AIR FRANCE A330 'DID NOT BREAK UP IN MID-AIR'
ACCIDENT Investigations into the loss of Air France flight 447 over the South Atlantic have determined the Airbus A330 did not break up in mid-air, and did not transmit a distress message. Alain Bouillard of French accident investigatiion bureau BEA says bottom-to-top deformation of structural components recovered showed the aircraft appears to have struck the sea with a "sharp vertical" acceleration and was "not destroyed in flight". The current undersea search for the flight recorders will end on 10 July but continue from 14 July using different techniques. More on this.....
BELL 429 GETS US, CANADIAN CERTIFICATION
ROTORCRAFT Bell Helicopter's 429 light twin has achieved certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration and Transport Canada Civil Aviation. The company will now seek to convert more than 300 letters of intent into firm orders. Bell claims the 429 will boast 30% greater cabin volume than other aircraft in its class.
VIRGIN GALACTIC CRITICAL OF UK REGULATIONS
SPACEFLIGHT The UK government's spaceflight regulations will not encourage a domestic personal spaceflight industry, said Virgin Galactic president Will Whitehorn at the Royal Aeronautical Society's 30 June space tourism event. Last month the UK government formed a space innovation team to investigate a long term strategy. More about spaceflight...
SPRING PROPOSES STANDING ROOM ONLY A320S
CAPACITY Chinese low-cost carrier Spring Airlines has discussed the idea of incorporating standing seats on its A320s with Airbus to enable it to boost passenger capacity by 40%. The standing seats will reportedly look like a bar stool and have a safety strap. Continue reading...
FAA PRESSES FOR VOLUNTARY SAFETY SCHEMES
SAFETY Federal Aviation Administration administrator Randy Babbitt has asked airlines to adopt voluntary safety measures and outline their commitment to them by 31 July, following the Colgan Air Bombardier Q400 crash in February. US airlines have been asked to implement a policy of asking pilot job applicants for voluntary disclosure of FAA records. See more on our safety channel...
PILOTS TO RESIST VIRGIN ATLANTIC'S PLANNED CUTS
LABOUR UK pilot representatives aim to save "each and every job" at Virgin Atlantic despite the carrier's insistence it will have to axe up to 600 jobs as it cuts back services this winter. Virgin Atlantic will for winter 2009-10 suspend its London-Chicago link and one of its two daily rotations to Hong Kong, and cut frequency on other, unidentified routes to slash capacity by 7% compared with winter 2008-9. More on airlines...
GULF AIR CHIEF NAF TO STEP DOWN
MANAGEMENT Gulf Air chief executive Bjorn Naf is to step down and be replaced by current Royal Jordanian Airlines chief Samer Majali "within the next few months", says the carrier. Naf, who took over at Gulf Air two years ago after Andre Dose's brief tenure, has been under pressure for several months. More on airlines...
LOSS-MAKING AIRLINES 'NOT CUTTING CAPACITY'
AIR TRANSPORT The International Air Transport Association warns that despite airlines losing $3 billion in the first quarter and trying to cut capacity by taking fewer new aircraft deliveries, the overall fleet is still growing because too few older aircraft are leaving service. More on airlines...
Source: Flight International
