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Australia: flight safety checks

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    Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Bring 11,000 Jobs, $693 Million to Washington

    EVERETT, Wash., Sept. 27, 2010 — The Boeing Company today announced that the state of Washington will benefit from an estimated 11,000 total jobs and generate an estimated $693 million in annual economic impact if the Boeing NewGen Tanker is selected as the U.S. Air Force’s next aerial refueling aircraft.

    Boeing submitted its proposal July 9 to replace 179 of the Air Force’s 400 Eisenhower-era KC-135 aircraft. The Air Force is expected to award a contract later this year.

    "The Boeing team in Washington state has an outstanding track record meeting the needs of U.S. warfighters by delivering the finest military derivatives of commercial aircraft in the world," said Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. "I am confident that the thousands of men and women at Boeing and our suppliers working on the NewGen Tanker will carry on that same tradition of excellence for many years to come."

    "One of the great strengths of Boeing is our unique ability to form teams made up of both commercial and defense personnel to find innovative and best-value solutions for our customers," said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Nowhere is this more apparent than here in Puget Sound, where we have been supporting both commercial and military customers for nearly 100 years."

    Currently, Boeing has 72,000 employees in Washington and works with more than 2,700 suppliers/vendors, delivering a total $3.3 billion in annual economic impact.

    The NewGen Tanker is a widebody, multi-mission aircraft based on the proven Boeing 767 commercial airplane and updated with the latest and most advanced technology. Capable of fulfilling the Air Force’s needs for transport of fuel, cargo, passengers and patients, the combat-ready NewGen Tanker will meet or exceed the 372 mandatory requirements described in the service’s final KC-X Request for Proposal released Feb. 24.

    The NewGen Tanker will be made with a low-risk approach to manufacturing that relies on existing Boeing facilities in Washington state and Kansas as well as U.S. suppliers throughout the nation, with decades of experience delivering dependable military tanker and derivative aircraft. Nationwide, the NewGen Tanker program will support approximately 50,000 total U.S. jobs with Boeing and more than 800 suppliers in more than 40 states.

    The Boeing NewGen Tanker also will be more cost-effective to own and operate than a larger, heavier tanker. It will save American taxpayers more than $10 billion in fuel costs over its 40-year service life because it burns 24 percent less fuel than the competitor’s airplane.

    Boeing has been designing, building, modifying and supporting tankers for decades. These include the KC-135 that will be replaced in the KC-X competition, and the KC-10 fleet. The company also has delivered four KC-767Js to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and is on contract to deliver four KC-767As to the Italian Air Force.

    The Boeing Aerial Refueling Technology demonstrator (BART) will be on display at Westlake Park (401 Pine St.) in Seattle on Sept. 28 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. BART’s tour schedule is available at www.UnitedStatesTanker.com/TankerTrek. More information on Boeing’s NewGen Tanker, including video clips and an interactive tour of the aircraft, is available at www.UnitedStatesTanker.com. For more information on joining the company’s efforts, visit www.RealAmericanTankers.com.

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    FAA proposes $275,000 civil penalty against Continental Airlines

    For Immediate Release
    December 22, 2010

    SEATTLE– The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $275,000 civil penalty against Continental Airlines Inc., of Houston, for operating two Boeing 737-900ER (extended range) aircraft on 73 flights when they were not in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations.

    The FAA alleges Continental mechanics failed to follow the 737 Airplane Maintenance Manual when they installed incorrect main landing gear wheel-tire assemblies on two aircraft and released them for service on Nov. 7 and 19, 2009.

    The manual contains specific instructions to mechanics not to use wheel-tire assemblies intended for the B-737-700, -800 and -900 on the heavier B-737-900ER. The manual says using the incorrect assemblies on the heavier version of the B-737 might lead to damage to the aircraft or injury to people working on and around the aircraft.

    Continental has 30 days from receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.

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    Air Australia Passengers Stranded

    Brisbane’s budget airline Air Australia just announced that flights are canceled and there will be no more new bookings because it can’t pay its bills. The company is now in Australia’s version of bankruptcy protection (voluntary administration). A portion of 4000 passengers were left stranded in places like Phuket and Honolulu. Jetstar and Qantas are considering selling return seats to passengers. Passengers will likely be able to recoup their Air Australia purchase price through their credit card company. The airline has only been in operation for two months. 300 jobs were just lost if the business is unable to recover.

    In George’s Point of View


    Good for Air Australia. It’s the responsible thing to do.

    Frankly, it is better for the operators who are running short of cash to get out fast. Maybe this bankruptcy will uncover some well-heeled investors. If not, getting out fast is the right thing to do. A shortage of cash can result in scrimping where there is no room for cost-cutting, like maintenance, etc. Cash shortages can cause budget cuts that can too easily result in loss of life.

