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Column looks at Airbus A380 sales
Airbus’s double-decker A380 wide-body has generated more than its share of buzz. That’s understandable for a plane that can carry as many as 850 passengers and be tricked out with shower suites (on Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways), personal butlers (on Etihad), and stand-up bars for gregarious business-class passengers (on Qatar Airways, Korean Air Lines, Emirates, and Etihad). Despite these luxuries, sales of new A380s have been dismal. Not a single A380 has been ordered by a passenger airline so far in 2014. (The sole new buyer this year was Dublin-based leasing company Amedeo, which has yet to line up a single carrier to take any of the 20 jets it ordered.)
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Airbus validates sharklet retrofit for older A320s
Airbus is expecting to produce 20 sharklet wing-tip retrofit kits monthly, with the first to be completed in the second quarter of next year. The airframer says its A320 retrofit program has been validated, and the processes finalized, following a demonstration exercise. This exercise, conducted in Cardiff with a real aircraft, enabled Airbus to “optimize the embodiment sequence”, the airframer adds.
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Air-Bag Accidents Lead To Extra Boeing Safety Measures
Workers at Boeing's Everett plant near Seattle are following extra safety measures after three air bag-related accidents, including the death of a technician last month. No one was seriously hurt when an air bag deployed on December 13 as a seat supplier technician was working on a seat on a plane being readied for delivery, Boeing spokesman Wilson Chow said. "We understand that employees are concerned," Chow said, adding the company was holding meetings with workers and was implementing additional safeguards and inspections.
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China Jails Captain For Deadly Plane Crash
A Chinese court has jailed for three years the captain of a plane that crashed four years ago killing 44 people after finding him guilty of negligence, state media reported. Qi Quanjun, in charge of the fatal Henan Airlines flight, was charged with failing to observe safety rules for landing and leaving the aircraft after the crash, ignoring passengers trapped in the wreckage, the official People's Daily said on its website. The Embraer ERJ-190 regional jet was attempting to land at Yichun in the remote northeast of China with 91 passengers and five crew on board.
LinkAirlines
Alaska Airlines looks to enhance Wi-Fi for customers, executive says
Alaska Airlines wants to improve its in-flight Wi-Fi service by upgrading to Gogo's faster ATG-4 offering, Vice President of Customer Innovation Curtis Kopf recently told investors. "I think our priorities have been 1) let's get power on every seat for devices, 2) we needed to get a great in-flight entertainment system on board, but I think the third thing we now need to look at is Wi-Fi. The bar on Wi-Fi, the customer expectation is rising. And I think we need to do better. There are a lot of different paths we can go down, and we're looking at those right now," he said.
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American increases flight attendant wages
As part of an effort to regain trust with employees, American Airlines will restore flight attendants' wage increases. The $81 million in raises means American flight attendants will have the highest hourly rates among their network peers.
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American rolls out livery paying tribute to US Airways
American Airlines Thursday rolled out a special paint job that commemorates US Airways. American and US Airways merged last year, keeping the American name and a new American livery (airline speak for paint job). The heritage livery echoes similar tributes that US Airways paid in the past to its merger partners.
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Hawaiian Airlines finalizes order for 6 Airbus A330s
Hawaiian Airlines has firmed up an order for six Airbus A330-800neos. The carrier had originally ordered six A350-800s, but switched to the A330 after its introduction this year. Mark Dunkerley, president and CEO of Hawaiian, said the A330 will be Hawaiian's "widebody mainstay for far into the future."
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Lufthansa Rejects Pilots' Demand For Mediation
Lufthansa has rejected demands by pilots to discuss via mediation its plans to expand its low-cost operations, a decision that could lead to further strikes. Lufthansa has been embroiled in a dispute with its pilots that has led to 10 walkouts this year, costing the airline more than EUR€160 million (USD$196 million) while it struggles to lower its cost base to cope with fierce competition. The pilots want Lufthansa to maintain a scheme that allows them to retire at 55 and keep receiving up to 60 percent of their salary until pension payments start at 65.
