Will Horton: February 2010 Archives

British Airways is considering expansion of its all-business London City flights to other destinations in the eastern USA, following the opening of New York services last September.

Chief executive Willie Walsh says the airline had received plenty of feedback suggesting other destinations - among them Washington and Boston - and says that BA is looking at their potential. Continue reading...

Here one of BA's A318s undergoes tests with Airbus. BA's A318s undergo a unique steep approach into London City airport.

Sangyong Chong is an A320 instructor with Vietnam Airlines, on contract with Rishworth Aviation. Originally from South Korea, he trained in Florida and later Toulouse before moving to Vietnam with his family in 2006

What got you interested in aviation?

My lifelong wish was to fly. From childhood I loved to see and read about aircraft. When I was young my family bought me lots of toy aircraft and later I started to make model aircraft. I also love fighter jets because of Top Gun - it was so cool. I hoped to join the air force to become a fighter pilot, but my family wanted me to join our family business. While I completed my compulsory military service in the army, I lived on an air force base, met Korean and American pilots and saw many different jets. Despite my parents' wishes, I never forgot about my dream. Continue reading...

The International Space Station crew now have a better view of the station's exterior after the installation of the cupola window and the last major habitable module for the ISS US segment. Continue reading...

Hyperbola Blog: NASA's video of the window's installation

The ISS crew can now enjoy 360° view:

Bahrain is the latest Middle Eastern state to put down a marker in the third-party MRO marketplace. The kingdom's airline Gulf Air has wrestled with its MRO options since Bahrain's split with former fellow-owners, Abu Dhabi, Oman and Qatar. In the glory days of Gulf Air, maintenance was the job of Gulf Aircraft Maintenance (Gamco) in Abu Dhabi. However, shortly after the launch of Etihad as the new Abu Dhabi-based United Arab Emirates national airline, Gamco was renamed Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies and Gulf Air withdrew its business. After a dalliance with SR Technics - now majority owned by Abu Dhabi's investment company Mubadala - Bahrain has turned eastwards and teamed with Singapore's SIA Engineering (SIAEC). Continue reading...

SIAEC maintains Gulf Air aircraft in Bahrain. Here is an SIAEC engineer performing engine work.

On Earth, nuclear power is controversial - but for deep space missions it is a necessity. However, the plutonium driving spacecraft power systems is invaluable not only for its ability to keep electricity flowing where solar cells cannot; Pu-238 is also in short supply.

Nuclear power is critical to the 2018 ESA-NASA ExoMars Martian rovers mission and the UK's Moonlite project. Moonlite is on hold for budgetary reasons, but would use a radioisotope heater unit. More recently two ESA-NASA joint missions, Cassini-Huygens and Ulysses, used nuclear power. More flights are planned, such as the Europa Jupiter System Mission. Continue reading...

This week Flightglobal publication Flight International reviews biofuels. They could be the answer to aviation's carbon concerns, but will governments help with their development?

(For insight to this week's cover decision, read an entry about it on Flight International editor Murdo Morrison's new blog.)

Also featured are:
Middle East MRO: Region's players are extending their radius

Geared Gamble: With its civil engines market share in freefall, why Pratt & Whitney must bet the farm on GTF

It's Deal Time: Private equity money is still scarce but there's life in the aerospace acquisitions market

Elsewhere in the issue:

Our David Learmount argues that last year's big climate change summit was not all hot air and no firm action.

There are news stories on a study into the contribution of pilot handling errors to airliner accidents, on the resurrection of the US presidential helicopter programme, progress on the 787 flight test schedule, and much more.

You can subscribe to Flight International here or here for the digital version.

This week's Image of the Week (featured on page 5 of Flight International), is taken by AirSpace user Allan. His photo depicts a Biman Bangladesh 777 on approach to London Heathrow for the first time, taken earlier this month.

