AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

*ALASKA AIRLINES has become the 1st US domestic carrier to announce plans to issue Apple iPads to all its Pilots for use as Class 1 portable, kneeboard electronic flight bags (EFBs), following a successful trial. The 1.5lb iPads, which replace up to 25lb of paper flight manuals, contain an app called GoodReader that is loaded with PDF versions of 41 flight, systems and performance manuals, reference cards, and other materials. Each Alaska Pilot will receive his or her new iPad by mid-June. In conjunction with replacing paper manuals, Alaska is exploring the replacement of paper aeronautical navigation charts with electronic versions on the iPad, eliminating the need for every Pilot to carry their own copy. The 2 initiatives, dubbed "Bye, Bye, Flight Bag," will save about 2.4 million pieces of paper.

*ETIHAD AIRWAYS plans to add qualified international Chefs dedicated to food service excellence in its Diamond First class cabins. The carrier said the special new position on board Etihad flights represented a major departure from traditional inflight service and would "Cement Etihad’s position as one of the world’s most innovative Airlines". The carrier said it is currently recruting 100 chefs for the service, which is set to begin later this year.

*Cash starved AIR INDIA cancelled 10 flights on Friday morning as the oil companies refused to refuel their aircraft unless the Airline paid them cash on the spot for the day’s fuel. The matter was resolved Friday afternoon after the carrier deposited post-dated cheques with the companies. According to media reports, KINGFISHER is also having cash-flow problems.

*The head of CATHAY PACIFIC said that he thinks Airbus will be forced to push back its timetable for its new A350XWB. He made the remarks at a Paris news conference and said that Airbus "has technical improvements to make on the aircraft and it will certainly be delayed". For its part, Airbus says the new composite airliner will be ready to enter service by the end of 2013, which is an adjustment from the mid-year timeframe. Cathay Pacific has ordered 30 of the A350s, pictured, but does not expect to be flying them before late 2015.

*Australia's civil aviation safety regulator issued TIGER AIRWAYS with a "show cause" notice over concerns for the supervision and processes in the maintenance of its planes, the Airline's executives confirmed to a parliamentary inquiry yesterday. It's the 1st time the Tiger executives have spoken publicly about the compliance notice, which compels the Airline to explain to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) why it should not have its licence to fly revoked. Tiger and CASA held a conference on May 3 about the issues raised in the March 23 "show cause" notice and is awaiting further instruction from the agency.

*A 1941 vintage Boeing A75N1 PT17 biplane was destroyed when it crashed into a tree at the Fremont Municipal Airport in Michigan, yesterday, May 27. According to media reports, 2 men were onboard the World War II vintage biplane and were practicing takeoffs and landings at the Airport, when it went down for unknown reasons. Both occupants survived with only minor injuries, but the Pilot was arrested for suspicion of flying under the influence of alcohol.

*NETJETS Flight 749, a Gulfstream 200, was damaged on landing in Newburgh, New York, yesterday, May 27. According to media reports, the Gulfstream was on service from Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina, to Westchester County, New York. While on approach to Westchester County, the crew declared an emergency, reporting a hydraulics problem that was possibly affecting the landing gear. The crew then climbed back up to 2000 feet to troubleshoot. After performing a low fly over of the tower, which confirmed the gear was still up, the Gulfstream was diverted to Newburgh. The gear was lowered as the aircraft appraoched Newburgh, however upon touchdown, the right hand main gear collapsed. No one onboard was injured. The aircraft is currently undergoing a damage assessment.

*ROSSIYA Flight 6831, an A320, had to make an emergency return to Saint Petersburg, Russia, yesterday, May 27, due to a hydraulic leak. After circling to burn off fuel, the Airbus, which was enroute to Zakinthos, Greece, landed safely back in Saint Petersburg, about 2 hours after it initial departure. The aircraft was removed from service for repairs.

*UTAIR EXPRESS Flight 452, a Tupolev TU132, had to make an emergency return to Tyumen, Russia, yesterday, May 27, after the crew shut down the left hand engine. The Tupolev, enroute to Moscow, Russia, landed safely about 20 minutes after its initial departure and was removed from service for repairs.

*ALLEGIANT Flight 607, an MD83, had to make an emergency diversion to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, May 26. While climbing out of Youngstown, Ohio, the crew reported they had lost the oil quantity of the right hand engine and a high oil temperature, thus they had to shut down the engine. The MD83, which was enroute to Sanford, Florida, was then diverted to Pittsburgh, where it safely landed about 20 minutes later. Allegiant said the engine was leaking oil and the aircraft was removed from service for repairs.

*MIDDLE EAST AIRLINES Flight 202, an A330, suffered a 7 hour delay in departure from London Heathrow, which led to police boarding the plane, on Thursday, May 26. According to media reports, the Airbus with over 230 passengers and crew onboard, was delayed from its scheduled 1:00pm departure for Beirut, Lebanon, by bad weather. Instead of allowing passengers to deplane, they were kept onboard. The aircraft was then scheduled to depart at 5:00pm, but that departure was again canceled due to the continuing poor weather. When passengers were then told they would not be departing until 7:30pm, a large group of passengers began to argue with the crew. They raided the galleys and started "pushing and shoving," name-calling and engaging in "fisticuffs," said other passengers. At least 2 passengers became ill and the flight crew requested both police and medical assitance. Up to 8 police officers boarded the plane at 5:50pm, pictured above, but there were no arrests. The Airbus did depart around 8:00pm, apparently with all passengers still onboard.

*TULPAR Flight 9763, a Yak 42, had to make an emergency landing in Sochi, Russia, on Wednesday, May 25, after the crew shut down an engine while on approach. The Yak, inbound from Moscow, Russia, landed safely and was then removed from service for inspection and repair.