*Boeing is considering increasing its Next Generation 737 output to 42 aircraft a month, on top of 2 planned rate increases being phased in by 2013, as it continues to feel "upward pressure" to build the aircraft more quickly. The airframer said they were sold out on the 737 through 2015, and sold out on the 787 through 2019.
*Bombardier has given its strongest indication yet that it intends to offer a stretch of its 70-seat Q400 turboprop, but the entry date would be beyond 2015. "Of course we have a bigger Q400 in mind. There is definitely room for a 90-seat Q400," said the Bombardier Commercial Aircraft president during a pre-Paris air show briefing in Geneva. "It's probably sometime in the 2nd half of this decade. And we expect there will be competition too." Engine manufacturers GE and Pratt & Whitney Canada are entrenched in research dedicated to developing engines for larger turboprops in the 90 seat category, and both believe they could bring a powerplant to market in around 2016.
*Scandinavian budget carrier NORWEGIAN has signed a letter of intent with ICELANDAIR for the right to acquire 3 Boeing 787-8s on order for the Icelandic flag carrier. The agreement transfers the rights to purchase the 3 aircraft to Norwegian. Norwegian said that 2 of the aircraft were expected to be delivered in the 1st part of 2013 and the 3rd in early 2015. It announced in November 2010 that it was leasing an initial pair of 787-8s and has plans to acquire up to 9 of the type as it seeks to expand into the long-haul, low-cost market. Its current fleet is composed entirely of Boeing 737-300 and -800s.
*JAPAN AIRLINES (JAL) has chosen Boston as the 1st destination it would fly to with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and plans to launch the service from Tokyo Narita airport on April 22, 2012. It will operate on the route 4x a week initially before increasing this to a daily flight from June 1, 2012, said the Oneworld carrier. JAL has 35 787-8s on firm order and expects its 1st delivery in the 4th quarter of this year.
*The future of QANTAS as an international carrier is in jeopardy, the Airline's chief executive officer Alan Joyce said today. Fair Work Australia yesterday approved a ballot allowing long-haul Pilots to vote on taking industrial action for the first time in 45 years. The Pilot's demands, which include wage increases, with the Australia and International Pilots Association (AIPA) pushing for a rise of 2.5% over 3 years, would result in job cuts, Joyce said. "They are demands the company cannot agree to and they are demands that will result in job losses in this company," he said. Qantas puts the cost of the demands at more than $300 million but the Pilots' association says the figure is more like $90 million.
*Hungary's TSB is conducting an investigation into QATAR AIRWAYS Flight 94, an A320 that had to diver to Budapest, Hungary, on April 29, 2011, due to a cargo fire indication. The TSB noted that the crew had received a FWD Cargo Smoke indication and declared MAYDAY. They later downgraded to PAN and requested a priority landing. Emergency Services found no trace of heat, smoke or fire and the smoke detector was found to be faulty. The Airbus was cleared about 5 hours later to continue on its service to Doha, Qatar.
*Norway's Statens Havarikommisjon for Transport (AIBN) has released its Final Report into an incident involving a WIDEROE Dash 8-100 on April 2, 2006, near Oslo, Norway. Flight 158 was on Domestic Service from Oslo to Sandane, Norway, with 36 passengers and 3 crew members onboard. The Dash was climbing through 10000 feet out of Oslo, when the crew noted trim problems. The Captain disconnected the autopilot and identified the elevator was stuck. The First Officer also found the elevator stuck, however the efforts made by the flight crew managed to break the elevator free. The crew then halted their climb and decided to return to Oslo, moving the elevator all the time to prevent it from getting stuck again. On approach to the runway 01L while descending through 2000 feet, the crew stopped permanently moving the elevator and performed a normal landing. Post flight inspection revealed snow and ice in the gap between the aileron and wing. In their Final Report, the AIBN detailed events and findings, but did not state a Probable Cause. Full details on the Report, in Norwegian, can be found on the AIBN website.
*SPICEJET Flight 401, a Boeing 737, had to make an emergency return to Mumbai, India, today, May 27. The crew declared an emergency while on their initial climb, reporting a cargo fire indication. The aircraft landed safely back in Mumbai, about 30 minutes after their initial departure. Emergency Services met the flight and found no trace of heat, smoke or fire. The 737 was removed from service and a replacement airliner brought in to complete the flight to Hyderabad, India.
*AMERICAN AIRLINES Flight 1691, an MD82, encountered severe turbulence while on approach to San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday, May 25. While on approach to San Antonio at 13000 feet, and about 35 miles NE of the Airport, the crew reported encountering the severe turbulence. Controllers then cleared the aircraft, inbound from Dallas/Ft Worth, Texas, to descend to 6000 feet. Shortly thereafter, the crew requested that Emergency Services and paramedics meet the aircraft at the gate. The MD82 landed safely about 12 minutes later and taxied to the gate. According to the FAA, 3 cabin crew members were injured during the turbulence, however the extent of their injuries was not disclosed. The incident is under investigation.
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