Sunday, August 31, 2014

Week 69: A320 Type Rating Week 8

I was totally overwhelmed during my first lesson in the simulator. I didn't know what to do, I didn't know what to expect, I was somewhat lost, not helped by my instructor expecting a high standard from us right from the first lesson.

I was the first cadet out of three to be the Pilot Flying(PF). With the plane being positioned at the holding point of RWY02C of WSSS, I had to enter the runway and line up at the threshold. Even such a short distance of taxi was a challenge to me as I wasn't used to the reaction speed of the nose wheel steering as well as the speed control. Rolling on the runway, with the assistance from the Pilot Monitoring(PM), I lifted off, retracted my gears and went into a blank haha..

It was only then I realised I still had two stages of flaps extended with my spoilers armed. What speed should I maintain, what height should I climb to, what angle of pitch should I be at. 1001 things for me to think about and I admit that I was overloaded. Even reaching transition altitude and the switching of the QNH had me confused on what to do.

Upon reaching the cruise altitude, I was given vectors to fly the plane. My control was horrible initially. I couldn't control my airspeed well and I over climbed by 200ft or so. Fortunately after a few climbs and descends, I finally got the hang of it and it became much easier.

My PF flight ended with an approach to land manually. With approach speeds at excess of 140kts, it was one heck of a different game when I was flying the C172 at 70kts approach speed. I had trouble following the glideslope which caused me to be either too high or too low. The momentum of the huge plane is the culprit of my lack of control.

Tried twice and had to redo for the third time which was forcefully landed as I had passed way to front of the touch down point. Not exactly the kind of performance I expected of myself, but I guess I'll have to learn and adapt faster.

Next, I was the PM and even so, its job is not any easier. I had to handle radio calls, which isn't my strong point all this while. And with me not being familiar with all the calls, it was another screw up after screw up. Sigh..

After the long 4hr simulator training, we had a briefing with the instructor. Obviously, a lot still need to be brushed up, but he gave me a remark of "Progressing Normal". I was totally famished after not eating for close to 6hrs. Got to remind myself to bring some snacks to munch on in my next lesson or I may find myself battling with gastric pain soon.

Next session will be two weeks later, and I'm determined to make it a better performance.

First session

Went to CAAS to collect my PPL. Next license booklet shall be in green colour



Thursday, August 28, 2014

Qantas posts record annual net loss of US$2.65b


Australian flag carrier Qantas on Thursday posted a record annual net loss of A$2.84 billion (S$3.3 billion), but chief executive Alan Joyce insisted clearer skies lie ahead after aggressively cutting costs.

The worse-than-expected result compared with a wafer-thin profit in the previous year, with one-off restructuring and redundancy payouts hammering the bottom line. But the biggest hit came from a A$2.6 billion non-cash writedown of the value of its ageing international fleet, largely due to the historic cost of aircraft purchased at a much lower Australian dollar exchange rate.

Qantas's underlying loss before tax in the 12 months to June 30 - its preferred measure of financial performance, which excludes one-off costs and writedowns - was A$646 million, slightly better than forecast. Analysts had been expecting a net loss of up to A$1.0 billion as the carrier also battles high fuel costs and fierce competition from subsidised rivals.

Qantas in February announced it was axing 5,000 jobs, deferring aircraft deliveries, freezing growth at Asian offshoot Jetstar and cutting routes in a bid to turn around its fortunes. Joyce said the worst was now over. "There is no doubt today's numbers are confronting, but they represent the year that is past," he said. "We have now come through the worst.

"With our accelerated Qantas Transformation programme we are already emerging as a leaner, more focused and more sustainable Qantas Group. There is a clear and significant easing of both international and domestic capacity growth, which will stabilise the revenue environment," he added. "We expect a rapid improvement in the group's financial performance -- and a return to underlying profit before tax in the first half of FY15, subject to factors outside our control."

Qantas's share price closed 6.95 per cent higher at A$1.385, with analysts saying investors felt a bottom had been reached. "It's a horrible read, but some light is visible at the end of the tunnel," said IG Markets' Evan Lucas of the results. "With this mass clear of the decks, has Qantas finally reached the bottom? Possibly. However, further staff reductions could be a reality, and fuel and forex remain consistently volatile."

'STANDING STILL IS NOT AN OPTION'

The airline's international arm continued to underperform, booking a loss of A$497 million compared with A$246 million in the 2013 financial year, with high fuel prices and foreign exchange movements blamed. Domestic operations turned a A$30 million profit - but this was substantially lower than the previous year, while its discount carrier Jetstar was A$116 million in the red.

Qantas, whose main domestic rival Virgin Australia is majority-owned by state-backed Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand and Etihad, has regularly complained that the 1992 Qantas Sales Act restricts its access to capital. The act caps foreign ownership at 49 per cent and in July the government agreed to relax the restrictions. While the 49 per cent cap remains, the change means a single foreign investor or foreign airline can boost their holding to a maximum 49 per cent from 25 per cent previously.

As a result Qantas said it would create a new unit for its international division, effectively separating it from the domestic arm - allowing it to increase the potential for future investment. "This will have no impact on the day-to-day operations, network or staffing at Qantas International," said Joyce.

The Transport Workers Union blamed a "lack of management" for the huge losses but Transport Minister Warren Truss said the projected return to profit in 2015 was encouraging. "While the numbers are dramatic, the reality is Qantas is a strong company and seems to be positioning itself for a better future," he said.

Joyce voiced similar sentiments despite the disappointing numbers. "Our cash balance and liquidity position is strong, and the group's overall financial performance is rapidly improving," he said. "We are removing costs to drive earnings growth. With our structural review complete, we can move forward with certainty."

SOURCE


Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Air China shares lose early gains after H1 profit fall


Shares in Air China slipped in Hong Kong Wednesday (Aug 27) after the flag carrier reported a 55 per cent drop in first-half net profit. Based on international accounting standards, the company recorded 510.4 million yuan (S$103.6 million) in net profit for the first six months, it said late Tuesday in a filing to the Hong Kong exchange, where it is listed.

Although revenue grew 8.5 per cent year-on-year to 49.9 billion yuan in the first half, passenger yield -- a measure of the average fare paid per mile by passengers - dropped 3.33 per cent to 0.58 yuan from a year earlier, it said. The results were in line with a profit warning issued in July, when it warned of a drop of 55-65 per cent caused by foreign exchange losses as the yuan weakened. Using Chinese standards net profit was 474.38 million yuan (S$96.3 million), down from 1.12 billion yuan from the in same period last year.

Shares in the Chinese flag carrier jumped in the morning 1.43 per cent but by early afternoon were trading up 0.2 per cent. A 2.5 per cent decline in the yuan resulted in a net exchange loss of 721 million yuan, compared with a net gain of 1.1 billion yuan for the same period last year, the airline said.

Higher jet fuel costs, which rose 4.99 per cent to 17.2 billion yuan, and intensified competition also contributed to the decrease in profits, the statement said. "The exchange rate volatility of the (yuan) against the US dollar was the primary factor that led to the overall decline of our first half results," the airline said in the filing. It said it had faced a "complex and volatile economic environment both internationally and domestically" for the reported period, as it faced increasing competition in the aviation market.

China's air industry is undergoing a rapid expansion with a slew of new start-ups now competing with older stablemates. Chinese airlines carried 350 million passengers last year, up nearly 11 per cent from 2012, according to official figures, while the civil aviation authority said the country will have more than 230 airports by 2015, up from 193 last year.

