Aircraft News August 2005.

Experts see no link among recent airline crashes. There are no obvious links among four plane crashes which have occurred within the past month, safety experts said. The accidents have killed more than 320 people. No one died in the crash of an Air France jet in Toronto. "Rare events can clump together -- there's an old wives' tale that accidents come in threes," said George Donahue, a former Federal Aviation Administration official who is now a professor at George Mason University. "I can't tell you that I think there's any kind of common thread." Aug 25, 2005

Japan hopes to test supersonic jet next month. Japan hopes to resume testing of a successor to the retired supersonic Concorde as early as next month. Japan's space agency will test the plane over the Australian outback. The jet is designed to fly at twice the speed of sound. If the test is successful, Japan will conduct more experiments. Its goal is to build a plane that can fly 300 passengers from Tokyo to Los Angeles in four hours. Aug 24, 2005

Black boxes remain best option for cockpit data, regulators say. Despite some limitations, black boxes remain the best option for storing cockpit information, the National Transportation Safety Board said. A new series of black boxes are more likely to stay intact after a crash, the board said. Meanwhile, Greek officials investigating a crash on Sunday still have not recovered one of the two black boxes containing important flight data. An alternative to the black box is a communications network that would beam data back to the ground every few seconds. However, U.S. officials say the cost of a reliable system is too high. Aug 19, 2005

Concorde may be history but that does not mean the end of supersonic passenger flights. Around the world various agencies are working on Mach 2 plus projects and last week news came from Japan that their arrow shaped unmanned development aircraft is expected to be launched at the at Australia's Woomera test range sometime after 15 September. Three years back the original prototype crashed on test. Japan, whose aerospace industry has always taken a backseat to other industrial enterprises, is keen to be seen as the leader of what is an international project. The planned aircraft is a 300-seater which could fly Tokyo - Los Angeles in just four hours. 2020 is the target date for airline introduction. http://www.jaxa.jp/pr/index_e.html Aug 19, 2005

More than 300 U.S. runways lack appropriate overrun, report says. More than 300 runways at U.S. commercial airports do not have enough overrun space to help avoid accidents, writes The Wall Street Journal's Scott McCartney. Airports are not required to retrofit runways that do not have the 1,000 feet of overrun area currently required by the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA is encouraging airports to install a mix of water, foam and cement that can quickly stop jets if they skid off a runway. The FAA says the material is an acceptable alternative to a full runway overrun. Aug 16, 2005

Air France probe finds jet landed too far down runway. An investigation into the Air France plane crash is looking to the pilots for answers on why the aircraft was landed halfway down the runway in heavy rain conditions, instead of circling the area to land safely. One expert familiar with preliminary data from the ground radar said the aircraft accelerated briefly after landing in a half attempt to circle, but the Transportation Safety Board team is still looking at data from the black boxes. Aug 8, 2005

Investigators look at failed chutes in Toronto crash. Officials are investigating why two escape chutes failed to inflate properly after an Air France plane skidded off the runway and crashed last week in Toronto. Investigators also are looking at why the pilot attempted a relatively short landing in bad weather. Aug 9, 2005

American, French investigators join accident investigation. French and American investigators have joined their Canadian counterparts in examining wreckage, the weather conditions at the time and the pilot's actions in Tuesday's accident where an Airbus A340 skidded off the runway in Toronto. An official report won't be available right away, but The International Herald Tribune writes the inquiry is likely to focus on the pilot's decision to land at Toronto Pearson International Airport rather than circle until the weather improved or land at an alternate airport. Some aviation experts said the crash could have been avoided if the Toronto airport had installed a new kind of concrete at the end of its runways, The Washington Post reports. Aug 5, 2005

Canadian officials start investigating Air France incident. Canada's Transportation Safety Board has started investigating the crash of an Air France jetliner earlier this week at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Investigators have recovered the plane's flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder. The plane overran a runway during a thunderstorm. All of the more than 300 passengers and crew members survived the incident. Aug 4, 2005

