Go Back To School, Stella Oduah Tells Journalist

The Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah on Tuesday said the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation' report did not recommend her sack by President Goodluck Jonathan

Oduah, who was responding to a question that drew her attention to the report said that "what they said is that Mr President can and should review; that is what they said there".

She also asked the journalist who asked the question to go back to school.

"I think it means you don't read or you probably don't understand English, because I read it" adding that "what they said is that Mr. President can and should review; that is what they said there. Probably, you should go back to school."

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British Airways Jet crashes into building in South Africa (Photo)

A Boeing 747 jet belonging to British Airways, yesterday Sunday Dec. 22nd crashed its right wing into an airport building inside the OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Pic above)

The flight, which was on its way to London, veered off the taxiway as it headed to the runway and buried its right wing in the 2-storey brick structure, injuring four airport officials, Daily Mail reports.

A statement from the South African Civil Aviation Authority's (SACAA) preliminary report, said the aircraft was cleared for takeoff on Runway 03L but took a smaller runway.

'The air crew got instructions from the Air Traffic Control to taxi using taxi way B. The crew continued onto taxi way M which is narrower resulting in the aircraft impacting on an office building behind the SAA Technical hangers.

A spokesman for OR Tambo airport said the 17 Crew and 185 passengers who were in the aircraft escaped unharmed. They were evacuated from the aircraft and spent the night in a hotel.

Aerospace Sales Projected at $232 Billion for 2014

Military spending cuts offset the increase in sales for commercial aircraft leading to a slight reduction in overall aerospace sales for 2013, however demand is expected to increase leading to an overall gain in 2014, according to the year-end forecast released by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) on Wednesday, Dec. 18.

The forecast projects a less than 1 percent drop in overall aerospace sales to $220 billion for 2013, down from $222 billion in 2012. However AIA is projecting a 5 percent increase to $232 billion in 2014, with the uptick coming mostly from strong civil aircraft sales growth.

Civil Vs. Military Aircraft

Civil aircraft sales were projected to rise 7.7 percent to $67 billion this year from 2012, according to the report, but those gains are offset by a drop in military aircraft sales, as well as declines in missile, space and other aerospace sectors.

"Significantly, a nearly $5 billion increase in civil aircraft sales was offset by a nearly four billion decrease in military aircraft sales, and a $2 billion decline in civil and defense space sales," said Marion Blakey, president and CEO of AIA, referring to aircraft spending in 2013.

"We believe strong civil aircraft sales growth and an uptick in the space sector will contribute to a total of roughly $232 billion in sales next year," Blakey added.

Despite the projected slight decline in sales for 2013, U.S. aerospace exports increased by $12.5 billion resulting in a $75.3 billion favorable trade balance for the industry. Sales of civil aircraft, engines, avionics and other components accounted for 88 percent of aerospace exports, according to AIA's forecast.

In 2014, civil aircraft will once again lead the industry as AIA projects an 8 percent increase to $72.1 billion driven by higher sales of general aviation aircraft. AIA is projecting GA shipments to reach 1,661 units valued at $10.2 billion for 2013 and those numbers are expected to increase to 1,801 units worth $11.3 billion next year.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Finally, the group also addressed the growth of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for both military and civil use. AIA expects UAS spending to "nearly double over the next decade, from $6.6 billion to $11.4 billion on an annual basis," according to the report.

The FAA recently released its "UAS Roadmap," outlining the regulatory standards, policies, certification and operational procedures required to address full UAS integration into the national airspace system (NAS). Before the end of the year, the agency is also expected to announce six testing sites where researchers can develop a body of data and operational experiences about the safe integration of UAS into the civil airspace.

Blakey mentioned the surge in public attention about UAS in 2013, especially the recent announcement about Amazon Prime Air, which serves as an example of the potential commercial usage of these systems.

"The advent of domestic UAS received a lot of public attention this year," said Blakey, "I can’t predict for you exactly when UAS will be used to deliver packages to your front door, but I can tell you this — with the support of groups like AIA, we will get these benefits, while also safeguarding property and privacy."

Global Hawk UAS Performs First Canadian Civil Flight

 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS) performed its first flight within Canadian civil airspace, a mission to collect environmental data in the Canadian Arctic, the aerospace and defense manufacturer said Thursday, Dec. 19.