Air China said it saw moderate growth in the domestic passenger market, and a moderate recovery in the air cargo market for the first half of the year. Exchange rates and oil prices are expected to remain uncertain for the remainder of the year, it added. Air China took delivery of 28 new aircraft in the reported period including Boeing 777-300s and Airbus 330s, and retired 13 old aircraft to reduce operating and maintenance costs.

The International Air Transport Association in June said airline profits are improving and that it expects companies to record combined net profits of US$18 billion for 2014, down from its earlier forecast of US$18.7 billion made in March.

SOURCE


Air New Zealand announces bumper annual profit


Air New Zealand posted a 45 percent rise in annual net profit on Wednesday (Aug 27), and predicted more strong growth in the current financial year amid rising demand and easing fuel prices.

The airline said net profit for the 12 months to June 30 was NZ$262 million (S$272 million, US$218 million), up from NZ$181 million (S$188 million) a year earlier.

In an often volatile industry, chairman Tony Carter said Air New Zealand had achieved its third consecutive year of growth, demonstrating that the carrier "continues to be a world-leading airline, both in terms of customer experience and financial performance".

"Based on our current expectations of market demand and fuel prices, we expect to improve on the 2014 result in the coming year," he said.

Underlying the airline's confidence, it placed a US$1.5 billion (S$1.8 billion) order for 14 medium-range Airbus planes in June. Carter said the arrival of new aircraft would significantly boost Air New Zealand's capacity.

The airline's operating revenue rose one percent to NZ$4.7 billion (S$4.89 billion), earnings before tax were up 30 percent at NZ$332 million (S$345 million), and the board declared a final dividend of 5.5 cents a share, as well as a special dividend of 10 cents a share.

The announcement was made before trading started on the New Zealand stock exchange, where Air New Zealand shares last traded at NZ$2.15 (S$2.23).

SOURCE


Monday, August 25, 2014

China's BOC orders 82 Boeing planes worth US$8.8b


Aircraft leasing firm BOC Aviation said Monday it has ordered 80 Boeing 737 planes and two B777-300ERs worth a total $8.8 billion at list prices, to meet expanding client needs as travel booms in Asia.

The Singapore-based company, owned by the Bank of China, said the bulk of the orders was for 50 B737 MAX 8 planes and 30 next-generation B737-800s. The 80 planes have a value of US$8.14 billion based on 2014 catalogue prices published on Boeing's website. The orders will allow BOC Aviation to build on its fleet for the next seven years, the company said in a statement.

The firm said it has also ordered two B777-300ER aircraft, worth a total US$660 million at catalogue prices. Both planes have already been placed with an existing customer, it added. US aircraft maker Boeing said in a separate statement that the order is the "largest in BOC Aviation's 20-year history" and is part of the leasing firm's effort "to grow its portfolio of fuel-efficient airplanes".

Robert Martin, BOC Aviation's managing director and chief executive, said the fresh B737 orders followed a similar purchase made in 2006 for 50 B737 next-generation aircraft. "This is a continuation of our commitment to be responsive to airline customers which are expanding or replacing older fleets," he said. "The 737 is known for its operational and fuel efficiency, and BOC Aviation expects healthy demand for the next generation 737 and 737 MAX in the next seven years."

As of Jun 30, BOC Aviation said its fleet of 251 delivered aircraft included 118 Boeing aircraft operated by 27 airlines. At the Farnborough airshow in July, BOC Aviation also ordered 43 Airbus single-aisle A320 passenger jets worth US$4.4 billion at list prices.

Boeing has projected a travel boom in the Asia Pacific region over the next 20 years from 2013, fuelled by a rising middle class and strong regional economic growth. "As income levels rise, Asia Pacific is set to become the largest air travel market in the world. In 2033, approximately 48 per cent of global traffic will be to, from, or within the region," Boeing said in its latest regional forecast.

SOURCE


Thai Airways debunks reports of pilots' mass resignation


Thailand’s national carrier Thai Airways on Monday (Aug 25) denied reports that scores of pilots suddenly left the company after the airlines’ earnings were hit by competition and high costs.

Executive vice president for operations Athisak Padchuenjai on Monday debunked local media reports, saying it was not true that 200 pilots have resigned. He added that about 30 pilots have left Thai Airways this year, but it has not affected the airline’s operations.

Thai Airways is undergoing restructuring after it posted losses for five consecutive quarters. It has proposed to cut 1,500 jobs this year, and it intends to shed a quarter of its full-time staff by 2018.

The airline had 1,350 pilots as at August this year. About 100 student pilots join the carrier every year, said Athisak.

SOURCE


Aeroflot defies sanctions to create new low-cost airline


Russian flag carrier Aeroflot will create a new low-cost unit after Western sanctions grounded its first effort to enter the market, the airline's chief executive said on Sunday (Aug 24).

"We will after all register a new airline," Aeroflot chief executive Vitaly Savelyev was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. He said the company's low-cost carrier, Dobrolyot, had worked well during the six weeks it was allowed to operate.

Dobrolyot was forced to shut down because it flew to Russian-annexed Crimea and was therefore hit by EU sanctions imposed over the Kremlin's alleged support for pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine, including the cancellation of the leasing contracts for its Boeing aircraft.

"We are holding talks with leasing companies and the first steps show that they want to work with us," said Savelyev. He said possible routes were still being worked out, but that the new airline could begin operations from the end of October when the winter schedule begins.

Savelyev said flights to Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in March, would depend on demand. Services to the popular Black Sea summer resort are usually cut back during the winter months.

New fuel-efficient jets are key to the success of low-cost airlines as the high cost of fuel often makes it their biggest expense. Leasing allows new airlines the opportunity to acquire aircraft more quickly without huge up-front investments.

Dobrolyot, which operated two Boeing 737-800 aircraft when it was forced to shut down, had planned to lease another six this year to begin flying to a handful of Russian cities.

SOURCE


Friday, August 22, 2014

Jetstar Hong Kong sells 3 aircraft as it awaits approval


New budget airline Jetstar Hong Kong said on Friday (Aug 22) it has sold a total of six of its aircraft because it is taking longer than expected to get a licence to operate. The airline, which is a joint venture between Australia's Qantas, China Eastern Airlines and Hong Kong-based Shun Tak Holdings applied for regulatory approval in 2012 in the southern Chinese city.

An airline will only be given a operation license if its principle place of business and centre of its decision-making is in Hong Kong, according to local laws. "Jetstar Hong Kong can confirm the sale of a further three aircraft, now a total of six Airbus 320s, with three remaining in the fleet for launch," the airline's chief executive officer Edward Lau told AFP in an email.

The airline sold three A320s this month, and three in April. "This has been an unfortunate but prudent business decision made by the Jetstar Hong Kong board as the regulatory approvals are taking longer than initially expected," Lau said, adding that the sale doesn't affect the firm's readiness once approval is given.

Lau said Jetstar is working "closely" with the government and is "confident of gaining all the necessary approvals". The catalogue price of the latest sale of three A320s this month is US$281.7 million (S$352 million), according to Dow Jones Newswires.

The regulatory approval for the airline has also faced opposition from the city's flag carrier Cathay Pacific, which says the airline is not based in Hong Kong. "The whole Jetstar network is part of an Australian entity and certainly can't pass the test of being principally based here in Hong Kong," Cathay's chairman John Slosar had said earlier this month, Dow Jones reported.