Air France jetliner skids off runway; all aboard survive. An Air France jumbo jet skidded off a runway during a thunderstorm and broke into pieces Tuesday afternoon in Toronto. The Airbus A340-300 caught on fire, but all of the more than 300 passengers and crew members survived. Only minor injuries were reported. Still, the accident shows why stopping a loaded jetliner on a wet runway in poor weather remains a serious danger for commercial airlines. Runway issues may now get more scrutiny from regulators in the process of certifying the Airbus 380 superjumbo jet. Aug 3, 2005

U.S. says U.K. aid to Airbus could undermine subsidy talks. The White House said negotiations to end a dispute over aircraft subsidies could be hurt if the U.K. gives Airbus financial help to develop the A350. Airbus wants $680 million from the U.K. to launch the jet, according to media reports. The U.S. believes Airbus receives unfair government subsidies to develop its planes, but Airbus counters that U.S.-based Boeing receives subsidies in the form of defense contracts. Both sides have filed complaints with the World Trade Organization. Aug 25, 2005

Airbus names new CEO of North America. European jetmaker Airbus named Barry Eccleston president and chief executive officer of Airbus North America Holdings. Eccleston previously was a vice president at Honeywell. He will oversee Airbus in the U.S. and Canada, including sales and marketing, and service and training. Eccleston replaces Henri Courpron, who was named executive vice president of procurement. Aug 2, 2005

U.S. will ask WTO to appoint panel to decide subsidy case. After months of talks with European Union officials, the U.S. said it will take its aircraft subsidy case to the World Trade Organization. The U.S. Friday will ask the WTO to appoint a panel to decide the case. The U.S. believes European jetmaker Airbus receives unfair state subsidies to develop planes. Airbus counters that U.S. jetmaker Boeing receives subsidies in the form of defense contracts. The case could take two years or longer to resolve. Aug 19, 2005

Planemakers add perks to newest jetliners. Jetmakers are adding amenities to their new planes to attract more customers. Boeing's new 787 will feature restrooms with windows and a ventilation system to raise cabin humidity. The Airbus A380 superjumbo jet will offer showers and on-board massage stations, among other things. Aug 4, 2005

KLM has taken delivery of the first of eight A330-200 aircraft and on September 1 will put it into service between Amsterdam and Washington. The A330-200s will gradually phase out KLM's Boeing 767-300ER equipment as they arrive at approximately three-month intervals through to March 2007. Two more aircraft will be delivered this year and utilized for flights to Newark (New York) and Accra in Ghana. The A330 will offer the standard World Business Class (30 seats), and economy class (221 seats), products similar to the airline's Boeing 777 fleet, which include 170-degree sleeper seats in the business section and video on demand throughout the aircraft. http://www.klm.com Aug 25, 2005

Independence Air to delay plane deliveries to avoid bankruptcy. In an effort to avoid bankruptcy, the parent of Independence Air, FLYi, announced plans to postpone some airplane deliveries. Airbus agreed to hold off on delivering A319 planes originally scheduled for 2006. Now six planes will be delivered during the second half of 2007, six in 2008 and four in 2009. In exchange, Independence Air will receive a $31.2 million refund from Airbus. Aug 12, 2005

Russian firm to help Airbus develop proposed A350. Russian firm Irkut will participate in the design and manufacture of the proposed Airbus A350 jetliner. The company has signed a letter of intent with Airbus. It specifies that Airbus and Irkut "will explore opportunities in research and technology that could further enhance Russia's contribution to future Airbus aircraft programs." Aug 18, 2005

Qatar Airways intends to sign deals by September worth $15.6bn for 80 Airbus and Boeing wide-body jets, its chief executive said on Thursday. The state-controlled carrier announced, at the Paris Air Show in June, that it planned to buy a mix of 60 Airbus A350-800 and A350-900 aircraft and 20 Boeing 777-200LR and 777-300ER. The Airbus order represents a massive boost for the European aircraft maker and a vote of confidence in its future mid-sized A350, which Qatar Airways chose over US rival Boeing's new 787. http://www.qatarairways.com Aug 5, 2005

Singapore airport prepares for Airbus superjumbo jet. Singapore's Changi airport has spent $36 million to modify its facilities for the Airbus A380 superjumbo jet. The airport Tuesday unveiled the first gate capable of handling the plane, which can hold up to 555 passengers. Singapore Airlines, the A380 launch customer, has 10 planes on order and 15 options.

