The Aviation Blog
In the next 2 weeks I’ll be on holiday. I’m sorry but during that time no new articles will be posted and no new commentators will be approved. I also won’t reply to your e-mails till I’m back.
I hope you’ll miss me and I’m looking forward to seeing you again in 2 weeks! 
Boeing on Monday delivered EgyptAir’s third Next-Generation 737-800. The airplane is the airline’s first 737 to be painted in Star Alliance livery.
On July 11, EgyptAir celebrated its induction as the 21st member of Star Alliance, officially expanding its network to 1624 weekly flights to 69 destinations around the world. The Cairo Airport Authority is scheduled to open a dedicated Star Alliance terminal later this year, capable of serving 11 million passengers annually.
Photo Credit: Boeing
Source: Boeing
Spanair flight JK5022, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 (EC-HFP) bound for Las Palmas (Gran Canaria), crashed today on takeoff from runway 36L at Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD), Spain. It’s reported that the plane caught fire after overshooting the runway due to an engine failure during takeoff. Spanair reports that 164 passengers and 9 crew were on board. According to various media there are about 140 casualties.
Flight JK5022 was a codeshare flight with Lufthansa flight LH2554.
Videos:
Video by BBC
Raw video by Reuters
Video by AP
Eye Witness Report:
News story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/20/spain3
Video: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2008/aug/20/madridplanecrash
The first of 8 Boeing 777-300ER (Extended Range) airplanes ordered by TAM Airlines, Brazil’s largest airline, left Paine Field for Sao Paulo yesterday. TAM is the first Latin American airline to operate the 777-300ER, the world’s largest, long-range, twin-engine jetliner, powered by General Electric’s GE-90 Series engines. The delivery also marks TAM’s first acquisition of a new Boeing airplane.
The airline’s new 777s feature the Boeing Class 3 Electronic Flight Bag (EFB), a hardware and electronic data package used by pilots that replaces traditional flight manuals and provides operational and safety benefits. TAM is the first South American carrier to incorporate a Class 3 EFB, which is fully integrated into a commercial airplane’s avionics. The EFB features an Onboard Performance Tool, using sophisticated calculations to help the airline optimize its payload for airport and weather conditions and applicable regulations and policies.
TAM plans to operate its 777-300ERs on international flights within South America and connecting South America with Europe and North America.
Source: Boeing
Photo Credit: Boeing
I just found this great video showing actor Bill Murray parachuting from a plane with the US Army Golden Knight Parachute Team. The video contains nice in-flight footage!
Boeing recently completed work on the first BBJ 3 (Boeing Business Jet). The BBJ 3 is a new, larger business jet based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737-900ER (Extended Range). The BBJ 3 has 1,120 square feet (104 square meters) of floor space, and provides 35 percent more interior space and 89 percent more luggage space than the BBJ 2. The BBJ 3’s range is between 5,435 nmi (10,066 km) and 4,725 nmi (8,751 km) depending on the number of passengers flown.
The airplane is now at DeCrane Aircraft in Georgetown, Del., where it will receive its long-range auxiliary fuel system and a Head-up Display. The fuel system, new for the model, will undergo a two-month certification process at DeCrane. The airplane’s final stop is at a completion center of the owner’s choosing, where it will receive a custom interior. The un-named customer will receive the completed airplane in 2009.
All BBJs are equipped with Blended Winglets (wing tip extensions), which reduce community noise, lower emissions and increase the airplane’s range.
The BBJ program focuses on features that help owners fly safely, efficiently, reliably and comfortably. Boeing currently is delivering BBJs with lower cabin altitude and Future Air Navigation System technology. Lower cabin altitude allows the cabin pressurization control system to regulate the cabin environment to equal a maximum cabin altitude of 6,500 feet so that passengers travel in greater comfort. Future Air Navigation System (FANS) streamlines communication between flight crews and air traffic controllers. FANS adds another layer of safety and efficiency to the global air transportation system, and allows BBJ owners to take more direct routes, shortening flight times and saving fuel.
See http://www.boeing.com/commercial/bbj/ for more information.
Source: Boeing
Photo Credit: Boeing
Boeing and American Airlines today announced an order for additional 26 Next-Generation 737-800s, airplanes that will help the carrier accelerate its fleet renewal plan.
Twenty of the 26 new orders are exercised options. The other six are incremental to American Airlines’ 2009-2010 fleet plan announced earlier this year.
“American Airlines continues to execute its fleet renewal plan to control costs while prudently reinvesting in the travel experience for customers,” said Tom Horton, AMR’s executive vice president of Finance and Planning and chief financial officer. “Replacing MD-80s with 737s at current fuel prices provides financial benefits while enhancing the customer experience.”
With today’s announcement, American has ordered a total of 36 Boeing 737-800s in 2008.
Source: Boeing
Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of American Airlines
Last week the Bolivian Airline AeroSur received its first Boeing 747-300. The pilots performed a spectacular low-pass before landing at Santa Cruz airport.
The plane, painted with a purple bull, is called ‘Torisimo’, a mix of the Spanish words ‘toro’ (bull) and ‘turismo’. AeroSur will put on the 747-300 on flights to Madrid.
Thx to “prop-er” for submitting this news!