Qantas owns the Jetstar brand and has other joint ventures in Japan, Singapore and Vietnam. Shipping and property giant Shun Tak Holdings, founded by Hong Kong tycoon Stanley Ho, bought a third of Jetstar Hong Kong for US$66 million in June of last year, helping its bid to set up locally.

Hong Kong-listed Shun Tak is run by managing director Pansy Ho, daughter of Stanley, who is also a Macau casino mogul. The low-cost carrier plans to fly to destinations in China, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia.

SOURCE


Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Passengers evacuated from plane after smoke scare in India


Passengers aboard an Indian Indigo jet were evacuated Wednesday (Aug 20) using emergency chutes after air traffic controllers warned the pilot about dense smoke as the plane landed at New Delhi airport. Some of the 147 people on the Airbus A-320 flight sustained minor injuries during the emergency evacuation, said a statement from Indigo, India's leading private carrier.

"All the passengers were evacuated by the right-hand-side slide-chute and one left-hand-side slide chute in approximately 75 seconds," the budget airline said. "We confirm that all passengers and crew members are safe."

The plane was arriving in Delhi from Mumbai. Air traffic controllers informed the pilot about "dense smoke" as the aircraft touched down, the airline said, without giving details of the smoke's origin. The captain immediately ordered the crew to evacuate all passengers.

Some local TV channels reported that the tyres of the plane had caught fire, but the Indigo statement said there had been "no fire and this was not an emergency or priority landing".

The scare comes after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stripped India of its top safety rating, citing a lack of safety oversight. The FAA decision in January was based on an audit last year of the country's aviation regulator that found 31 issues of concern, including a shortage of well-trained inspectors to carry out safety checks.

SOURCE


AirAsia profit jumps despite 'challenging' climate


Malaysia-based AirAsia on Wednesday (Aug 20) announced a sixfold increase in second-quarter net profit as Asia's budget travel leader increased revenue despite what it called a "challenging" aviation environment.

Net profit was 367.2 million ringgit (S$145 million,US$115 million), up from 58.3 million ringgit in the same quarter of 2013. AirAsia said the jump was mainly due to foreign exchange gains on borrowings. But it said revenue also grew five per cent to 1.31 billion ringgit as passenger numbers increased slightly.

AirAsia is led by flamboyant boss Tony Fernandes, a former record industry executive who acquired the then-failing airline in 2001. It has seen spectacular success and aggressive growth under his low-cost, low-overhead model. While its rival Malaysia Airlines faces potential collapse after two disasters this year, AirAsia last month signed an agreement to buy 50 long-haul A330-900neo passenger planes from Europe's Airbus. The deal is worth US$13.75 billion at catalogue prices.

AirAsia CEO Aireen Omar attributed the second-quarter performance in part to moves to cut down on less profitable flights. She said the airline also held firm on pricing in the face of "irrational" price competition from rivals. "AirAsia continues to be disciplined in an industry where irrational competition exists," she said in a statement.

AirAsia's success has inspired a host of regional imitators. Fernandes said in a statement the outlook should improve in the second half of the year, predicting that competitors would move to more "realistic" pricing.

AirAsia said overall results in the quarter would have been better if not for losses suffered by its Thai, Indonesian, and Philippine subsidiary airlines.

Such struggles have not halted Fernandes's expansionist ways. The company announced last month it would re-enter the Japanese market in a tie-up with e-commerce giant Rakuten, jumping back into the country following its bitter split last year with All Nippon Airways over a budget carrier joint venture.

AirAsia's success over the years has come at the expense of national flag carrier Malaysia Airlines. The company has been hammered by the double disasters of MH370 and MH17 this year, compounding years of financial losses. Earlier this month a state investment fund announced it would take over Malaysia Airlines and de-list it from the stock market before a "complete overhaul" aimed at rescuing it from oblivion.

SOURCE


Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Japan's Skymark Airlines surges on AirAsia takeover report


Skymark Airlines shares soared Tuesday (Aug 19) after a report said Malaysia's AirAsia was eyeing the struggling Japanese carrier, but both firms dismissed the story, with AirAsia's chief executive saying he had "never seen such rubbish". The Tokyo-listed stock jumped 27.77 per cent to finish at 230 yen, its maximum allowable single-day gain, on the report in Japan's leading Nikkei business daily.

The report, which cited unnamed sources, said AirAsia was in talks with its lenders over a possible takeover bid for money-losing Skymark. In a statement, AirAsia dismissed the story as "speculation" and "just another industry rumour". "Never seen such rubbish. AirAsia has no interest in Skymark in Japan," AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandes wrote on Twitter. "There have been no discussions with Skymark."

The putative takeover target also questioned the report. "We're not aware that there is any truth in what has been reported," Skymark said in a statement.

In the wake of its bitter split last year with All Nippon Airways (ANA) over a budget carrier joint venture, AirAsia has announced it would jump back into the Japanese market in a tie-up with e-commerce giant Rakuten. The Nikkei had said the low-cost carrier might create a new local subsidiary, backed by Rakuten, to launch the bid for Skymark to get around restrictions on foreign ownership in Japanese airlines.

Skymark was born out of deregulation measures in the 1990s which were aimed at challenging ANA and rival Japan Airlines' control of the market. But the carrier has been reporting ballooning losses as new entrants into the budget sector hurt its business.

The airline was sideswiped when Airbus last month said it had cancelled a US$2.2 billion jet order with the carrier, apparently over concerns about getting paid. Skymark shares had lost more than 40 per cent at one stage following the collapsed deal.

The company said the European aviation giant had threatened it with "overpriced" penalties and called on it to merge with a bigger airline, a proposal which Skymark's top executive flatly rejected. The Nikkei report also said AirAsia, a major Airbus customer, had approached the plane maker about reducing the cancellation penalties. Skymark has said it was mulling the cutting of unprofitable routes and borrowing more money from its banks to stay afloat.

SOURCE


Snoozing China air traffic controllers force jet to delay landing


A Chinese aircraft was forced to delay its landing after two air traffic controllers nodded off, reports said on Tuesday (Aug 19), sparking a wave of online anger about airline safety.

The Boeing 737 was preparing to land at Wuhan airport in central China but had no response from the air traffic control tower for 12 minutes, reports said. Contact was eventually made and China Eastern Airlines flight MU2528 from Sanya landed safely, the Sina.com news portal said.

"Because air traffic control was asleep on duty, (the plane) called many times," civil aviation authorities said in a statement quoted by Chinese business magazine Caijing. "But there was no reply, and no contact could be made with the control tower."

A separate investigation report cited by Caijing said two controllers had fallen asleep. The incident happened on July 8 and the statement was dated July 29. There was no explanation for the delay in making it public.

"Air control work is truly exhausting, but it is unforgivable to sleep on duty," a post on Sina Weibo, China's version of Twitter, said on Tuesday. "Hundreds of people's lives depend on the actions of flight tower controllers. We entrust our lives to you," the post continued.

Another netizen added: "Such serious consequences. Should let him sleep as much as he wants in prison."

SOURCE


Monarch Airlines mulls cutting 1,000 jobs


Britain's Monarch Airlines is considering axing up to 1,000 jobs, or nearly one third of its workforce, a source close to the matter told AFP on Monday (Aug 18).

The carrier declined to officially confirm the job cuts, but released a brief statement saying its company-wide strategic review was ongoing.

"The company has previously stated that the new management team is conducting a strategic review of the group's businesses, including in relation to their operations, ownership and financing," it said. "That review is on-going and further announcements will be made upon its conclusion, or as otherwise appropriate."

