✈AVIATION NEWS ROOM ✈
Boeing Delivers First 737 With Performance Improvement Engines
The first Boeing (NYSE: BA) Next-Generation 737 with the
certified performance improvement engines was delivered on a 737-800 to
China Southern Airlines at Boeing Field in Seattle last week.
The new CFM56-7BE engine configuration, which is now standard on all
delivered 737s, is an improved design that includes high and low
pressure turbine modification. Coupled with drag reduction improvements
that Boeing started phasing into 737 production earlier this year, it
will result in lower fuel consumption and maintenance cost savings.
The new engine is part of the 737 performance improvement package
that Boeing began testing in November 2010 with the goal of reducing
fuel consumption by 2 percent. Other fuel performance incorporations
will take place into 2012 and data analysis will continue to quantify
the final benefit to customers.
“We continue to review performance flight test data and collect
delivery data,” said John Hamilton, vice president and chief project
engineer – 737 program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The improved fuel
savings is part of our commitment to deliver market-leading value to
Next-Generation 737 customers.”
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 delivered in 1998. The new improvements will
give operators an airplane that is up to 7 percent more efficient than
the first Next-Generation 737s delivered.
Source: Boeing
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NTSB joins investigation of Boston airport collision
BOSTON (AP) — The collision between two airliners on a
taxiway at Boston’s Logan International Airport was upgraded from an
“incident” to an “accident” on Friday by federal investigators,
prompting the involvement of the National Transportation Safety Board.
One person was taken to a hospital after the wing of a large moving
passenger jet clipped the tail of a smaller aircraft in front of it at
about 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
“An incident is considered an accident when there is a loss of life
or severe damage, and in this case at least one plane suffered severe
damage,” NTSB spokesman Peter Knudson said.
Both planes were taken out of service with visible damage. The wing
tip of the larger aircraft was bent while the smaller jet’s tail was
crumpled and bent.
The Federal Aviation Administration will assist the NTSB on the investigation, FAA spokesman Jim Peters said.
Investigators will review recordings of the flight data and cockpit
recorders in both jets, as well as recordings of air traffic control
conversations and ground radar. They also will interview crew members
on both planes, review weather at the time of the accident and conduct
physical inspections of both aircraft, Peters said.
The probe could also include drug and alcohol testing, he said.
The NTSB is expected to issue a preliminary report within 10 days, Knudson said, which would not necessarily point to a cause.
The wing of Delta Flight 266, a Boeing 767 headed to Amsterdam,
clipped the tail of Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 4904, departing
for Raleigh-Durham, at about 7:30 p.m., Delta spokesman Trebor
Banstetter said. ASA provides regional air service for Atlanta-based
Delta.
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U.S. court upholds use of airport body scanners
A U.S. appeals court on Friday upheld the use of full-body
scanners to screen air travelers, but said the Transportation Security
Administration should have sought public comment before deploying them.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled
that the machines, known as Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT), were
not an unconstitutional search and declined to halt their use despite
TSA’s failure to follow proper procedure.
Privacy advocates, who have strongly opposed the use of the
machines, had argued their use constituted an illegal search under the
U.S. Constitution’s Fourth Amendment. They also said TSA failed to
provide public notice that it was deploying them and to seek public
comment.
“Any passenger may opt-out of AIT screening in favor of a pat-down,
which allows him to decide which of the two options for detecting a
concealed, nonmetallic weapon or explosive is least invasive,” the
three-judge panel ruled.
The court agreed that the deployment of the scanners, which allow
screeners to see under a traveler’s clothes in a bid to detect hidden
explosives, was significant enough that the TSA should have sought
public input.
“It is clear that by producing an image of the unclothed passenger,
an AIT scanner intrudes upon his or her personal privacy in a way a
magnetometer does not,” Judge Douglas Ginsburg wrote for the panel,
adding that the agency should have provided notice and sought comment.
The court sent the matter back to the TSA for action.
The TSA accelerated deploying full-body scanners after a Nigerian
man allegedly boarded a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit in December
2009 and tried to detonate a bomb hidden in his underwear. It failed to
explode fully.
TSA has also begun testing software in which a generic outline of a person is shown rather than the revealing image.
TSA spokesman Greg Soule said they were reviewing the ruling and that the agency already seeks public input.
“This is the best technology currently available to detect
nonmetallic improvised explosive devices hidden on a passenger, and is
an important part of TSA’s multilayered security efforts,” he said.
Some air travelers have expressed anger at the new machines, saying
they were too invasive and that the alternative physical pat-downs were
as well.
“Many Americans object to the airport body scanner program,” said
Marc Rotenberg, president of the Electronic Privacy Information Center,
which had challenged their use. “Now they will have an opportunity to
express their views to the TSA and the agency must take their views
into account as a matter of law.”
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Hail damage causes more Denver flight cancelations
Dozens more flights have been canceled at Denver International Airport because of planes knocked out of service by hail.
Frontier Airlines is the hardest hit and canceled more than 60
flights through Saturday because of damage from Wednesday night’s
storm. Nearly a third of its 59 large planes need to be repaired.
Denver’s largest carrier, United Airlines, canceled 39 flights
Friday. It has 12 planes out of service for hail damage inspections but
spokesman Mike Trevino didn’t know the extent of the damage.
Southwest Airlines says three of its planes were damaged. But with
550 planes in its fleet, it didn’t have to delay or cancel flights.
Frontier says it’s working to switch passengers to other airlines
and paying hotel bills for those who’ve been stranded. Five planes
could return to service this weekend.
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US Airways Captain Escorted From Airport
The battle between US Airways(LLC)
and its pilots over the airline's safety culture is continuing, this
time focused on an incident in which a captain declined to fly a
transatlantic flight.
On June 16, captain Valerie Wells, a 30-year-pilot, was scheduled to fly
an Airbus A330, which can carry nearly 300 passengers, on a flight from
Philadelphia to Rome. But she declined to fly because of failures of
both the auxiliary power unit, a backup source of electrical power, and
the "hot battery bus," a primary source of electrical power.
After the crew and passengers had returned to the gate Wells, in a
particularly unusual event, was escorted out of the airport by security
officials. Subsequently, a second crew of three pilots also declined to
fly; the aircraft was repaired and underwent a rigorous inspection, and a
third crew took off about six to seven hours late.
