American And US Airways Merge, Boeing Introduces The 777X, Airbus Flies The A350XWB

The year was filled with ups and downs for the American Airlines/US Airways merger, as the two companies had to not only come to terms with their labor unions but also fight a challenge from the U.S. Justice Department. In spite of the challenges, the merger went through as American emerged from bankruptcy. Boeing, meanwhile, introduced the latest version of its 777 long-haul workhorse, and the FAA finally finalized rules concerning how many hours a pilot needs to have before graduating to the right seat of an airliner.  First flights included the A350WB, Bombardier's CSeries, and Boeing's 787-9. Here are some of the airline stories from our archives for 2013.

January

Dreamliner Fire Reported At Boston Logan Airport
FAA officials say a fire was reported at Boston's Logan International Airport involving a Boeing Dreamliner belonging to Japan Airlines which had recently landed and routinely disembarked passengers. The airplane flies a non-stop Tokyo-to-Boston route for the airline.

FAA To Review Boeing 787 Design And Production
The FAA said it would conduct a comprehensive review of the Boeing 787 critical systems, including the design, manufacture and assembly. The agency eventually grounded all U.S.-registered Dreamliners.

FAA Orders Inspections Of Some Older Boeing 737s
The FAA published an airworthiness directive in the Federal Register ordering the inspection of 109 Boeing 737-300, -400, and -500 airplanes. Most of the planes covered by the AD are reported to belong to Southwest Airlines.

Boeing Completes 2012 With Record-Setting Performance 
Boeing says it booked 1,203 net commercial airplane orders in 2012, the second-largest number in company history. The company also delivered 601 airplanes, the most since 1999.

FAA Proposes Stronger 'Sterile Cockpit' Rule 
While the FAA has long had a "Sterile Cockpit Rule" that prohibits pilots from using personal electronic devices during "critical phases" of flight, pilots may soon be banned from using their personal tablets, smartphones, and laptops for anything other than flying the plane or safety reasons under a new proposed rule.

FAA Approves Privatization Of Chicago's Midway Airport 
The FAA gave its approval to the city of Chicago to transfer Midway Airport to a private management firm, and the city immediately opened the bidding process for a contract.

February

NTSB ID's Origin Of JAL Boeing 787 Battery Fire 
At a news conference, NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman identified the origin of the Jan. 7 battery fire that occurred on a Japan Airlines 787 parked at Boston Logan Airport, and said that a focus of the investigation will be on the design and certification requirements of the battery system.

Boeing To Propose Battery Fix To FAA
Boeing had an appointment with FAA Administrator Michael Huerta to discuss a possible fix for the battery issues that have kept its Dreamliner airplanes grounded for more than a month.

Airbus Predicts Move To Larger Planes 
An Airbus executive says that the company thinks airlines will begin looking at larger aircraft as they seek to lower their cost-per-seat on existing routes.

American Airlines And US Airways Finalize Merger 
AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines, Inc., and US Airways Group, announced that the boards of directors of both companies had unanimously approved a definitive merger agreement under which the companies will combine to create the world's largest airline.

Airbus Goes To Battery 'Plan B'
While saying it is confident that the lithium ion (Li-ion) main battery architecture it has been developing with Saft and qualifying for the A350 XWB aircraft is robust and safe, there will not be any of the batteries aboard the airplanes when it enters service, the company says.

March

Ryanair Takeover Of Aer Lingus Blocked By EU
A hostile takeover of Irish airline Aer Lingus by rival Ryanair has been blocked by the European Union. In a statement, EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said “The commission's decision protects more than 11 million Irish and European passengers who travel each year to and from Dublin, Cork, Knock and Shannon."

TSA Updates Prohibited Items List 
Beginning April 25th, if you have your grandfather's favorite pocket knife in your pocket when you go through airport security, it just might not be confiscated and tossed in a bin at the checkpoint. But that decision is being blasted by flight attendants unions.

