Flint Bishop Airport filling available seats in March, but number of seats remains down

Published: Tuesday, April 24, 2012, 8:30 PM
By Cathy Shafran, mlive.com

FLINT, MI -- The latest passenger numbers from Flint Bishop Airport confirm what airport officials suspected. The number of people flying out of the Flint airport continues on a downward trend, and will likely continue to do so through the year.

"This year we will likely be down 10-20 percent," said Bishop Airport spokesperson Pat Corfman.

Corfman made the prediction after load factor numbers were presented at the Bishop International Airport Authority regular board meeting Tuesday evening.

"In March we were down 5.5 percent with the number of seats filled," said Corfman. "The good news is that although we are down in available seats, the seats the airport does have are consistently full."

Corfman points to what the airline industry calls its 'load factor' as proof of a continued passenger interest in Flint's airport. The load factor is the percentage of full seats for every seat available.

"The load factor tells us we were 81.7 percent full in March of this year," said Corfman. "That means we were up from the prior month when the load factor was closer to 79 percent."

Corfman says the problems for Bishop Airport continue to involve airlines serving Flint which are in a state of flux.

"American is in bankruptcy, Continental is in the United merger, Delta is still thinking of what to do with the Northwestern flights and Frontier has been dismantling the Milwaukee hub," Corfman said.

As a result of all the unknowns, she says, American Airlines, Continental Airlines and Delta Air Lines have all reduced the number of flights out of Flint, and the Frontier flights to Milwaukee were lost. AirTran flights have remained the same despite a takeover from Southwest Airlines.

Corfman says she was expecting the light at the end of the tunnel next year when she anticipated Southwest Airlines could begin adding flights from Flint.

"But now Southwest is having problems with code share with AirTran, Corfman said. "It will be difficult to add new Southwest flights until the codeshare is fixed."

Source:  http://www.mlive.com

Editorial: Distressing state of aviation industry - Pakistan

April 25, 2012
BUSINESS RECORDER

As some of the victims of Friday's Bhoja Air crash were being buried, two more planes belonging to a private company, Shaheen Air, miraculously escaped disaster on Sunday.

In the first incident, the tires of a Boeing-737 carrying 127 people from Islamabad burst upon touchdown due to a landing gear malfunction.

Luckily for the passengers, the aircraft did not catch fire.

Neither the aircraft nor the airport was ready to deal with any such eventuality.

The plane's emergency exits never opened, and the fire engines took a while to arrive at the scene, only to rush back to fetch water.

The passengers disembarked through the regular door and stairs.

It is not difficult to imagine what might have happened had the plane caught fire.

In the second near miss, the fuel tank of the same company's plane, carrying 200 passengers, started leaking just as it was about to take off from the Lahore Airport en route to Mashhad in Iran.

Luckily, the airport staff spotted the leakage and stopped the flight.

What these incidents close on the heels of the Bhoja Air tragedy, as well as the earlier Airblue crash clearly show is that the Civil Aviation Authority and the concerned ministry, the defence ministry, have been too lax in implementing flight safety rules and procedures.

After the Bhoja Air tragedy, the CAA officials had insisted that required safety standards and regulations had been observed in allowing the company to restart its operations after a long break.

The claim now stands thoroughly exposed.

The tragedy was waiting to happen.

And the government had been duly warned.

Notably, more than three months ago, ie, on January 9, a Peshawar High Court bench hearing a petition filed by the relatives of the passengers killed in the July 2010 Airblue plane crash had expressed dissatisfaction over "consistent negative reports" about the performance of the national carrier, PIA, as well as private airlines.

The court had given elaborate instructions to the government on ensuring the safety of all aircraft without delay, also directing it that "this aspect of the matter must be investigated by experts to be provided by the ICA, the Consortium for Aviation System Advancement, the Airlines Pilots Associations and other safety organizations." Unfortunately, however, the court's directions remained unheeded.

And within a span of two days, first there was a fatal crash and then two close calls.

Perforce the government has finally acknowledged, albeit indirectly, that there are issues that need to be addressed.

Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar announced a plan of technical inspections of all private airlines' aircraft.

In view of what has happened, it would have made sense had he ordered grounding of all planes owned by the three companies involved in the tragedies and near-misses until the inspection process was completed.

But the government has no such intention.

Which, to say the least, is sad.

In any case, public trust in the safety of private airlines having been shaken completely, few are expected to take the risk of using any of the private companies' flights.

And as noted by the PHC, PIA's safety standards are not so reliable, either.

The seriousness of the situation warrants a matching resolve on the part of the government to right the wrongs.

Heads must roll.

So far it seems to be focused more on damage control than to stem the rot in the aviation industry.

The Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali, has already rejected the 'judicial commission' the government set up to inquire into the causes that led to the Bhoja Air disaster, saying inclusion of controversial persons in it "shows that there is something fishy and the government is trying to hide facts behind the incident." The issue is too sensitive to allow any room for doubt.

An impartial inquiry commission ought to be constituted in consultation with the Supreme Court so that public confidence in both the public and private airlines is restored, and their international reputation also improves.

Source:  http://www.brecorder.com

RBS Aviation Capital has 'successful quarter'

The Irish Times - Wednesday, April 25, 2012

FIONA REDDAN

RBS Aviation Capital, an aircraft lessor with headquarters in Dublin, placed aircraft with three new customers, transacted 10 deliveries, signed a number of lease agreements, and reported six sales in the first quarter. Deliveries included two Airbus A319-100s to Aer Lingus in January and March.

Peter Barrett, chief executive of RBS Aviation Capital, said it had been “another successful quarter for the company”, noting that he was “particularly pleased” to have delivered aircraft to three new customers. Japanese bank Sumitomo Mitsui acquired RBS Aviation Capital for $7.3 billion (€ 5.8 billion) in January.

Meanwhile, fellow lessor Avolon, which was established by Domhnal Slattery, a founder of RBS Aviation Capital, in 2010, has also released its first quarter update. The aviation leasing company, which has its headquarters in Dublin, said its fleet now exceeded 100 aircraft and that total capital raised had reached $4.6 billion. It also secured commitments from three new lending banks during the quarter. According to Mr Slattery, Avolon remains on track to have a fleet of 150 aircraft by 2014.

Source:  http://www.irishtimes.com

JetBlue Flight 571 bird strike at Westchester County Airport (KHPN), White Plains, New York

Damaged JetBlue airliner after two geese struck its windshield, forcing it to declare an emergency and return to Westchester County Airport. 