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Spain launches airport sell-off
MADRID — The Spanish government Friday took the first step in
the partial privatisation of the airport operating authority AENA as
well as of the Madrid and Barcelona airports.
The government hopes the sale of the airports in Spain’s two largest
cities will bring in around 5.3 billion euros ($7.5 billion) for the
public coffers to help rein in a massive public deficit.
“The government approved (the launching) of bids for (Madrid’s)
Barajas and El Prat (in Barcelona) and the partial privatisation of
AENA,” government spokesman Jose Blanco told a news conference after a
cabinet meeting.
The call for bids involves more than 90 percent of the management
contracts for the two airports – 3.7 billion euros for Barajas and 1.6
billion euros for El Prat — for 20 years, extendable by a further five
years.
The process will be launched on July 30 and completed at the end of November, the transport ministry said in a statement.
The winning group will have three months before taking over the airports, which would likely take place in early 2012.
The government also launched the sale of 49 percent of AENA but
Blanco said “the completion of the sale as well as the final percentage
will depend on market conditions in order to find the maximum value
for the company.”
Madrid announced the partial sale of AENA in December, along with
the privatization of up to 30 percent of the state lottery, in a bid to
calm markets nervous over the country’s large deficit.
Madrid has promised to cut the public deficit from 9.24 percent of
gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010 to the eurozone limit of 3.0
percent in 2013.
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New General Aviation Terminal at Schiphol-East opened for use
The new General Aviation Terminal at Schiphol-East was
opened for use today. The opening ceremony took place in the presence
of Ad Rutten (Executive Vice President & COO for Schiphol Group),
André van den Berg (Schiphol Real Estate Director) and the users.
General Aviation (GA) is the international designation for private
and business flights using aircraft for no more than 19 passengers.
Each year about 4,500 business jet flights are handled at
Schiphol-East. The present GA Terminal has been housed in Building 106
for several decades, but this building is now old and due for
replacement.
To continue meeting the market and quality requirements of business
jet passengers, Schiphol Real Estate worked with VMX Architects to
design a new terminal. This new terminal has a surface area of 6,000
m2: 1,000 m2 for the terminal and lounges, 4,000 m2 of office space and
1,000 m2 for parking.
The terminal is located on the apron that is specifically used for
small aircraft. It is a multifunctional building, with both handling
areas and offices. User-friendliness and hospitality were the main
priorities for the interior design. The main users of the terminal are
the handling agents KLM, Aviapartner and Jetsupport. Other parties,
including Jet Netherlands, Nayak (aircraft management and maintenance),
Aerdynamics and Solid Air, are already renting 50% of the office
space.
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AMR Announces Largest Aircraft Order in History With Boeing and Airbus
Agreement includes options and purchase rights for 465 additional aircraft through 2025
American to be first U.S. network carrier to
take delivery of Airbus A320neo Family aircraft and first airline to
commit to Boeing's expected new 737 family offering
FORT WORTH, Texas, July 20, 2011
/PRNewswire/ -- AMR Corporation (NYSE: AMR), the parent company of
American Airlines and American Eagle, today announced landmark
agreements with Airbus and Boeing that will allow it to replace and
transform American's narrowbody fleet over five years and solidify its
fleet plan into the next decade. These new aircraft will allow American
to reduce its operating and fuel costs and deliver state-of-the-art
amenities to customers, while maximizing financial flexibility for the
Company.
Under the new agreements, American plans to acquire 460 narrowbody,
single-aisle aircraft from the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families
beginning in 2013 through 2022 – the largest aircraft order in aviation
history. As part of these agreements, starting in 2017 American will
become the first network U.S. airline to begin taking delivery of "next
generation" narrowbody aircraft that will further accelerate
fuel-efficiency gains.
These new deliveries are expected to pave the way for American to
have the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleet among its U.S. airline
peers in approximately five years.
American also will benefit from approximately $13 billion
of committed financing provided by the manufacturers through lease
transactions that will help maximize balance sheet flexibility and
reduce risk. The financing fully covers the first 230 deliveries.
Gerard Arpey, Chairman and CEO of AMR
and American Airlines, noted that today's order represents another
important step in the Company's strategy to build a strong foundation
for the future.
"We have a long track record of meeting our obligations to all of our
stakeholders, including strategic partners, lenders, suppliers and
investors. We believe this history continues to help us navigate today's
challenges while remaining focused on doing what's necessary to
position American Airlines for long-term success, and we look forward to
working with Boeing and Airbus to achieve it," Arpey said. "Today's
announcement paves the way for us to achieve important milestones in our
company's future, giving us the ability to replace our narrowbody fleet
and finance it responsibly. This was an incredible opportunity for our
company that presented itself from two great manufacturers. And, given
our aggressive and ambitious fleet plans, we feel fortunate to have both
Boeing and Airbus standing beside us to meet our needs. With today's
news, we expect to have the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleet among
our peers in the U.S. industry within five years. This new fleet will
dramatically improve our fuel and operating costs, while enhancing our
financial flexibility. More than that, with the power of our network and
partnerships and the dedication of our people, we will be an even
stronger competitor."
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Lufthansa commences daily biofuel flights with A321
Lufthansa has launched the world's first regular scheduled commercial flights powered by biofuel.
For six months, a Lufthansa Airbus
A321 will fly four rotations a day on its normal Frankfurt-Hamburg
scheduled service with 25% of the aircraft's power provided by biofuel.
Lufthansa says it intends this to be a carefully controlled trial for its biofuel operations as well as a commercial venture.
The aircraft flying the route for the trial period is airframe
D-AIDG, a recently-delivered A321 powered by new International Aero
Engines V2500s.
For all these flights its right engine will be fed a 50:50 mix of
ordinary kerosene and synthetic fuel derived from sustainably produced
biomass, and the left engine will be powered by normal jet fuel.
The purpose will be to monitor the relative engine performance, fuel
consumption throughout the trial, and to be able to observe whether,
after six months, there is any difference in the condition of the two
engines.