Image of a snow covered mountain taken from a high resolution camera on the NASA Global Hawk during a nighttime flight over the Canadian Arctic. Photo, courtesy of Northrop Grumman.

The flight was part of a collaborative project between Northrop Grumman and the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. Researchers equipped the aircraft with an uninhabited aerial vehicle synthetic aperture radar (UAVSAR) and a high-resolution camera to conduct ground mapping and visual observation of Arctic ice caps during a 21-hour flight.

Ground control station operators based controlled the Global Hawk flight from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. over several predetermined areas in the Arctic before returning it to NASA Dryden, Northrop said.

American and Canadian scientists are using information collected from the flight to study changes in topography and Arctic ice caps.

"Flying high and long missions with advanced scientific equipment over the Arctic provides scientists with real data to better understand the changes that are affecting our world," said Janis Pamiljans, Northrop Grumman's sector vice president and general manager of unmanned systems. "The high-altitude, long-endurance NASA Global Hawk is one of the best tools researchers have to study weather phenomena."

Gogo Wins Aeromexico Deal for 737s

Aeromexico has a new agreement to add Gogo's in-flight connectivity network to its fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft, Mexico's largest carrier said Thursday, Dec. 19.
Under the agreement Gogo's Ku-band satellite service will be provided for the 737 fleet, and Inmarsat's SwiftBroadband satellite connectivity for the airline's fleet of regional jets. The connectivity service and Gogo Vision are expected to be available to Aeromexico passengers for the second half of 2014.
The Aeromexico deal follows another recent major international partnership for Gogo, with Japan Airlines (JAL) signing the company's first foreign-based carrier contract to add the Ku-satellite network to its entire domestic fleet beginning in the summer of 2014.
"As the airline that connects Mexico and Mexico with the world, we look forward to being the first Mexican carrier and the first in Latin America to offer our passengers in-flight Wi-Fi via Gogo, the leader in this space," said Andrew Conesa, CEO of Aeromexico.

RUAG EXTENDS MRO FOOTPRINT IN SWITZERLAND

In a move to further improve support for its international customers, RUAG Aviation (RUAG) is establishing a new helicopter facility at Sion Airport (LSGS) in western Switzerland. Launching in early 2014, the facility will initially focus on MRO services of Sikorsky S-76 helicopters. Further helicopter types could be added to the portfolio.

Comprising of a hangar, office and workshop space, the site will initially be staffed by a team of two. The team will be reinforced by specialists from RUAG Aviation’s helicopter facilities in Alpnach and Mollis, according to the specific requirements of individual projects.

“Our international customers will benefit from faster on-site services through this new facility,” RUAG Aviation’s GM of helicopters Andreas Baumann. “This milestone also marks the strengthening of our position in the twin turbine and VIP helicopter segments.”

Heavy fog hits airports in south of England

Heavy fog has led to delays and cancellations at airports in the south of England today.


British Airways said fog had impacted on flow rates at both Heathrow and London City airports.


Stansted airport also reported low visibility was affecting flights and causing delays.


Passengers were advised to regularly check the latest flight information.

Flybe has hit out at air traffic controllers for washing their hands of any financial compensation to passengers hit by the flight "fiasco" at the weekend.

The airline said it's unacceptable that airlines have to act as the "insurers of last resort yet again" under European law.

Flybe voices anger over NATS 'fiasco'

Flybe has hit out at air traffic controllers for washing their hands of any financial compensation to passengers hit by the flight "fiasco" at the weekend.

The airline said it's unacceptable that airlines have to act as the "insurers of last resort yet again" under European law.




Chief commercial officer Paul Simmons said: "It's clearly not a fair system when NATS can wash their hands of any financial compensation to the millions of passengers who were let down. But the airlines once again have to act as 'the Insurers of last resort' and pick up the tab. That's really not acceptable."

Simmons said Flybe had 170 flights scheduled for Saturday December 7 but only 27% of our services got away within 15 minutes of their scheduled time and four were cancelled.

He paid tribute to the work of staff who helped deal with the disruption.

Ryanair has also criticised NATS and its regulator Civil Aviation Authority, calling on contingency plans to be put in place.

NATS is currently carrying out an investigation of what went wrong with its internal phone systems.