Matthew Brown/The Journal News

 

Emergency responders and aircraft mechanics survey the damage to a Jet Blue plane that made a safe emergency landing at the Westchester County Airport in Purchase April 24, 2012. The pilot declared an emergency just after takeoff, after a pair of Canada geese struck the plane's windshield. 

 Matthew Brown/The Journal News

8:12 PM, Apr. 24, 2012 

Written by Yaron Steinbuch

HARRISON — A JetBlue airliner bound for Florida declared an emergency seconds after taking off at Westchester County Airport and landed after two geese struck its windshield about 6:30 p.m. tonight.

No injuries were reported after Flight 571, a two-engine Embraer 190 regional jet with 58 people aboard, made an emergency landing, said Jeremy Nielson, an operations manager at the airport.

"There was damage to the plane and the pilots decided to return to the airport," Nielson said. "I'm sure the passengers are happy to be on the ground."

The aircraft's windshield and wipers were damaged. Debris could be seen on the windshield as the jet sat on the tarmac with airport personnel assessing the damage.

"If the birds had ben ingested in the ingested in the engines I'd have been more concerned," Nielson said.

Nielson said the aircraft landed safely about five to seven minutes after it had taken off for Palm Beach.

The passengers were scheduled to board another aircraft by about 8 p.m. and depart for Palm Beach.

By BILL SANDERSON

Last Updated: 7:35 PM, April 24, 2012
Posted: 7:35 PM, April 24, 2012

Geese smacked into a JetBlue plane taking off from Westchester County Airport tonight, sparking a frightening emergency that sent the crippled jet back to the airport.

“We got to come back. We hit two big geese,” a pilot aboard Flight 571 to West Palm Beach radioed to air controllers just after the plane lifted off at about 6:45 p.m.

“We are declaring an emergency,” the pilot said.

As controllers rerouted planes and helicopters taking off and landing at the airport in Harrison, the pilots of the Embraer jet made it roughly six miles northwest of the airport before they turned back.

They were on the ground about seven minutes after the crisis began.

“JetBlue 571, nice to have you back,” a relieved controller radioed as the Embraer jet landed at 6:52 p.m.

The jet was an Embraer 190, which can carry 114 passengers. It was unclear how many people were board the goose-crippled flight. Authorities and the airline did not return phone calls.

Source: http://www.nypost.com

VIDEO: Bert van Leeuwen, Head of DVB's Aviation Research, talks about the recent developments in the aircraft markets

Proposed airstrip expansion creates controversy in Lake County, Florida

Posted: 6:04 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, 2012 

 
LAKE COUNTY, Florida —

A proposed airstrip expansion is creating controversy in Lake County.

A land owner wants to extend a runway next to the Lake Apopka preservation area so private jets can use it.

However, wildlife conservationists are fighting the project.

 “I think there is plenty of room for the airport and the birds,” project applicant Hank Scott said.

Scott took three minutes to make his case before the Lake County Commission. He and more than a dozen others wore yellow buttons describing the potential economic impact the project will have on jobs.

“They are worried about a few birds. If you don't have food to eat because you don't have a job you're not going to be able to watch the damn birds,” said Scott.

Scott wants to expand the existing runway another 1,500 feet. However, that area is considered a safety zone and planes can't land in there.

Audubon members told WFTV that expanding the runway would be a step backwards from the $150 million already spent to preserve the land and birds that were flying a top the trees.

Increased air traffic would heighten the potential for bird strikes, Audubon members said.

“We are not against projects that create jobs. We, in fact, think the restoration project will create more jobs than this project will,” said Loretta Satterthwaite of the Audubon Society.

“If we limit the size of the jet based on weight then that narrows the conflict in my opinion,” said Lake County Commissioner Jimmy Conner.

The commission will weigh that option and others presented on Tuesday over the next 30 days.

Lake County commissioners will also meet with Orange County leaders since part of the runway falls within their territory.
 

Source:  http://www.wftv.com

Pinnacle Airlines to furlough 450 pilots (with video)

Posted: Apr 24, 2012 4:53 PM EDT 

Updated: Apr 24, 2012 5:24 PM EDT
 

By Jamel Major

MEMPHIS, TN -
(WMC-TV) – Memphis-based Pinnacle Airlines says it plans to put 450 pilots on temporary, unpaid leave during the next 18 months.

The airline says eliminating its United Express and U.S. Airways Express operations would force it to put nearly 16 percent of its 2,860 pilots on furloughs.

The move comes after the airline filed for bankruptcy on April 3.

Since then, pilots who say they're not getting paid have picketed the airlines' headquarters in protest.

Pinnacle hasn't said how other unionized groups like flight attendants, ground operations agents and flight dispatchers will be impacted.

"Our plan for winding down these operations includes exploring every possible option for our people who will be impacted by these decisions," said a written statement from the company. "We remain focused on providing our customers with safe, reliable and on-time service."

Pinnacle CEO Sean Menke recently resigned from the company.

He will be replaced by current Chief Operating Officer John Spanjers on June 1.

Source:  http://www.wmctv.com

Jet Airways: Plane grounded after bird strike, all 55 passengers safe

Source: DNA  
Last Updated 03:40(25/04/12)
  

Indore: Around 55 passengers of a Raipur-bound Jet Airways flight had a narrow escape after a bird hit the plane’s nose during take-off at the Devi Ahilyabai Holkar airport here on Tuesday night.

The Jet Airways flight 9W 2822 was grounded after the bird strike.

The flight had landed here at around 6.35 pm from Jaipur and was scheduled to depart at 7.05 pm.

During the take-off, a bird hit the nose of the plane, forcing the pilot to return, airlines officials said.

An inspection by the technical team revealed that the incident caused damage to the plane, rendering it unfit to fly, they said.

Passengers were diverted to their destinations through Mumbai and Delhi. Some of them have been lodged in city hotels and would be flown to their destinations tomorrow, sources added.

This is the third such bird hit incident in last three years.

Airport authorities have been crying foul over large number of illegal slaughterhouses in the vicinity around the airport that invite birds for easy food.

The district administration and the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) had launched drives to remove the slaughterhouses but their efforts made little headway.

Over half-a-dozen incidents of bird strikes have been reported in last one year.

This flight was the fourth airplane grounded because of the bird strike.

Flights grounded due to bird hit October 10, 2011 - New Delhi bound Jet Airways flight number S2 792 carrying 80 passengers December 28, 2011 - New Delhi bound Jetlite flight carrying 74 passengers January 23, 2012 - Raipur bound Indigo flight carrying 120 passengers.

Source:  http://daily.bhaskar.com

Velvet Sky: Passengers still waiting for refunds

Thousands of passengers who purchased tickets to fly with Velvet Sky have been left in the lurch as they continue to wait for refunds from the dysfunctional airline. 

