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Por força de ordem judicial, a ANAC está suspendendo a autorização para descontos nas tarifas nos vôos internacionais a partir de 1º de janeiro. Veja o comunicado que a Superintendência de Serviços Aéreos da ANAC encaminhou em 31 de dezembro para as companhias aéreas que realizam vôos regulares internacionais a partir do Brasil. "Em virtude da Decisão do Excelentíssimo Senhor Jirair Aram Megueriam, Desembargador Federal e Presidente do Tribunal Regional Federal da Primeira Região, informo que estão suspensos os efeitos da Resolução nº 61/2008 desta Agência. Portanto, as empresas ficam impedidas de praticar os descontos previstos, na referida Resolução, para o dia 01 de janeiro de 2009." |
ANAC
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By John CroftMisrouted and reversed antiskid wiring by US-based Timco Aviation Services technicians led to the runway excursion of a United Air Lines A320 after landing at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport the night of 9 October 2007, according to a final report issued by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).Timco performs heavy maintenance on United's A320s at its Lake City, Florida facility.The incident, which damaged engine nacelles on the aircraft but did not injure any of the 125 passengers and crew onboard, appears closely related to a 25 February event in which another United A320 departed the right side of the runway after landing at the Jackson Hole Airport in Wyoming.In both cases, wheel speed tachometers for the inboard and outboard wheels on the left main landing gear brake system had been cross-connected, causing both aircraft to exit the right side of the runway on landing."Such a configuration would be likely to cause the antiskid system to use the inboard wheel speed to control the outboard braking, and vice versa," the NTSB writes in its preliminary report of the Jackson Hole incident, which remains under investigation. "In such a situation, it would be likely that when the inboard tire began to skid, the antiskid system would release the pressure on the outboard brake instead of the inboard brake."The NTSB's final report on the Chicago incident lists as a contributing factor that the Timco technicians did "not understand the entire maintenance procedures in the dual tachometer replacement". Maintenance on the landing gear system was prompted by a May 2007 FAA airworthiness directive (AD) on A320 shock absorbers.Timco, in its own investigation, found that the tachometers had been mislabeled when removed and that technicians thought a certain post-maintenance test would have revealed the cross-wiring when in fact the test was not designed to do so.The report also blames United's "unclear" maintenance practices as a contributing factor. Upon clarifying the maintenance documents following the incident, the carrier sent a letter to the FAA in December 2007 saying that it had performed functional checks on the tachometers of 45 Airbus A320s and had found only two instances of cross-wiring - the incident aircraft and one other.Air Transport Intelligence
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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Presstur 31-12-2008 (05h13)
A alegada greve de zelo dos pilotos da Iberia provocou ontem 15 cancelamentos e atrasos em mais de metade das ligações com origem ou destino em Madrid, segundo a imprensa espanhola.
As notícias indicam que os voos cancelados eram domésticos, à excepção de duas ligações com Genebra.
Desde o início de Dezembro a Iberia já cancelou mais de 400 voos e teve atrasos em cerca de cinco mil.
Ontem o jornal “El País” estimava em mais de 700 mil o número de passageiros afectados.
A companhia espanhola diz que a situação é provocada por uma greve de zelo dos pilotos e que a acção está relacionada com o impasse nas negociações da contratação colectiva.
O sindicato dos pilotos (SEPLA) contrapõe que os pilotos apenas estão a cumprir as regras quanto a tempos de voo e de repouso e que o problema é provocado por a companhia ter um quadro de efectivos inferior ao que deveria ter para a dimensão da operação.
PressTur
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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Presstur 31-12-2008 (09h19)
Um estudo elaborado pela revista Which? Holiday que comparou cinco companhias low-cost indica que a comida e a bebida a bordo destas transportadoras podem custar até metade do valor da viagem, sendo a Ryanair a mais cara.
A revista comparou os preços a bordo da Ryanair, easyJet, Flybe, Monarch e bmibaby e concluiu que a Ryanair é a mais cara ao cobrar 16,05 libras por cinco produtos, designadamente sanduíche (4,20 libras), água com gás (2,5 libras), uma garrafa pequeno de vinho tinto (cinco libras), um café (2,5 libras) e um pacote pequeno de Pringles (1,85 libras), sendo o total metade da tarifa paga pela revista numa viagem entre Stansted e Girona, reservada no mês passado.
Flybe, easyJet foram as segunda e terceiras mais caras, cobrando 11,95 libras e 11,50 libras respectivamente pelos cinco itens, seguida da Monarch que cobrou 10,60 libras e da bmibaby que cobrou 10,5 libras pelos mesmos cinco produtos da Ryanair.
PressTur
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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31/12/2008
O presidente da Infraero, Tenente Brigadeiro do Ar Cleonilson Nicácio Silva, visitou nesta terça-feira (30/12), as obras do Aeroporto do Internacional do Rio de Janeiro/Galeão que, apesar do período de alta estação, não foram interrompidas. O novo presidente também conferiu de perto o movimento de passageiros.
Segundo Nicácio, a fiscalização durante a alta temporada está sendo feita de forma intensiva, priorizando a limpeza e manutenção de escadas rolantes, esteiras de bagagens, monitoramento dos balcões de check in e abertura de todos os canais de inspeção a fim de minimizar os possíveis impactos operacionais. “Todos os empregados da rede Infraero estão comprometidos com a operação Feliz 2009. Estamos empenhados para que os passageiros passem satisfeitos pelo Galeão", afirmou.
As melhorias no Galeão já podem ser observadas pelos usuários: além dos novos sanitários, aproximadamente 40% do polimento do piso de granito já foram executados e a finalização da substituição do piso emborrachado por granito está prevista para fevereiro de 2009.
Quem passa pelo Terminal de Passageiros 1 já percebe as mudanças e não se importa de transitar pelo salão em obras. "Temos que ser um pouco compreensivos com esta situação, pois sabemos que tudo isso é para nosso próprio benefício", afirmou o passageiro Eduardo Santos, dando destaque para o novo forro do teto rebaixado do setor de embarque doméstico.
Revitalização
O superintendente do Galeão, Wilson Massa, disse que é gratificante para a Infraero saber que os passageiros compreendem o possível desconforto causado pelas obras em andamento. “Mesmo neste período de grande fluxo no aeroporto, nós continuamos com os esforços para revitalizar o Galeão e dotá-lo com modernas instalações e um serviço de excelência, declarou.
Crescimento de movimento
O Galeão já registrou, em 2008, um aumento superior a 200 mil passageiros em relação a 2007 (embarcados e desembarcados - nacional e internacional), reflexo do aumento de 9% na movimentação de aeronaves (pousos e decolagens), nos dois pátios, em relação ao ano anterior.
O aeroporto está ligado a mais de 31 localidades nacionais e 19 destinos internacionais. Possui dois sistemas de pistas com operações simultâneas de pousos e decolagens (uma delas com 4000 m x 45 m), a maior pista da América do Sul. São 167 balcões de check in, 35 esteiras de bagagens, 23 pontes de embarque e 23 posições remotas. Ao todo, 20 empresas aéreas prestam serviços nos dois Terminais, atendendo um movimento diário de 30 mil passageiros.
Gerência de Imprensa/Infraero
imprensa@infraero.gov.br
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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31/12/2008
Apesar da grande movimentação de passageiros, típica do período de férias e das festas de fim de ano, o Aeroporto Internacional de Salvador/Luis Eduardo Magalhães (BA) opera normalmente nos primeiros dez dias da Operação Feliz 2009. O aeroporto registrou a maior redução de atrasos de vôos em relação ao mesmo período de 2007. A queda foi de 15%. Ano passado, de 20 a 30 de dezembro, 40% dos vôos atrasaram, contra 25% este ano.
Segundo o superintendente do aeroporto, José Cassiano Ferreira Filho, quem chega aos saguões de embarque e desembarque pode contar com a tranqüilidade, o conforto e a segurança, garantidos pela presença de profissionais das diversas áreas da Infraero. "Da chegada aos saguões, passando pelos balcões de chek-in até as pontes de embarque, ou deixando o aeroporto depois de voar com destino à Salvador, o passageiro é assistido por nossos funcionários, que, proativamente, se antecipam no atendimento, evitando insatisfações ou problemas durante a sua permanência no aeroporto”, garante Cassiano.
A expectativa é que o aumento na movimentação de passageiros nesse período chegue a 10% e a média do movimento diário ultrapasse a casa de 20 mil pessoas. Diversos pedidos de vôos charters (fretados) foram atendidos, tanto domésticos como internacionais. De dezembro a março, a programação é de quase 80 vôos charters domésticos e 20 internacionais, com destino à Europa (Lisboa, Madri, Milão), América do Norte (Miami), América do Sul (Buenos Aires) e até para a Ilha do Sal, Cabo Verde, África, realizado pela companhia Austriam.
O Aeroporto de Salvador se mantém no ranking nacional como o quinto em movimentação de passageiros e aeronaves. Diariamente, mais de 17 mil usuários e uma média de 140 vôos regulares, domésticos e internacionais, fazem de Salvador uma das capitais mais movimentadas do País.
Assessoria de Imprensa/Infraero
imprensa@infraero.gov.br
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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31/12/2008
O Aeroporto Internacional do Recife/Guararapes – Gilberto Freyre (PE), administrado pela Infraero, recebeu solicitações para operar três novos vôos charters internacionais durante a temporada 2009. As novas freqüências ligarão o Recife às cidades argentinas de Córdoba e Buenos Aires até o final de março de 2009. Além dos vôos argentinos, o Internacional Guararapes também passou a receber mais uma ligação com Milão, através da operadora Neos, que fará a rota Milão/Recife/Salvador. Com as novas aquisições, a cidade do Recife passa a contar com cinco empresas que vão operar 26 vôos charters internacionais até o final do verão.
