747 Crashes at Bagram Airfield killing 7 US citizens

Video footage has emerged purportedly showing a civilian cargo plane crash in Afghanistan which killed all seven crew members on board.

Rescue teams rushed to the scene after the 747 crashed inside the boundaries of Bagram airfield, a US-run base which is a key transport hub for US-led military operations in Afghanistan.
The purported footage shows the plane in a steep climb before it suddenly plummets back down to the ground.
The ABC accessed the footage through social media curators Storyful, who are 90 per cent confident of its authenticity.
The flight out of Bagram, located 50 kilometres north of Kabul, had been operated by the US-based National Air Cargo company.
"At approximately 7am EST, National Flight NCR102 from Bagram to Dubai, UAE with seven crewmembers on board, crashed on take-off," National Air Cargo said in a statement on its website.
"National will release additional information as it becomes available, in cooperation with government authorities."
It added that the cause of the crash remains unknown.
"Safety is always our top priority at National Airlines," National Airlines president Glen Joerger said.
"This is a devastating loss for our family and we'll work diligently with authorities to find the cause.
"Most importantly, our thoughts and prayers are with our crewmembers and their families."
A spokesman for the NATO military coalition said there was no reported insurgent activity in the area at the time.
Aircraft crashes are fairly frequent in Afghanistan, where the 100,000-strong international military mission relies heavily on air transport as it battles the Taliban insurgency across the country.
A NATO plane crashed in the south on Saturday, killing four US service members in another incident that the coalition said was not due to insurgent fire.
The NATO-led mission to Afghanistan is winding down before a deadline at the end of next year when all foreign combat deployments will finish, but airbases such as Bagram still support a huge multi-national military operation.
Afghan police and soldiers are taking over responsibility for fighting the Taliban, but there is growing concern over the war-torn country's prospects after 2014.

IAG Airbus A350 Orders

International Airlines Group (IAG) is ordering Airbus A350 aircraft for the group's longhaul fleet.
For British Airways, there are 18 A350-1000 firm orders, plus 18 options. These are in addition to 18 Boeing 787 options which IAG announced previously that it plans to convert into firm orders.

The A350 and Boeing 787 firm orders will be used to replace 30 Boeing 747-400 aircraft between 2017 and 2023 while the options can be used to replace aircraft or provide opportunities for growth.
For Iberia, IAG has also reached agreement with Airbus as well as Boeing to secure commercial terms and delivery slots that could lead to firm orders for A350s and/or Boeing 787s. Firm orders will only be made when Iberia is in a position to grow profitably, having restructured and reduced its cost base.

The A350 will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. The order includes a comprehensive maintenance package with total care agreement.
Willie Walsh, IAG chief executive, said: "The A350-1000 will bring many benefits to our fleet. Its size and range will be an excellent fit for our existing network and, with lower unit costs, there is an opportunity to operate a new range of destinations profitably. This will not only bring greater flexibility to our network but also more choice for our customers.

"Both aircraft will provide further cost efficiencies and environmental benefits with fuel cost per seat improvements of more than 20 per cent.
"This order will also secure jobs in Britain and Spain. The A350's wings are made in Britain while its horizontal tail plane, horizontal tail plane boxes and lower wing covers are made in Spain. Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines are assembled in Britain".
The fleet order is subject to approval by IAG shareholders.

Nepal Airlines commits to purchasing two Airbus A320s

Nepal Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to buy two Airbus A320 aircrafts in a deal that would be worth around USD$180 million.

"Adding the A320 to our fleet, will help us to capitalise on tourism growth and to enhance our network," said Madan Kharel, Managing Director, Nepal Airlines.

Finnair records a loss in the first quarter

Finnair reported a loss in the 2013 first quarter, disappointed investors' hopes for a quicker solution after cost cuts and profitable long haul routes to expand.
Finnair posted a first-quarter underlying loss of EUR€17.7 million, compared with a EUR€24 million loss in the same period the year before.

Finnair needs to cut costs to ensure that there is growth within the next quarter, unions will have great pressure on the company if these steps did take place.

Deputy chief executive Ville Iho said on Friday the airline would try to curb costs by trimming wages and working hours.

JAL to commence 787 flights in June

Japan Airlines is trying to commence the Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets to commercial flights in June, the company said in a statement on Friday.
Japanese authorities gave Japan Airlines authority to fly the 787 Dreamliners earlier on Friday following FAA approval, after the 787s were grounded since mid-January due to lithium-ion battery problems.

Poland carrier LOT to resume normal flights of the Boeing 787 in June

Poland's flag carrier LOT expects to restart Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights to Chicago and Toronto on June 5, the company said on Thursday.

LOT the first European country to take delivery to the Boeing 787 will also receive another 787 around the time it resumes normal flights of the 787.

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Etihad Agrees Codeshare Deal With Air Canada

Days after Etihad invests 9.9 pc into Indias Jet Airways, they have taken a step forward with Air Canada. They have agreed to a code-share and eased back on visa waivers after a dispute over landing rights in Canada.
Canada had put landing restrictions on the country for protection of their own airlines, but this agreement will allow for Etihad to sell into more destinations within Canada, as they only fly to  Toronto.

The codeshare is part of a series of partnerships for Etihad, as it pursues ambitious global expansion plans.