24 April 2012 | AVASHNEE MOODLEY 

 
JOHANNESBURG - Thousands of passengers who purchased  tickets to fly with  Velvet Sky have been left in the lurch as they continue to wait for  refunds from the dysfunctional airline.

Despite promises from the embattled Durban-based airline to refund customers who had purchased tickets on the airlines website, many have yet to receive their money back.

The airline was grounded in February after running into millions in debt.

Since then the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also suspended its operating license.

Passengers who booked on the Durban-based airlines website were told to fill out refund forms, but the airline does not appear to have issued any refunds, saying its bank needs 14 to 21 days to process them.

Two months later irate customers are still fuming after not being able to get their money back.

They have also received no response from the  airlines call centres.

Livia Dyer from Bowman Gilfillan attorneys explained that in terms of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) 68 of 2008, consumers of services such as airline passengers have  rights, including timely performance, completion of the services and timely notice of any unavoidable delay.

“Where a supplier does not perform a service in accordance with these standards such as by providing a service late or not at all, the consumer has the right to a refund of an appropriate portion of the purchase price,” she said.

Dyer said the amount that should be refunded must be calculated with regard to the extent of the suppliers failure to properly supply the service. She advised consumers to  submit a complaint in terms of the CPA to the National Consumer Commission (NCC) when this is not done.

“The NCC can either refer the complaint to an appropriate body for adjudication or can investigate the complaint,” said Dyer.

Meanwhile,  passengers who purchased tickets  from any computicket travel outlet nationwide have been refunded. Despite not being under any legal obligation to do so, computicket travel have reimbursed R2.2 million worth of Velvet Sky tickets purchased over their counters.

Source:  http://www.citizen.co.za

Caribbean Airlines: Pilots offered new contracts

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – Caribbean Airlines (CAL) is willing to offer the 75 pilots axed last week new contracts.

This comes as CAL closed a Kingston, Jamaica subsidiary company, Caribal Limited, which saw the affected pilots operating Air Jamaica aircraft out of that country.

According to reports, the pilots are now being offered contracts directly with CAL. A release pointed out that the new contracts will see all benefits remaining unchanged.

CAL has also given the Jamaican Airline Pilots Association, the assurance that the pilots’ employment with the airline will see a smooth and seamless transition using a transparent process to ensure smooth and seamless transition.

Source: http://www.caribbean360.com

Bankruptcy at 30,000 Feet: The Battle for the Future of American Airlines

By Bill Saporito 

April 24, 2012

What would you call the combination of US Airways with American Air? US American Airways? It’s redundant, in the same way that airline service is a contradiction in terms. But a merger between the two is slightly more likely than, say, you finding a frequent flier award seat to Europe this summer. American’s union workers would pretty much prefer to work for any other airline than the one that currently employs them, which is why they have been open to a takeover bid by U.S. Airways. This isn’t what you call a good labor situation.

AMR Corp., the parent of American, was in bankruptcy court in New York City today with the stated intention of lowering costs 20% to get competitive with the rest of the industry. American has proposed to slash 13,000 jobs in addition to wage and benefits adjustments to save $1.25 billion annually. The unions have balked at the new contract proposals, so yesterday American explained to a bankruptcy judge why it should be allowed to abrogate the current contracts. “A restructured job is better than no job,’’ an airline attorney told the court, according to the Associated Press. Outside the courtroom, union workers chanted:  “AA got bailed out, we got sold out.” If the court agrees with American’s plan — and bankruptcy courts tend to favor current management — it would have the leverage it needs to crush the Transport Workers Union that represents most of its ground workers, and bring the pilots and flight attendants unions to heel.

That’s what you do in bankruptcy — dump pricey contracts and debt obligations, refinance if needed, and then reemerge a stronger, less indebted company. The court has given AA until September to work this out on its own. But the three unions, including Allied Pilots Association and Association of Professional Flight Attendants have some leverage. They’ve signed deal sheets with US Airways that will take effect in the event that US Airways takes over AA. The pilots, for instance, would get an immediate 5.5% raise. There would still be layoffs, but only half the number that American has proposed.

AMR boss Tom Horton, in a letter to employees, responded by saying, in essence: why would you leave all this? “There is real substance in our plan to build American with our industry-leading aircraft orders for 460 new narrowbody jets, up to 100 787s and 16 777s,” he said. “These are planes which should benefit the careers of American pilots and flight attendants.” There is, obviously, some short term pain.

Read more: http://business.time.com

Kuwait Airways float unlikely to fly

Proposals to float off a major part of Kuwait Airways are unlikely to attract many buyers because they offer investors too little control, and not enough return, say aviation analysts.

David Black
Apr 24, 2012
 

Kuwait's cabinet approved an amended draft law on Sunday paving the way for the partial privatisation of Kuwait Airways within three years.

Under the new draft law, which still needs to be approved by the National Assembly, the government will offer a 35 per cent portion of its share capital of 220 million Kuwaiti dinars (Dh2.9 billion) to potential long-term investors, amounting to around US$280m.

The offering will be to companies listed on Kuwait's stock exchange as well as to international investors, with the stake going to the highest bidder. The auction should happen within the next three years, the national news agency Kuna quoted the communications minister Salem Al Athaina as saying.

The Kuwait Investment Authority, the country's sovereign wealth fund, would retain a 20 per cent stake, while 5 per cent would be distributed to airline employees. The deadline for submissions is August 25.

Kuwait Airways, which operates 17 aircraft, last year appointed Citi, the auditors Ernst & Young and aviation consulting firm Seabury to handle the privatisation.

The country is the world's fourth largest oil exporter, but is on a drive to build its private sector and reduce dependency on oil revenue.

"Any sale of the company must realign the airline towards a successful future entity that builds on the aspirations of the Kuwaiti people and the past successes of this national institution," the government's privatisation committee said.

However, analysts say the airline is unlikely to prove a good fit for any of the major regional airlines like Emirates, Etihad or Qatar Airways.

"The airline has been struggling for some time now," said John Strickland, the director of the airline analysts JLS Consulting. "It's unlikely to gather any interest from the other big players in the region unless it gives a good deal and more control in its functioning."

"From the airline's aspect, this may be seen as an opportunity to raise capital for aircraft replacement," said Peter Morris, the chief economist at the consultancy Ascend Aviation. "But I don't see how buying into a part ownership of a very specific national airline with issues will be of any interest to investors," he added.

"We never comment on speculation of this nature, except to say that we talk regularly and frequently to many airlines and a range of other businesses from all over the world about issues and opportunities", said an Etihad Airways spokesman.

