Flightstory.net – Aviation Blog – Page 4

Safety Report – 10/01/2010

Date: 10/27/2010 01:29
Location: Miami, FL
Aircraft Type: Boeing 757 Registration: Unknown
Operator: American Airlines Flight: AAL1640
Phase: Climb
Level of Damage: Unknown
Injuries & Fatalities: None
Description: American Airlines flight 1640, on climbout had a decompression and declared emergency – returned and landed without incident

Date: 10/29/2010 14:02
Location: Dallas, TX
Aircraft Type: McDonnell Douglas MD-82 (DC-9-82) Registration: N478AA
Operator: American Airlines Flight: AAL1378
Phase: Climb
Level of Damage: Substantial
Injuries & Fatalities: None
Description: American Airlines flight 1378, on climbout struck birds – returned and landed without incident at Dallas

Source: FAA

Photos – Korean Air A380 in Final Production

Airbus A380 production moves ahead with the next new operator of the A380 – Korean Air.
Four A380s for Korean Air are now in production. The first aircraft is currently being prepared for its maiden flight, with the second and third aircraft now positioned next to each other in the main assembly hall. Meanwhile the joining of the wings and main fuselage sections of the fourth aircraft has just been completed.
First delivery is scheduled for May 2011 with the next three following in June, July and August. From 2012-2014, additional aircraft will be introduced, bringing the total to ten.

First Korean Air (KAL) Airbus A380
Korean Air (KAL) Airbus A380 on Production Line

Korean Air will be the first Asian airline to use the aircraft on transpacific routes between the US and Asia. The double-decker airplane will be outfitted with between 400 and 450 seats, making it the most spacious A380 anywhere.

“The reduced seating layout will expand cabin space and provide customers with a truly luxurious air travel experience,” says Korean Air’s Americas Marketing Director, John Jackson. “We are designing the cabin to promote relaxing air travel, and will incorporate some unique features to be revealed later.”

Korean Air will be the 6th carrier to introduce the A380 into its fleet.

Source: Airbus, Korean Air
Photos: Airbus

Pilot refuses AIT Screening – Fight for your Rights!

Michael Roberts is a pilot for ExpressJet Airlines. On Friday he has been denied access to the secured area of the terminal building at Memphis International Airport as he attempted to pass through the security line. Why? Because he didn’t wish to be scanned by the new, highly controversial AIT scanners. These devices, featured by the media in recent months, enable screeners to see beneath peopleâ€™s clothing to an graphic and intrusive level of detail – an infringement of your civil rights and liberty.

Read his story at:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig11/roberts-m1.1.1.html

Videos – Cebu Pacific Safety Dance

Well you probably have seen the famous Cebu Pacific Safety Dance already at various news channels. Anyway Cebu Pacific plans to roll this out onto more flights and now there’s even a male dance, too.
According to Cebu Pacific the safety demo dance is done at cruising altitude and a serious safety demonstration will be still conducted.

Male Version:

Female Version:

Video – Virgin Atlantic First Ever Global TV Advertisement

Virgin Atlantic Airways launches its first-ever global TV advertisement as it looks to strengthen its recovery from recession and reinforce the airline’s ‘it’ factor. The airline will be airing the $9m TV advertisement for the first time ever, in cities across the U.S., including New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., San Francisco and Boston and in the United Kingdom.

Video: New Virgin Atlantic TV Ad

If you’re on Facebook please head over to the Virgin video posting and *like* the video as Virgin tries to reach 50000 likes! There’s also a HQ version available!

The :30 and :60 second U.S. TV ad follows the award winning success of the airline’s ‘Still Red Hot’ 25th birthday campaign last year which was listed as one of the top ten marketing moments of 2009 by the U.K.’s Campaign magazine.

Audiences in five U.S. cities can tune in to see the global TV spot during Major League Baseball’s ALCS and NLCS playoff games beginning the week of October 11th through the week of November 1st. The :30 and :60 second spots will air over 50 times until the conclusion of the MLB World Series.

The campaign is accompanied by the soundtrack ‘Feeling Good’ by awarding-winning band, Muse. This is one of the rare times Muse, an English alternative rock band, has licensed a soundtrack for use in advertising.

The $25 million global ad campaign, “Your airline’s either got it or it hasn’t” first launched in May with the introduction of the U.S. print ads and online advertising. The seamless new style and feel of the brand is represented across all media platforms on a global scale and the TV campaign is the latest component.

Video: Virgin Atlantic
Source: PRNewswire

United and Continental Merged

United Continental Holdings, Inc. formerly UAL Corporation, announced today that a wholly owned subsidiary has merged with Continental Airlines, Inc., and that Continental Airlines and United Air Lines, Inc. are now wholly owned subsidiaries of United Continental Holdings, Inc.

“We are delighted to announce the successful completion of this merger. With great people, an unparalleled global network, the best new aircraft order book among U.S. network carriers and a commitment to superior products and services, United is well positioned for a bright future,” president and chief executive officer Smisek said. “I look forward to working together with my co-workers around the globe as we begin our journey to create the world’s leading airline that delivers best-in-class customer service, increased opportunities for employees, meaningful profitability and sustainable long-term value for our shareholders.”

Continental and United, operating under United Continental Holdings, Inc., will immediately begin the work to fully integrate the two companies. In the near term, customers can expect to interact with each carrier as they always have. Customers flying on Continental will continue to check in at continental.com, or at Continental kiosks and ticket counters, and to be assisted by Continental employees, and customers flying on United will continue to check in at united.com or at United kiosks or ticket counters, and to be assisted by United employees. Customers will continue to earn and redeem frequent-flier miles through the respective loyalty programs of Continental and United until those programs are combined. The company expects that travelers will begin to see a more unified product in the spring of 2011, as the carriers integrate key customer service and marketing activities to deliver a more seamless product.

The new company’s corporate and operational headquarters will be in Chicago, with a significant presence in Houston, the company’s largest hub.
Together with United Express, Continental Express and Continental Connection, the new United operates a total of approximately 5,800 flights a day to 371 destinations throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia from our hubs in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Guam, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. United and Continental are members of Star Alliance, which offers more than 21,200 daily flights to 181 countries worldwide through its 28 member airlines.

Photo: United Continental
via PRNewswire

747-8F Delayed to Mid-Year 2011

Boeing announced a delay for the 747-8 Freighter with first delivery now expected mid-year 2011.

The company previously indicated that as a result of recent flight-test discoveries/problems, there was a high probability the first 747-8 Freighter delivery would move into 2011. The new delivery schedule follows a thorough assessment of the impact of these discoveries, which include a low-frequency vibration in certain flight conditions and an underperforming aileron actuator. While neither issue requires structural changes to the airplane, they have led to disruptions to certification testing, which the program was unable to offset within the prior schedule.

As a result of this delay, Boeing is going to add a fifth airplane to the flight-test fleet.

Boeing 747-8 Freighter in-flight over western Washington

Photo: Boeing
Source: Boeing

Airbus with new logo

In case you haven’t notice yet, after 41 years Airbus recently changed its logo!
If you ask me, it looks quite immature, way too Web2.0-ish. Nothing to represent an established 40 year old company. The old one was far more confiding. I don’t like it at all.

Airbus unveiled this new branding a few days ago. The new logo retains the original ball-shaped symbol that denotes its expertise as world-leading aircraft manufacturer, while incorporating the modernised typeface adopted by the companyâ€™s EADS corporate parent.

This marks the first updating of Airbusâ€™ logo since the companyâ€™s creation in 1969, and provides a fresh look as it prepares for the future, according to Airbus President and CEO Tom Enders.

