NewsBAe 125 altimeter flaw suspected after 737 mid-air collision Investigators determined that a Ceiba Intercontinental Boeing 737-800 collided with a British Aerospace 125 after the executive jet failed to remain at its assigned cruise level. While the Senegalair BAe 125 was subsequently lost at sea, there is evidence of an altimetry problem with the aircraft's instruments – although the inability to retrieve the wreckage or the flight recorders means the precise details remain unclear.
LinkMid-air collision jet had near-identical earlier incidentSenegalese investigators have detailed several occurrences involving incorrect altimeter readings on the British Aerospace 125 jet involved in a fatal mid-air collision with a Boeing 737-800. None of the seven occupants of the Senegalair BAe125 survived after it crashed into the sea off the West African coast nearly 1h after the impact on 5 September 2015.
LinkIsrael tests F-35I refueling proceduresIsrael has begun an evaluation campaign using its air force's fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35I "Adirs" to test locally developed systems and aerial refuelling procedures for the type. The trials are a key step as the air force works towards initial operational capability for its Joint Strike Fighters.
LinkBlackhawk secures certification for King Air 350 engine upgradeUS engineering company and aftermarket specialist Blackhawk Modifications has received US supplemental type certification for its XP67A engine upgrade on the King Air 350, and is now working on similar approvals for the 350ER and -300 variants of the twin-engined turboprop.
LinkGlobal 7000 engine flame-out 'an isolated event': BombardierBombardier and GE say the 15 August in-flight engine flameout on the second Global 7000 flight-test vehicle (FTV2) was “an isolated event”, and the ultra-long-range business jet remains on track for certification and service entry in 2018. According to a preliminary report issued by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, FTV2 – with the registration C-GBLB – was flying at 41,000ft when its right GE Passport engine experienced an in-flight flameout following high vibration and high inter-turbine temperature readings. The incident occurred at 17:38 local time, 156nm (290km) from the Bombardier flight-test centre at Wichita airport, Kansas.
LinkAlaska Airlines chartered special eclipse-chasing flightAlaska Airlines helped passengers get a one-of-a-kind view of the solar eclipse Monday with a special three-hour, eclipse-chasing flight. Nearly 100 passengers were able to see the eclipse in totality from the clouds.
LinkAmerican Airlines names Heavyweight Air Express as GSAAmerican Airlines Cargo has chosen Heavyweight Air Express to serve as its general sales agent in the United Arab Emirates. HAE also handles American's sales in several African countries
LinkFedEx same-day service arrives in Austin, TexasFedEx announced it will launch a same-day delivery service in Austin, Texas, that will be available seven days per week. The SameDay City service includes an app that allows customers to track their packages and receive an estimated delivery time.
LinkAmerican Airlines offers premium economy seats on 3 Dallas-Hawaii flightsAmerican Airlines will offer premium economy seats on its flights from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to three Hawaiian cities starting Dec. 15. The seats provide more room and specialized service at an economy price.
LinkWho is the mystery man on Alaska Airlines' jets?Social media users have found similarities between former First Minister Alex Salmond and the Eskimo face on Alaska Airlines' planes. The airline's famous Eskimo is unidentified, although the company says it has been compared to Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley and Abraham Lincoln over the years.
LinkAir New Zealand begins introducing Wi-Fi on 777-300ERsThe next phase of Air New Zealand’s Boeing 777-300ER refit program will allow the carrier to begin the introduction of its onboard Wi-Fi service.
LinkNew Chinese regional to launch in 2018Shareholders have registered a company intended to be a regional airline in the central Chinese province of Hubei. The company, Xiangyang Airlines, said it will begin operation in 2018 with two Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC) MA60 turboprop airliners, and will have 30 aircraft within five years.
LinkGogo satellite Wi-Fi to be installed on Alaska/Virgin America aircraftAlaska Airlines has reached an agreement with Gogo to equip its Boeing 737s and Virgin America’s A320 family aircraft with Gogo’s satellite-based 2Ku Wi-Fi service, an upgrade over the air-to-ground (ATG) Gogo Wi-Fi now offered on Alaska’s flights. Alaska pointed out the 2Ku service provides 20 times more bandwidth than the ATG service and will be available on flights to Hawaii, Mexico and Costa Rica, routes on which the current service is unavailable.
LinkRussia’s Azimuth Airline receives AOCRussian aviation authorities have granted an air operator’s certificate (AOC) to new regional carrier Azimuth Airline. The airline will be based at Rostov-on-Don in the south of Russia, connecting regions of the southern part of the country including the North Caucuses. Azimuth’s network will include up to 100 routes.
LinkANALYSIS: Time running out for FAA reauthorizationDon’t hold your breath waiting for an FAA reauthorization bill including major air traffic control (ATC) reform—namely, the separation of ATC operations from FAA—to pass the US Congress in the next couple of months.
LinkDelta tests video chat assistance at DCADelta Air Lines is testing a new interactive assistance program at Washington National Airport (DCA) that allows customers to video chat from the airport with a Delta specialist—a first for US airlines. According to the Atlanta-based carrier, interactive digital screens with individual receivers are now featured at the redesigned Delta Sky Assist so customers can connect face-to-face with Delta specialists.
LinkFAA awards new grants for New Orleans, Philadelphia, Atlanta airports A new international commercial service airport in Williston, North Dakota received a boost Aug. 21 when FAA awarded $20 million in discretionary funds toward the project, as part of the US Department of Transportation (DOT)’s latest airport improvement program (AIP) grants. Construction of the new Williston Basin International Airport broke ground in October 2016; the project—which will replace the city’s existing Sloulin Field International Airport—will cost an estimated $265 million, of which $145 million is expected to be federally funded.
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