How to test an airliner to -40 degrees (C and F) in Florida

Airbus (Toulouse) has completed hot and cold testing of its new Airbus A350-941 F-WWCF (msn 002) in Florida. The new airliner has completed this extreme weather testing at the McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in northwest Florida (Florida Panhandle). Airbus issued this statement and photo:

The first-ever testing of an Airbus aircraft at the U.S. Air Force’s McKinley Climatic Laboratory subjected the A350 XWB and its various systems and cabin installations to a full range of conditions for further maturity and operability verifications prior to this new jetliner’s delivery start-up later this year.

Airbus brought A350 XWB msn 2 to the facility at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida for more than two weeks of evaluations this month, during which this developmental aircraft was subjected to multiple climatic and humidity settings from a high of 45 degrees C (113 degrees F) to as low as -40 degrees C (-40 degrees F).

Flight test director Philippe Foucault said the A350 XWB’s various systems – from in-flight entertainment and air conditioning to its galleys, water and waste systems – were validated while the A350 XWB was enclosed in the laboratory’s large hangar. Testing included operations with the engines running, which required the A350 XWB to be securely chained in place.

The A350 XWB is one the largest aircraft ever tested at the McKinley Climatic Laboratory, requiring the teams to start their preparations six months prior to arrival. “This is a one-of-a-kind tool, and the laboratory’s operators are masters of it,” Foucault said. “They made everything seem possible.”

WestJet to apply to Transport Canada for a PED exemption

WestJet (Calgary) has announced it will apply to Transport Canada for an exemption to allow guests greater use of their portable electronic devices (PEDs) during flights. The move follows word that the regulator will allow expanded use of PEDs in Canada.

The announcement by Transport Canada effectively allows airlines to begin the process of meeting conditions required to receive permission to allow guests to use PEDs in all phases of flight including taxi-in and out, take-off and landing, providing the device is in non-transmitting or flight mode.

WestJet has completed comprehensive testing of its Boeing Next-Generation 737 fleet in connection with efforts to certify its recently-announced inflight entertainment system and connectivity, which will support the expanded use of PEDs. However, the airline must still demonstrate through its exemption application that radio frequency emissions from PEDs do not pose a risk to aircraft systems and equipment and that all hazards are mitigated before allowing the use of PEDs on board. This is in addition to training flight crews and amending operating manuals.

WestJet expects Transport Canada approval to allow guests greater use of PEDs early this summer.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-8CT C-GWSZ (msn 37092) in the special Walt Disney World “Magic Plane” color scheme taxies at the Toronto (Pearson) hub.

WestJet:

Ethiopian Airlines to bring the Boeing 787 to Paris and Brussels starting on June 1

Ethiopian Airlines (Addis Ababa) starting on June 1 will introduce the Boeing 787 on the Addis Ababa-Paris (CDG)-Brussels route, replacing a Boeing 767-300 per Airline Route with six weekly flights.

Top Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 787-8 ET-AOS (msn 34747) taxies at Toronto (Pearson). ET-AOS is named “Lucy”.

Ethiopian Airlines:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Ethiopian Airlines.

Delta to start again the Dallas/Fort Worth-Los Angeles route on November 3

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) will re-institute Dallas/Fort Worth-Los Angeles service on November 3. The restored route will be operated as a Delta Connection route with Embraer 175s according to Airline Route.

In addition, Delta continues to add feeder and long-range routes to the Seattle/Tacoma market in addition to what has already been reported. According to Airline Route, the carrier will add three new routes on December 20 adding further competition to Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma): Bozeman, Montana (ERJ 175), Kahului, Maui, Hawaii (757) and Los Cabos, Mexico (A319).

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N608CZ (msn 17000195) of Compass Airlines taxies from the gate at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

Delta Air Lines (current):

Delta Connection-Compass Airlines:

The search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH 370 may be put on hold until August

Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur) missing flight MH 370, the greatest aviation mystery, may be entering a new phase in the search. So far the search has resulted in nothing being found. According to CNN, the search for the pictured Boeing 777-2H6 ER 9M-MRO (msn 28420) and the 239 passengers and crew members may not resume until August.

According to CNN:

“The underwater search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane will effectively be put on hold this week, and may not resume until August at the very earliest, according to Australia’s top transport safety official.

