AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

*BRITISH AIRWAYS is updating its passenger cabins, beginning with a new Boeing 777-300ER that will operate on selected flights to and from Mumbai, Chicago, Delhi and Dubai. 2 more fully fitted brand-new 777-300ERs will enter service by the end of 2010, with further additions to the fleet scheduled throughout 2011 and 2012. All 3 cabins on these new 777s, World Traveller, World Traveller Plus and First Class, sport new seating, new and upgraded entertainement systems and a new color scheme. The new World Traveller seating is pictured top, while the new World Traveller Plus seating is pictured bottom.

*Aviation sites are reporting that AMERICAN AIRLINES will be making a "major" announcment this Wednesday regarding long haul flying. Online rumours have said that the announcement may have to do with significant new routes out of Chicago OHare, New York JFK and London Heathrow. It is also rumoured that AA will announce upgrades and new service/routes within South America,

*The Government of Syria may turn to Russia to buy planes as US sanctions have disrupted a large Airbus purchase aimed at boosting Syria's tiny civilian passenger fleet. The government is considering buying up to 6 medium range Tupolev TU204 planes on behalf of flag carrier SYRIANAIR, which has a fleet composed of 5 functioning aircraft. In January, the US had declined a request by Airbus for an exemption to sell and lease up to 54 planes to the flag carrier thur 2028. Airbus needed the approval of the US to sell to Syria as Airbus aircraft are made with some componets from the US. Relations between Washington and Damascus have improved since and the US government granted Boeing permission to overhaul 2 grounded Syrianair 747 aircraft. But the sanctions remain in place, with major political differences remaining between the 2 countries. The US imposed the sanctions in 2004 for Syria's role in Iraq and Lebanon and support for militant groups.

*A private Cessna Citation, carrying 5 passengers and 2 crew members, overshot the runway at the Dare County Regional Airport in North Carolina on Friday morning and landed in the Croatan Sound. The jet, which is owned by COLNAN INC and was on a flight from Tampa, Florida, went off the runway upon landing in heavy rain at 8:30am. The Citation skidded into the water about 6 feet from shore, in water shallow enough that victims and rescuers were able to stand. Airport staff were first on the scene and escorted all 7 people onboard to shore. The US Coast Guard arrived on the scene shortly thereafter and too over the emergency response. No one onboard was seriously injured, however 5 people were transported to a local hospital for evaluation. The Citation suffered substantial damages and may need to be written off. The NTSB has opened an investigation.

*COPA AIRLINES Flight 716, on International Boeing 737 Service from Maracaibo, Venezuela, to Panama City, Panama, had to make an emergency diversion, yesterday, October 3. The 737 diverted to Barranquilla, Colombia, and part of the cockpit windshield and a windscreen wiper cracked. The aircraft was removed from service for repairs. In a brief statement, COPA said the cause of the fractures is not yet clear and an investigation has been opened.

*AIR CANADA Flight 879, on International Boeing 767 Service from Zurich, Switzerland, to Toronto, Canada, had to make an emergency diversion, yesterday, October 3. While inflight at 32000 feet, near Lille, France, the crew declared an emergency due to a hyrdaulic failure. The 767 was diverted to London Heathrow and the aircraft landed safely at a higher than normal speed and with open gear doors. The 767 slowed with the use of thrust reversers and needed the full length of runway 27R for its roll out. The aircraft was removed from service for repairs.

*JAPAN AIR COMMUTER Flight 2335, on Domestic Dash 8-400 Service from Osaka to Oki, Japan, with 70 passengers and crew onboard, had to make an emergency return, yesterday, October 3. While on their initial climb out, the crew reported loud noises coming from an aircraft door. The Dash landed back at Osaka without incident, about 30 minutes after their original departure. JAC reported that a leaking door seal was the cause of the noise and the Dash was removed from service for repairs.

*BRITISH AIRWAYS Flight 10X, on International Boeing 747 Service from Sydney, Australia, to Bangkok, Thailand, had to make an emergency return, yesterday, October 3. The 747 was due to depart on October 2 as Flight 10, however due to technical problems, the flight was postponed until yesterday. The aircraft departed Sydney as Flight 10X, however the crew halted their climb at 19000 feet due to problems with the flaps. Due to the flap problems, the crew requested a 15 mile long final. The 747 landed without incident about 80 minutes after their initial departure and was later removed from service for repairs.