Air Berlin Airbus A320-214 D-ALTL

Take off at MUC-EDDM "Franz Joseph Strauss"
Air Berlin Airbus A320-214 D-ALTL

Air Jamaica Airbus A340-313X 6Y-JMM

Short finals at LHR-EGLL "London Heathrow"
Air Jamaica Airbus A340-313X 6Y-JMM

American Airlines Boeing B777-223ER N755AN

Short finals at LHR-EGLL "London Heathrow"
American Airlines Boeing B777-223ER N755AN

Aegean Airlines Boeing 737-3YO SX-BGK

Short finals at SKG-LGTS "Makedonia Airport"
Aegean Airlines Boeing 737-3YO SX-BGK

United Airlines Boeing 777-222 N778UA

Take off at MUC-EDDM "Franz Josef Strauss"
United Airlines Boeing 777-222 N778UA

Emirates Airbus A340-541 A6-ERG

Take off at ZRH-LSZH "Zürich-Kloten"
Emirates Airbus A340-541 A6-ERG

Reliance Industries Bombardier BD-700-1A10 GE VT-DHA

Taxiing at ZRH-LSZH "Zürich-Kloten"
Reliance Industries Bombardier BD-700-1A10 GE VT-DHA

Lufthansa Airbus A330-343 D-AIKJ

Take off at MUC-EDDM "Franz Josef Strauss"
Lufthansa Airbus A330-343 D-AIKJ

Dornier Do31-E3 D-9531 (Prototype)

Deutsches Museum Flugwerft Oberschleißheim
Dornier Do31-E3 D-9531 (Prototype)

Varig McDonnell Douglas MD-11 PP-VTJ

Touch down in MUC-EDDM "Franz Josef Strauss"
Varig McDonnell Douglas MD-11 PP-VTJ

Olympic Airlines Boeing B737-484 SX-BKF

Taxiing at SKG-LGTS "Makedonia Airport"
Olympic Airlines Boeing B737-484 SX-BKF

Lufthansa Junkers Ju52/3m D-ANOY (fake reg)

Displayed at visitor's park MUC-EDDM "Franzt Josef Strauss"
Lufthansa Junkers Ju52/3m D-ANOY (fake reg)

Germanwings Airbus A329-112 D-AKNO

Take off at MUC-EDDM "Franz Josef Strauss"
Germanwings Airbus A329-112 D-AKNO

British Airways sets seat charges


British Airways passengers will have to pay to choose their seats before they travel from October, the airline says.
The charges will affect those seeking to ensure they sit together on a flight and people with a preference for window, aisle or emergency exit seats.
Prices range from £10 per person for European economy flights, to £60 for long haul trips in business class.
Consumer group Which? said it was “disappointing to see British Airways jumping on the bandwagon”.
BA said it would “give customers more control over their seating options”. The new charges will come into force on 7 October.
‘Extra charges’
The airline currently allows passengers to reserve seats in the 24 hours prior to departure.
The new charge – aimed at passengers wanting to reserve seats earlier than this – will be £20 on long-haul economy or short flights in business class, while a seat in an emergency exit row will cost £50.
This can be booked between 10 and four days before take-off.
A BA spokeswoman said: “Customers frequently request specific seats, but in the past we’ve only been able to confirm them 24 hours in advance or on the day. We know people want to secure them in advance and have real control over their flying experience. This will allow them to do that.”
Rochelle Turner, head of research at Which? Holiday, said travellers had become used to budget airlines charging them for a service that used to be included in the “headline price”.
“We know from our members that people really don’t like these extra charges – they’d much rather see a headline price that includes everything,” she said. “BA is still giving some people the chance to reserve their seat for free in the 24 hours before departure, but if you aren’t quick enough off the mark, you could find yourself sitting on the other side of the plane from your family or partner.
“It’s no way to start a holiday.”
The move comes as the airline attempts to bolster its balance sheet after a £401m loss in the last financial year.
And it follows BA’s decision to cut luggage allowances and abolish free meals on short flights.

source: aviationnews.eu

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Bombardier celebrates groundbreaking for new CSeries aircraft manufacturing site

Today marked a major achievement for the CSeries aircraft program as Bombardier Aerospace celebrated the groundbreaking of the first CSeries aircraft building in Québec, Canada. Located at Mirabel, 45 minutes north of Montréal, the Complete Integrated Aircraft Systems Test Area (CIASTA) is a testing and systems-proving facility that will house a virtual CSeries test aircraft. The CIASTA will test aircraft systems for reliability and functionality one year before the first prototype aircraft flies.
Attended by Bombardier’s employees, suppliers, partners, customers and the media, the groundbreaking lays the path for the new aircraft’s entry into service in 2013.
“It’s a red-letter day for the program and an important day for Bombardier Aerospace,” noted Guy Hachey, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Aerospace in his remarks to the assembled guests. “Today we begin work on the facilities that will be the site of the first CSeries test aircraft. Eventually we will erect a complex of buildings here that will total 860,000 square feet – that’s the size of 15 football fields – to produce the CSeries family of aircraft.”




