NTSB releases report on Platte River plane crash that killed 3

The end is coming for special credit financing for plane purchases for developing countries if an “Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development” agreement is ratified; the current agreement would allow Airbus and Boeing deliveries made under current conditions until 2012, affecting more than 138 planes ordered prior to May 2007. Eithad saves $20m in annual interest payments for eight newly purchase wide-body aircraft. The proposed changes would bring the interest rates closer to market rates.

Critics are competitors who do not enjoy the same financial breaks as those given to “developing” countries by export credit assistance from US Export-Import Bank. Proponents are obviously those airlines who benefit, i.e. Emirates, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Pemex (Mexico) and airlines headquartered in India.

On its website, you will see this announcement:

Effective immediately, as of noon on Wednesday, 13 January 2010, Blue Wings airlines is ceasing operation.

The developments of recent weeks, and the tense overall economic situation in the aviation industry, have forced us to take this step.

Blue Wings was established in 2002 chartering flights from from Düsseldorf, and a 48% share was acquired by Russia’s National Reserve Corporation (NRC) under Alpstream AG. Ownership is (was?) Alpstream AG (48%), Jorn Hellwig (26%) and NIL Investment (26%) but apparently a shareholder dispute led to the carrier being banned. Reportedly, staff has not been paid since November.

The airline has a pending order of 16 Airbuses but the airline’s license is currently revoked by German authorities.