Archived Articles -- January 2008
Boeing Machinist Strike Delays V Australia Inaugural
The nearly two month long machinists strike at Boeing’s Everett, Washington factory has not only extended seemingly endless delays on the new Boeing 787, but will now push back the inaugural flights of all three 777-300 aircraft for the new VAustralia (Virgin Australia, Richard Branson’s n... [Read More]
Boeing Strike Not Stopping 2009 Launch of Flydubai
The head of start-up airline Flydubai says that the low cost carrier still plans to launch in the first half of 2009 even though delivery of its new aircraft will be delayed by the just-ended Boeing machinists strike. The extra wait for the first of the 50 new 737s on order direct from the ma... [Read More]
Howard Hughes – Aviator Extraordinaire of the 20th Century
Throughout recent history, many would agree that there have been very few individuals as iconoclastic, unique and eccentric as the famed aviator Howard Hughes. Known not only for his prowess as a builder and designer of unique aircraft, helicopters and even missiles and satellites, Hughes was also ... [Read More]
Qantas Lands Second A380 Superjumbo
Qantas Airways, the airline with a stronghold on Australian travel, has received its second A380 superjumbo to service the Australia-Los Angeles route. The 470-seat aircraft arrive in Sydney, having left the Airbus factory in the French city of Toulouse. A third aircraft, which is now completing ... [Read More]
8 Die in U.S. Oilfield Services Helicopter Crash
HOUSTON - Eight people died and one was injured in last Sunday’s crash in Louisiana of a helicopter carrying oilfield workers, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The crash about 75 miles (121 km) southwest of New Orleans, involved an aircraft operated by Petroleum Helicopters Inc.
The passengers killed ... [Read More]
Airbus Delivers 12 A380s in 2008
Airbus today reached its target of delivering 12 A380 aircraft in 2008, bringing the total number of A380s delivered to date to 13.
The first A380 was delivered to Singapore Airlines on 15th October 2007, with five more delivered to the airline in 2008. Qantas received three A380s in 2008, a... [Read More]
Boeing Unites UK Rotorcraft Support Business
Today Boeing Defence UK Ltd., a subsidiary of The Boeing Company announced the establishment of a new operation to focus on Boeing's rotorcraft support business in the United Kingdom. The new organization, Boeing UK Rotorcraft Support, is part of the Boeing Integrated Defense Systems business unit. ... [Read More]
Calendar of Events
Jan 10 — Addison, TX. American Flyers at Addison Airport (ADS). Free BBQ Lunch and Optional Wings Seminar. American Flyers invites you and a friend to spend a fun-filled afternoon at the airport and enjoy the camaraderie of others who share your interest in aviation. Free BBQ lunch, pilot sem... [Read More]
Continental Airlines Reports December 2008 Operational Performance
Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today reported a December consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 79.9 percent, 1.2 points above the December 2007 consolidated load factor. The carrier reported a mainline load factor of 80.4 percent, 1.6 points above the December 2007 mainline l... [Read More]
December 2008 Master Instructors
The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) takes pride in announcing a significant aviation accomplishment on the part of these very special aviation educators. Recently, they were all accredited as Master Instructors by NAFI, their professional aviation education association.
<... [Read More]
EADS/Airbus Completes Its Aerostructures Strategy
With GKN Aerospace's recent acquisition of the Airbus wing component and assemblies manufacturing unit at Filton, UK, EADS/Airbus has accomplished its aerostructures reorganization strategy. This initiative combines the divestment of non-core activities and sites in order to establish a network of s... [Read More]
Frontier Pilots Ratify Long-Term Agreement
Pilots overwhelmingly approve wage, benefit concessions.
Members of the Frontier Airline Pilots Association today ratified a long-term labor agreement with the airline. The agreement will extend certain wage and benefit concessions through December 2011. Nearly 85 percent of votes cast wer... [Read More]
GE Recognizes Qatar Airways for One Million Flight Hours
GE Aviation is celebrating a milestone with Qatar Airways for achieving one million flight hours with GE's reliable CF6-80E engines that power its Airbus A330 fleet.
"GE is proud of the exceptional performance of its CF6-80E engines operated by Qatar Airways, and we join Qatar Airways in cel... [Read More]
Light Plane Crashes Claim 36
Fatalities from light plane crashes were 50 per cent higher this year than last, and 12 people died in the past three months alone, figures from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau show.
A NSW farmer became the 36th person to die this year in a light plane accident when his crop-duster crashe... [Read More]
Pilot Lands In “Survivor”
Why is a feature about the T.V. reality show “Survivor” appearing in The Aviator?
The answer: Because one of the show’s contestants is a pilot who flies an Airbus A300; because last March my brother spotted Terry Deitz at the San Juan Airport in Puerto Rico. Timing is everything, a... [Read More]