â€œWe have retained many of our logoâ€™s original features â€“ such as the iconic ball and the deep blue that characterise Airbus and which have helped build the brand into a global household name, with over 90 per cent awareness among the travelling public and a reputation as a leader in innovation and leading-edge technology,â€ Enders said. â€œBut we also have modernised our identity to reflect tomorrow’s design era and marketing needs.â€

The ball-shaped logo is composed of two sets of three curved lines that join at an imaginary horizon line, which represents the unification of Airbusâ€™ founding companies to create what has become one of the worldâ€™s top providers of commercial jetliners and military airlifters.

Airbusâ€™ new brand identity will be introduced in a phased approach, beginning with brand collateral that includes its Website and advertising.

Source: Airbus

Cathay Pacific orders 30 Airbus A350 XWB

Cathay Pacific, one of the world’s most prestigious airlines, has firmed up a commitment for 30 ÂAirbus A350 XWB aircraft. The purchase agreement was finalised in Hong Kong on 16 September by Tony Tyler, Chief Executive, Cathay Pacific Airways and John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer Customers, Airbus. The aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines.

Cathay Pacific will operate the A350 XWB across its route network, principally on non-stop services to Europe. Featuring an all-new design, the aircraft will represent a step change in operational efficiency, burning significantly less fuel than existing aircraft of a similar size and offering a corresponding reduction in carbon emissions. For passengers, the extra wide cabin will offer the highest standards in in-flight comfort, with a spacious interior design, new, wider windows and the latest state-of-the-art amenities.

Mr Tyler said: â€œI am delighted that we have now finalised this milestone deal for Cathay Pacific. The purchase of these new generation aircraft is an important step in our plan to grow our fleet to ensure that we stay at the forefront of the industry. The A350 fits perfectly into our operation. Its passenger capacity, flight range and operating economics are just right to become the backbone of our mid-sized long haul wide-bodied fleet.”

The A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body) Family is an all-new mid-size long range product line comprising three basic passenger versions (A350-800, A350-900, A350-1000) seating between 270 and 350 passengers in typical three-class layouts. Scheduled for entry-into-service in 2013, the A350 Family has already received a total of 558 firm orders from 34 customers worldwide. One unit costs between $208 million and $270 million.

Source: Airbus
Image: Airbus

Image – Boeing 747-8 Cockpit

The latest issue of Boeing AERO magazine features an interesting article about the improvements of the 747-8 compared to the 747-400.
Besides new engines (GEnx-2B) that share commonality with the ones used on the 787, new wing design and improved aerodynamics, the flight deck has been redesigned as well.

The new flight deck includes a new flight management computer, integrated approach navigation, global-positioning-landing-system autoland, navigation performance scales, and vertical situation display. Liquid-crystal-display screen technology replaces cathode-ray-tube screens throughout the flight deck.

Boeing 747-8 Cockpit

Electronic flight bag (EFB)
The Boeing Class 3 EFB (optional on the 747-8) brings digital information management to the flight deck; substantially reduces the need for paper; and improves communication among flight crews, dispatchers, and air traffic management.

Vertical situation display (VSD)
The VSD gives pilots a clear view of the airplaneâ€™s current and projected flight path. An early warning alerts the crew if the airplaneâ€™s trajectory is in conflict with the terrain or deviating from the desired approach path. Graphical presentation of the vertical situation facilitates early detection of path errors, including missed glide slope intercepts.

Flight management computer (FMC)
The new FMC can store all data currently available from the worldwide navigation database and is designed to accommodate the anticipated increase in data in the next 20 years.

Electronic checklist
Comprehensive electronic checklists enhance safety, save time, and reduce the amount of paper that pilots and flight crews must carry on board. Electronic checklists are easy to update, revise, and distribute. Airlines can customize the checklists to conform to their own procedures.

Airport moving map (AMM)
The AMM combines high-fidelity airport taxi charts and an electronic map of airport taxiways, runways, and gates, providing precise navigational signals that show flight crews the airplaneâ€™s position on the ground.