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Commercial

Airbus to receive A350 certification soon, sources say
Airbus is likely to win certification for its A350 from the Federal Aviation Administration and European Aviation Safety Agency on Tuesday, sources say. The A350 uses a lightweight carbon-composite design and can seat up to 350 passengers.
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A350s fly in formation ahead of certification
All five aircraft in the Airbus A350-900 test fleet have taken part in a formation flight, ahead of certification of the type. Using the callsign ‘Carbon’, the aircraft departed Toulouse’s runway 14R at about 10:30, led by the first cabin-fitted airframe MSN2.
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Surface Pro 3 approved for use in the cockpit
The Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency have approved Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 for use by pilots as an "electronic flight bag." EFB vendor navAero will partner with Microsoft to produce docking stations that will allow the gadget to plug directly into cockpit computer and communications systems.
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Airlines

Air China receives Asia’s first Boeing 747-8I aircraft
Air China has taken delivery of its first Boeing 747-8I aircraft, making it the first Asian customer of the type. The carrier will use the aircraft to expand its international network, says Boeing. Boeing’s partnership with China’s flag carrier dates back to 1970s. Besides the first 747-8, the airline in recent days also took delivery of its 20th 777-300ER, and is one of the largest 737 operators in China.
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Airlines work to reaccommodate passengers following control center incident
An incident at a Chicago-area air traffic control center shut down the facility and disrupted flights across the country on Friday and into Saturday. Airlines are working to reaccommodate affected passengers as the Federal Aviation Administration sent Chicago center controllers to other area facilities. "The FAA is using all the tools at its disposal to safely restore as much service as quickly as possible," the FAA said.
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Analyst: American, US Airways likely to merge loyalty programs by end of 2014
American Airlines and US Airways have the most generous loyalty programs, according to Mighty Travels, a travel website. The two carriers are likely to merge loyalty programs by the end of the year.
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City putting the brakes on Delta's flights out of Dallas Love Field
The city of Dallas on Monday told Delta Air Lines it can no longer fly from Dallas Love Field as of Oct. 13 — the same day the Wright Amendment expires at the city-owned airport and other airlines will expand their flying. Delta has flown five nonstop, round-trip flights a day from Love Field to Atlanta since 2008. Delta spokesman Trebor Banstetter said the Atlanta-based airline was stunned when the city gave it two weeks’ notice Monday afternoon. “Delta is disappointed that the city of Dallas has made the decision to reduce competition and travel options at Dallas Love Field by failing to accommodate our service,” Banstetter said. “Delta remains committed to serving North Texas travelers from D/FW and Love Field airports, and will continue to work with all parties to find a solution.”
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Low-cost Frontier landing at MIA
Miami International Airport is back in the market for bargain-hunters. For the first time in more than two years, MIA will have domestic low-cost service when Denver-based Frontier Airlines sets up shop in December. The carrier, which keeps base fares low and charges for items such as carry-on bags and choosing a seat, will launch nonstop flights from Miami to Denver, Philadelphia and New York’s LaGuardia International Airport starting Dec. 20 and Chicago O’Hare on Dec. 21. Frontier will have 38 flights a week out of MIA; on Tuesday, the airline is offering a one-day sale of tickets on certain dates for $14.99 each way and introductory one-way fares starting at $59 will be on sale through Oct. 6.
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Lufthansa Strike To Ground Long-Haul Flights
Lufthansa has cancelled 50 long-haul flights to and from Frankfurt after its pilots called a strike for Tuesday in a dispute over their early retirement scheme. The strike is scheduled to run between 08:00 and 23:00 on Tuesday but its knock-on effects mean that flights via Frankfurt will be disrupted between late Monday and early Wednesday. The Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union, representing about 5,400 Lufthansa pilots, wants the airline to maintain a scheme that allows pilots to retire early at the age of 55 and still receive up to 60 percent of their pay before pension payments start. The strike at Lufthansa is the fifth by the airline's pilots this year. It follows a two-week stoppage by Air France pilots that ended on Sunday.
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Lufthansa May Use Lease Back For LCC Plan
Lufthansa may hire a third party to operate 14 A340 aircraft it plans to reconfigure for long-haul budget flights to get around the need for pilots' approval of its no-frills expansion, Der Spiegel reported. Weekly Der Spiegel said that Lufthansa chief executive Carsten Spohr was considering renting out the A340s earmarked for long-haul low-cost services to Switzerland-based PrivateAir and leasing them back with Swiss pilots. Lufthansa announced a new strategy in July that includes expanding low-cost services in Europe and on intercontinental flights to attract leisure passengers with cheaper tickets. But to keep operating costs low so it can compete on price, it has sought concessions from workers.
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Military

