AIN Air Transport Perspective » February 18, 2013

Rolls-Royce Steps Up Investments As Revenues Rise
February 18, 2013 - 4:20pm

The recent completion of European certification of Rolls-Royce’s Trent XWB not only boosted Airbus’s efforts to fly its new A350XWB widebody in the first half of this year, it freed the UK-based engine maker to turn its attention to the Trent XWB-97 turbofan, designed to power the longer-range A350-1000 (the standard 84,000-pound-thrust Trent XWB powers the -800 and -900 versions).
Interference Scuttles Airlines’ Fleet Growth
February 18, 2013 - 4:15pm

India’s fastest growing and most successful airline–budget carrier IndiGo–has become the first victim of an October ruling by the country’s aircraft acquisition committee governing the number and kind of aircraft imported by airlines to encourage regional connectivity to smaller towns. In November the committee, led by civil aviation minister Ajit Singh, cleared for import only five of the 16 Airbus A320-series aircraft Indigo wanted to acquire.

First MD-80 Freighter Set To Fly in U.S.
February 18, 2013 - 4:10pm
MD-80

Miami, Florida-based Aeronautical Engineers (AEI) received the world’s first supplemental type certificate (STC) from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration for the MD-80SF passenger-to-freighter conversion, the company announced last week. The STC allows for conversions of the passenger-configured MD-81, MD-82, MD-83 and MD-88, of which McDonnell Douglas built 779.

Single European Sky Effort Is Deficient, Says IATA’s Tyler
February 18, 2013 - 4:05pm

Airlines and the organization representing Europe’s air navigation service providers (ANSPs) agree that the continent must modernize and streamline its ATC system. But two decades into the pursuit of a smoothly functioning Single European Sky, “there has not been as much progress” as airlines need to remain strong, said Tony Tyler, director general and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Recent History, Geography on Side of US Air-AA Merger
February 18, 2013 - 4:00pm

The proposed merger of American Airlines and US Airways will no doubt undergo close scrutiny by antitrust regulators and face particularly vigorous opposition from consumer advocacy groups. Even supporters concede that the effort toward creating the largest airline in the world will face obstacles.