Monthly Archives: February 2013

Southwest Airlines Adopt-A-Pilot® volunteer program takes off in schools nationwide inspiring more than 412,000 students since the program’s inception

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) today announced the official kickoff of its award-winning Adopt-A-Pilot® program where thousands of fifth-grade students “adopt” Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways Pilots. Through this unique volunteer program, Pilots commit their resources and time from February through May to educate students through aviation-themed activities related to math, science, and other core subjects as well as inspire them to stay in school, set goals, and dream big dreams for the future. Now in its 16^th year, more than 900 Pilots are visiting and inspiring students across the country.

“We hear countless stories from participating Pilots about how much they get back personally by helping students learn and inspiring them to dream big dreams,” said Chuck Magill, Southwest Airlines Vice President of Flight Operations. “We may be an airline, but we also do extraordinary work on the ground. The Adopt-A-Pilot® program is a prime example of our dedication to community and commitment to bringing future leaders unique learning opportunities.”

During the four-week long curriculum, Pilots volunteer their time in participating classrooms and correspond from the “road” via e-mail and postcards. Beyond the program’s core mentorship and curriculum-based activities, participating Pilots often take it one step further and seek mentors for their students.

Created in 1997, Adopt-A-Pilot® started as a community outreach program in just 50 classrooms in Southwest’s destination cities, and has grown to reach more than 412,000 students nationwide. Southwest Airlines developed the program in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education and the Smithsonian Institution of National Air and Space Museum. National leaders such as Gen. Colin Powell, President Bill Clinton, and First Lady Laura Bush have recognized the excellence that the Adopt-A-Pilot program offers students.

Southwest Airlines:

Island Air is acquired by Larry Ellison of the Oracle Corporation

Island Air (Honolulu) closed the sale of the airline today to a newly formed holding company owned by Lawrence J. Ellison. The sale secures the future of Island Air and its employees.

“This is another major investment and commitment toHawaiʻi,” said Paul Marinelli, vice president of Lawrence Investments, LLC. “We understand the critical importance of transportation in an island state and we will ensure that Island Air strengthens its role, capacity and service to the people of Hawaiʻi. We recognize the need for providing options for travelers, and we believe Island Air has tremendous potential to deliver value to both residents and visitors.”

“We are excited Mr. Ellison has acquired Island Air. He has the vision and resources to literally take Island Air to new heights,” said Les Murashige, Island Air president.

“The entire Island Air team pulled together over the past year to restructure and position the company for success and this sale represents the culmination of that process. I want to personally thank our 245 employees, the unions that represent them, and our entire management team for their efforts this past year. And, on behalf of all of us at Island Air, we welcome Mr. Ellison and we look forward to an exciting future together.”

Island Air has already added one new ATR 72 aircraft to its fleet (above).

There are no planned staff changes and Island Air will continue its operations as usual while developing plans for additional planes, routes and services. All current tickets will be honored and all Cloud9 members will retain their status and benefits.

According to Wikipedia, co-founder and chief executive of Oracle Corporation, one of the world’s leading enterprise software companies. As of 2012, he was the third-wealthiest American citizen, with an estimated worth of $41 billion. The bulk of Ellison’s fortune comes from his 22.5 percent stake in Oracle.

Larry Ellison purchased the island of Lāna‘i (LNY), so this airline purchase ensures that tourists will have access to the island. Hawaiian may have the ATR 42, but with the larger ATR 72, Island Air can bring more passengers to LNY.

Top Copyright Photo: Island Air. The first ATR, ex-American Eagle ATR 72-212 N348AE (msn 349) has become N941WP.

Bottom Copyright Photo: Ivan K. Nishimura. (L-R) Paul Marinelli, VP Lawrence Investments; Michael Rodynuck, Senior Consultant; Les Murashige, Island Air CEO.

Island Air:

Route Map:

Video: CLICK HERE

Airbus moves the first A350 XWB to outside testing

Airbus (Toulouse) has moved the first A350 XWB – msn 001 – now showing its completed wings, to its next phase of ground testing, from Roger Béteille A350 XWB FAL “Station 30” to the Clément Ader area “Station 18” in Toulouse. The aircraft is structurally complete and shows the installed winglets, belly fairing panels, main landing gear doors.

The aircraft has recently completed successfully a series of indoor ground tests including stability tests on ‘movable’ elements such as rudder, elevators, ailerons and wing spoilers and landing gears extraction/retraction. The next steps which will take place outdoors at Station 18 will include three planned families of tests: Fuel tanks testing – including levels, flows, sealing and internal fuel transfer functions; pressure testing of the fuselage; and radio equipment testing.

Emirates to add a second daily Airbus A380 to Sydney on June 1

Emirates Airline (Dubai) has announced it will add a second Airbus A380 service on the Dubai – Sydney route from June 1, 2013. The second A380 will operate on the early morning service and demonstrates the airline’s commitment to New South Wales and demand for the flagship aircraft.