A capital pernambucana fecha o ano de 2008 com operações regulares internacionais operadas pela TAP (para Lisboa – diário); Livingston (para Milão, todas às quintas-feiras); Condor (para Frankfurt - semanal às segundas); TAM (para Paris - partindo às sextas e retornando às segundas) e para para Buenos Aires (diário); American Airlines (para Miami – diário) Delta AirLines (Atlanta - segundas, quartas, sextas e sábados.
Aeroporto modelo
O Guararapes deverá ser inscrito pela Infraero para servir como benchmark no Conselho Internacional de Aeroportos (ACI), entidade americana que co-relaciona e compara aeroportos internacionais pela qualidade dos serviços que prestam aos passageiros. A comparação já ocorre com os aeroportos do Galeão, Guarulhos e Brasília. A decisão foi tomada pelo recém-empossado presidente da Infraero, Tenente Brigadeiro do Ar Cleonilson Nicácio, após visitar pela segunda vez o Guararapes. O presidente conferiu a infra-estrutura disponibilizada aos usuários e atestou que o aeroporto está atendendo com conforto e segurança à maior demanda da alta estação.
Para dezembro é esperado no Guararapes um acréscimo de aproximadamente 40 mil passageiros em relação ao ano passado, quando passaram pelo aeroporto 408 mil viajantes. De janeiro a novembro a movimentação total cresceu em 12,28 %. Entre embarcados e desembarcados, domésticos e internacionais somam 4,243 milhões este ano, já superando, até novembro, toda a movimentação do ano passado, quando o Guararapes alcançou a marca de 4,188 milhões de passageiros. Com a movimentação de dezembro deverá fechar o ano em torno de 4 milhões e 700 mil passageiros.
Assessoria de Imprensa/Infraero
imprensa@infraero.gov.br
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By David Kaminski-Morrow
Sukhoi has carried out the first flight of its second Superjet 100 test aircraft, days after a new phase of airborne trials of its PowerJet SaM146 engines began.
The second aircraft, number 95003, departed Komsomolsk-on-Amur for a 2hr 30min flight and operated to a height of 6,000m (19,700ft).
PowerJet partner NPO Saturn says the test enabled the pilots to validate aerodynamic stability and control of the regional jet.
Test pilot Leonid Chikunov says control software for the aircraft has undergone a number of changes following tests of the first flying example, which started in May. He states that the aircraft has already shown evidence of improvements as a result.
Senior test pilot Alexander Yablontsev adds: "We have a responsibility to ensure that, in critical situations, the aircraft will remain manageable."
Aircraft 95001, the first flying airframe, has already logged over 200hr in the air. In November it began undergoing the first high angle-of-attack and stall tests.
"The aircraft behaves very predictably," says Yablontsev.
Sukhoi's certification test regime for the Superjet will include assessing high- and low-temperature operations, and performance from high-altitude airports.
On 19 December the SaM146 engines began a second phase of flight tests on an Ilyushin Il-76 test-bed aircraft.
This series of tests, lasting 150hr, will notably assess engine thrust management and the full-authority digital engine control software.
While the second test phase had originally been due to take place at Istres in France, NPO Saturn says that its PowerJet partner, Snecma, has agreed to their taking place at the Zhukovsky centre outside Moscow in order to save time and costs.
European certification for the SaM146 is planned for September next year.
Air Transport Intelligence
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By Lori Ranson
Virgin America CEO David Cush arrived at the carrier roughly a year ago ahead of a period of wildly spiking fuel prices and at the beginning of an equally astounding economic recession that has forced virtually every US carrier to slash capacity to accommodate waning demand.
Scaled down growth at Virgin America includes a 10% fourth quarter 2008 capacity cut and a decrease in its fleet count in 2009 from an original target of 35 Airbus A320 family aircraft to 28.
Yet Cush remains bullish that even though the global economy is experiencing a historic downturn, customers “won’t postpone their lives” and in the current crisis will opt to travel before committing to larger ticket items such as homes or vehicles.
Cush succeeded Fred Reid, who agreed to vacate the helm of Virgin America as a condition of an arduous approval process to gain certification from the US Department of Transportation that occurred in May 2007.
But even after Cush’s first year as its chief executive, pegging Virgin America into a particular type of carrier remains a challenge for its endorsers and critics alike. The airline flies Airbus A320s with a first class product directly against giants such as United and American in some of their most lucrative markets at fares that are lower than its major competitors.
The carrier also offers one of the most advanced in-flight entertainment systems Red that allows for on-demand purchase of food and beverages from a passenger’s seat and a wide array of television and music options free of charge. Virgin America aims to have its fleet equipped with AirCell’s air-to-ground connectivity product Gogo by the end of second quarter next year, and will charge rates similar to American Airlines, which is also an AirCell customer.
Cush characterizes Virgin America as “a small player with a specialized and targeted product. We aren’t aiming and don’t need to dominate the market. We’re looking at growing a limited share of the market”. He highlights the carrier’s marketshare is generally below 20% in the markets it serves.
Targeting transcon markets in its initial launch in August 2007 from San Francisco and Los Angeles to New York’s JFK, Virgin America this year launched competition against Alaska Airlines on its west cost routes from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Seattle, and also competes with Alaska on flights Los Angeles to San Francisco.
Alaska has pledged to defend its entrenched short-haul flights, and recently carrier President Brad Tilden charged Virgin America offers fares“way below their costs and our costs”.
Virgin America’s chief executive calmly dismisses those claims calling Alaska and Southwest, which also competes with Virgin America on flights from San Francisco and Los Angeles, “formidable competitors”.
Cush is quick to explain that Virgin America “charges what the market will bear” and the carrier “basically charges what Alaska charges”. The chief executive also believes an airline’s cost it and its ticket prices “have little to do with each other”.
Virgin America through its appeal to DOT to keep is operating data confidential does not publicly report that information, and Cush declines to reveal specific statistics. The carrier is “quite happy” with long-haul flights from JFK to Los Angeles, Cush explains. He also believes the carrier’s operations from San Francisco to JFK and Washington Dulles are also turning in strong performances.
Obviously Cush prefers to talk more openly about Virgin America’s product. The carrier recently started charging a premium on exit row seating dubbed “Main Cabin Select.” Along with the extra legroom Virgin America is offering complimentary food, cocktails and beverages from the inflight menu and free all-access to the Red IFE system. Those passengers also receive priority boarding and screening at locations where those services are available.
Pricing for Main Cabin Select ranges from $75-$100 on short-haul flights, and increases to $300-$400 on its transcon flights.
Charaterising the new fare class as a “significant revenue generator” Cush says the product on average nets twice the value of a coach seat. He also claims Virgin America’s comprehensive premium economy offering is the first of its kind in the US domestic market.
The airlines is also considering revising Main Cabin Select after discussions with customers over their preferences and dislikes regarding the product. The upgrades currently include menu items offered for purchase by coach customers. Cush says the carrier is considering some sort of separate food service that offers a combination of coach offering supplemented by items on the first class menu.
As US carriers continue adhering to their product unbundling strategy despite the sharp drop in fuel prices, Cush admits that while a certain logic exists in applying that strategy “there’s a flip side” in travelers having specific expectations from a travel experience.
Virgin America currently charges a fee for a second checked bag, and Cush notes with the carrier’s automation platform it would be easy to charge for virtually everything.
But with Virgin America there is a “responsibility that comes with the name [Virgin] on the tail,” Cush explains, noting the carrier has no plans to compromise its core product.
The carrier does plan to charge for its Gogo wi-fi offering - $12.95 for flights beyond three hours and $9.95 for flights less than three hours.
And as passengers become accustomed to having wi-fi access inflight, Cush predicts the next “big battle” is offering power outlets on seats.
With power outlets currently available on every seat Cush vows that Virgin America is rigidly focused on “not letting the quality the product slip”.
Airline Business
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By John Croft
A Mesa Airlines CRJ200 pilot with undiagnosed severe sleep apnea told NTSB investigators that he had intentionally "napped in the cockpit" about once per week during a temporary assignment flying for Mesa's Hawaii-based subsidiary, go! Airlines.
The captain's fitness is a key element in a 13 February 2008 incident in which both pilots of go! flight 1002 "inadvertently" fell asleep during what was expected to be a 40min morning flight from Honolulu to Hilo, Hawaii at a cruise altitude of 21,000ft. go! operated five CRJs with a support staff of 60 pilots at the time of the incident.
Air traffic controllers and other pilots could not communicate with the CRJ for approximately 18min after the crew belatedly responded to a clearance to change course after takeoff from Honolulu.
"Working as hard as we had, we tend to relax," the 53-yr-old captain told NTSB investigators in a recently released factual report on the incident by the agency. "We had gotten back on schedule [after a 30min departure delay due to a flight attendant scheduling issue], it was comfortable in the cockpit, the pressure was behind us. The warm Hawaiian sun was blaring in as we went eastbound. I just kind of closed my eyes for a minute, enjoying the warm sunshine, and dozed off."
The 23-year-old first officer, who was at the controls of the aircraft on the incident segment, told the NTSB he had entered "a sleep-like state from which he could 'hear what was going on, but could not comprehend or make it click.'"
After passing the airport at Hilo, the aircraft continued flying east for 26nm over the ocean before the first officer awoke and was provided vectors back to the airport by air traffic control, according to the factual report.
The report reveals that the crew reported to FAA that they had lost communication because they had selected an incorrect radio frequency, then flew the next leg of the trip back to Honolulu before removing themselves from duty. The captain then submitted a written report to Mesa explaining that he and the first officer had fallen asleep.
The captain, on temporary assignment for Mesa in Hawaii, told the NTSB that he never before "inadvertently" fallen asleep during a flight, but that he had "intentionally" taken 20-min naps in flight about once per week during his temporary duty for go!.