A spokesman for the CAA said it was waiting for the outcome of that review before a decision will be made on compensation.

He said airlines pay a fee for NATS services and that its performance was regulated over set periods of time.

"It's too early to say whether there could be any reduction in fees for airlines," he said.
 

Virgin to start charging passengers to select seats

Virgin Atlantic will start charging economy passengers to pre-select their seats from next year in a move that is bound to be unpopular with families.


The airline said the charges, from £50 for a round-trip flight, would be introduced from May 1, although a note on Virgin's website suggests fees will be introduced from April 1 on flights from Gatwick to Las Vegas and charges won't apply to other US routes until June 1.


Also, passengers flying between the UK and Tokyo will remain exempt from the charge.


A spokeswoman said all passengers will still be able to reserve a seat free of charge when online check-in opens 24 hours before departure, but if they want to select a specific seat any earlier they will have to pay.


She said the charge was being introduced as the airline has found it impossible to guarantee every seat chosen in advance due to last-minute changes in the type of aircraft operating a route.


"If fewer passengers choose seats in advance we would be able to re-seat most passengers in very similar seats to their original choices," she said.  "So from 1 May 2014 we will be introducing a charge to choose your economy seat in advance. "


Seat selection can be made on most routes 336 days in advance to passengers prepared to pay the fee; those who wait until check-in opens will be able to choose from the seats that are left, which might mean parents travelling with young children risk being separated on a long-haul flight.


The charge will be £25 per person per flight on Virgin's long-haul services and £8 per person, per flight on Little Red domestic flights.


A note on Virgin's website says frequent flyers won't be able to pay for seat selection using Miles or Miles Plus money, but the airline hopes to be able to offer this facility shortly.


Rival British Airways already charges a £25 per flight (£50 return) if passengers want to select their seats on long-haul flights.

Norwegian Selects iPad for Boeing 737 Maintenance

Norwegian Air Shuttle has reached an agreement to begin supporting its line maintenance operations with iPad applications, Boeing said Monday, Dec. 16.

Under the agreement, Norwegian will implement Boeing's new suite of iPad-based mobile maintenance applications for its fleet of Boeing 737s. The iPads will be used by Norwegian technicians for their back-end maintenance planning system for real-time access to parts inventory listings, maintenance troubleshooting and operations decisions.

"Norwegian clearly recognizes the value in efficiencies gained by putting real-time information in the hands of their maintenance crews at the airplane," said John Maggiore, director of fleet and maintenance solutions at Boeing Digital Aviation.

Boeing recently launched its mobile maintenance applications at the MRO Europe conference in London, based on extensive input from several airlines.

"Our technicians are very excited to be able to use these new applications," said Espen Hartsang, lead mechanic at Norwegian Air Shuttle. "This will make our jobs much easier. Now we will have real-time mobile access to all the information we need, so we can improve our maintenance turn times and keep our airplanes flying safely."

Frankfurt Airport Adds GBAS Landing System

Frankfurt Airport will begin installing a ground-based augmentation system (GBAS) to replace its legacy instrument landing systems (ILS) and accommodate for future increases in air traffic, Honeywell said Monday, Dec. 16.

The airport will deploy Honeywell's SmartPath, which has certifications from both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Germany's Federal Supervisory Authority for Air Navigation Services (BAF). Deployment of SmartPath at Frankfurt has begun following recent flight tests of the system using a Dassault Falcon 900EX business jet equipped with GPS landing systems technology under a partnership between the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) program and Honeywell, Airbus, Thales and Germany's air navigation service provider DFS.

Many airports are looking at replacing ILS systems with GBAS in order to reduce airspace congestion and accommodate for future projected growth in air traffic. SmartPath has already been deployed at another German airport, Bremen International.

"Unlike ILS, GBAS supports multiple approaches simultaneously, reducing airspace congestion and lowering airport noise and emissions. For airports such as Frankfurt that are ambitious about growth, Honeywell's SmartPath GBAS represents a cost-effective, easy-to-install alternative to ILS," said Pat Reines, senior product manager of SmartPath at Honeywell.

Honeywell expects the system to be live at Frankfurt beginning in the third quarter of 2014.

