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Airbus starts design of hybrid-electric 100-seater
In less than two decades, Airbus’s concept for the VoltAir E-Fan could spawn a new family of 100-seat regional airliners with a hybrid-electric propulsion system anchored by diesel engines sending 6MW of power to a row of electric thrusters. The potential 100-seat aircraft is still early in the design phase, but Airbus already appears to be leaning toward a familiar configuration. “We’re starting to work on the design of what we call the EPU,” says Ken McKenzie, deputy chairman and senior vice-president of strategy and corporate services for US-based Airbus Group Inc. “We’re actually preferring a hybrid engine.”
LinkAirlines
Currency effects bite into Aer Lingus first half
Irish flag-carrier Aer Lingus’s first-half operating loss has increased by 40% to nearly €14 million ($15 million). But the carrier insists it is “well-positioned” to deliver improved operating performance over the third quarter and the full year. The operating profit for the second quarter was down by nearly 11% to €34.5 million, excluding exceptional items, despite a 7% rise in revenues to €469 million.
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Alaska Airlines donates $175K to cancer foundation
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and actor Joel McHale led teams in the "2015 Plane Pull Champion" charity event, in which teams pulled an Alaska Airlines 737-800 aircraft 25 feet. Alaska Airlines donated $175,000 to Wilson's Strong Against Cancer foundation.
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British Airways Flight Diverts Due To Bomb Threat
A British Airways flight from Las Vegas to London was diverted and landed in Montreal early on Wednesday following a bomb threat, local media reported.
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Garuda Swings To First Half Profit
Garuda Indonesia swung to a net profit of USD$27.7 million in the first half of 2015 from a loss a year earlier. The USD$27.7 million profit was for the six months ended June and compared to a restated USD$203 million loss a year ago, it said in an announcement published by newspaper Bisnis Indonesia. Garuda made a profit of USD$16.3 million for the April-June quarter, higher than the USD$11.4 million profit it booked in the previous quarter.
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JAL 767 crew mistook Changi taxiway for runway
Japan Airlines (JAL) has suspended the crew of a Boeing 767-300ER that mistakenly commenced their takeoff run on a taxiway at Singapore’s Changi International airport. The incident occurred while the aircraft was operating flight JL38 to Tokyo Haneda at roughly 02:30 on 12 July. The carrier only learned of the incident on 23 July when it was contacted by Singapore authorities.
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SpiceJet In Talks With Boeing, Airbus For Jet Deal
Indian budget airline SpiceJet is in talks with Boeing and Airbus to acquire about 100 new narrow-body jets, in a deal that would be worth about USD$11 billion at list prices. SpiceJet wants to buy more Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, chief financial officer Kiran Koteshwar said, as it looks to rebuild its business after almost collapsing last year.
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Virgin Australia Narrows Full Year Loss
Virgin Australia said its annual net loss had narrowed as it cut costs by limiting its seat capacity to bolster demand and drive up fares. The carrier, due to announce detailed full-year results on August 7, said in a statement it made a loss in the 12 months ended June 30 of AUD$93.8 million (USD$69 million), compared with a loss of AUD$355.6 million a year ago.
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Technology greatly expands in-flight entertainment options
Digital content and in-flight Wi-Fi are providing more entertainment options than ever for air passengers. "Servers have come on the market that are affordable for airlines to use," said Henry Harteveldt of Atmosphere Research Group. "They can have hundreds or thousands of video titles, and as many audio titles, from pop artists to obscure world music and everything in between."
LinkAirports
Albany International Airport sees increased traffic
Boardings at Albany International are up 5.6% year-to-date over 2014. A recovering local economy has helped boost traffic at the airport to its highest levels since 2009.
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John Wayne Airport sees 8% international traffic increase in June
John Wayne Airport saw its first year-to-year increase in June, with new international routes driving a 3.5% increase in overall traffic. The airport boarded 849,000 passengers in June.
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Southwest Airlines moves into new space in renovated Charleston International terminal
Southwest Airlines is the latest carrier to get a new ticket counter at Charleston International Airport. Renovations to the airport's ticketing hall are part of an ongoing $189 million rebuilding project aimed at modernizing the 30-year-old terminal.