Lufthansa Supervisory Board Gives Go-Ahead For Major Airbus Order
The Lufthansa’s Supervisory Board has approved the acquisition of 100 A320 Family aircraft (35 A320neo, 35 A321neo and 30 A320ceo with "Sharklets") and two A380s worth approximately $ 11.2 billion at list prices.  Lion Air ordered 234 A320 family aircraft.

Boeing Provides Details On 787 Battery Improvements
A comprehensive set of improvements that will add several layers of additional safety features to the lithium-ion batteries on 787 commercial jetliners are in production and could be ready for initial installation within the next few weeks, Boeing said in a webcast.

AA-US Airways Merger Subject Of Senate Hearing 
The Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee held a hearing concerning the proposed merger of American Airlines and US Airways, and its impact on airline prices and services for consumers.

Bombardier Powers On the First CSeries Flight Test Vehicle 
Bombardier Aerospace has successfully completed the first full powering on of the main electrical distribution system on the first CSeries flight test vehicle (FTV1).

April

Boeing Completes Certification Testing for New 787 Battery System
Boeing completed a 787 certification demonstration flight on line number 86, a Boeing-owned production airplane built for LOT Polish Airlines. The flight marked the final certification test for the new battery system, completing the testing required by the FAA.  The FAA took the next step in returning the Boeing 787 to flight by approving Boeing's design for modifications to the 787 battery system. The changes are designed to address risks at the battery cell level, the battery level and the aircraft level.  By late April, the agency said that as soon as U.S. airlines make the necessary changes to the Dreamliner's battery system, it was cleared to return to revenue service.  EASA followed suit shortly thereafter.

Construction Underway On Airbus' US Assembly Line 
Airbus manufacturing in the United States advanced another step closer to reality Monday in Mobile, Alabama, as construction of the company’s A320 Family Assembly Line officially began.

Flight Attendant Union Submits Congressional Testimony On TSA Knife Policy 
The House Transportation Security Subcommittee held a hearing Thursday on the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) risk based security. The session was called to hear from transportation security stakeholders, focusing on efforts to bolster coordination with TSA in order to advance risk-based security.

Airline Pilots Protest Loss Of FFDO Program 
One of the cuts being made in President Obama's FY2014 budget is the complete elimination of funding for the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program, which puts armed pilots on board airliners.

Boeing Adjusts 747-8 Production Rate 
Boeing will adjust the production rate for the 747-8 program from two airplanes to 1.75 airplanes per month because of lower market demand for large passenger and freighter airplanes.

May

DOT Inspector General Says FAA Faces Challenges On Repair Station Rules
On May 1, 2013, the DOT Inspector General issued its final report on the FAA's risk-based oversight of aircraft repair stations. Currently, FAA is responsible for overseeing nearly 4,800 repair stations used worldwide by U.S air carriers.

Legal Petition To Keep All Knives Off Planes Submitted To TSA, Homeland Security 
Lawyers for nine organizations representing 400,000 aviation professionals, passengers and law enforcement officers filed a legal petition with Transportation Security Administrator John Pistole and copied to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano seeking to rescind plans to allow knives in the aircraft cabins for the first time since 9/11. The Coalition of Flight Attendant Unions are supporting efforts led by Representatives Ed Markey (D-MA) and Michael Grimm (R-NY) to prevent TSA from allowing certain short-blade knives to be carried onto commercial airplanes. The two members of Congress wrote a letter to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on the issue that was signed by 143 additional members of Congress.

Senators Raise Concerns About Abu Dhabi Preclearance Center
A bipartisan group of 11 U.S. Senators has sent a letter to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano asking for an explanation of the department's decision to establish a preclearance facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport, going against recent direction from Congress and enabling a foreign government to pay for core security functions.

Boeing, Southwest Airlines Announce Launch Of 737 MAX 7
The third member of the 737 MAX family, the 737 MAX 7, was launched Wednesday by Boeing and Southwest Airlines. The Dallas-based carrier and launch customer for the 737 MAX program became the first airline to order the 737 MAX 7.

Plane Diverted When Captain Was Locked Out Of The Cockpit
It's one of those things you might think about as the front door to your house or a hotel room door closes and locks ... can I get back in? But it's probably not the first thing that the captain of an airliner should have to be concerned about. There's somebody else in the cockpit.

June

TSA Reverses Proposed Policy On Small Knives In Airline Passenger Cabins 
The TSA Wednesday changed its mind on a policy to allow small knives in the passenger cabins of U.S. airliners and abandoned the idea. The move comes after months of protests from many sectors of the aviation community, including flight attendants and pilots.

U.S. House Restores FFDO Funding
The U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment to the Homeland Security appropriations bill Wednesday that would continue funding for the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program, which would be eliminated under the administration’s current budget proposal.

House Aviation Subcommittee Holds Hearing On Dreamliner Incidents 
The U.S. House Transportation subcommittee on Aviation held a hearing Tuesday to examine the "Lessons Learned" from the battery incidents aboard Boeing's Dreamliner.

First Flight: Airbus’ A350 XWB 
The first A350 XWB left the ground for its maiden flight at Blagnac in Toulouse, France at 1000 hours local time. Equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent XWB turbofans, the A350 XWB first flight took place over south western France.

Lufthansa Firms Up Order For 100 A320 Family Aircraft
The Lufthansa Group has firmed up a previous Supervisory Board decision from March this year and signed for 100 A320 Family aircraft (35 A320neo, 35 A321neo and 30 A320ceo with Sharklets) at the Paris International Airshow in Le Bourget, France.

Documentary Film Maker Says He Has New Evidence About TWA 800 Explosion
The producer of an as-yet-unreleased documentary says he as "solid proof" that an external detonation brought down TWA Flight 800 in 1996, and is asking the NTSB to re-open its investigation of the accident.

FAA Grants Approval To Fly Advanced Navigation Procedures With 787 
The FAA has granted approval to Boeing to fly Required Navigation Performance - Authorization Required (RNP AR) procedures with the 787 fleet.

July

Asiana B777 Down In SFO

Nearly a half a day after the tragic landing accident that destroyed an Asiana B777-200LR, there was a clear and substantial debris trail from the seawall that borders the waters of the bay and the RWY 28L displaced threshold area to the touchdown point on the runway.  The pilot flying the Asiana Boeing 777 which went down on landing at San Francisco International Airport Saturday had only 43 hours in type and was attempting his first landing at the airport in a 777, according to the airline.

NTSB Recommends Modified ATC Go-Around Procedures To FAA 
Following the investigation of five incidents in which commercial jetliners came within hazardous proximity of other aircraft while arriving or departing at major U.S. airports, the NTSB has recommended that the FAA modify the rules for air traffic controllers to ensure the safe separation of airplanes during go-around maneuvers.

NTSB Investigating Southwest Airlines Flight 345 Accident At LaGuardia Airport
The National Transportation Safety Board investigated a nose-down landing of a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 at LaGuardia Airport in New York. The accident occurred at 5:45 p.m. Monday after the twin-engine jet’s nose landing gear collapsed rearward and upward into the fuselage, damaging the electronics bay, which houses avionics and other equipment. The exterior of the airplane was also damaged from sliding 2,175 feet on its nose along Runway 4 before coming to rest, off to the right side of the runway.

FAA Set To Establish New Pilot Qualification Standards 
The FAA announced Wednesday that it plans to publish "soon" the final rule that will increase the qualification requirements for first officers who fly for U.S. passenger and cargo airlines.

US Airways Shareholders Approve Merger With American Airlines 
Shareholders of US Airways Group Inc. approved the merger agreement with AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines, Inc.

Airbus To Maintain A330 Production Rate Through 2015 
Airbus plans to continue to produce 10 of its A330 twin-aisle airplanes per month, according to COO John Leahy.

