A330 certified for ETOPS “beyond 180 minutes”

Airbus S.A.S. LogoThe European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has approved all Airbus A330 models for ETOPS (Extended-Range Operations for two-engined aircraft) “beyond 180 minutes.” This award makes the A330 the first aircraft type to receive such approval, either from EASA or the FAA. The new capability will be available as a customer-selectable option which extends the diversion distance potentially up to 1,700 nm. This distance corresponds to a maximum ETOPS diversion time for the A330 of approximately 240 minutes (at one-engine-inoperative speed under standard conditions).

Operators with two-engined aircraft who choose this option will now be able to serve new routes which are presently not flown within the existing ETOPS rules (i.e. up to 180 minutes diversion time). For the A330, examples include new routes over South Atlantic Ocean, Mid- and South Pacific Ocean, and Mid-Indian Ocean. Operators flying on existing routes will benefit from the new regulation, since it will allow them to fly more directly and eco-efficiently. Some estimates show a fuel saving potential of up to 10 percent for some long range routes (with consequent reductions in CO2 emissions).

The granting of this latest ETOPS extension, to around 1,700nm and 240 minutes, has been made possible in part due to the proven reliability and robust systems of the aircraft and its engines, as demonstrated over 14 million A330 flight hours and 3.5 million flights.

ETOPS, is an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) rule permitting two-engined commercial aircraft operators to fly routes that are up to a specified flying time from the nearest airport. Since 1995 all Airbus A330 models have been approved by EASA and FAA for ETOPS up to 180 minutes, and with this they have since accumulated more than five million ETOPS flight hours in more than 800,000 ETOPS flights.

Source: Airbus

First Boeing 747-8 Freighter Rolls Out of Factory

On Thursday afternoon, November 12, the first Boeing 747-8 Freighter has left the factory in Everett. The airplane, destined for Cargolux, will be painted and begin preparations for flight test.

First Boeing 747-8 Freighter Roll Out of Factory
Photo: Boeing
Boeing 747-8 Freighter Roll Out of Factory
Photo: Bernardo Malfitano – More photos at fencecheck.com

The 747-8 Freighter is the new high-capacity 747 that will give cargo operators the lowest operating costs and best economics of any freighter airplane while providing enhanced environmental performance. It is 250 feet, 2 inches (76.3 m) long, which is 18 feet and 4 inches (5.6 m) longer than the 747-400 Freighter. The stretch provides customers with 16 percent more revenue cargo volume compared to its predecessor. That translates to four additional main-deck pallets and three additional lower-hold pallets.

Boeing has secured 105 orders for the 747-8 from Cargolux, Nippon Cargo Airlines, AirBridgeCargo Airlines, Atlas Air, Cathay Pacific, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Emirates SkyCargo, Guggenheim and Korean Air.

Source: Boeing

Boeing 787 – Modifications Completed

Boeing today announced that they have completed installing reinforcements within the side-of-body section on the first 787 Dreamliner.

The modification entails installing new fittings at 34 stringer locations within the joint where the wing is attached to the fuselage. Installations were completed yesterday.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner modification on side-of-body section

Boeing 787 Dreamliner new fittings on side-of-body section

Boeing expects to complete the installations on the static test airframe and the second flight-test airplane in the coming days.

After airplane No. 1 is restored, the flight-test team will perform another set of gauntlet and taxi tests to ensure that all systems are ready for flight. Fancher noted that with the exception of a single high-speed taxi test, all remaining first flight activities have been successfully completed on the first flight-test airplane.

First flight of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is still scheduled for the end of this year.

Source: Boeing
Photo: Boeing

Kingfisher ATR-72 skidded of runway

Yesterday a Kingfischer Airlines ATR-72-212A (VT-KAC) skidded off the runway on landing at Mumbai-Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM), India. Flight IT4124 was bound from Bhavnagar to Mumbai. Nobody of the 46 people on board was injured. The plane was substantialy damaged. The accident was caused by low visibility.

