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ATW Daily News

AA contends with FAA's proposed fines, unhappy unions

Monday March 15, 2010

American Airlines faces growing problems on two fronts as US FAA announced Friday it is seeking to collect civil penalties totaling $787,500 from the carrier for maintenance violations and its ground workers became the second labor group to ask the National Mediation Board for a release from talks that could lead to a work action. [more]

Monday March 15, 2010

Thai Airways unveiled a fleet plan designed to accommodate "increased competition over the next five years as well as open skies in Asia and various regions worldwide" and growing customer expectations. Through 2014 it plans to phase out six 747-400s, 10 A300-600s, four A340-500s, three 737-400s and two ATR 72s. It will take delivery of three A330-300s and six A380-800s during the same timeframe and said it plans to acquire an additional seven 300-seat planes for use on regional routes and eight 350-seat aircraft for intercontinental operations to Los Angeles and Scandinavia. From 2015 through 2019, Thai said it will phase out an additional 32 aircraft and add at least 38, and from 2020 through 2024 it will phase out 20 and add no fewer than 28.

Monday March 15, 2010

Aeronautical Repair Station Assn. warned that a provision in both the US House and Senate FAA reauthorization bills "will prevent Canadian [Approved Maintenance Organizations] from performing maintenance" on aircraft operated by US airlines. In a letter to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt, ARSA Executive Director Sarah MacLeod noted that the provision requires "individuals performing work on air carrier aircraft to be employed by the FAA-certificated carriers, FAA-certificated Part 145 repair stations or employed by and working under the direct supervision and control of a contract maintenance company possessing these certifications." This contradicts the longstanding US-Canada Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement that recognizes "that certification granted to a Canadian [AMO] by Transport Canada is the equivalent to the FAA approval," she stated. ARSA noted that many Canadian AMOs are "actually subsidiaries of US companies." It warned that Canada likely will retaliate against US MRO providers should the provision become law.

Friday March 12, 2010

Boeing completed initial airworthiness testing on the 747-8 freighter, enabling test engineers to be onboard during future flights and allowing two additional 747-8Fs to begin test flights. "The airplane is performing as expected in the initial stages of flight test," it said. "Since the first flight in early February, the program has conducted 13 flights, achieving several key accomplishments. Pilots have taken the airplane to an altitude of 30,000 ft. (9,144 m.) and a speed of Mach 0.65. The program has completed approximately 33 hr. of flying. Initial stall tests and other dynamic maneuvers have been run" (ATWOnline, Feb. 10).

Friday March 12, 2010

Volga-Dnepr Airlines said it will take delivery of a third new-generation IL-76TD-90VD next month, taking Volga-Dnepr Group's investment in the modernized aircraft to more than $90 million. VI said it predicts its investment in the 50-tonne-capacity ramp-loading freighter "is likely to double as more new aircraft join its fleet to meet global demand for the IL-76TD-90VD's unique operating capability." It signed a contract for another two aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2011.

Friday March 12, 2010

SuperJet International, the Sukhoi/Alenia Aeronautica joint venture, received certification to provide maintenance on Aeroflot A320s at its Venice facility.

Commercial Jet of Miami completed a heavy maintenance check and passenger-to-freighter conversion on one MNG Airlines 737-400SF.

Thursday March 11, 2010

United Airlines firmed its order for 25 A350-900s, Airbus announced yesterday. Aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWBs. UA, which will take delivery of the aircraft in 2016-19, signed a contract for 25 787-8s two week ago (ATWOnline, Feb. 26).

Thursday March 11, 2010

EgyptAir took delivery of the first of six 777-300ERs on lease from GECAS. Remaining five are due before the second half of 2011. The -300ER seats 346 and features 49 lie-flat beds.

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