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Bombardier chief calls out industry criticism of CSeries
Linking the CSeries to the invention of the 50-seat regional jet, chief executive Alain Bellemare told an audience of high-ranking executives that Bombardier’s high-stakes bet on the 100-150-seat jet market will be vindicated, even as called on his industry rivals to refrain from criticizing innovative projects. “I am confident when the story of the CSeries is written our past issues will be largely forgotten. People will recognise it as a big, bold move, and as a game-changing aircraft,” said Bellemare, speaking on 19 May at the Wing’s Club before an audience that included the top executives of competitors such as Gulfstream and Dassault, as well as key suppliers, such as Pratt & Whitney.
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SMBC Aviation Capital orders 10 CFM LEAP-1A engines for A320neos
Dublin-based aircraft lessor SMBC Aviation Capital has ordered 10 CFM International LEAP-1A engines to power five additional Airbus A320neo aircraft. The engine order is valued at $140 million at list prices. This is a follow-on to SMBC Aviation Capital’s initial LEAP-1A order for 60 engines that the company announced at the 2015 Paris Air Show and the aircraft are part of a 2014 Airbus order.
LinkAirlines
Alitalia to decide on Air Malta investment by late June
Alitalia chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo is aiming to make a decision on whether to invest in Air Malta this summer. There are strong cultural and commercial bonds between Italy and Malta and, in April, Alitalia confirmed it was considering taking a 49% stake in Air Malta.
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No sightings of EgyptAir MS804 in first hours after disappearance
The disappearance of EgyptAir flight 804 over the Mediterranean Sea early May 19 came as Egypt had begun making progress in shoring up international travel to the country in the aftermath of the suspected inflight bombing of a Russian Metrojet Airbus A321 shortly after departure from Sharm el Sheik on Oct. 31, 2015. The Egyptair Airbus A320 disappeared over the Mediterranean Sea about 0230 local time on May 19, 280 km (174 miles) from the Egyptian coast. It was near the end of a scheduled flight, MS804, from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Cairo.
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Discussion
EgyptAir A320 wreckage found
Debris from the wreckage of the EgyptAir Airbus A320 that went missing over the Mediterranean Sea in the early hours of 19 May has been found, says the airline. Wreckage was located near the Greek island of Karpathos, according to a statement on the airline's website.
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Finnair secured financing for its newest A350 aircraft
Finnair has secured financing, arranged by BNP Paribas, for its fifth Airbus A350-900 XWB, which was delivered on 29 April 2016. The transaction amounts to approximately EUR 128 million, implemented using a Japanese Operating Lease with Call Option (JOLCO) structure. “This transaction represents yet another successful A350-900 financing for Finnair, and the third we have done using this structure. We are thrilled that financiers and investors are enthusiastic about the A350 as a long-term investment, since this aircraft type is the base from which we will continue to execute our growth strategy in Asia”, states Finnair CFO Pekka Vähähyyppä.
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Ruili Airlines orders six Boeing 787-9s
Kunming-based Ruili Airlines has ordered six Boeing 787-9 aircraft, in a deal valued at $1.54 billion at list prices. The aircraft will be used for international expansion. A delivery schedule was not released. Launched in May 2014, Ruili operates a fleet of nine aircraft on 16 domestic routes with 46 daily departures.
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Scoot, Tigerair to merge into single LCC holding company
Singapore Airlines (SIA) plans to combine the management of its low-cost carrier (LCC) subsidiaries Scoot (long-haul) and Tigerair (regional) into a single body. The Singapore flag carrier has formed a new subsidiary called Budget Aviation Holdings, which will own and manage both LCCs following the recent delisting of Tigerair from the Singapore Stock Exchange.
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Silk Way Airlines confirms An-12 crash in Afghanistan
Azerbaijan’s Baku-based Silk Way Airlines has confirmed its Antonov An-12 freighter crashed on May 18 at 1430 local time, in southern Afghanistan. According to the carrier’s statement, seven out of nine crew members were killed. Two technicians, both Ukrainian citizens, survived. It was reported the aircraft was rented out, but the carrier did not confirm details.
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Discussion
Southwest to raise quarterly dividend
Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly announced a dividend of 10 cents per quarter, a 33% boost from the prior dividend of 7.5 cents per quarter. "On a cumulative basis over the past five years, including today's increase, our quarterly dividend has grown more than twenty fold," Kelly said in a statement on Wednesday.
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United CEO sends letter to loyalty program members
Oscar Munoz, president and CEO of United Airlines, sent a letter to MileagePlus members about the "new spirit" of the carrier. "This new spirit is the passion of our employees for what this airline can achieve, and we're seeing it where you have said matters most -- getting you to the places you need to be comfortably and on time," he wrote. "We're posting record on-time and baggage-delivery performance."
LinkAirports
Airlines partner with OTG for upgrades in Philly, Houston
American Airlines is investing $30 million in an upgrade of Terminal B at Philadelphia International Airport. Meanwhile, United Airlines is remodeling its terminals at Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport. Both airlines have partnered with hospitality group OTG.
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ATC Problems Hit Gothenburg Airport
Problems with radar installations have reduced traffic at Gothenburg Airport, Swedavia Swedish Airports said, widening a problem that has stopped traffic over the capital Stockholm. "Because of technical problems with Luftfartsverket's radar installations, there is reduced traffic at Swedavia's airports," Swedavia said in a notice on Gothenburg Landvetter Airport's website.
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Military
Sikorsky CH-53K likely to fall short of upper lifting requirement
The US Marine Corps ideally wants its new Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion to carry 13.6t (30,000lb) externally over 110nm (204km) unrefueled, but early analysis indicates that it will fall approximately 907kg short of that “objective” key performance requirement. The minimum target is 12.2t (27,000lb) over 110nm in high, hot environments, which US Naval Air Systems Command officials expect the in-development aircraft to comfortably achieve. However, CH-53K integrated product team deputy Col John Neville says it is too early to tell exactly what external load target the CH-53K will meet or what programmatic steps the NAVAIR might take to bump up the aircraft’s performance to the objective requirement.
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Aviation Quote
A man can criticize a pilot for flying into a mountainside in fog, but I would rather by far die on a mountainside than in bed. What sort of man would live where there is no daring? Is life itself so dear that we should blame one for dying in adventure? Is there a better way to die?
— Charles A. Lindbergh
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JLAmber wrote:No idea where it is but no. 3 looks like a handgun.