Emirates Airline and Qatar Airways did not respond to questions over any potential interest.

Any sale of a stake in Kuwait Airways, which mainly flies to Europe, the Middle East and Asia, would be the first privatisation of a Gulf-owned carrier but the airline is burdened with high labour costs and has struggled financially for years.

Kuwait's parliament previously approved privatising the company in 2008, but the move has been repeatedly delayed. Last month, the airline was hit by a strike over pay.

Source:   http://www.thenational.ae

Cost of efficiency: Pakistan International Airlines plane departs early, leaves behind passengers

By Manzoor Ali
Published: April 24, 2012

PIA spokesperson Sultan Hassan corroborates claim that most passengers had been informed of the change beforehand. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:

Pakistan International Airlines appears to have pulled up its socks a little too high following this week’s tragic Bhoja Air disaster that killed all 127 passengers and crew on board.

On Monday, a PIA Karachi-bound flight from Peshawar took off an hour before scheduled time, leaving some passengers behind at the Baacha Khan International Airport.

Angry at being left behind, over a dozen passengers then mounted a protest after which they were accommodated on another Karachi-bound flight.

“The plane had left due to an onward connection at Jeddah at 7:40 am, leaving behind 20 passengers in Peshawar,” an airport official told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity. He sought to dispel the impression that a technical fault had caused the situation.

He claimed that most passengers had been informed of the change in schedule but some of them could not be reached via phone, leading to the inconvenient situation.

PIA spokesperson Sultan Hassan corroborated the claim that most passengers had been informed of the change beforehand. However, he had a different reason for the plane’s over-efficiency.

“It was a result of rescheduling of flights that had occurred due to the situation in the past three days. This flight was rescheduled the night before,” Hassan told The Express Tribune.

He also said the plane was to fly on to Faisalabad, not Jeddah, from Karachi. According to him, 10 to 15 passengers had missed the flight.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24th, 2012.

Police, Capital Development Authority lock horns over Bhoja air crash probe: Boeing 737-200, AP-BKC, Flight B4-213, Islamabad, Pakistan

KASHIF ABBASI/SALMAN ABBAS

ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad police have been accusing some senior officials of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) of ‘deliberately’ tampering with the evidences recovered from the site of the tragic Bhoja airlines plane crash that killed all 127 passengers on board.

The police suspect that some high officials of the CDA opened the seal of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) recovered by the CDA from the site of the plane crash. A CVR holds the record of the last 30 minutes’ conversation between the pilot and control tower. A senior police official told Pakistan Today that the CDA chairman illegally kept the CVR at his home for more than 24 hours, which raises some serious questions. However, CDA Chairman Engineer Farkhand Iqbal, when contacted, categorically denied this allegation.

Meanwhile, a CDA official on Monday handed over the CVR to the police. Initially, the police refused to take the CVR as its seals were broken. However, later, after the intervention of the police high-ups, Koral police took the CVR into its custody but mentioned in its daily crime diary that the CVR had broken seals.

Reportedly, the police refused to accept the device from the CDA officials, stating that its seals were broken. The police further stated that it was a sensitive issue and the civic body should have been handed the CVR over to the police at once after finding it from the site as it was the second most important evidence after the black box, to find the reasons behind the crash.

The report said that the rescue operation of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Group Captain Mujahid were also among the police when they were in search of the crucial evidences but they could not find it as the CDA had already taken it from the site.

On the other hand, CDA Chairman Engineer Farkhand Iqbal told Pakistan Today that such accusations were made just to get the credit as the CDA, after finding the cockpit voice recorder, handed it over to the group captain of the CAA. He said that it was baseless to say that the CDA had tempered with the CVR, adding that they handed it over to the CAA in its original form after the plane crash incident. “I had not kept it for 24 hours at my home, it is totally a false allegation,” said the CDA chief.

He said that according to the standing operating procedure (SOP), it was the responsibility of the agency which found any clue from the site of the plane crash to hand it over to the officials concerned of the CAA. “That’s why I did the same and handed the CVR over to the CAA instead of giving it to the police and I have written proof of it,” Farkhand said, clarifying that the CDA had not broken the seals of CVR.

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk

Program gives pilots' spouses chance to learn how to land planes in emergencies

The course started April 23, 2012 at Lyncrest Airport, near Winnipeg. 

Updated: Mon Apr. 23 2012 18:10:19

ctvwinnipeg.ca

A course believed to be the first-of-its kind in Canada is offering the spouses of pilots the opportunity to learn how to land aircraft in emergency situations.

"It's sort of like wearing a helmet when you're riding a bicycle – just a little bit of insurance," said Jill Oakes, organizer of the Learning to Land program. The program is operating out of the Lyncrest Airport, near Winnipeg. 

The course was spurred by an incident earlier this month in which a Wisconsin woman's 81-year-old husband lost consciousness while flying a plane and died. 

With assistance from another pilot who gave information and talked her down, the woman was able to land the aircraft. 

Darlene Stewart was among a group of women who participated in the Manitoba course on Monday.

While she hopes she never has to land an aircraft on her own, she said she now feels more confident with what she's learned. 

"It's there if I ever need it," she said. 

The course began on Monday and organizers said they'll be holding classes every Monday and Tuesday for the next two weeks.

- with a report from CTV's Jon Hendricks 

http://winnipeg.ctv.ca

Diamond DA-42 Avion Multiproposito

 

April 17, 2012 by volandoxtv

 Entrevista realizada a Diego Ariztegui de ADILAT S.A. en la que nos cuenta sobre el avión multiproposito DIAMOND DA-42 www.volandoxtv.com.ar

Air Line Pilots Association International - Reviews

Reviews are posted anonymously by employees
 

April 20, 2012

Details
Air Line Pilots Association Int'l – “It was a highly political setting, but an extremely interesting place to work.”

Air Line Pilots Association Int'l Anonymous in Rosemont, IL:   (Past Employee - 2010)

Pros
Some of the best reasons to work for ALPA are the salary and benefits package. It was an interesting place to work, even with the highly political atmosphere. For the most part, management was remote and there was a large sense of freedom in how to get the job done. The job encouraged continuing education and skills building.

Cons
It was a highly political place to work requiring a keen sense of who to report to depending on the project or political climate. The work at ALPA was for most part reactionary as opposed to cyclical - meaning one worked in a climate of perpetual crisis management.

Advice to Senior Management
My advice would be the suggestion that they treat their long term employees better - they hold the history of the organization, which is essential for the work that is done.

