You are at netAirspace : Forum : Air and Space Forums : netAirspace Daily News

NEWS

Bernstein flags 787 wiring issue, early A350 delay
New production issues related to wiring present yet another challenge to the 787 program and threaten further delivery delays, according to a new report from Bernstein Research, which also claimed that the early stage of the A350 program is behind schedule.
Link

United's Tilton calls for major government funding for biofuel development
United Airlines Chairman and CEO Glenn Tilton, in his role as chairman of the Air Transport Assn., yesterday called for large-scale government loans, loan guarantees and grants to jumpstart development and mass production of alternative fuels, including biofuels for the airline industry.
Link

Report: EC to postpone aviation emissions cap announcement until 2010
The European Commission won't formally announce a baseline aviation sector CO2 emissions standard until mid-2010, postponing the announcement for the second time, Bloomberg reported.
Link

BA's Walsh touts all-premium New York-London flight as 'bold step'
British Airways CEO Willie Walsh described the carrier's new all-business-class A318 New York JFK-London City service, launched Tuesday, as a "vote of confidence in the future."
Link

DARPA Sat Project Could Change Industry
A fractionated satellite concept that replaces large satellites with clusters of wirelessly-linked modular spacecraft flying in loose formation has the potential to drive cultural change and reinvigorate a “mature” U.S. space industry, proponents say.
Link

Emirates and Etihad hiring freeze thaws

The United Arab Emirates' two fast-growing network carriers - Emirates and Etihad Airways - are beginning to recruit again after a period of consolidation and a hiring freeze.
Link

United Aircraft aims to appease dissatisfied Tu-204 operators

Russia's United Aircraft has pledged to respond to complaints by Tu-204/214 operators about the Tupolev twinjet's poor operational reliability, amid hints of a grounding order by the country's regulator.
Link

Northrop Grumman calls new KC-X competition unfair

Two competitors vying a second time for the $35 billion KC-X contract have responded to the US Air Force's draft request for proposals in stridently different tones. Northrop, however, has already complained that the new acquisition process is "fundamentally unfair", because the Department of Defense briefed pricing details only to Boeing during the last round.
Link


Other News

Japanese Transport Minister Seiji Maehara moved to calm nerves over the fate of Japan Airlines, saying at a news conference that he believes JAL can revive itself on its own but that "the government is ready to step in" and offer its support for the loss-making carrier. He told reporters he wanted to quell "excessive anxiety" about the airline, which is restructuring under government supervision after receiving a state-backed loan. "I believe JAL still has more than enough reserve power, but in case the worst happens, the government will support," Maehara said.

US Senate's proposed cap-and-trade climate change legislation, formally introduced yesterday by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and John Kerry (D.-Mass.), contains more aggressive emissions reduction targets but covers aviation emissions in the same way as the House-passed version of the bill, according to Air Transport Assn. VP-Environmental Affairs Nancy Young. "Sad to say, the Boxer bill did not improve on the House bill," which seeks to limit aviation CO2 emissions "through an upstream tax on fuel," Young told attendees at the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative meeting in Washington. Under both versions, "every drop of [airline] fuel has to be covered by a greenhouse gas allowance" purchased by the supplier. She said this provision would add $5 billion to the industry's fuel bill in 2012 alone.

Air India pilots ended their four-day wildcat strike yesterday after the government overruled management's plan for massive wage cuts. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel reportedly told AI that the pay cuts would have to be withdrawn and "productivity-linked incentives" should be paid to 7,000 of its highest-paid workers on Oct. 7, the Economic Times reported. The pilot dispute revolved around the airline's decision to ax those incentive payments, which account for 50% of the pay of pilots and other management, to cut costs. The impromptu strike, which also was meant to express pilots' dissatisfaction with not being allowed to unionize, forced AI to cancel 25% of its flights.

But the airline's problems are not resolved even with the work action over, Kapil Kaul of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation told the Economic Times. "The current cost structure of Air India is untenable," he said. "I am not very sure what happens now. It will be very unfortunate if the management actually withdraws its cost-cutting." AI appealed for a bailout from the government, but in response Singh's government ordered it to produce a credible turnaround plan first.

Vietnam Airlines expressed concern about 787 production delays and is considering cancelling some of its 16 orders. VN has eight 787s on order while its leasing affiliate, Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Co., has an additional eight. President Pham Ngoc Minh told Reuters that the airline is "not happy about the constant delays. We expected to get our planes in 2009, then 2010, and now nobody can confirm to us which is the exact delivery date. I can be patient but it gives us a lot of headaches."