Boeing Completes 737 MAX 8 Firm Configuration
The firm configuration of the 737 MAX 8 has been finalized by Boeing. This milestone marks completion of the major trade studies that define the capabilities of the 737 MAX family.

August

Airbus Delivers 8,000th Aircraft 
Airbus delivered its 8,000th aircraft – an A320 for the Indonesian wing of AirAsia. The aircraft took off from Toulouse, France on Saturday 3rd August and arrived Sunday at its new base in Jakarta.

Justice Department Files To Block US Airways, American Airlines Merger
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit to block the merger of US Airways and American Airlines on the grounds that it would "substantially lessen competition for commercial air travel throughout the United States."

UPS Cargo Plane Down In Alabama 
A UPS A300 cargo plane went down on approach to Birmingham, AL, and the two pilots on board are presumed to have been fatally injured, though that has not been officially confirmed.

IAG Orders 220 Airbus Aircraft 
International Airlines Group (IAG) has secured firm orders and options for up to 220 Airbus A320 family shorthaul aircraft - up to 120 of these for its subsidiary Vueling.

Boeing Rolls Out First 787-9 Dreamliner 
Boeing completed the first 787-9 Dreamliner. The second member of the 787 family rolled out of the Everett, Wash., factory Saturday to the flight line, where teams are preparing it to fly later this summer.

September

FAA, NTSB, Airlines At Odds Over Release Of Information In Airline Incidents 
Recent airline accidents and incidents such as the Southwest Airlines 737 that apparently landed nose-first at New York's LaGuardia airport in July are pointing out a growing friction between airlines, the FAA and the NTSB over how information is released to the media and the public.

Boeing, Airbus Eye Possible Decline In Jet Sales 
After a flurry of orders from around the world, both Boeing and Airbus are looking at the prospect of declining jet sales which could have an adverse effect on their bottom lines.

United Airlines To Recall All Furloughed Pilots 
United Airlines said in a news release that it will recall nearly 600 pilots currently on furlough to address the airline's future staffing needs. No United pilots will remain on furlough following the recall.

CSeries First Flight Complete 
The CSeries Flight Test Vehicle has completed its first flight, according to Bombardier.

Boeing's 787-9 Makes First Flight 
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner took to the skies for the first time, beginning a comprehensive flight-test program leading to certification and delivery in mid-2014. The newest member of the efficient 787 family completed a 5-hour, 16-minute flight, taking off from Paine Field in Everett, WA, at 1102 PDT local time and landing at 1618 PDT at Seattle's Boeing Field.

Thune Calls On U.S. Delegation To Oppose European Emission Tax 
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation sent a letter opposing what he called  the "misguided" European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) to Duane Woerth, Ambassador to the U.S. Mission to ICAO; Julie Oettinger, FAA Assistant Administrator for Policy, International Affairs and Environment; and Todd Stern, U.S. State Department Special Envoy for Climate Change.

October

Airbus, JAL Sign Their First Ever Order
Japan Airlines (JAL) has signed a purchase agreement for 31 A350 XWBs (18 A350-900s and 13 A350-1000s), plus options for a further 25 aircraft. This is JAL’s first ever order for Airbus aircraft since the merger of Japan Airlines and Japan Air Systems (JAS), which had in the past ordered Airbus aircraft.

BALPA: Half Of Pilots Have Fallen Asleep While Flying 
Ahead of a crucial European Parliament vote on new EU rules on pilot flying hours Monday that will change UK safety standards, BALPA released results of a poll that shows that more than half of British pilots admit to having fallen asleep on the flight deck and eight out of ten believe their flying abilities have been compromised by tiredness in the past six months.

Chicago Mayor Kills Midway Privatization Effort 
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has sent a letter to the FAA withdrawing the city's application to allow a private entity to take over management of Midway Airport, ending the current effort to transfer control of the airport to a private business.

FAA Advisory Committee Recommends Changes In Electronic Device Use 
The Portable Electronic Devices Aviation Rulemaking Committee (PED ARC) reportedly submitted its consensus report on the use of such devices below 10,000 feet aboard airliners Monday, a move hailed by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).

