NewsCommercial
Aircraft interior companies in high demand
Companies supplying aircraft interiors are enjoying strong demand as airline manufacturers boost production. "We're running 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Four shifts," said Ronn Cort, president of KYDEX, a firm based in Bloomsburg, Pa.
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Dispatchers help airlines spot thunderstorms
I have a love-hate relationship with thunderstorms. As a Dispatcher, thunderstorms bring what I feel is the biggest challenge to the job. It is also a Dispatcher’s time to shine and when their pay check is truly earned, making the job fun, rewarding and incredibly satisfying. The level of challenge sometimes surprises many people because thunderstorms have a relatively short life. Snowstorms present some challenges, but when a blizzard is present, if conditions are that bad, the airport will often shut down in advance or the airline will have canceled enough flights to where the dispatch workload is lighter.
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Carriers move toward streaming in-flight entertainment options
Some airlines are phasing out touch screens on the back of airline seats as more travelers bring their own personal electronic devices for entertainment. Instead, some carriers are offering in-flight entertainment that travelers can stream directly onto their personal devices.
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GE delays Passport engine flight test
Bombardier must wait a few more months to see the flight test phase begin for the GE Aviation engine that will power the Global 7000 and 8000 business jets. GE is delaying first flight of a flying testbed equipped with the 16,000lb-thrust Passport engine by about three or four months to the end of 2014 or early 2015, a company spokesman says. The delay was caused by a decision to switch the testbed platform. GE Aviation had planned to install the first Passport engine on a newly-acquired Boeing 747-400. Instead, the engine will now be installed on a 747-100, the spokesman says. That means GE needs more time to adapt the engine pylon on the wing of the 747-100 to hold the Passport engine, the spokesman says.
LinkAirlines
Aeroflot To Replace Dobrolet With New Carrier
Aeroflot will create a new low-cost subsidiary to replace sanctions-hit Dobrolet, RIA news agency reported, citing Aeroflot chief executive Vitaly Savelyev. Aeroflot-run Dobrolet suspended flights in early August after its lease agreement for Boeing aircraft was cancelled under European Union sanctions because it flies to Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine. "We will register a new company, after all," Savelyev was quoted by RIA as saying. "We decided to go ahead with this scenario."
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Airlines improve tools to mitigate volcanic ash
Airlines forced to tear up timetables after ash spewed from an Icelandic volcano in 2010 face less disruption from a repeat because they’ve adopted a more scientific process to identify the most dangerous skies. Kari Lundgren has more on "The Pulse."
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Airlines offering personalized travel options for customers
Merchandizing has become an important strategy for airlines to boost sales of their products and ancillary services. A recent Amadeus study found that carriers are focused on personalized offers, delivering value, customizing service and price, and encouraging the use of personalized devices for purchasing. The study also found that the booking stage and 48 hours before departure are the best times to contact travelers about offers such as restaurant vouchers or in-flight services such as Wi-Fi.
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Air NZ unveils refurbished Boeing 777-200ER
Air New Zealand has unveiled the first refurbished Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, registered ZK-OKA. The aircraft will be deployed on the Auckland-Brisbane route starting 30 August. The refurbished jet features lie-flat beds in business class, a premium economy section and nine rows of Economy Skycouch product, the carrier says.
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American to boost business class on Boeing 777-200s
American Airlines plans to overhaul its fleet of long-haul Boeing 777-200s to add more seats to the business-class cabin. "We're responding to what demand is," said Casey Norton, an American spokesman. "We've looked at what the demand level is for business and also what we need in the main cabin as well." The move will eliminate first-class seating on some international flights.
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American updates policy on unaccompanied minors
American Airlines informed its employees Thursday that it’s going to change its policy on unaccompanied minors, and charge the $150 fee each way for youths as old as age 14. Previously, American charged the $150 fee only for children ages 5 to 11. With the change, effective Sept. 3, it will include youths ages 12 to 14 as well. “This age range not only ensures the safest possible travel for our youngest customers, it’s consistent with US Airways policy before the close of our merger,” American said in an weekly employee newsletter.
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Malaysia Mourns as MH17 Bodies Finally Return Home
People across Malaysia held a minute's silence and wore black on Friday as the country observed a day of mourning to mark the return of the first 20 bodies among its citizens killed when flight MH17 was downed last month. Flags flew at half mast and newspaper front pages were edged in black to honor the 20 victims, among 43 Malaysians who were on the flight out of a total of 298 passengers and crew, most of them Dutch. Malaysian King Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah and Prime Minister Najib Razak joined grieving relatives and sombre Malaysia Airlines staff at a ceremony at Kuala Lumpur Airport to greet the special flight from Amsterdam that brought home the remains. "Today we mourn the loss of our people. Today, we begin to bring them home," Najib said in a statement.
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Norwegian Air To Set Up London Long-Haul Base
Norwegian Air Shuttle will establish a long-haul base at London's Gatwick airport and plans to move many pilots currently based in Bangkok to the UK base, it said on Friday. Norwegian opened a short-haul base at Gatwick last year, and recently launched flights to the United States, taking its total number of routes from the airport to 41 and the number of weekly flights to 400.
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United Airlines to serve first-class meals on shorter flights
United Airlines is whipping up a new menu for first-class passengers on shorter flights. Passengers in premium seating on flights of at least 800 miles will receive fresh meals instead of prepackaged snacks. Previously, the carrier only offered meals on flights of at least 900 miles, with some exceptions for popular business travel routes.