LinkMilitary
Airbus and Lockheed team for German Orion mid-life upgrade
Airbus Defence & Space is teaming with Lockheed Martin to provide a mid-life upgrade for the German navy’s eight-strong fleet of P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft. The eight-year Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) contract will include re-winging the aircraft. This will be performed using mid-life upgrade kits that consist of an outer wing, centre fuselage and horizontal stabiliser. The kits will be provided by Lockheed’s overseas services corporation division in Marietta, Georgia, with integration to be carried out by Airbus in Manching, Germany.
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Australia receives seventh C-17
Australia has taken delivery of its seventh Boeing C-17A strategic transport. The aircraft arrived at RAAF Amberley following Canberra’s announcement in April 2015 that it would obtain two additional examples of the type, says Australia’s Department of Defence in a statement. Canberra’s final example will arrive in late 2015.
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Boeing rolls out first Australian Growler
Boeing has unveiled the first of 12 Australian EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft at a ceremony in St Louis, Missouri, and company officials say the second example is already flight testing. Once the second aircraft delivers in August, the two examples will be delivered to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake where Australian pilots are currently training with their US Navy counterparts. Those aircraft will also visit the US Navy’s home of airborne electronic warfare at Naval Air Station Whidbey in 2016 before moving Down Under in 2017.
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Israel to form first squadron in preparation for F-35I
Israel's first Lockheed Martin F-35I (Adir) squadron will be officially established in early August, as its air force advances preparations ahead of taking delivery of the type in early 2017. A second F-35I squadron is planned in the future, and the air force is already examining the possibility of standing up a third unit equipped with the fifth-generation fighter.
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US Special Forces pursuing AC-130-based ‘active denial system’
US Air Force Special Operations Command’s plan to mount an airborne laser and active denial system onto its new AC-130J Ghostrider gunship is maturing and has the strong support of the scientific community within the flying branch. AFSOC chief Lt Gen Bradley Heithold outlined his “five-year plan” to install directed energy weapons on several Block 60 Ghostriders at a 28 July Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments directed energy summit in Washington.
LinkRotary Wing
Upgraded self-protection system selected for RAF Pumas
Selex ES has been selected to provide a radar warning receiver (RWR) upgrade to the Royal Air Force’s Airbus Helicopters SA330 Puma HC2 rotorcraft fleet, replacing the Sky Guardian 200 that is currently installed on the type. The £19 million ($30 million) contract will see the SG200-D – a UK Ministry of Defence-specific variant of the company’s Seer RWR – provided for the 24-strong Puma fleet. This will replace the legacy system that the company had previously provided for the aircraft.
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Aviation Quote
I was engaged in what I believe to be the most thrilling industry in the world—aviation. My heart still leaps when I see a tiny two-seater plane soaring gracefully through the sky. Our great airlines awe me. Yet I know they were not produced in a day or a decade.
— William A. "Pat" Patterson, CEO United Airlines.
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Editor’s Choice
Trivia
General Trivia
1. The phrase, “have numbers,” is used by pilots to advise ATC that they have the:
a. altimeter setting.
b. runway and approach in use.
c. current ATIS information.
d. runway in use, wind velocity and altimeter setting.
2. The typical price paid by the U.S. government for a new North American P–51D Mustang during World War II was:
a. $6,572.
b. $21,572.
c. $36,572.
d. $51,572.
3. Glenn Miller, famed American jazz musician, arranger, composer and band leader of the swing era, disappeared on December 15, 1944, during a flight from southern England to Paris where he was to entertain troops who had recently liberated the French capital. The airplane in which he disappeared was a:
a. Beech C–45 Expediter.
b. Noorduhn (Nordyne) UC–64 Norseman.
c. Westland Lysander Mk.1.
d. Stinson L–12 Reliant.
4. True or false; The first production airplane manufactured by North American Aviation was the T–6 Texan.
5. True or false; During an episode of Star Trek, Mr. Spock was seen using the iconic Dalton E6B computer to calculate precisely when the Enterprise would smash into a planet.
