AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

*Chicago-based Boeing is working on a concept plane called the SUGAR Volt that would use turbine engines and electric motors connected to the fans to more efficiently propel the electric airliner. On flights of up to 900 miles, the SUGAR Volt would cruise almost exclusively on battery power, said a spokesman from Boeing's research and technology division. An electric propulsion system would help slash the amount of fuel burned as well as noise around Airports by about 70% compared with today's airliner fleet, say researchers who believe they can have such a flying machine up and running by about 2035. The concept, shown above, was unveiled yesterday at the Experimental Aircraft Association's annual AirVenture air show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

*Thailand's flag carrier THAI AIRWAYS and Singapore's TIGER AIRWAYS confirmed today that they plan to form a new low-fare Airline. The "Thai Tiger Airways" joint venture will be 51% owned by Thai Airways and a Thai entity and 49% owned by Tiger. The new carrier will be based in Bangkok and is expected to start operations in the 1st quarter of 2011. It will offer domestic and international services within a 5 hour flying radius, the Airlines said in a joint statement.

*A FRONTIER AIRLINES A319 suffered a bird strike, yesterday, August 1. Flight 86 was on International Service from Denver, Colorado, to San Jose, Costa Rica, and completed its flight to San Jose without incident. Post flight inspection revealed damage to the radome due to a bird strike. The aircraft was removed from service and ferried to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for repairs.

*A UNITED AIRLINES Boeing 777 had to make an emergency return, on Wednesday, July 28. Flight 852 was on International Service from Tokyo, Japan, to San Francisco, California, with 270 passengers and crew onboard. About 6 minutes after departure, and while climbing thru 11000 feet, the right hand engine failed, rolling down to 0 in 3 seconds. The crew declared an emergency and then circled to dump fuel. The 777 landed back at Tokyo Narita without incident, about 50 minutes after their original departure. Post flight inspection revealed substantial damage to the compressor and compressor blades of the engine, thus the aircraft has been removed from service for extensive repairs. The Japanese Transportation Safety Board has labeled the incident as serious and has opened an investigation.