While demand for air travel shows little sign of slowing at the end of a bumper year where lower fares have resulted in more passengers flying, domestic markets such as Brazil and Australia are feeling the effects of a sluggish local economy, new figures show. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says total revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) rose 7.5 per cent in October. And wi...
So you're thinking of taking an exotic vacation, having a little adventure and coming back with lots of stories for your envious friends and colleagues. Believe it or not, North Korea might just be the place for you. But watch what you bring. And what you do. And what you say. While North Korea is making a strong push to increase the number of tourists who visit the country each year --...
Indonesia will inspect all 75 Airbus A320 jets flown by domestic airlines, following a report this week that cited component failure as one factor in the crash of an AirAsia jet last year that killed 162 people. Indonesia's Directorate General for Civil Aviation said Thursday that it would check for any rudder system issues on A320s flown by domestic airlines, including the budget carriers...
Lockheed Martin has demonstrated how drone air traffic control can work by getting several unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to work together in mid-air to fight fires, showing that it is possible for both large aircraft and small drones to work together without causing an accident. The aerospace and defence contractor successfully demonstrated its UAS Traffic Management (UTM) system by getting a...
A Virgin America flight bound from Seattle to Los Angeles was delayed Thursday after the loader used to move baggage onto the plane caught fire. Port of Seattle spokesman Peter McGraw said airport fire crews quickly extinguished the blaze on the ground-baggage loader. There were no injuries and no damage to the baggage or the plane. Virgin Airline Flight 784 was delayed more than 30 minutes....
Air India Ltd., the state-run carrier that has survived on a 300 billion-rupee (US$4.5 billion) taxpayer-funded bailout, is struggling to pay for spare parts forcing it to ground two Boeing Co. Dreamliners. The aircraft were not operational for about 10 months each as worldwide demand for parts outpaced supply from Boeing, and Air India failed to procure components on credit due to a "...
Richard Branson is finding a new use for an old Virgin Atlantic jumbo jetliner: to fling rockets to orbit. Virgin Galactic, the commercial space company founded by the billionaire, plans to send small rockets inflight from the Boeing 747-400 nicknamed "Cosmic Girl" that it purchased from Branson's airline. Branson is among the entrepreneurs vying to shake up the US$6 billion co...
Transport Canada (TC) says it has suspended the Air Operators Certificate (AOC) of Buffalo Aurways (J4, Yellowknife) with effect from November 30 citing the airline's poor safety record. "Transport Canada takes its aviation safety oversight role very seriously and expects every air operator to fully comply with aviation safety regulations," the regulatory body said. "Whe...
The General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) has ordered all domestic and international airlines operating in the country to make it mandatory for passengers to declare jewelry, precious metals and cash over SR60,000 in their possession, with invoices or other documentation as proof of value. GACA said the Kingdom has regulations in place for passengers to fill in forms to declare these item...
Marignane, Airbus Helicopters is proud to announce the certification of the H225 by Russian Certification Authorities as it is the first time in history that a foreign heavy class helicopter has been certified in Russia. “Successful certification of H225 by the Interstate Aviation Committee gives Russian customers an opportunity to start operations of the efficient and reliable rotor...
In last moments before his plane nose-dived into an Orlando lake, Robert Stimmel frantically asked an air-traffic controller for help. His autopilot won't disengage. He's heading into classified airspace. The plane started porpoising, using full power going up and then down. In a last-ditch effort, an unidentified voice on the radio tells Stimmel to flip his master power switch....
Stansted Airport is to sign a full-service airline in 2016, its owner said, as London's runway capacity squeeze pushes traditional carriers towards the UK capital's third busiest hub and the UK home of budget operator Ryanair. In London, traditional airlines such as British Airways have concentrated on the country's busiest airport Heathrow. But Heathrow is full, and awaiting permis...
Danish firm TP Aerospace has signed additional MRO contracts following on from its deals with Danish Air Transport and Western Global Airlines. Its Asian division has penned a deal with Indian carrier Air Pegasus to provide its Land For Less (LFL) wheel and brake programme in support of the Bangalore-based carrier’s ATR-72 fleet. The programme includes access to TP Aerospace Asia’s...
A new FAA Safety Alert for Operators ( SAFO 15011) encourages operators using two-pilot crews to ensure that one crewmember is designated as the pilot flying (PF) and one crewmember is designated the pilot monitor (PM). The SAFO was issued after the FAA determined that operators’ manuals “do not always clearly define the roles and associated tasks of...
Twelve years after the Honda Motor Co. announced the first flight of its experimental compact business jet, the HondaJet, the since formed Honda Aircraft is on the cusp of certification and entry-into-service of the first of what is anticipated will be a family of HondaJet aircraft. Honda announced the first flight of the experimental HondaJet on Dec. 13, 2003. The prototype aircraft flew...
Singapore travellers bound for Southern Sumatra start enjoying low fares from today as Jetstar Asia commences direct services from Singapore to Palembang. The only low fares airline flying this route direct, Jetstar Asia will operate three return services a week. The inaugural Jetstar Asia flight from Singapore to Palembang landed at 1.35pm at Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport,...
Cathay Pacific Airways today announced a 4% salary increment for the majority of eligible Hong Kong-based ground staff and cabin crew for 2016. The airline also confirmed it will give a discretionary bonus payment for 2015, based on one month’s salary, which will be paid to eligible staff in their December salary payment. Staff on a lower salary band will receive a higher increment than s...
Leaping ahead of a potential carbon tax, airport makes environmental headway but most of achievement came from greener grid. Toronto Pearson International Airport’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have dropped nearly by half since 2006, a feat it claims is equivalent to 44,800 tonnes worth of carbon dioxide. That fact, nine years in the making, means Toronto Pearson has joined an elite...
Latvia's parliament has backed an EUR€80 million (USD$85 million) cash injection for AirBaltic, removing a potential hurdle for the state-owned flag carrier to complete the purchase of Bombardier CSeries aircraft. The green light follows a government decision to prevent the state-owned airline separately importing jets from Russia's Sukhoi, a possibility that had threatened to put...
Jet Aviation Singapore recently delivered the first 8C (120-month) inspection undertaken in Asia on a Bombardier Global Express. In parallel with the heavy inspection, the company further completed a full interior refurbishment and exterior repaint. The 10-year 8C inspection is the largest maintenance event for Bombardier’s Global Express aircraft, requiring extensive dismantling of the c...
Héroux-Devtek Inc., a leading international manufacturer of aerospace products, today announced that it has renewed an important long-term contract with the U.S. Air Force (“USAF”) to provide landing gear repair and overhaul (“R&O”) services for the C-130, E-3 and KC-135R aircraft. The long-term contract spans a period extending to the end of th...