The pilot said he had napped more often than once a week while flying for Mesa in the US, a statement the investigators corroborated with a first officer who had flown with him in the continental US. Mesa's senior director of flight operations told the NTSB has had been unaware of the pilot's napping habit before the incident. FAA rules allow for one of the two required pilots on a flight deck to take a "rest period" during the cruise portion of a flight.
NTSB says post-incident sleep analysis of the captain revealed a "severe obstructive sleep apnea" which a sleep medicine specialist said could cause "reduced sleep quality, daytime fatigue, and, in severe cases, cognitive dysfunction."
The medical and pathological details on the first officer do not reveal any clues as to why he also fell asleep on the flight.
Air Transport Intelligence
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By David Kaminski-Morrow
French investigators have concluded that icing on the wings of an Air France Regional Fokker 100 contributed to a fatal departure accident at Pau nearly two years ago.
Although the jet rotated quickly, after the co-pilot warned of birds during the take-off roll, the Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses (BEA) states that ice contamination led to the jet's subsequent aerodynamic behaviour.
As it lifted off for Paris the aircraft oscillated violently, rolling 35° left, then 67° right, and 59° left again. It reached a height of 107ft before descending and touching down to the right of runway 13 at 160kt, just 14s after becoming airborne.
The Fokker travelled hundreds of metres along the ground - crossing a road, where it hit a truck and killed the driver - before coming to rest. There were no fatalities among the jet's 54 passengers and crew.
Meteorological conditions at Pau, where the humidity was high and the air temperature was 0°C, presented a risk of ice contamination. In the hour prior to the Fokker's departure four aircraft - an Airbus A320, A319, Embraer ERJ-135 and a Casa CN-235 military transport - all took off, but only the A320 requested de-icing.
The Fokker crew similarly did not ask for the jet to be de-iced. In its final report into the 25 January 2007 accident, the BEA points out that, without the aid of a stepladder or similar means, the crew could not detect whether there was ice on the wings during pre-flight checks.
During the take-off roll, the sudden sighting of birds prompted a reflex decision by the pilot to apply a higher-than-normal rotation rate of 6.1° per second.
No birds struck the airframe or engines. But the BEA says that the rapid rotation partly contributed to the loss of control during take-off.
It cites previous icing accidents Fokker jets, including a take-off crash involving a Palair Macedonian Fokker 100 at Skopje in March 1993. The inquiry into that accident recommended de-icing the type in freezing conditions, regardless of observations from pre-flight checks.
BEA says the Pau inquiry discovered "insufficient awareness" among the French aerospace community regarding icing and its effects on aircraft performance. "Risks associated with this phenomenon, particularly when the weather is not exceptional, are not well-known," states the BEA.
Investigators have put forward seven recommendations, five of which focus on implementing better training and procedures for dealing with on-ground icing.
Air Transport Intelligence
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By John Croft
A preliminary report by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reveals that an Air Wisconsin CRJ200 that landed with its left main gear retracted at the Philadelphia International Airport the night of 14 December had undergone maintenance on the main gear system before the flight.
Flight 3918, flying for US Airways, carried only its flight crew due to several hours of delays in Norfolk, Virginia, its origin airport and one of three Air Wisconsin maintenance bases.
An Air Wisconsin spokeswoman had initially said the aircraft had indeed experienced a maintenance delay in Norfolk, but that it was "unrelated to the emergency landing" in Philadelphia.
"The post-incident investigation of the aircraft revealed that the upper attach bolt for the left main landing gear uplock assembly, which is designed to be attached to both the uplock mechanism and the structure, was attached to the airplane structure only," the NTSB explains.
Minor damage to the aircraft included "scuff marks" to the left wing tip and the outboard end of the left aileron. Investigators noted "more extensive damage" to the flaps on the left wing, which had been ground down from the flap trailing edge, through the upper and lower skins, to the ribs.
Air Wisconsin could not immediately be reached for additional comments on the NTSB's preliminary findings.
Flightglobal
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By Nicholas Ionides
US-based B/E Aerospace has secured a supplemental type certificate (STC) from the US FAA allowing it to convert Airbus A300-600 passenger aircraft to freighters.
B/E says in a statement that the STC was awarded to its Flight Structures (FSI) unit. It says "the A300-600 STC marks a significant milestone in our passenger-to-freighter conversion business".
The company announced early in 2006 that its FSI unit had been selected by China Southern Airlines to convert its six A300-600s to freighters. The programme puts it into direct competition with EADS' freighter conversion unit EFW, which has already been performing such work on A300-600s for some time.
B/E says in its statement today that it expects the six-aircraft conversion programme for China Southern to have a value of around $45 million. It says China Southern's maintenance, repair and overhaul subsidiary, Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, will carry out the touch labour and kit installation work.
But it remains unclear what China Southern will do with the aircraft. In July the airline put its A300-600s up for sale and said that as a result they would no longer be used as freighters as earlier planned.
A China Southern spokesman told ATI at the time that it had decided to sell the aircraft as it had opted against using them for regional freighter operations.
A planning and development department executive says from Guangzhou today that the aircraft are still being offered for sale but he declined to comment on the conversion deal with B/E.
Flightglobal
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By Megan Kuhn
Biofuel discussions at Bombardier have focused on business jet applications as the Canadian manufacturer's commercial customers turn their attention to the current economic downturn.
Bombardier says it is doing some "forward thinking" with respect to biofuels and is examining how it might harness these initially "to improve on the business jet side". Bombardier is "not yet ready" to discuss the types of biofuels that might be employed for business jets, it says.
The airframer is focusing on business jets since its commercial customers are not pushing for biofuels as they struggle with short-term issues and would be less likely to take on additional research and development expenses, Bombardier says.
The Canadian manufacturer will further outline its environmental efforts in a corporate responsibility report to be published around 16 December.
While Bombardier mulls over its biofuel options, competitor Embraer has postponed a 2008 alternative fuel trial, but continues to work on a number of biofuel efforts.
Of interest to Embraer is fuel made with babassu, derived from palm trees in Brazil. The Brazilian manufacturer expects jet fuel will be composed of 30% biofuel by 2020.
Flightglobal
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By Graham Dunn
An EU climate change package agreement between the European Parliament and Council representatives has ended uncertainty over possible changes to the terms of aviation's inclusion in the emissions trading scheme, just six months after an initial agreement.
An initial deal in July set the terms for aviation's inclusion in the scheme from 2012 covering flights within, to and from the EU. But in October the Parliament's environment committee sought to increase the amount of carbon credits airlines were required to pay for at auction from 2013 under a separate revision of the existing emissions trading scheme, dismaying airline bodies.
In a move which has been welcomed by the industry, the climate change package formally reached by the Parliament in December will not re-open the issue of how to deal with aviation within the scheme. This means that the sector will receive 85% of the allowances for free and 15% to be auctioned during the 2013-2020 period as originally envisaged.
"This latest decision of Parliament sends the signal: the time for discussion is passed timelines are tight, and the industry must prepare for the future with predictability," says Association of European Airlines secretary general Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus.
Flightglobal
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By Lori Ranson
Emirates' inaugural Dubai-San Francisco flight utilizing a polar routing on 15 December surpassed the carrier's projected time savings by 25 minutes.
SVP public, government and environmental affairs Andrew Parker told ATI earlier today at a ceremony celebrating the Boeing 777-200LR's landing that Emirates was conservative in its estimates of shaving 20 minutes off the flight. Actual flight time of the projected 16 hour flight was 15 hours and 20 minutes, which also means the carrier saved more than the estimated 7,570 litres (2,000USgal) of fuel on the route.
Parker says flight 225 had to track somewhat south of its planned North Pole routing primarily due to weather patterns Emirates tracked the night before.
Emirates particularly made up time over Russia, as polar corridors over that region have been broken into six lanes instead of a single corridor. Parker explains the Emirates flight to San Francisco was operating in one of the left lanes.
The carrier's original projections showed roughly an 8,100 nautical mile route, but the actual miles logged were 7,150.
Parker notes that Emirates flights from Dubai to Los Angeles that began on 26 October using polar routes have averaged 7,800-7,900 on a challenging day.
Noting the "FAA really helped us today" Parker says the 777-200LR used the specific "Golden Gate Five" route over the US states of Oregon, Washington and California using a continuous descent approach.
Placing an 8.5 rating out of 10 on today's flight Parker points out "it was not perfect" due to a few minor air traffic control challenges resulting in a slightly different routing.
Emirates CEO Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum says Emirates plans to use the polar routing on other routes outside the USA.
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By Craig Hoyle
Cyprus has become the latest military customer for AgustaWestland's AW139, with the Mediterranean nation's defence ministry having placed an order for three of the medium-twin helicopters.
AgustaWestland says the 15-seat aircraft will be configured for utility, search and rescue and emergency medical service tasks, but has not revealed a contract value or delivery schedule for the new fleet.
The Cyprus air force has an active rotorcraft inventory of around 12 Mil Mi-35 attack helicopters, four Mi-8/17 transports and four Eurocopter SA342 scouts, according to Flight's HeliCAS database.
Previous military buyers for the AW139 include the Irish Air Corps (aircraft pictured below at the 2007 Paris air show), Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By Craig Hoyle
Rolls-Royce has secured a new, 10-year contract to support the Gnome engines which power the UK Ministry of Defence's Westland Sea King transport, surveillance and search and rescue helicopters.
Worth £258 million ($380 million), the availability-based deal will support a total of 96 Sea Kings currently in service with the UK Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, says R-R.
"Rolls-Royce will undertake all aspects of engine support, including the provision of replacement engines to meet customer demands, and technical support both at operating locations and from the Rolls-Royce Operations Centre in Bristol," the company says. Main repair and overhaul work will be undertaken at its facilities in Ansty in the West Midlands, and in Germany.
"This innovative contract offers quantifiable benefits in both financial and availability terms for the Sea King fleet," says Pete Worrall, director general helicopters for the UK Defence Equipment and Support organisation. Martin Fausset, managing director of Rolls-Royce Defence Aerospace, notes: "We can now provide the front line customer a higher level of availability for operations at a guaranteed price."
Meanwhile, Eurocopter has received a contract to provide through-life support services for the RAF's SA330/Puma HC1 transports (above) and the British Army's Gazelle AH1 observation helicopters until March 2013, with its deal replacing four previous arrangements. The company also expects to sign a service life-extension deal in 2009 to upgrade some of the RAF's Puma fleet to an enhanced HC2 configuration.
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By Stephen Trimble
Brazil and France today jointly announced signing a deal with a newly-formed consortium of Eurocopter and Helibras to build 50 EC725 helicopters.
The official signing follows the European Union-Brazil summit in Rio de Janeiro and comes six months after the initial agreement to start building EC725s in Brazil.
Brazil’s armed forces are acquiring 16 EC725s for the navy, 16 for the army and 18 for the air force – the first joint military aircraft acquisition for Brasilia, according to a statement by the Ministry of Defence.
The first 50 aircraft will be delivered after 2010 to Brazil’s armed forces, but the consortium is likely to seek new orders from other commercial and government markets in Latin America.
The deal requires a $300 million expansion of Helibras’ plant in Itajuba, where the EC725s will be manufactured, assembled and maintained.
“This contract heralds a new era for Helibras, which will become and outstanding center of aeronautical excellence in South America,” said Eurocopter President Lutz Bertling.
The helicopter deal also marks an expansion of the industrial and military relationship between the two countries. France and Brazil also have signed a deal to develop a nuclear submarine.
France’s Dassault Aircraft also has proposed the Rafale fighter for Brazil’s F-X2 contract. Brazil has shortlisted the Rafale, Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and Saab Gripen.
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By David Leamount
An assessment of global airline crashes for 2008 at 23 December shows a considerable rise in the number of fatal accidents, but a fall in the number of resulting deaths.
This squares with the International Air Transport Association's snapshot of the year to 1 December, in which it revealed that airline safety has stopped improving, although IATA's figures are based on jet hull-loss accidents, and not all of these involve fatalities.
Flightglobal's safety snapshot for the year to 23 December shows 33 fatal airline accidents, whereas the whole of 2007 produced only 25, which was an all time low.
But this year to 23 December has seen only 589 fatalities worldwide compared with the 744 recorded by the end of 2007.
A lot can happen in eight days, however. Flightglobal will review global airline safety for the entire year 2008 during the last week of January 2009, together with an analysis of trends, lessons learned, and industry concerns.
In this year to 23 December there were six fatal accidents involving scheduled jet airliners in which a total of 349 people died.
There were three fatal crashes involving chartered aircraft, killing a total of 49 (none of these was a holiday charter and none involved jets).
The commuter and regional airlines worldwide suffered 8 fatal accidents killing 129 people, but the commercial air transport category in which most fatal accidents occurred was non-passenger operations.
The latter includes cargo flights, but also positioning flights and test flights after maintenance. In 2008 to 23 December there were 16 accidents in this category, killing 62 people.
The year's worst single accident so far was the 20 August Spanair Boeing MD-82 crash during take-off at Madrid Barajas airport Spain, which followed failure of the crew to set the flaps to the take-off setting combined with the failure of the onboard alerting system that is supposed to warn them the aircraft was not correctly configured for take-off.
All six crew died in the accident, and 154 of the 166 passengers. There have been some serious accidents that, fortunately, were survived by all on board.
Among these were the 17 January British Airways Boeing 777 crash-landing short of the runway at London Heathrow airport, the November Ryanair 737-800 which was badly damaged by a heavy landing at Rome Ciampino airport after hitting a huge flock of starlings on final approach, and the Continental Airlines 737-500 that ran off the runway at Denver airport, USA on 20 December during the pilots' attempt to abort the take-off.
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By John Croft
Operators flying a small number of CFM56-5B turbofan engines will be required to replace one of the aircraft's two powerplants if both are shown to have an exhaust gas temperature (EGT) margin of less than 80 deg C, according to an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) issued by EASA today.
The action follows a 15 December incident in which a CFM56-5B-powered Airbus A321 experienced "stalls on both engines during the same flight," states EASA. "The event was caused by high pressure compressor (HPC) deterioration."
EGT margin refers to the buffer between an engine's normal operating EGT temperature and its maximum EGT, the temperature at which it must be overhauled or replaced. A higher EGT is an indication of the HPC wear that can cause a compressor stall.
CFM had attempted to address the problem with the release of new engine control unit (ECU) software, version 5BQ, in January 2007 which features "two degrees additional Variable Stator Vanes closure in the low power region to increase stall margin," according to the AD.
"The 5QB software introduction has reduced the frequency of stalls, however since April 2008, six different engines have experienced stalls at three different operators with the 5QB software," the AD continues.
EASA says the stalls on both engines during flight could cause dual in-flight engine shutdowns.
A CFM spokeswoman says about a dozen engines are covered by the AD, all with more than 14,000h operating life. She says the incidents involved a loss of thrust rather than a surge in the engines, adding that a new software version will be released for the affected engines late in January.
The emergency AD calls for operators to identify aircraft in which both engines have greater than 80 deg C EGT margin deterioration and to replace one of the engines with a powerplant featuring greater margin.
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By John Croft
United Air Lines accelerated a program to replace defective bearings on its Pratt & Whitney PW-4090-powered Boeing 777s following a 14 December 2007 incident in which the cabin of a 777-200 filled with smoke on a flight inbound to Chicago from Shanghai.
That information was part of a recently-released final report on the incident by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Cabin crew of Flight 836 had alerted pilots that the cabin was filling with smoke when the mid-afternoon flight was 13 miles from the Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Pilots declared an emergency and then landed at O'Hare, turning off the runway at a high-speed taxiway and initiating an emergency evacuation of the 264 passengers and crew onboard. One passenger fractured a vertebra during the evacuation, according to the report.
A detailed teardown of the right engine revealed that its number two bearing had failed, causing the oil smoke to enter the cabin through the bleed air system for pressurization. NTSB notes that Pratt & Whitney had "released an improved bearing design prior to the accident".
United at the time had decided to replace the bearings "on an attrition basis when the original bearings were no longer serviceable," according to the report.
"However, [United] has revised that policy and is proactively replacing the original bearings, regardless of the condition, with improved bearings," the NSTB says.
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By Stephen Trimble
US Special Operations Command is moving swiftly to acquire the services of multiple types of “mid-endurance”-class unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
The command yesterday issued a classified draft request for proposals (RFP) that should lead to the award of multiple contracts in April, according to an acquisition notice.
Details of the special operations requirements are not released, but the draft RFP has attracted interest from vendors of small and tactical-level UAS.
For example, Boeing and Raytheon have confirmed plans to compete for one of the special operations contracts. Boeing’s ScanEagle and Integrator and the Raytheon/Swift Engineering KillerBee-4 are both candidates for the pending US Navy and US Marine Corps small tactical UAS/Tier II contract.
Special Operations does not plan to acquire any aircraft, but contract with a company to provide intelligence gathering, target surveillance and reconnaissance services using a mid-endurance class UAS.
The Boeing Scan Eagle, with newly-acquired partner Insitu, has pioneered providing US and foreign militaries with contractor-operated UAS services.
“We’ve reviewed the draft and are preparing our comments, but we're pleased with what we've seen so far and feel that we're well-positioned to provide the solution that best meets SOCOM's requirements,” a Boeing spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Raytheon is “excited about the response on which we are currently working,” a spokesman says. The mid-endurance UAS opportunity would leverage Raytheon’s background in air vehicles, avionics and weapons.
“The company also has a portfolio of vehicles and will respond with the most appropriate system to meet the SOCOM warfighter's needs,” Raytheon adds.
Raytheon also has developed the Cobra UAS, which is mainly used as a testbed for sensors and payloads.
Flightglobal
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By Stephen Trimble
Lockheed Martin has rolled out the last of six developmental F-35s to join the ground and flight test fleet by end-year.
The roll-out of the AF-1 – the second conventional takeoff and landing model, but the first completed in the weight-optimized configuration – rolled-out of Lockheed’s final assembly centre in Fort Worth on 19 December.
AF-1 joins a mix of CTOL and short-take-off-and-vertical landing (STOVL) models that have completed 86 flight tests so far.
Two days earlier, Lockheed rolled out AG-1, a ground test aircraft. AG-1 will be transported by cargo ship in late March to Brough, UK, for loads testing.
Lockheed also has completed assembly earlier this year of STOVL prototypes BG-1, BF-1 and BF-2.
The first flight test aircraft – AA-1 – rolled out in December 2006. AA-1 is several thousands pounds heavier than later models, as it began production before a 2004 weight savings programme was launched.
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By Stephen Trimble
The US Air Force has awarded a notionally $468 million contract to Northrop Grumman to launch low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the B-2 radar modernization programme (RMP).
The contract award means the five-year-old effort to upgrade the B-2’s radar antenna to an active electronically scanned array in a new frequency band can shift from development into early production.
The award also indicates that Northrop’s redesign of the array, which required an extra year to complete, meets the USAF’s standards. The USAF has not disclosed why the redesign was necessary.
Northrop officials were unavailable to comment immediately about the USAF announcement.
The USAF is required to upgrade the B-2 antenna because the radar’s current frequency band has been redesignated for civilian use. Although the AESA antenna is an upgrade, the radar's capability will remain unchanged unless the radar processor is also updated.
Northrop’s partners for the RMP award include Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, Lockheed Martin Systems Integration and BAE Systems.
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By Nicholas Ionides
China's Government has more than doubled the size of a financial aid package for cash-strapped China Eastern Airlines to 7 billion yuan, or $1 billion.
The Shanghai-based carrier says in a Hong Kong stock exchange filing that a 3 billion yuan, or $437 million, aid package that was announced earlier this month has been revised and it will now receive 7 billion yuan from its state-owned parent company.
It will receive the cash injection by way of a share issue to its parent, CEA Holding, and to CEA Holding's overseas arm, CES Global.
CEA Holding will subscribe for more than 1.43 billion new domestic 'A' shares at 3.87 yuan per share, amounting to 5.56 billion yuan. CES Global will at the same time buy more than 1.43 billion new international 'H' shares at 1 yuan each.
The revised plan will see CEA Holding's direct and indirect holding in China Eastern rising to 74.64% from the current 59.7%. The deal is subject to shareholder approval.
China Eastern is in the weakest financial position of China's major carriers and it has been struggling this year as costs have risen and demand has fallen.
The Government agreed earlier this month to give China Eastern and Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines 3 billion yuan each in aid. China Southern has given no indication that its aid package will be increased as China Eastern's has.
China's fourth-largest carrier, Hainan Airlines, also announced last week that it had secured a government aid package while sixth-largest carrier Shanghai Airlines says it too is seeking government assistance.
China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines are meanwhile being prepared for a merger and a deal is expected to be announced soon.
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By Nicholas Ionides
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has outlined initial plans for its new fleet of Airbus A330-300s, which it starts taking delivery of next month to replace older Boeing 777s on regional routes.
The Star Alliance carrier says in a statement that its first A330 will be delivered by Airbus in mid-January and it will initially be used for pilot conversion, followed by services on short sectors to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Jakarta in Indonesia.
Full entry into commercial service will be on 30 March when SIA starts using A330s to replace 777s between Singapore and Brisbane in Australia.
This will be followed in April by the progressive conversion of 777 operations to A330 operations on the Singapore-Perth route, which will be completed in May. Daily Singapore-Adelaide 777 services will be converted to A330 services by June.
SIA says that after it takes delivery of its eighth A330 in June, the aircraft will also be used on services to Japan, starting with daily flights to Nagoya. By March 2010 the A330 will be used for Osaka services.
The carrier has 19 A330s on order that it will be leasing to provide interim lift until Airbus A350s on purchase order arrive several years later.
It says the twinjets will seat 285 passengers in business and economy classes, adding that a new business class seat will be unveiled when the first aircraft is delivered next month.
The business cabin will have 30 seats in a 2-2-2 layout, rather than the 2-3-2 layout on the older 777s that the A330s will replace.
Flightglobal
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By Nicholas Ionides
Air New Zealand (ANZ) is reporting a successful first test flight of a Boeing 747-400 powered in part by the biofuel jatropha.
The flight was conducted today from Auckland International Airport and took around 2hr, during which more than a dozen performance tests were carried out.
ANZ says the biofuel blend of 50:50 jatropha and Jet A1 fuel was used to successfully power one of the Rolls-Royce RB211 engines on the 747-400.
"We undertook a range of tests on the ground and in flight with the jatropha biofuel performing well through both the fuel system and engine, just as laboratory tests proved it would," says the Star Alliance carrier's chief pilot, Capt David Morgan.
"To complete our testing programme our engineers will over the next few days be thoroughly assessing the engine and fuel systems looking for any changes as a result of the use of biofuel. Together with our partners on this project we will then review all the results as part of our drive to have jatropha certified as an aviation fuel."
Jatropha is a plant that produces seeds which contain inedible lipid oil. ANZ says jatropha can be grown in a range of difficult conditions which can leave prime areas available for food crops.
The test flight was carried out in partnership with Boeing, Rolls-Royce and Honeywell's refining technology subsidiary UOP, with support from Terasol Energy.
ANZ says tests were carried out at various altitudes under different operating conditions to measure the biofuel's performance through the No 1 engine and fuel system.
It says there was a typical full-powered takeoff and as the aircraft was between 20,000ft and 25,000ft the No 1 engine fuel pump was switched off to check for fuel lubricity.
At 35,000ft, while the aircraft was at cruise height, engine pressure ratios and other performance parameters were checked. Deceleration and acceleration tests were then carried out, followed by "windmill start" and starter-assisted relight tests during the aircraft's descent.
A missed approach was then simulated with a go-around carried out at 8,000ft to test engine performance at maximum thrust, followed by a normal landing including full reverse thrust on touchdown. The engine was then shut down and restarted successfully after the aircraft had touched down.
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By Nicholas Ionides
Panama's Copa Airlines has ordered four more Boeing 737-800s, lifting its outstanding commitments to the aircraft type to 13.
The carrier says in a statement that the four additional aircraft are due for delivery "within the next three years". It says it now has 13 outstanding firm orders for 737s as well as options for more.
"These additional aircraft will enable Copa to continue strengthening its leadership position in the Latin American airline industry, as well as provide our passengers an attractive product and a highly efficient aircraft," says CEO Pedro Heilbron.
"Our fleet plan is flexible, allowing us to replace aircraft as their leases expire or to support additional growth."
Copa currently operates 42 aircraft, 27 of them 737-700/800s and 15 of them Embraer 190s. This excludes aircraft in service with Colombian subsidiary AeroRepublica.
Heilbron said last month that additional aircraft acquisitions were being looked at to support further expansion at Copa and AeroRepublica.
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
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By Mary Kirby
Row 44 in January expects to begin testing its Ku band-based in-flight connectivity system on commercial aircraft even as the firm continues to face opposition from competitors.
The California-based company has not yet revealed whether the trial will take place on Alaska Airlines or Southwest Airlines. Both carriers have signed up to test Row 44's broadband system on Boeing 737 aircraft.
However, in an interview with USA Today, the contents of which have been confirmed by Row 44, company CEO John Guidon says: "We'll be deploying in North America commercially in 2009. That means very heavy rollout. We're already working with Southwest and Alaska. We already have FAA certification to install the equipment. The test to customers will be in January. That's when you see it getting on planes."
In early December a Southwest spokesperson said installation of Row 44's system on a single 737 was scheduled for the 16th of the month and that a trial would get underway in January. But Southwest CEO Gary Kelly was far less precise when on 17 December he told attendees at a Wings Club luncheon in New York that if Southwest gets a "go decision" than the trial will occur in the "first half" or possibly the "first quarter".
Kelly said equipage of the entire fleet - which numbers 535 aircraft - "will probably take a couple years".
Row 44 on 8 May of this year filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for permanent authority to operate an aeronautical mobile-satellite service (AMSS) in the conventional Ku-band segment.
In its application Row 44 proposed to operate up to 1000 transmit/receive terminals aboard commercial and private aircraft in order to provide two-way broadband communications to passengers and flight crew, including email, Internet access, and virtual private networks.
But Row 44's proposal has come under fire from competitor ViaSat as well as JetBlue Airways subsidiary LiveTV, which is actively exploring the use of Ku band fixed service satellite (FSS) spacecraft to provide broadband services to its customers.
In a letter to the FCC LiveTV urges the regulator to require Row 44 to clearly demonstrate in writing how its system design would operate "on a non-interference basis" or to "otherwise bring its transmit power levels into line with those the commission has approved before in the case of aeronautical FSS applications".
Only after Row 44 makes such a showing should the commission allow the company to conduct testing to determine whether its theoretical design will work in practice, suggests LiveTV.
Despite these apparent obstacles, Row 44 remains confident it will obtain a permanent AMSS license.
"As for the FCC approval, that's a lengthy process but is going smoothly. We're happy with the progress we've made and with our interaction with the FCC but we understand this takes time and can't be rushed," says a Row 44 spokesman.
In the interim Row 44 has been using temporary FCC approvals to flight test its system on a Grumman Albatross testbed aircraft in US airspace.
Southwest believes Row 44's temporary license will allow the carrier to kick start the commercial trial but says the carrier won't be able to charge passengers until permanent authority is awarded to the firm.
Row 44's Guidon in his interview with USA Today says the in-flight Internet offering will cost less than $10. Further specifics about the fee strategy have not been revealed. However, Guidon does make a number of other disclosures, namely that Row 44 intends to have its service operating "across the Atlantic and all over Europe" in the middle of 2009, will offer cell phone connectivity in 2009 where it is allowed, and will also be "providing TV along with our data".
To the latter point, Row 44 is "talking about a number of recognizable channels directly broadcast to servers on the plane", says Guidon.
While Row 44's solution relies on Ku band satellites, Aircell's now well-known Internet service, Gogo, is operated over an air-to-ground (ATG) link. Thus far the Colorado-based firm has secured deals with Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Virgin America and a fifth carrier. Passengers on certain American, Delta and Virgin America flights already have access to the service.
Aircell has not yet revealed the identity of the fifth customer.
United Airlines previously made known its interest in in-flight connectivity, saying in 2006 that it was "evaluating several systems" for offering broadband service domestically over an ATG link, and internationally through a satellite link. It is not immediately clear if United is still pursuing this strategy.
US Airways is also planning to eventually offer connectivity to passengers. However, a spokesman with the carrier says testing is not like to happen "anytime soon".
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30/12/2008
Mesmo com o crescimento de 31% do número de vôos, a Infraero registrou uma redução média de 6% nos atrasos dos vôos nos principais aeroportos brasileiros. A queda foi registrada nos últimos dez dias - entre 20 e 30 de dezembro de 2008 - em relação ao mesmo período do ano passado.
O aeroporto onde ocorreu a maior queda na quantidade de atrasos foi o de Salvador/Dep. Luís Eduardo Magalhães (BA), que obteve uma redução de 15% neste período. Outros aeroportos que apresentaram uma grande diminuição foram: Aeroporto Internacional do Recife/Gilberto Freyre (PE), com 11%, Aeroporto Internacional de Brasília/Juscelino Kubitschek (DF) e Aeroporto Internacional de Florianópolis (SC), com 10% cada um, e Aeroporto Internacional de Belém, com 8% a menos de atraso nos últimos dez dias de dezembro em relação a 2007.
Em São Paulo e no Rio de Janeiro, os aeroportos também registraram queda, com índices menores. Nos aeroportos internacionais de Guarulhos e Congonhas o índice foi de 2%. No aeroporto internacional do Rio de Janeiro/Galeão a redução foi de 1%. Outros aeroportos também apontaram melhoria nos percentuais de atrasos como Confins (MG), 6%, e Porto Alegre (RS), 3%.
Atrasos nesta terça-feira
Dos 1482 vôos programados de 0h às 18h desta terça-feira (30/12), 10,9% sofreram atrasos. Durante o dia, de 0h às 18h, no Aeroporto de Brasília, dos 116 vôos programados, 16,4% atrasaram. Em Congonhas (SP), dos 189 vôos programados, 3,7% registraram atraso. Em Guarulhos (SP), dos 166 vôos programados, 10,8% atrasaram. No Galeão (RJ), dos 124 vôos programados, 15,3% sofreram atraso.
Gerência de Imprensa/Infraero
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Tuesday, December 30, 2008 |
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30/12/2008
O novo presidente da Infraero, Tenente Brigadeiro do Ar Cleonilson Nicácio Silva, verificou nesta terça-feira (30/12), pessoalmente, o movimento de passageiros no Aeroporto Internacional de Guarulhos (SP) e a situação do cronograma da obra do sistema de pátio e pista, atualmente paralisada por questões junto ao Tribunal de Contas da União (TCU).
O presidente da Infraero esteve acompanhado dos diretores de Engenharia, Ramos Pinto, e de Operações, João Jordão. Sobre a importância das obras, o presidente foi enfático: “é uma obra necessária e relevante para melhor atender a crescente demanda do transporte aéreo nacional”.
A equipe técnica percorreu todos os trechos da obra, que inclui adequação, ampliação e revitalização do sistema de pátios e pistas, recuperação e revitalização do sistema de macro-drenagem, implantação do sistema separador de água/óleo e revitalização do sistema viário existente. De janeiro de 2005, quando foi iniciado, até março de 2008, data da interrupção, 53 % do empreendimento foi realizado.
Durante a visita, foram discutidos assuntos relacionados às alternativas para a conclusão da obra, além das interferências que ela promoverá no complexo aeroportuário de Guarulhos, que opera 24 horas por dia. “Precisamos analisar e planejar o melhor momento para a retomada desta obra, a fim de evitarmos alterações significativas nas atividades operacionais do aeroporto”, explicou Jordão.
Jaime Parreira, superintendente da Infraero em Guarulhos, destacou as tratativas em torno do sistema de abastecimento de aeronaves que esta obra contempla. “Analisamos a capacidade atual e a necessidade de ampliação para atender as novas posições que serão criadas ao término da obra”, disse.
Movimento de passageiros
O grupo também visitou diferentes pontos dos dois terminais de passageiros de Guarulhos, em áreas públicas e restritas, para checar a eficiência e rapidez dos serviços oferecidos no atendimento ao usuário nesta época em que o terminal conta com grande movimento.
Guarulhos em números
De Guarulhos partem e chegam vôos procedentes e com destino a 24 países e 138 cidades, nacionais e estrangeiras. Neste complexo estão instaladas 41 empresas aéreas que utilizam 260 balcões de check-in.
Diariamente, cerca de 57 mil passageiros utilizam o complexo aeroportuário de Guarulhos, transportados por meio de 530 operações de pouso e decolagem. Nesta alta temporada de 2008/2009 estima-se aumento de 8% na movimentação de passageiros.
Gerência de Imprensa/Infraero
imprensa@infraero.gov.br
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 |
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News Release
Brasília, 30 de dezembro de 2008 – O passageiro que está com as malas prontas para viajar no final de ano ou nas férias de verão deve lembrar-se do documento de identificação para fazer o check-in no aeroporto. A falta de documentação pode causar atrasos ou até mesmo a perda do vôo. De acordo com a legislação da Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil – ANAC (resolução nº 52, de 04 de setembro de 2008), nos vôos domésticos são aceitos como documentos originais de identificação todos aqueles com fé pública e que permitam o reconhecimento do passageiro – podendo inclusive cópia autenticada em bom estado de conservação. Já para vôos internacionais, é preciso o passaporte ou outro documento legal de viagem previsto pelo controle do Serviço de Imigração da Polícia Federal, além de vistos exigidos por alguns países.
Documentos ou cópias em mau estado de conservação e que não permitam a devida identificação do passageiro, ou ainda sem foto do titular, poderão ser recusados pelas empresas aéreas, impedindo a pessoa de embarcar. Documentos que tenham o nome impresso do passageiro, mas que não sejam considerados identidades válidas – tais como contas de luz, gás e telefone, cartão de crédito ou vale-refeição – também serão recusados.
Mas vários documentos podem ser utilizados como identidade pessoal. Para o embarque de passageiros de nacionalidade brasileira em vôos domésticos, basta apresentar no check-in apenas um dos seguintes documentos:
* Carteira de identidade (RG) expedida pela Secretaria de Segurança Pública dos Estados ou Distrito Federal.
* Passaporte nacional.
* Cartão de identidade expedido por ministério ou órgão subordinado à Presidência da República, incluindo o Ministério da Defesa e os Comandos da Aeronáutica, da Marinha e do Exército.
* Cartão de identidade expedido pelos poderes Judiciário e Legislativo federais.
* Carteira Nacional de Habilitação, desde que tenha fotografia.
* Carteira de Trabalho.
* Carteira de identidade emitida por conselho profissional ou federação nacional de categoria profissional, desde que tenha fotografia.
* Certificado de habilitação técnica de piloto, comissário, mecânico de vôo ou despachante operacional de vôo.
* E especialmente para índios, além de um dos documentos já citados, a autorização de viagem ou outro documento expedido pela Fundação Nacional do Índio (FUNAI), que o identifique.
* No caso de estrangeiros em viagem dentro do Brasil, será necessária a apresentação de qualquer um dos seguintes documentos:
* Passaporte.
* Registro Nacional de Estrangeiros (RNE) ou Cédula de Identidade de Estrangeiro (CIE), ou ainda o seu protocolo válido pelo período de 60 dias após a emissão.
* Identidades diplomáticas ou consulares.
Já para vôos internacionais, as exigências são diferentes de acordo com a região ou o país.
Os brasileiros que forem para Argentina, Chile, Paraguai ou Uruguai devem apresentar ou o passaporte válido, ou o registro de identidade original, emitido por órgão oficial de um dos entes estatais (União, Estado, Distrito Federal e Municípios). É importante destacar que o registro de identidade deve estar em bom estado de conservação e com foto que identifique, com clareza, o portador. Nesses casos, cópias não serão aceitas.
Para os demais países, é necessário o passaporte nacional dentro do prazo de validade e, em alguns casos, o visto consular de entrada – que é exigido por vários países como Estados Unidos, Canadá, Austrália, Rússia, China, Índia, Japão, Líbano, Angola, Egito, México, Cuba e muitos outros. Em todos os casos, é indispensável procurar o consulado do país a ser visitado para saber se é exigido visto de entrada e em que condições. Por exemplo, há países que exigem visto de entrada para viajantes de negócios, mas não para turistas. Os países da União Européia (França, Grã Bretanha, Itália, Portugal, Espanha, Alemanha, Holanda e Bélgica entre outros) não exigem visto.
Para o estrangeiro que viaja para fora do Brasil é necessária a apresentação de passaporte válido ou, se residirem no país, o Registro Nacional de Estrangeiros (RNE) além de eventuais vistos consulares, de acordo com a nacionalidade. Nestes casos, também é indispensável que o passageiro consulte antes o consulado do país a ser visitado.
Para os índios em viagens internacionais, também é preciso apresentar o passaporte, observando-se ainda outras exigências da FUNAI e /ou da Polícia Federal.
Crianças e adolescentes
Quem viaja de avião com menores de idade – crianças e adolescentes com idade até 18 anos incompletos – precisa ficar duplamente atento à documentação exigida.
Se o menor viajar com ambos os pais, precisará de um dos seguintes documentos:
* Certidão de nascimento – original ou cópia autenticada.
* Passaporte nacional.
* Carteira de identidade (RG) expedida pela Secretaria de Segurança Pública dos Estados ou Distrito Federal.
* Cartão de identidade expedido por ministério ou órgão subordinado à Presidência da República, incluindo o Ministério da Defesa e os Comandos da Aeronáutica, da Marinha e do Exército.
* Carteira de Trabalho.
* Cartão de identidade expedido pelos poderes judiciário e legislativo federais.
Adolescentes – de 12 anos completos até 18 anos incompletos – podem viajar sozinhos com um documento de identidade válido, e apresentação do(s) documento(s) exigido(s) pelo Juizado da Infância e do Adolescente.
Se a criança de até 12 anos incompletos viajar desacompanhada de um dos pais, será preciso, além do documento de identificação válido, a autorização do pai ou da mãe ausente, com firma reconhecida em cartório.
Se a criança viajar desacompanhada, será necessária uma autorização expedida pelo Juizado da Vara da Infância e da Juventude e ainda verificar com antecedência as exigências da companhia aérea para esses casos. Caso a criança viaje sem os pais, mas acompanhada por um adulto, este deverá apresentar documento firmado em cartório pelo pai e mãe ou responsável legal que o autorize a viajar com a criança.
Essas regras valem também para crianças e adolescentes em vôos internacionais, porém o menor deverá ter passaporte nacional.
Essas e outras informações estão disponíveis na página da ANAC na internet pelo seguinte link
http://www.anac.gov.br/arquivos/pdf/guiaanac2009.pdf
Assessoria de Comunicação Social da ANAC
E-mail:jornalismo@anac.gov.br
Novos telefones: (61) 3441-8369 / 8370 / 8371 / 8372
Plantão: (61) 8442-9333
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 |
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Ter, 30 de Dezembro de 2008 16:26
O Snea (Sindicato Nacional das Empresas Aeroviárias) informou que o preço do querosene de aviação vai sofrer redução de 16,76% a partir da próxima quinta-feira.
