It seems the program is now at last developing the momentum observers have been waiting for. The fleet accumulated 160 hours last month -a shade less than the previous month. Notice how much more FTV3 was deployed last month. FTV3 is dedicated to electrical and avionics testing. Continue reading
Mexican carrier Interjet has firmed options for another ten SSJs. In 2011 Interjet originally ordered 15 SSJ100 and 5 options. The 5 options became firm in July 2012 at Farnborough Air Show. In November 2012, during ALTA Leaders Forum in Panama, Interjet announced the addition of 10 options which have been executed today leading the total firm order to 30 aircraft. The value of the new option batch is $350m.
Interjet has 12 SSJs in service with excellent operations and a dispatch reliability over the 99%. The thirteenth SSJ100 has been delivered and will join the active Interjet fleet soon. According to the airline’s operational reliability reports, to date the dozen Interjet SSJs have completed over 21.000 flight hours and 20.000 flight cycles starting from the Entry into Service in September 18, 2013. The SSJs are operating from Mexico City to various Mexican destinations and starting in October 2014, to the Unites States.
Standing in -20 degree weather alongside runway 24 in Mirabel Ernie Arvai captured the first flight on video. The flight had been delayed one day because of inclement weather. In the end, the sky cleared but it got no warmer. This may go down as the coldest first flight on record.
Ernie spoke with Canada’s BNN about the aircraft today also – Play
From the video it is obvious just how quiet the Pratt & Whitney GTF is – its remarkably quiet. There can be little doubt that aircraft using this engine will be welcomed at airports with neighboring dormitory communities. Bob Deluce at Porter called the CSeries the”Whisperliner”. He’s right. This eerily quiet aircraft could probably serve Billy Bishop in downtown Toronto with less noise impact than exists at present.
Delta Air Lines reports it will upgrade its in-flight Wi-Fi service with broadband speeds and expanded coverage. The upgrades will extend Wi-Fi access beyond the shores of the North America for customers traveling between the U. S. and Latin America or the Caribbean. Gogo will begin updating Delta’s long-haul domestic aircraft currently using air-to-ground technology with satellite-based technology starting in 2016.
In addition, Delta will support Gogo’s efforts to develop the industry’s newest technology with Gogo’s next generation air-to-ground service for its short-haul aircraft, which will feature faster connection at broadband speeds.
More than 250 of Delta’s long-haul aircraft used on domestic, Latin American and Caribbean routes will have access to Wi-Fi when they fly over water or outside existing air-to-ground service areas with the upgrades to 2Ku. The satellite-based system will be installed on:
- Boeing 757-300 aircraft
- Boeing 757-200 aircraft
- Boeing 737-900ER aircraft
- Boeing 737-800 aircraft
- Airbus A319… Continue reading
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Industry followers have been seeing a lot of opinions over the past two weeks on the 757 replacement issue. The arguments are essentially that Boeing must do something, but what should that something be?
Boeing has good reason to be hesitant. The company is busy with a number of programs plus it is ramping up 737 production. There is plenty going on to keep its employees face down and focused. Of course there are the futurists looking ahead and they are concerned with some fundamental issues:
- What do airlines want?
- What do airlines need?
- How large is the segment?
- What will an offering in this segment cost?
- What can such an offering sell for?
Here are some thoughts to add to the futurists thinking.
What do airlines want and need?
There appears to be a sizable market for aircraft between 180-230 seats. Airlines are being persuaded to up gauge from… Continue reading
Reports indicate that Israeli national carrier, El Al, is considering replacing its 767 fleet. The airline has a fleet of 40 aircraft, of which eight are 767s. The newest of these 767s is nearly 15 years old while the oldest has been in service more than 30 years. Replacing them is obviously a key element for their fleet plan and strategy.
El Al fleet planning has been a somewhat limited activity in the recent past. An order for six 787s was cancelled because of financial constraints. This is because, essentially, fleet planners at the airline have only really been able to select the Boeing product that best fits the need. As an Israeli state owned company, heavily influenced by US policies, this meant El Al bought Boeing aircraft. Airbus tried in vain to break this monopoly. Continue reading
The Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment is an international treaty that enables leasing companies to repossess aircraft, among other assets, in the event of a default by the lessor. The protocols under the treaty work well, and facilitate leasing of aircraft all over the world.
Unfortunately, this week the Indian government again treated leasing firms with disregard. SpiceJet is in arrears on lease payments for some of its leased aircraft, and the owners of those aircraft wish to exert their rights, under both their contract and international treaty, to repossess those assets. But the Indian government is standing in the way, in direct violation of the international treaty protocols, taking the side of the airline rather than financiers.
This is not the first time lessors have had difficulties in recovering assets from India. The experience with the failed Kingfisher Airlines some years… Continue reading
There is no airline more associated with the A380 than UAE’s Emirates Airline. The biggest A380 customer by an order of magnitude, the airline and aircraft are synonymous. Even as Airbus struggles to convince airlines of viability of its flagship, the primary customer of the aircraft marvels how competitors don’t “get it”. In Emirates’ view the A380 is fundamental to its success and the airline has deployed the aircraft into markets nobody would have thought viable – Manchester and Mauritius are examples. Any destination of some magnitude can expect to be added to the Emirates network and as soon as it gets market traction, an A380 is potentially in its future. There is no destination that doesn’t want an A380. The volume of passengers that come with it are capable of creating a tsunami of economic impact. Particularly when considering the airline runs A380s at over… Continue reading
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