Boeing commences wind tunnel testing of 777X

Boeing has commenced low-speed wind tunnel tests for its 777X aircraft. Testing is being performed on a 5% scale model of the baseline 777X, measuring about 4.22 meters (166 inches) long with a wing span of 3.92 meters (154 inches). Hundreds of sensors are embedded in the model to measure pressure to determine the in-flight loads as well as provide valuable diagnostics of the aerodynamic performance of a given design.

These tests will measure airplane performance with a variety of settings to simulate take-off and landing conditions.

This is the first major milestone in airplane development, which validates performance models and generates a vast amount of data that Boeing's engineering teams will use to design the airplane as development progresses.

Testing started on December 5th at QinetiQ's test facility in Farnborough, United Kingdom, and is expected to last approximately five months. Testing also will be conducted next year at the Boeing Transonic Wind Tunnel in Seattle to further validate 777X high-speed performance projections.

Boeing indicates its on track to complete the top-level design in 2014 and reach firm configuration in 2015.

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British Airways celebrates launching its A380 service to Hong Kong

By BA Staff

The exclusive event, billed as a ‘Gig on a Wing’ showcased the very best of British Airways, to an audience that included Keith Williams, British Airways’ Chief Executive and special guests from Hong Kong’s aviation, travel, business, entertainment and hospitality industry.

Keith Williams, British Airways’ chief executive, said:

“Today marks another milestone in our long and proud tradition of connecting Hong Kong and London – two truly global hubs. For over three quarters of a century, this city has been an important part of British Airways’ worldwide network, so we are extremely delighted to be operating the state-of-the-art A380 onthe route, and to also be the first to fly it non-stop between Hong Kong and Europe.”

British Airways’ ‘Gig on a Wing’ event launched with a fashion show by British designer Alice Temperley MBE. Models descended the steps of the A380 aircraft onto British Airways’ specially created “runway” catwalk. Alice Temperley who has designed dresses for stars including Keira Knightly, Rihanna, Beyonce and The Duchess of Cambridge said:

“I was thrilled to be asked by British Airways to showcase my new Spring/Summer 2014 collection in Hong Kong and at such a unique and glamorous event. The people here really appreciate cutting edge design, fine tailoring and effortless style, very similar to that of British Airways new A380”.

This was followed by a live performance from multi-platinum selling artist and former X-Factor winner Leona Lewis. Lewis performed tracks on a specially created stage, flush with the A380’s 261-foot twin-engine wing. Leona’s set included a cover of Lenny Kravitz’s “Fly Away”, her number 1 selling track “Bleeding Love” and "Come Alive".

Supermodel Georgia May Jagger, daughter of Rolling Stones legend Mick Jagger took to the stage with Keith Williams to close the evening with a prize draw, which consisted of two British Airways Club World tickets to London on the new A380 and a stay at The Langham London.

Georgia May Jagger said:

“I'm so happy British Airways invited me to Hong Kong on their first A380 flight. The service, food and flat beds on the long haul flights are second to none and I always arrive feeling well rested. I love Hong Kong too and look forward to returning and spending more time in this great city”.

British Airways operates two daily non-stop flights between Hong Kong and London Heathrow. The A380 will serve flight BA25 from London to Hong Kong, and BA26 from Hong Kong to London.

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easyJet to open new base in Hamburg, expand Berlin base

By BA Staff

easyJet, the UK’s largest airline, has announced it will open a base in Hamburg, Germany as well as increasing its fleet in Berlin in the spring of 2014.

Building on its success to date in both Hamburg and Berlin, easyJet’s new base will open with three A319 aircraft with the airline increasing its fleet in Berlin by an additional plane. easyJet will more than double its network from Hamburg with 15 additional new business and leisure routes on the top of its existing portfolio of six routes offering almost 170 flights a week during summer 2014. With more frequencies and early morning departures from Hamburg the schedule will make easyJet more attractive to business passengers.