The new timeline means that once Bluefin-21, the American underwater drone operated by a team on board the Australian Defense Vessel Ocean Shield, wraps up its work in a couple of days, it will be up to two months, if not longer, until new underwater vehicles are contracted and deployed in the hunt for MH 370.”

Read the full story: CLICK HERE

Is Inmarsat correct in its assumptions of where WH 370 went down? CNN explores this question: CLICK HERE

On May 20 Malaysia Airlines issued this statement:

Following the announcement by the Malaysian Minister of Defence and Acting Minister of Transport on May 19, 2014, the Malaysian Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) is pleased to provide further information on the discussion with Inmarsat, assisted by the AAIB, to get a common descriptor for the Inmarsat satellite data which had been provided to Malaysia Airlines when MH 370 first went missing.

It must be noted that previously where reference has been made to “data communication logs” and “raw data”- they refer to the same set of data.

In moving forward, it is imperative for us to provide helpful information to the next of kin and general public – which will include the data communication logs as well as relevant explanation to enable the reader to understand the data provided. It must also be noted that the data communication logs is just one of the many elements of the investigation information.

In line with our commitment towards greater transparency, all parties are working for the release of the data communication logs and the technical description of the analysis for public consumption.

DCA notes Inmarsat’s full support for the ongoing MH 370 investigation.”

Malaysia Airlines:

Chautauqua to phase out its Embraer ERJ 140s, parent Republic will not cancel its Bombardier CSeries order

Chautauqua Airlines (Indianapolis) is phasing out its Embraer ERJ 140 regional jets it operates for American Airlines. According to ch-aviation, the company will operate the last ERJ 140 flight for AA on August 18. Pilots are being switched to the new Embraer 175s which will be operate under the American Eagle brand.

Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (Indianapolis) is an airline holding company that owns Chautauqua Airlines, Republic Airlines and Shuttle America. The airlines operate a combined fleet of about 250 aircraft and offer scheduled passenger service on about 1,300 flights daily to about 100 cities in the U.S., Canada and the Bahamas through fixed-fee flights operated under our major airline partner brands, including American Eagle, Delta Connection, United Express, and US Airways Express.

In other news, Republic Airways Holdings CEO Bryan Bedford has stated the company has no intention of canceling its order for the new, but delayed, Bombardier CSeries aircraft. Republic has 40 CS300s on order. Republic has made the decision to phase out its 50-seat aircraft and will concentrate on the Embraer 170 and 175 series of aircraft and the Bombardier Q400 besides the the CS300s on order according to this interview in the Financial Post.

Read the full article: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 140LR (EMB-1135KL) N376SK (msn 145578) arrives in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

American Connection-Chautauqua:

Route Map of the Republic Airways’ airlines:

Asiana Airlines takes delivery of its first Airbus A380 becoming the 11th operator

Asiana Airlines (Seoul) has taken delivery of its first Airbus A380, becoming the eleventh operator of the type in the world. The A380 was handed over to Park Sam Koo, Chairman of Kumho Asiana Group, by Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO, during a special ceremony today (May 26) in Toulouse, France.

Asiana Airlines has ordered six A380s, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines. The airline has specified a premium three class layout for its fleet, seating a total of 495 passengers, with 12 private suites in First Suite, 66 fully flat seats in Business Smartium and 417 seats in Travel Class. All seats are equipped with the latest on-demand in-flight entertainment systems.

Asiana Airlines will initially deploy its new flagship aircraft from Seoul on regional services in Asia to Tokyo, Hong Kong and Bangkok, followed by long-haul routes to Los Angeles.

As part of its widebody fleet modernization strategy, Asiana Airlines also has 30 of the all-new the A350 XWB on order. The A350 XWB will offer a step change in efficiency, with operating costs 25 per cent lower than the competition. The A380 and A350 will complement an existing Airbus fleet at Asiana that currently includes the A330 and A320 Family.

Airbus currently has 324 firm orders for the A380, from 20 customers.

Top Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A380-841 F-WWAP (msn 152) became HL7625 on the handover.