AerCap to Purchase AIG's Jet-leasing Unit for $3 Billion

American International Group (AIG) has agreed to sell its aircraft-leasing unit, International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) to Netherlands-based AerCap for $3 billion, the group said Monday, Dec. 16.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and the consent of AerCap's shareholders, however AIG expects to close the transaction by the second quarter of 2014. According to a statement from AerCap, the newly combined company would have a fleet of over 1,300 aircraft consisting of Airbus A320, A330 and Boeing 737NG and 777 family aircraft.

AerCap will also take over AIG's current order book, which includes $25 billion in-future deliveries.

AIG had attempted to sell its aircraft leasing business to a group of Chinese investors last year but the deal fell through when the group was unable to produce the necessary financing for the purchase.

Robert Benmosche, chief executive of AIG, said the sale was a move to focus on AIG's core insurance business.

"The combination of AerCap’s young fleet of in-demand aircraft and proven portfolio management capabilities with ILFC’s attractive order book and broad marketing reach will continue to lead the industry. However, as we have said all along, the aircraft leasing business is not core to our insurance operations. Upon completion, the transaction will have a positive impact on AIG’s liquidity and credit profile and will enable us to continue to focus on our core insurance businesses," said Benmosche.

AerCap will retain its name for the combined company, once the transaction is competed and ILFC will become a wholly owned subsidiary of AerCap.

"AerCap's acquisition of ILFC will create the leading global franchise in the aircraft leasing industry. This transaction presents a unique strategic opportunity to bring together the outstanding and experienced personnel from both companies and two attractive portfolios of modern aircraft on lease to a highly diversified customer base. Further, we believe AerCap will now have the most attractive order book in the industry," said AerCap CEO Aengus Kelly.

Ex-Nigeria Airways staff protest over non-payment of entitlements for 20 years

the National Vice Chairman, Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Airways Branch, Alhaji Mohammed Adamu, said the protest was informed by the failure of the government to pay their entitlements

Some former employees of Nigeria Airways in Kano on Saturday staged a peaceful protest over non-payment of their entitlements for 20 years.

The protesters, who thronged their former office on Bank Road in Kano at about 2pm, carried placards with inscriptions suchas: “Pay us our entitlements”, “We are dying”.
The National Vice Chairman, Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Airways Branch, Alhaji Mohammed Adamu, said the protest was informed by the failure of the government to pay their entitlements.
According to Adamu, over 900 of their members have so far died of frustration while a number of them are still battling with one sickness or the other at home.
He said: “As I am talking to you now, many of us cannot feed our families while our children have been sent home from schools due to our inability to pay their fees.
“If government liquidates an airline, it has to pay 25 years entitlement to all the disengaged workers.
“It is the law of the International Air Transport Association.
“But in our own case, we were only paid five years of the entitlement while our colleagues abroad have since been paid.”
Adamu said most of them had served the nation for many years but the payment of the entitlement had now become a problem despite earlier promises by the Ministry of Aviation.
He, therefore, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene in the matter.
“When we took the matter to court, we were asked to withdraw the case with the hope that the money would be paid,” he added.

LOT Eyes Operating Profit In 2014

Troubled Polish airline LOT is aiming to reach an operating profit of EUR€20 million (USD$27.5 million) next year and remain profitable in 2015, its chief executive said on Friday.

LOT is currently under investigation by the European Commission over whether Poland broke competition rules when it gave it about EUR€200 million in state aid.

"The plan submitted to the EU is to be profitable on EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) in 2014 at a level of roughly EUR€20 million," chief executive Sebastian Mikosz told Reuters news agency. "2014 will turn positive, 2015 also, but this will require a huge effort."

LOT, which is undergoing a restructuring that includes lay-offs and scrapping routes, expects a 2013 operating loss of around PLN20 million zlotys (USD$6.6 million), it said earlier this week, around PLN122 million less than it had expected.

"The company is still in trouble. I have more optimism now, but I also have even more challenges. The fourth quarter is looking OK, this brings me optimism," Mikosz said.

Mikosz declined to give any details of an agreement with Boeing on compensation for the faults that grounded its 787 Dreamliner but said it was now flying well and passengers' satisfaction with the plane was high.

"Having a Dreamliner is a bit like being married to Paris Hilton," he added. "Every thing you do, every slightest delay, it's in the media."

Can airships revolutionize transportation in world's harshest environments?