LinkRegulatory
EASA issues volcanic ash safety bulletin
EASA has issued a safety information bulletin advising airlines, air navigation service providers and national aviation authorities of correct procedure in the event that seismic activity reported by Iceland becomes a major volcanic eruption. In April 2010, Europe was totally unprepared for a volcanic ash cloud that grounded European aviation for a week.
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FAA green-lights SafeRoute ADS-B avionics for A320
The Federal Aviation Administration approved the use of SafeRoute avionics for the Airbus A320. SafeRoute, which relies on ADS-B, received Supplemental Type Certification from the FAA. SafeRoute is produced by ACSS, a joint venture between Thales and L-3.
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FAA updates regulations for lithium-ion batteries
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued special conditions for approving installation of lithium-ion batteries on the Airbus A350-900. The new regulations take into account new hazards presented by the batteries.
LinkMilitary
Norway set to receive first drag-chute equipped F-35
When Norway’s fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35As comes online in 2015, there will be little to distinguish them from jets belonging to the United States and other program partners. That will change after 2017, when the Scandinavian nation will be the first to receive a modular kit to equip its jets with drag chutes that help the aircraft land on icy Arctic runways. The chute, which the Netherlands and Canada also are eyeing as a modification to their F-35s, is the first aftermarket modification to the jets through seven low-rate initial production (LRIP) lots. Norway will take delivery of its first F-35A in 2015, but testing on the chute will not begin for another two years. Until then, the Norwegians will train in the United States with “clean,” unmodified aircraft, said Suku Kurien, Lockheed’s F-35 drag chute program manager.
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Singapore probably has up to 40 F-15SGs
Evidence that Singapore has far more than the officially claimed 24 Boeing F-15SG fighter aircraft has emerged, although the precise number of airframes has yet to be ascertained. The FAA registry shows that eight Boeing F-15SG aircraft were registered to Boeing on 6 August 2014. The aircraft bear registrations N361SG, N363SG, N366SG, N368SG,N373SG, N376SG, N378SG, and N837SG. Over the years industry observers have come to share the belief that the true number of aircraft is probably 32 - not 24 - mainly owing to the range of registration numbers on Singapore air force registered F-15SGs.
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Tripoli Airport Terminal Destroyed in Air Attack
Fire destroyed the terminal at Tripoli's main airport on Sunday, a day after it was seized by militia fighters, witnesses said. Unidentified war planes also attacked targets in the capital, residents said, the latest stage of the worst fighting in Libya since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Tripoli residents said they heard aircraft followed by explosions at dawn. It was unclear who had burned the terminal and supporters of the rival factions took to social media to accuse each other. The main building was completely destroyed, witnesses said. All planes in front of it were damaged, as well as many houses and office buildings on the airport road.
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Aviation Quote
There is no reason to fly through a thunderstorm in peacetime.
— Sign over squadron ops desk at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, 1970.
On This Date
---In 1784... The son of a Scottish minister, James Tytler, makes the first manned balloon hop in England when his hot-air device makes a brief uncontrolled ascent with Tytler in the basket to an altitude of a few hundred feet.
---In 1912…Royal Navy aviator Wilfred Parke becomes the first pilot ever to recover from a spin, regaining control of his Avro Type G biplane 50 feet from the ground at Larkhill, England.
--- In 1919... The first daily commercial scheduled international air passenger service starts between London and Paris. A single fare to Paris is 21 pounds.
--- In 1932... The first woman to fly non-stop across the United States is Amelia Earhart. She flies in a Lockheed Vega.
---In 1995…First flight of the Airbus A319.
---In 1997…EuroAtlantic Airways is founded at Portela Airport, Lisbon, Portugal.
---In 2006…Rollout of first Block 20 RQ-4 Global Hawk at Northrop Grumman's Plant 42 manufacturing facility in Palmdale, California.
---In 2012…Neil Armstrong(b. 05 AUG 30), the first man to set foot on the moon passes away.
Daily Video
Editor’s Choice
Humor
Wish Upon A Star
A guy was walking along the beach in Malibu when he came across this
salt encrusted piece of metal. He scratched away at it to remove
the salt, to reveal a very old oil lamp. With an embarrassed look around him, the guy gives it a quick rub ... a Genie appeared.
This genie, like all genies, was so happy to be freed of the lamp
that he granted the guy three wishes.
"I wish to be a dollar richer than Bill Gates," says the guy.
"You will forever be a dollar richer than Bill Gates. What's your second wish?"
"Genie, I want the most expensive Porsche made: Fire engine red, on
board GPS and the finest audio system ever installed in an
automobile."
The genie waved his hand and the requested Egomobile appeared.
But what about the third wish .... "Genie," the guy said, "I can't think of anything now. May I save the third wish for later?"
"Gee, this is most unusual. But you're in control, and I can't escape
from this lamp until you make a third wish. Call me when you're ready,"
and whoosh the genie disappeared back into the lamp.
The guy carefully placed the lamp on the passenger seat of his new car, and fastened the seat belt. He turns on the radio and pulled off the beach, heading south along the Pacific Coast Highway.
Soon he was up to 60, then 70, then 80. The Porsche handled perfectly. The guy was so happy that he began to sing along with the familiar commercial on the radio.
"Oh, I wish I was an Oscar-Mayer Wiener..."
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