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Etihad Confirms Jet Airways Investment

Etihad Airways confirmed it had invested 24 percent stake in India's Jet Airways for USD$379 million. Etihad Airways said in a statement it would subscribe to 27.3 million new shares at 754.74 rupees per share.
The deal would give Etihad Airways a larger market share in India, a fast-growing but challenging market. This challenging market could have a high potential of return and provide Etihad with steady amount of growth. Also it gives Jet Airways with the opportunity to hold cash to pay the required debt of the company.

"It's a game-changing opportunity for Etihad, and a game-changing opportunity for India," Kapil Kaul, regional head of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA).

Etihad has negotiated stake purchases in four foreign airlines including Air Berlin, Virgin Australia, Aer Lingus and Air Seychelles.

Ethiopian To Be First To Resume 787 Flights

After the long waited inquiry into the batteries of the Boeing 787 Dreamliners, Ethiopian will be the forst company to resume normal flights.
"Ethiopian Airlines will be the first airline company to resume 787 Dreamliner flights in the world. Saturday's the date," a senior Ethiopian Airlines source said. "We're flying to Nairobi, Kenya on the normal flight schedule."
The US Federal Aviation Administration, which grounded the planes, is expected to issue an Airworthiness Directive on Thursday. This applies to US airlines, but other nations are expected to follow suit. Air India is expected to resume flights within a week or so.

Ethiopian Airlines previously said its fleet did not suffer any of the technical problems experienced by other Dreamliners, though it withdrew the planes from service to undergo inspection requirements mandated by the FAA.

Singapore Airlines invests another 9.9pc into Virgin Australia

Singapore Airlines invested another 9.9pc into Virgin Australia, tallying up to a shareholder percentage of 19.9pc, which is making the carrier its joint largest shareholder.

The airline has agreed to take another 9.9 per cent of Virgin Australia in a deal that will see it purchase 225 million shares at 48 cents from Richard Branson’s Virgin Group. The deal, which is still subject to Foreign Investment Review Board approval, is valued at $122.6m

“Our partnership with Virgin Australia has been going from strength to strength, offering a wide range of consumer benefits,” said Singapore Airlines chief executive Goh Choon Phong.
“Increasing our stake in Virgin Australia is another example of Singapore Airlines’ deep commitment to the important Australian market. It also demonstrates our support for the ongoing transformation of Virgin Australia, which has created a more competitive aviation market in Australia."

Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia have had a marketing alliance since 2011 and has built up a reputable brand. Both airlines have stated that they have a good relationship with each other and Singapore is trying to keep its presence within Australia as they still are the major shareholder of Tiger Airways.

US Delays Plan To Allow Small Knives On Planes

Post September 11 2001 small knives have been banned by TSA as a carry on item within the US, this is soon to change with the ban to become uplifted. The TSA said that starting on Thursday (25th April 2013), it would allow folding knives with blades 2.36 inches (6 cm) or shorter, to be carried onto planes, as well as hockey sticks, golf clubs, ski poles and billiard cues.The US Transportation Security Administration delayed a controversial policy change as security heights are at large with the Boston bombings.

"The 90,000-member Flight Attendants Union Coalition, which has opposed the TSA's ill-advised plan from the start, remains resolute: no knives on planes ever again," the group said in a statement. This comes at a risk that flight attendants will be at risk if this ban is lifted following Thursday.

Many security risks have been changed since the September 11 attacks, such as the locking of cockpit doors during the entire flight, but the Flight Attendant Union Coalition still requires safety for all Flight Attendants.

The delay has slowed down the process and the Flight Attendant Union Coalition is requiring TSA to rethink the idea of this policy as its a massive risk.

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787s Could Fly In A Week As Battery Fix Begins

Boeing ] began installing reinforced lithium-ion batteries on five grounded 787 jets operated by launch customer All Nippon Airways, starting a process that should make the aircraft ready to fly again in about a week.

Boeing has grounded 787s since mid January because of overheating of the batteries. US regulators have just approved the new reinforced lithium-ion batteries which has cleared the way for installing.
 Grounding the Boeing 787s has cost Boeing around USD$600 million and halted the production, also forced some airlines to lease alternative aircrafts.  

"Our first priority is to get the existing fleet back into the air," Larry Loftis, vice president and general manager of the 787 programme at Boeing, told European reporters.
"We went to great lengths to question every assumption we made in the initial design and greatly expanded the thought process for what could be potential causes," Loftis said.

Boeing pilots will need to go back through training to renew the licence as its been 3 months since they have flown the Boeing 787. Boeing are hoping this will be the end of the drama as they plan to continue production.

Also Loftis said "We aren't changing forecasts for future (787) orders because of this incident," 

 

 

 

United Airlines jet hits aerobridge while parking at Melbourne Airport

A UNITED Airlines plane has clipped an aerobridge while parking at Melbourne Airport, leaving its wing with significant damage.
The plane was arriving from Los Angeles via Sydney crashed into an aerobridge while parking at Melbourne International Airport.

The Boeing 747 overshot the parking bay causing the aircraft to tear a 40cm hole in the wing.

"There were no injuries reported. The passengers and crew deplaned via stairs and our maintenance team is inspecting the Boeing 747 aircraft," the spokesman said. (Herald Sun 2013)

United Flight UA 840 was cancelled.