Airlineroute.net is the airline network planning community’s top blogging site and it is used by thousands of airline network planners and airport aviation professionals each day.

The blog will be integrated into the news section of Routesonline, the online route development forum and official website of Routes, which has, since its re-launch in May 2008, been a central source of route development information to airports and airlines.

Routesonline also allows airports to promote their market opportunities and airlines to access one resource for all their market data and route development information, as well as being a key source of route development news and analysis through their HUB newsletter.

David McMullen, Business Development Director of Routesonline stated “Airlineroute.net is the most highly regarded source of airline route development news and is currently used by over 800 companies, the synergies between this site and the Routes brand are clear and we are delighted to offer our clients this tool to track changes in airline schedules.” 

Routesonline has developed year on year since its inception in 2008, it now offers its 18,000 registered users not only industry and event news but also the unique Route Exchange facility which is where airports and airlines create profiles.  Airlines post available aircraft capacity and airports can send proposals direct to the airlines  Airline users also have direct access to Route Exchange airport profiles, which have full airport intelligence and allow contacts to be made before or after Routes events. The Route Exchange also facilitates an online Request for Proposals (RFP) process where airlines use the Route Exchange to request for proposals from airports to assist them in their network developments plans. This facility was only introduced last year and has already had Air Asia X, Scoot and Indigo airlines participate with further RFPs planned for later in the year.

SOURCE UBM Aviation Routes Ltd

AviationArticle.com for Aviation News

A special Kennedy Space Center Up-Close Tour has been extended through the end of 2012 to provide visitors a look inside the 525-foot-tall Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), where the Apollo rockets and space shuttles were assembled. One of the largest buildings in the world, the VAB had been off limits to visitors for more than 30 years until the tour was added in November.

The space agency is also working with Delaware North Companies, which operates Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, on final details of new tours featuring operational areas that visitors have also rarely had the opportunity to see. Announcements regarding the new tours are expected in the coming weeks.

“There’s an opportunity to see fascinating aspects of the space program that few people have seen, and a chance your visit can coincide with a rocket launch,” said Bill Moore, chief operating officer of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

“We want people to know that a visit to Kennedy Space Center remains a visit to an operating facility where a lot of exciting things are happening. It’s a world-class destination that offers a truly authentic and memorable visitor experience, and this year is an ideal time for Florida residents and vacationers to visit,” Moore said.

The 50th anniversary year features several events, including a celebration July 1 to mark the anniversary of the space center being officially acknowledged as an operating spaceflight center under the name Launch Operations Center. It was later changed to John F. Kennedy Space Center in honor of the president and his vision of Americans landing on the moon.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is offering guests two special offers that can save up to 30 percent on admission, food and merchandise, as well as secure access to view rocket launches. Details of Kennedy Space Center’s 50th Gold Admission Package and a $50 Annual Pass are available at http://kennedyspacecenter.com/annual-pass-offer.aspx.

SOURCE Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

AviationArticle.com for Aviation News

“The new service being offered by Sichuan Airlines will boost tourism, provide more choice for Canadian travellers and have a significant impact on our economy,” said Minister Moore. “We welcome Sichuan Airlines to Vancouver and look forward to further building our ties with China.”

The new passenger service is made possible by the Canada-China Air Transport Agreement. Sichuan Airlines is headquartered at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, in Chengdu, the capital of China’s Sichuan province. The passenger service will start on June 22, 2012, and will be offered three times a week. The service will operate between Chengdu and Vancouver, making a stopover in the North Eastern Chinese city of Shenyang.

Located strategically between Western and Eastern China, Chengdu is one of the most important commercial centers in Western China, home to 14 million people. Chengdu as a manufacturing center has a market reach of over 200 million consumers. Pillar industries include automotive and aerospace manufacturing, biotech, pharmaceuticals, food processing, metallurgy and building materials, information and communication technology, and petrochemical processing.

Sichuan Airlines recognizes Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway as a vital portal between Canada and China. This new service reflects the priorities of the partners in the Asia-Pacific Gateway that are aimed at making it the best transportation network between North America and Asia. To date, the Government of Canada has partnered with all four Western provinces, as well as with municipalities and the private sector, to announce strategic infrastructure projects worth over $3.5 billion, including federal contributions of over $1.4 billion.

Source: Transport Canada

AviationArticle.com for Aviation News

The FAA conducted a periodic dangerous goods inspection of US Airways’ facilities at Hartford’s Bradley International Airport (BDL), May 10-18, 2010. As a result of the inspection, the FAA alleges the airline committed various violations between Feb. 26 and May 12, 2010. The alleged violations involve 12 flights to or from BDL.

