AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

*Caribbean based REDJET has been told by the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) that is application to begin service to the Island is still pending. The carrier has been working with Jamaican officials since December to start service and this new delay, announced on Monday, has forced the Airline to cancel planned flights to Jamaica and refund customers. The Airline is expected to provide competition on the routes from Barbados to Kingston and Trinidad to Kingston, now being serviced by the Trinidad-based CARIBBEAN AIRLINES. Jamaican officials gave no timeline for when the application might be approved.

*European turboprop manufacturer ATR has received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for its ATR 72-600. Flight testing of the latest model in the ATR range began in the summer of 2009.  The certification process validated several new features in the ATR design including its new glass cockpit, plus communications and flight management systems. The -600 also includes a redesigned passenger cabin. The 1st deliveries are due this summer to ROYAL AIR MAROC, which has 4 of the type on order.

*BULGARIA AIR has signed an agreement to lease 3 Embraer 190 regional jets. The carrier will take delivery of the aircraft in the 1st and 3rd quarters of 2012 and operate the jets out of Sofia. The E190s will be configured in a 2-class layout, with eight "Elite" seats and 100 economy class seats.

*EASYJET will not be permitted to operate into Cairo, Egypt, unless it departs from its single-class, no frills model. The carrier has held talks with Egyptian authorities since late 2010, who are reportedly insisting that the carrier offer 2 class service and amenities such as free onboard food and a staff member to collect Airport taxes if it wants to operate to Cairo. Easyjet was in negotiations with Egyptian authorities for access to Cairo prior to the recent unrest in the country, which eventually lead to the overthrow of the Mubarak government. Easyjet already flies to Sharm el Sheikh, Luxor and Hurghada in Egypt, but had been hoping to link Cairo with its hub at London Gatwick. Several LCCs already operate into Cairo, although all offer 2-class service

*CEIBA INTERCONTINENTAL, a carrier of Equatorial Guinea, has taken delivery of a Boeing 777 VIP aircraft. The carrier, which is banned from operating in the EU and the US, is believed to have ordered the aircraft, pictured above, for use by government officials.

*SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS says it will soon place an order for 25 new aircraft as part of the renewal of its ageing fleet in 2012 to 2013. The carrier plans to use the new aircraft to modernize its fleet and also expand further into the African continent via its main brand and offshoot, SA EXPRESS.

*India has received 5 updated Antonov AN32 transport aircraft, the 1st batch in a 105-aircraft upgrade deal with Ukrainian manufacturer Antonov. The handover to the INDIAN AIR FORCE took place in ceremonies in Kiev, Ukraine. The upgraded AN32s have updated equipment including air collision avoidance systems, ground proximity warning systems, satellite navigation, distance measuring equipment, upgraded radio altimeters, new radars with multifunctional indicators, new oxygen systems and improved crew seats. The An32 is similar to the AN26, but has more powerful turboprop engines mounted higher on the wing. It can operate from airfields up to 14800ft above sea level as well as in hot conditions. It has proved effective at linking India's high mountain settlements with bigger cities.

*North Korea's AIR KORYO has announced new 1x weekly service to Kuwait City, Kuwait. The carrier will use a Tupolev TU204 300 aircraft, pictured, on the service that will depart for Kuwait on Tuesday's and return on Wednesdays. The carrier said the new service will allow North Koreans to connect with the Middle East, Iran and Africa. Aviation analysts are puzzled by the addition of Kuwait City and suggest that it may be used for transporting workers to jobs in the Middle East.

*CATHAY PACIFIC is playing down the prospect of setting up a low-cost offshoot carrier as it steps up its expansion into the fast-growing Chinese travel market. Last week, SINGAPORE AIRLINES announced plans to launch a long-haul budget carrier within the year, in a direct challenge to QANTAS budget subsidiary JETSTAR and Malaysia's long-haul Airline, AIRASIA X. But, Cathay Pacific's new chief executive said the Airline was unlikely to set up a low-cost offshoot because its key goal was to expand its network and passenger traffic ''through the Cathay brand''.

*Airbus has delivered the 50th A320 family aircraft from its Final Assembly Line in China. Shanghai-based carrier JUNEYAO AIRLINES received the A320 at a ceremony at Airbus's Tianjin delivery centre. Currently Juneyao operates 2 A319s and 17 A320s. The China facility is a joint venture between Airbus and a Chinese consortium

*Australians flying QANTAS to the US face prices up to 60% more than Americans pay to fly here with the same Airline. According to media reports today, figures show that, despite the strong Australian dollar being worth more than the US dollar, return flights on Qantas for Australian passengers cost more. In one example, reporters found that on the new Australia to Dallas/Ft Worth, Texas, route, Australian passengers end up paying anywhere from $531 to $931 more than what Qantas charges an American on the same route. In response the the report, Qantas said that its prices reflect supply and demand and that on the routes from the US to Australia, competition from other carriers is what drives the price down for Americans.

