The U.K. Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has begun an investigation into Rolls-Royce’s activities in foreign markets. The company announced on Dec. 23 that a “formal investigation” had been launched by the SFO relating to “bribery and corruption in overseas markets.” The move follows a Dec. 6, 2012 announcement when the aircraft enginemaker revealed it had passed details of an internal review to the SFO about allegations of misconduct in Indonesia and China.
Following Boeing Commercial Airplane’s recent decision to open engineering design centers away from its traditional Seattle base, parent company Boeing has announced plans to restructure its entire Research & Technology organization by establishing research centers in Alabama, California, Missouri, South Carolina and Washington.
Aviation Technical Services (ATS) and the Kansas City Aviation Department (KCAD) have reached an agreement that will see ATS lease the remaining space in the airport’s KCI Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Base, filling a facility that was slowly abandoned in the years after American Airlines absorbed TWA. The deal gives ATS both its first location outside of its home state of Washington and a geographically strategic location in the central U.S. Notably, the maintenance provider’s largest customer, Southwest Airlines, also is the airport’s top airline.
In observance of New Year's Day, Aviation Daily will not publish on Jan. 2. The next issue will be dated Jan. 3. Aviation Week Intelligence Network subscribers can visit www.aviationweek.com/awin for updates.
A proposed FAA directive would give the world’s two Boeing 767-400 operators, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, 36 months to replace costly hydraulic pump turbine gearboxes with improved designs better able to contain turbine wheel failures.
FRANKFURT — Following American Airlines’ decision to drop an order for Airbus A350-800s in favor of the larger -900 version, Airbus is facing further negotiations with a small, but partially resisting and diverse group of airlines before it can finally drop the smallest of the A350 variants.
MOSCOW — Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) is expected to find new funds to support its major commercial project — the Sukhoi Superjet 100 program — as it plans to sell its stake in Ilyushin Finance Co., the country’s largest aircraft lessor, to the government-owned Vnesheconombank. The deal was discussed by the bank’s supervisory board on Dec. 19.
Alaska Airlines, underscoring its intention to counterpunch advances by code-share partner Delta Air Lines into its Seattle hub, is strategically adding service out of Delta’s Western U.S. backyard, Salt Lake City. Alaska this June will launch service between Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) and seven cities, including three – Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Jose, Calif. – with at least half a dozen Delta or Delta regional partner frequencies daily. Other new routes will connect SLC with Boise, Idaho; Portland, Ore.; San Diego and San Francisco.
Fresh from a sizable win for its airline supply chain business, AAR is eyeing an international acquisition that would further boost the segment, CEO David Storch says. Speaking to analysts during a Dec. 19 earnings call, Storch confirmed that Wood Dale, Ill.-based AAR is “looking at a fairly sizable deal that would expand our presence” outside the U.S. The deal would likely be an all-cash transaction, he adds, offering few additional details.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers: Bergen - Oslo, December 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Top Carriers: Bergen - Oslo, December 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Daily Each Way
A key element of ensuring safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into U.S. airspace will be equipping UAS operators as if they’re sitting in flight decks, rather than on the ground, says an Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) executive who focuses on the issue. Pilots of manned aircraft benefit from situational awareness triggered by much more than instruments and sensors, says ALPA First Vice President and Alaska Airlines Capt. Sean Cassidy.
The FAA, siding with airlines opposing a mandated fix, has ordered CFM56-3 and -7 operators to inspect accessory gearboxes (AGB) for oil leaks, but stopped short of matching a European directive requiring installing new parts that minimize leak risks.
Emirates is planning to refine and upgrade its Airbus A380 interiors and is still considering a move to an 11-abreast layout in economy class. Speaking following the airline’s latest A380 order announcement at the Dubai air show, Emirates Airline President Tim Clark outlined his plans for the type.
The Asia-Pacific region is so vast and diverse that it often defies definition as an airline industry bloc. However, some broad trends are noticeable in many markets. One example: the low-cost carrier sector is still in the rapid development phase, meaning high growth and increasing pressure for legacy carriers. At the same time, some of the major carriers are struggling with increased competition and sliding demand in their home markets.
After shortlisting 25 proposals from 24 states, the FAA has selected six test sites across the U.S. to conduct civil unmanned aircraft system (UAS) research. Geographic and climatic diversity were key requirements for the selection. The six selected operators are: the University of Alaska, the state of Nevada, New York’s Griffiss International Airport, North Dakota Department of Commerce, Texas A&M University, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
The FAA has logged four “Category A” runway incursions—the most-dangerous type—at towered airports in the U.S. so far in calendar year 2013, matching calendar 2012’s pace. Category A incidents are considered “serious incidents in which a collision is narrowly avoided,” according to the FAA.
The 2014 outlook for Australia’s airline industry will be shaped by actions Qantas takes in its latest campaign to boost its flagging financial performance. The airline has indicated some significant changes are being considered, including structural changes. The government’s response to the carrier’s plight will also be important, with Qantas pushing for regulatory relief that could raise foreign investment caps.
Jan. 21-22, 2014—MRO Latin America, Rio de Janerio, Brazil Feb. 4-6—MRO Middle East, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai, UAE Feb. 10—Air Transport World’s 40th Annual Airline Industry Achievement Awards, Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel, Singapore March 4-5—Defense Technology & Affordability Requirements, Washington, D.C. March 6—57th Annual Laureates Awards, National Building Museum, Washington, D.C. April 8-10—MRO Americas 2014, Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Ariz.
LOS ANGELES – More than 20 U.S. states are sharpening their pencils to bid on assembly of Boeing's 777X follow-on twinjet, now that a second attempt to negotiate a contract extension with Boeing machinists in Puget Sound, Wash., has foundered. Boeing says that on Dec. 12, “in response to a proposal presented yesterday by the union to secure 777X work in the Puget Sound region, Boeing presented a best and final counterproposal. That offer was rejected by the union leadership.”
At Boeing’s request, a judicial panel has agreed to centralize 10 lawsuits related to the July 6 crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 to courts in the San Francisco area. “On the basis of papers filed and hearing sessions held, we find that these ten actions involve common questions of fact, and that centralization in the Northern District of California will serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses, and promote the just and efficient conduct of the litigation,” according to the panel’s decision, published on Dec. 13.
Honeywell is detecting “modest improvement” in commercial aftermarket sales as 2013 wraps up, giving the company confidence that the stagnation of the last three years could be supplanted by a steeper uptick in demand. The company is projecting 3%-5% organic growth in total 2014 aftermarket sales, driven by a bump in air transport and regional (ATR) flight hours and continued solid demand for business aviation retrofits, modifications, and upgrades (RMU). Honeywell provided the details during its 2014 outlook presentation to analysts Dec. 17.
The European Union (EU) and Israel are planning to integrate the operation of their national airspaces, despite the EU’s lack of progress in setting up a Functional Airspace Block (FAB) to optimize its own airspace and establishing a Single European Sky (SES). Israel will participate in the Blue-Med FAB as a next step in the implementation of the Open Skies agreement between Israel and the European Union (EU), which was signed in June and will fully liberalize market access between the 28 EU member states and Israel by 2018.
