Tag: Aviation news (Page 1 of 3)

Newport Beach to study alternate takeoff patterns

February 19, 2016 / WIL BALDWIN

Newport Beach to study alternate takeoff patterns for the John Wayne Airport in Orange County. The city wants to study the idea, as new flight plans proposed by the FAA could concentrate air traffic over the local neighborhoods. The plan would have the departing aircraft path along Newport Bay, keeping airplanes over open water. This plan would require a pilots to follow a curved departure path. The curved path plan arose following a FAA proposal to narrow flight paths at 11 airports in Southern California.

Newport Beach subject to NextGen Air Traffic Control

The FAA proposal includes exchanging ground air traffic control with newer satellite technology. This new system would allow for the programming of a precise takeoff path. The new takeoff path would require departing aircraft to stay in a precise lane, further concentrate air traffic over the neighborhoods surrounding the airport. Home owners in the area have complained for decades about the noise from the airport, and do not want the situation to worsen. An agreement brokered decades ago set curfews and limits on noise from departing planes at John Wayne. In 2014, the agreement was extended through December of 2030.

Newport Beach

pic from Apple Maps

Saudi Arabian Airlines 747 (Friday pic of the week)

February 19, 2016 / WIL BALDWIN

Saudi Arabian Airlines 747 in the boneyard. On a recent drive to Ruidoso, I made a very short detour at Roswell to snap a few shots of their boneyard. The boneyard is where old aircraft are stored when no longer being used by their owners. They are either held for resale, or stripped for the resale of parts. It has been about 13 years since my last visit here, but the view was similar. There was still a very large group of MD-80 aircraft, that were frowned upon by their owners due to a very high fuel burn rate. Of course, with the huge drop in oil prices, the schedule to finish retiring these industry short haul work horses may be slowed down. Roswell, a small town in New Mexico, is most famous for an alleged UFO crash site in 1947 that spooked the country. My favorite picture from this stop is this retired Saudi Arabian Airlines 747-400 jumbo jet.

Saudi Arabian Airlines

Dornier Seawings production of the Seastar begins

February 19, 2016 / WIL BALDWIN

Dornier Seawings production of the Seastar begins. While searching the internet last night for signs of a rumored re-launch of the Dornier 328Jet, I came across something much more interesting. A company called Dornier Seawings has begun production of its Seastar airplane. The Seastar is billed as the world’s most advanced amphibious aircraft. Airplanes labelled as amphibious can operate on both land and water. Dornier Seawings is a joint venture of the Dornier family and Wuxi Industrial Development Group. Seastar assembly will start in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, and will be moved later to a new facility in Wuxi, China. The Seastar has partnered with some of the industry’s top suppliers, including Pratt & Whitney, MT Propellers, Honeywell, and Diamond Aircraft Industries. Diamond has begun manufacturing the airframe, fuselage, wings, and flight controls. Delivery of the first unit is scheduled for June, 2016. Type Certificate for the new aircraft is on target for the second quarter of 2018.

A great promo video of the Seastar can be viewed at the following link:

Seastar amphibious aircraft promo video

Dornier

pic from dornierseawings.com promo kit.

Norwegian Air news for February 18, 2016

February 18, 2016 / WIL BALDWIN

Norwegian Air Shuttle reportedly is considering spinning off its aircraft leasing unit. The news comes as newer jets begin arriving from Boeing and Airbus. The European discount air carrier currently has orders for 100 Airbus A320neo and 100 Boeing 737 Max aircraft. It is planning to lease at least some, if not all, of the new Airbus airplanes it receives. The company has stated that it does not want to retain 100% ownership of its leasing business, and is considering all of its options, including a public spin off. Norwegian Air Shuttle currently operates the Boeing 787 Dreamliner on its international routes, and is planning on expanding this capacity 40% this calendar year over 2015. Norwegian plans to start flying from Paris to Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, and New York this July.

Norwegian Air is having a giant fare sale to Paris!

Click the link to book: Norwegian Paris fare sale!

Norwegian Air

Tokyo Haneda Airport opens up with U.S./Japan agreement

February 18, 2016 / WIL BALDWIN

Tokyo Haneda Airport has been opened up with a new U.S. and Japan agreement on slots at the close in airport. The agreement is for 12 slots a day connecting the downtown Tokyo Airport with the United States to begin in October of 2016. Five slot pairs will be designated for day operations, along with one pair at night. The agreement follows the distribution of 31 international slot pairs two years ago, in which the U.S. failed to acquire any of the slots. This news comes just one week after American Airlines launched an overnight flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo Haneda Airport. The airline is now planning to change the departure and arrival times this fall to take advantage of new daytime slots being opened up to the U.S. air carriers.

