|
Aviation News April 2006
US proposes age limits for commercial aircraft
WASHINGTON,
April 18 (Reuters) - U.S. aviation regulators proposed for the
first time on Tuesday operating limits for commercial aircraft
to help avoid the most serious age-related metal fatigue cracks
and other damage. The change would exceed long-standing
regulations on aging aircraft, mainly concerning maintenance,
and apply to thousands of airliners already in service and those
on the drawing board, a draft Federal Aviation Administration
rule showed. It could take months -- or even years -- for the
agency to adopt a final rule.
Manufacturers
would work with the FAA to establish operating limits based on
thousands of takeoffs and landings. The FAA estimates the cost
to industry at $360 million over 20 years. Plane makers like
Boeing Co. and Europe's Airbus would incur about 10 percent of
this, while airlines and other operators would pay the rest. But
regulators say airlines would save hundreds of millions of
dollars on maintenance and other expenses. The proposal covers
planes like the workhorse McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series, first
popular in the early 1980s and still flown domestically, and the
newest Boeing 777, a wide-body that flies premium international
service. The rule would also apply to next-generation aircraft
like Boeing's 787 and the superjumbo Airbus A380. It took
several years to conclude an operating limit was necessary. The
proposal comes as the average age of many planes in the U.S.
fleet is on the way down. Nevertheless, the FAA concluded that
"all airplanes in the fleet are susceptible" to the
most serious kind of fatigue. Currently, manufacturers must
determine an expected service life for an airliner, and for new
designs, they must show that serious fatigue damage will not
occur. But there is no rule that restricts or prohibits
operation once a plane exceeds its estimated service life and
fatigue becomes a greater concern. Boeing says its planes are
built to be commercially viable for 25 years but airlines can
fly them longer if they satisfy airworthiness regulations.
Commercial planes are generally made of aluminum and include
fiberglass and some carbon-based composites. Most big planes,
except very new ones, have some minor fatigue cracking that is
caused by expansion and contraction of the fuselage during
changes in cabin pressure and repaired during maintenance.
"As long as it's monitored carefully that's perfectly
safe," said Charles Eastlake, an aerospace engineering
expert at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Serious problems
arise when tiny cracks -- often too small to be detected during
an inspection -- begin to multiply. "These cracks could
grow together very rapidly so that failure could occur before
another inspection is performed to detect them," the FAA
said. Cracks can occur in an aircraft's skin or on structural
parts like frames and spread to different areas. Fatigue issues
received closer attention in 1988 when a section of upper
fuselage on an Aloha Airlines 737 peeled away during flight. One
flight attendant was sucked out of the aircraft while in flight,
before the plane landed safely. As a result the FAA stepped up
fatigue inspections, corrosion prevention, and repairs on older
planes to reduce the number of repetitive checks. However, none
of the programs address the most serious type of fatigue damage.
Southwest & Boeing are sued by parents of dead boy
CHICAGO,
April 7 (Reuters) - The parents of a 6-year-old boy killed in
December when a Southwest Airlines plane skidded off a snowy
runway, sued the airline and aircraft maker Boeing Co. on
Friday. Attorneys for Lisa and Leroy Woods filed the lawsuit in
Cook County Circuit court. Their son Joshua died on Dec. 8 when
the Boeing 737 operated by Southwest slid off the runway at
Chicago's Midway Airport during a snow storm. The plane, which
had flown to Midway from Baltimore with 98 passengers and five
crew members, slid off the airport into a traffic intersection
with its nose on the ground after the front gear collapsed. The
car carrying Joshua Woods was crushed in the accident. Woods was
the only person killed, but 13 others, including the boy's
parents and younger brothers, were injured. The suit seeks
damages to be determined.
Aeroflot joins Delta SkyMiles program
ATLANTA,
April 5, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Delta Air Lines has announced that
Aeroflot Russian Airlines became a SkyMiles(r) partner effective
April 1, 2006. The agreement will enable SkyMiles members to
earn and redeem miles on flights operated by Aeroflot.
"This partnership demonstrates Delta's continued commitment
to international expansion,'' said Jeff Robertson, managing
director of the SkyMiles program. "It opens up access to
Russia's more remote destinations through Aeroflot's extensive
service and allows SkyMiles members to earn miles while
traveling to other locations throughout Eastern Europe - and
beyond." SkyMiles
members may earn bonus miles and Medallion Qualification Miles
when flying Aeroflot and may redeem miles on Aeroflot flights.
Aeroflot Bonus members may accrue bonus miles, class of service
bonuses and elite qualification miles, and may redeem miles
while traveling on Delta, Song, Delta Shuttle and Delta
Connection carriers. Aeroflot offers nonstop service to Moscow
from New York City, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and from
Moscow to destinations throughout Eastern Europe and Asia.
"Delta SkyMiles and Aeroflot Bonus members around the world
will benefit from this partnership,'' said Eugene Bachurin,
Commercial Director of Aeroflot. "We look forward to
providing great service and benefits to SkyMiles members on our
flights.'' Aeroflot
Russian Airlines, JSC (RTS: AFLT), Russia's national airline
company, was established in 1923. The largest airline in the
country, the company operates 39 percent of Russia's
international flights. Aeroflot is a member of the 25 top global
carriers (ATV version) and carried 6.862 million passengers in
2004. The airline will open its own terminal in Moscow's
Sheremetyevo Airport by 2007. Delta SkyMiles members earn miles
by flying Delta, Song(r), Delta Shuttle(r), the Delta Connection
carriers, Delta Air Elite and Delta's SkyTeam(r) partners. The
SkyMiles program offers additional mileage-building
opportunities through partners such as the Delta SkyMiles Credit
Card from American Express, SkyMilesShopping.com, participating
hotels, car rental companies, telecommunication services,
restaurants, floral and gift retailers and financial, mortgage
and realty services. Now in its 25th year, the SkyMiles program
was recently named the Best Frequent Flyer Program by Travel
Savvy magazine in a survey that included all global and domestic
loyalty programs. The airline plans to offer an array of
exciting programs, promotions and benefits as Delta celebrates
the silver anniversary of its frequent flyer program in 2006. Delta
Air Lines is one of the world's fastest growing
international carriers with more than 50 new international
routes added or announced in the last year. Delta offers daily
flights to 503 destinations in 94 countries on Delta, Song,
Delta Shuttle, the Delta Connection carriers and its worldwide
partners. In summer 2006, Delta plans to offer customers more
destinations and departures between the U.S., Europe, India and
Israel than any global airline(1), including service on 11 new
transAtlantic routes from its Atlanta and New York-JFK hubs.
Delta also is a major carrier to Mexico, South and Central
America and the Caribbean, with more than 35 routes announced,
added or applied to serve since Jan. 1, 2005. Delta's marketing
alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on
more than 14,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners.
Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance
that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations,
flights and services. Customers can check in for flights, print
boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.
Air Canada leases additional Boeing 777-300
MONTREAL,
April 3 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada announced today it has signed
a 10-year lease for one new Boeing 777-300ER from International
Lease Finance Corporation to accelerate its wide-body fleet
renewal and modernization program. Air Canada will take delivery
of the leased aircraft in May 2007, bringing to eight the total
number of Boeing 777s entering the fleet next year. Delivery of
the leased aircraft will allow Air Canada to accelerate by
nearly two years the return of a leased Airbus A340-300
originally scheduled to be returned to ILFC in mid-2009. The
transaction is part of an ongoing renewal program that will give
Air Canada one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world
and provide savings on fuel, expanded range capabilities and
other efficiencies. In November 2005, Air Canada announced that
it had concluded agreements with Boeing for the acquisition of
up to 36 Boeing 777s and up to 60 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The
agreements include firm orders for 18 Boeing 777s, plus purchase
rights for 18 more, in a yet-to-be determined mix of the 777
family's newest models: the 777-300ER, the 777-200LR Worldliner
and the 777 freighter. Delivery of the 777 aircraft is scheduled
to commence in March 2007. The agreements also include firm
orders for 14 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, plus options and purchase
rights for an additional 46 aircraft. Air Canada's first 787 is
scheduled for delivery in 2010.
|