Carolyn McCall, easyJet chief executive officer, commented:

"I am really pleased to be able to announce the launch of a new base in Hamburg which will enable us to double the size of our operation. Hamburg and its region is one of the most dynamic economies in Europe with a significant and growing tourist industry. In the last twelve months more than half a million passengers have enjoyed easyJet’s low fares combined with our friendly service. These expansion plans mean that we expect to carry twice as many passengers in the first year of operations which will take us to more than a million passengers annually for the first time."

Hamburg will be easyJet’s 23^rd base in its European network. Germany’s second largest city is also one of Europe’s wealthiest economies with a strong local industry in banking, aviation, renewable energy media & publishing and the second largest European harbour. easyJet expects to bring 275,000 additional business and leisure visitors in Hamburg in the first year.

First Mayor of Hamburg Olaf Scholz said:

"easyJet's recent decisions strengthen both the Hamburg Airport and the aircraft manufacturing location Hamburg - the third largest after Seattle and Toulouse. The most recent decision of the airline to purchase new aircraft is good for Airbus. It is also good news for suppliers that are involved in aircraft manufacturing. easyJet's decisions underscore the positive development that Hamburg is experiencing in regards to aviation. This development shows that it was the right decision of the Hamburg Senate in 2000 to invest in aviation in Hamburg and to give the aviation industry the importance it deserves."

In Berlin, the additional aircraft will take the total based there to eight. It will mean 130,000 more passengers on the top of the four million passengers easyJet has carried on the last 12 months (a 9.5% increase on the previous year). The aircraft will allow easyJet to increase frequencies on popular business and leisure routes. At Summer 2014 passengers will have the choice of up to 635 flights per week.

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Routes: easyJet to begin services between Jersey and London Gatwick

British low cost carrier (LCC) easyJet has announced new thrice daily service between Jersey and its hub at London Gatwick commencing 30th March 2014 utilizing 156 seat Airbus A319 aircraft. Find out more details below.

28th August 2013

easyJet, the UK’s largest airline has today announced it is increasing its Jersey network with the introduction of a year-round service to London Gatwick.

From 30 March 2014 easyJet will operate three flights per day between Jersey and London Gatwick offering the choice of a morning, afternoon and evening departure in each direction. The new service will go on sale in September 2013 and means easyJet now connect Jersey with five UK airports – London Gatwick, Southend, Liverpool, Newcastle and Glasgow.

The announcement follows a deal secured by easyJet earlier this year to purchase 25 additional slots at Gatwick Airport from Flybe. Since this time, the airline has worked closely with the route development team at Jersey Airport to expand its operation in the Island and enhance connections to London Gatwick. The new flight will be operated by an Airbus A319 aircraft with the capacity of 156 seats.

Group CEO for Ports of Jersey, Doug Bannister, is delighted by the announcement and says the confirmation will offer an excellent and affordable choice for both leisure and business passengers.

UK Commercial Manager for easyJet, Ali Gayward, says: “easyJet is pleased to confirm it will introduce new flights between Jersey and London Gatwick from spring 2014, which underlines our continued commitment to serving Jersey.

“The new early flight will allow business travellers to reach London in time for meetings while the evening departure enables them to travel home on the same day. The introduction of low cost seats will also help to boost tourism to Jersey.

“In developing our plans for London Gatwick we have listened to all the points made by Economic Development and Jersey Airport. Their enthusiasm to work with easyJet has been clear from the start and we hope this support will continue to make the route a success”.

Minister for Economic Development, Senator Alan Maclean, says: “Today’s announcement once again demonstrates easyJet’s continuing confidence in Jersey, which has continued to flourish since it first established services from the Island in 2008. The airline has the capability of delivering in excess of a quarter of a million passengers per year on the Gatwick route alone, which will be of great benefit to the vitally important tourism and business economy”.

Provisional schedule for summer 2014 – timings to be confirmed in September.

London Gatwick – Jersey             Jersey – London Gatwick
Depart Arrive                     Depart       Arrive
07:00 08:00                      08:30       09:30
14:30 15:30                      16:00       17:00
17:30 18:30                      19:00       20:00

The introduction of a London Gatwick service brings the total number of routes the airline serves from Jersey to five. In addition to its exiting year-round services to Liverpool, Glasgow and London Southend, the airline also introduced a summer service to Newcastle earlier this year.