United Airlines Chairman and CEO Glenn Tilton told reporters in Washington yesterday that the company "expects to get further information for manufacturers by the end of the year" regarding its request for proposals to Airbus and Boeing covering a large order for widebody aircraft.

Separately, UA announced yesterday that it plans to offer 19 million shares of its common stock in an underwritten registered public offering. It further plans to offer $175 million of convertible senior notes due in 2029 in a concurrent underwritten registered public offering.

Austrian Airlines Group said it will present its "Austrian Airlines Next Generation" plan on Oct. 6 in Vienna. "We'll announce the concept and strategy for how the company will be integrated into Lufthansa, where help is needed from LH and so on," a spokesperson said.

China Southern Airlines decided to sell its 50% stake in MTU Maintainance Zhuhai to its parent China Southern Air Holding Co. for CNY1.61 billion ($235.5 million) in an effort to concentrate on its mainline business and reduce its debt. The deal requires approval from CZ's minority shareholders and relevant government organs. MTU Maintainance Zhuhai was launched in 2001 with registered capital of $63.1 million. CZ holds 50% while MTU Aero Engines GmbH owns the other half.

Air New Zealand 777-300ER was deployed to ferry supplies to Samoa to help with tsunami recovery efforts. GM-Airline Operations David Morgan said the aircraft left for Samoa yesterday stocked with several hundred blankets, more than 1,000 t-shirts and basic amenity packs with items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Allegiant Air will launch twice-weekly service between Wichita and Phoenix Mesa Nov. 20 aboard a 150-seat MD-80.

Air Astana will launch weekly service between Almaty and Kuala Lumpur Oct. 31 aboard a 767.

Sabena Technics signed a two-year integrated services contract with Mistral Air covering the Italian cargo operator's fleet of ATR 42s.



AVIATION QUOTE

Later, in the early teens, I used to ride my bike every Saturday morning to the nearest airport, ten miles away, push airplanes in and out of the hangars, and clean up the hangars.

Alan Shepard



AEROSPACE TERM

Gradient Index Optics

Optical systems with components whose refractive indexes vary continuously within the material used for the optical elements.



DAILY VIDEO





HUMOR

Which Branch Is Better

A Soldier, a Sailor, an Airman. and a Marine, got into an argument about which service is "The Best."

The arguing became so heated, that they eventually ended up killing each other.

Soon, they found themselves at the Pearly Gates of Heaven. Soon they meet St Peter and decide that only he would be the ultimate source of truth and honesty so they ask him:

"St Peter, which branch of the American Armed Forces is the best?"

St. Peter instantly replies: "I can't answer that. But, I will ask God what he thinks the next time I see him."

Some time later the three see St. Peter again and remind him of the question and ask if he was able to find the answer. Suddenly, a sparkling white dove lands on St. Peter's shoulder. In the dove's beak is a note with glistening gold dust.

St. Peter says to the four men, "Your answer from the Boss. Let's see what he says." St Peter opens the note, trumpets blare, gold dust drifts into the air, harps play crescendos and St Peter begins to read it aloud to the four young men:

MEMORANDUM TO SOLDIERS, SEAMEN, MARINES, AND AIRMEN
SUBJECT: Which Military Service Is The Best?
"Gentlemen, all the Branches of the Armed Services are Honorable and Noble. Each of you served your country well and with distinction. Being a member of the American Armed Forces represents a special calling warranting special respect, tribute, and dedication. Be proud of that."

Very Respectfully,

GOD,USA SF (Ret.)



TRIVIA

Soviet Fighters


1.


2.


3.


4.


5.


6.


7.


8.


9.


10.

1. Sukhoi Su-22 Fitter-F
2. Sukhoi Su-15 Flagon
3. Mikojan-Gurevitch MiG-19 Farmer
4.
5. Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer
6. Mikojan-Gurevitch MiG-23 Flogger
7. Mikojan-Gurevitch MiG-31 Foxhound
8. Sukhoi Su-11 Fishpot
9. Mikojan-Gurevitch MiG-21 Fishbed
10. Sukhoi Su-30 Flanker-C

4. looks like the MiG-31 Foxhound to me.
7. is the MiG-25 Foxbat.

#4 has to be a MiG-31 becasue it has AA-9 Amos missiles under the belly, those (AFAIK) haven't been mated to the MiG-25. The AA-6 Acrid's under the wing could be carried by either the MiG-25 or MiG-31. Another EXCELLENT clue is the inflight refueling probe in front of the cockpit, MiG-25 no do inflight tanky.

I think #7 is a MiG-25 because of the wingtip missile rails.

Edit: Also, #6 is a MiG-27 rather than a MiG-23, check the nose. #5 is the MiG-23.

