NASA Gives ‘Go’ for Space Shuttle Launch on Nov. 14
October 31, 2008
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Oct. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — NASA managers
completed a review Thursday of space shuttle Endeavour’s readiness for
flight and selected the official launch date for the STS-126 mission.
Commander Chris Ferguson and his six crewmates are scheduled to lift off to
the International Space Station at 7:55 p.m. EST on Nov. 14.
Endeavour’s STS-126 flight will feature important repair work to the
station and prepare it for housing six crew members during long-duration
missions. The primary focus of the 15-day flight and its four planned
spacewalks is to service the station’s two Solar Alpha Rotary Joints, which
allow its solar arrays to track the sun. Endeavour will carry about 32,000
pounds to orbit, including supplies and equipment necessary to double the
crew size from three to six members in spring 2009. The new station cargo
includes additional sleeping quarters, a second toilet and a resistance
exercise device.
Endeavour’s launch date was announced after the conclusion of
Thursday’s Flight Readiness Review. During the meeting, top NASA and
contractor managers assessed the risks associated with the mission and
determined the shuttle’s equipment, support systems and procedures are
ready for flight.
Ferguson will be joined on STS-126 by Pilot Eric Boe and Mission
Specialists Donald Pettit, Steve Bowen, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Shane
Kimbrough and Sandra Magnus. Magnus will replace space station crew member
Greg Chamitoff, who has been aboard the station for more than five months.
She will return to Earth during the next shuttle mission, STS-119, targeted
to launch in February 2009.
TAM to Offer Direct Rio – New York Flights Starting November 1
October 31, 2008
Four round trip frequencies per week between the two cities
SAO PAULO, Brazil, Oct. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — TAM (BOVESPA:
TAMM4 and NYSE: TAM) will start operating direct flights between Rio de
Janeiro and New York starting Saturday, November 1. Four weekly non-stop
round trip frequencies between the two cities will be offered. TAM
passengers will be able to fly Business or Economy class. Flights will be
operated using the Boeing 767-300, which holds 205 passengers.
“Rio de Janeiro is a strategic market for TAM and represents an
important gateway for passengers coming from the United States. Therefore,
we are increasingly investing in new services, such as the direct Rio – New
York and Rio – Miami flights, the latter having begun September 19,” said
Paulo Castello Branco, Commercial and Planning Vice President.
The flight will depart Rio de Janeiro’s Tom Jobim International Airport
(Galeao) at 11:15 p.m. (local time) Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and
Sundays, and fly directly into JFK in New York, arriving at 6:00 a.m.
(local time) the following day.
Return flights will be available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The
flight will depart JFK at 4:15 p.m. (local time) and fly directly to Rio de
Janeiro (Galeao), arriving at 5:30 a.m. (local time). On Sundays, the
flight will leave New York at 8:00 a.m. and arrive in Rio de Janeiro at
9:15 p.m. (local time).
For further information, reservations or to purchase tickets, contact
the TAM Call Center at 4002-5700 (for state capitals), and 0800-570-5700
(other locations) or go to http://www.tam.com.br.
Flights to the United States
TAM already operates two daily flights to New York from Sao Paulo
(Guarulhos). All legs of the trip are on A330 aircraft in both directions.
With the start of the new service from Rio, TAM will now offer 18 weekly
flights between Brazil and New York.
TAM operations include four daily flights (28 per week) to Miami,
Florida. One of the flights starts in Confins, in Belo Horizonte (MG),
continues to Rio de Janeiro and then on to Miami. TAM also offers two daily
flights from Sao Paulo (Guarulhos) — one of them stopping in Salvador (BA)
on Sundays on the outbound and return legs — and another from Manaus. All
flights receive and offer connections.
Airline Industry Legend Robert Crandall and CEO of World’s Most Profitable Airline Highlight 2008 Airline Strategy Summit
October 31, 2008
LONDON, Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ — Robert Crandall, the former longtime
chairman and CEO of American Airlines who successfully led the carrier
through the post-deregulation era, made headlines recently by suggesting
some re- regulation of the airline industry. He will further explain his
ideas on that matter and others at Airline Weekly’s 2008 Airline Strategy
Summit Nov. 17-18 in London. The event’s other keynote speaker will be Dr.