The CIASTA will be constructed as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building, the first such building for Bombardier Aerospace in the world. LEED is a third-party certification program and an internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.
The design and construction of the CIASTA is on track and is expected to be ready for test rig assembly next year. Wieland-Dafco Québec Inc. and Ghafari Associates LLC have been contracted to construct the building.
As part of Bombardier’s mandate to contribute to a more sustainable future for aviation, the company’s priority is to design and manufacture the most fuel-efficient aircraft with the lowest gas and noise emissions in their category. The mandate also extends to Bombardier’s manufacturing processes and facilities.  Making effective use of existing resources where possible, the CIASTA will be reconstructed from an existing fuel-flow building.
“We seek consistency and uniformity when it comes to being greener whether it’s our aircraft or the facilities in which they are tested and built,” said Mr. Hachey.
The CIASTA will house, among other things, the CSeries aircraft Integrated Systems Test and Certification Rig (ISTCR) or Iron Bird as it is usually called. This will be the first complete test vehicle enabling earlier product maturity.  Flight control systems, avionics, electrical and environmental controls will be tested one year ahead of the actual flight test program. Other test articles will include an Interiors Rig, a Systems Integration Test Stand (SITS), an Engineering Simulator (ESIM) and Flight Controls Integration Lab (FCIL).
Bombardier achieved another milestone for the CSeries aircraft program recently when the first test article – a fuselage test barrel – arrived ahead of schedule at its Saint-Laurent, Québec site from China on August 19, 2009. The test barrel is now being prepared for fatigue testing including pressure cycle testing representative of the life of the aircraft. The test barrel will be used to demonstrate manufacturing and engineering structural concepts before the CSeries aircraft’s final design phase begins in 2010.
Earlier this year, the CSeries aircraft program officially transitioned from the Joint Conceptual Definition Phase (JCDP) to the Joint Definition Phase (JDP). The latter phase will bring with it greater product definition and is expected to close with the preliminary design freeze. 
Since launching the CSeries family of aircraft at the Farnborough Air Show in July 2008, Bombardier has recorded firm orders for 50 CS100 and CS300 aircraft from Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Lease Corporation International Group. The CSeries aircraft which are optimized for the longer range, single-aisle 100- to 145-seat market will deliver the lowest operating costs in their class, exceptional operational flexibility, widebody comfort and an unmatched environmental scorecard.
source: aviationnews.eu

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Sukhoi Superjet 100 begins high altitude trials



At Gyumri SSJ100 will undergo a series of tests, assessing takeoff and landing performance as well as climb rate characteristics. These tests shall demonstrate the capability of the aircraft to sustain safe take off and landing, including missed approach in such complicated natural conditions. Besides, this test series is aimed at evaluation of main aircraft systems performance, while main focus will be on engine and auxiliary power unit operation.
Located at high altitudes (5000 ft/1524m), international Shirak Airport serves Gyumri — the second largest city of Armenia. Built in 1961, it has been upgraded in 2007 to meet ICAO First Class Airport requirements. It is peculiar for being clutched in the surrounding mountains and, hence, available for takeoff and landing only from the south. Its runway is 3220 m long, 45 m wide.
source: aviationnews.eu

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Mitsubishi Aircraft Announces Final MRJ Configuration


Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation (MJET) announces that the MRJ configuration has been finalized, placing the regional jet on the path to completing critical design review and design freeze in the coming months. The new configuration incorporates a number of significant improvements that reflect design progress and promise greater value to our respected customers.

These improvements are the result of discussions with and feedback from our customers. The improved design will allow the MRJ to meet and exceed the expectations of the market. Specifically, these enhancements will boost the MRJ’s value where it matters most - in the marketplace and in airline operations. In this issue we elaborate on some of the improvements and changes that have been made.

First, the cabin has been modified to better meet customer requirements. The new configuration will offer a wider cabin with more head clearance than the competitor’s. The cabin height has been raised an additional 1.5 inches. This also translates into an additional 12% volume of space in the overhead bin, which will better serve airlines and passengers by accommodating more carry-on baggage,
including large-size roller bags.

A second addition involves improvements to the cargo compartment. We have also moved to reflect the feedback of valued customers by introducing another efficiency-boosting modification in the design of the cargo compartments. We have combined the forward and aft cargo compartments into a single aft cargo compartment. The total cargo volume remains unchanged at 644 cubic feet, but will now be located in one place, resulting in a design that makes baggage handling simpler with the added bonus of improved stacking efficiency.

In addition, with the updated design the MRJ will feature an aluminum wing box, which will make it easier to manufacture the optimal wing structure. Easier optimization means enhanced competitiveness across the MRJ family: the MRJ70, the MRJ90 and the MRJ stretch version, a 100-seat jet, which is a recently announced potential addition that we are excited to tell you about in greater detail below.

The aluminum wing box will allow for a shorter lead-time to make structural changes, and with an aluminum wing box, the wings can be optimized to match the attributes of each member of the MRJ airplane family. This will maximize the performance of all MRJ models, including the possible stretch version.