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Post 787 fire, UK air accident investigator recommends review of all Lithium powered ELTs on all aircraft

by Devesh Agarwal

The United Kingdom's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has issued a special bulletin (read PDF here) on the fire that broke out on Ethiopian Airline's Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner ET-AOP, parked at London's Heathrow airport last Friday.

In the report, the AAIB said the fire occurred in the rear upper fuselage where the fixed Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) is located. The ELT model RESCU406AFN is made by US aviation major, Honeywell International.

The report says

Detailed examination of the ELT has shown some indications of disruption to the battery cells. It is not clear however, whether the combustion in the area of the ELT was initiated by a release of energy within the batteries or by an external mechanism such as an electrical short. In the case of an electrical short, the same batteries could provide the energy for an ignition and suffer damage in the subsequent fire.

There are no other aircraft system in this area of the plane which, with the aircraft unpowered, contained stored energy capable of causing such a fire,

However, the report also gives some benefit of doubt to Honeywell, saying

The ELT manufacturer has produced some 6,000 units of this design which are fitted to a wide range of aircraft and, to date, the incident on 12 July 2013 has been the only significant thermal event

The AAIB has made two safety recommendations in its report:

Safety Recommendation 2013-016
It is recommended that the Federal Aviation Administration initiate action for making inert the Honeywell International RESCU406AFN fixed Emergency Locator Transmitter system in Boeing 787 aircraft until appropriate airworthiness actions can be completed.

Safety Recommendation 2013-017
It is recommended that the Federal Aviation Administration, in association with other regulatory authorities, conduct a safety review of installations of Lithium-powered Emergency Locator Transmitter systems in other aircraft types and, where appropriate, initiate airworthiness action.

Aircraft manufacturer Boeing released a statement saying

As a party to the investigation, Boeing supports the two recommendations from the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), which we think are reasonable precautionary measures to take as the investigation proceeds. We are working proactively to support the regulatory authorities in taking appropriate action in response to these recommendations, in coordination with our customers, suppliers, and other commercial airplane manufacturers.

We are confident the 787 is safe and we stand behind its overall integrity.

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Boeing delivers first Dreamliners to China and UK

US airframer Boeing made deliveries of the first Dreamliners to China and the United Kingdom when it delivered 787-8 aircraft to China Southern Airlines and UK's Thomson Airways on May 31.

China Southern has 10 Dreamliners on order. The airline will follow the patterns of other 787 operators and first operate the aircraft on shorter domestic flights before introducing the Dreamliner on its long-haul international passenger service. China Southern is the tenth customer worldwide to take delivery of the 787 Dreamliner.

Thomson, part of the TUI Travel group, is the UK's third largest airline operating 58 aircraft. It has eight Dreamliners on order which are configured in a two class layout, with 244 economy and 47 premium club seats.

On July 8, Thomson's first long-haul Dreamliner flights will operate from Manchester to Florida and from Glasgow to Cancun. Thomson will also operate services from London Gatwick and East Midlands airports. Later this year, the airline will introduce direct flights to Phuket, Thailand from the UK.

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Photos: Four new airlines take delivery of A320s with Sharklets

The fleet of Airbus A320s equipped with the new wingtips called "Sharklets" is growing by the day.

During the last fortnight, four new airlines have taken delivery of Sharklet fitted A320s.

Spain's largest low cost carrier Vueling, the largest low cost airline in Spain, took delivery of its first A320 Sharklet aircraft, becoming the first Spanish carrier to do so. Vueling’s in-service fleet rises to 61 A320 Family aircraft

Monarch Airlines, became the first UK carrier to take delivery of a Sharklet A320.

Germany's airberlin group took delivery of its first Sharklet Airbus A320. This aircraft will join the fleet of group member, the Austrian based airline NIKI. Till 2015 the airberlin group, will receive 13 more Sharklet fitted A320-family aircraft.

Wizz Air Ukraine, took delivery of a Sharklet A320, becoming the first Ukrainian carrier to do so.

Photos courtesy Airbus S.A.S.