Temel Kotil, CEO of Turkish Airlines, which had the highest profit margin
of any airline in the world during 2008’s recently completed second
quarter.
“Obviously, we’re pleased to have both Mr. Crandall and Dr. Kotil at
the summit,” said Seth Kaplan, managing partner of Airline Weekly. “But the
line- up doesn’t slow down from there. I think anyone would be hard-pressed
to find a more interesting gathering of brains in the airline industry.”
Full details about the conference are available at
http://www.airlineweekly.com/conference.htm
More than a dozen other airline CEOs and executives will speak at the
conference, which will focus on “new approaches for a fast-changing global
industry.” Other participating airlines include Air France/KLM, by some
measures the largest airline in the world; Brazil’s TAM Airlines, the
largest airline in South America; highly profitable and fast-growing LAN
Airlines of Chile; Virgin Atlantic; South African Airways; Gulf Air of the
rapidly growing Arabian Gulf Region; S7 Airlines, Russia’s largest domestic
airline, now pursuing its international expansion; Austrian Airlines;
low-cost carriers from GOL, Latin America’s largest, to SkyEurope and
Clickair; and under-the- radar profitable carriers Flybe of Europe and
Porter Airlines of Canada, which will discuss how creative aircraft and
product decisions have helped them thrive while other airlines have
struggled.
Topics include: Low-Cost Carriers in a High-Cost World; Are Airlines
and the Environment Compatible?; “Engine”-eering a More Efficient Industry;
and Where the Growth Is — Middle East, Latin America, Russia, Africa and
Asia.
The 2008 Airline Strategy Summit is sponsored by CFM International;
AerCap; Rolls-Royce; Pratt & Whitney; Avitas and ATR.
FAA Grants Precision Aviation Group Company its Third ‘Unlimited’ Capability Rating
October 31, 2008
ATLANTA, Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ — Precision Aviation Group (PAG) Company
— Precision Avionics and Instruments (PAI) was granted an “Unlimited
Avionics” rating from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This new
rating establishes PAG as one of only 22 FAA Repair Stations that have
Unlimited Accessory, Unlimited Avionics and Unlimited Instrument ratings.
Of the 22 repair stations that have all three of these “Unlimited” Ratings,
12 are either Aircraft Manufacturers or Original Equipment Manufacturers,
putting PAI in an elite group of only 10 FAA Repair Stations that provide
Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services as their principle source of
revenue.
“We are proud of our tradition of capabilities expansion at PAI. The
addition of this unlimited rating puts us in an exclusive group of only 10
other operating FAA Repair Stations,” said PAG President David Mast. “It
will allow us to improve our response time to customer requirements, and
more efficiently add to the more than 8,000 different MRO services we
provide.”
About The FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is an agency of the United
States Department of Transportation with authority to regulate and oversee
all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S. The Federal Aviation Act of 1958
created the group under the name “Federal Aviation Agency” and adopted its
current name in 1967 when it became a part of the United States Department
of Transportation. The FAA is the single most influential governmentally
run aviation agency in the world.
About Precision Aviation Group
(PAG) is a leading provider of products and value-added services to the
worldwide aerospace and defense industry. With sales/service facilities in
the United States and Canada, PAG uses its distinct business units and
customer focused business model to serve aviation customers through two
business functions — Aviation Supply Chain and its trademarked Inventory
Supported Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul – (ISMRO).
PAG provides parts and MRO services for helicopters and fixed-wing
aircraft through Precision Heliparts (PHP http://www.heliparts.com ) and Precision
Avionics & Instruments (PAI http://www.precisionavionics.com ) in Atlanta, GA and
Precision Heliparts – Canada (PHP-C http://www.heliparts.ca ) and Precision
Accessories & Instruments (PAI-C http://www.paicanada.ca ) in Vancouver, BC. PAG
has MRO capability on 8,000 different products, including accessories,
avionics, instruments and starter generators.
Bombardier Lands at Airshow China 2008, Zhuhai
October 31, 2008
MONTREAL, QUEBEC–(Marketwire – Oct. 31, 2008) – Bombardier Aerospace, a market leader in China for commercial and business aircraft, is participating in the seventh edition of Airshow China 2008, which is taking place in Zhuhai in the People’s Republic of China, from November 4 to 9. Bombardier aircraft on display at the show include the Bombardier Challenger 605, Global Express XRS and CRJ900 NextGen aircraft.
“Bombardier offers the widest range of business jets of any Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). The Chinese market for private aviation is poised for tremendous growth, and Bombardier is ready to provide travel and business solutions that are tailored to the requirements of corporate and government leaders in China,” said Jason Liao, Director of Sales, China, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “The Global Express XRS and the Challenger 605 aircraft are two fine examples of business jets that combine comfort, performance, speed and range to create an ideal mode of business or luxury transportation.”
According to Bombardier Aerospace’s market forecast, China represents 15 per cent of the 20- to 149-seat aircraft market over the next 20 years, or approximately 2,000 aircraft. Currently, five commercial airlines in China operate a total of 25 CRJ Series regional jets. The airlines include China Eastern Yunnan Airlines, China Express Airlines, Kunpeng Airlines, Shandong Airlines and Shanghai Airlines. In addition, government agencies operate a total of 12 corporate variants of CRJ200 and CRJ700 aircraft. The corporate variants are configured as personnel shuttles.
“Bombardier Commercial Aircraft is promoting all its market-leading products in Zhuhai – the CRJ NextGen regional jet with its enhanced cabin environment, the quiet Q400 turboprop, and the all-new CSeries airliner – the world’s newest and most advanced single-aisle aircraft designed to set new standards in technology, fuel efficiency and reduced environmental impact,” said Trung Ngo, Vice President, Sales Asia-Pacific, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.
Bombardier’s aerospace activities in China have grown substantially in recent years as the Chinese marketplace shows increasingly strong interest in Bombardier’s comprehensive line of products. Bombardier has sales offices in Beijing and Hong Kong for both business aircraft and commercial aircraft.
Airshow China, organized with the backing of the government and the Chinse aviaiton and aerospace industries, will feature 60 exhibitors from 35 countries and expects over a quarter million people to visit the show. The Bombardier exhibit is located in Hall 1, B2-3 at the China International Aviaiton & Aerospace Centre.
Israel And U.S. Don’t Have Deployed Missile Defense Capability to Guarantee 100 Percent Shoot Down of a Long Range Ballistic Missile From Iran
October 30, 2008
TEL AVIV, Israel, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Riki Ellison,
Chairman of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA)
http://www.missiledefenseadvocacy.org , was in Israel this week to visit and get
updates on their missile defense system. His thoughts in journal form are
as follows:
“Over the past few days, MDAA has made an inaugural and historic visit
to the country of Israel. Understanding the ballistic missile and rocket
threat to this country and its people by their people provides a realism
that is much different from our perceptions.
“Understanding the political and public will to develop and deploy
national missile defense to protect their lives and nation enlightens the
reality of a nation under threat.”
“Understanding the 4 major Israeli missile defense systems (Arrow 2,
David’s Sling, Iron Dome, Arrow 3) through in-depth briefings from the
chief engineers and program managers validates the efficiency of doing more
with less from the Israeli self grown systems with their U.S. partnerships
and support.”
“Understanding that missile defense prevents low intensity conflicts
from becoming wars, providing the leaders of the Knesset other options
other than ones that cost lives and sends the Israel Defense Force into
conflict proves missile defense can deescalate and stabilize future
crisis.”
“The future survival of the country of Israel may depend on its missile
defense capability and the U.S. missile defense assets in the region to
defend and protect against Iran’s ballistic missile force and its soon to
be acquired nuclear weapons. This is clearly the number one threat to
Israel and this threat will require not only interoperability of the
various missile defense systems but most important a ‘zero leakage or 99
percent capability to destroy an incoming ballistic missile.”
“This means being able to have the capability to look, shoot, look,
shoot, look, shoot, shoot at a missile during its entire flight. The
capability required involves multiple radars to track and discriminate as
well as defensive missiles that can shoot in the upper tier of space, the
lower tier of space and the higher and lower atmosphere.”