Source:   http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Employee-Review-Air-Line-Pilots-Association-Int-l-RVW1457545.htm

de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300, Trigana Air, PK-YRF: Plane boycott of Papua town leads to lack of supplies

Posted at 23:10 on 23 April, 2012 UTC

Residents of Papua’s highland town of Mulia face decreasing stocks of basic commodities because airlines continue to refuse to fly there 12 days after gunmen opened fire on a plane landing at the town’s airport.

The gunmen shot at the Trigana Air Twin Otter, killing one person and injuring four.

According to the Jakarta Globe Trigana Air and Susi Air say they’ve canceled all flights over concerns about similar attacks despite reassurances and security guarantees from the Papuan administration and police.

Air transportation is the only way to reach the town so basic commodities such as kerosene, drinking water and rice are depleting.

Police have not been able to shed any light on the identities of attackers.

http://www.rnzi.com

Hawker Beechcraft warns employees of 350 layoffs

April 23, 2012 7:14 PM ET

By ROXANA HEGEMAN

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Aircraft maker Hawker Beechcraft gave 60-day layoff notices to about 350 workers at its plant in Wichita on Monday, about a week after it reported a nearly $633 million net loss for 2011.

The company, which manufacturers business and military aircraft, cited market conditions for the move in a letter sent to employees. The company is struggling under a debt burden of more than $2.33 billion, according to its recent Securities and Exchange filing, and has been renegotiating its debt with its lenders.

"While we have experienced success with our transformation, market conditions are requiring us to adjust our overall production cadence to help ensure the company will compete effectively in the future," company executives said in the letter dated Monday.

"This remains a difficult, unprecedented time for our company, our employees and our industry," they added, asking employees to remain focused on their jobs "as we carry on our effort to become a smaller, more agile company."

The company insisted in an email Monday that the layoffs wouldn't affect its agreement to keep its aircraft operations in Kansas for 10 years as part of a $45 million deal with state and local officials. The company agreed in 2010 to maintain current aircraft lines and keep at least 4,000 jobs in Kansas until 2020.

Phone messages and emails seeking comment from Gov. Sam Brownback's office and from the president of the machinists' union representing Beechcraft workers weren't immediately returned late Monday afternoon.

The company's annual statement, filed with the SEC on April 13, showed losses from operations of $481.8 million in 2011. But those losses swelled to a $632.8 million net loss when adding in other expenses — such as the $135.6 million in interest payments last year by the heavily indebted company, according to the filing.

Hawker Beechcraft's financial woes come as it struggles under a debt burden it has carried since 2007, when Raytheon Aircraft sold off the company. Its SEC report listed a total debt of more than $2.33 billion as of the end of last year.

It's unclear how many employees the company now has in Kansas. As of November, the Wichita plant employed 4,700 workers. Company spokeswoman Nicole Alexander said Monday that she didn't have a current employment number.

According to its SEC filing, the company employs 7,400 people, including workers at its plant in Little Rock, Ark. Beechcraft also has plants in England and Mexico, and has more than 100 service centers worldwide.

http://money.msn.com

Qatar Airways clinches two major awards

Two major accolades have been presented to Qatar Airways at the annual Skytrax 2012 World Airport Awards held in Vienna.

For the second year running, Qatar Airways’ Premium Terminal at Doha International Airport (DIA) has been named World’s Best Premium Service Airport, recognised for its superior Five Star service and excellent customer care.

Qatar Airways-owned Oryx Rotana, a five-star hotel at Doha International Airport, has won the Best Airport Hotel in the Middle East award and ranked 10th best airport hotel in the world – a remarkable feat for a property open only two years.

A favourite among premium passengers worldwide, Qatar Airways’ Premium Terminal opened in 2006 and is for exclusive use by Qatar Airways’ First and Business Class passengers.

It is renowned for its world-class facilities including fine dining, luxurious spa amenities, as well as business facilities for transiting and departing passengers.

Doha International Airport beat two other high-profile contenders for the title of Best Premium Service Airport – Frankfurt Airport’s Lufthansa First Class Lounge and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport’s Thai Airways First Class check-in and lounge facilities – both placed second and third respectively.

The 400-room Oryx Rotana is a leading business hotel with features including six signature dining options, high-tech business facilities, car limousine rental, multi-lingual staff, and wireless Internet connection in all guest rooms.

Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar al-Baker was delighted on the news of two key airport accolades for the Qatar Airways Group.

“We’re extremely proud of our Premium Terminal, the first of its kind in the world to provide check-in, duty free, fine dining and transit services exclusively for our First and Business Class passengers,” he said.

“Our passengers always comment on how much they enjoy the experience of the Premium Terminal. It really is a one-of-its-kind. Our focus on providing the best service to all our customers is what keeps us ahead of the rest and ensures we remain committed to delivering the ultimate in Five-Star service both in the air and on the ground.

“After all, passengers’ entire journey experience starts at an airport and it is vitally important that airlines and airports deliver what passengers expect.”

Al-Baker added that the Oryx Rotana is a great asset for the company, its first venture into the hotel business in 2010.

Oryx Rotana general manager Kevork Deldelian said that it is a real coup to win the award, given the high level of competition that the hotel faced across the region.

“We are so proud of this award – it symbolises all that we set out to achieve since opening our doors two years ago,” he said.

“Doha is growing at an incredible rate and with so many new hotels and restaurants planning to open, the competition is very high.

“But our commitment to delivering a Five-Star service with the backing our airline parent company and our attention to detail is what makes our hotel a favourite not only among travellers, but locals as well.”

On winning both awards, Skytrax chairman Edward Plaisted said: “We congratulate Doha International Airport and Qatar Airways on this fantastic achievement, winning the Best Premium Service Airport award.

“The Qatar Airways Premium Terminal remains a unique passenger facility worldwide, unmatched in terms of exclusivity and passenger amenities.

“With the New Doha International Airport due to open at the end of 2012, we will watch with interest to check that the quality of product and service remains at this award winning level.”

Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of 108 aircraft to 113 key business and leisure destinations worldwide.

Last year was a landmark for Qatar Airways, which inducted 15 new destinations to its network, and won the coveted Skytrax 2011 Airline of the Year Award.

As part of its 2012 expansion programme, Qatar Airways launches flights to a further 11 destinations – Zagreb (Croatia) from May 9; Perth (Australia) from July 3, and others cities during the year, including Mombasa (Kenya), Zanzibar (Tanzania), Helsinki (Finland), Gassim (Saudi Arabia), Belgrade (Serbia), Erbil (Iraq), Baghdad (Iraq), Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), and Yangon (Myanmar).

