NewsCommercial
Bombardier: CSeries aircraft performing better than expected
Bombardier said it will increase the formal specifications for the CSeries CS300, as the aircraft’s per seat and trip costs have already proven 2% better than its original brochure values. “Within six months we’ve got a two-member family into revenue service. That’s never been done before,” Bombardier president commercial aircraft Fred Cromer said last week at the CS300’s unveiling with Latvian launch customer airBaltic.
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Airbus books $1.6 billion in commercial aircraft orders in November
Airbus reported firm orders* for 14 commercial aircraft in November, valued at $1.6 billion at list prices, from two airlines and one undisclosed customer. The Toulouse-based manufacturer’s biggest order for the month came from an undisclosed customer Nov. 15, for five A321ceos and three A320ceos, valued at $868.5 million. Additionally, Sharjah, UAE-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Air Arabia ordered five A320ceos, valued at $490 million, and US-based Hawaiian Airlines placed an order for an A330-200, valued at $231.5 million at list prices.
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Comlux to offer additional fuel tank modification on A321ceo
Comlux, the business aviation services company, is offering A321 operators an Airbus-approved additional fuel tank installation it says will typically add 300nm (556km) to the narrowbody's range. The Swiss-based firm - which is also pitching the modification on the corporate jet variant of the A321 - will carry out the work at its Indianapolis completion centre. If there is sufficient take-up, Comlux will consider offering it at a larger US site and also at a facility in Europe, says president Richard Gaona.
LinkAirlines
Alaska Air Group reaches deal with DOJ to allow Virgin America buy
Alaska Air Group and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) have agreed to terms that will allow for regulatory approval of Alaska’s $4 billion acquisition of Virgin America, which Alaska said it plans to close “in the very near future.” Seattle-based Alaska, parent of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, has agreed to reduce its codesharing relationship with American Airlines in order to alleviate DOJ’s antitrust concerns regarding the merger. But Alaska will not give up any assets to gain clearance to buy San Francisco-based Virgin America.
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Alitalia finalizing new business strategy
Italian flag carrier Alitalia is planning to release a new strategy this month and has named former LATAM Airlines executive Jorge Vilches as CCO after three board resignations. Vilches was most recently CEO of the Pullmantur Cruiseline Group. Alitalia’s board met Dec. 2 to discuss the airline’s business strategy in light of “significant changes to market conditions since the launch of ‘new’ Alitalia in late 2014.”
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American Airlines pays pilots double-time to fly over holiday
American Airlines will offer double pay to almost 200 pilots who say they were improperly scheduled to work on Christmas. According to the Allied Pilots Association, an estimated 198 high-seniority American pilots were scheduled to work on Dec. 25, while more junior pilots were given the day off. The issue stems from the preferential bidding system American employees use to request shifts. The company is changing the complex formula it uses to award shifts — which balances operational needs with employee requests and seniority — as it continues integrating since the 2013 US Airways merger.
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The new American Airlines
After its merger with US Airways, American Airlines became of the largest airlines in the world. The airline offers around 6,700 daily flights to approximately 350 destinations.
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Hainan Airlines applies to open three UK routes in 2017
China’s Hainan Airlines has applied to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to open three direct routes to the UK in 2017 after a new bilateral agreement took effect in October. According to the CAAC, the Haikou-based carrier plans to open 3X-weekly Chengdu-London Airbus A330-200 or Boeing 787 services in January 2017. It also wants to open 3X-weekly Shenzhen-London A330-200 or 787 services in August 2017, and 3X-weekly Changsha-London A330-200 services in April 2017.
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Hawaiian CEO optimistic on potential for ATC reform
Mark Dunkerley, the president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, told CNBC Monday he is encouraged by the early signs of President-elect Donald Trump's intentions to invest in infrastructure in his presidency. "There are a lot of unknowns about a Trump administration, and we don't have a fully fleshed-out policy agenda as far as transportation is concerned, but I think the early signs are pretty encouraging," Dunkerley said. "We're hearing a lot about infrastructure. There's a lot to be done in the infrastructure of our air traffic control system that needs reform."
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Korean Air to take delivery of seven CSeries 300s in 2017
Seoul-based Korean Air expects to take delivery of seven Bombardier CSeries 300s next year, becoming the first operator of the type in Asia, Bombardier VP-CSeries aircraft program Robert Dewar said at last week’s airBaltic CS300 unveiling. “There are already Korean Air employees in Montreal, Mirabel, on the production side. Deliveries could happen from mid-2017 onward,” Dewar said.
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RwandAir expands despite economic challenges
RwandAir continues to add aircraft and expand long-haul routes even though it faces challenges in Africa’s economy and in the aviation industry. The Kigali-based carrier has taken delivery of new Airbus and Boeing aircraft in less than three months and recently received its second Airbus A330-300, for which it was the launch customer in Eastern Africa. It received its first of the type in September.
LinkAirports
Milestone year for WAW as it breaks the 12mppa barrier for first time
The lucky 12 millionth passenger, Anna Stando, who arrived in Warsaw on a SWISS flight from Zurich, received an annual access pass to the airport’s Executive Lounges, as well as gifts from the carrier. Airport director, Mariusz Szpikowski, said he expects the Xmas rush to ensure that Chopin handles around 12.5 million passengers by year end.
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Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji unveils new specialist cargo facility
According to operator MIAL, the new export facility will enhance the airport's export handling capacity by adding 3,000,000 tons of cargo per annum. Spread over 7,500 square metres, the state-of-the-art facility provides exclusive handling for heavy, odd size and bonded cargo.
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Military
Trump demands cancellation for Air Force One replacement
Six weeks before his inauguration, US President-elect Donald Trump has already called for the cancellation of a US Air Force programme to replace two 25-year-old Boeing VC-25As with a new Head of State derivative of the 747-8. “Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control,” Trump tweeted on 6 December, adding: “Cancel order!”
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China flew nuclear-capable bombers around Taiwan before Trump call
Less than a week before President-elect Donald Trump spoke with Taiwan’s president over the phone, China flew a pair of long-range nuclear-capable bombers around Taiwan for the first time, two U.S. officials revealed to Fox News
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Russian Naval Aviation Learns Valuable But 'Bitter Lessons'
The crash of a Su-33 fighter jet that skidded off the deck of the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier became yet another “bitter lesson” learned by Russian armed forces during the military operation in Syria. A Russian Su-33 fighter plane ended up skidding off the deck of Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier during landing due to the arresting device malfunction.
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Aviation Quote
Trouble in the air is very rare. It is hitting the ground that causes it.
- Amelia Earhart, 20 Hrs 40 Mins, 1928.
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Trivia
General Trivia
1. Piper named 11 types of aircraft after Native American tribes. Which was the first, and how many can you name?
2. Why does it appear to the casual observer(Standing abeam and at a distance) that a departing B747 or A380 climbs at a lower airspeed than a smaller jet, such as an 737 at the same speed and climb angle?
3. What WW2 airplane was known as the "Whistling Death?"
4. Acrophobia is the fear of heights, what is the fear of flying in an aircraft called?
5. Name a well-known type of aircraft in which the pilot could extend the landing gear from the wheel wells, but could not retract them?
