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Airbus hit hard by A400M tragedy
Disaster struck the A400M program on 9 May, when an aircraft due to be delivered to the Turkish air force in June crashed shortly after starting its first flight from Airbus’s final assembly site in Seville. Four of the six flight-test personnel on board the military transport tragically lost their lives. The European programme was already beset with problems around meeting in-service schedules and the introduction of promised operating capability, but the accident came as a huge and visible shock to Airbus’s recently installed head of military aircraft – himself an experienced flight-test engineer on the type.
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Comac ambiguous about C919 first flight schedule
Comac says development work on its C919 narrowbody is going ahead at full steam, and that it will make an announcement on the aircraft’s first flight schedule towards the end of the year. The Chinese airframer’s comments come after unsourced media reports said that the first flight of the C919, originally scheduled for end-2015, has been pushed to the first half of 2016. The fact that the manufacturer will only make an announcement about a first flight toward the end of 2015 is a strong indication that it will miss its target timeframe.
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Alaska Airlines announces Preferred Plus seating program
All passengers on Alaska Airlines may now upgrade to a bulkhead exit seat, according to an announcement from the company. The seats provide about 8 inches of extra legroom and come with a complimentary cocktail, wine or beer. The upgrade will be available to general seating passengers after Mileage Plan MVP, MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75k members have had a chance to claim the seats.
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Delta Offers Free Flights For Stranded Amtrak Passengers
Delta Air Lines has offered Amtrak customers, whose tickets were cancelled because of Tuesday's train crash in Philadelphia, that they can fly between New York and Boston or Washington for free on Delta's shuttle service for the next four days.
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Etihad Says US Carriers Got USD$70 Bln Government Aid
Etihad Airways on Thursday answered US airlines' claims that the Abu Dhabi-based carrier benefits from subsidies, alleging that those airlines received more than USD$70 billion in government support since 2000, largely via bankruptcy protection and pension guarantees. Etihad presented its subsidy claims as the Obama administration is due to broaden its review of US carriers' allegations that Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways have received more than USD$40 billion in Gulf-state subsidies, letting them lower prices and push US competitors out of some markets.
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New JetBlue Mint includes massage chairs, rosé
In June 2014, JetBlue launched Mint, its very first premium-class option. In the months since, it's become a popular choice for execs traveling between the two coasts. "If @JetBlue Mint flew into EWR it would be a 12. But just JFK, it's still a 10," one tech founder, ReDef CEO Jason Hirschhorn, tweeted earlier in May. "The best," Union Square Ventures partner Andy Weissman tweeted back.
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LATAM Airlines Posts First Quarter Loss
LATAM Airlines posted a net loss in the first quarter due to a weaker Brazilian real, but said operational results and margins had improved. The net loss of just under USD$40 million in the three months to end-March 2015 is similar to the USD$41 million it lost in the same period a year ago. Hurt by a weak regional economy, LATAM has struggled to match up to expectations since it was created in a tie-up between Chile's LAN and Brazil's TAM in 2012.
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Southwest implements automated security system for checked luggage
Southwest Airlines has a new baggage checking system at Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Neb. The $2.5 million automated system processes checked baggage in as little as two minutes and eliminates the need for bags to be checked by hand.
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Southwest to offer direct St. Louis-Orange County flights
Southwest Airlines will inaugurate daily service to Orange County, Calif., beginning Nov. 22, the week of Thanksgiving. “We’ll have great support for this new service because it was our own business community and top business travel managers that lobbied us and helped us make the case with Southwest to add service to Orange County,” Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, director of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, said in a statement Thursday. “We already have more than 100 people a day who make connections to John Wayne Airport. Now they will have the convenience of flying nonstop.”
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Portugal Gets Three Bids For TAP
The Portuguese government has received three bids for state-owned flag carrier TAP in its second attempt to sell the heavily indebted airline since 2012. Transport Secretary Sergio Monteiro would not disclose the names of investors or institutions who made the offers. People close to the process told Reuters news agency two Brazil-based aviation tycoons and one Portuguese investor had presented the offers by Friday's deadline. One of the interested parties was reported to be Brazilian-American businessman David Neeleman, the founder of US airline JetBlue and chief executive of Azul Brazilian Airlines.
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United passengers give thumbs up to remodeled 767s
United Airlines passengers enjoy flying in 767s, according to the carrier's customer satisfaction surveys. Customers point to upgraded amenities such as Wi-Fi and larger overhead bins. "The 767 is a great airplane," said United’s Mark Krolick. "Every customer amenity is available on these airplanes. We have installed WiFi, seatback audio-visual on demand, power at the seats and larger overhead bins, and business class has lie-flat seats that are wider than they were previously."
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Vietnam Airlines first Boeing 787-9 completes exterior painting
Vietnam Airlines’ first Boeing 787-9 has rolled out of Boeing's paint shop at Paine Field, less than a month after it came off the final assembly line. The aircraft, which bears the registration VN-A861, will now undergo interior fit-out before conducting ground and flight tests, prior to delivery to the state-owned carrier. This is expected to take place later in mid-year, it says.
