Flight tests of a laser radar designed to detect clear air turbulence (CAT) are winding up in Europe, with the goal of reducing passenger and crew injuries by providing sufficient advance warning of an encounter. The ultraviolet (UV) lidar sensor is being tested under the €5.6 million ($7.4 million) Thales-led Delicat program, which is supported by the European Union. Developed by German aerospace center DLR, the lidar has been flown in a Cessna Citation II research aircraft operated by Dutch aerospace laboratory NLR.
What started in the cockpit and on the hangar floor is now touching the tarmac, making its presence felt in line maintenance and ground operations. The migration of mobile information technology is something short of a torrent, but “I think it’s going to accelerate very quickly,” says Freelon Hunter, Boeing’s director of fleet and maintenance solutions for Commercial Aviation Services. The use of mobile devices has grown 100% in the space of a year and he contends that within five years “a standard part of the mechanic’s tool [kit] will be a mobile device.”
Click here to view the pdf Nonstop Passengers Per Day Each Way, New York LaGuardia - Toronto Pearson Nonstop Passengers Per Day Each Way, New York LaGuardia - Toronto Pearson Air Canada American Eagle Others 2008Q1 628
Aviation Week 2013 Commercial Fleet & MRO Forecast! The MRO Fleet, Forecasts and Data you need to accurately plan and strategize for the future. See for yourself with a free demonstration: AviationWeek.com/FleetMRO Aviation Week Intelligence Network Click here to view the pdf
As demand from the U.S. military for its small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) winds down, AeroVironment is looking to move into the tactical missile, mission services and commercial markets. International sales of its small UAS, production ramp-up on the Switchblade lethal unmanned aircraft and finding customers for surveillance services and the Global Observer hydrogen-fueled high-altitude/long-endurance UAS are key to the company’s strategy to diversify its business.
If there are winners in a high-stakes, high-expectations program that generated a mere 262 orders in its first 13 years, then the engine OEM with a 55% share of the business would qualify. Measuring by total aircraft in service and awaiting delivery, the Engine Alliance (EA) GP7200 is the preferred powerplant for Airbus A380 customers, winning 134 of 243 orders with engine choices specified. (Three orders on the books—officially, at least—totaling 19 aircraft remain without engine choices.)
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has rejected calls to sell the government’s majority stake in loss-making Malaysian Airlines System (MAS), arguing that its financial performance is improving. The carrier reported a loss of 176 million ringgit ($53.5 million) for the three months ending June 30, compared with a loss of 349.3 million ringgit a year earlier, although the operating result swung to a small profit of 7.9 million ringgit from a loss of 101.9 million ringgit. Revenue rose to 3.8 billion ringgit, up 14.3% from a year earlier.
Click here to view the pdf Top Nonstop Airport Pairs: Canada - U.S., 12 Months Ending December 2012, Ranked By Onboard Passengers Onboard ASMs % Chg. Seats Per Load
Click here to view the pdf Arab Air Carrier Organization Monthly Traffic: June 2013 Arab Air Carrier Organization Monthly Traffic: June 2013 RPK % Chg. ASK % Chg.
A demonstration at a computer hacking conference in Amsterdam in April 2013 brought aviation cybersecurity into the public eye. At the so-called “Hack in the Box” annual conference, security consultant Hugo Teso described how an Android application for a smartphone could in theory be used to remotely control an aircraft’s flight path by exploiting weaknesses in the onboard aircraft communications addressing and reporting system (Acars) data link and the flight management system.
Etihad Airways has agreed to invest in Air Serbia and will soon add a stake in Jet Airways to its portfolio. Now it is looking at another investment—in LOT Polish Airlines—but the fate of Etihad affiliate Air Berlin shows that the road to financial success can be very long.
Bangladesh is close to signing the U.S.’s 111th Open Skies accord after tentatively agreeing to the first air services agreement between the two countries. The deal, when formally signed, will provide airlines from both countries unrestricted access both to and beyond each nation’s air transport system, says the U.S. Transportation Department. “This agreement will strengthen and expand our strong trade, tourism and people-to-people links with Bangladesh, benefitting U.S.
The Aerospace States Association (ASA) has joined with two national state-government organizations to create guidelines for states crafting legislation to protect citizens’ privacy from unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) without endangering the nascent industry.
SAS is on track to phase out its fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft by the end of the year, and has finalized the delivery of 12 MD-82/83/87s and 12 spare Pratt & Whitney JT8D-217C/219 engines to Allegiant Air and its subsidiaries.
Growth in line maintenance demand and a shortage of engineers combined to lower the heavy maintenance workload and revenues at Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering’s high-profile Hong Kong operations in the first half of 2013, the company reports. Heavy maintenance worker hours at Haeco Hong Kong dipped 17.5%, to 1.3 million in the six months ended June 30. Part of the decline was offset by line maintenance contracts, where aircraft handled per day at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) increased by seven to 326.
In a bid to “get out ahead of the threat”, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has released an industry-developed draft framework for civil aviation cybersecurity. The decision paper outlines a common approach to understanding threats and strengthening defenses for global aviation.
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.
Vnesheconombank (VEB), Russia Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs, has sold its 5% stake in EADS. VEB reduced its stake to just under 3% at the end of July and has now divested its entire shareholding, industry sources tell Aviation Week. The sale is understood to be part of a broader plan to address the ongoing financial difficulties at Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company, producer of the Superjet 100.
