NAS Daily 16 DEC 19

airtrainer 15 Dec 19, 20:46

News

Commercial

Report: Boeing 737 production plans threatened by ongoing MAX issues
With the 737 MAX return-to-service date now set to slide deeper into 2020 and continuing uncertainty over when the aircraft will be approved by the FAA and international regulators, Boeing is reportedly delaying plans to accelerate production to 57 per month until 2021. Boeing cut 737 production from 52 to 42 per month in April in the wake of the global grounding of the MAX in March following two fatal accidents.
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Embraer E2 anomaly spurs urgent revision of smoke procedures
Testing of the re-engined Embraer E2 family has revealed an electrical system anomaly which has spurred Brazilian regulators to order an urgent revision of smoke procedures in the flight manual.
The emergency directive from Brazil’s civil aviation regulator ANAC focuses on the 190-E2 and 195-E2 variants of the regional twinjet.
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China raises concerns over Max design changes; reiterates criteria for service return
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has raised concerns with Boeing about its troubled 737 Max programme, reportedly about the security and reliability of proposed changes.
China is currently reviewing the airworthiness of the grounded 737 Max, according to protocols set by a bilateral agreement with the United States, the CAAC was reported as saying.
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Airlines

Qantas selects the Airbus A350-1000 for Project Sunrise
Qantas has announced important developments for Project Sunrise (non-stop flights from Sydney to New York and London) ahead of a final go/no go decision, which will take place in March 2020. After detailed evaluation of the Boeing 777X and Airbus A350, Qantas has selected the A350-1000 as the preferred aircraft if Sunrise proceeds.
Airbus will add an additional fuel tank and slightly increase the maximum take-off weight (MTOW) to deliver the performance required for Sunrise routes.
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Delta forecasts revenue to boost 4-6% in 2020
Delta Air Lines is projecting revenues of $49 billion in 2020, a 4-6% bump above its projected full-year 2019 top line, the carrier said during its Dec. 12 investor day.
“What I’d say is that momentum that we see in the business is going to stay,” CEO Ed Bastian said. “We’ve had a great fourth quarter of the year—that demand has carried us forward as we close out the year for the holidays,” he added.
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Azerbaijan Airlines to double fleet with Airbus, Boeing aircraft
The Azerbaijani government-owned carrier Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) will buy more than 20 new aircraft to develop its route network as plans continue to more than double its fleet.
To build up long-haul routes, AZAL has signed an agreement for two Boeing 777s, which will go into service in 2020-21.
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Flydubai launches flights to two nations
LCC flydubai has stretched its network eastwards in the past week, with the launch of new services to Krabi (Thailand) and Yangon (Myanmar). Previously, the most easterly point on its route map was Chittagong (Bangladesh).
The new services will be operated daily from Dubai, with the carrier’s Boeing 737-800 accessing the Thai holiday resort via a stop in Myanmar’s capital.
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Starlux Airlines awaiting AOC ahead of January takeoff
Taiwanese carrier Starlux Airlines is close to receiving its air operator certificate, ahead of plans for a 23 January take off.
The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) completed its review of the carrier’s application last week and this has been passed on to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), local media reports indicate.
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Air Macau receives first A321neo
Air Macau has received its first A321neo from Air Lease.
This is likely to be MSN 9263, an ACF (Airbus cabin flex) version powered by Pratt & Whitney’s PW1000G engines, Cirium fleets data shows.
The carrier is expecting a second A321neo from Air Lease’s orderbook with Airbus in April.
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Qantas A330 suffers hydraulic fluid leak
A Qantas Airbus A330-200 returned to Sydney shortly after it took off, after one of the three hydraulic systems on board suffered a leak.
The airline says in a statement that it is now cooperating with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) in investigations into the incident, which left at least two passengers injured. It is also in communication with Airbus about the incident, and will launch its own investigations.
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Airports

Dutch airports set to introduce remote towers
Maastricht and Groningen airports in the Netherlands are set to undergo a switch to digital remote tower control under a programme overseen by Dutch air navigation service LVNL.
The two airports will be part of an initial deployment of remote towers through a contract which will also establish a remote tower centre at Amsterdam Schiphol.
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Haneda Airport’s passenger waiting time system put into full operation
Haneda Airport‘s ‘Waiting Time Forecast System’, first put into operation in October 2019, is now providing fully automated waiting time forecasts for passengers.
The system analyses and visualises the status of passenger congestion at security inspections throughout the airport’s International Passenger Terminal.
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Military

Bell V-280 to begin autonomous flight tests in ‘next couple of months’
Bell plans to start autonomous flight tests of its V-280 Valor tiltrotor demonstrator in “the next couple of months.”
The company loaded the aircraft with its autonomous flight control software in the beginning of December and has been conducting pilot-controlled test flights, says Ryan Ehinger, programme manager of the V-280 Valor at Bell’s Arlington, Texas flight test facilities on 12 December.
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