Another Year Of Mergers, And Carriers Support Privatization Of ATC

There was additional consolidation in the airline industry in 2016, and several new airplanes made their first revenue flights. Meanwhile, the airline industry was perhaps the sole segment of the aviation community that was generally in favor of the attempt to separate Air Traffic Control from the FAA. Here's a look back at some of our top airline stories from 2016

January

United CEO Recovering From Heart Transplant 
The company said in a statement released Wednesday that the CEO, who has been on medical leave since October, underwent a heart transplant operation.

Boeing Achieves Record Commercial Airplanes Deliveries In 2015 
Boeing reports that it delivered 762 commercial airplanes in 2015, 39 more than the previous year and most ever for the company as it enters its centennial year.

Airbus Exceeds Targets In 2015 
Airbus exceeded its targets for 2015, achieving a new record of 635 aircraft deliveries for 85 customers of which 10 are new. These deliveries comprise: 491 A320 Family aircraft; 103 A330s; 27 A380s; and 14 A350 XWBs. This production achievement means that Airbus’ aircraft deliveries in 2015 were up for the 13th year in a row, surpassing the previous year-end delivery record of 629 aircraft – set in 2014.

Embraer Delivers 33 Commercial, 45 Executive Jets In Fourth Quarter 2015 
Embraer delivered 33 commercial and 45 business jets, 25 of which are light jets and 20 are large, during the fourth quarter of 2015 (4Q15).

UTC Appoints Robert Leduc As President Of Pratt & Whitney 
Robert Leduc was appointed by United Technologies as President of Pratt & Whitney. Leduc, who most recently served UTC as President of Sikorsky Aircraft prior to its sale, succeeds Paul R. Adams, who is retiring at the end of February. Adams and Leduc will work over the next weeks to assure a smooth transition. Leduc will report to UTC President and Chief Executive Officer Gregory Hayes.

Boeing: Don't Count 737 MAX Out Against A320neo 
When you compare the order books, Airbus's A320neo has a fairly substantial lead over Boeing's 737 MAX in the newest horse race in the single aisle market. To date, Airbus has orders for 1,342 more A320neos than Boeing has for its re-engined 737.

First A320neo Delivered To Lufthansa 
The Lufthansa Group, Airbus’ largest airline customer and operator, has taken delivery of the first A320neo.

ATR Achieves 2 Billion Dollars Turnover In 2015 
ATR achieved a new record turnover in 2015, increasing to 2 billion dollars. During the year, the aircraft manufacturer also set a new record in terms of aircraft deliveries, with a total of 88 aircraft, an increase of 72% over the 51 deliveries made in 2010.

Boeing 737 MAX First Flight 
The first flight of Boeing's long-awaited 737 MAX took off in the rain shortly before 1300 EST, 1000 PST, from the Boeing factory in Renton, WA.

February

Muilenburg Elected Chairman Of Boeing Board Of Directors 
The Boeing board of directors elected Dennis A. Muilenburg as its next chairman, effective March 1. He succeeds W. James (Jim) McNerney, Jr., who is stepping down from the board, while Boeing independent Lead Director Kenneth M. Duberstein continues in that role.

IATA Calls On Thai Government To Shore Up Competitiveness 
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on the government of Thailand to address urgently safety, capacity and cost issues to keep Thailand’s aviation sector competitive.

EU And China Launch €10 Million Aviation Cooperation Project
A new chapter in opened in EU-China aviation relations with the official launch of the EU-China Aviation Partnership Project (APP). The 5-year, €10 million (approx. $11 million) project, managed by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and partners, will link technical cooperation with policy dialogue between the European and Chinese aviation authorities. It is funded by the Partnership Instrument of the European Union and supported by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

Republic Airways, Subsidiaries File For Chapter 11 Reorganization 
Republic Airways Holdings Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. The petitions were filed Thursday in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

FAA Proposes Seven Civil Penalties Against DHL
The FAA proposed seven civil penalties totaling $455,000 against DHL Express (USA), Inc., of Plantation, FL, for allegedly violating Hazardous Materials Regulations.

