NewsCommercial
Bombardier delivers first CS300 to Air Baltic
Bombardier delivered the first CS300 to launch operator Air Baltic in a 28 November ceremony in Mirabel that formally marked the end of the CSeries development program. “It’s exciting to be here at the end of the process. Of course it’s been a long journey for everyone,” says Rob Dewar, Bombardier’s vice-president and general manager of the CSeries program.
Link
WTO rules against 777X tax break
A World Trade Organisation panel has ruled against a tax break for the Boeing 777X programme, as both airframers claimed vindication in the latest ruling in the long-running spat over support for large aircraft manufacturers. In a ruling today the WTO adjudged that one of the the tax amendments applying in Washington state relating to Boeing's 777X program was inconsistent with the existing Subsidies and Counterveiling Measures (SCM) Agreement.
Link
Airbus details duty schedule for A350-1000 test fleet
Airbus’s flight-test programme for the A350-1000 will stretch to 1,600h, split almost evenly between the three test aircraft. The airframer has detailed the schedule following the maiden flight of the first A350-1000, MSN59, on 24 November.
Link
Air Europa picks MTU for CF34 support
Spanish carrier Air Europa has contracted MTU to maintain the General Electric CF34-10E engines powering its Embraer 195 regional jet fleet. MTU says that the Majorca-based airline has signed an exclusive seven-year support deal – covering shop visits, on-wing repairs and provision of spare engines – which is valued at $120 million.
Link
Recaro invests $14.3 million in new logistics center
Aircraft seating manufacturer Recaro has started construction of a new €13.5 million ($14.3 million) logistics center, located on the site of its German headquarters. The 6,000 sq-m facility, which is being constructed in Schwaebisch Hall, Germany, will be ready by the end of 2017.
LinkAirlines
Air Calédonie takes first ATR 72-600
French carrier Air Calédonie has taken of the first of four ATR 72-600 aircraft in Toulouse, France. The aircraft, which seats 68 passengers in all-economy configuration, will be used on the New Caledonia domestic network. The new ATR 72-600 is planned to open up its first commercial service Dec. 7, departing from Magenta Airport to Koné Airport in New Caledonia, then to conduct on average 26 return flights per week.
Link
Air Canada launches Altitude Skyriders program for young passengers
Air Canada has launched a new program for children up to 12 years of age called Altitude Skyriders. "It's not about points or rewards, it's about making their trip as fun as possible and we hope to nurture and encourage childhood curiosity and create lifelong memories," said Benjamin Smith, president of passenger airlines for Air Canada.
Link
American Airlines completes mainline livery makeover of US Airways fleet
American Airlines' new livery has been added to the entire US Airways mainline fleet, a key milestone in the American-US Airways merger. About 100 American Airlines Boeing 737s have yet to receive the new colors.
Link
American Airlines-Qantas DoT Extension Denied
A decision by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) has American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL) and Qantas Airways Ltd. (QAN.AX) scrambling to file a response. According to The Australian, the two airlines had applied for an extension to respond to the DOT’s Nov. 18 tentative decision rejecting a proposed alliance between American Airlines and Qantas. Now that their extension has been denied, the airlines must file a response to the Nov. 18 DoT decision by Dec. 2.
Link
American Airlines Flight Attendant Union Election Is Challenged by Feds
The U.S. Department of Labor said the Association of Professional Flight Attendants must conduct a new election for its national officers because its election on Jan. 9 didn't provide adequate secrecy for voters. The union, which represents American Airlines' (AAL) 26,000 flight attendants, is fighting the Labor Department, arguing that the department has "a long-standing distrust and rejection of modern technology."
Link
First US commercial passenger flights to Havana, Cuba launched
The first commercial passenger flights in 55 years between the US and Havana, Cuba, departed Nov. 28, as Fort Worth, Texas-based American Airlines and New York-based low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways each launched scheduled service to the island nation’s capital. American Airlines flight 17, a Boeing 737-800, took off from Miami International Airport at 7:41 a.m. and landed at Havana’s José Martí International Airport at 8:25 a.m. JetBlue flight 243, an Airbus A321, departed New York’s JFK International Airport at 9:45 a.m. and landed in Havana at 12:34 p.m.
Link
Cathay faces growing competitive pressure
Cathay Pacific says strong growth in competitors' direct services out of mainland China, as well as the aggressive expansion of airlines and airports in the Pearl River Delta region, have had a “big impact” on its business. In the November issue of the airline’s monthly magazine CX World, general manager revenue management Patricia Hwang says there has been a global trend of airlines ramping up capacity, in part driven by lower fuel prices. This has in turn led to overcapacity, with airlines slashing fares to fill seats.
Link
CityJet narrows full-year losses
Irish regional CityJet has cut its 2015 operating loss to €10 million ($10.6 million), down 66% from a €30.6 million loss in 2014. Dublin-based CityJet, which is active in scheduled flying, wet-lease work and ad-hoc charters, described 2015 as a “transitional year” and said the performance marked further improvement on its prior year, when it cut its losses by 38%.
Link
Delta bans rude pro-Trump passenger for life, gives refunds
Delta Air Lines is banning for life a passenger who rudely professed his support for Republican President-elect Donald Trump and insulted those who didn't on a flight to Pennsylvania, the company's CEO said Monday. Edward Bastian said in an internal memo that the airline is also refunding the cost of tickets for other passengers on the Nov. 22 flight from Atlanta to Allentown.