Artist's impression of an Arctic airship by Aeros.

U.S.-based airship company Aeros and Icelandic airline Icelandair Cargo, say they have signed an agreement with hopes of establishing a partnership to develop new air freight service across the Arctic region.(CNN) -- Commercial development of the Arctic's natural resources has so far been near to impossible, but transportation throughout the inhospitable region may soon be revolutionized.

Together they are hoping to deliver standard cargo containers via Iceland to regions with little infrastructure, such as Siberia, Alaska, Greenland and northern Canada.

"It's a project representing the future of solving the problems of today," Aeros' CEO Igor Pasternak told CNN. "The distribution in the Arctic Circle as it is right now is inefficient and not logical."

Managing Director with Icelandair Cargo, Gunnar Sigurfinnsson, said in a press release that he believes Aeros will help transform Arctic transportation forever.

"We are pleased to begin a partnership with Aeroscraft and jointly explore the expanding market opportunities in Greenland, Iceland, and surrounding Northern territories," Sigurfinnsson stated.

The future of airships

Aeros is developing a new cargo airship, the Aeroscraft -- a hybrid dirigible combining elements of regular "lighter-than-air" (LTA) craft and traditional fixed-wing planes.

As opposed to existing airship designs, this vehicle can control its own buoyancy and is therefore capable of true vertical take-off and landing without requiring external ballast exchange. This eliminates the need for a runway, airfields and ground crew, which helps sidestep infrastructure development costs.

READ: Building a "spaceopolis"

The company, based in California, had test flights with the Aersocraft in September and are now building full-sized prototypes.

The aim is to have the first vehicle flying by 2016, and the initial fleet of 24 vehicles up and running by 2020.

The rigid-hulled dirigible measures 169 meters in length, and has a payload of 66 tonnes (with plans for a 250 tonne version), a cruising speed of up to 120 knots, and a range of 3,100 nautical miles.

One of the Aeroscraft's biggest advantages is that it offers significant fuel savings since it runs on regular diesel, rather than expensive aviation fuel which can be tough to get hold of in more inaccessible regions.

READ: How new airline routes are reshaping the world

The primary focus will be logistical, moving cargo, troops and disaster relief supplies into remote and inhospitable terrain. But the company says that there may also be other uses for the technology in the future, like "floating hotels" to "sky yachts for millionaires."

Global game-changers

Pasternak says he hopes the relationship with Icelandair Cargo will benefit both partners.

"It can be everything from delivering the oil rigs to Greenland to bringing milk from England to a Canadian Arctic post.""They are a very innovative airline. Someday they will be our partner; they know the area, and we will be able to do some unique deliveries," the Kazakhstan-born engineer says.

Not only could Icelandair Cargo and Aeroscraft be global game-changers of how air freight services are operated -- the partnership could potentially transform Iceland into an important business and aviation hub.

"You can imagine that if Iceland becomes the base for the Arctic distribution system, you are creating a new industry in Iceland, which means new jobs and business opportunities," said Pasternak.

"It would be a high-tech industry. The Aeroscraft has a green footprint and could provide a normal lifestyle to those living in remote areas. We could be creating a whole new understanding of what the Arctic is.

Airbus promises to limit development risks

Airbus President and Chief Executive Officer Fabrice Bregier drinks water as he delivers a speech at the Global Management Forum in Tokyo October 21, 2013.

CREDIT: REUTERS/TORU HANAI

(Reuters) - European aerospace group EADS (EAD.PA) pledged to shun risky investments and new aircraft programs for at least a decade as it promised investors a smoother ride under its Airbus brand in the wake of earlier development problems.

The head of its Airbus planemaking division, Fabrice Bregier, said it had stabilized production problems on the Airbus A380 superjumbo and the A400M military airlifter which had caused the company significant headaches in recent years.

He also told investors that flight testing and development of its latest aircraft, the A350, were progressing well ahead of the first delivery planned in the fourth quarter of 2014.

"We are on track. You know the risks, but the risks are reducing," Bregier told an investor forum in London, monitored by webcast.

After it delivers its first all-new passenger jet in a decade, Airbus will focus on enhancements to existing models.

It has already announced that from January, EADS will be called Airbus Group and the name will become official following its next shareholder meeting in May.