United States, Cuba Sign Arrangement Restoring Scheduled Air Service 
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin, Cuban Minister of Transportation Adel Yzquierdo Rodriguez and President of the Cuban Civil Aviation Institute (IACC), Ministry of Transportation Colonel Alfredo Cordero Puig signed an arrangement that provides for the re-establishment of scheduled air services between the United States and Cuba. Immediately following the signing, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) invited U.S. air carriers to apply for an allocation of the new opportunities to provide scheduled passenger and cargo flights.

Airliner Deals Are Down At Singapore
The furious pace of announcement of deals for airliners we've sort of become used to at major airshows like Singapore have just not happened this year at that event.

Rolls-Royce Ready To Deliver 100th Trent XWB 
Rolls-Royce is about to deliver its 100th Trent XWB engine, which will enter service on a Singapore Airlines A350 XWB. The engine will leave the Rolls-Royce site in Derby, UK, in the next few days, to be transported to Airbus in Toulouse. It will power Singapore Airlines’ fourth Airbus A350 XWB.

Boeing Launches Next-Generation 737 Boeing Converted Freighter 
Boeing has launched the Next-Generation 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) with orders and commitments for up to 55 conversions from seven customers.

ALPA Commends ICAO Ban On Lithium Batteries 
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) has issued a statement supporting the recently-announced ICAO temporary ban on the shipment of lithium-ion batteries on passenger airliners until adequate safety regulations are in place.

March

U.S. DOT Explicitly Bans The Use Of Electronic Cigarettes On Commercial Flights 
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced a final rule that explicitly bans the use of electronic cigarettes on commercial flights. The final rule applies to all scheduled flights of U.S. and foreign carriers involving transportation in, to, and from the U.S.

NASA Begins Work To Build A Quieter Supersonic Passenger Jet 
The return of supersonic passenger air travel is one step closer to reality with NASA's award of a contract for the preliminary design of a “low boom” flight demonstration aircraft. This is the first in a series of ‘X-planes’ in NASA's New Aviation Horizons initiative, introduced in the agency’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget.

United Airlines Announces Return Of President and CEO Oscar Munoz 
United Continental Holdings President and Chief Executive Officer Oscar Munoz plans to return to those roles on a full-time basis on March 14, 2016 and resume all of his duties and responsibilities at that time. Munoz has already been participating actively in all major corporate decisions and meeting frequently with employees, shareholders, and other stakeholders during his recovery.

United Airlines Announces Fleet Update 
United Airlines announced an order to purchase 25 new Boeing 737-700 aircraft. The order is in addition to the previously announced order of 40 737-700s. United will take delivery of the aircraft beginning at the end of 2017.

French BEA Issues Final Report On Germanwings Crash 
The French BEA, which fulfills the same role in that country as the NTSB does in the U.S., released its final report on the crash of a Germanwings A320 in the French Alps with 144 passengers and six crew on board.

Flight Attendants Solidify Fatigue Risk Management Plan In Senate FAA Bill 
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee voted to include language promoted by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA to address fatigue through a Fatigue Risk Management Plan (FRMP) for Flight Attendants.

First Airbus Aircraft Produced In The U.S. Takes Flight 
The first Airbus aircraft produced in the U.S. Manufacturing Facility was flown for the first time. The A321, destined for JetBlue took off from the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley in Mobile, Alabama, at 9:36 a.m., performed its test sequences, and landed safely at 1:02 p.m.

FlyDubai Boeing 737 Down In Russia 
A FlyDubai Boeing 737-800 went down at the Rostov-on-Don airport in Russia. According to the Russian Federation Interstate Aviation Committee, all 62 persons aboard ... 55 passengers and 7 crewmembers ... were fatally injured in the accident.

Brussels Airport Closed Following Terrorist Attacks 
All flights and other operations at Brussels Airport have been cancelled for the day following a terrorist attack at the airport. The airport site has been entirely evacuated to give the public prosecutor and the police enough room to meticulously carry out their investigation into the explosions at the airport.

U.K. Pilot Reports Close Call With UAV 
The pilot of a British Airways Boeing 777 departing from Heathrow airport last November reported that he saw a UAV pass within 10 feet of his fully-loaded airplane as he passed through 6,000 feet. The only reason he knew it was there, the pilot said was that it was illuminated by the plane's landing lights.

Boeing Forecasts Latin American Commercial Fleet To Triple By 2035    
Boeing projects Latin American airlines will need 3,050 new airplanes valued at $350 billion in the next two decades, tripling the region’s current fleet size.

April

Alaska Air Group To Acquire Virgin America 
Alaska Air Group and Virgin America announced that their boards of directors have unanimously approved a definitive merger agreement, under which Alaska Air Group will acquire Virgin America for $57.00 per share in cash. Including existing Virgin America indebtedness and capitalized aircraft operating leases, the aggregate transaction value is approximately $4.0 billion.

FAs Support Legislation Calling For Aircraft Cybersecurity Standards 
As the Senate debated the FAA Reauthorization Bill, Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced new legislation, the Cyber AIR Act, calling for cybersecurity standards for commercial aircraft. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) has advocated for two years for the need to assess potential vulnerabilities of expanded technology onboard.

Horizon Air To Acquire 30 E175 Aircraft 
Embraer and Horizon Air signed a firm order for 30 E175 jets. The contract also includes options for another 33 aircraft of the same model. The value of the contract, which will be included in Embraer’s 2016 second-quarter backlog, is $2.8 billion, based on current list prices, if all the options are exercised.

Letter To U.S. Senate Calls Previous Communication 'Misleading' 
Pilot groups are lobbying hard as the U.S. Senate works to finalize the FAA reauthorization bill and move it to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Airbus Group, Siemens Sign Long-Term Cooperation Agreement 
Airbus Group and Siemens signed a collaboration agreement in the field of hybrid electric propulsion. In doing so, the Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of both companies, Tom Enders and Joe Kaeser, have launched a major joint project towards the electrification of aviation with the goal of demonstrating the technical feasibility of various hybrid/electric propulsion systems by 2020.

Airliner On Approach To Heathrow Reportedly Hits Drone 
A British Airways A320 reportedly impacted a UAV while on approach to Heathrow Airport Sunday afternoon. The pilot of the aircraft reported that an object had struck the airliner operating as flight BA727. It was arriving from Geneva and making its final approach to Heathrow.

ATSB: Debris Found In Mozambique Likely From MH370 
The ATSB says that two pieces of debris, one recovered late last year and the other in February of this year, are "almost certainly" from MH370, the Malaysian Airlines 777 that went missing on March 8, 2014.

Boeing Reportedly Mulls New Variant Of 737 MAX 
Boeing is reportedly considering a 150 seat version of its new 737 MAX airplane in light of competition from Bombardier's CSeries airliners.

Airbus Delivers First U.S. Built Aircraft 
The first ever delivery of an aircraft from the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility took place in Mobile, AL. The entire team of employees from the American assembly line gathered to present their very first completed product, an Airbus A321, to JetBlue. On hand for the occasion were executives from Airbus, JetBlue senior management, including President and CEO Robin Hayes, and a broad collection of dignitaries from the Gulf Coast region.

Delta Air Lines, Bombardier Sign Largest C Series Order
Bombardier and Delta Air Lines executed a firm agreement for the sale and purchase of 75 CS100 aircraft with options for an additional 50 CS100 aircraft. Delta Air Lines may elect to convert a number of these aircraft into CS300 at a later date.

May 2016

Brussels Reopens Airport Departure Hall 
Brussels Airport officially reopened its departures hall during a short reopening ceremony Sunday. Airport officials said in a news release that the reopening of the departures hall is an important symbol of the recovery of our country a mere 40 days after the 22 March attacks that hit the airport in its heart.

FAA Certifies P&W's PurePower PW1400G-JM Engine   
The FAA certified Pratt & Whitney's PurePower PW1400G-JM engine to power Irkut's MC-21 aircraft. With this milestone, Pratt & Whitney now has three certified PurePower Geared Turbofan (GTF) engine variants.

Government Negotiators Receive Encouragement From Aviation Industry Leaders 
A High Level Meeting being convened by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on May 11 received executive-level support from the aviation industry, as leaders representing all parts of the sector encouraged governments to progress their deliberations on a global carbon offsetting scheme for air transport.

E190 Makes Japan Debut
The E190 jet debuted in Japan with J-AIR, a subsidiary of leading carrier Japan Airlines. The inaugural revenue flight took place between Osaka (Itami Airport) and Kagoshima. The entry of the first E190 in J-AIR’s fleet brings the current number of E-Jets operating across Japan to 28.

ALPA Continues To Fight Norwegian Air International Permit 
In a joint filing submitted to the U.S. DOT, the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) asserted that the DOT was wrong to tentatively grant Norwegian Air International’s (NAI) foreign air carrier permit application, citing the U.S. government’s failure to examine whether approving it would be consistent with the public interest and with the terms of the U.S.–EU Air Transport Agreement (ATA).

EgyptAir A320 Missing On Paris To Cairo Flight 
The BBC reported that the airplane made several distinct turns before it disappeared from radar. Greece's Defense Minister said that the A320 "turned 90 degrees left and then made a 360 degree turn to the right" before beginning to descend. Other reports indicate search teams may have already located debris from the airplane.

Boeing, Vietjet Finalize Vietnam’s Largest Ever Commercial Airplane Purchase 
VietJet Aviation Joint Stock Company and Boeing finalized an order for 100 737 MAX 200 airplanes, the largest ever single commercial airplane purchase in Vietnam aviation. His Excellency Mr. Tran Dai Quang, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and U.S. President Barack Obama, witnessed the historic agreement, valued at approximately $11.3 billion at current list prices.

A4A, ACI-NA Call For An End To Government Diversion Of TSA Funds 
Airlines for America (A4A) is urging urged Senators Edward Markey (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) to focus on real solutions to address unacceptable airport wait times, such as returning billions of dollars in security fees that were diverted to cover deficit spending, while responding to misguided calls for airlines to adjust their pricing models.

Airbus: Signal Detected From EgyptAir Flight 804 ELT 
Airbus said it detected signals from the Emergency Locator Transmitter that was aboard the A320 operating as EgyptAir Flight 804, which went down last week in the Mediterranean Sea.

June

Airports Council Welcomes Legislation To Reduce TSA Wait Times 
Two Bills Introduced Last Week Would Improve TSA Passenger Screening Efficiency
Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) is supporting two pieces of legislation that would improve passenger screening efficiency at TSA checkpoints in airports across the United States.

Jazz Adds Algonquin College To Pilot Career Pathway Program 
Jazz Aviation has announced a further commitment to Canada's future professional pilots with a renewed agreement between the airline's Jazz Aviation Pathway Program ("Jazz APP") and Algonquin College's ("Algonquin") Aviation Management – General Arts and Science program.

ALC Announces Sale Of 25 Embraer Aircraft To Nordic Aviation Capital 
Air Lease Corporation has announced an agreement to sell 25 of its Embraer E190 and E175 aircraft in its fleet to Nordic Aviation Capital A/S (“NAC”). These Embraer aircraft have served ALC’s customers well, fulfilling regional passenger traffic demand.

U.S. Commercial Aviation Community Targets Pilot Mental Fitness 
The FAA is working with commercial airlines and pilots’ unions to improve mental health evaluations, and encourage voluntary reporting of pilot mental health issues.

U.S. Airlines Approved For Scheduled Service To Cuba 
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has approved six domestic airlines to begin scheduled flights between Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Minneapolis/St. Paul and Cuba as early as this fall.

EgyptAir Flight 804 Voice Recorder, Flight Data Recorder Recovered 
Both the Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder from EgyptAir Flight 804 were recovered and handed over to Egyptian Authorities. The Wall Street Journal reports that the FDR was brought up from the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea Friday morning.

Teamster Pilots At Allegiant Airlines Reach Tentative Agreement 
Allegiant Air pilots represented by Teamsters Local 1224 reached a tentative agreement on their first union contract with the airline. Teamsters and company negotiators have agreed to meet the week of June 27 to finalize the contract language. There are more than 700 pilots in the bargaining unit.

NextGen Benefits At Los Angeles International 
NextGen is bringing new benefits to Los Angeles International Airport through a technology called Data Comm. Data Comm revolutionizes communications between air traffic controllers and pilots by replacing some traditional voice communications with digital information exchanges – like texting versus talking over the phone.

Airbus Group Opens 'Wings Campus' In Toulouse 
Airbus Group inaugurated its new headquarters facilities, called “Wings Campus”, adjacent to the airport in Toulouse-Blagnac, France.

Air Canada And Bombardier Finalize Landmark C Series Order 
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft and Air Canada finalized a firm purchase agreement consistent with the Letter of Intent (LOI) announced in February 2016. The purchase agreement includes a firm order for 45 CS300 aircraft and options for an additional 30 CS300 aircraft.

July

ICAO Condemns Ataturk Airport Attacks 
The leaders of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) expressed their strong condemnation of Wednesday's terrorist bombings at Ataturk Airport, and their deep condolences for the families of the victims of the tragic assault.

Boeing Considers Super-Sized 777 
Boeing may produce a super-sized version of its 777 airliner in hopes of knocking out the Airbus A380, which has seen sagging sales in recent years, according to people with knowledge of the plans.

Howard Eng Appointed Chair Of Canadian Airports Council 
The Canadian Airports Council announced that Howard Eng, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, has been elected as its new chair.

U.S. DOT Awards $5.15 Million In Airport Grants 
The U.S. DOT announced $5.15 million in grants that will go to nine small communities to help them improve local air service.

Boeing Forecasts Demand For 39,620 New Airplanes Valued At $5.9 Trillion 
Worldwide demand for new commercial airliners will climb to 39,620 aircraft over the next 20 years, an increase of 4.1 percent over last year's forecast. That's according to Boeing, which released its annual Current Market Outlook (CMO) on the first day of the 2016 Farnborough International Airshow. The estimated total value of those new airplanes will be $5.9 trillion.

Embraer Projects Market Demand For 6,400 New Regional Jet Deliveries 
Embraer released its 2016-2035 Market Outlook, which details forecasted deliveries of new aircraft over the next 20 years. The company projects market demand for 6,400 new jets in the 70-130+ seat capacity category (2,300 units in the 70-90 seat segment and 4,100 units in the 90-130+ seat segment), worth $300 billion, by 2035.

Airbus Targets Delivery Of Twelve A380s Per Year Beginning In 2018 
In line with the current order intake, Airbus has decided to target 12 A380 deliveries per year from 2018.

Boeing Celebrates Centennial With Successful Farnborough Airshow 
Boeing celebrated its centennial amid a highly successful 2016 Farnborough International Airshow that has seen multi-billion dollar orders and commitments across the company, including defense platforms, commercial airplanes and services agreements.

P&WC To Provide Turbofan And Turboprop Engines For 328 Aircraft Program 
Pratt & Whitney Canada's PW100 family of turboprop engines, designed for the regional airline industry, has been selected by TRJet to power its new TRP328 aircraft. TRJet, an aviation company based in Ankara, Turkey, has asked Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) to develop a new version of its PW127 engine to provide heightened performance over the PW119 engine that powered the original 328 aircraft which entered into service in 1993.

Boeing To Recognize Cost Reclassification, Charges To Second-Quarter Earnings 
The Boeing Company recognized a negative impact to earnings across three programs when it announced second-quarter 2016 results on July 27.

ALPA Reaches Milestone In Work To Inspire Future Pilots 
The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) reached a record 8,900 school students during the 2015–2016 academic year as the union celebrates more than 30 years of reaching new audiences to encourage men and women to consider becoming airline pilots.

August

Boeing, Malaysia Airlines Announce Order For Up To 50 737 MAX Airplanes 
Boeing and Malaysia Airlines Berhad (Malaysia Airlines) announced an order for 25 737 MAX 8 airplanes, valued at $2.75 billion dollars at current list prices. The order, previously attributed to an unidentified customer on the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website, also includes purchase rights for additional 737 MAX 8 and 737 MAX 9 airplanes.

Emirates 777 Crash-Lands At Dubai Airport 
An Emirates Boeing 777 crash-landed at Dubai airport Wednesday after the pilot reported a problem with the plane's landing gear just before landing. The plane caught fire after landing, but all 300 people on board were safely evacuated, according to authorities.

FAA SAFO Focuses On Takeoff Runway Excursions 
The FAA issued a Safety Alert For Operators (SAFO) promoting the importance of standard operating procedures (SOP) for ensuring accurate takeoff performance data is utilized to reduce the risk of runway excursions during takeoff.

Qantas Has Change Of Mind On A380 Order 
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said at an airline conference in Brisbane, Australia that the airline does not intend to take delivery of the remaining eight A380 superjumbo jets it has on order.

Computer Problem Grounds Delta Worldwide 
Delta had a pretty bad day Monday. A computer problem in the morning had thousands of passengers stuck in airports around the world, and even when the ground stop was lifted, the problem persisted for hours.

Narita Control Tower Closed By Typhoon Winds 
The control tower at Narita International Airport was closed for about an hour as winds from Typhoon Mindulle reached about 78 miles per hour at the airport.

Airbus Delivers World’s First A330-300 Regional 
Saudi Arabian Airlines, the national carrier of Saudi Arabia, has taken delivery of its first A330-300 Regional, making it the launch customer for this new member of the versatile and successful A330 family.

ANA Cancels Some Dreamliner Flights 
Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) will cancel some of its Dreamliner flights over the next few weeks due to an issue with compressor blades in the Rolls-Royce engines that power the aircraft.

Southwest Airlines Jet Suffers Uncontained Engine Failure In Flight 
A Southwest Airlines flight from New Orleans to Orlando, FL made an emergency landing at Pensacola International Airport Saturday after the airplane suffered an uncontained failure of its left engine.

American Airlines Group Names Robert Isom As President 
American Airlines Group Inc. has promoted Chief Operating Officer Robert Isom to president, effective immediately. In his new role, Isom, 52, will report to Chairman and CEO Doug Parker, 54.

September

Making History: JetBlue Lands First Flight In Santa Clara, Cuba
JetBlue made history Wednesday when it touched down in Santa Clara, Cuba, becoming the first U.S. airline to operate a commercial flight between the two countries in more 50 years. JetBlue flight 387 from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) landed at Abel Santamaría Airport (SNU) just before 11 a.m. local time.

FAA Moves Forward With SoCal Airspace Modernization 
The FAA’s effort to modernize Southern California’s airspace is moving forward. The FAA has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact/ Record of Decision for the Southern California Metroplex project.

TSB Canada Report Points To Misfueling In Off-Airport Landing 
A Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) investigation report (A15C0134) released Tuesday shows that the use of an incorrect fuel type led to a forced landing in a forest near Thompson, Manitoba, in September 2015. The occupants sustained varying serious injuries.

NTSB Releases Update From Southwest Uncontained Engine Failure 
As part of its ongoing investigation of an Aug. 27, 2016, uncontained engine failure on Southwest Airlines flight 3472, the National Transportation Safety Board issued an investigative update.

FAA Slow To Implement NTSB Recommendations Following 'Miracle On The Hudson 
The FAA has been slow to implement the 35 safety recommendations made by the NTSB following the ditching of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River, the event now famously known as the "Miracle on the Hudson".

United Coalition For Diversity Claims Discrimination Against Black Pilots At UAL 
A group of 18 African American pilots employed by United Airlines held a news conference with civil rights leaders including Dr. Cornel West, September 15 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

ICAO Stresses Importance Of Civil Aviation Standards To Safety 
ICAO’s development and implementation of global standards has fostered the development of safe and sustainable aviation since the UN agency was created, declared Dr. Fang Liu, ICAO’s Secretary General, at the General Assembly of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) last week.

