KLM Royal Dutch Airlines told ATW’s Eco-Aviation Today that the first Amsterdam-Paris Charles de Gaulle return flight on June 29 th using a Boeing 737-800 partially powered by biofuel operated "exactly the same—as expected—as flights on traditional kerosene."
The Australian government’s carbon dioxide tax announced on Sunday July 10 th will cost Qantas up to A$115 million ($124 million) a year and passengers will foot the bill put at up to $A8 a sector. Australian domestic airlines will be exposed to the full starting CO2 price of A$23 per tonne through an increase in aviation fuel excise from July 2012 and will not have access to transitional assistance or compensation arrangements. International aviation fuel will be excluded from the CO2 price scheme.
The Chinese government has blocked an order from Hainan Airlines' subsidiary Hong Kong Airlines for 10 Airbus A380 aircraft, according to news reports. The order had been scheduled to be announced at last month's Paris Air Show. An industry insider confirmed to ATW’s Eco-Aviation Today that the Hong Kong-based carrier had to postpone the order because Beijing failed to give the airline a "green light," in part to express its disapproval of Chinese carriers' inclusion in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.
Lufthansa and the Jülich Research Centre (FZJ) have launched an innovative climate research project for the long-term observation of the Earth’s atmosphere using scheduled LH services. Specially developed measurement devices on board a Lufthansa A340-300 “Viersen” will routinely record atmospheric trace substances, and in the future, aerosols and cloud particles as well, while in flight. This shall occur all over the world and on a broad basis. The generated data will be digitally sampled, processed and analyzed after every landing.
Airbus, together with research partner German Aerospace Center (DLR), has trialed emission free ground operations using fuel cell technology. Airbus is examining the potential of this technology and its integration into the aircraft, and successfully performed the first flight test on a civil transport aircraft in 2008, where a fuel cell system provided power for the aircraft’s back-up systems.
The lawsuit filed by the US Air Transport Assn., American Airlines and United Continental Holdings against the EU's inclusion of aviation in its Emissions Trading Scheme had its first hearing in the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg on July 5 th. The ECJ advocate general on the case plans to deliver a (non-binding) opinion by Oct. 6. The final decision of the ECJ is expected at a later date.
Virgin Australia announced that it is partnering with Sydney-based Renewable Oil Corp., Vancouver-based Dynamotive Energy Systems Corp. and Australia’s Future Farm Industries Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) to develop a sustainable aviation biofuel that benefits the Australian farming community and the environment. In a world first, the consortium will use innovative fast pyrolysis technology developed by Dynamotive to process mallees, a eucalypt tree that can be grown sustainably in many parts of Australia.
A Delta Air Lines Boeing 767 hit an Atlantic Southeast Airlines Bombardier CRJ900 Thursday night on a Boston Logan taxiway, causing damage in the smaller aircraft's tail area, according to US FAA and multiple news reports from the scene.
MTU Maintenance Hanover was selected by Chilean carrier Sky Airline to provide a Total Engine Care package for its V2500s under a five-year exclusive agreement. Turkish Technic signed a four-year total aircraft base maintenance services agreement, a total landing gear support agreement and a five-year total APU support agreement with SunExpress Deutschland covering its fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft. SunExpress Deutschland started operations in June with three 737-800s.
Finnair said it will operate a scheduled flight partially powered by biofuel between Amsterdam and Helsinki next week, and will ultimately operate at least three biofuel flights on the route.
US Transportation Security Administration said it will launch a pilot program this fall to test new airport screening strategies that aim, among other goals, to provide "trusted travelers with expedited screening."
Finnair said it will operate a scheduled flight partially powered by biofuel between Amsterdam and Helsinki next week, and will ultimately operate at least three biofuel flights on the route.
Ft. Lauderdale-based Bimini Island Air overstepped its bounds as an on-demand charter operator by offering and flying scheduled flights using a 30-seat Saab 340, stated US FAA, which has revoked the carrier's operating certificate.
News from Travel Technology Update: Among all the marketing concepts that have arisen in the airline industry, perhaps none has created more buzz than ancillary revenues.
US FAA proposed a total of $275,500 in civil penalties against two regional airlines and an MRO provider. The agency called for a $77,500 fine against Dallas-based American Eagle Airlines because its line maintenance contractor at Richmond, Va., allegedly used uncalibrated tools to test the anti-freeze used for de-icing aircraft. Also, FAA alleges the tools were not specified for use by the airline’s FAA-approved general maintenance manual and its ground de-icing program. The alleged violations took place between Feb. 13 and March 9, 2010, FAA stated.
Qantas’ long-haul pilots on Monday voted overwhelmingly for industrial action—expected to take place in early August—to drive home demands for higher wages, re-grading and job security.
The Australian government’s carbon dioxide tax announced Sunday will cost Qantas up to A$115 million ($124 million) a year and passengers will foot the bill; the airline said Monday it will raise fares by up to A$8.
Lufthansa plans to start its scheduled biofuel flights Friday, launching a six-month trial in which an IAE V2500-powered Airbus A321 will operate on the Frankfurt-Hamburg route.
Qantas’ long-haul pilots on Monday voted overwhelmingly for industrial action—expected to take place in early August—to drive home demands for higher wages, re-grading and job security.
US FAA proposed a $689,800 civil penalty against FedEx Corp. for allegedly violating US hazardous materials regulations. The agencyalleged Friday that in 89 instances from June 13-Sept. 4, 2009, "FedEx failed to provide pilots-in-command with complete, accurate information on the nature, quantity and weight of hazardous materials loaded on their aircraft. Pilots-in-command must be given this information under hazardous materials regulations."
Virgin Atlantic Airways pilots represented by the British Airline Pilots' Assn. withdrew their threat of a strike after reaching a last-minute pay deal with management. Pilots had voted to strike for the first time in the airline's history as part of their ongoing dispute over pay and conditions with management ( ATW Daily News, May 18).
Swiss International Air Lines reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract with its pilots, avoiding a strike that had been threatened for this week.
US FAA said Thursday that David Grizzle, the agency's chief counsel who had been serving as acting Air Traffic Organization COO, will take over the top ATO post on a permanent basis. Grizzle became acting ATO COO suddenly in April when the controversy over sleeping controller incidents forced Hank Krakowski to resign as head of the FAA unit overseeing the US's ATC system ( ATW Daily News, April 15).