15/07/11
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Late-night Flights to Bermuda Now Come at a High Price
As of last Wednesday, Bermuda L.F. Wade International Airport will be
closed to general aviation and non-scheduled commercial traffic between
the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. The airport, which recently obtained
civil certification, formerly received infrastructure support from the
U.S. military for 24/7 ATC operations and aircraft rescue and
firefighting (ARFF). While the airport authority has determined that
scheduled traffic did not warrant the expense of maintaining those
services 24 hours a day, operational compliance regulations demand that
those services be present during the hours when the airport is open. GA
aircraft seeking to land or take off after hours can file a request in
advance with the department of airport operations for ATC and ARFF
support, which will cost $10,000. During the unmanned hours, ATC control
into and out of Bermuda is covered by New York Center, and declared
emergency landings, medevac flights and search-and-rescue operations
will not be subject to a fee. While the airport had closed at 11 p.m. in
the past, the use of aircraft radio-controlled airfield lighting had
allowed for late-night arrivals. But according to Wendell Burchall, the
airport’s manager of maintenance and engineering, some operators had
abused the system by landing without declaring an emergency or
requesting ARFF.
05.07.11.
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Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) has completed the installation of full flat-bed seats
Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) has completed the installation of full
flat-bed seats in the BusinessElite® cabin of all Boeing 777 and
767-400ER type aircraft.
The last of 18 Boeing 777 aircraft, each with 45 BusinessElite seats
per plane, and all 21 Boeing 767-400ER aircraft with 40 BusinessElite
seats per plane have been retrofitted with full flat-bed .
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Mach 4 Supersonic Bizjet To Be Revealed at Paris Show
On Monday June 20. at the Paris Air Show, HyperMach
Aerospace Industries plans to unveil a “next generation” supersonic
business jet (SSBJ) that can fly from Paris to New York in 1 hour 45
minutes. Given prevailing westerly winds on this 4,000-nm trip, this
puts the cruising speed of the HyperMach aircraft in the neighborhood of
a blistering Mach 4.0, well over double the top speeds of the proposed
SSBJ designs in development at Aerion (Mach 1.6) and Supersonic
Aerospace International (Mach 1.8). In a press invite for its
announcement next week, HyperMach also said its SSBJ could fly around
the world in as little as five hours, which is just 48 minutes longer
than it would take for the Aerion SSBJ to fly from Paris to New York at
Mach 1.6. A HyperMach spokeswoman declined to reveal more details about
the program, but company chairman and CEO Richard Lugg’s background
might provide more clues about the SSBJ, especially its powerplants.
Specifically, Lugg is also chairman and CEO of Portland, Maine-based
SonicBlue Aerospace, a company “specializing in revolutionary hybrid
turbine and scramjet…propulsion systems,” suggesting that this SSBJ will
employ advanced technologies heretofore the preserve of the defense
industry.
June 16, 2011
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Philippines’ Cebu Air places $3.8 bln Airbus order
Philippine budget carrier Cebu Air Inc will buy 37 planes
from Airbus for $3.8 billion as it looks to more than double its fleet
over the next 10 years and expand its routes, the company’s chief
executive said on Thursday.
Lance Gokongwei told reporters Cebu Air has put in orders for 30 new
A321neos and seven A320s from Airbus, a unit of France’s EADS , with
delivery between 2015 and 2021.
The order is in addition to 18 A320s the Cebu Pacific is set to receive from the second half of this year up to 2014.
“This is the largest single aircraft order ever made by a Philippine
carrier,” Gokongwei said, adding it was also the largest firm order for
the A321neo in the world.
“We expect to launch a flight using A321 by 2017,” he said. “We will be able to serve cities in Australia, India, and northern Japan, places the A320 cannot reach.”
The airline plans to use internally generated cash and may seek loans
from export credit agencies and commercial lenders to fund the
purchases.
Cebu Air, which operates the country’s largest budget airline Cebu
Pacific, is a unit of Philippine conglomerate JG Summit Holdings Inc .
The airline expects to at least meet its target of flying 12 million
passengers this year, up 14 percent from last year, despite rising fuel
prices. It currently has 33 jets, of which 25 are A320s and eight are
turbo prop planes from aircraft maker ATR, jointly owned by EADS and
Finmeccanica .
“With the A321neo, Cebu Pacific will be able to fly more people
further at significantly lower cost per seat than any other competing
aircraft, and with less impact on the environment,” Airbus chief
operating officer John Leah said in a statement.
Cebu Air has yet to make an engine choice for the A321neo, but the
choices open to it are CFM International’s LEAP-X and Pratt &
Whitney’s PurePower PW1100G.
The A321neo, the largest model in the recently launched A320neo
series, uses new engines and large wing-tip devices called sharklets
that would allow Cebu Pacific to achieve 15 percent reduced fuel burn, a
statement from Cebu Air said.
Cebu Air competes with flag carrier Philippine Airlines Pal locally
and with Singapore’s Tiger Airways and Malaysia’s Air Asia Berhad in the
region.
Jun 17 2011
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Airbus presents a panoramic view of 2050
Leading aircraft
manufacturer Airbus, in advance of the Paris Airshow “Le Bourget”, today
invited the passengers of 2050 to discover its Concept Cabin - a whole
new flying experience inspired by nature.
Personalised zones replace traditional cabin classes
to offer tailored levels of experience. While taking a hop between
destinations, according to Airbus, passengers in 2050 could join an
interactive conference; enjoy a game of virtual golf; read the kids back
home a bedtime story; and recharge in a ‘vitalising seat’ whilst
watching the planet spread out beneath their feet.
This latest instalment of The Future by Airbus – a
vision of aviation in 2050 – follows last year’s unveiling of the
revolutionary Airbus Concept Plane, packed with technologies to reduce
fuel burn, emissions, waste and noise. The Airbus Concept Cabin now
gives further insight into some of the innovations and technologies that
will shape future passenger experiences on board.
The aircraft’s bionic structure mimics the
efficiency of bird bone which is optimised to provide strength where
needed, and allows for an intelligent cabin wall membrane which controls
air temperature and can become transparent to give passengers open
panoramic views.
The Concept Cabin has an integrated ‘neural network’
creating an intelligent interface between passenger and plane. It can
identify and respond to passenger needs and enables bespoke features
such as morphing seats which change to your body shape.
New personalised zones replace the traditional cabin
classes in the Airbus Concept Cabin to offer new tailored levels of
experience. The “vitalising zone” is all about wellbeing and relaxation
allowing you to proactively recharge your batteries with vitamin and
antioxidant enriched air, mood lighting, aromatherapy and acupressure
treatments whilst taking in the infinite view of the world around you.
There are no limits to the kinds of social scenarios
in the centre zone of the concept cabin – the “interactive zone”. The
virtual pop up projections in this area can transform you to whichever
social scene you want to be in, from holographic gaming to virtual
changing rooms for active shoppers.
