AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

*The US Department of Transportation says the use of smokeless electronic cigarettes on airplanes is prohibited and plans to issue an official ban this spring, according to a letter from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. In the letter to Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, LaHood said the department has been informing Airlines and the public that it interprets smoking regulations to include e-cigarettes. Lautenberg, who wrote the 1987 law that banned smoking on airplanes, had asked transportation officials to clarify the rule. E-cigarettes are plastic and metal devices that heat a liquid nicotine solution in a disposable cartridge, creating vapor that the "smoker" inhales. A tiny light on the tip even glows like a real cigarette. They have prompted debate over how risky they are and whether they're even legal. Lautenberg had said some passengers have interpreted Flight Attendant instructions to mean that the devices were only prohibited when other electronic devices were not allowed during takeoff and landing. Many Airlines already have begun informing passengers that the devices are not allowed on flights, but Lautenberg said there had been confusion over their use and wanted to make sure officials were solidly opposed to opening the door to e-smoking on planes.

*2 Star Alliance codeshare relationships are to be investigated by European competition regulators, to assess whether they are in line with antitrust laws. The European Commission is to examine the arrangements between LUFTHANSA and TURKISH AIRLINES as well as a similar pact between BRUSSELS AIRLINES and TAP PORTUGAL. Inquiries are to concentrate on the Airlines' agreements to cross-sell tickets on 3 trunk routes: Frankfurt-Istanbul, Munich-Istanbul and Brussels-Lisbon. The Commission said that, on these routes, the carriers should, in principle, be competing with each other. "This form of free-flow, parallel, hub-to-hub codeshare agreement may distort competition leading to higher prices and less service quality for customers," the Commission said.

*The Russian Transport Ministry's final report has blamed the pre-New Year traffic chaos at Russian Airports on the heads of Russia's largest Airline AEROFLOT, Airports' management, Federal Air Transport Agency officials, and flawed laws. A total of 801 flights were delayed, 408 cancelled and 20,000 people were stranded at Airports, pictured above, as a result of transport officials and Airport employees' uncoordinated work following an ice storm that hit the entire territory of Central Russia in late December. In one example, officials at Moscow Domodedovo took over 3 days to repair electricity lines broken by falling trees.

*PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES has resumed flying today, after employees ended their multi-day strike. The national flag carrier has resumed its domestic and international flights from 3 Airports, Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore. Full service should be restored across its network within 24 to 48 hours. The labor unrest began after the carrier proposed a new code-share with TURKISH AIRLINES, which which see PIA giving up routes to Turkish. PIA's Managing Director did stand down today, which was one of the strikers demands. Other details were not released, although one PIA official said there was a "successful round of dialogue" which led to the employees calling off the strike.

*Shares of GARUDA INDONESIA, the country's national Airline, have fallen more than 20% on their market debut. Garuda shares were trading at close to 600 rupiah on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, down from their 750 rupiah listing price. Analysts said the listing price was too high and there are also fears about the earnings outlook for the carrier this year.

*The Canadian TSB issued a brief update on the incident involving a PINNACLE AIRLINES CRJ200 that had to make an emergency diversion to Toronto, ON, Canada, on Monday, February 7, due to a loss of cabin pressure. As posted earlier this week, Flight 3837 was on service for DELTA AIRLINES and was enroute near Toronto at 3000 feet, when the crew declared an emergency and performed an emergency descent to 10000 feet. The crew reported they were having a pressurization problem due to the main cabin door leaking. The CRJ safely landed in Toronto, about 20 minutes after declaring an emergency and departing 30000 feet. In their brief update, the TSB said that the main cabin door seal blew out causing the cabin altitude to climb at a rate of 6000 feet/minute. The crew the donned their O2 maks, declared the emergency and performed the emergency descent. The descent from 30000 to 10000 feet took only 4 minutes, which equals to a 6000 feet/minute sink rate.

*ALASKA AIRLINES Flight 676, a Boeing 737, was on taxi for takeoff in Seattle, Washington, when it had to return to the gate after a rat was spotted, yesterday, February 11. The aircraft returned to the gate and passengers put on another 737 for their flight to Denver, Colorado. Alaska has removed the aircraft from service until an exterminator can make sure it's clean of rodents. The carrier will also inspect for any damage the rat may have done to the aircraft.

*A FIRST AIR ATR42 had to make an emergency return to Yellowknife, Canada, after an engine caught fire while on its initial climb. The fire was extinguished using the engines own extinguishing systems and the ATR landed back at Yellowknife about 15 minutes after their original departure. Emergency Services met the aircraft as a precaution. None of the 9 passengers or 3 crew members onboard was injured. The aircraft has been removed from service.

*VIRGIN BLUE Flight 739, a Boeing 737, declared PAN PAN PAN and requested immediate return to Melbourne, Australia, due to fumes in the cockpit, yesterday, February 11. The 737 safely landed about 20 minutes later and was later removed from service for inspection.

*EXPRESSJET Flight 2693, an ERJ145 on service for CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, slid off the runway upon landing in Dayton, Ohio, on Monday, January 31. The incident was just made public yesterday. No one onboard was injured, however the FAA did say that the aircraft sustained minor damage.