Currently served by a Boeing 777-300ER, deploying the Airbus A380 on Emirates’ flights EK 414 and EK 415 will see an increase in capacity of 1,890 seats per week.

Emirates:

Frameable Color Prints and Posters:

Titan Airways’ management buys out its long-term investors, will add its first Airbus A320

Titan Airways (London-Stansted) has become a privately-owned company. The airline which is celebrating its 25th Anniversary, issued this statement:

Titan Airways has become a fully privately owned business. The business is now owned outright by managing director and founder, Gene Willson, who recently bought out long term investors 3i.
Originally holding a 37% stake in Titan’s parent company, Hagondale, 3i’s ownership was reduced to 22% last March and the remaining balance of shares were purchased at the end of last year.
Mr Willson said, “We are extremely pleased to achieve this milestone in such a significant year – our 25th birthday. 3i have been a very supportive partner but completing the purchase of their shares provides us with full control of our long-term development plans for the airline. The additional shareholding also gives us the flexibility for further business opportunities.”
When Titan Airways was founded in 1988 it was a two man operation operating a single light aircraft, a Cessna 404 Titan. Today we have grown into one of the UK’s most successful charter airlines with 250 staff and a versatile fleet of 12 aircraft, ranging from a 6 seat Citation CJ2+ to a 265 seat Boeing 767-300 (see above). A 13^th aircraft, an Airbus A320-233, will be joining the fleet in the spring.

Mr Willson, who still regularly captains several of the aircraft types in the Titan Airways fleet, believes our success can be attributed to our ability to deliver bespoke services with exacting attention to detail to a diverse customer base.

Titan Airways:

First Nation Airways to add two Airbus A319s in order to resume operations in Nigeria

First Nation Airways (Lagos) suspended scheduled passenger operations in October 2012. It was previously operating three Airbus A320s which were returned to the lessors.

Now the carrier is planning to add two Airbus A319s (5N-FND and 5N-FNE) in order to resume operations.

Copyright Photo: Greenwing. Formerly operated by Air Inter Europe, Air France and Wind Jet, the pictured A319-113 EI-DVD (msn 647) has been painted at Dublin and is pending delivery as 5N-FND. Ironically the jetliner is inscribed with “Success is overcoming many failures” sub-titles on the rear fuselage!

First Nation Airways:

Boeing delivers the first 777 built at the increased rate

Boeing (Chicago) has delivered the first 777 built at the increased production rate of 8.3 per month, or 100 airplanes per year. The airplane, a 777 Freighter, was delivered to Korean Air (Seoul).

In the past 32 months, the 777 program has increased its production rate twice. The rate went from five to seven per month in 2011, and now to the all-time high of 8.3 per month.

1,072 777s have been delivered through the end of January and a total of 1,431 have been ordered from 66 customers around the globe.

Korean Air:

United Airlines to operate summer seasonal service from Newark to both Anchorage and Traverse City

United Airlines (Chicago) will launch summer-season service from its Newark Liberty International Airport hub to Anchorage, Alaska, and Traverse City, Michigan. The new flights will offer the only nonstop service between the New York area and Anchorage, and the only nonstop service between Newark Liberty and Traverse City.

United will operate the Anchorage service on Saturdays from July 6, 2013 through August 31, 2013, using Boeing 757 aircraft. United Express service to Traverse City will operate on weekends from July 5, 2013 through Aug. 25, 2013, with 50-seat regional jet aircraft flown by ExpressJet Airlines (Atlanta).

United Airlines:

Delta to connect Dickinson, ND with the Minneapolis/St. Paul hub

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) will add two daily flights between Dickinson’s Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport in Dickinson, North Dakota and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, effective on June 10, 2013.

The new service will be operated by Delta Connection carrier SkyWest Airlines (St. George) using 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 regional jets. Last year, Delta also added service to Williston, N.D., where the Bakken oil reserves were first discovered.

The new market is growing due to the local expanding gas and oil industry.

Delta’s two daily flights between Dickinson and Minneapolis are scheduled as follows:

Dickinson to Minneapolis-St. Paul

Departs	Arrives	Service Begins
7:45 a.m.	10:19 a.m.	June 10, 2013
11:50 a.m.	2:23 p.m.	June 10, 2013

Minneapolis-St. Paul to Dickinson

Departs	Arrives	Service Begins
10:15 a.m.	11:02 a.m.	June 10, 2013
5:30 p.m.	6:16 p.m.	June 10, 2013

Delta Air Lines:

Delta Connection-SkyWest:

Indonesia Air puts its first Airbus A320 into revenue service from Bandung

Indonesia Air (formerly Indonesia Air Transport) (Jakarta) took delivery of its first Airbus A320 (A320-212 PK-TAA, msn 421, ex EI-DNP) on January 15. The new type is now based at Bandung and operates to the following cities (all images from the airline):