NewsComplacency, disconnected EGPWS led to Trigana ATR crashThe final report into the fatal crash of a Trigana Air ATR 42-300 in 2015 has highlighted crew, equipment, and organisational issues. The disaster occurred when the aircraft (PT-YRN) flew into Tanggo Mountain at an elevation of 8,300ft on 16 August 2015, killing all 49 passengers and five crew on board.
LinkVietJet converts 42 A320neo orders to A321neosVietJet has converted its entire orderbook for the A320neo to the larger A321neo. The carrier made the announcement following the delivery of its first A321neo during the last week of 2017.It bears registration VN-A646 (MSN 7991), and is powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines.
LinkHK Express targets 14% passenger jump in 2018HK Express carried 3.79 million passengers in 2017, up 30% increase from the year before, and is targeting to carry 4.35 million passengers this year. The carrier adds that it carried about 345,000 passengers in December, a record monthly high for the airline.
LinkEASA certifies higher-weight A350-1000Europe's air transport safety regulator has certified a higher-weight version of the Airbus A350-1000. The -1000 secured certification at its basic 308t maximum take-off weight on 21 November.
LinkOver 30 Superjets produced last year: SukhoiSukhoi's civil aircraft division manufactured 34 Superjet 100s during 2017, the largest number to roll off the company's production line in a single year. The company says it has produced over 150 of the twinjet type in the decade since the first aircraft was shown off.
LinkNew round of flight tests take PD-14 closer to certificationRussia's United Engine has embarked on a third phase of flight tests with the Aviadvigatel PD-14 for the Irkut MC-21-300. The powerplant is being carried on an Ilyushin Il-76 testbed which has been flying from the Gromov institute at the Zhukovsky airfield near Moscow.
LinkAVIC cuts metal on MA700 turbopropAVIC Aircraft says its MA700 turboprop program has progressed, with the beginning of the manufacturing of components for the aircraft's flaps and cargo door. The flap components are manufactured by AVIC's subsidiary in Xian, while those for the cargo door are handled by another subsidiary in Shenyang.
LinkEasyJet forecasts carrying 90 million passengers in 2018UK LCC easyJet is expecting to increase its annual passenger total from 80 to 90 million in 2018, with its fleet set to grow by another 20 aircraft over the next few months.
LinkAir Serbia names Naysmith as interim CEOAir Serbia has named Etihad Airways executive Duncan Naysmith as interim CEO, following Dane Kondić’s decision to step down for personal reasons at the end of January. On Dec. 25, Air Serbia announced that Naysmith would assume full management responsibility “effective immediately.” There will be a handover period until Kondić leaves at the end of January 2018.
LinkCBP hit with New Year’s Day passenger processing system shutdownUS Customs and Border Protection (CBP) started 2018 with an unintentional two-hour shutdown of its computer system the evening of Jan. 1, generating significant delays at several US airports for passengers arriving from international originating points. CBP issued a statement at about 10:30 p.m. indicating all affected airports were back on line “after a temporary outage of CBP’s processing systems.”
LinkNorwegian regional FlyViking to cease operationsRecently created Norwegian regional airline FlyViking will halt all operations Jan. 12 following a series of technical and other problems. The Tromsø-based carrier began operations March 27, 2017 with services connecting Tromsø, Hammerfest and Bodø in the north of the country. It had a fleet of four Bombardier Dash 8-100 regional turboprops.
LinkUnited Airlines' invitation-only Classified restaurant openUnited Airlines' Classified restaurant, tucked into a secret area of Terminal C at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport, has just 36 seats and is reserved for travelers who have scored an invitation. Travelers can request an invitation, but the airline won't comment on the length of the wait list.
LinkFedEx picks cockpit recorders for use in new CessnasFedEx has chosen Appareo Systems Vision 1000 cockpit recorders to be installed in its Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft. The recorders collect inertial data, ambient and intercom audio, and high-resolution cockpit imagery that the company will use for its flight operational quality assurance.
LinkHawaiian Airlines flight went backwards in timeHawaiian Airlines passengers on Flight 446 left Auckland, New Zealand, at 12:05 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2018, and time-traveled back to 2017. The flight crossed the international date line and landed in Honolulu at 10:16 a.m. on Dec. 31, 2017, local time.
LinkKorean Air to deploy first CS300 on domestic networkKorean Air has taken delivery of its first Bombardier CS300, which is scheduled to be deployed on the Seoul-based carrier’s domestic network Jan. 16.
LinkEmirates suspends Dubai-Tunis flights after security rowEmirates Airline has suspended flights from Dubai to Tunis in a row between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Tunisia over the carriage of Tunisian women. According to media reports, several Tunisian women were barred from traveling to Dubai from Tunis on Emirates flights shortly before Christmas, a decision that caused anger in the North African state.
LinkLessor CALC takes 50 A320neosAirbus continued its strong finish to 2017 with a firm order from China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC) for 50 A320neo family aircraft. This latest order brings from CALC brings its total order book to date to around 200 of the European manufacturer’s single-aisle aircraft.
LinkIndigo seals deal for 430 Airbus neosAirbus has finalized agreements for which MoUs were signed in November during the Dubai Air Show and which cover the purchase of 430 A320neo family aircraft for four ultra-LCC airlines. Airbus announced Dec. 28 that the orders, done through Phoenix-based private equity fund Indigo Partners, had been sealed. The total order is made up of 274 A320neos and 156 A321neos worth $49.5 billion at list prices.
LinkAerCap firms options on 50 A320neos Irish-headquartered lessor AerCap has exercised options on 50 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, with deliveries starting from 2022. This latest commitment takes AerCap to a total of 270 A320neo family aircraft, owned and on order.
LinkPiaggio boosts prospects of P180 Avanti in five-year industrial planThe prospects for Piaggio Aerospace’s beleaguered P180 Avanti Evo business aircraft have been boosted by a new, strategic five-year industrial plan, announced by the Italian airframer in December 2017 and designed to secure its long-term financial and operational stability.
LinkUS offers Super Tucanos to NigeriaThe US ambassador to Nigeria has presented a letter of acceptance to the Nigerian air force for the sale of 12 Embraer A-29 Super Tucanos, Nigerian officials say. “The US ambassador also indicated the readiness of relevant US Government officials to work with NAF officials to facilitate the early delivery of the aircraft once payment had been made,” he release states.
LinkFrance receives first C-130J transportFrance's first Lockheed Martin C-130J was delivered to its Orléans air base on 22 December 2017. Carrying the service registration 61-PO, the tactical transport is the first of four C-130Js being acquired by Paris. Its second airlifter will be received later this year, while a pair of KC-130J tanker/transports – needed to refuel combat helicopters in-flight – are to follow during 2019.
LinkAirbus Helicopters intensifies compensation fight with PolandAirbus Helicopters has stepped up its claims for compensation from the Polish government over the collapse in 2016 of negotiations related to the acquisition of 50 H225M Caracals for all three branches of its armed forces. According to the Dziennik Gazeta Prawna newspaper, the French manufacturer has written to multiple government departments in Warsaw, and also the Polish prime minister, calling for international arbitration in the dispute.
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