Tokyo Haneda Airport vs. Narita

Haneda Airport is much more desirable for U.S. air carriers, as it puts their higher fare business travelers much closer to downtown Tokyo than at Narita International Airport. Tokyo’s international flights were moved to the new Narita Airport in 1978 to help reduce noise and congestion at Haneda. Narita’s opening was delayed by many years due to civil unrest and protests over the site picked for its construction. The downtown Haneda Airport expanded in 2010, adding a new international terminal and a fourth runway.

tokyo haneda airport

Spirit AeroSystems has hired an executive from GE

February 18, 2016 / WIL BALDWIN

Spirit AeroSystems has hired an executive from GE. The position filled had been vacant for more than 2 years before the company hired Tom Gentile as its new executive vice president and chief operating officer. Gentile comes to Spirit from General Electric, where he worked since 1998 in various leadership roles for the company. He was most recently president and COO of GE Capital’s finance unit. Gentile has also held positions at McKinsey broadcasting company, CBS, and General Motors. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, as well as a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard. He also studied at the London School of Economics. The position he takes over was last held by former COO Mike King, that has since retired from Spirit. Spirit Aerosystems Holdings stock closed Wednesday at $45.42, up $0.13 following the news.

SPR

Israeli antitrust investigators raid El Al offices

February 18, 2016 / WIL BALDWIN

Israeli antitrust investigators raid El Al offices. Israel’s El Al Airlines has stated that Antitrust Authority investigators raided the offices of its charter airline subsidiary called Sun D’Or on February 16th, 2016. Investigators seized documents and questioned several of its senior managers. It is believed that the investigation is related to possible price fixing for certain charter flights. El Al Airline was incorporated as Israel’s national flag carrier on November 15, 1948.

Sun-D'Or

Iron Maiden’s Boeing 747 has arrived at Cardiff Airport

February 18, 2016 / WIL BALDWIN

Iron Maiden’s Boeing 747 has arrived at Cardiff Airport. The legendary British heavy metal band has a new private 747 airplane ready for their up coming world tour. The plane, dubbed “Ed Force One” after the bands mascot, arrived last night in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. The Boeing 747 is being piloted on the tour by the bands lead singer Bruce Dickinson. Dickinson, who has piloted the band on previous world tours flying a 757, was a captain for ten years for Astraeus Airlines. Dickinson first learned to fly in Florida during the 1990’s.

Iron Maiden World Tour 2016

The Iron Maiden 747 jumbo jet will be landing at Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport this Friday. The band kicks off its “The Book of Souls World Tour” on February 24 at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida.

Iron-Maiden-747

Photo from www.ironmaiden.com

Aerolease has signed letter of intent with Mitsubishi for up to 20 MRJ’s

February 17, 2016 / WIL BALDWIN

Aerolease has signed letter of intent with Mitsubishi for up to 20 MRJ’s. Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation and Aerolease Aviation announced the Letter of Intent for ten MRJ90 aircraft, with an option for another ten planes. The companies are planning to conclude the agreement in the near future. The Mitsubishi Regional Jet is just one of several next generation regional airplanes coming into the market. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2018. Mitsubishi has logged a total of 427 orders for the aircraft, include 233 firm orders, 170 options, and 24 purchase rights. Aerolease Aviation is an aircraft leasing company that is based in Miami, Florida.

aerolease-mrj

State Department announces U.S. and Cuba air service agreement

February 17, 2016 / WIL BALDWIN

The State Department has announced that the U.S. and Cuba have signed an air services agreement. The agreement was officially signed on Tuesday, and opens up scheduled flights between the two countries. The agreement does not effect the current charter flights already being flown. Airlines interested in operating the routes must apply by March 2. Several U.S. carriers already have indicated that they will apply to D.O.T. for rights to serve Cuba.

Cuba

Newport Beach subject to NextGen Air Traffic Control

Norwegian Air is having a giant fare sale to Paris!

Tokyo Haneda Airport vs. Narita

Iron Maiden World Tour 2016

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