AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

*With the 1st 5 aircraft completed and another 10 in final assembly, Viking Air Limited of Sidney, BC, Canada has received Transport Canada final “Production” approval for the manufacture of the Series 400 Twin Otter. This manufacturing certificate is an approval to manufacture duplicate products under the Transport Canada type design (type certificate), allowing Viking to issue airworthiness certificates for aircraft produced under their revised manufacturing approval. The official Production Manufacturing approval from Transport Canada is the final key to Viking’s aircraft production program, after receiving Type Approval from both Transport Canada and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for the Series 400 Twin Otter in 2010. Viking launched the new DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 production program in 2007, and currently has a production backlog estimated at over $300M through 2014.

*Power outages at the Main Terminal of the Minneapolis/St Paul Airport in Minnesota yesterday, led to delays and cancelations of dozens of flights, along with hundreds of stranded passengers last night. By last evening, power had been restored to most areas of the Airport, except for 16 gates in the B Terminal, all operated by DELTA AIRLINES and its regional carriers. Officials hope to have all power restored today and have flight operations return to normal.

*The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) announced the recipients of the 2011 EBAA Safety of Flight Awards, given to 6 organizations for outstanding safety records. AERO-DIENST, GESTAIR, pictured, and PRIVATAIR  received the 2011 Platinum Safety of Flight Award (50 years or 100,000 hours without an accident) for their ongoing exemplary flight records. TYROL AIR AMBULANCE, ROBERT BOSCH and DC AVIATION were awarded the 2011 Gold Safety of Flight Award (40 years or 80,000 hours without an accident.) The Safety of Flight Award represents the highest standards of aviation maintenance and flight operations in safe hours flown.

*Russia's UTAIR has taken delivery of its 1st ATR 72-500 aircraft, which is also the 1st one of this type to be operating in Russia. UTair and ATR recently announced an order for 20 aircraft, estimated at US$426 million. The remaining ATR 72-500 aircraft will be delivered in 2011 and 2012. The delivery of these new 70 seat aircraft will bring the number of ATR aircraft operated by UTair up to 37, making it the largest operator of ATR aircraft in Europe.

*DELTA AIRLINES Flight 1476, a DC9, had to make an emergency diversion to Green Bay, Wisconsin, yesterday, May 21. While enroute at 28000 feet from Detroit, Michigan, to Minneapolis/St Paul, Minnesota, and near Green Bay, the crew reported a strange odor and the smell of smoke in the forward galley. The DC9 was diverted to Green Bay, where they landed about 15 minutes later and were met by Emergency Services, who could find no trace of heat, smoke or fire. The aircraft was removed from service for inspection.

*UNITED AIRLINES Flight 337, an A319, had to make an emergency landing at Chicago OHare, yesterday, May 21, due to hydraulic problems that surfaced while on the downwind for the runway 10. The Airbus, inbound from Orlando, Florida, safely landed about 8 minutes later and was removed from service.

*A FUERZA AEREA DE CHILE T35 Pillan crashed near a road near La Tirana, Tarapaca, Chile, yesterday, May 21. Both Pilots onboard the T35, which was on a Training Flight, were killed. Chilean military officials had no immediate word on what may have caused the crash. A full investigation has been opened.

*LUFTHANSA CITYLINE Flight 1261, an ERJ190, had to reject takeoff from Graz, Austria, yesterday, May 21, after a bird was ingested into the right hand engine. The crew was able to slow and stop the aircraft on the runway. The ERJ was removed from service for a damage assessment and the flight to Frankfurt Main, Germany, was cancelled.

*CONTACT AIR Flight 1352, a Fokker 100 on service for SWISS, had to make an emergency return to Zurich, Switzerland, on Friday, May 20, after striking a bird on departure. The crew levelled off at 7000 feet before returning to Zurich, without incident. The Fokker was removed from service for a damage assessment and the flight to Warsaw, Poland, was cancelled.

*JET2.COM Flight 185, a Boeing 737, had to make an emergency diversion to Manchester, England, on Wednesday, May 18. While climbing thru 24000 feet, after departing Leeds, the crew reported they needed to shut down and engine for unspecified reasons and requested diversion. The 737 was then diverted to Manchester, where it safely landed and was later removed from service for inspection and repairs. A replacement aircraft was brought in to continue the flight to Malaga, Spain.