The group's new chief executive Andrew Swaffield, who took the reins last month, is seeking to transform Monarch Airlines from a chartered airline to a European low-cost carrier to compete with the likes of EasyJet and Ryanair.

SOURCE


Monday, August 18, 2014

Week 68: A320 Type Rating Week 7

The final part of ground school was covered on Crew Resource Management(CRM) in two days. Before the start of the lessons, my instructor told us not to take this subject lightly and simply put it as "a tick in the box". In fact, many accidents in the past were due to lapse in CRM, therefore it is important that we treat this seriously and learn how to work in this new environment which we have no experience in yet.

Viewed lots of videos and discussed on different scenarios, voicing our individual opinions and concerns. It was an interesting topic which is very realistic and applicable. It reminded me of a scene in the US drama "Pan Am".




Yes, it is a little dramatised, but this can happen to any plane. How would you handle such a situation? There's no right or wrong answers as everyone has their own justifications during that point of time. What we as pilots want to do is to land safely at the end of the flight. The two days of lesson ended with a blink of an eye and that marks the completion of A320 ground school, which means we will all be promoted with a two bar ranking on our epaulette.

Today we attended a briefing on the next phase of training in the simulator. Phase 2A will commence next week and we will finally start training in the "boring big box" as they call it. I'm excited about it but also worried that I'll learn too slow as there seem to be a lot to be digested. Phase 2A will generally focus on aircraft control in manual mode.

So many things to do just in the take-off phase


'Purrfect' travel option? Hello Kitty flights launching in Singapore


You’ve queued up for the figurines at McDonald's, bought all the stationary, even visited the theme parks in Japan - so what’s left to buy when you already have tonnes of Hello Kitty merchandise?

How about a ride onboard a Hello Kitty plane with EVA Air? The Taiwanese airline is launching nine Hello Kitty chartered flights from Singapore to Taipei this December for the first time; and you can finally get yourself a seat on one them.

The airline introduced its Hello Kitty flights back in 2005 and has flown these planes from Taiwan to Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, China, Guam and the United States. Each Hello Kitty flight is a full-on session to indulge your inner Hello Kitty freak — from a Hello Kitty boarding pass and baggage stickers when you first check in, to limited edition Hello Kitty duty-free products available on board.



Besides Hello Kitty-shaped food and pillows, the experience even extends to your private business: “Visits to the restroom will guarantee a unique Hello Kitty experience with hand-washing liquid, hand lotion, tissues and even toilet rolls,” ran the official statement.

The nine departure dates for the Hello Kitty flights are Dec 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20. Tickets are sold exclusively at the following agents: Chan Brothers Travel, CS Travel, CTC Travel, Dynasty Travel, Green Holidays and New Shan Travel.

SOURCE


Friday, August 15, 2014

SIA filled higher proportion of seats in July


National carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) filled a higher proportion of its seats last month as it carried more passengers and capacity declined, the airline said on Friday (Aug 15).

SIA said its passenger load factor rose to 81.7 per cent in July, from 80.8 per cent a year ago. The number of passengers carried increased by 1.6 per cent year-on-year to 1.6 million.

Its capacity, as measured in seats per kilometres, fell 1 per cent in July from a year ago. The Singapore flag carrier's passenger load factor improved across all regions except for the Americas. Regional unit SilkAir also saw a rise in passenger load factor to 70.5 per cent from 70.1 per cent a year ago.

SIA said the higher passenger traffic was part due to the Hari Raya holidays taking place in July this year, unlike in 2013 when the holiday period fell in August.

Looking ahead, SIA said the operating environment remains challenging. "Capacity will be adjusted accordingly to better match market demand and promotional activities shall continue in markets that require additional support," it said.

SIA's overall load factor, which takes into consideration cargo carried relative to capacity, was also higher last month, hitting 69.8 per cent compared with 69 per cent in the same month last year.

SOURCE


Thursday, August 14, 2014

British pilot's artificial arm comes off during landing


A pilot for a British budget airline briefly lost control of a flight after his artificial arm came loose during landing, an air accident report said on Thursday (Aug 14).

The Flybe plane carrying 47 passengers was coming in to land at Belfast City Airport from Birmingham on February 12 when the pilot's prosthetic forearm became detached from a special clamp fitted to the plane's yoke. This caused the plane to land with a "bounce", but no one was injured.

Flybe said it was proud to be an equal opportunity employer. "The senior captain referred to in this report is one of Flybe's most experienced and trusted pilots," said Captain Ian Baston, the firm's director of flight operations and safety. "The airline confirms that at no time was the safety of its passengers or crew compromised in any way, nor was the aircraft damaged."

The report from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch said the 46-year-old pilot had checked that his prosthetic arm was securely attached to the clamp shortly before landing. He had disconnected the autopilot and was landing the plane manually when the arm came loose, forcing him to try to regain control with his right arm.

"He did this, but with power still applied and possibly a gust affecting the aircraft, a normal touchdown was followed by a bounce, from which the aircraft landed heavily," the report said.

The captain has pledged to be more careful in future about checking the attachment on his artificial limb and briefing his co-pilots about a possible similar event, it added.

SOURCE


India orders Jet Airways to suspend pilots after mid-air dive


India's civil aviation regulator said Thursday (Aug 14) it has ordered Jet Airways to suspend two pilots after a flight to Brussels made a mid-air dive, forcing air traffic controllers to issue an emergency warning.

The Times of India said the captain was on a scheduled rest break when the plane dropped almost 1,500 metres over Turkey, putting it at an altitude assigned to another aircraft.

Air traffic controllers in Ankara had to issue an emergency warning to the co-pilot on duty, who the paper said "did not notice that the aircraft had lost altitude" because she was using her tablet computer at the time.

The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said it had summoned the captain and co-pilot for questioning over what it called a "serious incident" during the flight from Mumbai to Brussels last Friday.

"Both the pilots have been taken off the roster pending inquiry," said the regulator in a statement. "Additionally, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has been asked to conduct a detailed investigation into the incident."

The airline said it had launched its own investigation. "Safety is of paramount importance to Jet Airways, as is also the welfare of our guests and crew," it said in a statement.

Jet Airways, in which Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has a 24 percent stake, is India's second-biggest carrier.

India's air passenger market has expanded at breakneck speed, but many companies are laden with debt due to cut-throat fare wars, high fuel costs and shoddy infrastructure.

In 2011, the airline sector was shaken by a scandal over a number of unqualified Indian pilots flying on fake licences. And in January the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stripped the country of its top safety rating, citing a lack of safety oversight. It downgraded India's aviation safety rating to category two from category one, putting it in the company of countries such as Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

SOURCE


Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Finnair says Airbus A350 could reach Asia skirting Russia


Finnish airline Finnair said on Wednesday (Aug 13) that the Airbus A350 could skirt Russia in its Europe-Asia routes if Moscow carries out a threat to close its airspace to European flights.

"The additional freight capacity of this airplane makes me think that it has the reach, that it's technically possible," Finnair chief executive Pekka Vauramo said at a press conference in Helsinki.

Finnair presented the A350 XWB after one of the new European aircraft landed in Helsinki on Tuesday evening.

The Finnish company, which has ordered 11 planes, will be the first European airline to operate the A350 XWB. The first delivery is expected in late 2015.

In response to the economic sanctions from the West, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev threatened on August 7 to prevent airlines with routes between Europe and Asia from flying across Russian airspace in Siberia, which is the shortest distance.

