As composite structures become larger, more integrated and more critical, guaranteeing the integrity of a major repair when the aircraft returns to service is a growing imperative. Research into methods of checking repairs in situ could pave the way for wider structural health monitoring.
While comments in the U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) public docket focus on the legality of Norwegian Air International’s (NAI) creative—and some contend illegal—business strategy, the debate over the carrier’s application extends far beyond what one airline may be permitted to do under applicable treaties and laws. NAI, a subsidiary of Norwegian Air Shuttle, set up its headquarters in Ireland at least in part to bypass some Norwegian labor laws (DAILY, Feb. 19).
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is calling attention to revised maintenance instructions designed to prevent improper modifications of Airbus A330 and A340 hydraulic pump motor connectors. The issue came to light in 2009, when operators discovered internal arcing in connectors, later traced to fluid ingress. Airbus developed a modification for the connectors, and EASA mandated the fix in May 2010.
Rising airline demand for both leased aircraft and surplus parts — trends not necessarily welcomed by parts manufacturer approval (PMA) holders — may be exposing opportunities for some PMA specialists, executives from a leading independent parts supplier suggest.
AUCKLAND — In addition to thousands of job cuts, Qantas has revealed plans to defer aircraft orders, accelerate fleet retirements and eliminate some routes as part of major surgery to mitigate spiraling losses.
Click here to view the pdf Fuel Watch: Global Jet Fuel Prices (midpoint) As of February 26, 2014, compared with previous week and previous year cts/gal prev. week prev.
BRUSSELS — A second round of trilateral discussions between the European Commission (EC), the European Parliament (EP) and the European Council on finding a compromise on the inclusion of aviation in the European Union’s emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) is scheduled for March 4. While all parties appear committed to concluding a deal, airlines are increasingly worried about the content of the agreement.
Click here to view the pdf Aircraft Operating Costs, 12 Months Ended September 2013, Widebody Aircraft (Sorted By Seats Per Departure) Cost Per Block Hour
Facing major pricing pressures in some key markets, Volaris is banking on a revamped ancillary revenue strategy to deliver a revenue boost more in line with its traffic increase.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers: Atlanta - Orlando, February 15-21, 2014, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Top Carriers: Atlanta - Orlando, February 15-21, 2014, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Daily Each Way Departures Share ASKs (000) Share Seats /Dept.
Royal Jordanian will suspend services to Alexandria, Egypt, in April and Colombo, Sri Lanka and Milan Malpensa in May, after passenger numbers declined, making the three routes unprofitable. Jordan’s national carrier, which was privatized in 2007 with the government retaining a 29% shareholding, says the move comes as part of regular reviews of its route network. The airline notes that the introduction of Boeing 787-8 aircraft in the coming months will create possibilities to “open promising markets.”
Airbus Group is taking a €434 million extraordinary charge in its 2013 results for the A350 program as the company struggles with higher than expected recurring costs for the new widebody aircraft. CEO Tom Enders says he cannot guarantee that the charge will be the last related to the aircraft. He admits that “it is a sizeable charge”, but stresses that the A350 will “still be a competitive program.”
Indonesia’s flag carrier, PT Garuda Indonesia, will file for an initial public offering (IPO) this coming April. The carrier hopes to raise 1.6 trillion rupiah ($135 million) from a rights issue, according to its stock exchange filing. Garuda, which has undergone what it calls a “Quantum Leap” business transformation program over the last three years, will issue 3.2 billion shares through joint underwriters Bahana Securities, Mandiri Sekuritas and Danareksa.
BRUSSELS — Kenya Airways is preparing for delivery of its first Boeing 787-8—its first of a firm order for nine of the type—in early April, about four years later than initially planned. The aircraft will enter commercial service with flights from the airline’s hub at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport in South Africa, a spokeswoman confirmed to Aviation Week. Intercontinental flights to Paris Charles de Gaulle with 787s will start in June, she says.
Airbus is raising the production rate of its narrowbody line, boosting output from the current 42 aircraft per month to 46 by the second quarter of 2016. That move is to be preceded by an interim step up from 42 to 44 in the first quarter of 2016. The increase has been expected after Airbus CEO Fabrice Bregier said in January that single aisle output has “upside potential.”
As Rolls-Royce focuses on development of the Trent XWB for the Airbus A350 and the next version of Trent 1000 TEN for the Boeing 787, the company has unveiled its strategic roadmap for a new generation of turbofans for 2020 and beyond.
Click here to view the pdf Aircraft Operating Statistics, 12 Months Ended June 2013, Widebody Aircraft (Sorted By Seats Per Departure) Aircraft Stage Seats/ Aircraft Carrier
The end of the code share agreement between Qantas and South African Airways (SAA) will likely open the way for SAA to further extend its new relationship with Virgin Australia. The recent announcement that Qantas and SAA will terminate their partnership on important Australia-South Africa routes came soon after SAA struck a code share deal with Virgin to improve access to certain Australian cities. It has long been apparent that regulatory headaches had put the Qantas-SAA relationship in doubt.
LOS ANGELES — AgustaWestland has begun the certification test phase for its AW609 commercial tiltrotor. The two AW609 prototypes, AC1 in the U.S. and AC2 in Italy, have flown almost 1,000 hr. between them, a third of which were flown in the last two years since AgustaWestland took full control of the program from Bell Helicopter, which was a partner until 2011. Test pilots completed flight envelope expansion trials in December 2013, and the company plans to increase the flying rate further in 2014.
The U.S. faces “an infrastructure deficit” that could have negative consequences for commercial aviation, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said today. Speaking to the Aero Club of Washington DC, Foxx pointed out that civil aviation contributes $1.3 trillion to the U.S. economy annually. “The industry supports more jobs than exist in the whole state of New York,” he said.
Research commissioned by the Transportation Research Board’s Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) could help redefine the thresholds for homes and schools that qualify for government-funded soundproofing near large metropolitan airports.
AgustaWestland has begun the certification test phase for its AW609 commercial tiltrotor. The two AW609 prototypes, AC1 in the U.S. and AC2 in Italy, have flown almost 1,000 hr. between them, a third of which were flown in the last two years since AgustaWestland took full control of the program from Bell Helicopter, which was a partner until 2011.
