JetBlue Airways (New York) has announced new nonstop service from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Santiago, Dominican Republic (STI), effective on May 1, subject to receipt of government operating authority.
JetBlue’s schedule between Newark (EWR) and Santiago (STI) effective May 1, 2014:
EWR to STI: STI to EWR:
Depart – Arrive Depart – Arrive
8:40 a.m. – 12:29 p.m. 1:25 p.m. – 5:24 p.m.
JetBlue currently offers nonstop service to seven destinations from Newark: Boston; Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood; Fort Myers; Orlando; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Tampa; and West Palm Beach.
JetBlue’s flights to Santiago will be operated with an Airbus A320.
In related news, LiveTV is the first company to gain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certificate approval on a more stringent requirement for bird strike testing for large domes mounted on the top of aircraft that are used for live television, satellite connectivity, inflight entertainment and other uses. These radomes are in service on Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900 and JetBlue’s Airbus A320 aircraft with broadband WiFi.
Previously, the FAA accepted a probability analysis for test validation and did not require a physical bird strike for domes on the top of aircraft. However, the FAA recently advised LiveTV and others that actual bird strike tests would be required to demonstrate that a flight could be successfully completed with structural damage sustained when a radome is struck by a four-pound bird at speeds of over 400 miles per hour. Tests were conducted on LiveTV’s radome, which was co-developed with General Dynamics Ordinance and Tactical Systems.
This FAA approval will remove the bird strike exemption from LiveTV’s Supplemental Type Certificates needed for aircraft installation of satellite connectivity and inflight entertainment systems. This approval applied to an Airbus A320 STC and similar approvals are expected for Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft for LiveTV.
Copyright Photo: Stephen Tornblom/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 N507JT (msn 1240) with the LiveTV dome prepares to taxi at the Long beach focus city.
JetBlue Airways: 