The “smart tech zone” is tailored towards the more
functional oriented passenger with a chameleon style offering, to meet
individual needs ranging from a simple to a complete luxury service, but
all allowing you to continue life as if on the ground. By offering
different levels of experience within each zone, airlines would be able
to achieve price differentials and give more people access to the
benefits of air travel with minimal environmental impact.
Showcasing the innovative interior design, Charles
Champion, Airbus Executive Vice President Engineering, said: “Our
research shows that passengers of 2050 will expect a seamless travel
experience while also caring for the environment. The Airbus Concept
Cabin is designed with that in mind, and shows that the journey can be
as much a voyage of discovery as the destination. Whichever flight
experience is chosen, the passenger of 2050 will step out of the Airbus
Concept Cabin feeling revitalised and enriched.”
More than 90 percent of Airbus’ annual research
& development investment of over €2 billion has environmental
benefits for current and future aircraft. For example, due to advances
in technologies the concept cabin will be 100% recyclable. It will have
self-cleaning materials made from sustainable plant fibres which reduce
waste and maintenance and will harvest passenger body heat to power
cabin features.
Such technologies are already being developed and,
while they may not be seen in the exact same manner as in the Airbus
Concept Plane and Cabin, some of them could feature in future Airbus
aircraft programmes.
Visitors to Le Bourget International Airshow in
Paris will also be able to experience the Airbus’ Future of Flight film,
a 360 planetarium movie – a vision of the transformations in air
transport between now and the middle of the century which not only
focuses on aircraft designs and innovations, but also addresses
passenger expectations. The movie will be part of the planetarium’s
programme at the Musee de l’Air et de l’Espace from 20 – 26 June.
To find out more about the Airbus Concept Cabin and The Future by Airbus visit: www.thefuturebyairbus.com ✈
A350-900 first flight pushed back to end-2012
Airbus has pushed back the first flight of the A350-900
to the end of 2012 and is aiming for certification and service entry by
the end of 2013 because of a delay to final assembly, disclosed in
January, which will start at the end of 2011.
While Airbus planned a mid-2012 maiden flight, this seemed at odds
with its intention to maintain a lead time of about nine months between
final assembly and first flight.
Airbus's new timetable appears to provide a potential assembly lead
time of a year, and offers a change of tone regarding entry into service
- parent EADS had previously said the A350
would arrive in the second half of 2013. Pre-final assembly line
initiation is being prepared at several plants - St Nazaire for the
forward and centre section, Getafe and Hamburg for the fin and tail, and
Broughton for the wings. All major component assembly will be under way
this summer to ensure delivery to the final line at the end of this
year.
However, Airbus admitted: "Significant challenges remain to reach
[final assembly] start [at the] end of 2011 with an appropriate level of
quality to prepare the ramp-up." Several structures - including
cockpit, carbon-fibre fuselage panels and landing-gear - are complete or
nearing completion.
"Systems maturity is developing well, with major test benches already in service," Airbus said.
"The first large aircraft parts are now manufactured and the focus is moving to pre-final assembly start."
Airbus has orders for 574 A350s including 359 for the -900. ✈
Eritrean volcanic eruption threatens Middle East flights
Flights in the Horn of Africa region are being disrupted as airlines
and meteorologists throughout the Middle East monitor an ash cloud
resulting from the eruption of a volcano in Eritrea.
The eruption
of the Nabro volcano was triggered on 12 June following a series of
earthquakes at the northeastern end of the East African Rift Valley.
An
ash plume up to 8.4mi (13.5km) high has been moving steadily northwest
across Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt but is now caught in a westerly
jetstream and is curving back eastwards.
The Israel Meteorological
Service said on the evening of 13 June that the plume seemed unlikely
to pass over Israel but would potentially affect Jordan and Iraq.
Lufthansa
said that it had cancelled flights to Addis Ababa and Asmara on 13 June
and to Addis Ababa again on 14 June. The carrier serves the Ethiopian
capital five times weekly and the Eritrean capital, thrice-weekly.
Lufthansa said it is monitoring the situation closely before deciding on any further cancellations.
Ethiopian Airlines
has said that its services to Khartoum, Djibouti and domestic northern
Ethiopian destinations have been affected, and is advising passengers to
check their flight status before they travel.
Egyptair has said the ash cloud is also affecting its services to Addis Ababa and Asmara.
Royal Jordanian
Airlines chief executive Hussein Dabbas said on 14 June that the
airline was closely watching the ash cloud's progress. Its flights had
not yet been affected but it had a contingency plan in place in case it
had to suspend services, particularly to the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.
14/06/11
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Air travel disruptions from Chile volcano spread across South Pacific
The
impact on air transport of the recent eruption of the
Puyehue-Cordon-Caulle volcano range was relatively limited and
short-lived, compared with the fall-out from an Icelandic volcano’s
eruption last year in northern Europe.
Disruption
to air traffic in South America caused by the eruption of the
Puyehue-Cordon-Caulle range of volcanoes in Chile spread to Australia
and New Zealand over the weekend, after shifting winds had initially
allowed flight activity to return to normal throughout most of South
America within four days of the June 4 eruptions in an area 500 miles
south of the capital Santiago.
Airlines started flying a backlog of more than
60,000 passengers into and out of international gateways in Australia
and New Zealand today as the ash cloud that had drifted eastward across
the Southern Hemisphere began to clear. However, most flights between
Australia and New Zealand remained grounded today, while schedules in
Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil continued to feel the effects of the
volcano after airlines there thought they had escaped long-term
disruptions by the middle of last week.
By the evening of June 7 the rapid spread of
volcanic ash had caused disruptions to flights between Chile and
Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. In Argentina, only around 60 flights had
to be cancelled at Buenos Aires’s Ezeiza and Aeroparque airports, which
lie about 800 miles northeast of the Puyehue-Cordon-Caulle range. After
resuming normal operations on June 8, however, the Buenos Aires airports
had to close again on June 9, forcing more delays and cancellations
throughout that region.
Still much more disruptive by comparison, the eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull
volcano in April and May of 2010 resulted in the cancellation of around
100,000 flights, affecting 10 million passengers and causing a loss in
airline revenues of as much as $1.8 billion. Last month’s eruption of
the Grímsvötn volcano in Iceland saw limited impact over a 48-hour
period, with 900 flight cancellations. In South America, as of press
time, airlines in the region had yet to conduct an assessment of total
flights cancelled and loss of revenues. Meanwhile, it remains unclear
what safety policy Chile and Argentina followed in deciding which
airspace to close and on what basis.
Major carriers affected by the Puyehue-Cordon-Caulle
volcano include Chile’s Lan Airlines, TAM of Brazil, Jetstar, Air New
Zealand, Qantas, Cathay Pacific and Emirates Airline.
Chile is a veritable hotspot of volcanic activity,
with some 80 volcanoes known to be active among the more than 3,000
across its long, thin landmass.
June 13, 2011
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US plans fast-track security checks for low-risk frequent flyers
Airline passengers in the US could be handed a shortcut
through security checks under a government plan to give favourable
treatment to low-risk travellers.
The plan would allow passengers who agree to supply personal data to
US officials to receive a less stringent examination at airport
departure lounges. The head of the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA), John Pistole,
said travellers who supplied information such as frequent flyer
details and travel records in advance would pass through security areas
more quickly.
“We have been working for the last six months in trying to develop a
programme that allows us to differentiate between those who are
regular travellers and those who are not,” he said.
It is understood that a pilot programme could get under way before
the end of the year, involving at least one airport but limited to US
passport holders or domestic travellers. The trial is likely to be
watched closely in the UK, where the transport secretary, Philip Hammond, has pledged to review airport security.
Speaking at the annual general meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA)
in Singapore, Pistole said treating every passenger with the same level
of scrutiny was inefficient. “We recognise that one size does not fit
all.”
This week, the IATA unveiled a vision of what the TSA checks could
look like, with a “checkpoint of the future” that funnels passengers
into three security lanes: enhanced security, normal security and
“known traveller”. Passengers are allocated the appropriate lane by an
iris-recognition system linked to a government database, with known
travellers going via a single, elongated arch through an x-ray check, a
metal detector and a check for liquids. Checks that are known to
frustrate millions of passengers, such as shoe scans, would be avoided.
Stringent security measures in the US are a source of frustration
within the aviation industry, with British Airways among the most
outspoken critics of a regime that, owing to the sheer size and
profitability of the market, has the power to dictate global trends.
For instance, the European commission admitted last month that it had
been forced to abandon a partial relaxation of the ban on carrying liquids on to planes after pressure from the US government.
Sir Martin Broughton, chairman of BA, has warned that the industry
is “kowtowing” to American security concerns. In a speech earlier this
year he said: “The current procedures have grown, Topsy-like, with each
new procedure being superimposed on the existing structure every time
there is a new security incident.
“Every time, it’s a procedure to stop a repeat of what has already
been attempted rather than a programme to prevent the next new attempt
by terrorists.”
Backing the use of government data to create passenger watchlists,
he added: “We need to be using data better – data that we and
governments have.”
Also speaking at the IATA, the secretary general of Interpol warned
that air passengers were at risk after the theft of 28m passports and
national identity cards. Ron Noble said Interpol was concerned that
terrorists could slip into countries undetected because governments
were failing to share information on stolen identities.
“The number one risk confronting airlines and countries around the
world is the risk terrorists or other dangerous persons will carry a
fraudulent identity document and move from one country to another,” he
said.
Noble added that last year 40,000 passengers were caught with
illegally obtained IDs, with the true number of fraudulent travellers
likely to be even higher because of a lack of stringent checks.
June 6. 2011
✈
Gulfstream G150 Sets 3 City-pair Speed Records
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.’s G150 demonstration aircraft
recently showcased its long legs, establishing a city-pair speed record
between Anchorage, Alaska, and Savannah.
The aircraft also set two additional records when it traveled from
Hong Kong to Nagoya, Japan, and back again. Gulfstream’s first aircraft
in the midsize category has now established 13 speed records since
setting its first in 2006.
The G150
departed Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport at 11:51 p.m. on
March 18 with Gulfstream International Demonstration Captains Santiago
Koritschoner and Nicholas Rose on board. It traveled 3,196 nautical
miles (5,919 km) and landed at the Savannah/Hilton Head International
Airport 7 hours and 19 minutes later. Its average speed was 494 mph (795
kph).
“The G150 is a midsize workhorse,” said Larry Flynn, senior vice
president, Marketing and Sales, Gulfstream. “This flight showcases the
aircraft’s ability to traverse the continent with ease, making it the
ideal jet for both short- and long-range trips.”
One week earlier, the G150 set a record between Hong Kong and
Nagoya. The aircraft left Hong Kong International Airport at 10:11 a.m.
on March 11 with Koritschoner and Rose at the controls and one
passenger on board. The aircraft arrived at Nagoya Airport 3 hours and
12 minutes later.
The same crew left Nagoya for the return trip to Hong Kong at 2:52
p.m. March 11. The aircraft then traveled 1,503 nautical miles (2,784
km) to Hong Kong International Airport, landing at 7:05 p.m. local
time. Its average speed was 391.29 mph (630 kph), with headwinds of 126
mph
(203 kph).
The wide-cabin, high-speed G150 set two records in 2006, one when it
traveled from London to Cairo in 4 hours and 58 minutes, and again
when it traveled from Cairo to Dublin in 4 hours and 45 minutes.
The National Aeronautic Association has confirmed all three records
and forwarded them to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale in
Switzerland for approval as world records. ✈
Air France A380 starts service at Washington Dulles
Just before two Monday afternoon, the world’s largest passenger jet, the Airbus A-380, rolled down the runway at Dulles Airport.
The Air France flight from Paris marked the start of daily service in the Washington region for the super jumbo jet.
“I just can’t imagine how it ever gets off the runway,” said Dan Ranard, a passenger.
Rob Yingling, of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, said
a new fueling pit was installed to accommodate the extra fueling
capacity on the Airbus. A few taxi-way signs were moved as well.
One of the things they also had to change here Dulles were the jet
ways. Since the Airbus has two floors, there are now two separate jet
ways for both the lower and upper levels.
“I think it’s awesome as long as there still some legroom and it’s not shrunk anymore,” said passenger Ben Ranard.
✈
Thomson axes Glasgow flights to Caribbean
A year after it was launched a flight from Glasgow to the Caribbean is being axed.
Charter airline Thomson Airways is cutting two weekly summer flights
to the Dominican Republic next year as a result of cutbacks.
One of the flights, to the resort Punta Cana, was launched by the airline last year.
A spokeswoman for Thomson Airways said it was cutting the routes to
focus on more “popular” destinations such as Cancun and Florida.
Thomson and Thomas Cook operate flights to other Caribbean destinations including Barbados and Cape Verde.
The Dominican Republic has become one of the most popular long haul-holidays destinations from the UK.
It is situated on the heart of the Greater Antilles between Cuba and, Jamaica to the west and Puerto Rico to the east.
Package holidays to the Dominican Republic are popular with
holidaymakers on a strict budget as they tend to be all inclusive which
means very little spending money is needed.
Holidaymakers posted messages on travel website Tripadvisor questioning why the route had been axed.
One read: “Was hoping to book up again for next year as the kids and
I love the Dominican Republic so much but a bit miffed there’s no
flight from Glasgow – anybody know why?”
A spokeswoman for Thomson Airways said: “The airline has decided not
to operate flights to the Dominican Republic from Glasgow Airport
during summer 2012.
Glasgow Airport has enjoyed a recent boom with airlines such as Jet2
and easyjet opening new routes or expanding existing ones and overall
passenger numbers showing significant rises.
✈
Korean Air has celebrated the delivery of its first Airbus A380
Korean Air has celebrated the delivery of its first Airbus A380 at a
ceremony in Toulouse, France, becoming the sixth operator of the
aircraft since it was introduced in 2007.
The ceremony was attended by Korean Air chairman and CEO Yang Ho Cho,
Airbus president and CEO Tom Enders and EADS CEO Louis Gallois. “The
A380 has proven to be a game changer, setting new standards for comfort,
economic efficiency and respect for the environment,” Enders said. “We
are confident that the A380 will play a key role in enabling Korean
Air to further strengthen its position as one of the world’s great
airlines,”
Korean has ordered a total of 10 A380s, with the airline initially
planning to operate the aircraft from its Seoul base to a variety of
Asian destinations and eventually, non-stop flights to North America and
Europe. The airline has specified a 407 passenger layout for their
A380s, separated into three classes equipped with a duty free showcase
area, bar and lounge. ✈
First International GA Terminal Opens in India at Mumbai International Airport Limited
Mumbai's airport is the first in India to start international operations
from a dedicated general aviation (GA) terminal, which until April 2011
catered only to private domestic charters. Mumbai handled 13,290
nonscheduled flights in the fiscal year ending March 31, an increase of
61 percent from five years ago. Sanjay Reddy, managing director of
Mumbai International Airport Limited, said GA traffic at the airport is
expected to grow
10 percent annually over the next five years. Mumbai's GA terminal
houses two private lounges, two conference halls, two crew rest rooms
and a cafe bar, as well as immigration counters and security holds.
Apart from the concierge service, passengers are also provided personal
travel assistance to the aircraft.
✈
Aeroflot takes delivery of first Superjet 100
Illustation photo Superjet 100 from Armavia, Armenia
Russian flag carrier Aeroflot has formally taken delivery of its first Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional jet.
The
airline on 6 June signed a protocol of aircraft technical acceptance
from the manufacturer and applied to register it with regulators.
It
is expected to put the aircraft into revenue service between Moscow and
St Petersburg on 16 June, ahead of the annual international economic
forum in St Petersburg.
Aeroflot will become the second operator of the Superjet 100 after Armenian carrier Armavia, which has been operating the first serially-produced example of the type since 19 April.
Under the delivery schedule agreed with Sukhoi, Aeroflot is to receive 10 Superjets this year, a dozen in 2012 and eight in 2013.
✈
Air India Heathrow Terminal 4 Move
Air India has started a new chapter in its history by relocating its Heathrow Airport operations to Terminal 4.
Its move follows a four-decade residency at Heathrow Airport Terminal
3 and comes after a major Terminal 4 overhaul programme. The Air India
Heathrow terminal shift should therefore result in an improved travel
experience for passengers , according to a statement made by Colin
Matthews - CEO at Heathrow's parent company, BAA.
"I am delighted that Air India will be flying from the newly
refurbished Terminal 4", Matthews exclaimed in comments quoted by
Heathrow's Skyport publication, continuing: "it means easier journeys
and a better airport experience for their passengers."
"Direct flights to India are very important for the UK, they create
jobs and bring families together. That's why we are investing to
modernise Heathrow and keep it Europe's number one airport for Indian
flights", he concluded.
Air India at Heathrow
Few passenger carriers have been based at the UK's flagship airport
as long as Air India. The era of Air India at Heathrow began in the late
1960s and, almost immediately, a new route was opened up between London
and Mumbai.
Fast forward to 2011 and Air India is responsible for transporting
close to 400,000 passengers between London Heathrow and a whole host of
Indian cities including Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi.
In fact, no other European airport operates a higher number of direct Indian flight schedules.
Heathrow Terminal 4 Move
"We are moving to Terminal 4 in Heathrow after a half-century in our
old home at Terminal 3, and we looked forward to BAA's support in making
it a success in terms of enhanced convenience and comfort for our
passengers", Managing Director and Chairman of Air India, Arvind Jadhav,
said in a statement on the Heathrow Terminal 4 move.
Based in Mumbai, Air India is the sixteenth-largest in Asia and its flight schedules take it to 24 locations around the globe.
Its 35-strong airliner fleet is comprises of a mixed group of Boeing
and Airbus aircraft, including Airbus A330s, Boeing 747s and Boeing
777s.
✈
Heathrow opens new satellite terminal
London Heathrow airport has opened an extension to Terminal 5, three years after inauguration of the main building at the British Airways hub.
The
£340 million ($554 million) satellite extension, designated T5C, has 12
gates including eight triple-bridged stands for accommodating the Airbus A380.
British Airways is to acquire 12 of the double-deck aircraft from 2013.
The
satellite extension is the third section of Terminal 5 to open since
operations started with the original main building in March 2008.
Terminal 5 has handled over 520,000 flights in that time, says British
Airways.
Linked to the main structure by an underground transit,
the extension will provide capacity for an additional 3 million
passengers per year. Next year a dedicated transfer baggage tunnel will
open between the T5C satellite and Terminal 3.
DATE:03/06/11
SOURCE:Air Transport Intelligence news
✈
Stalled AF447 did not switch to abnormal attitude law
Investigation into the accident sequence of Air France flight AF447 has revealed that the Airbus A330 did not enter the abnormal attitude law after it stalled, despite its excessive angle of attack.