Link
Lufthansa Pilots To Strike Tuesday & Wednesday
The VC pilots union at Lufthansa has given notice of further strikes on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The Vereinigung Cockpit union called strikes from 00:01 to 23:59 on Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th November. These are the fifth and sixth 24 hour strikes over the last week.
Link
Southwest, mechanics union make progress in labor talks
Southwest has successfully reached labor agreements with unions representing pilots and flight attendants, while negotiations with its mechanics are continuing. Southwest says progress is being made, according to Mike Ryan, vice president of labor relations.
Link
SunExpress appoints Jens Bischof as CEO
SunExpress, the Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines joint venture, has appointed Lufthansa CCO Jens Bischof as CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2017.
Link
UPS, FedEx gear up for record deliveries this holiday season
FedEx and UPS are gearing up for what looks to be a record-breaking season for holiday deliveries. Research firm eMarketer says online sales could hit a record $94.7 billion in November and December.
Link
United One Step Closer to its A350-1000s
Late last week the first Airbus A350-1000 took off in Toulouse, France, reports CNET. The aircraft is a longer version of the A350-900 and part of the A350-XWB series. Airbus says that the A350-1000 has better efficiency and lower operating and maintenance costs than the similar, but older, A340-600. According to Airbus, the aircraft will use “25 per cent less fuel than existing aircraft in this size category and providing an equivalent reduction in CO2 emissions.”
LinkAirports
Airports saw minimal delays over holiday weekend, FAA, fliers report
Most US airports were seeing delays of 15 minutes or less on Sunday, the Federal Aviation Administration reported, while travelers offered anecdotal evidence of smooth lines at security checkpoints. Airlines for America forecast this year's Thanksgiving travel period to be the busiest ever for US carriers.
Link
United Airlines does big reveal at LAX
As United Airlines prepares to unveil its first Polaris international business class lounge at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) on Wednesday, the Chicago-based carrier is moving to show it hasn't forgotten about the importance of airport lounges elsewhere in its vast network. Today United debuted a completely remodeled United Club at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). United went so far as to call the updated and refreshed airport lounge the "jewel" in the carrier's $573-million effort to overhaul nearly all of its customer-facing spaces in Terminal 7 and Concourse 8 at LAX.
Link
Military
Developmental test F-35s need service life extension
The Lockheed Martin F-35 hasn’t flown a combat mission yet, but its taxed developmental aircraft need a service life extension. The Joint Strike Fighter programme intends to award F-35 prime contractor Lockheed Martin a sole source contract in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017, according to a September announcement posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website.
Link
Holloman selected as temporary home for new F-16 training unit
Holloman AFB in New Mexico has been selected by the US Air Force to be the interim home for two new Lockheed Martin F-16 training squadrons. Established as a result of “critical” pilot shortages in the air force, the two squadrons will temporarily be based at Holloman until a permanent flight training unit (FTU) is established to address the shortage on a long-term basis.
Link
Aviation Quote
A smooth touchdown in a simulator is as exciting as kissing your sister.
- Anonymous
Daily Video
Editor's Choice
Trivia
The Buff In Vietnam
1. How many crew members were on a typical bombing flight during missions over Vietnam?
Various
4
6
8
2. How many engines are on a B-52-B?
4
8
6
10
3. How many bombs could a fully loaded B-52-D carry?
112
58
32
108
4. From how many bases did B-52 aircraft fly to drop bombs over Vietnam?
4
1
3
2
5. What B-52 model was the most heavily used during bombing missions over Vietnam?
B-52-D
B-52-G
B-52-A
B-52-F
6. What B-52 model was the most heavily used during bombing missions over Vietnam?
B-52-D
B-52-G
B-52-A
B-52-F
7. How many B-52 aircraft were lost to enemy action during the 'Christmas Bombing' campaign?
15
27
0
6
8. At which U.S. Air Force base were all B-52 crew members trained during the 1960's and 1970's?
Plattsburg AFB New York
Barksdale AFB Louisiana
Castle AFB California
March AFB California
9. In which seat position did the Electronic Warfare Officer sit on a B-52?
Lower deck, left side
Lower deck, right side
Upper deck, right front
Upper deck, left rear
10. What magnetic compass system was the PRIMARY magnetic compass system for the B-52?
J-4 Compass
N-1 Compass
ANG 1 - Astrotracker
NAV 12 Compass system
11. In 1963, just prior to the Vietnam War buildup, the U.S. Air Force had the largest number of B-52 aircraft in its fleet. How many B-52's did the U.S.A.F. possess at that time?
725
1091
650
456
12. The B-52 was produced at two different sites in the U.S. One was at Wichita, Kansas. Where was the other?
Los Angeles
Atlanta
Long Island
Seattle
13. What was the function of the ANALE24 system as it was used on the B-52?
Radio Telecommunications
Bombsite mechanism
Chaff dispenser
Radar navigation set
14. During an actual bomb run, which crew member ( other than the pilot ) sometimes handled steering of the aircraft?
Electronic Warfare Officer
Co-Pilot
Navigator
Radar navigator
15. During the Christmas bombing effort (1972) how many B-52 aircraft were lost to MiG Jet fighters?
0
5
2
7