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SIA, Tata's Vistara To Start Flying January 9
Singapore Airlines' Indian joint venture with the Tata conglomerate, Vistara, will start flying from January 9, the airlines said. Based in New Delhi, the full service Vistara will begin operations with a fleet of new Airbus A320-200s with 148 seats, Tata SIA Airlines said in a statement. Vistara will offer flights to Mumbai and Ahmedabad initially.
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TAM aims for regional jet order in Q1
Brazil's TAM is in "advanced stages" of talks with airframers for an order of regional aircraft, citing the re-engined Embraer E2 as one of the options it is considering. TAM has indicated this year that it was studying an aircraft order to help it expand in the regional market in Brazil. It says today it plans to finalize talks with airframers by the end of the first quarter in 2015. "The airline is currently in the advanced stages of negotiations with aircraft manufacturers, including Embraer, the Brazilian manufacturer of the new generation of E-Jet E2, whose proposal includes 18 firm aircraft orders and 12 options," says LATAM Airlines Group, which TAM is a subsidiary of.
LinkAirports
Dallas/Fort Worth predicts more travelers for holidays
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport forecast record holiday travel this year. The airport predicted it will serve more than 3.2 million passengers between Dec. 17 and Jan. 4.
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Fla. airport rolls out free app for travelers
The Orlando International Airport in Florida debuted a free app on Friday to help travelers navigate the airport. "It will identify where you currently are and give you that turn-by-turn direction, much like you GPS in your car," said Joe Furnari, manager for automation software for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.
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Turner/PCL awarded design-build contract at LAX
The remodeling of Los Angeles International Airport took a major step Thursday when officials approved the construction contract for a $1.25-billion midfield concourse that will add 11 passenger gates to accommodate growing air travel. City airport commissioners also initiated preliminary planning and the environmental review for about $4 billion in projects included in the ground transportation plan for LAX.
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N.Y. groups urge environmental impact study for JFK runway expansion
A coalition of civic groups in Queens, N.Y., are asking a circuit court to order the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct an environmental impact study on a planned runway expansion at John F. Kennedy airport. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey already conducted an environmental assessment, which is less costly to perform than an impact study.
LinkMilitary
Canada will purchase fifth C-17
Canada officially has plans to purchase a fifth Boeing C-17 strategic airlifter, a move that will extend the overall service life of the fleet by at least seven years. The announcement was made on 19 December by Canadian Defense Minister Rob Nicholson during a visit to Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario. “It’s no exaggeration to say that the C-17 fleet has revolutionized the way that Canadian forces operate,” Nicholson says. “Without these aircraft, we would be force to contract airlift services or hitch rides with our allies. Instead we are in a position to help our allies when required.”
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Embraer KC-390 will fly in January
Embraer has scheduled the first flight of the KC-390 aerial refueling tanker for early January. The company released a brief announcement of the aircraft's most recent testing schedule on 18 December. “Embraer informs that all preparatory procedures for the realization of first flight of the KC-390 are progressing according to plan,” the statement says. “The current expectation for the conclusion of these procedures indicates that this flight should occur in the first weeks of 2015.”
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NATO trio could pool A330 tanker fleet
A consortium of NATO nations could acquire a four-strong fleet of Airbus A330 multi-role tanker/transports (MRTT), the European Defense Agency (EDA) has announced. Announcing the development on 19 December, the multinational agency said: “The Netherlands, Poland and Norway have decided to prepare negotiations with Airbus Defense & Space for a fleet of A330 MRTT multirole transport and air-to-air refuelling aircraft.”