Ao longo deste ano, o preço do querosene acumulou queda de 3,71%.
Entretanto, as empresas aéreas nacionais não têm reduzido os preços das passagens.
O preço do querosene de aviação é reajustado mensalmente pela Petrobras.
As informações são da “Agência Estado".
Jornal de Turismo
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Ter, 30 de Dezembro de 2008 16:14
Após aprovação, nesta terça-feira, do reajuste salarial de 8% para os aeroviários – trabalhadores das empresas aéreas que prestam serviços em terra –, a categoria descartou o movimento de greve que pretendiam realizar nesta quarta-feira, véspera de Ano Novo. O reajuste tinha sido proposto pelo Snea (Sindicato Nacional das Empresas Aeroviárias) e foi aceito pelos trabalhadores filiados ao Sindicato Nacional dos Aeroviários. As informações são da “Agência Estado”.
A mesma fonte também relatou que, na semana passada, a categoria não realizou paralisação no dia 24 de dezembro, conforme planejavam caso o índice não fosse aceito. A greve não ocorreu porque a proposta do Snea só foi discutida em assembléias na última segunda e nesta terça-feira.
Selma Balbino, secretária-executiva do sindicato, deve encaminhar hoje um ofício informando oficialmente que o reajuste foi aceito, mas disse que irá enviar também um termo aditivo para que seja negociado o aumento de piso salarial dos operadores das máquinas e equipamentos de pista para R$ 1.100 (hoje de R$ 700). “Queremos que essa negociação entre na convenção coletiva de trabalho 2008/2009”, explicou à “Agência Estado”.
Jornal de Turismo
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Ter, 30 de Dezembro de 2008 16:05
Com o objetivo de impulsionar a aviação regional e sub-regional e impulsionar a economia das diversas regiões do Estado, o Governo de Minas, em 2008, investiu R$ 54 milhões no Proaero (Programa Aeroportuário de Minas Gerais), gerenciado pela Setop (Secretaria de Estado de Transportes e Obras Públicas). Até junho de 2009, outros R$ 70 milhões deverão ser investidos.
Os investimentos foram destinados para construção, melhorias e reformas dos aeroportos, que incluem ampliações e melhorias na pista de pouso e decolagem, taxiway e pátio de aeronaves, terraplenagem, drenagem, restauração e pavimentação, implantação dos sistemas de sinalização diurna e noturna, construção de terminal de passageiros, seção de contra-incêndio, entre outros.
Neste ano, foram feitas intervenções nos aeroportos de Governador Valadares, Ubá, Regional da Zona da Mata, Araxá, Frutal, Guanhães, Oliveira e Ituiutaba. Já estão concluídas as obras dos aeroportos de Frutal, Guanhães, Araxá e Oliveira.
Estão sendo licitadas as obras referentes aos aeroportos de Capelinha, Guaxupé, Ouro Fino, Lavras, Cláudio, Divinópolis, Curvelo, Piumhi e Passos.
“A melhoria dos aeroportos regionais reflete diretamente na economia local, no turismo e no transporte de passageiros, beneficiando o intercâmbio entre os grandes centros consumidores e os pólos produtores, completando a ligação à região através da malha rodoviária”, analisou o secretário da Setop, Fuad Noman.
Para o subsecretário de Transportes, Fabrício Torres Sampaio, o programa deve uniformizar a qualidade do atendimento dos aeroportos locais e regionais em Minas. “Os projetos de engenharia estão voltados para a pavimentação e melhorias da pista, implantação de balizamento noturno e construção de terminal de passageiros; com o objetivo de oferecer ao Estado uma infra-estrutura em aeroportos capaz de atender a diferentes demandas turísticas, comerciais e industriais", falou.
Até 2011 todos os aeroportos que fazem parte do Proaero terão suas obras iniciadas.
Meta
A média anual de investimentos do Proaero na reforma, ampliação e adequação dos aeroportos é de R$ 65 milhões, com recursos dos governos estadual e federal. Em Minas, dos 151 aeroportos cadastrados para atendimento público, 32 serão selecionados pelo Programa para, até 2011, estarem adequados como aeroportos regionais e, assim, realizarem atendimentos a rotas comerciais e de carga.
Junto com a melhoria da operação e a implantação dos aeroportos regionais, é realizada a melhoria da malha rodoviária com o objetivo de facilitar o acesso aos terminais aeroportuários. As rodovias estão sendo restauradas em ações paralelas e a partir de programas específicos do setor rodoviário.
A implantação dos aeroportos regionais refletirá na economia local, no turismo e no transporte de passageiros. Na área econômica, a melhoria da rede de aeroportos estaduais, em operação 24 horas, deverá beneficiar o intercâmbio entre os grandes centros consumidores e os pólos produtores, completando a ligação à região, por meio da malha rodoviária. Até agora, o Proaero já beneficiou diretamente 14 municípios, com investimentos da ordem de R$ 100 milhões.
Em 2007 foram licitadas as obras nos aeroportos de Frutal, Oliveira, Ubá e Governador Valadares com recursos investidos pelo Estado da ordem de R$ 45 milhões, sendo que os dois primeiros já estão com as obras concluídas e os outros dois estão com as obras em andamento.
Em 2006 foram investidos R$ 71 milhões na ampliação e melhorias de cinco aeroportos: São João Del Rey, Diamantina, Manhuaçu, Iturama e Ituiutaba. Estão contratados projetos de Engenharia Aeroportuária de 82 aeroportos, cujas obras estão programadas, dentro do programa Proaero, para os anos de 2009, 2010 e 2011.
Programa
O Proaero visa dotar o Estado com uma rede de aeroportos de pequeno e médio porte, objetivando impulsionar a aviação regional e sub-regional, melhorando as condições de transporte de carga e passageiros. Atualmente, Minas Gerais possui uma rede de 151 aeroportos públicos, sendo 45 com pista pavimentada e operação visual diurna e 25 com operação visual noturna. Os outros 81 contam com pistas não pavimentadas.
Outro objetivo é a redução da distância média da sede de um município, por meio de rodovia pavimentada, a um aeroporto. A meta do Proaero, até 2011, com a conclusão das obras previstas no Programa, é ter 92% dos municípios mineiros localizados a uma distância média de 80 quilômetros de um aeroporto público com funcionamento diurno e noturno. Em 2011, serão 160 aeroportos públicos em operação.
Segundo Noman, Minas passa por um processo de crescimento e os aeroportos facilitam e ampliam o acesso ao turismo, educação, saúde e agronegócio. “Com os investimentos, melhoramos os aspectos econômicos do Estado aproximando as regiões, além de acompanhar o crescimento da aviação regional, interligando tanto o Estado, quanto seu entorno”, finalizou.
Jornal de Turismo
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A companhia de aviação Alitalia, adquirida em dezembro por um consórcio de empresários italianos que se somaram à Air One, manterá o nome Alitalia e começará a voar no próximo dia 13 de janeiro. Depois de uma assembléia geral celebrada em Milão, os novos proprietários decidiram conservar o nome da empresa. "Mudamos o nome e a razão social, a sociedade se chamará simplesmente Alitalia", declarou o vice-presidente da CAI, Companhia Aérea Italiana, Salvatore Mancuso.
Depois de vários meses de negociações com os sindicatos, que rejeitavam o plano de compra que prevê a eliminação de 3,25 mil postos de trabalho, a CAI adquiriu em meados de dezembro o setor de transporte de passageiros da Alitalia por 1,052 bilhão de euros.
A Alitalia vai se somar à Air One, a segunda companhia de aviação da península, assegurando as conexões com 70 destinos, 23 nacionais, 34 internacionais e 13 intercontinentais, com 670 vôos diários contra 1.050 no passado.
Os novos proprietários deverão assinar em breve uma aliança com um sócio estrangeiro, que deverá comprar entre 20% e 25% da nova companhia. A franco-holandesa Air France-KLM, a alemã Lufthansa e a inglesa British Airways estão entre os interessados, embora a imprensa especializada assinale a primeira como favorita.
Mercado e Eventos
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A Aeromexico coloca a disposição dos seus clientes mais dois novos vôos diretos semanais para Cancun, partindo de São Paulo.
As datas já confirmadas são: 16, 17, 23 e 24 de janeiro, 20, 21, 27 e 28 de fevereiro. As saídas são sempre as 15h30.
Mais informações no telefone: 0800-8917512.
Mercado e Eventos
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News Release
30 December 2008
Airbus today reached its target of delivering 12 A380 aircraft in 2008, bringing the total number of A380s delivered to date to 13.
The first A380 was delivered to Singapore Airlines on 15th October 2007, with five more delivered to the airline in 2008. Qantas received three A380s in 2008, and Emirates four - the most recent of which was delivered on the 30th December 2008 from the Airbus delivery centre in Hamburg, Germany.
"We have met our 2008 delivery schedule", said Tom Enders, Airbus President and Chief Executive Officer. "That was only possible thanks to a tremendous team effort. This gives us a good basis to further ramp up our production in 2009. With the in-service fleet steadily growing, our airline customers are benefiting from lower operating costs while their passengers are benefiting from unequalled cabin comfort and quietness. The environment is benefiting too. With lower emissions and noise, the A380 is the most eco-efficient aircraft in service today."
The in-service A380 fleet has flown more than 21,000 revenue flight hours in more than 2200 commercial flights carrying more than 890,000 passengers. The world's first full double-deck aircraft is now connecting four continents and flying on seven major international routes. A380s in service link Singapore with Sydney, London and Tokyo, Dubai with New York and London, and Sydney and Melbourne with Los Angeles.
Being greener, cleaner, quieter and smarter, the A380 is setting new standards for air transport and the environment. In addition to the quiet and spacious double-deck cabin, the A380 is also setting new industry-standards for the environment. The in-service experience has shown that the A380 consumes 20 percent less fuel per seat than the previous largest aircraft, representing the lowest fuel burn of any large aircraft ever.