Trivia hurts me today. No clue.

But this:



MEMORANDUM TO SOLDIERS, SEAMEN, MARINES, AND AIRMEN
SUBJECT: Which Military Service Is The Best?
"Gentlemen, all the Branches of the Armed Services are Honorable and Noble. Each of you served your country well and with distinction. Being a member of the American Armed Forces represents a special calling warranting special respect, tribute, and dedication. Be proud of that."

Very Respectfully,

GOD,USA SF (Ret.)



Any questions?

UPDATE

Air Force: Missile-warning satellites delayed until 2011
Software malfunctions and assembly problems are among the reasons cited for the Air Force's decision to delay launching a constellation of five satellites designed to give an early warning of missiles. Officials now hope to put the $11.6 billion constellation into orbit in early 2011. The satellites originally were slated to launch in September 2002, but a series of delays pushed the target date back at least four times, most recently to December 2009.
Link

Senate votes to preserve C-17 funding
The Senate on Wednesday rejected a measure to strip funding for 10 additional C-17 cargo planes out of the defense spending bill. Though the Obama administration has complained that the $2.5 billion appropriation is unnecessary, the president has not threatened a veto over the issue. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who sponsored the move to kill the C-17, complained after the vote: "You can't walk through these hallways without bumping into a lobbyist."
Link

As Senate misses another FAA deadline, industry calls for action
Another deadline passed this week for a long-term FAA budget, and aviation industry groups have united to urge Congress to focus on the issue. With 10 million jobs and $1 trillion at stake, 32 trade groups are insisting that the Senate pass a comprehensive reauthorization bill rather than another stopgap measure. The FAA's current budget was slated to expire Sept. 30, though lawmakers have extended the authorization through Dec. 31 while they search for a long-term solution.
Link

Report forecasts global airfare increase for 2010
Citing GDP growth and decreased airline capacity, American Express Business Travel is predicting worldwide airfares will rise next year by up to 6% in the long-haul segment, while domestic fares could increase as much as 5%. At least one Wall Street analyst calls the forecast "optimistic," noting that if business travel remains soft, airlines "will be lucky to just maintain their current prices."
Link

Midwest to switch aircraft, lose workers
Union officials at Midwest Airlines say the carrier's last Boeing 717 aircraft will be gone by Dec. 1, replaced by E190 jets operated by new owner Republic Airways Holdings. Midwest is expected to lay off about 170 employees in conjunction with the move.
Link

Report: Pilots ignoring rules against low-altitude chatter
Pilot violations of the "sterile cockpit rule" may have played a role in six crashes since 2004, according to a USA TODAY review of citations by the National Transportation Safety Board. Since 1981, federal laws have banned extraneous chatter by cockpit crews when a plane is under 10,000 feet, but the newspaper suggests that rule is often bent. "We're seeing too many of these slips," says FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt.
Link

NASA faces tough time line for Atlantis launch
A launch of the space shuttle Atlantis, currently planned for November, could be pushed into next year by a combination of rocket launches, meteor showers and a traffic jam at the International Space Station. The scheduled blast-off date is Nov. 12, but the sun's angle that time of year means NASA will have a window of only eight days to get Atlantis off the ground. Failing that, Jan. 7 could be the next launch opportunity.
Link

TSA to install 150 more body scanners
The Transportation Security Administration said it will greatly expand its use of controversial scanners that enable screeners to see through travelers' clothes, revealing hidden weapons. Some lawmakers, however, have labeled the body scanners as intrusive, and the House approved an initiative that allows the TSA to use the scanners only when passengers are flagged by other screening measures.
Link

Suicide bombers getting more creative, experts say
Terrorism experts are concerned that a jihadist in Saudi Arabia was able to go through two separate airport security checks with an explosive device hidden in his rectum. Abdullah Al Asiri failed to kill his target, a Saudi prince, because the amount of explosive material was too small, but terrorist groups may already be experimenting with ways to overcome such limitations. "Al-Qaida has learned from this -- of that I'm quite certain," one expert tells Homeland Security Today, adding that larger bombs could be surgically implanted inside terrorists.
Link

ANSWERS:
1. Sukhoi Su-17 (FITTER)
2. Sukhoi Su-15 (FLAGON)
3. Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-19 (FARMER)
4. Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-31 (FOXHOUND)
5. Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-23 (FLOGGER)
6. Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-27 (FLOGGER) Ground Attack Variant
7. Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-25 (FOXBAT)
8. Sukhoi Su-9 (FISHPOT)
9. Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21 (FISHBED)
10. Sukhoi Su-37 (FLANKER)