Vauramo said he was unsure of the seriousness of the threat. "I don't want to speculate about Russia ... We know too little about it," he said.

Finnair relies heavily on Asia for its future plans. According to Vauramo, the strategy is to "double the revenue coming from Asian traffic by around 2020" compared to 2010.

The Finnish airline plans to have 46 spacious seats in business class and touch screens in all economy class seats. According to the Finnish interior designer in charge of the first aircraft, Vertti Kivi, the A350 will feature a "dynamic lighting, with a colour and atmosphere that matches the time, the destination and the season".

"The extra-large cabin permits to offer the passengers extra comfort," Airbus spokesman Mike Bausor said.

In order to stay in profit, Finnair is trying to cut costs, which remain high compared to the competition. The company has tried for several months to reach an agreement with its staff to lower salaries, but the efforts have so far proved fruitless.

SOURCE


Thai Airways jet makes emergency landing in Bali due to cracked window


A Thai Airways plane en route from Sydney to Bangkok made an emergency landing on the Indonesian island of Bali after a crack was discovered in the cockpit window, officials said Wednesday (Aug 13).

The Boeing 747, carrying 273 passengers and 21 crew, was six hours into the journey Tuesday when the captain found the defect and decided to land on Bali, the airline said in a statement. The Daily Mail Australia identified the flight as TG467 and reported that the cracked window caused a fall in cabin pressure.

A spokesman for the island's airport described the landing at around 5pm (0900 GMT) as a "minor disruption".

There were no reports of injuries and the passengers stayed in a Bali hotel overnight. They were set to fly on to Bangkok later Wednesday in another plane. Thai Airways said it was sending a team to Bali to investigate the incident and supervise the changing of the damaged window.

In September last year, more than a dozen passengers were slightly injured when a Thai Airways jet skidded off the runway in Bangkok after the landing gear malfunctioned.

Just over a week before that incident, dozens of passengers and crew were injured when a Thai Airways A380 superjumbo hit severe turbulence during a flight from Bangkok to Hong Kong.

SOURCE


Cathay Pacific profits soar but competition hurts yields


Cathay Pacific said on Wednesday (Aug 130 its first-half net profit soared to HK$347 million (S$56 million) on higher passenger demand, but the Hong Kong flag carrier warned of a "challenging" outlook as surging competition held down fares.

The figure for the six months ending June 30 compared with a net profit of HK$24 million in the same period last year. Its first half revenue rose 4.6 per cent to HK$50.84 billion. But despite its upbeat performance, the blue-chip airline faces several challenges including persistently high jet fuel prices.

"The operating environment for the Cathay Pacific Group - and the aviation industry as a whole - remains challenging," group chairman John Slosar said in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange. "On the plus side, we continue to strengthen our passenger network and the connections available through Hong Kong," he said.

Aviation analyst Daniel Tsang told AFP the huge increase in net profits was on account of the airline's improving passenger operations, which contributed to a sharp jump in revenues. The airline's passenger revenue in the reported period was up 4.4 per cent to HK$36.52 billion compared to the previous year, helped by the introduction of new long-haul routes to destinations such as Doha and Newark.

FALLING PASSENGER YIELDS

However, Tsang said the airline will need to improve its passenger yields, a key measure of airlines' profitability, to maintain this earnings trend. Passenger yield, the measure of the average fare paid by a passenger per mile, fell 3.5 per cent to HK66.6 cents, reflecting weaker ticket prices in the face of surging competition.

"For this upward trend to be sustained, arresting this yield decline is paramount and a prerequisite," he said. Revenue for its air cargo business, which took a toll for more than two years due to the weak economy and demand for shipments, rose 3.4 per cent compared to the first half of last year, at HK$11.66 billion.

But over-capacity in the air cargo market created downward pressure on rates, with the airline seeing cargo yield falling by 6.9 per cent. "We expect our cargo business to be better in the second half of 2014 than it was in the first half. We are well placed to take advantage of any increase in demand," the airline said. Cathay also indicated that high fuel prices were partly mitigated by operating more fuel-efficient aircraft.

Five new aircraft, including two Boeing 777-300ERs, were delivered to Cathay during the reported period, as it retired two Boeing 747-400 passenger aircraft. Eleven new aircraft will be delivered in the second half of 2014, as it continues to modernise its fleet. "Cathay is pretty aggressive in renewing its fleet. By end of 2014, it will only have seven gas-guzzling 747-400s," analyst Tsang said.

The International Air Transport Association in June said airline profits are improving and that it expects airline companies to record combined net profits of $18 billion for 2014, down from its earlier forecast of $18.7 billion made in March.

SOURCE


Tuesday, August 12, 2014

TATA SIA names its new airline Vistara


India's newest airline announced on Monday (Aug 11) flights could begin as early as October, saying it was "bullish" about the future even as a rival carrier reported a big loss.

The new airline, to be called Vistara - a Sanskrit word meaning "limitless expanse" - is 49 percent-owned by Singapore Airlines, while the Mumbai-based Tata conglomerate controls 51 percent.

The airline will offer both business and economy class, new chief executive Phee Teik Yeoh told reporters in New Delhi, and hoped to start flying passengers "sometime in October", subject to approval by India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The previous Congress government began allowing foreign airlines to buy up to 49 percent stakes in Indian carriers in 2012. India's air passenger market has expanded at breakneck speed but many companies are laden with debts and beset by cut-throat fare wars, high fuel costs and shoddy infrastructure.

India's second-biggest carrier by passengers, Jet Airways, reported on Monday it lost 2.2 billion rupees (US$36 million) in the three months to June 30. The figure was down from the 3.55 billion-rupee loss Jet reported in the same quarter a year ago after it cut financing costs, but the performance underscored entrenched problems facing the sector.

The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation consultancy estimates the industry will lose US$1.3-1.4 billion in the financial year to March 2015 after losing US$1.7 billion in 2013-14.

IndiGo, India's largest passenger carrier, is the sole airline among the four biggest currently operating to consistently report profits. Kingfisher, another full-service airline owned by liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya, was grounded by huge losses in 2012.

But Vistara's new chief executive projected a strong future for the new carrier thanks to India's fast-growing middle class. "The Indian aviation sector is on the cusp of change," he said, saying the company was "very bullish about the future" thanks to low air-travel penetration in the country of 1.25 billion.

Air trips per person each year in India stand at just 0.07, far behind developed countries such as the United States with 2.49 air trips annually.

Vistara will take delivery of its first plane, an Airbus A320-200, in September, and will have five aircraft by December. It plans to increase its fleet to 20 by the end of its fifth year in business.

The Tata Group, which launched India's first civilian airline - later nationalised - announced its partnership with Singapore Airlines 11 months ago. Tata also holds a stake in an Indian low-cost carrier which started flying in June, operated by Asia's biggest budget airline AirAsia.

Tata said it believed there would be no conflict in holding stakes in two Indian airlines. "AirAsia is a low-cost carrier, Vistara is a full-service carrier - they are in different spaces," said Tata Group spokesman Mukund Rajan.

Dr Rajan, member of the Group Executive Council and Brand Custodian at Tata Sons, and director at TATA SIA Airlines Limited (TSAL), said: “All of us at Tata are extremely pleased to have witnessed the coming together of all the elements that have led to the realisation of Vistara, a long cherished dream for the group that pioneered civil aviation in the country.”

Commenting on the significance of SIA operating in India along with Tata, Mr Swee Wah Mak, executive vice-president commercial at SIA, and director at TSAL, said: “From a global investor’s perspective, the Indian aviation sector has a lot of potential for growth and I am delighted that SIA now has a fruitful role to play here.”

