NewsCommercial
IATA Reports Stronger Freight Growth
Demand for global air freight was up 6.1 percent in September, IATA reported in its monthly statement. Total capacity (in available freight tonne km) increased by 4.7 percent in the month over the same period last year.
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Rolls-Royce increases ceramic composites research
UK engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce is to increase its presence in California with a $30 million investment in a new 62,000 sq. ft. facility for research and development of ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials and processes for future engine components. Derby-based Rolls-Royce bought privately owned company Hyper-Therm High-Temperature Composites in Huntington Beach, in May 2013; the new premises will consist of a CMC technology hub in in nearby Cypress.
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CAE extends pilot training with Norwegian, Air Europa
Montreal-based flight-simulator manufacturer CAE has extended pilot training agreements with Norwegian Airlines and Spanish carrier Air Europa, the company announced Nov. 1. CAE’s extended agreement with Norwegian now includes CAE instructor-led training for Boeing 737NGs. Pilots began training in October at CAE's training centers in Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo, CAE said.
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Brazil takes issue with CSeries funding in US-supported move
Brazil's government has formally raised questions at the World Trade Organization (WTO) about Canadian funding of the Bombardier CSeries programme, in a move that was supported by the US government, FlightGlobal understands. The questions were posed to Canada at a recent WTO subsidies committee meeting on 25 October. FlightGlobal understands that the US government was supportive of Brazil's inquiry and encouraged Canada to respond to the questions.
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China, Russia launching JV to design widebody aircraft
Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC) is expected to launch a joint venture with Russia to design and develop widebody aircraft at the end of this year. COMAC signed an agreement with Russia’s United Aircraft Corp. (UAC) in June. According to the agreement, both companies will design, manufacture, market and provide after-sale support for new aircraft. COMAC is showing a model of the 281-seat widebody aircraft with a range of 120,000 km at Airshow China, Nov. 1-6 in Zhuhai, China. COMAC noted the aircraft also has 350-seat extended version with air range of 9,000-10,000 km, and a 250-seat shortened version with air range of 13,000-14,000 km.
LinkAirlines
Air France plans 'lower cost' long-haul airline to fight Gulf carriers
Air France is planning a lower-cost long-haul airline which will operate 10 aircraft by 2020 in a two-class layout, under its new Trust Together strategy. Revealing the first details of Trust Together on Nov. 3, Air France-KLM chairman and CEO Jean-Marc Janaillac said one of the group’s nine strategic priorities was to “regain the offensive in long haul.”
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Edelweiss Air takes delivery of former SWISS A340-300
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) subsidiary Edelweiss Air has taken delivery of the first of four former SWISS Airbus A340-300s. The aircraft will undergo cabin-reconfiguration through SR Technics. Edelweiss Air head of corporate communications Andreas Meier said the first flight will be Dec. 1, from Zurich to Cape Town, South Africa.
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Fed-up Emirates presses for Dubai drone detectors
Emirates is urging Dubai International’s operator to consider drone detectors after an airspace intrusion led to a third closure of the hub in the space of around four months. The latest incident took place on 29 October resulting in Dubai’s closure for 80min and the diversion of 11 Emirates flights, plus another 11 operated by other carriers.
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Hard-landing An-26 approached in snowstorm: probe
Russian authorities have given further details of the circumstances surrounding the hard landing which substantially damaged a Polar Airlines Antonov An-26. The aircraft, on approach to Belaya Gora on 11 October, encountered “strong” precipitation, in the form of snow, with crosswinds from the left, gusting to 19kt.
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Qatar Airways, British Airways expand codeshare
Qatar Airways and British Airways (BA) have expanded their codeshare partnership, adding a series of UK and European flights. The oneworld partners started their network partnership Oct. 30, with BA launching daily scheduled flights between London Heathrow and Doha on the same day.
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Singapore Airlines, Russia’s S7 to codeshare
Russia’s S7 Airlines has signed a codeshare agreement with Singapore Airlines. The Singaporean carrier’s SQ code will be added to S7 flights from Moscow to 19 cities in Russia, including Saint Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Kazan, Samara and Novosibirsk.
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Singapore Air Q2 Net Profit Down Two-Thirds
Singapore Airlines posted a second quarter net profit drop of 66 percent to SGD$64.9 million (USD$46.75 million). The fall was mainly due to weaker operating results and lower dividends from long-term investments.
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Boeing rolls out United’s first 777-300ER
United Airlines' first Boeing 777-300ER has rolled out of the paint shop in Everett, Washington, nearly 22 years after the carrier took delivery of the first 777. The Chicago-based carrier is scheduled to take delivery of the aircraft (registration N58031 and MSN 62642) from Boeing in late December, with entry-into-service slated for February 2017.
LinkAirports
Italy’s Abruzzo Airport to temporarily close for runway work
Italy’s Abruzzo Airport, located near Pescara, will close from Nov. 15 to 24 for a major upgrade and maintenance work to the runway and taxiway.
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Military
Two F-35s return to flight following faulty insulation issue
Two Lockheed Martin F-35As are flying again at Hill AFB, Utah after faulty insulation in the aircraft’s avionics cooling lines grounded the aircraft. The two jets returned to flight 24 October and repairs on three more aircraft should finish by 4 November, according to the US Air Force. The insulation issue did not affect the F-35B and -C variants, but the USAF grounded 15 F-35As, including 10 at Hill AFB, four at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, and one aircraft completing operational test and evaluation at Nellis Air Force, Nevada. The issue also affected 42 production line aircraft, which the USAF, Israel, Norway, Japan and Italy have not yet accepted.
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Lockheed awarded $6.1 billion deal for 57 F-35 airframes
Lockheed Martin will deliver 57 F-35 airframes for $6.1 billion in the ninth lot of low-rate initial production under the terms of a contract signed only after a 15-month negotiating process that failed to achieve a second deal the next lot of aircraft. The LRIP 9 price falls by 3.7% on a weighted average from the previous lot of production awarded in December 2014, according to the F-35 joint program office (JPO).
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Aviation Quote
High-performance jet fighter, fully armed with missiles, guns. ECM equipment, fresh paint (stars and bars painted over), single seat, 97% reliability rate, will outclimb, outturn F-16, outrun F-14, low fuel burn (relatively), all digital avionics, radar, terrain following, INS, GPS, Tacan, used only for testing and sales promotion. Now in storage.
Contact Northrop Corp. Will trade for Mig-25 and home address of Air Force Acquisition officer.
- ad found in 'Pacific Flyer' magazine, shortly after the F-20 program was cancelled.
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