Aug 19, 2005

Dornier continues in business in the form of AvCraft Aerospace GmbH which has sold two more 328 Jets. The famous old aircraft manufacturer, in administration since last November under the watchful eye of insolvency expert Dr. Martin Prager of Pluta Rechtsanwalts GmbH, has confirmed that British Airways franchise airline Sun Air has accepted a second aircraft specially configured for short take off and landing performance. This will give the carrier the flexibility to use both its Dornier 328 turboprops and 328 Jets at London City Airport, a new destination in November this year. Berlin Tempelhof-based executive charter airline, Private Wings, founded in 1991, has also purchased a 328 Jet, its third of the type. With these latest agreements, three of the four aircraft, originally destined for Hainan Airlines of China have now been sold, the funds generated securing the liquidity of the manufacturer until January 2006 Dr Prager confirmed, emphasising that the latest sales demonstrate that the market still trusts the company and its products. http://www.pluta.net Aug 5, 2005

Machinists union urges members to reject Boeing's final offer. Boeing on Tuesday made a final offer to its machinists union after three weeks of contract negotiations. The proposal includes larger cash bonuses and a boost in pension benefits. Union leaders say the contract falls short of its goals for pensions, health care and job security and have recommended that members vote against it. The union will vote on the contract tomorrow. The current contract expires Friday. Two-thirds of the workers must vote in favor of a strike in a separate vote for a walkout to occur. Aug 31, 2005

Boeing makes offer to machinists; union says sides "far apart". Boeing revised its contract offer to its machinists union and boosted the workers' cash bonuses. But a spokeswoman for the union said the sides are far apart on pension, health care and job security. The union's contract expires Friday, and leaders have warned of a possible strike. Boeing will make its final offer today under a negotiating timetable set by the two sides. Aug 30, 2005

Machinists say Boeing's revised offer falls short. Boeing's machinists union said the company's revised contract offer falls short of the union's goals for job security, pension programs and health care. Less than one week remains before the current contract expires. Boeing said the current offer would provide one of the best compensation packages in the industry. Aug 29, 2005

Boeing unveils composite section of 787. Boeing on Thursday unveiled the nose, cockpit and forward fuselage of its 787 jetliner, a one-piece structure made of composites. The 787 will be the first jetliner with its fuselage and wings made out of composite materials. The fuselage was unveiled at Spirit AeroSystems, Boeing's former commercial airplanes division in Wichita, Kan. Aug 26, 2005

Machinists call Boeing's pension offer a "meager increase". The union representing Boeing machinists said the company has offered a "very meager increase on pensions." The pension issue remains a sticking point in ongoing contract talks, the union said. Boeing and the union would not comment specifically on pension figures. On Thursday, the mechanics delivered a counteroffer to Boeing's proposal. Boeing has said it will make its last offer Tuesday, and workers will vote Thursday. Aug 26, 2005

Boeing machinists union criticizes company's first offer. Boeing's machinists union told workers the company's first complete proposal "fell well short of all your top issues." The union is seeking more job security and improved pension benefits for the workers. Boeing called the offer "balanced and competitive" on its Web site and declined to comment on the union's remarks. The two sides are continuing negotiations.