View photo at:
http://www.skyliner-aviation.de/photos/01CP-2525.jpg
Videos:
Hong Kong International Airport has been named the World’s Best Airport for 2008, in the worldwide passenger survey results released by Skytrax. Representing a notable achievement, this is the 7th time in ten years that the accolade has been won by Hong Kong International Airport.
Singapore Changi Airport remains firmly positioned itself at the top end of the rankings, in 2nd position worldwide, ahead of Seoul Incheon International Airport in 3rd place. Asian airport dominance of the high survey rankings is topped off by Kuala Lumpur International Airport, which moves up into 4th place in the 2008 results.
I’m glad to see my favorite airport winning this title again . Hong Kong really deserves it, it’s just amazing.
Results
1 Hong Kong
2 Singapore Changi
3 Seoul Incheon
4 Kuala Lumpur KLIA
5 Munich
6 Kansai
7 Copenhagen
8 Zurich
9 Helsinki
10 Cape Town
For all details visit http://www.worldairportawards.com
For the 3rd time in 10 years, Singapore Airlines has been named World’s Best Airline, winning the 2008 Airline of the Year title in the latest Skytrax World Airline Awards.
The Top 10 airlines in the 2008 World Airline Awards:
1 Singapore Airlines
2 Cathay Pacific
3 Qantas
4 Thai Airways
5 Asiana Airlines
6 Malaysia Airlines
7 Qatar Airways
8 Air New Zealand
9 Emirates
10 Etihad Airways
Best Airlines by World Regions
Asia - Singapore Airlines
Australasia - Qantas
Africa - South African Airways
Europe - Lufthansa
Middle East - Qatar Airways
North America - Continental Airlines
South America - LAN
In addition following airlines have been awarded as well:
BEST LOW-COST AIRLINE - easyJet
BEST CABIN STAFF - Asiana Airlines
BEST INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT - Emirates
BEST FIRST CLASS LOUNGE - Qantas
BEST BUSINESS CLASS LOUNGE - Virgin Atlantic
BEST ECONOMY CLASS - Asiana Airlines
BEST FIRST CLASS - Cathay Pacific
BEST BUSINESS CLASS - Singapore Airlines
For more details visit: http://www.worldairlineawards.com
Date & Time: 08/09/2008 01:18
Location: Tampa, FL
Aircraft Type: Boeing 737 Registration: Unknown
Operator: Southwest Airlines Flight: SWA2305
Phase: Take-off
Damage: Substantial
Injuries & Fatalities: None
Description: Southwest Airlines flight 2305, aborted takeoff when it struck a large bird and reported damage to the engine fan blades, taxied back to the gate and taken out of service
Source: FAA
Correctness of this posting is not guaranteed & completeness not intended. This posting is just for informational purpose.
Date & Time: 08/07/2008 21:32
Location: Dallas Fort Worth, TX
Aircraft Type: McDonnell Douglas MD-82 (DC-9-82) Registration: N557AN
Operator: American Airlines
Phase: Take-off
Damage: Minor
Injuries & Fatalities: None
Description: On take-off the left main tire blew, ripping a 12 inch by 4 inch hole in the bottom of the left wing
Source: FAA
Correctness of this posting is not guaranteed & completeness not intended. This posting is just for informational purpose.
Boeing and British Airways have signed an order for 2 Boeing 777-300ER jetliners valued at $529 million at list prices.
Boeing also announced that GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) has purchased two 777-300ERs, airplanes that were previously listed as an unidentified order on the Boeing Web site. The airplanes are two of four 777s that BA has agreed to lease from GECAS including two 777s ordered in 2007 as part of its recent commitment to the 777-300ER.
British Airways also secured options for four additional 777-300ERs directly with Boeing.
The two airplanes GECAS ordered are valued at $529 million at catalog prices and raise to 25 the number of 777s (Freighters and 777-300ERs) that GECAS has purchased since November 2006. The 25 airplanes have been placed on long-term lease with six different carriers, including British Airways.
Source: Boeing
Photo Credit: Boeing
Boeing and Azerbaijan Airlines have finalized an order for two Boeing Next-Generation 737-900ERs and two 767-300ERs. The order is valued at $449 million at list prices. One of the 767s is a substitution for a previously ordered 787, as reflected today on Boeing’s Orders and Deliveries Web site.
Including today’s announcement, Azerbaijan Airlines has a total of 8 Boeing airplanes on order: 4 737-900ERs, 2 787-8s and 2 767-300ERs.
Azerbaijan Airlines, based in Baku, is the national airline of Azerbaijan.
“We are eager to build our Boeing fleet with these additional 737s and 767s to meet continued demand for air travel in our region,” said Jahangir Askerov, president of Azerbaijan Airlines. “Today’s order is yet another step forward in our strong relationship with Boeing. We look forward to operating the 787 and benefiting from its advanced performance features, however the 767-300ER is the economical and logical choice to fulfill our interim capacity targets.”
Source: Boeing
On Tuesday American Airlines Flight 31, a Boeing 757-200 (N192AN) from Los Angeles to Honolulu was diverted back to LAX and did an emergency landing after about an hour in flight because of an odor and possible haze in the cabin. The passengers were evacuated on the runway using the emergency slides.
Video by KNBC
Raw Video of the Emergency Landing by AP
Flightaware log: http://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL31/history/20080805/1600Z/KLAX/KLAX
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