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.
In observance of the year-end holiday season, Aviation Daily will not publish issues from Dec. 24 through Dec. 30. Aviation Week Intelligence Network subscribers can visit www.aviationweek.com/awin during that time for updates.
The French pilots’ union Syndicat National des Pilotes de Ligne (SNPL) has publicly called on the French government to impose a moratorium on the allocation of further traffic rights to Arabian Gulf airlines because, the union alleges, these airlines “do not respect the rules of fair competition.”
A robust air traffic market usually translates into bustling aftermarket activity, but China has been somewhat of an exception—until now. Chinese carriers have begun de-stocking what has been a traditionally over-stocked spares inventory, opening up opportunities for parts suppliers, reports Canaccord Genuity analyst Ken Herbert.
Introducing the Aero 100 Airfare Benchmark Index Designed for anyone with risk on the future level of airfares – for example Airlines, Banks/Credit Card Companies, Corporate Travel Managers, etc. The Aero 100 Airfare Benchmark Index tracks daily airfares within the domestic airline market. The Aero 100 delivers financial risk mitigation and protection against constant fluctuation of airline ticket prices by providing the price settling mechanism for Commodity Futures Contracts.
Kellstrom finished consolidating and segregating its business into commercial and defense units, and it expects the first quarter of 2014 to start showing the results of those efforts, as well as its “leaner and meaner side,” says Roscoe Musselwhite, Kellstrom Materials president. Kellstrom purchased AirLiance Materials in May, which subsequently involved not only consolidating and streamlining its commercial parts distribution business, but also all of the operations functions, such as IT migration and vendor code and invoice harmonization.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers: Oslo-Trondhelm, December 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Top Carriers: Oslo-Trondhelm, December 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Daily Each Way
Cathay Pacific Airways has ordered 21 Boeing 777-9Xs as part of the Hong Kong-based carrier’s high-capacity fleet renewal strategy for the next decade. Boeing originally hoped that the deal—worth in excess of $7 billion at current list prices—could have been announced at the recent Dubai Airshow, where the 777X program was launched on the back of 259 orders and commitments worth $95 billion. However a last-minute board decision by Cathay delayed the final agreement until the announcement of the contract this week.
Preliminary investigations into the LAM Mozambique Embraer 190 crash on Nov. 29 have not revealed any evidence of mechanical failure. The aircraft, which was carrying 27 passengers and six crew, crashed during a scheduled flight from Maputo to Luanda on Nov. 29, killing all on board. The wreckage was found on Nov. 30 in a remote part of northern Namibia.
Click here to view the pdf Fuel Watch: Global Jet Fuel Prices (midpoint) As of December 18, 2013, compared with previous week and previous year cts/gal prev. week prev.
European antitrust regulators have cleared Swissport’s acquisition of Servisair, subject to the disposal of ground-handling activities at four airports. The ground handling rivals said they had begun exclusive talks in July and notified the European Commission of their plans on Oct. 29.
Industry trade groups are urging the FAA to put the brakes on a well-intended guidance-streamlining effort that would result in mass cancellation of official agency interpretations that are not housed in one of three online repositories. The FAA’s move, outlined in a Dec. 3 memorandum from Flight Standards Service (FSS) Director John Duncan to all FSS employees, would cancel any guidance not found in the Flight Standards Information System, the Regulatory and Guidance Library, “or elsewhere on www.faa.gov,” effective January 14, 2014.
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Etihad Airways has confirmed it is in talks with Alitalia, which will on Friday announce that it has managed to meet its €300 million ($413 million) funding target. “Etihad Airways is in discussions with Alitalia. We have no further comment at this time,” said an Etihad Airways spokesman, following reports that the UAE-based carrier is in advanced talks to buy up to 49% of Alitalia.
Avic has launched full-scale development of its MA700 78-seat turboprop airliner, aiming at a first flight in 2016 and first delivery in 2019. New details show the MA700’s cabin width has shrunk during pre-development, with the manufacturer retreating from a plan for more comfortable seats than are normal for such aircraft. Adoption of a narrower fuselage and shorter wingspan than previously planned partly explain a reduction in what already looked like an aggressive weight target.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), citing a “redefined” risk assessment, is halving the proposed compliance window for operators of Rolls-Royce-powered Airbus A330s to replace an incorrectly manufactured thrust reverser component. The proposed directive, released Dec. 18, would give affected operators 12 months to replace thrust reverser door cowl hinge sleeves Nos. 3 and 4. The proposal replaces a September draft directive that would have given operators 24 months. EASA says the parts in question were not correctly heat treated.
Rockwell Collins’ Control Technologies division has submitted a patent application for a Sun- and star-sensing system that could augment or substitute for an aircraft’s position, attitude and heading avionics in a GPS-denied environment.
Industry leaders remain hopeful that the long overdue repair station security rule will finally shake free from its White House review in the next few weeks, but they are still calling on newly confirmed Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to make sure that happens.
British Airways (BA) claims to be the first carrier in Europe to let passengers use their personal electronic devices (PED) throughout all flight phases. Beginning Dec. 19, BA passengers were able to use their handheld electronic devices during taxi, take-off and landing, so long as they are set to flight mode. BA said it secured clearance for the policy change from the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) after demonstrating that it complies with all existing safety rules and regulations.