Aug 25, 2005

Boeing, machinists union continue talks. Boeing and the union representing its machinists continue to negotiate and exchange contract proposals. Boeing has said it will make its final offer Tuesday, but a union representative said the company may make the offer as early as Sunday. Neither side is releasing details about the talks. Aug 24, 2005

Boeing may land 787 order from leasing company. Boeing is in talks with a leasing company for an order of 787 jetliners, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported. Martin Bentrott, vice president of sales, marketing and in-service support for the 787 program, said the deal may close within two months. He would not identify the customer, but it is likely International Lease Finance Corp., the newspaper reported. Boeing so far has announced 143 firm orders for the plane. Aug 24, 2005

Talks continue between Boeing and its machinists. Negotiators for Boeing and its machinists union have said little about the progress of contract talks. The union on Sunday held a rally outside of the building where the talks are taking place. Boeing will make its final offer to the union Aug. 30, and workers will vote on the contract Sept. 1. The union wants to boost the workers' pension plan. Health benefits and job security are also important issues for the workers, representatives said. Aug 22, 2005

Cockpit of Boeing 787 will resemble 777 for easy training. Boeing has designed the cockpit of its new 787 so it will be easy to train 777 pilots to fly the plane, said Mike Carriker, chief test pilot for the 787. The company has said it will unveil photo's of the plane's cockpit and flight deck soon. Aug 17, 2005

Boeing, machinists resume contract talks. Boeing and negotiators for its machinists union will resume contract talks today. The sides have said little since negotiations officially started in June. Union leaders submitted their first offer to Boeing in June and are waiting for a written counteroffer. Aug 15, 2005

Boeing, machinists enter round-the-clock contract talks. Boeing and its largest union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, will enter the final stage of contract talks over issues such as pensions, health care and job security. Boeing is expected to make its final offer Aug. 30, which will give union members a couple of days to look the contract over before voting on it Sept. 1. Aug 12, 2005

Boeing strides toward quiet finish line with 787 jetliner. Boeing is testing new equipment in a noise-reduction effort that will quiet the landing and takeoff of its 787 jetliners, which includes cabin noise for passengers. The equipment is expected to enter airline service in 2008 on the 787, the 747 Advanced and other planes now in production. Aug 11, 2005

New Boeing jetliner to attempt 24-hour non-stop flight. Following a recent around-the-world promotional tour, Boeing's new longest-range jetliner, the 777-200LR, plans to embark on a 24-hour non-stop flight. The feat has never been done, and is expected to occur in early October. The plane will have three auxiliary fuel tanks and will depart from an undecided city in Asia. It will land 24 hours later in London. Aug 10, 2005

Boeing raises price of jets by 3.5%. Boeing announced it has updated prices for its jets, increasing the list cost by an average of about 3.5%. But the new prices have been called a "starting point," as the airplane manufacturer often gives steep discounts to its customers. Boeing said its new price list "reflects an increase by airplane submodel, which is consistent with the general inflation rate for manufactured goods." Aug 5, 2005

Boeing developing electric motor to save fuel. Boeing is developing an electric motor airlines may someday use to power jetliners as they taxi down the runway. If adopted by the industry, such a system would cut airport emissions, fuel costs and the need for tow tugs used to push planes back from the gate. Boeing successfully tested the system and now executives must decide whether the company will pursue the project. Eventually, it would need Federal Aviation Administration certification. Aug 3, 2005

China may finalize orders for 50 Boeing jets this month. China plans to finalize orders for 50 Boeing 787 Dreamliners for five airlines in August, according to media reports. The contract is worth $6 billion, based on list prices. Boeing said it is still negotiating with the carriers. When the agreement was announced in January, six airlines planned to order 60 787s worth $7.2 billion. Boeing did not discuss the decline in the number of planes. Aug 1, 2005

Boeing, Chinese airlines sign $5 billion agreement. Four Chinese airlines inked a $5.04 billion deal to purchase 42 Boeing 787 jets, according to Xinhua News Agency. The planes will by divvied up with Air China and China Eastern Airlines buying 15 planes each, Shanghai Airlines buying nine planes and Xiamen Airline buying three planes. Aug 8, 2005