Video

THX to “Prop-er”!

Guggenheim Receives First 777 for Lease to Korean Air

Boeing today announced that the plane maker recently delivered one of the first 777 to Guggenheim Aviation Partners. The Boeing 777-300ER will be operated under lease by Guggenheim customer Korean Air.

The 777-300ER is Guggenheim’s first leasing arrangement with Korean, as well as the first new Boeing passenger airplane delivery to Guggenheim. The delivery is the 25th 777 for Korean.

Guggenheim Aviation Partners - Korean Air Boeing 777-300ER

Guggenheim is scheduled to take delivery of additional five 777s.

Guggenheim Aviation Partners is a leading participant in commercial aircraft leasing with offices in Seattle, London and Singapore.

Source: Boeing
Photo: Boeing

Video – Beechcraft Bonanza Close Call with Terrain

I just found this video on YouTube.
According to the YouTube user, a Beechcraft Bonanza took of June 10th, 2009 to videotape a friend flying an Aero L-39 Albatros. Due to bad weather with low visibility, the Bonanza came very close to terrain. How close it really was, you can see on the damage of the plane in the end of the video.

Video – First Air France A380 Arrives at Paris

Yesterday the first Airbus A380 was handed over to Air France. The French carrier is the first European airline to fly the “whale jet” on scheduled services. The aircraft – MSN0033 / F-HPJA – is the twentieth A380 delivered by Airbus. 10 A380s are already flying with Singapore, five with Emirates and four with Qantas.

Video of the arrival at Paris CDG

First A380 Delivery to Air France

Tomorrow Friday 30 October 2009, the first Airbus A380 will be delivered to Air France (MSN0033 / F-HPJA). Air France will be the first European airline receiving an A380. The ceremony will be held at Airbus’ delivery centre Hamburg (Germany).

First Air France Airbus A380

The delivery ceremony will be streamed live on http://www.a380delivery.com/airfrance
Live video streaming is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. French time (10:00 a.m. GMT).

Photo: Air France

Photo – First A330-200 Freighter

The first Airbus A330-200 Freighter is seen here in preparation for ground tests in advance of its maiden flight scheduled for November 2009.
The most notable visual difference to the passenger version is a bulge on the bottom of the fuselage right above the nose gear. To overcome the cool looking standard A330’s nose-down body angle on the ground, unfortunately the A330F makes use of a revised nose landing gear layout. 🙁 The same leg will be used, however it will be attached lower in the fuselage, requiring a distinctive blister fairing on the nose to accommodate the retracted nose-gear.

Airbus A330-200F

Airbus A330F Nose Gear Blister Fairing

The A330-200F received its industrial go-ahead in January 2007. The first A330-200F has been rolled out in Toulouse on October 20, 2009.

The A330-200F is a mid-size, long-haul all-cargo aircraft capable of carrying 64 tonnes over 4,000 NM / 7,400 km, or 69 tonnes up to 3,200 NM / 5,930 km. It introduces a new versatile main-deck cargo loading system that will be able to accommodate both pallets and containers. Several different arrangements will be possible on the main deck, taking up to 23 Side-by-Side (SBS) pallets, aimed at the high volume, high value commodities or Single Row (SR) loading of 16 pallets (96 in X 96 in X 125 in SR pallets) and/or nine AMA containers aimed at the general cargo higher density markets.

Power is provided by two Pratt & Whitney PW4000 or Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines.

As of 1 January 2009, Airbus had 65 firm orders from nine customers: Aircastle (7), BOC Aviation (5), Etihad Airways (3), Flyington Freighters (12), Guggenheim Aviation Partners (2), Intrepid Aviation Group (20), MatlinPatterson (6), MNG Airlines (2), and OH, Avion LLC (8). Additionally ACT Airlines has signed an MOU for 2. The first delivery will be to Flyington Freighters in Spring 2010.

Photo: Airbus