“Today Israel does not have this capability nor do the current U.S.
regional assets have this capability. Missile defense deployment and
development here is much needed and encouraged prior to Iran’s development
of a nuclear weapon.”
“Ballistic missile threats to Israel involve nearby neighbors, with a
total of 200 plus missiles. This threat continues to grow exponentially as
many of these countries have eliminated their resources for Air Forces and
put them into ballistic missiles and rockets as they have proven far more
effective and efficient for their military and political objectives.”
“MDAA visited the town of Sderot a little less than a mile from the
Gaza Strip where this year alone 1,460 rockets were fired by Hamas into
Sderot. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent to protect public
places from playgrounds, schools, to bus stops. This has yet to stop the
life changes for the citizens caused by this threat. MDAA also visited
Haifa and both Arab and Israeli towns in Lower Galilee. These towns and
cities within this region have seen 4,000 rockets launched from Hezbollah
in Lebanon in the summer of 2006. Both of these unfortunate situations have
driven the development of two new missile and rocket intercept systems that
will be deployed over the next couple of years, one a joint U.S./Israel
program called the David’s Sling and the other Israel only program called
the Iron Dome.”
Riki Ellison closed his remarks by stating: “This trip has been both
inspiring and humbling as having first hand interaction and viewing the
destruction of both life and property that ballistic missiles cause. These
vivid memories and experiences add more motivation to fiercely advocate for
missile defense.”
Riki Ellison is available for interviews to discuss his trip in Israel.
Ellison is knowledgeable on all aspects of our nation’s missile defense
systems. Call Mike Terrill at 602 885-1955 to arrange an interview.
TSA and Continental Airlines Expand Paperless Boarding Pass Program to LaGuardia Airport
October 30, 2008
NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – October 30, 2008) – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Continental Airlines announced today the rollout of the Paperless Boarding Pass pilot program to LaGuardia Airport (LGA). This innovative approach will allow passengers to receive boarding passes electronically on their cell phones or PDAs, which will then be scanned by TSA security officers at the checkpoint, eliminating the need for a paper boarding pass.
Ten airports are now piloting this technology: George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston (IAH), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Logan International Airport in Boston (BOS), Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), San Antonio International Airport (SAT), Indianapolis International Airport (IND), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), and LaGuardia in New York.
Continental was the first U.S. carrier to test paperless boarding passes. Continental Airlines passengers can use the electronic boarding pass at George Bush Intercontinental, Ronald Reagan Washington National, Newark Liberty, Logan, Austin-Bergstrom, San Antonio and Cleveland Hopkins airports.
Each paperless boarding pass will display an encrypted two-dimensional bar code along with passenger and flight information that will identify the traveler. TSA travel document checkers will use hand-held scanners to validate the authenticity of the paperless boarding pass sent to Continental passengers. The new technology heightens the ability to detect fraudulent boarding passes while improving customer service and reducing paper use.
“The deployment of the paperless technology, with Continental Airlines, signifies TSA’s ongoing commitment to develop and execute new technologies within aviation while enhancing security,” said Mike Scott, federal security director, LaGuardia Airport. “These paperless boarding pass pilots are significant steps towards ensuring that fraudulent boarding passes cannot be used to gain access to the sterile side of airports.”
TSA created the concept of how to scan the paperless boarding passes and Continental Airlines developed an implementation plan that involved encrypting the paperless boarding pass to ensure authenticity. “We are pleased to take part in this pioneering concept that provides enhanced security and customer service to our passengers,” said Mark Bergsrud, Continental Airlines senior vice president, Marketing Programs and Distribution. “Continental Airlines is committed to innovation and leveraging technology to the benefit of our customers.”
The paperless boarding pass pilot is consistent with the global standard of the International Air Transport Association for bar coding of passenger boarding passes. This joint effort between Continental Airlines and TSA will enable the airline industry to look forward to a paperless check-in process.
Delta/Northwest Merger and Pilot Agreement Sets Historic Precedent
October 30, 2008
Successful transactions must include pilots
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Capt. John Prater,
president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, issued the following
statement following the closing of the Delta Airlines and Northwest
Airlines merger and on the first day of a single collective bargaining
agreement between the pilots of both carriers and senior executives.
“The pilots of Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines go to work today
under a single new contract that improves pay, retirement and work rules
along with providing pilots equity in the company. Support for the merger
by pilots, and the new agreement, are the result of unprecedented efforts
on the part of both pilot groups, backed by a strong international union.
The successful and efficient closing of the transaction is dramatic
evidence that pilots can, and should, be an integral part of these
initiatives.
“This success story should also serve as a model for senior executives
elsewhere that corporate success in the coming years, whether through
transactions, joint ventures and alliances, or on a stand-alone basis,
requires close cooperation and agreement with pilots and other employees.
The benefits of engaging pilots at the earliest opportunity and at every
point during the process cannot be overstated.”
“I have every confidence that both the Delta and Northwest pilot groups
will continue to capitalize on their willingness to solve problems together
and the expertise and assets of ALPA to progress and succeed. That work
will set the stage for a truly successful global airline.”
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union representing
more than 53,000 pilots at 37 airlines in the U.S. and Canada.
TAM Named One of Brazil’s Most Memorable Brands
October 30, 2008
Company Wins Folha Top of Mind 2008 Award in the Airline Category, Which
Returned this Year to the Datafolha Survey
SAO PAULO, Brazil, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — TAM (NYSE: TAM;
BOVESPA: TAMM4) was a winner in the Folha Top of Mind 2008 survey, an award
recognizing the most memorable brand names in Brazil. The company’s name
was cited by 37% of those interviewed when asked what was the first brand
name of an airline that came to mind. The Airline category returned this
year to the survey conducted by Datafolha, now in its 18th edition.
The award ceremony was held at HSBC Brasil, in Sao Paulo, with the
attendance of the presidents and directors of the largest companies and
advertising agencies in Brazil. “We are quite pleased and proud of being
the airline that is most remembered by Brazilians. It is satisfying to
receive this recognition in the year we launched our branding campaign,
which demonstrates our passion for flying and serving,” said Manoela Amaro,
TAM’s Director of Marketing.
The Folha Top of Mind award presents the brands that are most
remembered annually by Brazilian consumers consulted by the Instituto
Datafolha in 172 small, medium and large municipalities throughout Brazil.
The 2008 survey was conducted from August 12-15, sounding more than 6,000
people divided into two samplings of men and women 16 years of age or
older. Awards were offered in a total of 46 categories, including five
special categories.
Air Transport Association Responds to DOT Claim of Competition as Rationalization of New York Airport Slot Auctions
October 30, 2008
WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Air Transport
Association of America (ATA), the industry trade association for the
leading U.S. airlines, today issued the following statement in response to
the Department of Transportation (DOT) claim that auctions will lead to
more competition and lower fares at slot-controlled airports:
The DOT today attempted yet another rationale in support of its
unwavering desire to force untested, highly controversial slot auctions at
New York-area airports. It’s never-ending but imaginative claims are
beginning to seem like throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks.
It seems as if DOT has reversed course from its earlier astonishing
claims that slot auctions will reduce congestion. DOT now claims that since
New York is not a competitive market, auctions are necessary to increase
competition and lower fares. Let’s set the record straight: New York is the
most competitive market in the United States, with nearly 80 airlines
serving JFK, La Guardia and Newark airports. So it is hard to imagine why
New York would somehow benefit from even more competition – even assuming
that auctions would attract carriers not now serving New York airports.
DOT compares fares in second quarter 2007 to fares in second quarter
2008 to demonstrate that average fares increased 8 percent. Given that the
price of a barrel of oil during this same period increased nearly 100
percent – from around $65 a barrel to $124 a barrel – the more appropriate
question might be why airfares increased so little. The Port Authority of
New York and New Jersey, who vehemently opposes auctions, estimates that
fares could increase by as much as 12 percent and that as many as 30 small-
and medium-sized markets could lose service to New York under the illegal
DOT auction scheme.
This latest argument sadly confirms the Department’s willingness to
spin its wheels to mask its failure to implement proven operational and
airspace redesign measures that will enhance capacity and reduce flight
delays in the New York area. Auctions do not enhance capacity or give
passengers more options and they do not result in lower fares.
ATA airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent
of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic. For additional information
about the industry, visit http://www.airlines.org.
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