China Southern signs agreement for 10 Boeing 787s. Boeing said China Southern Airlines signed an agreement to purchase 10 787 jetliners. The deal is part of a 60-plane agreement with the Chinese government announced in January. China has said it will distribute the planes among six carriers. Aug 31, 2005

Growth in long-haul flights creates demand for new jets. Demand for long-haul flights to expanding markets in China and India is boosting the need for fuel-efficient airplanes able to fly nonstop for long distances, writes The New York Times' Joe Sharkey. Boeing recently sold two more fuel-efficient 777-200ER's to Continental Airlines, which calls the plane the "long-range workhorse" of its fleet. Boeing now is aggressively marketing a new long-range jet, the 777-200LR. Aug 2, 2005

Delta to use bigger shuttle planes with more seats. Delta Air Lines will begin retiring the Boeing 737-300 jets it uses on its Northeastern shuttle routes Nov. 1. The planes, which carry passengers on the airline's shuttle routes between New York and Boston and New York and Washington, will be replaced by McDonnell-Douglas MD-88 jets. The MD-88s can carry 134 passengers, compared with the 120-passenger 737. The increased capacity will allow Delta to shuttle 1,148 more passengers per day and bring in $240,000 to $296,000 each day in additional revenue. Aug 11, 2005

EgyptAir orders six Boeing planes to compete in Middle East market. EgyptAir ordered six Boeing 737-800 airliners Tuesday as Middle East air travel continues to increase, according to the world's second-largest commercial-airplane maker. The deal is valued at $850 million, and both Boeing and Airbus are taking advantage of the deregulation and economic growth in that part of the world. Aug 10, 2005

Chile's LAN orders six Boeing 767s, keeping production open. Chile's LAN Airlines ordered six Boeing 767-300 jetliners, adding the planes to an original six it ordered last year. The order prolongs the life of the program and will keep the production line open while Boeing and the Department of Defense negotiate a contract for 767 aerial tankers.

Aug 3, 2005

Northwest orders Rolls-Royce engines. Northwest Airlines chose Rolls-Royce to supply engines for its new fleet of Boeing 787s. The contract is worth up to $2 billion. Northwest selected the Trent 1000 engines for its 18 aircraft, as well as up to 18 options. Aug 5, 2005

Airlines add winglets to reduce fuel costs. Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways are among the carriers using "winglets" to cut fuel costs. Airlines install winglets on the wing tips of jetliners to increase wing area and lift which can reduce fuel consumption up to 5% on longer flights. Delta Air Lines told employees it is considering using winglets on some jetliners. Aug 30, 2005

UPS to order eight Boeing 747-400 freighters. United Parcel Service said it will order eight Boeing 747-400 freighters. The order, the largest for the 747 in several years, will extend the life of its production line. The deal is worth about $1.8 billion, based on list prices. Boeing says it has booked enough orders for the plane to keep the production line open until it decides whether it will launch the 747-Advanced, which will feature a fuel-efficient engine. Aug 18, 2005

EU to name airlines that fall short in safety. The European Union said it will blacklist airlines that do not meet basic safety requirements. The decision comes after a Helios Airways crash Sunday killed 121 people. On Tuesday, 160 people died in a West Caribbean Airways crash in Venezuela. EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot has promised a proposal by October for a public Web site that will allow more information sharing by European air safety authorities. Aug 19, 2005

Passenger or crew member may have attempted to rescue Greek jetliner, reports say: A crew member or passenger aboard a Cypriot passenger jetliner may have tried to save the plane before it crashed into a mountain Sunday, according to news reports. All 121 people aboard the plane were killed. F-16 pilots sent to shadow the plane said they saw two unidentified people in the cockpit trying to regain control of the plane. The F-16 pilots also saw an empty pilot's seat and a co-pilot slumped over the controls. Aug 18, 2005

Boeing says it did not declare Greek jet airworthy: Boeing said it did not recently certify the Helios Airways 737-800 that crashed Sunday as airworthy, contradicting statements made by the chairman of Helios in published media reports. A Boeing spokeswoman pointed out that regulators certify maintenance work. She also noted that if the owner of an aircraft does not seek Boeing out, it has no idea how the plane is maintained.

