EADS is revising its goal for equal revenues from its civil and defense programs by 2020 after failing to finalize its merger with BAE Systems and accounting for cuts in government defense spending. But the European manufacturer has yet to decide on a new target and the future direction of its Cassidian defense business. “There is nothing magical about the 50/50 [goal],” EADS CEO Tom Enders told Aviation Week after a Feb. 21 event at New York’s Wings Club, adding that a new target will be determined after a strategic review is concluded.
After seven months of negotiations that grew so bitter federal mediators had to intercede, Boeing’s engineers have agreed to accept the company’s four-year contract offer, although its technical workers voted to reject their offer and authorize a strike. Engineers and technical workers are both represented by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (Speea) Local 2001, and they have separate contracts.
Airline industry comments on FAA’s revised analysis justifying the exclusion of cargo carriers from new pilot crew rest rules predict the arguments they are likely to make on the FAA’s behalf in court. The Independent Pilots Association (IPA), which represents UPS pilots, has filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the FAA’s decision to exclude cargo carriers from the new rules that will take effect for passenger airlines in 2014.
The investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is calling on regulators to increase oversight of domestic code-sharing agreements to ensure safety and consumer awareness.
The Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engine designed for Bombardier’s CSeries has been certified by Transport Canada, marking the first time any production version of the geared turbofan (GTF) has been approved. Approval follows more than 4,000 hr. of testing, including 340 hr. of flight testing on Pratt’s Boeing 747SP flying testbed. The PW1500G began initial engine runs in September 2010 and was the first version of the GTF family to be launched in 2007.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers - Jeddah, Feb. 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs Top Carriers - Jeddah, Feb. 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs Departures Airport Share ASMs (mil) Airport Share Seats/Dept.
A European Commission (EC) draft proposal to revise air passenger rights laws obtained by Aviation Week contains new articles that could potentially spell the end of interlining. Under the proposed rules, a passenger who misses a connecting flight as a result of a delay in a previous segment “shall have a right to compensation by the carrier operating the preceding connecting flight.” Also, the airline operating the connecting flight will be legally obliged to provide the passenger with care and assistance.
AirAsia Group, Southeast Asia’s largest budget operator by fleet size, plans to start a low-cost airline in India through a partnership with local investors. Through its investment arm, AirAsia Investment Ltd., Air Asia has applied to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) in India for approval to invest 49% in a proposed joint venture with Tata and Arun Bhatia of Telestra Tradeplace, a senior government official says.
A Boeing team led by Commercial Airplanes President Ray Conner is set to present details of its proposed near-term solution to the 787 battery issues to the FAA later this week, possibly as early as today.
The nationwide rollout of a data communication network highlights that Nav Canada has a lead role in the global trend of shifting essential ground-to-air exchanges from voice to text. Nav Canada this year will complete the phased introduction of controller-pilot data link communications (CPDLC) throughout its high-altitude airspace. Nav Canada Chief Technology Officer Sid Koslow says that while CPDLC is hardly a new concept—the industry has been talking about it for at least 20 years—this will be its most extensive deployment for domestic airspace.
The first group of employees to opt for FedEx Corp.’s voluntary buyout program will leave the company on May 31, the Memphis-based logistics company discloses in its most recent filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. A second group is expected to leave by the end of fiscal 2014, FedEx says in the filing. The latest filing also says FedEx has adjusted its organization structure, which has prompted a “limited number” of officers and managing directors to accepted the voluntary buyout.
Spirit Airlines will consider leasing more used Airbus A319 or A320 aircraft to supplement a growth plan already supported by a major narrowbody order. CFO Ted Christie, speaking during the airline’s 2012 earnings conference call, said the carrier would “evaluate all opportunities” on fleet additions, particularly given the low rates on A319s and A320s. But Christie also notes that Spirit’s orders for 101 A320s and A320NEOs for delivery through 2021 mean “we’ll weigh those opportunities against an existing framework of an order that we have.”
Boeing is finally telling some of its customers not to expect the 787s they have ordered to be delivered as scheduled. While for a few, that notice is a disaster, and although most airlines are facing serious disruptions, some are quietly relieved that they will not have to take the aircraft just yet.
Lufthansa’s executive board has recommended a fleet purchase that will add 100 short- and medium-haul aircraft from Airbus and Boeing to the German conglomerate’s systemwide fleet between 2015 and 2025. The deal, which still has to be approved by Lufthans’s supervisory board, also includes eight long-haul aircraft and will increase total fleet additions to 239 aircraft by the end of 2025. The fleet purchase will be worth €9 billion ($12 billion).
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers - Johannesburg, Feb. 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs Top Carriers - Johannesburg, Feb. 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs Departures Airport Share ASMs (mil) Airport Share Seats /Dept.
Allegiant Air is accounting for $75,000-150,000 a month in rent or depreciation for its Airbus A319s and A320s, a rate that a leading airline marketer says values the aircraft at $7.5-15 million. Abdol Moabery, CEO and president of Fort Lauderdale-based GA Telesis, says Allegiant’s declaration in a regulatory filing is particularly interesting because the rates suggest that Airbus narrowbodies powered by CFM International CFM56-5Bs are now priced as low as older aircraft powered by CFM56-5A engines.
Aviation Week Events - Defense Technology And Affordability Requirements March 5-6 2013 Hilton Arlington Arlington, VA Join senior defense officials and discover where priorities and opportunities exist beyond the FY 2014 budget and hear First-hand how programs are implementing affordable and effective designs! Register now at www.aviationweek.com/events/dtar
