Month: July 2008

Airbus Farnborough Orders – Day 1

Etihad Airways firms 20 A320s, 25 A350 XWBs and 10 Airbus A380s

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has signed a firm contract for the purchase of 20 A320s, 25 A350 XWBs and 10 Airbus A380 aircraft. The agreement was signed by James Hogan, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways and Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO during a ceremony at the 46th Farnborough International Air Show.

Etihad Airways Airbus A320

Today, Etihad Airways’ fleet of Airbus aircraft comprises 30 passenger aircraft with an additional 17 to be delivered from existing orders. Etihad Airways also has two Airbus Freighter aircraft. In taking the latest order for 55 aircraft into account, Etihad Airways’ total Airbus fleet will grow to 104 aircraft.

Saudi Arabian Airlines orders 8 Airbus A330s

Saudi Arabian Airlines, Saudi Arabia’s national airline, has signed a firm contract with Airbus for 8 A330-300 wide body aircraft, as part of its fleet modernisation plan.

The contract follows one for 22 Airbus A320s signed at the end of 2007, marking the first agreement between Saudi Arabian Airlines and Airbus for commercial aircraft in 26 years.

Source: Airbus
Photo Credit: Airbus

Boeing Farnborough Orders – Day 1

FlyDubai orders 50 Next-Generation 737-800s

Boeing and Dubai’s recently launched low-cost airline FlyDubai today announced an order for 50 Next-Generation 737-800s at the Farnborough Air Show. Valued at approximately $3.74 billion at current list prices, the order will be added to Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries Web site at the next regularly scheduled update. FlyDubai has substitution rights to convert its 737-800 orders to 737-900ERs (extended range) in the future.

FlyDubai Boeing Next-Generation 737-800

The Dubai government initially formed FlyDubai in March. Since then, the airline has been building a business model based on flexible flight operations with a high degree of interactivity with its customers, giving them greater control in booking flights and tailoring their in-flight services. The low-cost airline’s operations will be entirely separate from Emirates Airline and Group.
Boeing Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer CEO Jim McNerney hosted a ceremonial signing and press conference held at the air show.

Etihad Airways orders 35 787-9 Dreamliners and 10 777-300ERs

Boeing and Etihad Airways today announced an order for 35 787-9 Dreamliners and 10 777-300ERs (Extended Range) at the Farnborough Airshow. Valued at $9.4 billion at current list prices, the order has been attributed on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries Web site to an unidentified customer.

Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Since beginning commercial operations in November 2003, Etihad Airways has grown rapidly to offer service to 45 destinations. The Abu Dhabi-based airline carried 2.8 million passengers during the first six months of 2008, compared to nearly 2 million for the same period in 2007.

Source: Boeing
Photo Credit: Boeing

USA Jet Airlines Crash – Video Footage Released

Video footage from a security camera near the runway of the Ramos Arizpe airport (Coahuila, Mexico) was released recently.
The video is showing the crash of USA Jet Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15(F) N199US from last week (see Safety Report – 07/07/2008).
The plane is seen rolling before it explodes out of view of the camera. Just after it started rolling, flames come out of one of its engines (at 00:15).

Raw Security Camera Video:

First Flight of AH-64D Apache Block III

The Boeing Company, U.S. Army leaders, supplier representatives and other guests celebrated the first flight of the AH-64D Apache Block III helicopter this week in Mesa, Ariz. Just prior to a ceremony attended by more than 300 people at the company’s Apache production facility, the aircraft was flown by two Apache-rated aviators – U.S. Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard Cody and an Army experimental test pilot, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Rucie Moore.

AH-64D Apache Block III

Experimental test pilots – one U.S. Army soldier and one Boeing teammate – initially flew this Block III prototype aircraft over the Arizona desert on June 27 in preparation for this week’s ceremony.

Block III improvements include increasing digitization, the joint tactical radio system, enhanced engines and drive systems, capability to control UAVs, new composite rotor blade and landing gear upgrades. The new blades, which successfully completed flight testing in May 2004, increase the Apache’s cruise speed, climb rate and payload capability.

The Army awarded Boeing the first Apache Block III contract in June 2005. In accordance with contractual milestones, Boeing plans to begin Low Rate Initial Production in April 2010 and to deliver the first production AH-64D Apache Block III in June 2011.

Photo Credit: Boeing Image

Airbus – Upcoming Major Events

Airbus S.A.S. LogoUpcoming major events for Airbus:

Farnborough Airshow 14 – 20 July 2008
Airbus takes its flagship, the A380 to the U.K. for the 2008 edition of the Farnborough Air Show.
Anyone interested can use the special Airbus desktop widget to get latest news, announcements, photos and videos from the UK.
Download at http://www.airbus.com/en/myairbus/events/farnborough2008/index.html
More information about the Farnborough Airshow – celebrating its 60th anniversary – at farnborough.com

28 July 2008 – First A380 delivery to Emirates
On the heels of the Farnborough air show, Emirates will take delivery of its first A380 aircraft. The event will take place in Hamburg and can be followed in real time at http://www.a380delivery.com/

First A380 delivery to Qantas
Qantas will receive its first A380 toward the end of the summer.
This event will be featured live at airbus.com and a380delivery.com with many videos and photographs, allowing a close look at the new cabin.