EU Revives Airline Fees For Carbon Emissions 
The European Union (EU) proposed a modified version its widely-panned Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) that would have charged all airlines regardless of country of registry for emissions during the full duration of their flights.

FAA Postpones Rule On Changes In Pilot Training 
The FAA was expected to issue a final rule this month concerning airline pilot training. The NPRM was crafted in part as a response to the accident involving Colgan Air Flight 3407.

FAA To Allow Airlines To Expand Use Of Personal Electronics 
FAA Administrator Michael Huerta announced Thursday that the agency has determined that airlines can safely expand passenger use of Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) during all phases of flight, and is immediately providing the airlines with implementation guidance.

November

FAA Issues Final Rule On Pilot Training
As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance safety and put the best qualified and trained pilots in the flight decks of U.S. airplanes, the FAA issued a final rule that will significantly advance the way commercial air carrier pilots are trained.

Washington State Legislature Approves Key Elements Of 777X Incentive Package 
The Washington State Legislature during a special session overwhelmingly approved key elements of Governor Jay Inslee’s proposed package to help secure an unprecedented commitment from The Boeing Company to assemble its new 777X jetliner — and the plane’s carbon fiber wing — in Washington State. 

DOJ, State AGs Drop Challenge To American Airlines, US Airways Merger
AMR Corporation and US Airways Group announced that the airlines have settled the litigation brought by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the States of Arizona, Florida, Michigan and Tennessee, the Commonwealths of Pennsylvania and Virginia, and the District of Columbia challenging the merger of AMR and US Airways.

Senators Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Address Cargo Pilot Fatigue
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced the Safe Skies Act, which would ensure that America’s cargo plane pilots are sufficiently rested and alert before they fly.

Boeing Launches 777X With Record-Breaking Orders And Commitments
Boeing launched the 777X program at the 2013 Dubai Airshow with a record-breaking number of customer orders and commitments for the newest member of its twin-aisle product family.

FAA And Industry Move Forward On U.S. Air Carrier Training 
At a meeting Thursday with commercial aviation safety leaders, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta called on the airline industry to work together to assess and prioritize voluntary actions to further improve pilot, flight attendant, and dispatcher training through a new joint government and industry steering group.

Icing Could Be A Risk For Dreamliner, 747-8 GE Engines, Planemaker Says
Boeing has voluntarily informed operators of its 747-8 and Dreamliner airplanes that there could be an issue with icing in the GEnx engines hung from the wings of the airliners.

December

AMR Corporation And US Airways Group Come Together 
AMR Corporation and US Airways Group, Inc. have announced the completion of their merger to officially form American Airlines Group Inc. and begin building the new American Airlines.

Congressional Leaders Seek Overdue In-Flight Communications Report
Leaders of the U.S. House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over aviation have sent a letter to FAA administrator requesting a long overdue report on the results of the agency’s study on the impact of the in-flight use of cell phones for voice communications.

Supreme Court Hears Air Wisconsin Pilot's Case
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) heard oral arguments on Monday in a case involving an Air Wisconsin pilot who had sued the airline and won a $1.4 million judgment in the case.

Budget Agreement Boosts Airline Travel Security Tax
The budget deal worked out between Republican Congressman Paul Ryan and Democratic Senator Patty Murray would boost a tax paid by airline passengers by 124 percent to fund the TSA.

South Carolina Looks To Boeing For Growth Following Land Acquisition 
North Charleston, SC is hoping for a major expansion by Boeing after the planemaker announced a $49 million land acquisition deal around its existing Dreamliner assembly plant. The acquisition came on the heels of an announcement by Boeing that it would create hundreds of new research jobs in the Charleston area.

Emirates Airline Firms Up Order For 50 Additional A380s 
Emirates Airline and Airbus completed discussions and signed the firm contract for 50 additional A380s originally announced at the Dubai Airshow on November 17.

FMI: www.aero-news.net