SOURCE


Monday, August 11, 2014

Rowdy passenger forces London-bound flight back to Hong Kong


A rowdy British passenger forced a London-bound Virgin Atlantic flight to return to Hong Kong on Monday (Aug 11) after he "lost control", police said.

The 26-year-old, identified only as "Robert", was on a Heathrow-bound plane from Hong Kong International Airport and became disruptive after the flight had been in the air for more than an hour.

It was forced to turn around after 90 minutes, the airline said, and landed safely back in Hong Kong. The passenger was arrested then sent to hospital, authorities said.

"The foreign man called Robert, who is 26 years old, lost control on board and didn't follow instructions from staff on the flight," a police spokesman told AFP. "He was shouting... When the flight returned to Hong Kong, the man was arrested for violating aviation security ordinance and was sent to Princess Margaret Hospital," he added.

A Hong Kong airport authority spokeswoman said that flight VS201, an Airbus A340, had departed at midnight. Stranded passengers were put up in Hong Kong hotels and will fly out again on Monday night.

"The flight went back to Hong Kong after 90 minutes for a disruptive passenger," a Hong Kong-based Virgin Atlantic spokeswoman said. "The rest of the passengers were provided with accommodation before they depart tonight."

Police said on Monday that the man had not yet been charged. Authorities were unable to confirm whether he was still hospitalised and what treatment he had received.

SOURCE


Sunday, August 10, 2014

India probes bank loan to troubled Kingfisher airline


India's top crime fighting body is investigating a US$155 million (S$194m) loan by a state-run bank to debt-ridden Kingfisher Airlines, a police official said Sunday (Aug 10). The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was conducting an initial probe into why the 9.5 billion rupee (US$155 million) loan from the IDBI bank was approved given Kingfisher's levels of debt.

"When the company was in the red why did the IDBI bank give the loan?" CBI spokeswoman Kanchan Prasad told AFP. Kingfisher, owned by India's liquor baron, the flamboyant Vijay Mallya, owes nearly US$1.5 billion to banks, airports, fuel suppliers, staff and others.

The low-cost airline, which did not make any profit since it started operating in 2005, lost its licence to fly two years ago, after it failed to end a strike by staff including over a failure to pay wages.

Owners of Kingfisher's grounded planes have taken them back.

Prasad said the CBI had carried out a "preliminary enquiry" into the loan over the past two months. The next step could be the filing of a formal case. Last week, the CBI arrested the chairman of state-run Syndicate Bank over allegations that he took bribes in exchange for loan extensions to private companies.

Prasad said the two cases were not connected, saying the watchdog was not targeting loans by state-run financial institutions as part of a specific investigation.

Mallya, once the self-proclaimed "King of Good Times", who made his fortune through his liquor business, has been battling to maintain control over his empire. The flamboyant businessman, also a co-owner of a Formula One team, was known to host lavish yacht parties with Bollywood stars and politicians as guests.

SOURCE


Week 67: A320 Type Rating Week 6

The dreaded final progress test was held first thing on Monday morning. It was tough, hell tough. 80 questions on A320 systems which really knocked me over. A handful of questions I was only second guessing and did not even have a clue. It's quite sad that as a pilot trainee that I'm guessing and not 100% sure of what I'm selecting. I had to score 60 out of 80 in order to achieve the passing grade of 75% but after the end of 1.5hrs, I can only pray that I would not fail too miserably.

The paper was being marked straightaway, and I scored 57/80, a mere three questions to passing the paper. I was disappointed, but I've tried the best I could. In order to really do well, I believe I will need a lot more time to fully understand every single detail of the aircraft, much like an engineer rather than a pilot.

We spent the noon going through the paper. To my surprise, a few questions are ambiguous and had to be scrapped. As a result, I managed to get three more marks, which meant I was lucky enough to just pass the paper at 60/80. Wootz! I'm glad that I passed eventually, but it still isn't good enough. I'll have to do better than this for my type-rating paper in a few months' time.

The rest of the week was spent on instrument procedures, basically having a recap of what we did in Ballarat in terms of instrument flying. In addition, we went through some SID/STAR and runway/taxiway details of Changi Airport, plus RNAV and CANPA(Constant Angle Non Precision Approach). All in all, not much of new knowledge were taught, and our week ended on Wednesday.

Next week shall be the final week of the A320 ground school phase, and it only consist of a two-day CRM workshop. After which, simulator training phase will commence with mine starting on the final week of August.


Passenger plane crashes in Iran, almost 50 dead


 A civilian airliner crashed on take-off in a residential area near Tehran's Mehrabad airport on Sunday (Aug 10), Iranian news agencies said, with reports that almost 50 people were killed.

The plane was headed to the eastern city of Tabas, the IRNA and Fars news agencies said, and crashed at 9.18am (12.48pm Singapore time). The official IRINN television channel said the plane crashed in the Azadi neighbourhood, west of the airport, but did not state if fatalities were confined to passengers or if people were also killed on the ground.

"All the passengers are dead," a fire service spokesman said on IRNA. A second unnamed official said 48 people were on board the turboprop Antonov An-140 aircraft when it crashed.

There were conflicting accounts of the airline that the plane belonged to, with one report saying it was a Taban Airlines aircraft while another said it was owned by Sepahan Airlines.
 A civilian airliner crashed on take-off in a residential area near Tehran's Mehrabad airport on Sunday (Aug 10), Iranian news agencies said, with reports that almost 50 people were killed.

The plane was headed to the eastern city of Tabas, the IRNA and Fars news agencies said, and crashed at 9.18am (12.48pm Singapore time). The official IRINN television channel said the plane crashed in the Azadi neighbourhood, west of the airport, but did not state if fatalities were confined to passengers or if people were also killed on the ground.

Mehrabad is near central Tehran and is Iran's main domestic hub and by far the busiest of the country's airports, serving routes to all Iranian cities. Most international flights take off from Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport, which is located further west of the Iranian capital.



Etihad Airways to avoid Iraqi conflict airspace


Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways announced on Saturday (Aug 9) that it will reroute flights over Iraq in the wake of US air strikes on Islamist State (IS) fighters there. "Etihad Airways has announced that it will reroute its flights to avoid conflict airspace in Iraq," a statement by the carrier said.

"The decision follows the deterioration of the security situation in parts of the country. The safety of Etihad Airways' passengers and staff is of paramount importance, and the airline will continue to monitor the security situation closely."

On Thursday, Etihad also said it was suspending flights to Iraqi Kurdistan's capital of Arbil because of fighting in northern Iraq. The first US air strikes on Friday struck IS positions and at least one convoy of vehicles carrying militants west of Arbil. However, "flights to Basra and Baghdad, which have a daily risk assessment, continue to operate as normal," Etihad said on Saturday.

Dubai's Emirates Airline also announced on Saturday that it has "immediately" suspended its flights to Arbil due to the "security situation there," in a statement carried by the UAE's official WAM news agency. Daily flights to Basra and four weekly flights to Baghdad will however continue, the airline said, adding that it is "closely following developments" in restive Iraq.

Emirates had already announced last month that it will no longer fly over Iraq.

The Federal Aviation Administration in Washington banned all US civilian flights over Iraq just hours after American warplanes on Friday bombed positions held by the jihadists, who have occupied swathes of northern Iraq.

