles going forward.”
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Delta deploys larger aircraft for NYC-Boston shuttle route
Delta Air Lines plans to deploy Boeing 717s for its Delta Shuttle between New York and Boston. The 110-seat aircraft will replace Embraer E175s, which seat 76 passengers. The shuttle flights will also move to Terminal C at New York LaGuardia. "Customers will enjoy a great Delta Shuttle product with the frequency and amenities they've come to expect as well as being able to experience our most updated space at LaGuardia," said Gail Grimmett, senior vice president, New York, for Delta.
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Etihad's Darwin Stake Fails To Meet Swiss Rules
Swiss authorities have warned that a plan by Etihad Airways to buy a third of Switzerland's Darwin Airline does not meet legal requirements to be approved, as foreign stakes in European airlines come under increasing scrutiny.
Switzerland's Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) said that Darwin, rebranded as Etihad Regional, has until September 30 to make changes to the agreement, which would then undergo a second review. FOCA examined whether the deal complied with rules that the majority of Darwin shares must be owned by Swiss or EU citizens, who must also effectively control the airline. Etihad plans to acquire a 33.3 percent stake in Darwin, adding to its portfolio of minority stakes in global airlines, but the FOCA said the deal as it stands would nevertheless give Etihad effective control over the Swiss carrier.
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Ryanair To Hold Talks On Cyprus Airways
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary is to travel to Cyprus for talks with the government about the possible takeover of Cyprus Airways, he told journalists. Ryanair was among nearly 20 companies which last month submitted non-binding expressions of interest in the airline, now controlled by the Cypriot government. The process is a preliminary step towards any eventual binding offer. O'Leary's announcement marked a change of approach as he had said last month that Ryanair was not particularly interested in acquiring the carrier.
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United partners with Uber for transportation services
United Airlines announced it is the first airline to partner with Uber. The United mobile application will now offer Uber transportation services. United is also giving 1,000 reward miles to loyalty members who complete a transaction with Uber through the United app.
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United extends lease with Denver International Airport
United Airlines announced that it has extended its lease with Denver International Airport through the year 2035, and said it will maintain its hub operations at the airport at least until that time. Airport officials said that the agreement will allow DIA to restructure its debt, as well as allow United to cut back on the number of non-gate facilities it pays for. The airline had originally signed a 30-year lease agreement with DIA when the airport first opened in 1995. United was the only carrier to sign a long-term agreement.
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US Airlines Doubled H1 Profit Margins
US airlines more than doubled their net profit margin in the first half of the year as revenue rose nearly three times faster than costs, trade group Airlines for America said. The results suggest that the US airline sector continued to improve its financial performance despite severe winter storms in the first quarter and increasing taxes as a percentage of ticket prices, A4A said. The improvement also suggests airlines will continue to have money to buy new aircraft, improve airport terminals, increase wages, pay dividends and buy back shares. The airlines invested USD$7 billion in the first half on those and other items, A4A chief economist John Heimlich said, noting US airlines are on track to take delivery of 314 new aircraft this year.
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Airports

Airports use mobile tracking technology to offer real-time updates
Airports aren't exactly stress-free zones -- not yet at least. But it's certainly something airport managers are working on. Still, all the spas, yoga studios and movie cinemas in the world can't detract from the main source of travel anxiety: grueling lines. It's an irksome feature that may soon become a relic, thanks to the advent of mobile tracking technology. Helsinki Airport recently became the first in the world to track passenger movements in real time, from the parking lot to departure gates.
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Cameras keep an eye on luggage at Atlanta airport
Officials at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport say that the facility is equipped with 1,300 cameras that track luggage as it moves through security and baggage claim carousels. With reports of stolen bags from carousels and items taken from TSA checkpoints trending up, reports at Hartsfield are trending down. Every day more than 250,000 passengers pass through Hartsfield-Jackson, checking more than 35,000 pieces of luggage.
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Regulatory

US FAA lays out conditions for A350 lithium batteries
US regulators have issued the special conditions for approving lithium-ion battery installation on the Airbus A350-900. The US FAA’s conditions have been developed to take account of the possible use of lithium batteries on the type, and follow similar requirements laid down for the Boeing 787 – although the FAA has amended the details in places. Airbus had initially opted for lithium batteries to power certain electrical systems on the A350 but switched to conventional nickel-cadmium after battery-related incidents on the 787 sparked safety concerns. The special conditions are necessary because airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate standards for certain aspects of modern aircraft design, including the use of lithium-ion batteries.
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Military

RAF Rivet Joint on first operational deployment over Iraq
The UK Royal Air Force has deployed its first Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft to support operations over Iraq – the first operational deployment of the type since its delivery in November 2013. The aircraft was delivered under the UK’s Airseeker effort, which will see the RAF operate three converted KC-135Rs in line with the US Air Force's Rivet Joint force. The deployed jet is stationed at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, where it is positioned to easily deploy over northern Iraq to support the humanitarian effort under way in the nation.
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Aviation Quote

Navigating by the compass in a sea of clouds over Spain is all very well, it is very dashing, but — you want to remember that below the sea of clouds lies eternity.

— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, 'Wind, Sand, and Stars,' 1939.

On This Date

--- In 1909... The first great aviation meeting in Bétheny, France, opens as 23 European airplanes make 87 flights during one week. The meeting will have a strong influence on the technical and military aspects of flight.

---In 1922... The Vickers Victoria (serial no. J6869) military transport makes its first flight, taking off from Brooklands, England with Stan Cockerell at the controls.

---In 1938... The Civil Aeronautics Act becomes effective in the United States, coordinating all non-military aviation under the Civil Aeronautics Authority.

---In 1952…First flight of the Saunders-Roe Princess G-ALUN

---In 1970…Two Sikorsky HH-53C helicopters complete a non-stop transpacific flight of 9,000 miles (14,484 km) using in-flight refuelling.

---In 1973…First flight of the Learjet 35.

---In 1974…First flight of the Shorts 360 G-BSBH.

---In 1985…A Boeing 737 of British Airtours explodes in Manchester before taking off, killing 55 of the 137 people on board and punctuating commercial aviation's worst month in history.

---In 1989… Alexander Yakovlev dies, aged 84.

Daily Video

Editor’s Choice

Humor

What just happened here?

A military cargo plane, flying over a populated area, suddenly loses power and starts to nose down. The pilot tries to pull up, but with all their cargo, the plane is too heavy. So he yells to the soldiers in back to throw things out to make the plane lighter. They throw out a pistol. "Throw out more!" shouts the pilot. So they throw out a rifle. "More!" he cries again. They heave out a missile, and the pilot regains control.

He pulls out of the dive and lands safely at an airport. They get into a jeep and drive off. Pretty soon they meet a boy on the side of the road who's crying. They ask him why he's crying and he says "A pistol hit me on the head!"

They drive more and meet another boy who's crying even harder. Again they ask why and the boy says, "A rifle hit me on the head!"

They apologize and keep driving. They meet a boy on the sidewalk who's laughing hysterically. They ask him, "Kid, what's so funny?" The boy replies, "I sneezed and a house blew up!"

Trivia

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