The US Air Force has issued a "presoliciation notice" for the KC-X tanker contract that suggests at least two of the three changes demanded by the Northrop Grumman/EADS North America team will not be incorporated in the final request for proposals (RFP).

The notice released on 8 February on the Federal Business Opportunities web site precedes the publication of the final RFP, which the notice says will not occur before 23 February. Continue reading...

With the rise in lightweight and reliable electric gadgets throughout our homes - and even on our persons - the idea that machines should need heavy pumps and fluids applying great forces to move metal seems Dickensian, as anachronistic as steam engines.

But for aircraft engineers, replacing hydraulic control surface and landing gear actuation systems with electric ones is turning out to be a significant challenge. Continue reading...

BAE Systems is offering its out-of-production regional aircraft as a bridging solution for armies and air forces affected by military transport delivery delays, and is looking to build on a breakthrough deal with a UK Ministry of Defence contractor.

In December, BAE revealed that Titan Airways had leased one of its BAe 146s to fulfil a six-month MoD contract in the Middle East. Continue reading...

Johannesburg had hosted empty A380 flights for compatibility testing. But OR Tambo International Airport's general manager, Chris Hlekane, tells ATI: "Passengers bring a new dynamic."

He says the first scheduled flight is a "more emotional" issue - involving higher stakes for the ground operation - but adds that the disembarkation of passengers and the transfer of baggage has gone quickly and smoothly. Continue reading...

Have you ever wanted to purchase a 747 in a VIP configuration but found it too expensive? Go to the used market instead, where Las Vegas ans Macau gambling monolith Sands is selling its 747 SP in a VIP configuration.

Carriers are on track to complete, within six months, modification of nearly 1,900 Trent engines considered vulnerable to the fuel icing which brought down a British Airways Boeing 777-200ER two years ago.

UK investigators have formally concluded that flight BA038 from Beijing crashed on approach to London Heathrow after a highly-unusual set of circumstances conspired to restrict the fuel flow to both Trent 800 engines. Continue reading...

This week Flightglobal publication Flight International reviews the outlook for the B747-8 now that the aircraft has made its maiden sortie and embarked on a 1700 hour test programme. It may have taken to the skies, but a sluggish cargo market leaves Boeing with a mountain to climb.

Also featured are:
Helicopters Special Report: Industry looks to innovation to make difference

Regional Woes: We have full breakdowns by manufacturer as deliveries dip and orders plummet in 2009

Trent Ice Fix: Rolls-Royce puts faith in modification 1,900 engines after BA 777 crash at Heathrow

You can subscribe to Flight International here or here for the digital version.

This week's Image of the Week (featured on page 3 of Flight International), is taken by AirSpace user VinFlyer. His photo depicts a Swiss Air Force Hunter Tiger during Axlap 2009.

Last Thursday Air Algérie took delivery of the first ATR 72-500 of the 4 ordered in 2009.

A press release says:

Air Algérie, which already operated 8 ATR 72-500s, will increase the size of its fleet to 12 with the delivery, during 2010, of the remaining 3 aircraft on order. Consequently, Air Algérie will become the largest ATR operator on the African continent.

These 4 new aircraft, all configured in the 66 seat version, will enable the national airline Air Algérie to propose an optimized service to its passengers, by offering more frequent flights and by opening new routes, in particular to certain regions in the south of the country and to countries in the Mediterranean basin.

ATR will also provide its assistance to Air Algérie for the installation, commissioning and operation of a new flight simulator, which is part of the plans of the airline to open a training center for its pilots in Algeria.

Below is a photo of the first aircraft and below an illustration.

Raytheon has revealed plans to challenge Boeing and Lockheed Martin for a US Navy contract to modify a torpedo for high-altitude launch by a P-8 Poseidon.

The Raytheon Fish Hawk programme integrates a wingkit, flight-control surfaces and a guidance system to a Mk 54 or Mk 46 torpedo, says Mark "Smoke" Borup, senior business development manager for Raytheon's advanced missiles and unmanned aircraft systems unit. Continue reading...

AirSpace user FlyPHANUK captured this image of Airbus' 6000th aircraft, an Emirates A380. Registration is A6-EDH and was seen at London Heathrow last month.

Edit: Thanks to everyone who pointed out the obvious that this is the 6000th Airbus aircraft, not 3000th.

Embraer is in discussions with more than five countries in Asia Pacific with regards to buying the Embraer Super Tucano, which is both a trainer and light attack aircraft.

"This year we expect to sign something in Asia Pacific" and "we are talking to more than five countries" in the region, says Embraer executive VP defense market Orlando Neto.

He also says that if the company's sales campaign is successful, the customer it signs up will become the second-largest customer for the Super Tucano after Brazil. Continue reading...

The Boeing Airborne Laser Testbed successfully shot down a Scud missile-like target at 2044 PST off the California coast, a landmark achievement in the $6 billion programme's 16-year history.

The ALTB, a 747-400 freighter modified with a 1MW-class chemical laser and a 1.5m telescope mounted on the nose, used onboard sensors to acquire the short-range ballistic target shortly after launch from an offshore, mobile platform, the Missile Defense Agency says in a press release. Continue reading...

Airbus undertook cold-weather testing of its A330-200 Freighter in northern Canada in January, ahead of hot-weather trials in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Pratt & Whitney PW4000-powered flight-test aircraft (MSN1004) was flown to Iqaluit on 23 January and subjected to temperatures down to -30°C (-22°F). Continue reading...

Lockheed Martin has countered a potential cut in US Air Force orders for its F-35A by claiming the in-development fighter could fill an air superiority role as well as the ground-attack mission for which it is officially designed.

The USAF officially lists the F-35's conventional take-off and landing variant as a ground-attack fighter complementing the air superiority mission, replacing only the Lockheed F-16 and the Fairchild A-10.

Our AirSpace community section has lots of photos from the 747-8's first flight, including air-to-air photos like this one:

Sukhoi has conducted the first flight of its prototype PAK FA fifth-generation fighter, with the aircraft having conducted a 47min sortie this morning.

Flown from KnAAPO's Komsomolsk-on-Amur site, the PAK FA was piloted by Sergei Bogdan, and "performed excellently", says Sukhoi.

This week Flightglobal publication Flight International reviews last week's Singapore Air Show. The F-35 and Boeing's attempt to upstage it dominated a show where executives were cautiously upbeat on economic recovery. The cover features Tom Gordon of Billpix's Boeing AH-64 Apache and Lockheed Martin F-16 Falcon of the Singapore air force in a synchronized flypast during the show.

Also featured are:

Blazing a Trail: New weapons in Australia's fight with wildfires

PAK to the Futute: Why Sukhoi is strong export sales demand for Russia's latest stealth fighter

Back to Basics: Now even the US pilots' union says elementary flying skills are being dangerously eroded

You can subscribe to Flight International here or here for the digital version.

Head over to Flightblogger's page for more of his photos of the 747-8's first flight.

This week's Image of the Week (featured on page 5 of Flight International), is taken by AirSpace user Navigator. His photo depicts Jet2 Boeing 737-300 G-CELB Yorkshire logo jet taking off from runway 24R at Palma de Mallorca.

Lufthansa Technik's US completions subsidiary BizJet International has delivered its first Airbus A318 Elite for a private customer.

The handover comes as LHT - designer of the A318 Elite interior - prepares to outfit the last of these types at its Hamburg, Germany site. This follows its decision to transfer all completion work for this VIP airliner to the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based company. Continue reading...

In a boost for Bahrain's efforts to rival Abu Dhabi and Dubai as a business aviation hub for the Middle East, the biggest Airbus corporate jet operator, Comlux, is to set up a business in the kingdom in partnership with MAZ Aviation of Saudi Arabia.

The Swiss-based company will house an A319-based ACJ and an A318 Elite in Bahrain and it will be joined at the end of the year by an A320 Prestige, which is undergoing completion in Comlux's centre in Indianapolis. Continue reading...

Mission Aviation Fellowship has despatched its Quest Kodiak single-engined turboprop and four pilots to join three of MAF's other aircraft in the relief effort in Haiti.

The deployment is the first use of this aircraft in disaster relief work, says MAF, which has four Kodiaks in service and a further 14 on order. Continue reading...

For more Haiti relief flight information, see:

• LAN Cargo commits resources to Haiti
• John Travolta delivers aid in his Boeing 707
  

There have been multiple efforts to educate passengers about flying. ICAO has hosted conferences about the fears of flying and Virgin Atlantic has an iPhone app to explain different phases of a flight.

But I've never seen quite an effort as South African LCC Kulula has carried out. Readers of the Airline Business blog may remember Kulula's quirky telephone system, and that quirkiness isn't lost on these photos of their specially painted (err, decaled) 'Flying 101' 737.

Stickers explain parts of the aircraft, like engine and seats, but also mention "the big cheese" for the captain's seat and explain the lavatory as "loo (or mile-high club initiation chamber)". Click on the photos for a larger view.

(These photos have been making the rounds on e-mail chains, so I suspect these images are from the airline, but if you have copyright info please let me know.)
5 Feb Update: These photos are from Flickr user shanair (Malcolm Nason). At the time I posted them I did not have any copyright info, photographer info, or know the photos originated from Flickr. Apologies and great photos Malcolm!

7 Feb Update: Hat tip to user Zulu Maraba, who pointed out Gerry McCready's Contrails blog on our AirSpace section snapped a photo of the aircraft arriving in Shannon for painting.

Preliminary information about the final few minutes of yesterday's ill-fated Ethiopian Airlines flight out of Beirut indicates that the aircraft was struggling to comply with air traffic control instructions to change heading.

The Boeing 737-800, bound for Addis Ababa as flight ET409, departed towards the south from Beirut's runway 21 in darkness, but initial information suggests that the jet first turned right to head north, over the Mediterranean Sea, and was cleared to climb to a minimum crossing altitude to transit through Syrian airspace to the east. Continue reading....

The Royal Australian Air Force's first Airbus A330-based multirole tanker/transport has for the first time passed fuel to another large aircraft, moving the type closer to its delayed service entry late this year.

One of five RAAF-designated KC-30As on order, the modified airliner transferred almost 30t of fuel from its centreline boom to a French air force Boeing E-3F airborne warning and control system aircraft during two test flights conducted from Airbus Military's Getafe site near Madrid. Continue reading...

This week Flightglobal publication Flight International features honing the Tornado for Afghanistan: how the UK Royal Air Force's 31 sqn battle to win over local hearts and minds as it adapted its strategy in the fight against the Taliban.

Also featured are:

• Bahrain Air Show wrap-up: the news from the inaugural show at the island nation
• Boeing studies re-engined 737, but is in no rush to launch: Boeing is examining a re-engined 737, but says it will not be rushed into a launch decision to counter the Bombardier CSeries or any A320 upgrade from Airbus. "We continue to look at ways to improve the 737 further and re-engining is one option," says Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice-president marketing Randy Tinseth.
• Training: jobs for tomorrow: Professional pilot skills are expensive to gain and, for the foreseeable future, expenditure on pilot training will remain essential to the functioning of commercial air transport. Nobody in the global industry is talking realistically about pilotless airliners in the next 25 years, although the spectre of single-pilot operations is looming.

You can subscribe to Flight International here or here for the digital version.

This week's Image of the Week (featured on page 3 of Flight International), is taken by AirSpace user Flyer1. His photo depicts a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 'Sally' [299P] G-BEDF/124485/DF-A [cn.8693].