The
abnormal attitude law is a subset of alternate law on the aircraft and
is triggered when the angle of attack exceeds 30° or when certain other
inertial parameters - pitch and roll - become greater than threshold
levels.
Alternate law allowed AF447's horizontal stabiliser to
trim automatically 13° nose-up as the aircraft initially climbed above
its assigned cruising altitude of 35,000ft.
The stabiliser
remained in this nose-up trim position for the remainder of the flight,
meaning that the aircraft would have had a tendency to pitch up under
high engine thrust.
Crucially the abnormal attitude law - if
adopted - would have inhibited the auto-trim function, requiring the
crew to re-trim the aircraft manually.
After stalling, the A330's
angle of attack stayed above 35°. But while this exceeded the threshold
for the abnormal attitude law, the flight control computers had already
rejected all three air data reference units and all air data parameters
owing to discrepancy in the airspeed measurements.
Abnormal law
could only have been triggered by an inertial upset, such as a 50°
pitch-up or bank angle of more than 125°. "That never occurred," says
French accident investigation agency Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses.
The
BEA is still attempting to explain why AF447's crew failed to rescue
the aircraft after it climbed to 38,000ft and stalled. The pilot's
control inputs were primarily nose-up, despite the stall condition.
There
has been no indication that the aircraft switched into any other
control law, other than alternate, during the accident - suggesting that
auto-trim was available throughout the descent.
Failure to realise a need for manual re-trim was central to the loss of an Airbus A320 over the Mediterranean Sea about six months before the AF447 crash.
The
auto-trim had adjusted the horizontal stabiliser fully nose-up but,
during a flight envelope test involving near-stall, the aircraft
switched control laws and inhibited the auto-trim.
Without manual
re-trimming, the aircraft pitched up sharply as the crew applied
maximum thrust. It stalled and the crew lost control.
In its
conclusions over the accident the BEA highlighted the rarity of the need
to trim manually, which created a "habit" of having auto-trim available
made it "difficult to return to flying with manual trimming".
"One
of the only circumstances in which a pilot can be confronted with the
manual utilisation of the trim wheel is during simulator training," it
said. "However, in this case, the exercises generally start in
stabilised situations."
In the wake of the A320 accident, near
Perpignan in November 2008, the BEA recommended that safety regulators
and manufacturers work to improve training and techniques for
approach-to-stall situations, to ensure control of an aircraft in the
pitch axis. ✈
Alaska pilots not allowed to access Internet in the cockpit due to interference issue
Alaska Airlines is not permitting its pilots to use their new iPads
to access the Internet in the cockpit after witnessing Wi-Fi
interference with Honeywell Phase 3 display units [DUs].
The
carrier is distributing iPads to its pilots to replace paper flight
manuals, and ultimately intends for the Apple tablets to be used as
Class I electronic flight bags (EFBs). But accessing connectivity for
real-time EFB applications - or for other uses - in the flightdeck will
not be allowed in the near term in accordance with FAA guidance, an
Alaska spokeswoman confirmed to ATI and Flightglobal.
Honeywell
Phase 3 display units last year showed themselves susceptible to
blanking during electromagnetic interference testing of wireless
broadband systems on Boeing
Next Generation 737s. One of the conditions for 737NG operators to
receive FAA supplemental type certification for Aircell's Gogo in-flight
Internet solution is they must require that Wi-Fi devices be powered
off in the flightdeck.
Alaska, a customer of Gogo, operates an all-737 fleet.
"We
have experienced the same thing [interference]," revealed the Alaska
spokeswoman, noting that the carrier has Honeywell Phase 3 DUs "in some
of our aircraft" and as a result pilots "are not using the Internet with
the iPads currently".
A service bulletin to address the problem has not yet been tabled. Sources say the process is taking longer than expected.
"It
is our understanding that this [issue] is going to be addressed and it
is going to be moved forward but we just don't know when," said the
Alaska spokeswoman.
The airline looks forward to eventually
allowing pilots to access real-time EFB applications while in flight.
"This is Chapter 1 and we're pretty excited about it, and we're hoping
there is Chapter 2 for this, and taking it to the next step, but again
things have to be rolled out and tested slowly.
"Right now, the
[device] is a document reader, and if we are allowed that Internet
connectivity we can use it for another whole range of things."
Boeing
last year suspended linefit of cabin connectivity systems as a
precautionary measure after the interference issue surfaced.
Ref: Flightglobal 31/05/11
✈
Revised stall procedures centre on angle-of-attack not power
Investigators have been left attempting to explain why the crew of Air France flight AF447 failed to recover the Airbus A330 from a high-altitude stall, a predicament which has been the subject of a recent revision of safety procedures.
The
revision concentrates on placing greater emphasis on reducing excessive
angle of attack - the critical characteristic of a stall - rather than
the classical approach of training pilots to power their way out of a
near-stall with minimum loss of altitude.
A formal document
detailing the rationale for the revision points out: "There have been
numerous situations where flight crews did not prioritise [nose-down
pitch control] and instead prioritised power and maintaining altitude."
Operational
experience has shown that fixating on altitude, rather than the crucial
angle of attack, can result in an aircraft stalling.
French
investigation agency Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses has disclosed that
the crew of AF447 maintained nose-up input despite the onset of a stall,
but has yet to determine the reason or reach any conclusions.
After
receiving a stall warning AF447's crew set the A330's thrust to
take-off/go-around power, in line with Air France's standard operating
procedure at the time. The procedure also required the crew to reduce
pitch attitude, roll the wings level and ensure the speedbrake was
retracted.
The revised recovery procedure was agreed between the major airframers, including Airbus and Boeing,
some 12 months after the loss of AF447, although a source familiar with
the investigation stresses that the change was "not prompted" by the
accident.
At the heart of the revision is an acceptance that classical high-power recovery is not appropriate for every stall condition.
Simply
applying maximum thrust could be ineffective in reducing the angle of
attack and averting a stall, particularly at cruise altitudes where the
available thrust would be limited and the engines would require time to
spool up.
There is also a risk that the crew might fail to
recognise that the aircraft has crossed the threshold from a near-stall
into an actual stall, and continue to apply a recovery technique which
is no longer effective.