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Major U.S. carriers expanding rewards programs
Major U.S. airlines have listened to customer feedback and expanded the number of flights that accept rewards points, according to a CNBC study. Seventy-four percent of flights accept points, up eight percentage points from 2010 when the study was last conducted.
LinkAirports
Oakland, Calif., airport welcomes Global Entry
International passengers who are members of Customs and Border Protection's trusted traveler program can now take advantage of the Global Entry expedited immigration processing at California's Oakland International Airport. Travelers scan their passports and fingerprints using a kiosk, make any required customs declarations and then take a printed receipt to a customs official, bypassing long lines as they exit the airport.
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United to invest $781 million in upgrades at 2 airports
United Airlines plans to invest $781 million in upgrades for its facilities at George Bush International Airport in Houston and Los Angeles International Airport. "We want to provide a great experience for the customer, all the way from the curb to the gate," said Kate Gebo, vice president of corporate real estate for United.
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Military
Lost USMC Huey wreckage found in Nepal
The wreckage of a US Marine Corps Bell Helicopter UH-1Y Huey rotorcraft that went missing after a second earthquake hit Nepal on 12 May has been found 12km (8 miles) north of Charikot, Nepal, the Department of Defense has confirmed. The aircraft, assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron [HMLA] 469, was deployed in support of the humanitarian relief effort that is under way to aid the people of Nepal following the devastating earthquake that hit on 25 April, but went missing while carrying out an aid delivery and search and rescue mission following a second quake, with six marines and two Nepalese service members on board.
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USAF student test pilots trial Textron’s Scorpion and AT-6
US Air Force student test pilots recently trialed Textron AirLand’s Scorpion jet and the Beechcraft AT-6 light attack turboprop, conducting 12 flights in the Scorpion and seven with the AT-6 during a week-long visit to companies’ facilities in Wichita, Kansas. Textron AirLand and Beechcraft, both owned by Textron, are marketing the Scorpion and AT-6 aircraft as versatile, multi-mission platforms for domestic and international customers.
LinkRotary WIng
Airbus Helicopters gains approval for H145M
Airbus Helicopters has gained European Aviation Safety Agency certification for the military variant of its H145 medium twin-engined helicopter. This paves the way for military type approval of the 3.7t rotorcraft, ahead of delivery of an initial two of 15 examples to launch customer the German air force before year end. The service intends to use the H145M for special forces missions.
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Aviation Quote
MaCleod, since you've flown the SeaBee a lot you'll understand when I say it was the only airplane I ever owned that you could put in a dive, loose a cylinder and stall out!
— Ernest K. Gann
On This Date
---In 1907... Wilbur Wright sails for Europe to discuss the sale of his Flyer III in London, Paris, Moscow and Berlin.
--- In 1910... International talks open in Paris to draw up a legal basis for flight between countries.
---In 1949... The city’s first helicopter, built on Pier 41 by the Hudson River, opens in New York City.
---In 1951…First flight of the Vickers Valiant.
---In 1953... American Jacqueline Cochran becomes the first woman to fly faster than the speed of sound while flying a Canadian-built North American F-86 Sabre. On the same day, she sets the world speed record for women at 652 mph (1,049 km/h).
---In 1966... The first round-the-world solo flight by a woman is made by British pilot Sheila Scott. She flies 29,000 miles (46,670 km) in stages in her Piper Copmmanche Myth Too.
---In 1967…NASA announces crew members for the Apollo 7 space mission (first manned Apollo flight): Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Donn F. Eisele, and R. Walter Cunningham.
---In 1969… Apollo 10, USA Lunar Manned Orbiter, (May 18-26, 1969) launched. Crew: Thomas Stafford, Eugene A. Cernan, John W. Young. Manned lunar fly-around and Earth return. Stafford and Cernan tested the Lunar Module, separating it from the Command and Service Module and descended to within 50,000 feet of the lunar surface. The astronauts acquired a large number of excellent 70-mm photographs.
---In 1970…National Airlines ends a 108-day strike by offering ground crews a 33% pay increase.
---In 1979…First flight of the Piper PA-42 Cheyenne.
---In 1982…American Airlines' 1 millionth passenger is flown.
---In 1983... American Airlines carries its 500 millionth passenger.
---In 2006…The world's biggest passenger jet, the Airbus A380, lands at Heathrow Airport for the first time, making its UK debut.
Daily Video
Editor’s Choice
Trivia
Word Jumble
What’s the theme?
1. NFALRKE
2. UFURCML
3. AXFOTB
4. BHSIDEF
5. GGEROLF
6. DOFUHNXO
7. CNFERE
8. REMFRA
9. FCSROE
10. GANOLF
---In 1982…American Airlines' 1 millionth passenger is flown.
---In 1983... American Airlines carries its 500 millionth passenger.
FlyingAce wrote:---In 1982…American Airlines' 1 millionth passenger is flown.
---In 1983... American Airlines carries its 500 millionth passenger.
Wait -- did they carry 499 million passengers in one year?
miamiair wrote:What’s the theme?