Kate McWilliams Holds Title For Youngest Captain At easyJet 
Kate McWilliams, one of easyJet’s female pilots, passed her command course making her the youngest Commercial Airline Captain at just 26 years old.

Data Comm Now Operational Washington Dulles 
The revolutionary NextGen technology called Data Communications (Data Comm) is now operational at Washington Dulles International Airport.

October

IATA: Collaboration Needed To Stem Unruly Passenger Incidents 
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released figures showing that reports of unruly passenger incidents onboard aircraft increased in 2015. Some 10,854 unruly passenger incidents were reported to IATA by airlines worldwide last year. This equates to one incident for every 1,205 flights, an increase from the 9,316 incidents reported in 2014 (or one incident for every 1,282 flights).

U.S. Aviation Community Readies For Winter Weather 
As winter approaches, U.S. airports, airline flight crews, dispatchers, general aviation pilots, air traffic controllers, and manufacturers will begin using new Takeoff and Landing Performance Assessment (TALPA) methods to improve safety at U.S. airports.

Qatar Airways Orders 30 787-9 Dreamliners, 10 777-300ERs 
Boeing and Qatar Airways have announced an order for 30 787-9 Dreamliners and 10 777-300ERs, valued at $11.7 billion at list prices, validating the value, reliability and performance of Boeing's twin-aisle airplanes.

Christian Scherer Appointed Chief Executive Officer Of ATR 
ATR’s shareholders Airbus Group and Leonardo-Finmeccanica appointed Christian Scherer (54), as Chief Executive Officer of ATR. He succeeds  as well as member of the Executive Committee of Airbus. The transition will become effective on November 1, 2016.

Banned! DOT Bans All Samsung Galaxy Note7 Phones from Airplanes 
The DOT, the FAA and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), issued an emergency order to ban all Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphone devices from air transportation in the United States. Individuals who own or possess a Samsung Galaxy Note7 device may not transport the device on their person, in carry-on baggage, or in checked baggage on flights to, from, or within the United States.

Boeing Opens First St. Louis Commercial Airplanes Facility 
Boeing formally opened a new composite center on its St. Louis campus that will house the company’s largest commercial aviation work statement ever placed at the site.

Alaska Airlines/Virgin America Merger Proceeding Apace 
The merger of Alaska Airlines and Virgin America is making "good progress", according to company officials. Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Bobbie Egan said that the talks with the Department of Justice are proceeding as planned, and that it was anticipated that the deal would close early in the fourth quarter of this year.

Pratt & Whitney PurePower Engine Joins Spirit Airlines Fleet 
Pratt & Whitney's PurePower Geared Turbofan (GTF) engine entered passenger service with Spirit Airlines, which is the first U.S. carrier to fly the Airbus A320neo. The aircraft made its first passenger service flight from Detroit to Los Angeles on Sunday, Oct. 16.

U.K. Government Decides On New Runway At Heathrow 
The U.K. government announced its support for a new runway at Heathrow – the first full length runway in the south-east since the second world war. The scheme will now be taken forward in the form of a draft ‘National policy statement’ (NPS) for consultation.

Boeing Forecasts World Air Cargo Traffic To Grow Long Term 
Boeing projects air cargo traffic will grow at an annual rate of 4.2 percent over the next 20 years, with 930 new and 1,440 converted freighters needed to meet market demand by 2035.

November 2016

NTSB Issues Investigative Update On Uncontained Engine Failure Accident 
As part of its ongoing investigation of an Oct. 28, 2016, uncontained engine failure on American Airlines flight 383, the NTSB issued an investigative update.

FAA Awards $90 Million In Infrastructure Grants To Airports 
The FAA announced more than $90 million in grants to six airports in Alabama, Missouri, North Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, and Wyoming for airport runway, taxiway, and apron projects.