As mentioned above, to better respond to the demands of our customers, we are now considering adding a stretch version of the MRJ to the MRJ family. While the MRJ90, the 92-seat jet, and the MRJ70, the 78-seat version, have both been launched, a 100-seat version is being proposed, contingent on sufficient market demand to trigger a full-scale launch of the program. In conjunction with these changes, our production schedule will also be adjusted with the first flight to take place in the second quarter of 2012, and the first delivery to take place in the first quarter of 2014. We remain more committed than ever to our mission of revolutionizing the regional jet market through the application of mainline jet technology and mainline customer support in a way that offers unprecedented value for the environment, passengers and airlines.

We thank you for your continued attention, interest
and support.

source: mrj-japan.com (.pdf)

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Turkish plans massive rebrand





Turkish Airlines (THY) intends to undergo a complete rebranding effort and has contracted UK design group Priestmangoode to handle the wok.
The contract calls for an interior re-design across the entire Turkish fleet as well as the airline's ground services, lounges and check-in counters, says a spokeswoman for Priestmangoode.
"Retrofitting the new design concept across the entire fleet will happen simultaneously with the start of ground service projects, defining key brand messages through signature colours and creating a clear link between the cabin interiors and the entire passenger experience through the airport terminal," says the spokeswoman.
Priestmangoode will also consult on the airline's livery.
The contract comes as Turkish is engaged in a fleet renewal programme. According to Flightglobal's ACAS database, Turkish holds orders for seven Airbus A300-300s and 12 Boeing777-300ERs.
source: flightglobal.com

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Embraer to decide on larger aircraft within 18 to 24 months

Embraer expects to decide whether to move forward with development of a larger commercial aircraft within the next 18 to 24 months. During an earnings conference call today, Embraer president and CEO Frederico Fleury Curado said: "We keep looking into the whole section of commercial aircraft [from] small to 150 seats or so." In that regard, he says, the Brazilian company is looking at two "moving pieces in this puzzle" - engine technology and "the correct level of use of composites and aluminium alloys" to use in a newer airframe.
On the engine side, for instance, open rotor technology could hold promise, but Embraer still needs to asses the tradeoffs in fuel burn and fuel efficiency versus how passengers would react from a psychological perspective.
"We keep doing the same thing we have been doing for the last 24 months, assessing the market, investing into technology development to be able to use that as we think, and probably, within 18 to 24 months, we will conclude this strategy to address maybe a larger aircraft, maybe an updating of our existing [E-Jets] aircraft," adds Curado.
Another consideration for Embraer as it mulls whether to offer something bigger than its largest commercial aircraft, the E-195, which can carry a maximum of 118 passengers, is the competitive landscape. Bombardier's long-running efforts to offer a 110/130 new-design aircraft are bearing fruit after Lufthansa recently placed a firm order for 30 of the Canadian manufacturer's geared turbofan-powered CSeries aircraft. But Embraer sees Airbus and Boeing as "formidable competitors". Both airframers are targeting narrowbody replacement aircraft for the latter part of the decade. Asked whether Embraer is still looking at the possibility of bringing a new turboprop to market, Curado says the firm sees a "clear trend" away from 30-, 40- and 50-seat aircraft toward turboprops with 70, 80 and 90 seats. But, he says: "We are not sure, to be frank, what is the correct way to go."

In the nearer-term, the industry faces "a perfect storm of recession and credit [crunch]", says Curado, who sees business jets "more impacted than airlines at least as far as the short-term goes".
The company in February announced laying off nearly 4,300 workers as it slashed its 2009 delivery forecast by 28 aircraft and lowered revenue guidance for the year. Today, it revealed that full-year 2008 net income fell by more than 20% to $389 million although sales were up by 21%, on increased deliveries, to $6.3 billion. At 31 December 31, Embraer's firm order backlog totalled a new record of $20.9 billion.
Curado says Embraer is "basically holding on to our strong backlog both on business jets and on airlines" but is seeing very low demand and an environment and prospects that "are not very enthusiastic".
source: flightglobal.com

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Fuel leak forces Qantas emergency landing in Perth

A Qantas Boeing 747-400 was diverted to Perth and touched down about 3.30pm today after flight crew discovered the plane was leaking fuel during its flight from Singapore to Sydney, Perth Now reports.
“As a precaution one of the flight’s crew shut down one of the four engines,”a Qantas spokesman said.
“This was not a flight safety issue. Our engineers in Perth will now assess the aircraft.”
The Boeing 747-400 was carrying 290 passengers on board.
Qantas has confirmed the plane, which was today flying the QF32 service, was the same ageing aircraft involved in a mid-air explosion over the South China Sea on July 25 last year but denied the incidents were linked.
In that mid-air incident, an oxygen tank exploded and ripped a gaping hole in the plane’s fuselage.
It occurred at 29,000ft on a flight from Hong Kong to Melbourne, resulting in the cabin depressurising, oxygen masks deploying and forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing in Manila.
The plane, which was flying at about 29,000ft over the South China Sea and plunged to 10,000ft in an emergency descent, landed with no reports of injuries to the 346 passengers and 19 crew.

source: HeraldSun

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