In one instance, the Transportation Security Administration discovered, while inspecting passenger checked baggage, that US Airways had accepted an undeclared shipment containing ten disposable cigarette lighters filled with flammable gas. The FAA alleged the airline failed to notify the FAA of this discrepancy.

In another instance, US Airways offered an improperly packaged shipment containing wet cell batteries filled with alkali, a corrosive, for transportation by air on a US Airways passenger-carrying flight.

The FAA also alleged the airline failed to provide pilots with the required “accurate and legible written information” regarding 23 shipments of hazardous materials it accepted for transportation by air.

US Airways has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.

Source: FAA

AviationArticle.com for Aviation News

Ball Aerospace was one of five companies awarded up to $600,000 by NASA in September 2011, to formulate a mission concept to demonstrate the solar electric propulsion technologies, capabilities, and infrastructure required for sustainable and affordable human presence in space.  NASA will use the studies to plan and implement a future flight demonstration mission to test and validate those science technologies and capabilities.

“Ball Aerospace recognizes the mission enabling aspect of solar electric propulsion and our customer needs for SEP solutions,” said Cary Ludtke, vice president of Ball’s Civil and Operational Space business unit.  “We believe we’re the right-sized company with the right capabilities to take this space technology to the next level.”

The current study focused on developing concepts that will be using technology at NASA Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 or greater.  Ball’s mission concept supports NASA’s goal to elevate SEP technologies in order to create more efficient and powerful solar-powered flight systems.  Ball Aerospace worked with several companies to create an implementable solar electronic technology demonstration mission for NASA including: ATK Space Systems, Busek Co. Inc., Deployable Space Systems, Gray Research Inc., and the Southwest Research Institute.

SOURCE Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.

AviationArticle.com for Aviation News

XCOR Chief Operating Officer Andrew Nelson made the announcement at the Spacecraft Technology Expo (STE) in Los Angeles, CA.

“About two months ago, we were at an event called the Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference, where together with the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) we gave away a suborbital flight,” said XCOR Chief Operating Officer Andrew Nelson.  “We had a winner, and we had a backup. Unfortunately our main winner was unable to accept the prize. Our backup winner, Jennifer Brisco, is now the official recipient of the suborbital flight.”

Jennifer, who hails from the San Francisco Bay Area was flown in to the Spacecraft Technology Expo in Los Angeles to receive the prize. She did not know that she had been selected until presented with the award at the Expo.

“It’s been my lifetime goal to take a suborbital flight,” said Jennifer.  “This is an absolute dream … I am in shock right now, I am speechless.”

Jennifer, who is a space enthusiast, will be eligible to fly on the Lynx mark I as a suborbital researcher after passing a medical exam and completing a three day training program that includes altitude and G-force exposure.

“XCOR continues to bring down the costs and barriers associated with commercial human spaceflight,” remarked Andrew. “Reusable Launch Vehicles such as Lynx will usher in a whole new era of accessibility to space by offering routine, affordable and safe trips outside the atmosphere.  We look forward to being on the vanguard of this revolution in affordable access to the cosmos.”

SOURCE XCOR Aerospace

AviationArticle.com for Aviation News

The AW169 program is on schedule to achieve basic civil certification in 2014. The AW169 was flown by AgustaWestland’s Chief Test Pilot, Giuseppe Lo Coco, Test Pilot Giuseppe Afruni, and Flight Test Engineers Massimo Longo and Stefano Rognoni at the company’s Cascina Costa plant in Italy. The helicopter performed as expected during the flight which included an assessment of the helicopter’s general handling and basic systems. The first prototype will be joined by two more aircraft later this year and a fourth prototype in 2013.

Bruno Spagnolini, Chief Executive Officer, AgustaWestland, said “The AW169 is the only new generation helicopter in its category to be launched in decades, so this is an important milestone for the continued enhancement of AgustaWestland’s product range and for the development of our family of new generation helicopters.” He added “With both the AW169 and AW189 now flying and the AW139 established as the market leader in it class, we are able to offer the market the most advanced range of helicopters across the 4 to 8 tonne weight classes in the shortest possible timescales. Operator will for the first time ever, in the helicopter market, be able to benefit from the advantages of a family concept of three new generation helicopters.”