Southwest Airlines Pilots Ratify New Agreement 
Southwest Airlines pilots ratified a new collective bargaining agreement. According to the Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association (SWAPA), 84.26 percent of Pilots who cast ballots voted in favor of the deal.

ALPA Applauds Inclusion Of Hazardous Materials On NTSB Most Wanted List 
ALPA released a statement supporting the NTSB's inclusion of improving safety during the shipment of hazardous materials on its Most Wanted List.

Republic Airways Files Plan Of Reorganization 
Republic Airways Holdings Inc. announced that it has filed its Plan of Reorganization (the “Plan”) and a related Disclosure Statement with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. The Plan sets a course for the Company to emerge during the first quarter of 2017, and was filed with the full support of the Creditors Committee.

Synergy Aerospace Announces 12 Firm Orders For ATR 72-600s 
Turboprop aircraft manufacturer ATR and the South-American company Synergy Aerospace announced an order for the purchase of 12 firm ATR 72-600s, plus 6 options. The aircraft are to be operated by the group's new subsidiary in Argentina, Avian Líneas Aéreas, branded as Avianca Argentina under a license agreement.

Trump May Look Favorably On ATC Privatization 
The chairman of the House Transportation Committee says that President-elect Donald Trump is open to the idea of privatizing Air Traffic Control in the U.S., as has been done in Canada and Europe. Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) said that he has discussed the idea with Trump several times both during the campaign and after the election, according to the Associated Press.

First Flight: Airbus A350-1000 
Another milestone was reached in the A350 program as the first A350-1000 took off Thanksgiving morning for its maiden flight at Blagnac in Toulouse, France at 10.42 hrs local time.

WTO Rules Against Boeing For 777X Tax Incentive From Washington State 
The World Trade Organization ruled that Boeing had received an illegal subsidy from the state of Washington in the form of a tax break that came with the stipulation that the assembly of the wing and final assembly of the airplane must be done in Washington State.

Charter Plane Carrying Brazilian Soccer Team Down In Columbia 
A chartered Avro RJ85 carrying the Brazilian soccer team to Medellin, Colombia went down in a mountainous region near Rionegro, Colombia resulting in the fatal injury of at least 75 of the 81 people on board.

December

AD Requires Cycling Of Power On Dreamliners 
An Airworthiness Directive published in the Federal Register requires repetitive cycling of either the airplane electrical power or the power to the three flight control modules (FCMs).

Justice Department Clears Alaska Air Group's Acquisition Of Virgin America 
The Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has completed its review and approved Alaska Air Group's acquisition of Virgin America. Alaska Air Group is the parent company of Alaska Airlines, Inc. and Horizon Air Industries, Inc.

Boeing, Iran Air Announce Agreement For 80 Airplanes 
Boeing and Iran Air have announced an agreement for 80 aircraft that includes 50 737 MAX 8s, 15 777-300ERs and 15 777-9s, valued at $16.6 billion at list prices.

Bombardier CS300 Jetliner Awarded Type Validation By The FAA 
The FAA has awarded type Validation to Bombardier Commercial Aircraft for its CS300 airliner. This most recent approval means that both the CS300 aircraft and the smaller CS100 aircraft are now approved by Transport Canada, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the FAA.

U.S. Appeals WTO Ruling Against Boeing 
The United States filed a notice of appeal in the case brought by the European Union in “United States — Conditional Tax Incentives for Large Civil Aircraft” (DS487).

Iran Air, Airbus Seal Historic Aircraft Order 
Iran Air and Airbus have signed a firm contract for 100 aircraft, building on an initial commitment signed in January 2016 in Paris. The agreement signed by Farhad Parvaresh, Iran Air Chairman and CEO and Fabrice Bregier, Airbus President and CEO, covers 46 A320 Family, 38 A330 Family and 16 A350 XWB aircraft. Deliveries will begin in early 2017.

Delta Cancels Northwest Dreamliner Order
Delta Air Lines has reached an agreement with Boeing to cancel an order placed for 18 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft that Delta assumed in 2008 as part of its merger with Northwest Airlines.

FMI: www.aero-news.net