*The Taiwanese Aviation Safety Council (ASC) has released its Final Report into an incident involving a CHINA AIRLINES Boeing 747 Freighter at Anchorage, Alaska, on March 3, 2010. On that date, Flight 5233 was on Cargo Service from Anchorage, Alaska, to Taipei, Taiwan. The aircraft struck its tail upon takeoff from Anchorage, however the crew continued with the flight and they arrived in Taiepi, without incident. The NTSB reported on March 23, 2010, that the aircraft received substantial damage in the tail strike and classified the occurrence an accident. On March 24, Taiwan's ASC reported that the crew experienced stick shaker during the takeoff run and the stick shaker ceased after firewalling the engines. Following safe landing in Taipei ground personnel detected substantial damage to the 747's belly, as seen in photo above. The ASC then opened an investigation, with the NTSB assisting. In their Final Report, the ASC said the Probable Cause of the incident was related to multiple Pilot Errors, including the multiple errors made when the crew entered the gross weight data of the aircraft into computer systems, prior to departure. The Report also does state that the crew was aware of the tail strike, but decide to continue with the flight at 32000 feet, rather than 36000 feet, in case cabin pressure problems developed. The full Report, in Chinese, is available on the ASC website.

*An inquest is being conducted this week in Bromley, south-east London, into the crash of a private Cessna Citation in Kent, England, on March 30, 2008. The 3 passengers and 2 Pilots onboard, were all killed as the aircraft attempted to make an emergency return to the Airport. The Captain's final words were played during testimony heard yesterday. The Captain reported a problem within a minute of takeoff from Biggin Hill Airport enroute to Pau, France. When asked by controllers what the problem was, he said: "Er, don't know, sir. We're getting engine vibration. We'll come straight back". He then asked for permission to return to the Airport, telling controllers: "We have a major problem, a major problem. It looks as though we're going in, we're going in". Witnesses reported seeing the jet flying low over homes before crashing into a house and bursting into flames. The home was destroyed, however the homeowners were away at the time the Cessna crashed into it. Crash investigators said their inquiries were hampered by the absence of a black box flight recorder. But, a senior engineering inspector at the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, said the vibration was most likely to have been caused by a failure of the plane's air-conditioning and pressurizing system, and that a rivet head missing from the left engine's fuel-cut-off levers could have caused it to shut down. The inquest is expected to end today with a ruling of accidental death.

*SOUTHWEST AIRLINES Flight 691, a Boeing 737, had to make an emergency return to Sacramento, California, yesterday, May 31, after the crew had to shut down an engine for an unspecified technical indication. The 737, which was enroute to Portland, Oregon, landed safely back in Sacramento, about 10 minutes after its initial departure. The aircraft was removed from service for inspection.

*JETBLUE Flight 422, an A320, reported an unruly passenger onboard, yesterday, May 31. According to media reports, the prior to departure from West Palm Beach, Florida, a 48 year old man slapped a male Flight Attendant. A news reporter onboard, the F/A ordered the man to move his bag beneath his seat. The reporter said it appeared the male passenger was trying to comply with the order, but the F/A "didn't seem satisfied". The reporter went on to say that the aircraft then took off and there were no problems during the flight to Boston, Massachusetts. Upon arrival in Boston, all F/A's ordered all passengers to remain seated after the plane arrived at the gate and several state troopers boarded the plane. They then escorted the male passenger off the plane and arrested him for interfering with a flight crew. Late yesterday, a Boston judge threw out the charges, saying that the incident occurred while the aircraft was on the ground in Florida, and charges should have been filed there. JetBlue had no comment.

*BRITISH AIRWAYS Flight 2155, a Boeing 777, had to make an emergency landing in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Monday, May 30. While on approach to Bridgetown, the aircraft struck a bird, but went on to make a safe landing. The return flight to London Gatwick was postponed, while BA flew in maintenance staff and spare parts to repair the 777. The aircraft was able to depart for Gatwick yesterday, were it arrived about 30 hours behind schedule.

*UNITED AIRLINES Flight 990, a Boeing 767, had to return to Washington Dulles, with a USAF F16 fighter jet escort, early in the morning on Monday, May 30. The 767 had departed for Accra, Ghana, late in the evening on May 29 and was overhead the Atlantic at 31000 feet, about 200 miles E of Dulles, when the crew reported an unruly passenger and requested return. Due to Washington DC air regulations, 2 F16 fighter jets were dispatched to escort the airliner back into Dulles, where it landed safely, shortly after Midnight. According to media reports, a passenger had reclined his seat, at which time the passenger behind him, slapped him in the head. A Flight Attendant and another passenger separated the 2 passengers and both were able to sit un-restrained, until arrival at Dulles. Washington Police met the aircraft and after questioning those involved, announced that charges were not warranted. Flight 990 departed for Accra about 18 hours later, where it arrived without incident.