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Qatar Airways to commence London Dreamliner service on December 13

Qatar Airways will commence its Doha London Heathrow Boeing 787 Dreamliner service from December 13. It is expected that the airline will be the first to operate a regularly scheduled Dreamliner service to the United Kingdom.

Flight QR 075 departs Doha 06:25 arrives London Heathrow 11:05 hrs
Flight QR 076 departs London Heathrow 15:05 hrs arrives Doha at 00:45

Qatar Airways took delivery of the first of its 60 Dreamliners earlier this month with the second arriving over the weekend. Both aircraft are currently operating commercial flights on intra-Gulf routes to familiarise operating crew with the aeroplane before entering the long-haul market. Three more aircraft are expected to join the fleet before the year end.

Qatar Airways Dreamliners have 254 seats. Business Class is configured 1–2–1 with 22 seats, while Economy has 232 seats in a very tight 3–3–3 layout.

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Can Air India beat Qatar Airways with the first 787 service to London Heathrow? An all 787 Kangaroo service?

National carrier Air India can expect to take delivery of up to three or four Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners as early as next week, as a Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by home minister P. Chidambaram, approved a compensation demand for an almost four year delay in delivery, made by the carrier on the airframer.

After the GoM meeting, India's civil aviation minister Ajit Singh indicated the proposal will now examined by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) which is meeting today. The exact amount of the compensation has not been publicly disclosed on the grounds of confidentiality. A few years ago former Air India Chairman and Managing Director Mr. Arvind Jadhav, deposing before a parliamentary committee, had indicated a claim amount of $710 million which the airframer strongly opposed.

At present four Dreamliners are sitting on the flight line at Charleston. VT-AND and VT-ANH built at Boeing's Everett, Washington plant, and VT-ANI and VT-ANJ built at the new Charleston, South Carolina facility. VT-ANJ may not be ready for delivery since it appears to be partially painted, but that was a couple of weeks ago.

Air India 787 first to London Heathrow?

Doha based Qatar Airways has announced its intention to be the first airline to operate a 787 service in to London Heathrow, but has still to take final delivery of its first aircraft.

Air India has a definite plan for operating a Dreamliner on the Delhi London Heathrow route, and has been training and certifying pilots for the 787 for some time. Depending on the CCEA decision and its time-frame, the carrier can take delivery of at least three aircraft as early as this week.

The issue will be overall preparedness. Both airlines need to achieve a certain minimum number of landings in order to build up experience of the crews, cockpit, cabin, ground, etc., and will utilise their first 787s on short haul routes to achieve this goal. Qatar Airways on intra-gulf routes, while Air India on domestic routes.

If Air India girds up, is it possible for them to beat Qatar Airways and be the first airline to offer a 787 service to London Heathrow? Share your thoughts via a comment.

A Dreamliner Kangaroo route

Air India is expected to commence a 787 based service from Delhi to Sydney and Melbourne. Air India sources confirmed this service is expected to operate from the September or October time frame. By this time, Air India will have at least four Dreamliner in its fleet, and by synchronising their New Delhi London service to the Delhi Sydney-Melbourne service, can be the first airline to offer a complete 787 service on the Kangaroo Route, London to Australia.

It will be a tremendous PR coup, one that can reap the carrier significant commercial benefits.

Share your thoughts via a comment.

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Picture: Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 Royal Air Force at Farnborough air show

It has been a grey, cloudy, rainy start to the Farnborough air show 2012.

In the midst of the gloomy weather are these twin bright orange discs of flame. A picture of a Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 with its afterburners burning a bright orange for your enjoyment.

Soon after lift off, even before the wheel covers fold back in to position, the Typhoon performs a tight right turn climb manoeuvre away from the runway and spectators, the hot jet wash from the afterburners obscures part of the aircraft.

Tail number EH is a very new aircraft. It was the second last fighter of the Block 10 production. BS094 is build no. 1355, serial no. ZK333. It had its first flight on 12/Jan/2012, and was delivered to the RAF on 28/Mar/2012. It is now part of the 6th squadron RAF, stationed at Coningsby.

Special thanks to Bangalore Aviation photographer Vedant for his quick processing of this photo.

