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Six Interjet SSJ100s resume flights following inspections
Russia’s Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCA) has completed repairs on six Sukhoi Superjet 100s (SSJ100s) grounded by Mexican airline Interjet, the only SSJ100 operator in the Americas. The aircraft resumed operations in the first week in January, the manufacturer said in a statement. “The troubleshooting procedure was agreed with the Russian aviation authorities [Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia] and carried out under the control of the Mexican aviation authorities [DGAC],” SCA added. The manufacturer sent 22 technicians to Mexico for the warranty maintenance work at the end of last year. It is expected all grounded aircraft will be back in service by the middle of January.
LinkAirlines
Kaliningrad runway swept before A321 accident: airport
Kaliningrad Khrabrovo airport’s operator insists the condition of its runway was suitable to receive the Aeroflot Airbus A321 which subsequently veered off onto muddy ground and lost its nose-gear. The airport operator states that the runway was cleaned and examined just 8min before the landing, which took place at 22:54 on 3 January.
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Air Canada offers seasonal flights between Montreal, Costa Rica
Air Canada will operate flights between Montreal and Juan Santamaria International Airport in Costa Rica through April 23. The twice-weekly service "serves to further support Air Canada's ongoing global expansion, which has seen capacity grow from its strategic Montreal hub by 20% over the past two years," said Air Canada's Benjamin Smith.
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BA to cut two Spanish routes from London City
British Airways is axing flights to Madrid and Alicante from London City. The IAG-owned UK carrier says the service to Spain's capital will end on 29 January, and that the seasonal flights to Alicante will "not be resuming", having been operated between June and September last year.
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Ethiopian Airlines to add Chengdu, China route
Ethiopian Airlines is expanding its China network to include 3X-weekly Boeing 787-8 Addis Ababa-Chengdu services from June 3. Chengdu, China seventh-largest city, is a major hub for Air China, which is an Ethiopian Star Alliance partner. Passengers should be able to connect to dozens of cities in China with Air China, including Shenzhen, Kunming, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Wuhan, Changsha and Urumqi.
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Hong Kong Airlines, Kenya Airways to codeshare
Hong Kong Airlines and East Africa-based Kenya Airways, has signed a codeshare agreement between Bangkok and Hong Kong. Under the agreement, SkyTeam member Kenya Airways will place its KQ code on one of Hong Kong Airlines’ daily flights between Bangkok and Hong Kong.
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Iran Air poised for first new Airbus delivery
Iran Air is preparing to receive the first delivery from its historic 100-aircraft Airbus order, with a delivery ceremony tentatively planned for Jan. 12. An Airbus spokesman told ATW that Iran Air performed the technical acceptance on the first aircraft—an A321—over the last couple of days. “Iran Air has performed its flight tests and the airline team is satisfied that the aircraft meets its specifications and requirements,” the Airbus spokesman said.
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Norwegian pilot provider inks labor accord
OSM Aviation, the Norwegian firm that supplies pilots to low-cost carrier (LCC) Norwegian, has signed a labor agreement with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). The memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ITF, which represents more than 5 million transport workers in 150 countries, lays the foundation for further union representation and collective bargaining rights among OSM’s crews.
LinkAirports
FBI: Fort Lauderdale shooter was passenger who legally checked handgun
[UPDATE] The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confirmed the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (Florida) International Airport (FLL) shooter was an arriving passenger who used a handgun from his checked baggage. The suspect, named by law enforcement authorities as Esteban Santiago, a US citizen, flew on two Delta Air Lines flights Jan. 6, originating in Anchorage (ANC) and connecting at Minneapolis (MSP) for a flight to FLL, according to the FBI. A semi-automatic handgun was in a bag checked by the suspect at ANC. “Every indication is that he did follow TSA [Transportation Security Administration] procedures in checking in the weapon,” FBI special agent in charge of the investigation George Piro said at a Jan. 7 press conference in Fort Lauderdale.
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Major airlines offer condolences, waivers to Fort Lauderdale travelers
American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue took to Twitter to offer condolences over the recent attack at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida. Airlines issued travel waivers in response to the attack, which stopped travel from the airport.
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United, American key economic engine for Chicago
United and American Airlines grew passenger volume out of Chicago in 2016 as the city's major airports saw a record 54.1 million air travelers. "O'Hare and Midway are the gateways to the city and key economic drivers for the region," said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
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Heathrow braces for battle over noise
Ever since the UK government announced in October 2016 that it supports London Heathrow’s proposal to build a third runway, those opposed to the expansion on noise grounds have been voicing concerns over the airport’s apparent failure to specify where the new flight paths will be, and where the most noise pollution will occur. London Heathrow has insisted that it will “meet and, in most cases exceed” the conditions set by the Airports Commission on noise. These include a 6.5h ban on scheduled night flights between the hours of 23:30 and 06:00, more reliably maintained predictable respite periods, and the creation of a legally-binding noise authority.
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Aviation Quote
Our nation is indeed fortunate that we can still draw on an immense reservoir of courage, character, and fortitude, that we are still blessed with heroes like those of the Space Shuttle Challenger. Man will continue his conquest of space. To reach out for new goals and ever-greater achievements, that is the way we shall commemorate our seven Challenger heroes.
- President Ronald Reagan
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Trivia
General Aircraft Trivia
1. What is or was the Lufberry circle?
2. Elvis Presley was one of the first entertainers to own a “business jet.” What type of aircraft did he own?
3. True or False. The magnetic north pole is in constant motion and currently is moving toward the southeast at 20 kilometers per year.
4. True or False. The Boeing 314 Clipper, a 1936 flying boat used by Pan American Airlines, had a 14-seat dining room, a promenade deck on which passengers could stroll during flight and a honeymoon suite in the aft fuselage.
5. A pilot is flying a typical light airplane with a normally aspirated engine at a given gross weight. Which – if any – of the following indicated airspeeds vary (varies) with density altitude?
a. Best-glide speed
b. Best-angle-of-climb speed
c. Best-rate-of-climb speed
d. Wings level, 1-G stall speed.
