THREE A380s IN AIRBUS Q3 DELIVERIES
Airbus delivered 104 aircraft during the third quarter, taking 2009 production to 358. Total A380 deliveries this year stand at six aircraft, three of which were delivered in the third quarter. The airframer's net order tally at the end of quarter three stands at 123 aircraft. Meanwhile, Embraer's third quarter deliveries were split almost evenly between business and commercial jets. Its 57 deliveries take total output for the year to 154 aircraft. The airframer delivered 29 commercial aircraft and 27 business jets, the bulk of which were the Phenom 100 light business jets.
BA TO AXE EQUIVALENT OF 1,700 CABIN CREW
British Airways will cut the equivalent of 1,700 full-time cabin crew posts by the end of November. The loss-making airline says around 1,000 cabin crew may take voluntary redundancy and 3,000 staff are looking to switch to part-time working. Also, BA's long-haul cabin service directors will serve passengers on board from the end of next month, meaning that on the carrier's Boeing 747 fleet for example, the total cabin crew will reduce from 15 to 14.
PLASMA TO EXTEND INDIAN SATELLITE LIFE
India's GSAT-4 technology demonstrator satellites will be the country's first to feature plasma thrusters. Previous Indian Space Research Organisation craft have relied on chemical, hydrazine thrusters for control, but xenon gas-based plasma units provide a higher specific impulse and last longer, potentially extending ISRO spacecraft life to 15 years, compared with two or three today.
FREIGHTERS LEAD TURKISH FLEET EXPANSION
Turkish Airlines has ordered two Boeing 777 and two Airbus A330 cargo aircraft for its fleet, which currently includes four A310s for cargo. A decision on purchasing 787 and A350 XWB passenger airliners is expected next year. Including options, Turkish is planning a minimum of 20 long-range aircraft orders.
AIRLINK J41 CRASH PILOT DIES
The pilot of the Airlink BAe Jetstream 41 that crashed in Durban in September has died. The other three crew members - the only occupants on board the positioning flight - survived the accident. The South African airline says the pilot will be recognised "for averting what could otherwise have been a far worse accident".
OLYMPIC AIRTAKES UP FLAG FOR GREECE
Greece's Olympic Air has begun operations in place of its predecessor, Olympic Airlines. Olympic Air, which emerged after Marfin Investment Group bought Olympic Airways from the Greek government, will operate initially with 24 aircraft, rising to 25 on 1 November and 32 by next year.
JET'S PROCK-SCHAUER TO BECOME NEW BMI CHIEF
Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, who heads India's Jet Airways, has been named to replace BMI chief executive Nigel Turner, who will become deputy chairman. The Austrian's appointment follows Lufthansa's takeover of the UK carrier earlier this year.
US, RUSSIAN DUO PAIR UP FOR DOCKING STANDARD
Boeing and RSC-Energia are to jointly develop a common docking system for spacecraft. Both companies have extensive experience in International Space Station design.
Source: Flight International