It reflects efforts to refocus the company on booming civil aerospace markets, but after a series of product developments it is addressing this through derivatives rather than new jets.

"Nobody sees brand-new developments in the next 10 years or even more," Bregier said.

"The focus is on the improvement of our (in-production) series programs and there is still a lot to be extracted from them. The good news for you is that it is much less risky to improve existing platforms than develop brand-new aircraft".

He did not say what impact this would have on research spending, but said the company would pursue new technology.

PRODUCTION HINT

Airbus has scored successes with a revamped version of its best-selling passenger plane, the A320neo, due to enter service in 2015, and has announced modifications to its A330 aircraft.

Bregier said there was a greater possibility that Airbus would increase, rather than reduce, production of A320-family jets as it completes the transition to the more efficient model.

Boeing (BA.N), which hit back with a significant order from Air Canada (ACb.TO) overnight, last month announced plans to increase production of its competing 737 MAX.

The models compete in the largest segment of the $100 billion annual aircraft market.

Shares in EADS extended strong gains seen on Wednesday when it announced that loss-making early deliveries of the A350 would not eat into 2015 profit targets as badly as expected, following efforts to drive risk out of the $15 billion project.

At mid-session they were up 0.5 percent at 53.12 euros, not far from a record 54.5 euros set last month.

Airbus is anxious not to repeat past mistakes in developing the A380 and A400M, both of which plunged the sector into political turmoil and severely damaged its share price.

Airbus later had to slow A380 production to fix wing problems but says it is back to normal, with 30 deliveries expected in 2014. Bregier said the aircraft would be "very close" to reaching a breakeven target in 2015.

EADS Chief Executive Tom Enders however said on Wednesday costs still need to be reduced on the A400M project, which will become part of a newly merged defense and space unit in 2014.

Analysts said risks surrounding EADS had eased after it detailed the impact of loss-making initial A350 deliveries, though Bregier stressed the A350 was not risk-free.

EADS strategy chief Marwan Lahoud, one of the architects of the company formed by a Franco-German-Spanish merger in 2000, said it would not chase growth at any cost and would avoid investing in areas where growth looked shaky or inaccessible.

The company, which is selling its Test and Services monitoring business, will carry out "active portfolio management" in coming months, he said, apparently referring to further moves to thin out non-civil assets.

Confirming a two-speed strategy as reported by Reuters on Wednesday, Lahoud said EADS targeted growth in commercial aviation while consolidating its position in defense and space.

"We will not allocate resources to areas where growth is difficult to access," Lahoud added.

(Editing by Keiron Henderson and Tom Pfeiffer)

FCC Considering In-Flight Calling Rule

The Federal Communications Commission has initiated a proceeding to consider a proposal to allow airlines to install onboard avionics systems that could safely expand the use of in-flight voice communications by airline passengers, the agency said Thursday Dec. 12.    Under the proposed rule, airlines would have the ability to enable "in-flight wireless broadband access to passengers," FCC said in a statement. The agency is now seeking public comments to review the rules.    "If an airline chooses to equip its aircraft with specialized onboard equipment that  would prevent harmful interference with wireless networks on the ground, the airline would have the ability to enable in-flight wireless broadband access to passengers," FCC said.    In-flight cell phone use has been prohibited since 1991 due to concerns about harmful interference to wireless networks on the ground. However, modern aircraft feature onboard systems that can prevent interference with wireless networks on the ground.    The FCC said it expects global mobile data traffic to increase "thirteen fold by 2017."    Also on Thursday, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx released a statement indicating his agency will seek to ban the in-flight use of cell phones.   "We believe USDOT’s role, as part of our Aviation Consumer Protection Authority, is to determine if allowing these calls is fair to consumers. USDOT will now begin a process that will look at the possibility of banning these in-flight calls," said Foxx.  - See more at: http://www.aviationtoday.com/av/topstories/FCC-Considering-In-Flight-Calling-Rule_80854.html#.UqtqhhyQZnA

Textron AirLand Scorpion Jet Performs First Flight

 

 

Scorpion jet. Photo, courtesy of Textron AirLand.

 

Textron AirLand, a joint venture between Textron and AirLand Enterprises announced the first flight, which took off from McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kan., for a 1.4-hour flight. The twin-turbofan engine powered Scorpion was first unveiled in September as a demonstration aircraft to meet budget constraints and shifting mission requirements for the U.S. and partner nations, according to Textron. 