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    Boeing Begins Certification Testing on 737 Performance Improvements

    SEATTLE, Nov. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — A Boeing (NYSE: BA) Next-Generation 737-800 in the new United Airlines livery successfully completed its first test flight late last week, signifying the start of certification for a package of 737 performance improvements. Testing and certification will continue through April 2011. Aerodynamic and engine changes included in the package will reduce fuel consumption by 2 percent. Boeing is phasing the changes into production mid-2011 through early 2012.

    One percent of the savings comes from reducing resistance as air flows around the airplane. The upper and lower anti-collision lights change from round to a more aerodynamic, elongated teardrop shape. Wheel-well fairings are re-contoured to smooth the air flow near the main landing gear. A redesign of the environmental control system, exhaust vent and streamlined wing slat and spoiler trailing edges round out the aerodynamic changes.

    CFM is introducing the new CFM56-7BE engine enhancement program to coincide with Boeing’s airframe changes. Low- and high-pressure turbine modifications will result in a 1 percent reduction in fuel consumption. In addition, Boeing is optimizing the engine’s primary nozzle and plug. Together, the changes result in cooler-running engines that may provide up to 4 percent lower maintenance costs.

    Watch video of the first certification test flight and learn how engineers came up with the design improvements here: http://bit.ly/a8T9oM.

    Boeing’s continuous efforts to improve the Next-Generation 737 family have resulted in an accumulated 5 percent gain in fuel efficiency since the first airplane was delivered in 1998. The new improvements will give operators an airplane that is 7 percent more efficient than the first Next-Generation 737s delivered.

    In late October, Boeing delivered its first two Next-Generation 737-800s with the new Boeing Sky Interior. The interior features new cove lighting and curving architecture that create a more open feel in the cabin. Updated sidewalls and window reveals add a modern feel, and larger stowage bins enable passengers to store more luggage while giving them more headroom. Deliveries to new operators continue each month.

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    Southwest Airlines Announces New AirTran Transition Agreement With Its Pilots’ Union

    Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) announced today that it has reached an agreement with its Pilots, represented by the Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association (SWAPA), on an initial Transition Agreement that establishes a procedural framework for eventually integrating the Pilots of Orlando-based AirTran Airways into Southwest.The integration addressed by the agreement would follow the official legal closing of Southwest’s acquisition of AirTran’s parent company, AirTran Holdings, Inc., which is currently anticipated to occur during the second quarter of 2011. Closing is subject to the approval of AirTran stockholders, receipt of certain regulatory clearances, and fulfillment of customary closing conditions.

    With this initial transition agreement, Southwest and SWAPA establish a framework to begin an orderly transition from operating Southwest and AirTran as separate carriers, to a single carrier under one Single Operating Certificate (SOC). This transition agreement is an integral first step in that process.

    “This transition agreement, which was unanimously agreed to by our SWAPA Board of Directors, is an important step in the AirTran acquisition and integration process,” said Chuck Magill, Southwest Airlines Vice President of Flight Operations. “Our hard-working Pilots are now poised to begin the important and challenging work of integrating their AirTran colleagues into Southwest Airlines.”

    In its 40th year of service, Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers–offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation’s largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded; now serving 69 cities in 35 states. Beginning March 13, 2011, Southwest will initiate service to Charleston and Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina, and on March 27, 2011, service will begin to Newark Liberty International Airport. Southwest also is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report(TM). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide.

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  • The Families of Air France Flight 447 Turn to US

    The Association of the relatives of the victims of Air France Flight 447 are proceeding against European manufacturer Airbus. To spearhead their undertaking, the families have contracted aviation consultant George Hatcher and the law firm of Masry & Vittoe.

    Hatcher conferred with the victims’ relatives monday (20), in Rio De Janeiro, to discuss legal strategies that will be adopted in the case. According to the specialist, at this stage, regardless of the cause of the accident, the responsible party is the manufacturer of the airplane, France’s Airbus, subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company.

    In a disaster of this stature, payments can reach up to $700 million dollars (U.S.).

    According to Mr Hatcher who maintains a list of hundreds of pilot experts, “Two of our Airbus pilots agree that in their expert opinion, a significant responsibility for the loss of the aircraft lies within defective computers and/or flawed computer technology. The Airbus, in their evaluation is far from perfect.”

    Hatcher will be working the Air France case, in addition to his work on the TAM case in Florida. “In respect for the family’s deep feelings,” he explained, “we are moving forward as quickly and carefully as the wheels of justice allow. Settlements in the US tend to be higher than elsewhere. The Tam hearing is scheduled for March of 2010. We came to a partial agreement with the TAM, but the case is pending on the responsible parties like BFGoodrich, responsible for the brakes, and the Pratt&Whitney, manufacturer of the turbines, one of which was with the broken reverser.”

    The Air France is eligible to be tried in Florida where Airbus maintains a training center commercial office of the Airbus.

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