Asiana Airlines:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Airbus. Park Sam Koo, Chairman of Kumho Asiana Group, and Airbus President and CEO Fabrice Brégier toured the number 1 Asiana Airlines A380 after this aircraft’s formal handover ceremony on May 26, held at Airbus’ Toulouse, France delivery center.

Video: Painting of the first A380:

Montenegro Airlines adds its first Embraer 190

Montenegro Airlines (Podgorica) on May 16 added its first Embraer ERJ 190-100LR (4O-AOD, msn 19000665) (above) joining the three larger Embraer ERJ 195s (ERJ 190-200LRs). Montenegro is gradually phasing out its Fokker 100s with the new Embraers.

The airline commented on the arrival at the Podgorica base in Montenegro:

Podgorica – At exactly 40 minutes past one o’clock p.m. on May 18, an Embraer 190, anew plane in the Montenegro Airlines fleet, landed at the airport in Podgorica. This is the 4th aircraft of the Brazilian manufacturer Embraer in the fleet of the national carrier, and the first of the type of Embraer 190. By acquiring this plane, the national carrier has formed an impressive fleet, the youngest in the region.

Živko Banjević, Acting CEO, expressing his contentment over the arrival of aircraft, said he was proud that one of the most modern passenger planes of present-day was introduced in the national carrier’s fleet.

Montenegro Airlines:

Current Route Map:

Estonian Air reduces its loss by 83% in 2013 to $11 million

Estonian Air (Tallinn) is in the process of turning around its financial future through a restructuring plan. The company reported its net loss was reduced by 83 percent to $11 million for 2013.

The company issued this financial statement:

The results are in line with restructuring plan which is reflected by the positive operating result of 7.4 million euros. Estonian Air’s core business turned profitable in the second and third quarter, and in 2013 the airline managed to post its first positive monthly result in over three years. For the full year, the airline’s operating loss amounted to 4.2 million euros.

In 2013, the sales revenue of Estonian Air was 72.3 million euros. The company’s gross profit was 7.4 million euros and net loss 8.1 million euros ($11 million).

Compared to 2012, the sales revenue was 21% less. The gross profit increased by 147% and net loss was reduced by 83%. The loss of the airline in 2012 was 49.2 million euros.

“Estonian Air is in a much better position today than it was on November 1, 2012, when I took over as Chairman of the Management Board and CEO of Estonian Air. My mandate was to restructure the airline to sustainable operations. The airline has taken all the planned steps to reach that goal,” said Jan Palmér, the CEO of Estonian Air.

“The European Commission’s investigations into prior instances of state aid as well as the airline’s Restructuring Plan are ongoing. Together with our shareholder representatives, we are working to ensure that the decision expected in the near-term future will be positive,“ added Palmér.

According to Mr. Palmér, Estonian Air has downsized its operations to develop the airline into an efficient regional player focused on the Nordic and emerging nearest neighboring markets. “We have reduced the network to ten core destinations which is served with five aircraft, and turned the service concept to a regional model during the restructuring process,“ explained Palmér.

The total number of Estonian Air’s passengers in 2013 was 551 169, which is 37.9% less than in 2012. With the excess aircraft the airline increased its number of charter flights almost five times from 44 to 209.

Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren/AirlinersGallery.com. Estonian Air downsized to a regional carrier as part of its restructuring plan. The fleet is now centered around three Bombardier CRJ900s and four Embraer 170s leased from Finnair. ERJ 170-100LR ES-AED (17000112) arrives in Stockholm (Arlanda).

Estonian Air:

Austrian Airlines wants labor peace, proposes a new collective agreement offer, opens up the possibility of merging Austrian with subsidiary Tyrolean Airways

Austrian Airlines (Vienna) and its subsidiary Tyrolean Airways (Innsbruck) have presented to its employees a “framework plan for a collective wage agreement applying to flight personnel throughout the entire Austrian Airlines Group. Following the failed negotiations in 2012, the entire flight operations of Austrian Airlines were transferred to its subsidiary Tyrolean Airways, encompassing about 1,900 employees and all the aircraft. Now the company is making employees a new offer i.e. a new Austrian Airlines Group collective wage agreement as a means of increasing planning certainty and creating the basis for future decisions. Negotiations designed to work out specific details should be concluded by May 31, 2014. This collective wage agreement opens up the possibility to merge Tyrolean Airways and Austrian Airlines in the future.”