 

“Having flown many tactical aircraft throughout my 23-year career with the U.S. Navy and with other aircraft manufacturers, I can say that the Scorpion compares very favorably to more costly aircraft currently used for low-threat missions. It showed impressive stability and responsiveness closely matching all of the predicted parameters for today’s maneuvers — it’s going to be a highly capable aircraft for the ISR and homeland security mission set," said Dan Hinson, the engineering test pilot who controlled the aircraft's first flight. 

 

According to a statement from Textron AirLand, the aircraft has a range of 2,400 nautical miles with an internal payload of up to 3,000 pounds and can perform maritime surveillance, air defense and irregular warfare operations.

Garmin D2 pilot watch promises an avionics center for your wrist

While the jury is still out on whether or not we are entering the era of the smartwatch, scuba divers, yachtsmen and airplane pilots would agree that the wristwatch hasn't been completely supplanted by the mobile phone. Garmin’s D2 pilot watch puts the emphasis on utility by providing pilots with navigation and avionics readouts at the touch of a button.

While the jury is still out on whether or not we are entering the era of the smartwatch, scuba divers, yachtsmen and airplane pilots would agree that the wristwatch hasn't been completely supplanted by the mobile phone. Garmin’s D2 pilot watch puts the emphasis on utility by providing pilots with navigation and avionics readouts at the touch of a button.

Global Airline Profits to Hit Record High in 2014

The global airline industry is projected to collectively post a record high profit in 2014 as jet fuel prices drop, passenger demand increases and carriers reduce operating costs, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said Thursday Dec. 12. 

 

IATA is forecasting airlines will turn a $19.7 billion profit on $743 billion in revenue for 2014, an increase from 2013's $12.9 billion. If airline's achieve that estimate, it would mark two consecutive years of growth and surpass the previous $19.2 billion record profit achieved in 2010. 

 

However, the airline industry is still extremely competitive and airlines are still seeing lower profit margins with relatively high jet fuel costs. Carriers are expiated to generate a profit of $5.94 per passenger in 2014, a 2.6 percent profit margin decreased from 3.3 percent in 2010. 

 

"Overall, the industry’s fortunes are moving in the right direction. Jet fuel prices remain high, but below their 2012 peak. Passenger demand is expanding in the 5 to 6 percent range — in line with the historical trend," said Tony Tyler, chief executive of IATA. "We must temper our optimism with an appropriate dose of caution. It’s a tough environment in which to run an airline … Some airlines will out-perform our estimates and others will under-perform." 

 

Regionally, North American airlines are projected to post the highest combined net profit worldwide, with IATA expecting the region to reach $5.8 billion in 2013 and $8.3 billion in 2014. Although the group said "higher government fees on airlines and their passengers as a result of the Congressional budget deal, risk damaging both airlines, investors and passengers."

 

Airlines based in the Asia Pacific region are expected to come in second behind North America in both years, with $3.2 billion in 2013 and $4.1 billion in 2014. International passenger demand growth is expected to be driven by the Asia Pacific region over the next five years, with IATA anticipating China will account for 24 percent of all new international passengers through 2017. 

 

Africa is the weakest of all regions, with airlines collectively expected to record a $100 million loss in 2013 and a $100 million profit in 2014. 

 

“Airlines have shown that they can rise to the challenges of a difficult trading environment. That’s good news for economies and consumers that depend on global connectivity. But I am increasingly concerned that governments have not fully appreciated the critical role that aviation plays in our connected world. Regulatory and tax burdens incrementally, but significantly, rise year-on-year. Some governments even appear to be backtracking on deregulation and are micro-managing in areas such as passenger rights,” said Tyler.

China tells pilots to master landing in smog

Chinese aviation authorities will soon require captains of domestic flights into Beijing to master low-visibility landings to combat chronic flight delays that have been worsened by heavy smog.

BEIJING —

Chinese aviation authorities will soon require captains of domestic flights into Beijing to master low-visibility landings to combat chronic flight delays that have been worsened by heavy smog.

Beijing Capital International Airport, China's busiest, has the worst record for flight delays of any major international airport, with only 18 percent of flights departing on time, according to travel industry monitor FlightStats. Thick smog has canceled or delayed flights at the Beijing airport when the city's visibility goes down to a few hundred meters (yards) -- though officials typically blame the delays on weather conditions rather than pollution.

The new requirement will take effect Jan. 1, an official at the Civil Aviation Administration of China said Thursday. The official, who like many Chinese officials spoke on condition of anonymity, said the new skills would be required of all captains on Beijing-bound flights from China's other major airports, including those in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu and Shenzhen.

The captains will have to learn to land their aircraft with the assistance of precision auto-landing equipment when visibility falls to 400 meters (1,315 feet). Currently, planes are diverted to other airports when visibility is that low.

"The administration is promoting the technology to reduce the impact on flights by severe natural conditions," the aviation official said, adding that it will be up to the airlines to decide whether to use auto-landing in low visibility.

Auto-landing allows a plane to land automatically with the supervision of a human crew. Experts say that the technology improves aviation safety, but that it requires additional pilot training to supervise the precision hardware both onboard and on the ground. The system is geared for three levels of visibility: 800 meters (half a mile), 400 meters and zero visibility.

The new requirement will apply only to domestic flights because China doesn't have authority over the qualifications of foreign airlines' pilots.

Many foreign airlines, however, have already been using auto-landing at major Chinese airports equipped with the proper instruments. The Beijing airport, which did not immediately respond to interview requests, is equipped with high-level auto-landing instruments.

Chinese airlines also have fleets of aircraft capable of auto-landing. But aviation authorities previously did not require Chinese pilots to be trained for low-visibility auto-landing because of hefty training costs, said Shu Ping, dean of aviation safety at China Academy of Civil Aviation Science and Technology.

"The training is very expensive, and the low visibility was not a normal condition," Shu said. "Now with more smoggy days, the probability of landing with low visibility is higher."

The Beijing airport's chronic delays are due to an assortment of factors, including a narrow air corridor for commercial aviation because of the powerful military's tight control over airspace. China's wide-ranging weather patterns -- including fog, snow and sandstorms -- also play a role, as does Beijing's severe pollution.

An annual report says weather conditions caused more than 20 percent of the flight delays last year in China, though it does not elaborate on how many were attributed to air pollution.

Exelis to Supply 787 Composites

Boeing has selected Exelis to supply composite airframe substructures for its flagship 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Exelis currently provides composite storage tanks for the Boeing 737, 747, 767 and 777 model aircraft. The 787 is comprised of 50 percent of composite materials, leading to significant weight savings over traditional metallic structures, Exelis said.

"This award is a result of our performance and partnership with Boeing — a relationship that spans more than 40 years," said Mike Blair, vice president and general manager of Exelis Aerostructures business. "Our expertise in high-rate, high-volume composite production and the available capacity to facilitize quickly provide a distinct advantage to our customer."

Universal Helicopters Orders Half-Dozen Robinson Trainers

Robinson has received an order from Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Universal Helicopters for four R44s and a pair of R22s. The training provider also has locations in Prescott, Ariz., Utah, California and Kansas. Robinson plans to begin deliveries of the six helicopters in January 2014.

American Airlines Makes Large Regional Jet Purchase

American Airlines has entered into new agreements with Bombardier and Embraer to purchase 90 new 76-seat regional jets to replace its current in-service fleet of 50-seat regional aircraft, the Texas-based carrier said Thursday Dec. 12.

The new announcement follows the closing of American's merger with US Airways on Tuesday Dec. 10. American has firm orders for 30 Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen aircraft with options for 40 additional aircraft. With Embraer, American placed a firm order for 60 E175 type aircraft and options for 90 more.

"Now that we've closed our merger with US Airways, we can deliver a top-tier regional product that offers a First Class cabin, Main Cabin Extra and in-flight Wi-Fi — important elements of an improved flying experience for our customers. These new regional jets are also a big win for our employees at our regional subsidiary, and will greatly improve economic efficiencies by lowering operating costs," said Kenji Hashimoto, senior vice president of regional operations at American.

GE Aviation CF34-8 engines power both the CRJ900 and E175. American Eagle, the airline's regional subsidiary, will incorporate the newly purchase aircraft into its fleet beginning with the first deliveries scheduled for 2014.