In February, the carrier launched services to the Azerbaijan capital Baku and Georgia’s capital city of Tbilisi, and last month began flights to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.

http://www.gulf-times.com

Ministry secures $76m BASA funds to fix 11 airports

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

The Ministry of Aviation has secured presidential approval to utilise the over $76 million Bilateral Air Services Agreement ( BASA) funds, domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to upgrade the nation’s airports, investigations have revealed.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the upgrading which was proposed some years ago could not be executed on account of paucity of funds, as the yearly budgetary sector’s allocation to aviation was too insignificant to execute the projects.

In 2010, the former Minister of Aviation, Mrs Fidelia Njeze, proposed over N91 billion for the re- modeling of about 12 airports but could not execute them owing to paucity of funds.

But the cost was later scaled down to N19 billion under the new dispensation.

The 2012 budgetary allocation for the sector is put at N49.23 billion, an improvement from the N7.14 proposed in the 2011 budget.

The wide gap between the 2011 and 2012 budgetary allocation, experts affirm, is an indication of government’s resolve to address the lingering aviation infrastructure challenges..

The huge increase in budgetary allocation is coming on the heels of the obvious decay in airport infrastructure and air navigation equipment at airports across the country evidently signposting many years of neglect and abandonment.

Experts said that the quantum leap in the budgetary allocation may be coming on the heels of the determination of government to fast track airport re-modeling projects, expected to give a face lift to at least 11 airports.

Speaking over the weekend, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), George Uriesi, said the airports re- modeling projects is being funded from the bilateral air services agreement funds. Though he did not disclose the amount, he affirmed that with the annual budgetary allocation, the airports will be completed in phases.

He said issues of paucity of funds will not stall the projects, as the ministry is set to launch a new agenda on revamping existing infrastructure as part of the agenda to reposition the sector.

Uriesi said FAAN has scaled down the proposed N91 billion to N19 billion.

Also, the Director-General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA), Dr Harold Demuren, confirmed that Nigeria has about $76 million in the bilateral air services agreement account domiciled in the CBN.　

He spoke of plans by the government to utilise part of the funds for the upgrade and rehabilitation of ageing airport infrastructure as well as air navigation equipment.

Among the airports where re- modeling is taking place, is the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net

Second Airport For Samui?

Posted: 24 Apr 2012 | 6:00 am

An article in last week's Bangkok Post which said the Transport Ministry was looking at conducting a study for the feasibility of a new second airport in Koh Samui has created widespread industry speculation.

While the comments by the Ministry stop short specific actions it says that the Airports of Thailand (AoT) are to look for a second location and see whether it's viable to develop a new facility.

Clearly politics are at play as the piece says that the new airport would provide leverage with the AoT in talks with Bangkok Airways who currently operate the island's private airport.

So is this a case of political will or a fishing expedition?

It's hard to say but both the AoT and Transport Ministry are clearly ramping up the issue of high airport fees and limitations on airport traffic.

Looking inside the piece though, one has to wonder is the pressure coming also via legacy carrier Thai Airways who want a bigger share of the island's lucrative market?

One theme throughout the article is the continuous mention of the word monopoly.

Viewing our recent C9 Hotelworks Samui Hotel Market update for last year 2011, the shrinking Thai domestic market is clearly a key indicator that the lack of low-cost airlines is retraining demand for the island.

Bangkok Airways is reportedly launched an IPO this year and any concessions might jeopardize their underlying company value given the Koh Samui route is the airlines most profitable.

Let's see who blinks first in this increasingly political standoff.

http://www.thephuketinsider.com

FBI and police free to launch drones in sky over U.S. cities

City police forces were also drawing up plans to use the reconnaissance aircraft 

The American skies may soon be full of drones after it was disclosed that domestic law enforcement agencies, from the FBI to local police, have been granted permission to deploy the unmanned aircraft.

Documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws show that more than 50 non-military organizations have asked to fly drone aircraft, many of which can carry cameras and surveillance equipment for spying, within the US.

The figures from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a civil liberties group that aims to defend Americans from digital snooping by government, showed that agencies such as the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice had been cleared to launch drones.

More alarmingly, city police forces were also drawing up plans to use the reconnaissance aircraft, which are more usually associated with top secret missions against terrorist suspects in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Yemen.

Police chiefs in Miami, Seattle and even North Little Rock, a city in Arkansas of less than 70,000 people, were all cleared by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to launch drones within their jurisdictions.

A spokesman for the North Little Rock Police Department told the Wall Street Journal that it was only using its unmanned helicopter for training over unpopulated areas but hoped to eventually fly it above crime-ridden neighborhoods and use it to gather intelligence for major drug cases.

In one of the few examples of an application being rejected, the FAA refused to sign off on a request by campus police at the Georgia Institute of Technology, a force tasked with protecting and keeping order among the university’s 20,000 students. In response to the revelation both Democrats and Republicans in Congress last week wrote to the FAA demanding that it take into account privacy concerns before approving deployments.

“We must ensure that as drones take flight in domestic airspace, they don’t take off without privacy protections for those along their flight path,” said Ed Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts who co-chairs the Congressional Privacy Caucus.

http://www.calgaryherald.com

Aviation experts blame Civil Aviation Authority for all ills

Imran Adnan

LAHORE - Experts of the aviation industry have called the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Pakistan the mother of all ills plaguing the crucial sector of the country. They believe that the judicial commission was merely an eyewash, as it could not conduct a transparent and independent inquiry.

The experts said the CAA ignored all local and international aviation regulations in giving a go ahead to Bhoja Airline to conduct operations.

They pointed out that Bhoja Airline applied to the CAA for restarting its operations in November 2011 when it had only two aircraft, while the CAA laws indicated that no airline could start operations unless it had a fleet of four aircraft – three for routine operations and one at stand-by.

Sources said the airline got its third aircraft in January 2012 and the fourth aircraft, which was shown in documents as parked somewhere in Dubai, had not reached Pakistan yet. However, in connivance with CAA officials and with due political influence, the airline successfully got an approval for starting its operations, which proved fatal for several families.

They also highlighted that Bhoja Airline was a defaulter and had got a stay order from the Sindh High Court. The CAA should approach the Supreme Court of Pakistan instead of giving a go ahead to start operations, they maintained.

Aviation experts underlined that the primary role of the CAA was to protect the interest of passengers and cargo companies, but in the case of Bhoja Airline, the CAA also set aside the major responsibility and gave licence to the airline for restarting operations.