The AW169 is part of AgustaWestland’s family of new generation helicopters that includes the AW139 and AW189 models. These helicopters all possess the same high performance flight characteristics and safety features and share the same common cockpit layout, design philosophy and maintenance concepts. This approach will deliver real cost savings in areas such as training, maintenance and support for existing operators of the AW139 who add AW169 and/or AW189 helicopters to their fleets. Launched at the Farnborough International Air Show in July 2010, the AW169 has rapidly found market success, logging orders for more than 50 units so far from customers worldwide. A versatile, new generation twin engine helicopter, the AW169 has been designed in response to the growing market demand for an aircraft that delivers high performance, meets all the latest safety standards and has multi-role capabilities. The AW169 incorporates several new technology features to provide the highest levels of safety and operational benefits for its customers. New generation technologies are incorporated in the rotor system, engines, avionics, transmission and electric power generation and distribution systems. Latest technologies include an APU mode capability and touch screen cockpit devices. The AW169 is set to be the most advanced and cost effective helicopter in its class for EMS, SAR, law enforcement, passenger and offshore transport and utility missions.

Source: agustawestland.com

AviationArticle.com for Aviation News

Nine bmi routes from its London Heathrow hub will have their current BD flight code and number replaced with BA codes in the initial phase, on 23 May, bringing them into oneworld.  So these services will offer the alliance’s full range of services and benefits from then.

All but one destination involved is already on the oneworld network – with Norway’s Stavangar the newcomer.

The other destinations concerned in this first phase transfer are:

• Agadir, which is already on the oneworld network through airberlin.
• Basel, BA and airberlin.
• Bergen, Finnair.
• Casablanca, airberlin and Iberia.
• Hanover, airberlin.
• Marrakech, BA and Iberia.
• Nice, BA, airberlin, Finnair and Iberia.
• Vienna, the home hub of new affiliate member NIKI and served also by its group partner airberlin along with BA, Finnair, Iberia and Royal Jordanian.

Further bmi routes will be changed over to BA code in the coming weeks – moving them also into oneworld. 

All these services will continue to operate for now from and to bmi’s London Heathrow Terminal 1 base, with no changes to their departure or arrival times.  Customers will be able to check-in for these routes via ba.com

In the coming months the exterior and interior design of bmi’s aircraft, as well as the on board experience, will gradually transform into BA’s style.

All bmi flights will now be available for sale exclusively through ba.com or BA call centres or travel agents.

Customers who have already booked a bmi flight will be able to service their booking via flybmi.com

Any new bookings made for the nine routes that will operate under BA flight codes from May 23 will use British Airways’ baggage policies. 

British Airways’ policies covering hand baggage, check-in times, medical clearance, unaccompanied minors and customers travelling when pregnant will apply to any bookings for bmi flights moved to a BA code irrespective of when they were booked.

Source: oneworld

AviationArticle.com for Military Aviation News

The MOAs with GNS Industry and Trade and RCS Precision Machining and Maintenance outline plans for each company to explore work packages with Northrop Grumman and its suppliers for precision-machined aluminum components and subassemblies.

“GNS and RCS are experienced precision-machining manufacturers for the automotive, oil and steel industries, and have already made forays into aerospace,” said Steve Hogan, Northrop Grumman vice president and program manager, F/A-18 Programs. “Our machining specialists view both of these companies as well positioned for expanded opportunities in the aerospace and defense industries.”

The MOAs resulted from a March 2012 assessment of companies in the state of Minas Gerais that evaluated local aerospace capabilities and identified opportunities to work with Boeing, its Super Hornet industry partners and their extended network of suppliers. The Boeing-led assessment and resulting collaborations are part of ongoing industrial engagement throughout Brazil in support of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet bid in Brazil’s F-X2 fighter jet campaign.

“Brazilian companies continue to demonstrate their aerospace capabilities, and Boeing and its industry partners are committed to identifying opportunities for them to work with us and our suppliers,” said Megan Weinstock, manager of Supplier Management in support of International Strategic Partnerships for Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “These endeavors are key to forging long-term business relationships with companies that can help us offer the right solutions to our customers.”

Northrop Grumman manufactures the Super Hornet center and aft fuselage and vertical stabilizers.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

Source: Boeing

AviationArticle.com for Aircraft News

The SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 launch service will be available to the agency’s Launch Services Program to use for future missions in accordance with the on-ramp provision of NLS II.

The NLS II on-ramp provision provides an annual opportunity for new launch service providers to compete for future missions and allows existing launch service providers to introduce launch vehicles not currently on their NLS II contracts.The NLS II contracts are multiple award, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracts with ordering periods through June 2020

The NLS II contracts support the goals and objectives of the agency’s Science Mission Directorate, Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, and the Office of the Chief Technologist. Under the contract, NASA also can provide launch services to other government agencies, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The Launch Services Program Office at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida is responsible for program management.

SOURCE NASA

AviationArticle.com for Aviation News