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Assembly of first Lockheed Martin F-35 Lighting II (BK-1) for United Kingdom completed

The first international Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, designated BK-1, and destined for the United Kingdom, rolled out of the airframer's Fort Worth, Texas factory Sunday evening. The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence will use the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) jet, for training and operational tests.



BK-1 will undergo functional fuel system checks before being transported to the flight line for ground and flight tests in the coming months. The jet is scheduled to be delivered in 2012.

In October 2010, Israel selected the F-35A as the Israel Air Force’s next generation fighter and is scheduled to receive the F-35 through the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales process. Additionally, Japan and the Republic of Korea are currently considering the F-35 to recapitalize their fighter fleets.

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th Generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment. Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems.

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AirAsia X to shift from London Stansted to Gatwick

Malaysian low fare carrier AirAsia X has announced that it will shift its six times a week Kuala Lumpur to London flights from Stansted airport to Gatwick airport from October 24, 2011.

AirAsia Airbus A340-300 9M-XAC in Oakland Raiders livery at London Stansted. Click on image for high resolution view.

The move will afford AirAsia X passengers better onward connectivity both by air and surface. The Gatwick Express will provide passengers quick connectivity to London's Victoria station and the London Underground.

AirAsia X launched its flight into Stansted in March 2009 and offers a good low fare connection across the "Kangaroo Route" between the UK and Australia and New Zealand. The carrier also leverages the strong regional network of its affiliate AirAsia for passengers between Europe and south-east Asia.

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Air New Zealand offers London visitors a new iPhone application - London Spot-on

Air New Zealand is offering its passengers an iPhone extension of it's famous Inflight Concierge service.

London-Spot-On™, a free iPhone application which can be downloaded from iTunes, helps travelers find the top local spots for a purchase or a pint, provides one-touch access to resources such as travel deals, tube maps, hand-picked recommendations and can’t-miss events, tourist sites, and insider recommendations on local secrets.

Features include:

• Personally-recommended places to eat, shop, relax and experience
• One-touch access to query Air New Zealand Concierge staff
• Hand-picked Activities sorted by genre, source and proximity
• Interactive Tube Map
• London Taxi numbers pre-programmed
• Eavesdrop on local Twitter chatter
• Plan a trip offline, roaming or even at 30,000 feet in ‘plane mode.’ Sync feature enables download of the latest local activities directly to the iPhone or iTouch.
• Automatically awaits Wi-FI connection prior to downloading updates, saving on international data roaming fees
• Direct access to air fares and special Air New Zealand offers and promotions

The application is compatible with iPhone and iTouch and requires the iPhone 2.0 software update.

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10 persons feared dead in second crash of Eurocopter Super Puma in 45 days

In repeat incident, another Eurocopter AS332L2 Super Puma helicopter, this one operated by Bond Offshore Helicopters, has crashed off the north east coast of Scotland in the North Sea with 16 on board.

Unlike the last time, when all persons on board survived, this time it appears 10 persons have lost their lives.

The Coastguards says the incident happened about 40 miles north east of Aberdeen, just before 1400 (1300 GMT), as the helicopter returned from British Petroleum's Miller field.

The U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency says a supply vessel called Normand Aurora had put its fast response boat into the water and was looking for survivors. Two helicopters from the RAF and a Nimrod marine patrol aircraft have been diverted to the area.

The earlier incident also involving the Eurocopter AS332L2 Super Puma occurred on February 19 this year. With two crashes less than 45 days apart questions about this workhorse helicopter are sure to be raised.

Read more news reports here, here and here.

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Videos: Air traffic over Britain, ship traffic in the Channel, taxi traffic in London, and UK data traffic

The BBC has a really neat series called Britain from above.

Using GPS, data streams, and other modes of tracking, and then super-imposing some really neat visualisations on to maps of the United Kingdom, they have created these superb videos of the 4 modes of traffic. Air, sea, road, and the information superhighway.

I especially enjoy the way the cross-channel ferries dart and dodge through the main traffic flowing up and down the English Channel.



I hope you enjoy the videos. Please do let a comment expressing your thoughts.

Air Traffic over Britain


Ship traffic in the English Channel


Taxi traffic in London


Data traffic to/from the United Kingdom

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