Aug 17, 2005

Greek crash turns attention to oxygen safety systems. The fatal crash of a Helios Airways Boeing 737 has focused attention on oxygen safety systems. Most of the plane's 121 passengers lost consciousness before the plane crashed into a hillside near Athens. Investigators believe the plane lost cabin pressure at high altitude, and autopsy reports show passengers may have been unconscious at the time of the impact. Aug 16, 2005

Collision alarm system was "suppressed" at Kennedy. When a DC-8 cargo jet nearly collided with a Boeing 767 passenger liner July 6 at Kennedy International Airport, the system installed by the Federal Aviation Administration to warn of runway collisions remained silent, experts involved in the investigation have reported. The alarm system was "deliberately suppressed," due to the heavy rain, an FAA spokeswoman said. In bad weather, false alarms sounded so often that it rendered the system useless, she said. Aug 5, 2005

Northwest's aging jets complicate financial troubles: Northwest Airlines' aging jetliners are creating more financial trouble for the airline as it endures a mechanics strike. Older jetliners are just as safe as new planes when they are well-maintained, but they use more fuel and are less efficient then newer models. Oil prices recently surged to around $70 a barrel. Northwest's planes are an average of 18.2 years old, the oldest average age among major U.S. carriers. Its oldest jets are almost 40 years old. Aug 30, 2005

Peru[sup.1]s state-owned airline Tans lost one of its two Boeing 737-200 aircraft last week, the 'plane coming down in the jungle as it flew the approach to the regional city of Pucallpa from the capital Lima. 39 people were killed in the accident but 59 miraculously survived. Questions are already being raised as to the quality of the airline, a former military operation which became a proper airline in 1999. http://www.tansperu.com.pe Aug 25, 2005

Peruvian jetliner crashes during storm, killing 41. TANS Peru Flight 204 crashed Tuesday during a storm about 20 miles from the jungle city of Pucallpa. At least 41 people on the Boeing 737-200 died; some passengers walked away from the wreck unhurt. There were 100 people on board the plane. Before the crash, the pilot radioed that strong winds and torrential rains were preventing him from landing the plane. The crash was the fifth major airline accident this month. Aug 24, 2005

Tuninter, the regional division of Tunisair, lost one of its two ATR 72s on Sunday August 7 when the aircraft ditched in the sea eight miles north of Palermo, Sicily. It was on its way from Bari to the Tunisian resort island of Djerba. There were 39 passengers and crew on the aircraft of which 23 survived. The aircraft itself had been built in 1992 and had a total flight time of 30,000 hours. Initial reports have confirmed both engines cutting out which would indicate a fuel problem but a more detailed analysis will have to wait until the Italian and French authorities have made a full inspection of the wreckage. http://www.atraircraft.com http://www.tunisair.com.tn Aug 12, 2005

United signs 777 maintenance contract with Chinese firm. United Airlines has hired a Chinese company to maintain its fleet of 777 jetliners. The airline's five-year deal with Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering will start in October. United officials said Ameco's cost structure will lower the airline's expenses. United's 777 maintenance currently is done in the U.S. and was previously outsourced, the company said. Aug 31, 2005

United faces possible setback on debt linked to jets. Creditors who owned debt on 14 of United Airlines planes say the airline owed them an additional $65 million and sold the debt to another entity. The bankrupt airline planned to buy and refinance $293 million in debt on the planes. The airline is asking a bankruptcy court to void the sale. The situation could present a setback to United as it attempts to exit bankruptcy early next year. Aug 17, 2005

United to add more 70-seat planes to commuter fleets. United Airlines will increase the number of 66-seat and 70-seat planes flown by its commuter affiliates to 100. Travelers have complained about long flights in 50-seat regional jets. The larger planes will include first-class cabins, leather seats and larger overhead bins. United will make the changes by next summer. Aug 16, 2005