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News from July 2024
In all my years of flying, whether as an instructor/evaluator or simply a member of the crew, I’ve never seen a pilot win a fistfight with the autoflight. As I was nearly done writing this article in early May, the NTSB issued its preliminary report on the fatal accident involving a Daher TBM 700, N960LP, near Truckee, California, on March 30, 2024.
A flight affected by "strong turbulence" made an emergency landing in Brazil, resulting in injuries to 30 passengers. One passenger ended up in the overhead bin.
Alvest Group, comprising its companies TLD and Smart Airport Systems (SAS), alongside EasyMile, has announced the formal launch of TractEasy. This joint venture aims to manage the commercialization of the EZTow autonomous tow tractor.
Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a member of the SATS Group, has increased cargo handling capacity by 60 percent at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport with the official opening of its fifth cargo terminal.
Chinese lithium battery company Contemporary Amperex Technology Company Limited (CATL) has announced plans to introduce a 16,000-pound electric aircraft with a range of up to 1500 nautical miles by 2028. According to NewAtlas, CATL, which supplies the majority of electric car batteries globally, recently flew an 8,000-pound plane powered by its “condensed battery.” However, details about the flight or the airplane were not disclosed.
A video showing a Delta flight attendant threatening to have a passenger’s children taken away by the government has recently gone viral, amassing millions of views. However, this incident is not new; it originally occurred on April 23, 2017. The situation arose shortly after the widely publicized David Dao incident on United Airlines, heightening sensitivities around passenger treatment.
On July 2, 2024, a video surfaced showing a passenger lodged in an overhead bin during severe turbulence on Air Europa's flight 45 from Madrid to Montevideo. The Boeing 787-9 encountered the turbulence while cruising above the Atlantic Ocean. Video footage captured inside the cabin shows crew members assisting the passenger out of the bin once the turbulence subsided.
DoKaSch Temperature Solutions, a specialist in temperature-controlled active packaging solutions, has announced the appointment of Rory Ward as the new business development manager for the Midwest Region in the United States.
In April 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as "Superfund." This designation impacts various industries that have utilized these chemicals for fire suppression, food packaging, and other consumer products. The designation raises concerns about potential liabilities for spreading these chemicals, which are linked to health issues such as infertility, lower...
Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines’ largest airline, has signed a binding Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus for the purchase of up to 152 A321neo aircraft valued at $24 billion based on list prices. This represents the largest aircraft order in Philippine aviation history.
On June 28, 2024, Air France reopened its fully renovated lounge at Cayenne-Félix Eboué International Airport. The redesigned space offers a place for customers to eat, work, or relax before boarding or between flights.
SmartSky, a provider of inflight air-to-ground (ATG) connectivity for business aviation, announced the issuance of an FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for SmartSky LITE on the King Air 350i. The certificate covers installation of the inflight Wi-Fi system for King Air models B200, B200C, B200GT, 250, 250C, 250EP, 260, 260C, 300, 350, 350C, 350CER, 350i, 350iER, 360, 360C, and 360CER representing over 2,000 in-service aircraft.
AAR CORP. subsidiary Airinmar, a provider of component repair cycle management and aircraft warranty solutions, has signed a multi-year services agreement with Airhub Aviation. The agreement aims to support Airhub Aviation's partner, GetJet Airlines, a Lithuanian-based provider of aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance services.
Spirit Airlines pilots and their union have raised concerns over the airline’s decision to issue furlough notices to pilots while simultaneously approving salary increases for several top executives.
The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority has appointed Syed Mehdi, A.A.E., as Vice President of Airport Planning. In this role, Mr. Mehdi will oversee strategic infrastructure and facility planning, manage long-term projects including airport master plan updates, near-term planning initiatives, and the airport capital improvement plan. He assumed his new position on July 1, 2024.
FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky — Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division recently completed testing a modernized version of the CH-47 Chinook helicopter during Operation Lethal Eagle (OLE).
Hermes Logistics Technologies (HLT), a provider of software solutions to the air cargo industry, has appointed Joe Hickey as its new Global Business Development Manager. Hickey will be responsible for driving HLT’s global sales strategy, expanding its reach, and maximizing growth opportunities for the logistics technology business and its customers.
Boeing has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Spirit AeroSystems, aiming to bring the company back under its control. Spirit was originally formed when Boeing sold its Wichita factory and facilities in Tulsa to investment firm Onex Corporation in 2005.
Elliott Capital has acquired nearly a $2 billion stake in Southwest Airlines, seeking to replace top management and align the airline more closely with major competitors such as American Airlines and JetBlue by introducing charges for bags and basic economy fares. In response, Southwest Airlines has adopted a 'shareholder rights plan,' commonly known as a 'poison pill,' designed to make any takeover attempt prohibitively expensive, according to an SEC filing. This move is expected to lead to litigation.
The Thales/Get SAT dual-beam Ku-band electronically steered antenna (ESA), selected by Safran Passenger Innovations for Airbus’ linefit, supplier-furnished HBCplus inflight connectivity program, contains more components than the ThinKom Solutions VICTS-based Ka-band terminal. Notably, it includes a 5G solution to ensure gate-to-gate connectivity even if the Ku ESA overheats in very hot weather.