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RAAF crews start working with C-27J
RAAF personnel have started training on the Alenia Aermacchi C-27J tactical transport following the transfer of the first two aircraft to the Australian registry. “A total of 10 aircraft will be delivered over the next two years, operated by No. 35 Squadron initially from RAAF Base Richmond,” says air commodore Mike Kitcher. “The C-27J will integrate seamlessly with existing Defense transports such as Army’s CH-47 Chinooks and Air Force’s C-130J Hercules and C-17A Globemaster III.”
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Aviation Quote
If God had intended man to fly, He would not have invented Spanish Air Traffic Control.
— Lister, in the BBC TV series, 'Red Dwarf.'
On This Date
---In 1930... The Tupolev ANT-6 heavy bomber makes its first flight in U.S.S.R.
---In 1945…First flight of the Beechcraft Bonanza.
---In 1962…First flight of the Lockheed A-12.
---In 1964…First captive flight test of an M-21 (940) and a D-21 drone. Pilot Bill Parks.
First flight of an SR-71 (950) at Palmdale CA. Pilot Robert J. Gilliland. RSO seat empty. (Q)
---In 1966…The Northrop HL-10 lifting body makes its first gliding flight at Edwards Air Force Base
---In 1966... The Dassault Breguet Mirage F1-E makes its first flight, in the hands of Guy Mitaux-Maurourard.
---In 1976…First flight of the Ilyushin Il-86.
---In 1999…Korean Air Cargo Flight 8509, a 747-2B5F registered HL7451, crashes on takeoff from London Heathrow. The cockpit crew had ignored comparator warning alarms after takeoff, and crashed from an altitude of 2,500ft, killing all 4 crewmembers.
---In 2001…American Airlines Flight 63, flying from Paris to Miami, is the target of a failed bomb plot when a passenger, an Islamic fundamentalist named Richard Reid, attempts to ignite plastic explosives hidden within the sole of his shoe. Flight attendants and passengers subdue and restrain the man, who is later convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the attempted attack.
---In 2009…American Airlines Flight 331 operated by a Boeing 737-800, overshoots the runway on landing at Norman Manley International Airport, Kingston, Jamaica.
Daily Video
Editor’s Choice
Humor
[/b]British Airways Captains[/b]
A British Airways mechanic passes away...
Upon being met at the Pearly Gates, he is asked by St. Peter what is his most heartfelt desire. "To NEVER be around any BA captains!" was his emphatic response.
A few weeks later, while relaxing in the Angel's lounge who should walk in but a British Airways captain in all his regalia. Furious, the mechanic marches off to find St. Peter to complain.
St. Peter calms the man by saying, "There are no BA captains in Heaven. That was God... he just likes to pretend that he's one."
Trivia
Famous Names, Famous Airports
1. Where in the world can you find Juan Santamaria International Airport?
Panama
Spain
Thailand
Costa Rica
2. In which of these Italian cities would you find an airport named after Leonardo Da Vinci?
Florence
Rome
Pisa
Venice
3. After which of these historical figures is the airport in Paris, France, named?
Charles De Gaulle
Thierry Henry
Napoleon Bonaparte
Johannes Kepler
4. In which of these U.S. cities is the William P. Hobby Airport located?
Austin
Dallas
El Paso
Houston
5. Where in the world would you find Benito Juarez International Airport?
Buenos Aires
Madrid
Montevideo
Mexico City
6. Which of these famous people has an airport in Chicago named after him?
Alexander Hamilton
Edward O'Hare
John F. Kennedy
Dwight D. Eisenhower
7. Where in the world can you find an airport named after Nikola Tesla?
Belgrade
Moscow
Belfast
New Delhi
8. Where in the world would you find the Jorge Chavez International Airport?
Bogota
Brasilia
Lima
Sucre
9. Where in the United States would you find an airport named after Fiorello La Guardia?
Newark
New York City
Atlantic City
Boston
10. In what city would I find an airport named after famous soccer player (footballer) George Best?
Rio de Janeiro
Istanbul
Belfast
Stockholm
ShanwickOceanic wrote:3. This guy:
