Swiss Aviation Consulting appointed Munir Al-Dzhidi manager of the Middle East operations of the company's United Arab Emirates-based SWICAMO division.
The schedule for entry into service of Airbus’s A350 “is tight, but remains feasible,” says Didier Evrard, head of the A350 program. Airbus last week completed joining of fuselage sections of the static test fuselage of airframe MSN 5000 at the final assembly line and moved it to the next station for further assembly work. “Everybody in the final assembly was pleased with how it came together,” Evrard said during an event in Toulouse. Once the wing is mated, much of the structural assembly process is validated.
Airbus will make a decision in the coming weeks about increasing the maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) on its A330-300 as it explores evolutions of the widebody while also working on the successor A350. The first takeoff weight growth of the A330-300 to 235 metric tons should be available in the third quarter, but John Leahy, chief operating officer for customers, says that around the time of the Farnborough air show in mid July the airframer may unveil a plan to increase MTOW to 240 metric tons, which would add 400 nm to the aircraft’s range.
Pratt & Whitney Canada (PWC) is testing the high-efficiency compressor for its next generation turboprop engine or NGRT and expects to have the engine ready for entry into service by 2017. The manufacturer is projecting a 15-20% fuel efficiency improvement over current turboprop engines, although PWC says it cannot fully commit to the engine until it fully validates the compressor system, which should happen by the end of this year or early next year, says Richard Dussault, VP-marketing for regional airline and helicopter engines.
Air France’s Transavia low-cost carrier will take on a larger role under the airline’s restructuring effort, which also trims the mainline operator’s short-haul and freight fleets. In a bid to stem losses on its short-haul operation, Air France will focus its own short-haul flights on Marseille, Toulouse and Nice, as well as locations where business travel dominates and requires connections to the carrier’s long-haul network.
Standard Aero will continue providing engine maintenance on Pinnacle Airlines’ Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft until mid-August while the U.S. regional transitions to a new provider. The Tempe, Ariz.-based maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider had asked Pinnacle’s bankruptcy court to terminate its contract immediately, citing a long-running dispute about pay rates with Delta Air Lines, which owns the aircraft operated by Pinnacle.
In observance of the U.S. Memorial Day holiday, Aviation Daily will not publish an issue dated May 29. Aviation Week Intelligence network subscribers may visit www.aviationweek.com/awin at any time for news updates.
Japan Airlines (JAL) and International Airlines Group’s (IAG’s) British Airways unit plan to launch their joint venture in March 2013 now that the deal has been approved by Japanese regulators. With this joint venture the two Oneworld alliance members will share revenue on flights between Japan and Europe.
The Mexican government’s failure to issue an air operator certificate (AOC) has forced Mexicana de Aviacion’s new owner to delay the carrier’s planned relaunch by two months to August. The owner, an investment group known as Med Atlantica, had planned to relaunch the carrier in June with a fleet of nine aircraft after finalizing new debt terms with Banorte, one of Mexicana's two biggest creditors. However, without the AOC those plans are moot, and according to sources, there is no indication when the certificate will be issued.
Many U.S. regional airlines are leasing replacement CF34 engines instead of overhauling them and operating with few, if any, spare parts in efforts to cut costs, especially on 50-seat aircraft.
U.S. regional carriers might need to hire more than 4,000 additional pilots because of new crew rest requirements that will take effect in January 2014, American Eagle Airlines has calculated from data provided by the Regional Airline Association (RAA) and Airlines for America trade groups.
You can now register online for Aviation Week events. Go to www.aviationweek.com/conferences or contact: Lydia Janow, 212-904-3225 or 800-240-7645 ext. 5 (U.S. and Canada only) Sept. 19-21 — MRO IT Conference & Showcase, Hyatt Regency Miami, Miami, Fla. Oct. 9—Aircraft Composite Repair Management Forum, Amsterdam RAI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Oct. 9—MRO IT Europe, Amsterdam RAI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Oct. 9-11—MRO Europe, Amsterdam RAI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Austrian Airlines Chief Operating Officer Peter Malanik is leaving the airline with immediate effect; his duties are being assumed by CEO Jaan Albrecht and Chief Commercial Officer Karsten Benz.
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.
The runway overrun protection system that Airbus developed for the A380 and is now rolling out more widely could be used on other airframers’ aircraft, says Christian Scherer, executive VP-strategy and future programs. “We are in discussion with the other aircraft manufacturers to develop applications of the system on non-Airbus aircraft as well,” Scherer says without identifying targets.
Airbus CEO Tom Enders says he doubts Boeing will drop the 737 MAX soon in favor of an all-new design. “I have heard that rumor, too,” he said May 25. “But it would be difficult to convince the engine makers to spend more money on another major program.” Talk about Boeing possibly pulling development of a new single-aisle forward is linked to its struggles to re-engine the 737NG and reach the same fuel burn improvement promised by Airbus for its A320NEO. Airbus says the aircraft will use 15% less fuel than the classic A320 variant.