The experts added that under CAA rules, it was mandatory for all airlines operating in Pakistan to make insurance arrangements with renowned insurance operators in the country, but Bhoja Airline submitted an insurance cover of some unknown Russian underwriter, which offered merely half-a-million rupees of insurance cover per passenger, they maintained.

Commenting on the inquiry commission, they expressed doubts about its transparency, pointing out that Interior Minister Rehman Malik had already said that the management of the Bhoja Airline, including its Managing Director Arshad Jalil, would have representation in the commission along with two retired judges.

“Why do you expect the investigations to be transparent when the accused whose family had 80 percent stakes in the airline will be part of the commission?” they questioned.

In addition, sources pointed out that when same officials were sitting in offices of the Defence Ministry, Interior Ministry and CAA, there could not be a transparent investigation that had a potential to hurt their interests.

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk

Explained: Why World's Fastest Plane Crashed

10:36pm UK, Monday April 23, 2012 

Scientists behind the "world's fastest plane" have revealed it was ripped apart by speeds of around 13,000mph before it plunged into the Pacific Ocean.

Extensive analysis has been carried out since the test flight of the US military's $320m (£199m) unmanned Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle HTV-2 last August.

The Pentagon hopes the vehicle will eventually be developed to allow it to carry bombs to strike targets anywhere across the globe within an hour.

And in releasing the results of its analysis, the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) indicated the test was not the failure it was initially thought to be.

Read more:   http://news.sky.com

Lowcountry Dreamliner ready to roll

Posted: Apr 23, 2012 6:29 PM EDT
Updated: Apr 23, 2012 6:56 PM EDT

By Eric Egan
abcnews4.com

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC (WCIV) -- Nearly three years after breaking ground in the Lowcountry, Boeing will show off its very first, locally made Dreamliner this Friday.

There are four 787 Dreamliners inside the final assembly plant in North Charleston. One of them is finished and ready for the public to see, in what will be a day to remember for all of South Carolina.

It's a Carolina creation.

"It's a statement that the airplane is compete, all the work that was supposed to be done inside the factory is now complete," said Boeing South Carolina Vice President, Jack Jones. "It will roll out and you will see it in its completed state."

Other Dreamliners have been on display locally in the past. The plane, to be revealed later this week shares the same top of the line features.

According to Jones, the plane's composite material make-up allows for superior fuel efficiency.

The cabin experience, with bigger windows and spacious seating, was designed specifically so the traveler can enjoy the ride.

"The interior cabin has several passenger comfort features that you don't feel today in other aircrafts," he said.

Boeing did not arrive at this point without its share of bumpy air. It included a complaint by the National Labor Relations Board, which questioned the company's motive for coming to South Carolina. Though Jones says his biggest concern was getting the workforce trained.

"If we did get in trouble, if we did have a problem, we had the support of the program in Seattle quickly putting people in airplanes, boots on the ground down here to make sure we keep production going," said Jones.

That focus, says Jones, kept North Charleston on track.

"All the while we knew exactly how we were doing against those scheduled events and as long as we were making those events, making that schedule, the confidence of the company was there," Jones said.

Air India is in line to buy North Charleston's first Dreamliner.

Boeing's next goal is to finish more than three planes at the plant every month, lofty but worthy expectations. The company has already sold 850 Dreamliners.

http://www.abcnews4.com

United Continental Nears Deal With Boeing for Planes

April 23, 2012, 6:05 p.m. ET

By DANIEL MICHAELS

The Wall Street Journal

United Continental Holdings Inc. UAL -0.26% will soon finalize a deal with Boeing Co. BA -0.94% for more than 100 of its 737 single-aisle jetliners, according to a person familiar with the matter.

If completed, the deal would mark a significant win for Boeing, which last year placed far behind its European rival Airbus in landing orders for small airliners.

Airbus won more than 1,000 orders for its A320 family of planes last year, while Boeing won roughly half that number. Airbus was very successful with a promised update of the A320, dubbed the Neo, for new engine option. The Neo's success prompted Boeing to abandon plans for an all-new successor to the 737 and instead update it. United will buy Boeing's updated 737 MAX model, according to the person familiar with the talks.

Officials at United and Airbus declined to comment.

The near completion of the talks was reported by Bloomberg News earlier Monday.

A deal with United would be notable in part because the airline currently flies both Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s, as a result of the merger in 2010 of United and Continental Airlines that created what is now the world's largest airline.

While the carrier could have gone with either manufacturer, industry officials had widely expected United to select Boeing planes, in part because the current management comes largely from Continental, which flew only Boeing planes. The Wall Street Journal reported in January that United was likely to select Boeing planes.

But a win was far from secure. Airbus, a unit of European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co., EAD.FR -4.36% shocked Boeing last summer by landing a giant order for A320s from AMR Corp.'s American Airlines, which for years had bought only Boeing planes. AMR is now going through Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, but executives have said the still plan to buy both Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s, as announced.

http://online.wsj.com

Former Dublin Airport workers face pension cuts

Updated: 22:35, Monday, 23 April 2012

Pensioners who formerly worked at Aer Lingus, the Dublin Airport Authority and SR Technics are facing a cut in their pensions because of the pension levy.

The news is contained in a communication to all members from the trustees of the joint Irish Aviation Superannuation Scheme.

The scheme handles pensions for employees in all three companies, although SR Technics has now closed.

In it, trustee Brian Duncan says that because of the 0.6% per annum deduction from the pension scheme, the trustees will have to make what he called "modest benefit reductions".

Pensioners will be advised in due course of how the cuts will be implemented.

Mr Duncan notes that between March 2011 and the end of 2011, the deficit in the IASS scheme rose from €343m to around €700m due to disappointing investment returns and lower interest rates in European countries.

While the deficit may have reduced slightly in the meantime, the position remains very volatile.

Talks are underway at the Labour Relations Commission in a bid to agree a strategy to address the deficit.

The talks are crucial because the Government cannot sell its stake in Aer Lingus until the deficit issue is addressed.

Mr Duncan says that current employer and employee contributions are not sufficient to fund benefits.

He also informs members that employers have said that they will not pay additional contributions into the scheme.

Strategies to reduce the deficit include payment of additional contributions, cutting the benefits of those who are currently working and those who have left but deferred their pensions, and the purchase of sovereign annuities for pensioners.

Mr Duncan's document also raises the issue of co-ordination with the State pension.

At present, staff in the scheme who stay until the normal retirement age do not cost the scheme the full price of their pension, as it is offset by the State pension.

However, those who leave early are entitled to both the full pension from the scheme, and the State pension on top.

That has placed an additional burden or strain on the pension scheme.

The DAA pointed out that the operation of the pension scheme was a matter for the trustees of the scheme.