The A380 not only complies with today's noise limits, it is also significantly quieter than any other large aircraft flying today. With a range of 8 200 nm / 15 200 km, and seating 525 passengers in a standard three-class layout while being much more eco-efficient, the A380 is the ideal aircraft to alleviate traffic congestion at busy airports, while coping with growth.
Orders for the aircraft stand at 198 from 16 customers.
© Airbus S.A.S. 2009
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A revista Isto É acaba de divulgar a lista dos 100 brasileiros mais influentes no ano de 2008. O Presidente do Conselho da Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras, David Neeleman, foi o único representante do setor aéreo a integrar a lista.
Ha' alguns anos, Neeleman foi igualmente listado como uma das 100 pessoas mais influentes do mundo pela revista Time, nos Estados Unidos. Segue o texto literal que explica as razões da escolha pela revista brasileira. Detalhe: Neeleman foi incluido na categoria de perfil "ousado" pela publicação.
O paulistano David Neeleman, radicado nos Estados Unidos, está de volta à terra natal com uma boa notícia: a criação da Azul Linhas Aéreas, pronta para alçar grandes vôos em 2009.
A empresa tem perfil inovador. Aposta na oferta de vôos domésticos sem escala, com aeronaves menores e passagens baratas para aumentar a demanda pelas viagens de avião.
"O público hoje tem que arcar com tarifas excessivamente elevadas e com reduzidas opções de serviços": afirmou o empresário. Em cinco anos, a Azul pretende servir as principais cidades do País com uma frota de até 76 jatos da Embraer.
A julgar pelo perfil de seu criador, terá tudo para revolucionar o tráfego aéreo brasileiro. Neeleman, de 49 anos e pai de nove filhos, é mais conhecido como o fundador da JetBlue, que conquistou o mercado dos EUA com uma estrutura enxuta e tarifas baixas.
A ele são atribuídas inovações como o uso do bilhete eletrônico e a tevê ao vivo nos aviões, em monitores individuais, que devem estar disponíveis no Brasil no segundo semestre.
JetSite
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Presstur 30-12-2008 (15h07)
A aviação comercial registou em Novembro, a nível mundial, reduções da procura em 4,6% no transporte internacional de passageiros e em 13,5% no transporte internacional de carga, informou hoje a IATA, que conta com cerca de 230 companhias associadas, que representam 93% da oferta.
“A queda em 13,5% no transporte internacional de carga é chocante, comentou o director geral da IATA, Giovanni Bisignani, salientando que evidencia “a rápida queda do comércio mundial”, no qual a aviação representa, em valor, 35% dos bens transaccionados a nível mundial.
Bisignani destaca ainda que a queda em Novembro é a maior desde 2001, quando o transporte aéreo sofreu o impacto dos atentados de 11 de Setembro em Nova Iorque e Washington.
O director geral da IATA comentou ainda que a indústria “está a encolher, segundo todos os parâmetros”, ao destacar que a queda do tráfego de passageiros (em RPK = passageiros x quilómetros) em 4,6% excedeu a redução de oferta (em ASK = lugares x quilómetros) por parte das companhias, que foi em 1%, levando a uma queda da taxa de ocupação em três pontos percentuais, para 72,7%.
A IATA salienta ainda como a degradação se tem acentuado, tendo em conta que as quedas da procura nos voos internacionais tinham sido em 1,3% em Outubro e em 2,9% em Setembro, e Bisignani conclui que se podem esperar “perdas grandes” no quarto trimestre.
Os dados publicados pela IATA mostram que só escaparam à tendência de queda em Novembro as companhias baseadas na América Latina e Médio Oriente, que tiveram crescimentos em 3,3% e em 5,6%, respectivamente.
As companhias da Ásia e Pacífico tiveram a maior queda homóloga mensal, em 9,7%, e depois vêm as norte-americanas, com –4,8%, as europeias, com –3,4%, e as africanas, com –1,6%.
Quanto a taxas de ocupação, os dados da IATA indicam que a tendência de queda foi comum a todas as regiões, tanto às que tiveram crescimentos de procura, que foram menores que aumentos de oferta, como às que tiveram queda, mesmo quando tinham feito de reduções de oferta, uma vez que estas foram inferiores à evolução do tráfego.
Apesar das quedas nos últimos três meses (Setembro a Novembro), o balanço de 2008 ainda mostra um crescimento médio do transporte aéreo internacional de passageiros, em 2,2%, e que só as companhias de África e Ásia e Pacífico estão abaixo do período homólogo de 2007, respectivamente em 3,7% e em 0,8%.
As companhias da América Latina lideram o crescimento, com +11,2%, e depois vêm as do Médio Oriente, com +7,1%, da América do Norte, com +3,6%, e da Europa, com +2,2%.
Os dados da IATA indicam que neste período de onze meses se regista uma queda da taxa de ocupação média, para 76%, uma vez que o aumento de procura em 2,2% ocorre face a um incremento de oferta em 3,9%.
As excepções são as companhias africanas, com 70,3%, por que a queda da procura (-3,7%) é menor que a redução da oferta (-4%), e as latino-americanas, com 74,2%, por que o crescimento da procura (+11,2%) é superior ao aumento de capacidade (+9,9%).
Nas restantes regiões ocorrem quedas, para 74% no caso das companhias da Ásia e Pacífico (a procura caiu 0,8% face a um aumento de capacidade em 1,8%), 76,9% nas europeias (crescimento da procura em 2,2% face a aumento de capacidade em 4,3%), 75% nas companhias do Médio Oriente (crescimento da procura em 7,1% face a aumento de capacidade em 8,4%) e 80% nas norte-americanas (crescimento da procura em 3,6% face a aumento de capacidade em 4,7%).
A informação da IATA especifica que a Europa é a região onde o transporte aéreo internacional tem mais peso, com 34,2%, seguindo-se Ásia e Pacífico, com 31,1%, América do Norte, com 18,8%, Médio Oriente, com 9,1%, América Latina, com 4,4% e África, com 2,4%.
Quanto ao transporte internacional de carga, a Ásia e Pacífico é a região onde esta actividade tem mais peso, com 44,6%, e aquela onde em Novembro se verificou a maior queda, em 16,9%.
Depois vem a Europa, com 27,4%, a América do Norte, com 17%, o Médio oriente, com 7,8%, a América latina, com 2,1%, e África, com 1,1%.
As maiores quedas no transporte aéreo de carga em Novembro, depois da Ásia e Pacífico, ocorreram entre as companhias da América Latina, com –15,7%, América do Norte, com –14,4%, e Europa, com –11%.
As companhias de África tiveram um crescimento em 2,2% e as do Médio Oriente tiveram uma queda em 1,6%.
Presstur
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Entre 10h e 11h de hoje, penúltimo dia do ano, o índice de atraso de vôos nos aeroportos da rede Infraero foi de 8,1% em Brasília, 1,2% em Congonhas (SP) e 1,1% em Guarulhos (SP). O Galeão (RJ) registrou 4,4% de atrasos no período. Dos 751 vôos programados de 0h às 11h, 9,1% sofreram atrasos.
Até as 11h, no Aeroporto de Brasília, dos 62 vôos programados, 22,6% atrasaram. Em Congonhas (SP), dos 83 vôos programados, 3,6% registraram atraso. Em Guarulhos (SP), dos 92 vôos programados, 8,7% atrasaram. No Galeão (RJ), dos 66 vôos programados, 8,8% sofreram atraso. A Gol registro o maior número de atrasos (23), seguida pela Tam (22).
© 2008 PANROTAS
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A Air Canada anunciou no último dia 24 que concluiu uma série de acordos de financiamento com a General Electric Capital Corporation, em um total que pode chegar a US$ 195 milhões.
A primeira parte do empréstimo (US$ 80 milhões) foi repassada à empresa aérea canadense na semana passada. O empréstimo vence em 2014.
A segunda parte do empréstimo está prevista para janeiro. As duas partes somariam US$ 155 milhões. Os US$ 40 milhões restantes viriam da venda de um 777, com seu posterior leaseback.
O empréstimo faz parte da estratégia da AC de melhorar sua liquidez a curto e longo prazos.
© 2008 PANROTAS
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O Sindicato Nacional das Empresas Aeroviárias (Snea), presidido por José Márcio Mollo (foto), obteve liminar na 15ª Vara da Justiça Federal do Distrito Federal, em Brasília, que impede a Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (Anac) de iniciar, no dia 1º de janeiro, o processo de liberação tarifária, com descontos de 20% nas tarifas para Europa e Estados Unidos em janeiro e que chegariam a 80% em julho de 2009. O presidente do TRF-1 (Tribunal Regional Federal da 1º Região), desembargador Jirair Meguerian, acatou as alegações das empresas aéreas representadas pelo Snea, que questionava a forma como a resolução foi aprovada no final de novembro.
Segundo o sindicato, a Anac fez apenas uma consulta na internet e não fez audiência pública a respeito. De acordo com o advogado Flávio Schegerin Ribeiro, que representa o Snea, as companhias aéreas querem que seja feita audiência pública para discutir o assunto, o que não aconteceu.
Na sentença,o desembargador argumentou ainda que a resolução da Anac gera "efeitos imediatos e catastróficos para as companhias aéreas brasileiras e para o mercado em geral, além de favorecer a prática do dumping pelas companhias internacionais, que valem-se de subsídios governamentais e poderão praticar tarifas muito inferiores àquelas praticadas pelas empresas nacionais".
A Anac informa que ainda não foi notificada da decisão judicial proferida às 14h de 24 de dezembro, mas que a lei de criação da Anac prevê a liberdade tarifária. Assim, a agência não sabe dizer se vai recorrer e se os descontos poderão ser aplicados a partir de 2009.
© 2008 PANROTAS
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