British Airways has said it will no longer fly over Iraq, as have Lufthansa and its subsidiaries Austrian Airlines and Swiss - joining Air France, Emirates, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, which quietly opted to do so over the past two weeks.

SOURCE


Saturday, August 9, 2014

British Airways suspends flights over Iraq


British Airways (BA) suspended flights over Iraq on Friday (Aug 8) as the US launched air strikes against Islamic militants fighting in the north of the country.

A spokesman for Britain's flagship carrier said it was "temporarily suspending our flights over Iraq".

But BA said services that use the route, mainly to Doha and Dubai, would not be cancelled or disrupted because alternative routes would be found.

Willie Walsh, chief executive of BA parent group International Airlines Group, last week pledged to keep flying over Iraq despite mounting concerns over commercial flight paths in the wake of the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine.

The airline said then it did not believe the conflict in Iraq between government forces and jihadist group Islamic State (IS) posed the same threat to commercial airliners. But it took its decision to suspend flights after the Federal Aviation Administration banned all US civilian flights over Iraq on Friday (Aug 8), just hours after Washington ordered air strikes on fighters in Kurdistan.

The FAA cited "the potentially hazardous situation created by the armed conflict" between IS militants and Iraqi security forces "and their allies" as the reason for the indefinite ban.

SOURCE


Friday, August 8, 2014

FAA bans US civilian flights over Iraq


The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) banned all US civilian flights over Iraq on Friday (Aug 8), just hours after air strikes ordered by Washington on Islamist fighters.

In a Notice to Airmen, the FAA cited the "potentially hazardous situation created by the armed conflict" between Islamic State militants and Iraqi security forces and their allies as the reason for the indefinite ban. The ban extends to "all US air carriers and commercial operators," as well as US-licensed pilots unless they are flying aircraft registered in the United States for a foreign operator.

Northern and eastern Iraq lie on the flight path for several non-American long-haul carriers operating between Europe, the Middle East and Asia, according to online flight tracking services.

Concern about civilian flights over conflict zones soared after the July 17 downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur above an area of eastern Ukraine controlled by Russian-backed separatist rebels.

Turkish Airlines, one of the key foreign carriers flying to Iraq, said it had halted flights to the main city of Iraq's Kurdish region for security reasons amid the Islamist offensive.

"Our flights to Arbil are being cancelled for security reasons until further notice," the airline said in a statement.

Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways on Thursday (Aug 7) also announced a suspension of flights to Arbil, while Britain has urged citizens living in parts of Kurdistan to leave.

US warplanes earlier bombed positions held by Islamic State insurgents who have advanced to take swathes of northern Iraq.

Last month, the FAA prohibited US airlines from overflying eastern Ukraine in the wake of the Malaysian Airlines tragedy. It also briefly barred them from Tel Aviv after a Hamas rocket fell near the Israeli city's Ben Gurion airport in the midst of the Gaza crisis.

SOURCE


Scoot and Tigerair proposed alliance cleared


The way looks clear for budget airlines Scoot and Tigerair Singapore to extend their partnership. According to both carriers, they have obtained the green light from the Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) on Friday (Aug 8).

The two carriers have been granted anti-trust immunity, which will allow closer cooperation in scheduling, pricing, sales and marketing and other matters.

Scoot is a wholly owned unit of Singapore Airlines (SIA) while Tiger lists SIA as its largest shareholder. Tigerair focuses on shorter-haul journeys, while Scoot's emphasis is on medium to long haul routes. The two carriers first announced a partnership in October 2012.

Earlier this year, they sought clearance from the CCS for the alliance to enter a second phase. According to the CCS, both airlines operate largely complementary networks of flights.

The competition watchdog says although some parts of the proposed cooperation would raise competition concerns, these would be offset by resulting net economic benefits to Singapore passengers.

SOURCE


State moves to delist Malaysia Airlines at a cost of RM1.4 billion


Malaysia Airlines will be taken over by a state investment fund under plans announced Friday, ahead of a "complete overhaul" aimed at saving the company from oblivion.

Khazanah Nasional, which already owns 70 per cent of the flag carrier, said it intends to de-list the company, purchase all minority shares - offering 27 sen per share - and finalise a restructuring plan by the end of the month. Speculation had been mounting that Khazanah would step in and steer Malaysia Airlines (MAS) off the stock exchange to give the fund a freer hand as it works to resuscitate a carrier in crisis after the double disasters of MH370 and MH17.

Flight MH370 disappeared mysteriously in March with 239 people aboard, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. No trace has been found and the airline was widely criticised for its handling of the crisis. On July 17, MH17 was shot down over Ukraine, with another 298 people killed.

Khazanah said all stakeholders will need to work together to save the company via a "complete overhaul" extending across "the airline's operations, business model, finances, human capital and regulatory environment". It added: "Nothing less will be required in order to revive our national airline to be profitable as a commercial entity and to serve its function as a critical national development entity."

The step, widely expected, requires approval from MAS's board. The airline said its operations would be unaffected in the interim.

FUTURE IN DOUBT

The 68-year-old flag carrier has haemorrhaged cash for years as it struggled to cope with intensifying industry competition. Its future solvency is now in peril as the twin tragedies have pummelled bookings.

MAS is burning through an estimated US$2 million a day as a result of its crumbling business and disaster-related costs.

Analysts said Khazanah will need to undertake a management purge and painful layoffs, and scrap major routes in order to restore the company's bottom line and global reputation. "It needs a new heart, a new brain. As it exists now, the airline is doomed," said Shukor Yusof, an analyst with Malaysia-based aviation consultancy Endau Analytics. "Each passing day is destroying its reputation and bottom line."

Earlier Friday, Malaysia Airlines had its shares suspended on the Kuala Lumpur stock exchange ahead of the Khazanah statement. Analysts had long blamed poor management, government interference, a bloated workforce, and powerful, reform-resistant employee unions for preventing the airline taking the steps need to stay competitive.

'SICK AIRLINE'

Malaysia Airlines previously had a solid safety reputation. But it lost 4.1 billion ringgit (US$1.3 billion) from 2011-13, and a further 443 million ringgit in the first quarter of this year, blaming MH370's "dramatic impact" on bookings. Analysts said taking the company private will allow Khazanah to make deep changes without shareholder interference.

But Shukor noted that previous Khazanah-sanctioned turnaround plans have failed. "I don't take comfort in Khazanah overhauling the sick airline. I am very sceptical about it," he said.

Airline experts said Khazanah should sack MAS management and bring in top-level, possibly foreign, professional managers to restore trust in the company, as Korean Airlines and Garuda Indonesia did in response to past safety-related crises. "It needs to take steps to restructure itself internally for safety considerations and procedures, and transparently communicate this to consumers. Probably new management is needed to carry all this out," said Scott Hamilton, managing director of US aerospace consultancy Leeham Co.

Costs must be slashed, possibly through staff downsizing and accelerating a pull-back from unprofitable long-haul routes that the airline has clung to for prestige, analysts add. MAS has struggled against intensifying competition from nimble, upstart budget carriers, particularly Malaysia's AirAsia.

"They may as well shut down international routes which are not making money, cut staff and sell planes. Just concentrate on the profitable domestic and key regional routes," said Mohshin Aziz, aviation analyst with Maybank. Resistance is expected from politically powerful unions. The airline employs 19,500 staff.

Ismail Nasaruddin, president of the National Union of Flight Attendants, said indications are that "a few thousand" could be laid off. "There must be an amicable solution. There must be open discussions with us on matters involving job cuts," he said.