The Director of Human Resources at Aer Lingus, Michael Grealy, said the letter was welcome in that it clarified important issues regarding the pension scheme.

The Chief Executive of the Labour Relations Commission, Kieran Mulvey, who is chairing the talks, said he would be recalling the parties at the earliest possible agreed date in a bid to accelerate progress in the negotiations.

He said he also wanted to avoid further speculation on the issue.

http://www.rte.ie

Aircraft maintenance not Civil Aviation Authority job, says Defence Minister Ch Ahmad Mukhtar

ISLAMABAD - Defence Minister Ch Ahmad Mukhtar has ‘acquitted’ the Civil Aviation Authority in the plane crash incident, saying responsibility for the aircraft maintenance solely rested with the airline concerned, Bhoja Air, and not the CAA.

“The CAA must not be dragged into this. It was primarily and solely the responsibility of Bhoja Air,” he said in a conversation with this journalist by phone on Saturday.

“I have ordered an inquiry which the CAA has already launched. Quite possibly, it was the bad weather that caused the crash but if there was some technical problem concerning the aircraft crash, Bhoja Air was to be held accountable and not the CAA.”

The minister said he was ‘personally’ monitoring the probe and he would make sure that an impartial inquiry was completed at the earliest. Mukhtar also reiterated that Bhoja Air would be made to pay compensation sum to the victim families. As per existing practice, each bereaved family will receive at least five million rupees from the airline concerned.

“No stone would be left unturned to arrange the provisions of compensation amount for the bereaved families and initiation of strict action against those held responsible in the probe.”

Asked if the probe, that was to be assisted by the UN, found fault with CAA, Mukhtar said, “Whether it’s CAA, Bhoja Air or anyone else, nobody would be spared.”

On the other hand, informed sources in the CAA contradicted the minister’s version, saying supervising the safety standards was the CAA responsibility. “Aircraft maintenance is airline’s job but supervision rests with CAA. Unsatisfactory inspection leaves loopholes that may lead to disaster,” officials commented. “The Friday plane crash incident might be the case of bad weather disaster but in case it’s the result of some technical issue, the CAA would share the blame.”

Earlier on Friday, Bhoja Air Spokesperson Jasir Abro had told The Nation that Boeing 737 that crashed near Islamabad was hit by a cloud burst, known as CB in technical terms.  “Initial findings suggest it was a cloud burst and it could have been beyond the control of any pilot to deal with this kind of situation.” Abro said an inquiry was launched to ascertain the crash cause.

Meanwhile, Director General Pakistan Meteorological Department Arif Mehmood said that PMD had issued two weather warnings to the CAA on Friday before the plane crash had taken place. “Weather was very bad and completely unsuitable for flights so we issued weather alerts containing warnings against aerial flights,” he told The Nation.

CAA DG Captain Nadeem Khan Yousufzai, however, contended that CAA had well devised weather monitoring system and officials concerned kept issuing weather advisories on regular basis. “We also get input from the PMD but our own system is also very reliable. We take precautionary measures when it rains or weather gets bad but nobody could have anticipated a CB. An inquiry is in progress and everything would come clear,” he said while talking to this reporter.

A senior CAA official, requesting anonymity, said cloudburst although posed extreme challenge for the airlines’ pilots yet it could be avoided. “CB is the most challenging climatic condition the pilots confront while leading flights. This can be avoided if pilot keeps his nerves and avoid the route where the CB is prevalent.”

The official said, the captain of the ill-fated flight tried to save fuel and went for emergency landing using shortcut while trying to clear the CB and got trapped in it. “It was best for him to keep flying while avoiding the cloud burst till the weather got clear or to fly to Lahore but he showed haste and paid a very heavy price.”

http://www.nation.com.pk

BA’S Willie Walsh attacks 'damaging' aviation policy

Monday April 23 2012

BRITISH growth is being "undermined by Government policy", the head of British Airways' parent company said today.

Airlines were facilitating growth but the Government had to understand that it was hampering growth, said Dublin-born Willie Walsh, chief executive of International Airline Group (IAG).

Speaking at Heathrow airport today, the former Aer Lingus boss Walsh said Prime Minister David Cameron had been promoting UK trade in Asia of late.

Mr Walsh went on: "While the Prime Minister talks about the fantastic opportunities for Britain, it's a terrible shame that Government policy in the UK is damaging our ability to connect with these Asian markets."

Mr Walsh went on: "UK growth is being undermined by Government policy and that's a terrible thing to have to say."

Mr Walsh is keen to see the Air Passenger Duty (APD) airport departure tax scrapped as well as Heathrow being expanded so that Britain can connect with vital Asian markets.

However, the Government has ruled out a third runway at Heathrow.

He said today: "It's a nonsense to say that British business can be competitive if we can't fly to these (Asian) destinations."

Mr Walsh went on: "This is a Government of contradictions. They talk about the importance of competitiveness yet we have APD."

Asked about the ability of Heathrow to cope with the Olympic Games traffic this summer, Mr Walsh said the problem of immigration queues was not just about Heathrow but about "inadequate resources".

He said Heathrow was a "fantastic airport" but efforts to improve things there were being "undermined" by this lack of resources.

Mr Walsh was speaking as US planemaker Boeing showed off its quiet and "green" new airliner, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, at Heathrow today.

BA and Thomson Airways will be receiving the first of their Dreamliners next year, with Virgin Atlantic taking delivery of its first 787 in 2014.

Describing Dreamliner as an exciting new addition to the BA fleet, Mr Walsh said the Boeing 787 would facilitate growth in the UK.

He went on: "The UK Government needs to understand what UK airlines are doing to facilitate growth in the UK and in UK aviation.

"And the Government must understand what it is doing to hamper growth."

Thomson will be the first UK airline to fly the Dreamliner - in May 2013 - and will operate the plane from Gatwick, Manchester, East Midlands and Glasgow airports.

The Thomson 787s can carry 291 passengers. Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines power some of the Dreamliners.

Seattle-based Boeing is showing off its new plane as part of a world tour to promote the Dreamliner which, after numerous production problems, finally entered passenger service last October.

Quieter and around 20% more fuel efficient than corresponding aircraft, the Dreamliner should have started fare-paying flights as early as May 2008.

But it was not until autumn 2011 that Japanese airline ANA became the first to put the 787 into service.

Responding to Mr Walsh's remarks, a Department for Transport spokesman said: "In the summer we will consult on an overarching sustainable framework for UK aviation and alongside this we will publish a call for evidence on maintaining effective UK hub airport connectivity.

"The coalition's position regarding Heathrow has not changed."

http://www.independent.ie