The second Boeing 747-8 Freighter, RC521, landed in Palmdale, California in late April, marking the beginning of a planned transition of 747-8 Freighter testing to Southern California. The more than four-hour flight from Boeing Field in Seattle included testing on avionics and cruise performance. “Taking the airplane to Palmdale is a big step,” said Mo Yahyavi, vice president and general manager of the 747 programme. “The team is focused on ensuring a seamless transition … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: B747-8 Freighter begins California testing

Technology that helps pilots by displaying critical flight information on aircraft windshields would likely have prevented hundreds of commercial aircraft accidents since the mid-1990s, according to a study by the well-respected US-based Flight Safety Foundation, with funding from Rockwell Collins, a leading supplier of such technology. The study found, after analysing nearly 1,000 accidents world-wide between 1995 and 2007, that head-up guidance systems—which can eliminate the … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: Head-up displays could cut accidents

National Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Air Cargo (NAC), announced that it has been awarded a contract for expedited delivery of over 245 tonnes of COREXIT oil spill dispersants from Anchorage International Airport to New Orleans International Airport for use in the US Gulf to assist in dealing with the oil spill from a BP oil platform. The dispersants are sprayed onto the oil slick to reduce the cohesiveness of the oil, allowing it to disperse into the water column as … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: National Air wins contract for US Gulf oil spill

American Airlines (AA) is to increase flights from Dublin to Chicago from four times per week to daily for its summer schedule this year. In addition, the airline is to operate Boeing 767-300’s on the route, which will boost air freight capacity to twelve tonnes per flight. Reacting to the news, the managing director of IAM — Ireland-based general service and sales agent (GSSA) for American — Ian McCool said: “The American summer schedule is always … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: AA boosts summer freight capacity to Ireland

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires air carriers to screen 75 per cent of all cargo transported from a US airport on a passenger aircraft from 1 May 2010. This is the interim benchmark from TSA as the mandate for 100 per cent of all cargo transported on passenger aircraft to be screened by 1 August 2010 draws near. The specific impact of the new requirement for 75 per cent on the market is uncertain, however it will significantly increase the volume of cargo required … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: TSA cargo screening requirement hits 75%

Russia-based Transaero Airlines has signed a contract to lease 14 long-haul wide-body airplanes, including five Boeing 777s from Singapore Airlines and nine Boeing 747-400s from Japan Airlines. Boeing 777s will be used to develop both international and domestic routes, including the Far East while the Boeing 747-400s will be used only on international routes. The new aircraft will replace Boeing 747-200s and Boeing 747-300s and will start replenishing Transaero’s fleet from May 2010. … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Transaero leases 5 B777 and 9 B747-400