The new procedure is designed to cover all
stall conditions. It recognises that recovering the angle of attack
might instead require a reduction of thrust, to regain pitch-down
authority, as well as a loss of altitude.
It removes the need to
prioritise take-off/go-around thrust in favour of restoring lift to the
wing by reducing angle of attack. The procedure also points out that
thrust should be re-applied smoothly, particularly because aircraft with
under-wing engines have a tendency to pitch up, increasing the angle of
attack, when power is applied.
Ref: Flightglobal 28/05/11
✈
AF447 stalled but crew maintained nose-up attitude
French investigators have disclosed that the crew of Air France flight AF447 maintained nose-up inputs to the aircraft even after the Airbus A330 entered a stall.
The inquiry has also revealed that the pilots set engine thrust
variously to go-around power and idle as they battled to rescue the jet.
In an update to the loss of the A330 over the South Atlantic two
years ago the Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses has detailed the last few
minutes of the flight. BEA said the aircraft climbed from its cruise
altitude of 35,000ft towards 38,000ft and stalled, but added that the
flying pilot "maintained nose-up inputs" to the controls.
BEA confirms that the captain had left the cockpit to rest, about
eight minutes before the emergency on 1 June 2009, having discussed with
the relief crew possible turbulence ahead of the aircraft.

The pilots altered course slightly, about 12° to the left, and as turbulence increased they opted to reduce speed to Mach 0.8.
About 2min later the aircraft's autopilot and autothrust disengaged,
and remained so for the rest of the flight. This would have put the jet
into 'alternate' law, meaning it lost its angle-of-attack protection.
The aircraft began to roll to the right, and as the pilot made a
nose-up left input, the A330's stall warning sounded twice - an
indication that the aircraft had exceeded a critical angle-of-attack
threshold.
The primary flight display on the captain's side showed a "sharp
fall" in speed from 275kt to 60kt, and the aircraft's angle of attack
"increased progressively" beyond 10°.
While the jet had initially been cruising at 35,000ft, investigators
stated that the aircraft climbed, with a vertical speed of 7,000ft/min,
heading towards 38,000ft.
The pilot made nose-down inputs as well as inputs for left and right
roll. The vertical speed fell back to 700ft/min, the displayed speed
"increased sharply" to 215kt, and the angle of attack reduced to 4°.
In its update the BEA said the non-flying pilot "tried several times to call the captain back".
There was another stall warning and the BEA said the stall warning
sounded again. The thrust levers were positioned for take-off/go-around
power but the flying pilot "maintained nose-up inputs".
Angle of attack continued to increase, it added, and the trimmable
horizontal stabiliser increased from a 3° nose-up position to 13°
nose-up - where it stayed for the rest of the flight.
The aircraft reached 38,000ft - its maximum altitude - with its angle of attack having increased to 16°.
AF447's captain returned to the cockpit - just 90s after the
autopilot had disengaged - by which time the aircraft had started its
fatal descent.
As it passed through 35,000ft the angle of attack increased to more
than 40° and the A330 was descending at 10,000ft/min. Its pitch did not
exceed 15°, its engine power was close to 100% of N1, and the jet
oscillated with rolls of up to 40°.
"The [flying pilot] made an input on the sidestick to the left and nose-up stops, which lasted about 30s," said the BEA.
Just 20s after the captain returned to the cockpit, said the BEA, the
thrust levers were set to the 'idle' position, with the engines
delivering 55% of N1.
Measured angle of attack values, the BEA pointed out, are only
considered valid when the measured speed is above 60kt. It said that the
angle of attack, when valid, always remained above 35°.
AF447's had turned almost a three-quarter circle to the right during
the emergency, and - having descended for 3min 30s - it struck the ocean
surface with a ground speed of just 107kt, a nose-up pitch attitude of
16.2°, with a heading of 270°.
BEA stated that the aircraft stalled but that the inputs from the
flying pilot were "mainly nose-up". It added that the engines "were
operating and always responded to crew commands".
Ref: Flightglobal 27/05/11
✈
Easyjet Ash Detection System Flight Trials
Low-cost airline Easyjet is set to flight-trial advanced ash detection technology.
Last year, it unveiled its Airborne Volcanic Object Identifier and Detector (AVOID) system.
Now, it's getting ready to put it through its paces, after the latest Icelandic volcanic eruption which occurred on 21 May 2011.
Easyjet's AVOID system trials will potentially involve a flight
through the current ash cloud generated by the new eruption. This
eruption originated from Iceland's Grimsvotn volcano and, while its
impact on airspace hasn't been as savage as expected, the high-level
concentration of ash that's been moving southwards has still been
responsible for hundreds of flight cancellations.
AVOID Ash Detection System
The AVOID ash detection system takes the form of a structure intended
to be fixed to the outside of an aircraft. The structure features an
array of tubes incorporating infrared imaging technology capable of,
firstly, identifying ash within a 100 mile range and, then, transmitting
the results they collect both into the cockpit and to controllers at
ground level.
Equipped with this information, these controllers can piece together a
comprehensive 3-D representation of ash levels present in the
atmosphere.
According to a representative of the Norwegian Institute for Air
Research (NILU), which developed AVOID, it's based, in part, on a system
that's already in use. "This uses technology that has been employed in
satellites for 25 years, but whereas they look straight down, this works
horizontally which makes it more effective", Senior Scientist Fred
Prata explained to CNN, adding: "at cruise altitude, there is really no
limit to how far ahead you can detect ash."
The AVOID system is "...an approach we are encouraging", CAA
representative, Richard Taylor, added. "We have said all along the
airlines have to come up with a solution, in collaboration with aircraft
manufacturers."
Easyjet AVOID Flight Trials
Beyond the upcoming Easyjet AVOID flight trials, the ultimate aim is
to put AVOID into full-scale commercial production and, to this end,
Easyjet has pledged to make the system available to other carriers.
In related news, on 25 May, Irish low-cost airline Ryanair challenged the concerns expressed over the 2011 Icelandic ash cloud.
Describing how it had carried out a flight over Scotland - a part of
the UK especially affected by the recent cancellations - it reported
that "no visible volcanic ash cloud or evidence of ash on the airframe,
wings or engines" had been recorded.
This flight was reportedly carried out at 41,000 feet but, according
to the CAA, it didn't go into what's been dubbed the ‘red zone', where
the majority of ash has been concentrating.
Ref: Airport-Int 26/05/11
✈
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