Dutch commit F-16s to anti-IS coalition
On 25 September, the Dutch government announced its decision to deploy eight Lockheed Martin F-16s to the Middle East in support of the international action against Islamic State militants. Representing six operational strike aircraft and two spares, the F-16s will be operating in support of Iraqi ground forces and will not be used in Syria, due to the lack of a UN agreement on the latter. The Dutch F-16s will be based at a so-far undisclosed location in the Middle East, but not inside Iraq. The government is planning the mission length for six months to a year.
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Germany's first A400M runs its engines
Airbus has performed the first engine ground run with an A400M Atlas tactical transport for future operator Germany, with the milestone having being reached in accordance with a schedule to deliver the aircraft before the end of this year. “The four engines on aircraft MSN18 were successfully run simultaneously for the first time on 28 September,” says Airbus Defence & Space, which performed the test at its San Pablo final assembly site near Seville, Spain.
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NATO finishes AWACS commitment to Afghanistan
NATO has completed a more than three-year commitment of Boeing E-3A airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft to Afghanistan, with two of the command and control assets having returned to Europe. Two E-3As landed at Geilenkirchen air base in Germany on 25 September, having completed a transit from their forward operating location at Mazar-e-Sharif in Balkh province. NATO provided AWACS cover for Afghanistan from the site since January 2011, with the last operational mission performed on 21 September.
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Thai air force to order reconnaissance-roled Avanti II
The Royal Thai Air Force’s deputy chief of air staff, Air Chief Marshal Sutthiphan Kritsanakhup and Piaggio Aero Industries’ government sales director Francescomaria Tuccillo on 29 September reached an agreement in Rome for the delivery of one P180 Avanti II in a new photographic reconnaissance configuration. Reached in the presence of Italian air force chief of staff Gen Pasquale Preziosa, the agreement will lead to a contract signing on 30 September. This will coincide with a Royal Thai Air Force delegation visiting Piaggio Aero’s new main facility in Villanova d’Albenga, near Savona, north-west Italy.
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Rotary Wing

Rotorcraft rivals trade blows over US Army trainer buy
Airbus Helicopters has defended the US Army’s decision to purchase 155 of its rotorcraft to operate as trainers without running an open competition, despite a rival’s bid to stop the proposed $1.16 billion acquisition. The service on 4 September issued a notice on the US government’s procurement website advising that it intended to buy up to 155 EC145 helicopters “on an other than full and open competitive basis.” This triggered a furious response from AgustaWestland, which has launched a judicial bid to get the acquisition temporarily halted and ultimately declared illegal. Court documents filed in support of its 19 September hearing claim that the army’s selection of the EC145 – the civil version of the UH-72A Lakota already used by the service – is not providing value to the US taxpayer.
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Corporate

Bombardier delivers first European certificated Learjet 75
Bombardier has delivered the first European-registered Learjet 75 to French research and development company Roullier Group. The handover comes weeks after the Canadian airframer secured EASA validation for the superlight business jet on September 12. Bombardier is now readying the first European-registered Learjet 70 – the 75’s light jet stablemate – for delivery. The pair are revamped versions of the Learjet 40 and 45, which entered service in 2004 and 1998, respectively.
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Regulatory

FAA Reviewing Contingency Plans, Security
FAA Administrator Michael Huerta has asked for a review of all US air traffic control contingency plans and security policies, following a fire on Friday that crippled air travel over much of the Midwestern US. Speaking at an industry conference, Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Michael Huerta said the agency won't hesitate to make changes in security policies if needed. The outage affected more than 3,000 flights. It was caused by a contract employee who allegedly started a fire at a control facility near Chicago and suffered self-inflicted wounds. Huerta, in his first public comments since the incident, said 20 of 29 pieces of communications equipment were damaged by the fire, and installation of new equipment began on Sunday night. He said the agency was undertaking a 30-day review of its contingency plans at air traffic control facilities and also a review of security procedures.
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Aviation Quote

You fvcking academic eggheads! You don't know shit. You can't deregulate this industry. You're going to wreck it. You don't know a goddamn thing!

— Robert L. Crandall, CEO American Airlines, addressing a Senate lawyer prior to airline deregulation, 1977.

On This Date

---In 1949…Berlin Airlift officially ends, with 2,325 tons (2,362 tons) of food and supplies having been flown into the city. The final flight is made a week later.

---In 1957…Austrian Airlines is founded.

---In 1958…Britain's last flying boat is withdrawn from commercial service when Aquila Airways terminated its service on the Southampton--Funchal (Madeira) route.

---In 1968…The first Boeing 747 is rolled out.

---In 1971…First flight of the Avro Shackelton AEW2 WL745.

---In 1975…First flight of the Hughes YAH-64 73-22248.

---In 1982... The 1st round-the-world flight in a helicopter is completed as the Bell Long Ranger II, flown by Americans H. Ross Perot Jr. and Jay Coburn, lands safely.

---In 1989… SR-71 program terminated by Air Force and Intelligence officials. (Q)

---In 1996…First flight of the Aero L-59 Super Albatross.

---In 2003…Air France and KLM announce their plans to merge.

Daily Video

Editor’s Choice

Humor

I’m afraid there will be a short delay

This girl was an excellent pilot, but not real good at making passengers feel at ease.
For example, one time the airplane in front of her blew a tire on landing, scattering chunks of rubber all over the runway. She was asked to hold while the trucks came out to clean up.

Her announcement: Ladies and gentlemen, I’m afraid there will be a short delay before our arrival. They’ve closed the airport while they clean up what’s left of the last airplane that landed there.

Trivia

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