Airbus Military and partner Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) have launched a new version of the C212, which is to be called the NC212. The NC212 will have a new avionics and autopilot system, says Ignacio Alonso, Airbus Military’s senior VP for commercial, strategy and industrial relations (Asia). The airframe and engines will remain unchanged from the current model, the C212-400. But thanks to a more efficient use of space—with a new interior cabin and seats—the passenger seat capacity will increase to 28 from 25, he says.
Adam Smith’s invisible hand lately seems to be delighting in picking up relatively young aircraft—mostly regional jets—and dropping them into the desert. With rising fuel costs, relatively little offsetting revenue-generating passenger capacity, tangled labor-scope clauses and quickly eclipsed technology, 50-seaters appear to be headed over the horizon for good. But does that mean their bigger RJ cousins are next? The answer would seem to depend on whether you sit in Chicago, Washington or Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil.
The U.S. House of Representatives as early as Nov. 13 could vote on a bill prohibiting domestic carriers from participating in the EU’s emissions trading system (ETS), Aviation Week has learned. The House could vote on the matter Tuesday under procedural rules that would limit debate on the bill and allow no amendments.
International Airlines Group (IAG) has announced massive job and capacity cuts for Iberia, saying the Spanish subsidiary is in a “fight for survival,” just one day after formally announcing a takeover effort for Spain’s low-fare operator Vueling. Under the plan, IAG will reduce Iberia’s capacity at least 15% in 2013 and cut 4,500 jobs. More reductions will come if management cannot reach new collective bargaining agreements with staff by Jan. 31.
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Request for Qualifications Design/Build/Finance/Operate & Maintain Laguardia Airport Central Terminal Building Replacement Project The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is seeking to qualify teams via a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) related to the LaGuardia Airport Central Terminal Building Replacement Project.
Lawmakers must find a solution to avoid massive federal budget cuts and their potentially debilitating effects on the NextGen air traffic modernization system, Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.), tells Aviation Week. LoBiondo, a contender to replace Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis.) as chairman of the House of Representatives aviation subcommittee after Petri steps down at the end of the year, says Congress should work to resolve differences the way it did during disagreements over union rules and airport subsidies earlier this year.
Alaska Air Group’s board elected VP-Legal and Corporate Affairs Keith Loveless and Horizon Air President Glenn Johnson executive VPs; Alaska Airlines Managing Director-Corporate Real Estate Karen Gruen, VP-corporate real estate; and Managing Director-Airframe, Engine and Component Maintenance Greg Mays, VP-maintenance and engineering.
Air Lease, the lessor led by Steven Udvar-Hazy, is asking Boeing to increase the payload on a proposed double-stretch derivative of its 787 aircraft to extend its range to about 7,000 nm. “We’re talking to Boeing about increasing the range a little more,” Udvar-Hazy said Nov. 8 during a conference call on his company’s third-quarter earnings, when asked about Boeing’s discussions with airlines and lessors regarding a potential 787-10.
NonstopportunityTM [non-stop-er-too-ni-tee] Definition: The nonstop opportunity created by customized aircraft financing and leasing programs from CIT. CIT Aerospace has a long-standing commitment to creating customized solutions for the commercial aerospace industry. With a young, fuel-efficient fleet, we provide full-service leasing and financing options to airlines around the globe. Drawing on decades of lending and leasing experience, we complete transactions quickly and responsively.
International Airlines Group (IAG) CEO Willie Walsh has reaffirmed that IAG would consider investing in a restructured American Airlines. The company, however, would only go ahead “if there is some additional strategic and financial value to do so,” Walsh told investors at IAG’s Capital Markets Day on Friday. IAG currently has no concrete plans to invest, but it is open to the possibility. Walsh also stressed his support of American's CEO Tom Horton, noting he “is the right person to take American through Chapter 11.”
To list an event, send information in calendar format to Donna Thomas at [email protected] (Bold type indicates new calendar listing.) Nov. 12-14—Airports Council International-NA Airport Concessions Conference, Denver, www.aci-na.org/conferences/ Nov. 13-18—2012 Airshow China, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China, www.airshow.com.cn Nov. 14-16—SpeedNews 17th Annual Regional and Business Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference, Montelucia, Paradise Valley (Scottsdale), Ariz. www.speednews.com/ConferenceInfo.aspx?conferenceID=81
DHL Global Forwarding says it has completed much of the work to meet the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA’s) Dec. 3 deadline for 100% screening of inbound air cargo on U.S. passenger aircraft. The forwarding unit next week also plans to meet with 100 of its major importers, along with the TSA and cargo partner American Airlines, to discuss how the transition to 100% screening will proceed, Gary Schultheis, senior VP-air freight, Americas, tells Aviation Week in an interview. The transition has been a work in progress, Schultheis says.
EADS witnessed massive cash outflow in the first nine months of the year and hopes it will be break even on free cash flow for the full year, but is dependent, in part, on achieving targeted Airbus A380 delivery numbers. The company reported a €3.2 billion ($4 billion) negative free cash flow in its third-quarter results briefing for the year to date, with net cash falling from €11.3 billion to €8 billion. This is in sharp contrast to previous cash flow projections.
International Airlines Group (IAG) will make a takeover offer to acquire a 100% stake in Barcelona-based, low-fare airline Vueling. IAG is offering €7 ($8.90) per share in the planned transaction and would spend €113 million for the 54% stake not currently held by IAG subsidiary Iberia. The offer is expected to be made in the first quarter of 2013, and the deal is scheduled to close in the second quarter, says IAG.
Aircastle’s decisions on which aircraft to acquire are being driven in part by where the date of manufacture falls in the production life of the platform, says Ron Wainshal, CEO of the Stamford, Conn.-based aircraft lessor. “We believe that the useful life of an aircraft will be driven in large part by where its date of manufacture falls in the production life of the platform. Aircraft produced towards the end of a production run will likely have shorter lives,” Wainshal said during a conference call on the company’s third-quarter earnings.
The U.S. Air Force and the Homeland Security Department (DHS) can make better use of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) for national security and humanitarian missions—such as reconnaissance or assistance flights following hurricanes—says the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in a recent report.
Regulatory holdups will delay WestJet’s plans to reconfigure its Boeing 737 fleet with four rows of premium economy seating until the first quarter of 2013. The Canadian low-cost carrier intended to complete the work by the end of the year, but during the company’s third-quarter results conference call President and CEO Gregg Saretsky said the airline still needs regulatory approval to proceed.
SAS Group has delayed the publication of its third-quarter results, as negotiations over its latest restructuring plan and the extension and amount of its revolving credit facility are taking longer than expected. The airline was due to report detailed financial figures on Thursday, but pushed the announcement back by several days. The company stated that finalizing the plan to address its cost structure and complete asset disposals is “an essential part of these negotiations.”
Colombia’s Aerolinea de Antioquia (ADA) will be the first BAE Systems Jetstream 32 operator to adopt a life extension program (LEP) that increases the 19-seat turboprop’s maximum cycles almost 50%, says the European manufacturer. The LEP allows operators to extend the life of the 135 Jetstream 32 in service to 67,000 cycles from 45,000 cycles through a revised structural maintenance program. Most of the Jetstream 32s, which were built in the late 1980s and early 1990s, are approaching the previous life cycle limit, says BAE.
The FAA and U.S. aviation industry have agreed to share voluntarily submitted, aggregated safety data with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the first time the safety investigator has gained access to the valuable information. The ground-breaking agreement, announced Thursday, creates an executive board under the existing Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) umbrella. The board will accept specific, written NTSB requests for ASIAS information.