Some have suggested a complete name change and re-branding to expunge the stigma of tragedy, but industry experts said that would accomplish little.

"Rebranding and renaming are efforts that come at significant cost, create little real value, and smooth over no part of a carrier's history," said Robert Mann, head of US-based consultancy R.W. Mann and Co.\

SOURCE


Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Boeing launches plan to turn tobacco into jet fuel


 US aerospace giant Boeing said on Wednesday (Aug 6) it was working with South African Airways and a Dutch biofuel company to make jet fuel from tobacco seeds. The Dutch firm, SkyNRG, is boosting its production in South Africa of a hybrid, nicotine-free, tobacco crop called Solaris with "biofuel production expected ... in the next few years," the three companies said in a statement.

"Initially, oil from the plant's seeds will be converted into jet fuel. In coming years, Boeing expects emerging technologies to increase South Africa's aviation biofuel production from the rest of the plant," added the firms.

Aviation biofuel, made from renewable resources such as plants, can reduce carbon emissions by 50 to 80 per cent. Airlines have flown more than 1,500 flights powered by biofuel globally since it was approved in 2011.

Earlier this year, Boeing and research partners in the Middle East said they would start field trials after recording progress in making biofuel from desert plants fed with seawater.

Critics of biofuels say they are often manufactured from food crops, or compete for land and water with food crops, driving up food prices.

SOURCE


Rats on a plane force Air India to ground aircraft


Air India has been forced to ground one of its planes after crew spotted rats scurrying around the cabin, The Times of India reported on Tuesday. The plane was on its way from New Delhi to Calcutta when staff became aware of the infestation, the paper said.

"Rats on board an aircraft can lead to a catastrophe if they start chewing up electric wires," the paper quoted an unnamed airline official as saying. "If that happens, pilots will have no control on any system on board leading to a disaster."

No one at the airline was immediately available for comment, but an Air India official speaking on condition of anonymity said rats on planes were a "common phenomenon" worldwide and could "get in anywhere". The official added, "They follow the catering vans into the plane when they smell the food."

It is not the first time that India's loss-making carrier has suffered a rodent infestation.
Rats reportedly delayed a domestic flight from Mumbai by almost two hours in February, and in 2009 a flight to Toronto was delayed for 11 hours as staff tried to catch rats.

SOURCE


Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Saudi jetliner veers off Philippine airport runway


A Saudi Arabian Airlines jetliner veered off the runway at the Philippines' main international airport on Tuesday (Aug 5), causing a delay in at least 11 flights, airport officials said.

None of the 298 passengers on the Boeing 747-400 plane were hurt after the landing gear got stuck in mud near the runway, but fire and rescue teams had to lift it out and tow it away, said airport spokeswoman Jen Franco.

The plane was making a turn on the runway, preparing to take off for Riyadh when the mishap occurred. Airport officials were blaming the incident on "technical problems," she said.

SOURCE


Saturday, August 2, 2014

Complete overhaul for crisis-hit Malaysia Airlines?


After two aviation tragedies in a matter of months, crisis-hit Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is said to be contemplating a complete overhaul, and in a deeply competitive industry where perception is everything, this may include a possible name change. However, the airline says its main concern is its staff, especially its flight crews.

When referring to their national carrier MAS, many Malaysians simply use the airline's code name MH, as MH is commonly understood to be an acronym for Malaysian Hospitality. But after the mysterious disappearance of MH370 in March and the tragic crash of MH17 four months later, the name has become associated with disaster and tragedy.

Faced with cancellations and poor ticket sales, aviation analysts are predicting MAS will last no more than five months. With the national flag carrier losing more than US$1 million a day, they say Khazanah Nasional, the government investment arm, may have to step in swiftly to stop the haemorrhage.

Mohsin Aziz, research analyst at Maybank Investment Bank, said: "It must have been a very sick airline for the past 14 years. It kept losing money. So it's definitely going to take more time before they can turn around, if ever.”

While a complete overhaul may include a leadership change, trimming of staff and reining in its powerful workers union which is resistant to reform, for now, the airline's primary focus is easing the pain of employees, especially flight crews. Morale has been badly affected with 27 crew members lost in just four months – a reality some staff are still struggling to come to terms with.

Chang Yok Lan, MAS flight attendant, said: "We just can't believe this is happening, so close to one another and it's also Malaysia Airlines." Sivakumar, another MAS flight attendant, said: "Cabin crew is family for another cabin crew compared to our family members, and this is our family because most of the time we are away – we are onboard, overseas.”

For many of the airline's staff who had been with the company for decades, what happened was beyond their comprehension but they have found strength in each other in order to continue to serve the airline they are most proud of.

Cheung Wei Ting, MAS flight attendant, said: "I think confidence plays an important part. Once we don the uniform, we know we have a duty to carry it out so we will be alright.” Chang Yok Lan said: "We have faith in our captain and we believe our safety is number one in the world. That's why we have confidence to continue to fly. "

A multi-faith prayer session was held at the airline training centre recently. The company's top management has also since disbursed US$600 to each and every MAS staff. Just like families of victims onboard its ill-fated flights, the airline and its 20,000 strong staff are also praying for closure to happen soon.

SOURCE


Week 66: A320 Type Rating Week 5

It's another pretty short week thanks to the Hari Raya public holiday on Monday. Started off the week on Tuesday with the airline's SOPs, briefly going through what's to be done, most of such information are needed during our sim sessions. Then in the second half of the day, we went through a stack of papers known as the Computer Flight Plan(CFP).

Within the CFP are very important details of the flight, from fuel calculations to flight plan to NOTAMs, everything that you need to know about the flight is right in here. I have to admit it's quite overwhelming looking at them when you have a flight coming up with tonnes of things to do.

Wednesday was a short one with roughly two hours of SOP practice in the sim, going through what we discussed the day before on SOPs. I'm getting more familiar with the systems each time I get my hands on the panels of controls in the A320. I learn something new everytime but there is always so much to learn.

The final day of the week on Thursday was pretty dry, with us going through Threat & Error Management-Approach And Landing Accident Reduction, and Take-off Safety. In short, it was like a "safety" day with the main focus on flight safety.

Next week we will be sitting for the final progress test. It will be the longest paper I've sat with 80questions set for us. It surely will be quite a nightmare studying for it as the A320 systems are so complex and so heavy, it's quite impossible to finish everything and yet be 100% sure of it within such a short span of time. I can only try my best not to do too badly for it.

WSSS NOTAM, part of the pretty thick CFP


Friday, August 1, 2014

Skymark shares sink deeper on quarterly loss


Shares in Skymark Airlines tumbled more than eight per cent early Friday (August 1) after the budget airline embroiled in a row with Airbus said its quarterly loss had ballooned.

Skymark Airlines fell 8.61 per cent to 191.0 yen, on top of a string of sharp drops this week. The stock has lost more than one third of its value, or 8.86 billion yen ($86 million), since the row with Airbus came to light.

Airbus said on Tuesday it had cancelled a $2.2-billion jet order from Skymark, even as the airline said it was negotiating with Airbus to "revise" the multi-plane order. The low-cost carrier said that Airbus threatened it with "overpriced" fees to cancel -- or slim down -- the order.

Skymark said late Thursday its loss in the three months to June expanded to 5.80 billion yen ($56 million), four times higher than its shortfall the previous year. The company said in a financial statement that it would consider suspending service on unprofitable routes and borrowing money from banks as there were doubts over whether the company would be able to remain as a going concern.

SOURCE