Boeing to Build Heavy-Lift Rotorcraft

The Boeing Company and SkyHook International Inc. today announced a teaming agreement to develop the JHL-40 (Jess Heavy Lifter), a new commercial heavy-lift rotorcraft designed to address the limitations and expense of transporting equipment and materials in remote regions. Boeing has received the first increment of a multiyear contract from SkyHook to develop the new aircraft.

Boeing SkyHook JHL-40 - Heavy-Lift Rotorcraft

“SkyHook secured the patent for this neutrally buoyant aircraft and approached Boeing with the opportunity to develop and build the system,” said Pat Donnelly, director of Advanced Rotorcraft Systems for Boeing. “We conducted a feasibility study and decided this opportunity is a perfect fit for Advanced Systems’ technical capabilities.”
The neutrally buoyant feature allows SkyHook to safely carry payloads unmatched by any rotorcraft in existence today. The helium-filled envelope is sized to support the weight of the vehicle and fuel without payload. With the empty weight of the aircraft supported by the envelope, the lift generated by four rotors is dedicated solely to lifting the payload, leaving the aircraft neutrally buoyant.

Boeing SkyHook JHL-40 - Heavy-Lift Rotorcraft

The SkyHook JHL-40 aircraft will be capable of lifting a 40-ton sling load and transporting it up to 200 miles without refueling in harsh environments such as the Canadian Arctic and Alaska. Currently, conventional land and water transportation methods in these undeveloped regions are inadequate, unreliable and costly. With its lifting capacity and range, the SkyHook JHL-40 aircraft changes that for a variety of industries around the world.
“There is a definite need for this technology. The list of customers waiting for SkyHook’s services is extensive, and they enthusiastically support the development of the JHL-40,” said Pete Jess, SkyHook president and chief operating officer. “Companies have suggested this new technology will enable them to modify their current operational strategy and begin working much sooner on projects that were thought to be 15 to 20 years away. This Boeing-SkyHook technology represents an environmentally acceptable solution for these companies’ heavy-lift short-haul challenges, and it’s the only way many projects will be able to progress economically.”
The JHL-40 is environmentally acceptable because it mitigates the impact of building new roadways in remote areas, and Skyhook is expected to reduce the carbon footprint of the industrial projects it supports.
Boeing is designing and will fabricate two production prototypes of the JHL-40 at its Rotorcraft Systems facility in Ridley Park, Pa. Skyhook will own, maintain, operate and service all JHL-40 aircraft for customers worldwide. The new aircraft will enter commercial service as soon as it is certified by Transport Canada and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

Source: Boeing
Photo Credit: Boeing image by Joe Naujokas

Centurion (Kalitta Air) Boeing 747 Crashed Near Bogota

Sad news again for Kalitta Air 🙁
Today a Boeing 747-209B(SF) (N714CK) operated by Centurion Air Cargo, leased from Kalitta Air, crashed on a farm near Bogota (Colombia).
Soon after departure from Bogota, the aircraft lost height, crashed on farmland, broke up and caught fire. At least 2 people have been killed on the ground. All eight crew members surprisingly have survived. Most of the wreckage is spread over wide area while the cockpit section remained intact, allowing the crew to survive inside. The aircraft bound to Miami (MIA) was loaded with flowers. According to local news, the pilot reported engine fire.

Centurion (Kalitta Air) Boeing 747
Credit: Associated Press (AP Photo/William Fernando Martinez)

Photos
http://www.elespectador.com/galeria-asi-quedo-el-avion-cayo-mosquera

Video
http://www.eltiempo.com/multimedia/video/home/multimedia.php?id_recurso=4365032
http://cbs4.com/local/jet.crash.centurion.2.765094.html

Safety Report – 07/07/2008


Date & Time: 07/06/2008 02:15
Location: Saltillo, Mexico
Aircraft Type: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15(F) Registration: N199US
Operator: USA Jet Airlines
Phase: Approach
Damage: Destroyed
Injuries & Fatalities: 1 crew member fatally injured & 1 crew member with serious injuries
Description: Crashed on approach – The plane took off from Shreveport (SHV), bound for Saltillo (SLW), Mexico. The DC-9 was on aproach to runway 17 when it crashed in an industrial area north of the airport. The airplane broke up and burned.
Watch video footage at: http://blog.flightstory.net/857/usa-jet-airlines-crash-video-footage-released/


Date & Time: 07/05/2008 18:19
Location: Chicago (Midway), IL
Aircraft Type: Boeing 737-3H4 Registration: N624SW
Operator: Southwest Airlines Flight: 1838
Phase: Landing
Damage: Minor
Injuries & Fatalities: None
Description: On landing blew a tire causing minor damage

Date & Time: 07/06/2008 17:07
Location: Tampa, FL
Aircraft Type: Boeing 757 Registration: Unknown
Operator: Northwest Airlines Flight: 478
Phase: Cruise
Damage: Unknown
Injuries & Fatalities: None
Description: Flight 478 reported nose cone dented

See: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/07/06/nose.cone/index.html

Source: FAA
Correctness of this posting is not guaranteed & completeness not intended. This posting is just for informational purpose.