Singapore’s Changi Airport is changing its procedures and equipment for making runway friction measurements following a runway incursion between an automobile and a landing aircraft on Apr. 4, 2013, according to a report by the country’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The tower ultimately ordered the inbound aircraft to abort the landing on Runway 20R when the aircraft was at approximately 300 ft. in altitude and 0.89 nm. from touchdown point. There were no injuries during the incident.
BRUSSELS — Aegean Airlines says it is confident it will be able to effectively compete with Ryanair owing to its acquisition of Olympic Air, which has allowed it to “hold the size needed for being competitive and grow more.” Aegean concluded the purchase of its smaller rival in October; the combination is Greece’s largest airline.
ALT FUELS: U.S. alternative fuel research will continue to have a bright future under the fiscal 2014 omnibus appropriations bill being considered this week in Congress. The giant bill, providing spending for the whole government through Sept. 30, includes language supporting the development of alternative fuels, according to aides for Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), a leading Democrat in the upper chamber and a key budget negotiator across Capitol Hill.
A biofuel supply sufficient to meet up to 1% of aviation’s fuel needs could be available “instantly,” and at a price competitive with petroleum jet fuel, if green diesel is approved for use in aircraft, Boeing says. The company is working with partners to gain approval by the end of 2014.
A European Aviation Safety Agency draft rulemaking tackles a series of recommendations from accident investigators and working groups that call for beefed- up standards and maintenance practices for aircraft flight and data recorders (FDR). The key changes would mandate higher-capacity cockpit voice recorders (CVR) on large aircraft, ban “obsolete recording technologies,” such as magnetic tape, and improve post-crash location broadcasting capabilities.
BRUSSELS — The European Union (EU) and Brazil will launch a new round of negotiations on a comprehensive air transport agreement, aimed at opening market access for airlines and achieving a high level of regulatory convergence in areas such as security, environmental and consumer protection, and fair competition.
Airbus is quietly moving away from the current design of the A350-800 and is considering changes that would make the aircraft larger and likely more economical to operate. There is a “distinct possibility” that Airbus might make the smallest of the three A350 versions larger than currently planned, according to Chief Operating Officer-Customers John Leahy. The change would lead the aircraft to “sit right on top of the [Boeing] 787-9.”
Airbus continues to play down the idea of a re-engined Airbus A330, but admits that there is some pressure building on the airline side. “Customers are coming to us” to talk about the possibility, says Airbus CEO Fabrice Bregier. Air Asia X founder Tony Fernandez has been the most vocal supporter of such a project, although the airline just placed an order for 25 of the current A330-300s.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers: Sapporo Chitose - Tokyo Haneda, January 15-21, 2014, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Top Carriers: Sapporo Chitose - Tokyo Haneda, January 15-21, 2014, Ranked By Scheduled Seats
EASA has mandated inspections and a reduced life limit for Airbus A320-family trimmable horizontal stabilizer actuators after tests by the manufacturer and supplier United Technologies Aerospace Systems revealed unexpected wear.
Transport Canada (TC) has ordered Dash 8 Classic operators to inspect engine nacelle firewalls for heat damage, and ensure that starter/generator terminal blocks have required insulation after in-service reports of arcing between uninsulated terminal blocks and firewalls. The airworthiness directive (AD), issued Jan. 10, gives operators of Dash 8-100s, -200s, and -300s 3,000 flight cycles or 18 months to perform the checks. Bombardier recommended the work in a September 2013 service bulletin.
India fears that U.S. aviation regulators may downgrade the country’s air safety rating, amid the brewing diplomatic dispute between the two countries over the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York in December. An official of the ministry of civil aviation in New Delhi says the FAA could possibly downgrade India’s safety rating to category II from category I, after submission of a report about the second round of a safety audit of India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Proximity to congested northeast U.S. airspace is one reason Griffiss International Airport in central New York state has been selected to operate one of six unmanned aircraft system (UAS) test sites selected by the FAA. Partnered with the Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance (Nuair)—a consortium of public entities, private industry and academic institutions—Griffiss will operate test ranges in New York and Massachusetts.
Polish charter carrier Bingo Airways, which launched in 2012, has revealed plans to branch out into scheduled operations. Bingo Airways launched operations on May 18, 2012 and now operates a fleet of four 180-seat Airbus A320s from its three Polish bases at Warsaw, Katowice and Wroclaw. It serves Mediterranean destinations for a range of tour operators, including Polish firms ITAKA and Sun & Fun.
Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau instituted more rigorous operational procedures for air traffic “officers” providing remote advisory services at five airports, following an incursion between a Noevir Aviation Eurocopter AS350 and a Japan Air Commuter Bombardier Q400 at the Yakushima Airport on Oct. 31, 2012, according to a new report by the Japan Transport Safety Board.
Click here to view the pdf Arab Air Carrier Organization Monthly Traffic: November 2013 Arab Air Carrier Organization Monthly Traffic: November 2013 RPK % Chg. ASK % Chg.
The continuing political unrest in Bangkok appears to be slowing the planned expansion of startup low-cost carrier Thai Lion Air, particularly on international routes.
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.
Norwegian Air Shuttle is taking another step in implementing its long-haul, low-cost international business model and will open crew bases in New York and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in the coming months as it expands its transatlantic route network using Boeing 787 aircraft.
The owner of London’s Heathrow Airport says that its investment plans are now at risk because of cuts in airport charges set by the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The regulator is reducing passenger charges at the U.K.’s busiest airport in real terms by 1.5% per year between 2014 and 2019, a period known as Q6. The regulator says the move is good news for passengers and is a result of strengthening passenger traffic forecasts.
Jan. 21-22, 2014—MRO Latin America, Windsor Atlantica, 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 Mar. 4-5—Defense Technology & Affordability Requirements, Hilton Arlington, Arlington, Va Mar. 6—57th Annual Laureates Awards, National Building Museum, Washington, D.C. Apr. 8-10—MRO Americas 2014, Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Ariz.
The finalized U.S.-certified repair station security rule, a significantly scaled back version of what the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) originally proposed in 2009, is a reflection of industry feedback that sought a more focused, purpose-driven set of regulations.