The company continued:

“The contents of the offer are based on ten months of joint negotiations with the Works Council, trade union and Austrian Federal Economic Chamber. The new agreement acts as a bridgehead from the past aiming to lead Austrian Airlines into the future. Our employees wish for an agreement and a clear perspective moving forward. They also desire to return to Austrian Airlines. We want to make this possible”, says Austrian Airlines CEO Jaan Albrecht.

The cornerstones of the new Group collective wage agreement:

The cornerstones of the new Group collective wage agreement are new flight duty rules, a new salary scale, a profit sharing scheme based on the net profit, a revised pension fund model as well as a new career model for the cabin and cockpit staff.

The current flight duty rules are based on the former collective bargaining agreement applying to Tyrolean Airlines. The new stipulations more effectively takes into consideration the demands involved in operating a long-haul fleet. In contrast to the rejected negotiated settlement concluded in 2012, the salaries of the senior staff members formerly with Austrian Airlines will not be reduced but will stay frozen at their current status until the new salary scale catches up to this level. A profit sharing scheme for employees based on the company’s net profit is also a new component of the agreement. Austrian Airlines has been operating profitably again since 2013 and will enable its employees to participate in its business success.

Another key feature of the new collective wage agreement is a revised pension fund model. Partial payments will be offered to those employees who were previously covered by the Austrian Airlines company pension plan. Depending on the length of service and the respective position, this ranges from about EUR 15,000 for flight attendants to EUR 305,000 for flight captains. A new career model for the cabin crew and cockpit staff, which also facilitates the transfer between the various staff groups, is also part of the offering.

“The most difficult task was developing a new career model. Other airlines have failed precisely for this reason”, states Klaus Froese, Managing Director of Tyrolean Airways. “The centerpiece of our model is a transparent and fair allocation formula for pilots of the regional fleet and pilots of larger types of aircraft to be appointed to vacant plane captain jobs”, he adds.

Stability and planning certainty for employees and the company:

“We want to offer our employees an improved basis for their own personal career planning. I believe that this package of measures provides a good opportunity for this. Today I have asked the employees to authorize their representatives to carry out negotiations on this”, Froese continues.

Last week the negotiating team presented the principal features of the new collective wage agreement to the Works Council for flight and cabin crew (Betriebsrat Bord) of Tyrolean Airways, the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and the trade union. Now negotiations are to be conducted on specific details of the agreement provided that the Works Council is willing to do so. “I think that we have reached a balanced agreement as the basis for negotiations. Now it is all about getting down to specifics”, Froese says. “However, we have to come to a conclusion after ten months of negotiations. The employees want a solution to be reached, and the company must be able to plan ahead.”

If an agreement can be reached with the Works Council, this would mean much more to the employees than just working in accordance with a collective wage agreement. A collective agreement for the entire Austrian Airlines Group would serve as the basis for a merger of Tyrolean Airways and Austrian Airlines. For the customers, the bottom line is that there would only be one brand. “Flown by Austrian, operated by Austrian“, is the way Froese describes it.

Basis for development of the fleet:

“The restructuring measures implemented over the past few years have put Austrian Airlines in a better financial position. We are once again operating profitably and want to take the next steps into the future. We have Lufthansa’s support for this”, explains Austrian Airlines CEO Jaan Albrecht.

“This year Austrian Airlines will make a forward-looking decision and move ahead with ordering a successor model to its fleet of Fokker aircraft. However, such a significant investment decision cannot be made without a consensus being reached on a collective wage agreement”, Albrecht continues.

At the present time the Austrian Airlines Group has a work force of about 6,300 employees, of which about 3,100 employees comprise the cockpit and cabin staff. A new collective agreement with the ground staff was concluded last year with the help of the trade union and the Works Council.

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen/AirlinersGallery.com. Tyrolean Airways now operates all Austrian Airlines-titled aircraft except one Boeing 777-200 which Austrian officially maintains on its AOC to keep it active. It is very challenging for both Austrian Airlines and its employees to operate an international airline on a regional airline contract. Operated by Tyrolean Airways-employed flight crews, Boeing 777-2B8 ER OE-LPD (msn 35960) completes its final approach to the runway at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York.

Austrian Airlines: