May 2008 Archives

Well it looks as if I was right to say that British Airways pilots wouldn't strike over OpenSkies, but I was wrong about the reason. In fact it seems we will never know whether the envisaged strike would have taken place or not.

This afternoon it's reported that BALPA has withdrawn its court action. No word from the union yet on exactly why, but its lawyer apparently told the court that it had become clear that the case would have been subject to escalating appeals and judgements. In the meantime BA would have once again sought an injunction preventing strike action, or obtained damages if a strike went ahead. So the union would be in the same position as now, or much worse if the airline ultimately won in the courts.

I think there's still an IFALPA employment ban in place covering OpenSkies, but I'm not sure it's relevant now. Presumably the airline will duly launch on 19 June. The state of BA's industrial relations is an open question however.

Although it's a side-issue, there was actually quite an important point of European labour law at stake in all this. It's still not settled and so it's a great day for m'learned friends.

British Airways' OpenSkies subsidiary is taking bookings for flights starting 19 June. So it's not just a blog anymore, it's more or less an airline.

Sukhoi flew the Superjet 100 yesterday. Sales still slow, but at least it's in the air. China and Japan not so far behind however. Despite the best efforts of Alenia and Snecma this programme is not progressing to market as quickly as it needs to. Looks nice though. Text of the press release below.

Fans of aviation's hottest soap opera - Sully and Lisa - will recall we left our hero finely balanced between the prospect of outrageous success and miserable failure. In part two Sully plays the pilot's trump card - an actual aeroplane (something like this but probably not as nice) - but Lisa lives round aeroplanes, will she be impressed?

I wondered aloud after part one if Lisa would prove a pushover. Unfortunately a pushover proves to be at the heart of Sully's difficulties. But then there's a plot twist...

 

Always a delight to get a ride in a genuine vintage aeroplane. The smell richly redolent of aviation from an earlier era, the upholstery shabby in a faintly distinguished sort of way, and the seating quaintly intimate. Yes, we're in a British Airways Boeing 737 Classic of course, enjoying an experience now largely denied to most Europeans....

The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has issued its third update on the British Airways Boeing 777 accident at Heathrow on 17 January - and it's making it pretty clear that it's going to be a long, detailed investigation. No surprise to be honest.

This time I can't decide - anyone shed any light???

Forget about tedious stuff like the incoming aircraft being delayed (about six sectors earlier), wrong kind of clouds (black), too many bits fell off during last sector (any.) At London Luton Airport there is irritation with one carrier whose pilots have been holding things up while they swap uniforms - with each other I mean.

How might this happen. Well, imagine you were an East European who'd got a frankly modestly rewarded job with a West European carrier who charged you for your type-rating, meals, mobile phone electricity, and, errr, uniform. You can spend weekends on the cheaper fringes of the Eurozone, but you need to watch the pennies during the week. Suffice it to say you'd look for innovative solutions and, let's face it, you can't share a type-rating.

From an impeccable source.

So, I hear you say, wouldn't it be neat if there was one place with all the world's safety wisdom gathered on it, and where sensible people like you could go and add your bit, and there was all sorts of stuff explaining operational concepts that you one day meant to go and understand properly.

Indeed it might: so welcome to Skybrary, brought to you by Eurocontrol with considerable support from Flight Safety Foundation and ICAO. ("Skybrary" - damn I wish I'd thought of that - but Dr Christine Shea did instead.)

Silverjet has now got its hands on the initial investment it said last week it had secured. This is £8.4 million from a company that turns out to be Viceroy Holdings LLC, which is affiliated with Viceroy Fund. Viceroy's website might best be described as discreet.

I don't think anyone saw that one coming. My colleague Lori Ranson on Air Transport Intelligence had a very interesting story yesterday that British Airways' OpenSkies unit is asking for authority to codeshare on Paris-New York with Elysair - which is the parent company of French all-premium carrier L'Avion. L'Avion flies daily New York Newark-Paris Orly with Boeing 757s, which is where the plot thickens.

Not something you see every day of the week...

Pic: Ricko

Story and another pic follows...

Pictures here as it left Heathrow after painting. Launch on Paris-New York is still scheduled for next month, before which there is a date in court with BALPA.