AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

*The U.S. and Japan reached a landmark agreement yesterday to relax limits on flights between the 2 countries, opening up the possibility of broader cross-border Airline alliances and more options for air travelers. Under the agreement, which still must be finalized by both governments, Airlines from both countries would be allowed to select routes and destinations based on consumer demand for passenger and cargo services without limitations on the number of U.S. or Japanese carriers that can fly between the 2 countries or the number of flights they can operate. It would remove restrictions on capacity and pricing, and provide unlimited opportunities for cooperative marketing arrangements between U.S. and Japanese carriers. The agreement likely will prompt JAPAN AIRLINES, aka JAL, and ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS, aka ANA, to seek joint ventures with U.S. Airlines. AMERICAN AIRLINES now has a codesharing agreement with JAL, while UNITED AIRLINES has a codesharing agreement with ANA. DELTA AIRLINES is seeking to lure JAL away from American and into Delta's SkyTeam alliance.

*The NTSB issued a brief update yesterday on an incident involving a DELTA AIRLINES MD90 on November 2, 2009. On that date, Delta Flight 1232 was on Domestic Service from Phoenix, Arizona, to Salt Lake City, Utah, with 65 passengers and 5 crew members onboard. About 4 minutes after takeoff, and while climbing thru 11000 feet, the aircraft struck a flock of birds. The bird strike immediately caused problems with the right hand side of the aircraft and pressurization within the passenger cabin. The crew declared an emergency and landed back at Phoenix without incident. The FAA stated that the aircraft sustained substantial damage, including a hole near the Co-Pilots window, and rated the incident as an accident. Yesterday, the NTSB reported that the birds that struck the aircraft were identified as the Western Grebe. The Grebe typically weighs between 2 to 3lbs. The NTSB also said that the Captain reported that when they struck the birds, there was a loud bang followed by a pop from the cabin pressurization. The investigation continues.

*An AIR INDIA A320 had to make an emergency return to Kolkata, India, on Friday, December 11. Flight 765 was on Domestic Service from Kolkata to Chennai, India, with 139 passengers and crew onboard, when the incident took place. According to media reports, the crew requested return shortly after departure due to problems with the air conditioning system. The A320 landed back at Kolkath without incident, about 30 minutes after its initial departure. The aircraft was removed from service for inspection and repair.

*A JAPAN AIR COMMUTER Dash 8-400 had to divert while enroute, on Thursday, December 10. Flight 3547 was on Domestic Service from Fukuoka to Matsumoto, Japan, with 61 passengers and crew onboard, when the incident took place. The crew abandoned its 1st approach into Matsumoto due to a hydraulics malfunction. After circling while attempting to troubleshoot the problem, the crew requested diversion to an Airport with a longer runway. Flight 3547 was diverted to Osaka, Japan, where it landed wthout incident. The Dash was removed from service for inspection and repairs.