AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

*BRITISH AIRWAYS has signed a transatlantic tie-up with AMERICAN AIRLINES and IBERIA that is worth a combined $7bn a year. The deal allows the Airlines to share passengers and costs on flights between the European Union, Switzerland and Norway and the US, Canada and Mexico. BA said the joint business would launch next month and give customers "greater access to discounted fares". The tie-up between the Airlines received regulatory approval this summer. The tie-up had been vigorously opposed by VIRGIN ATLANTIC, which said it would create a "monster monopoly". BA has already signed a merger agreement with Spain's Iberia to form a new company called International Airlines Group. The BA and Iberia brands will, however, continue to operate as normal.

*An agreement signed by European Turboprop manufacturer ATR and Trinidad and Tobago’s CARIBBEAN AIRLINES Monday represents a firm order by the carrier to purchase 9 ATR 72-600 aircraft. The order is reportedly worth $200 million, and deliveries will start in late 2011. The aircraft are configured with 68 seats and equipped with the new ATR -600 series avionics suite and with the new Armonia Cabin. With its fleet of brand new ATR 72-600s, the carrier will replace its current fleet of 5 Dash-8-300 aircraft, while adding new flights linking Trinidad and Tobago and surrounding destinations. In addition, several of the new ATRs will be operated in the route network of AIR JAMAICA, which was recently acquired by Caribbean Airlines.

*Italian investigators have released a very brief update on their investigation into the crash landing of the WINDJET A319 last Friday evening in Palermo, Italy. The aircraft, on service from Rome, touched down short of the runway 07, while landing in heavy storms and windshear. The aircraft then continued down the runway before veering off the side. All 129 passengers and crew onboard survived, with about 3 dozen people suffering minor injuries. The aicraft itself suffered substantial damages and will most likely be written off. In the brief update, investigators said that tracks on the runway suggest that the main gear was still intact before the aicraft veered off the runway 07. The investigation continues.

*The French BEA has released its Final Report into an incident involving a TUNISAIR Boeing 737 at Paris, France, on October 10, 2008. On that date, Flight 437 was on International Service from Paris Orly to Tozeur, Tunisia, with 99 passengers and 6 crew members onboard. While moving down the runway for takeoff, the 737 began to rotate before V1. The tail then struck the runway and the 737 became airborne below V1. As the aircraft reached 12 feet AGL, the Captain decided to reject takeoff. The aircraft touched down again and the crew was able to bring the 737 to a stop on the runway. In their Final Report, the BEA blamed the incident on Pilot Error. They said: "The premature rotation by the Captain at a very low speed. Lack of communication between the Captain and First Officer, which did not allow the crew to become aware of the inappropriate action at a critical stage of flight, contributed to the premature rotation". The 737 received minor damage from the tail strike, as seen in photo above. The full report can be found on the BEA website.

*SKYWEST Flight 3074, on Domestic CRJ200 Service on behalf of AIRTRAN, from Omaha, Nebraska, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, had to make an emergency landing, yesterday, September 28. The crew abandoned their approach in Milwaukee after receiving an unsafe gear indication. The crew then entered a holding pattern to troubleshoot. Unable to rectify the problem, the crew then performed a low fly over of the tower who confirmed the left hand main gear was not deployed. The crew the brought the CRJ in for a landing on runway 07R, about 25 minutes after the emergency began. The aircraft skidded to a halt on its nose gear, right hand main gear and left hand wing. No one onboard was injured, however the CRJ did suffer damage in the incident. The aircraft has been removed from service for a full damage assessment. The NTSB has opened an investigation.

*LOT Flight 1, on International Boeing 767 Service from Warsaw, Poland, to Chicago OHare, had to return to Warsaw, due to an unruly passenger, yesterday, September 28. While inflight at 32000 feet, about 150 miles from Warsaw, the crew requested return. The crew then began to dump fuel and landed back at Warsaw about 2 hours later without incident. According to a statement from LOT, a male passenger in business class became verbally agressive with cabin crew after they refused to upgrade his son from economy to business class. The male passenger was arrested upon return to Warsaw and faces multiple charges from the incident.

*TOMSKAVIA Flight 5010, on Domestic Antonov AN24 Service from Strzhewoi to Tomsk, Russia, with 31 passengers and 4 crew members onboard, had to make an emergency landing, yesterday, September 28. While on approach to Tomsk, the crew received a fire indication for the right hand engine. The crew then shut down the engine and activated the fire supression system. The Antonov went on to make a safe landing and post flight inspection revealed no trace of an engine fire. The West Siberian Prosecution Office has opened an investigation.

*DELTA AIRLINES Flight 1085, on Domestic Boeing 757 Service from Minneapolis/St Paul, Minnesota, to Anchorage, Alaska, when they had to divert while enroute, on Monday, September 27. While inflight at 36000 feet, and while near Edmonton, AB, Canada, the crew reported they had shut down an engine due to an engine oil problem. The 757 was diverted to Edmonton and landed there without incident, about 70 minutes later The aircraft was removed from service for repairs.

*DELTA AIRLINES Flight 116, on International Boeing 767 Service from Atlanta, Georgia, to Stuttgart, Germany, with 224 passengers and crew onboard, had to divert while enroute, on Monday, September 27. The crew requested to divert to St Johns, NL, Canada, after they shut down the right hand engine for unspecified reasons. The 767 landed at St Johns without incident, 30 minutes later. The aircraft has since been repaired and returned to service.