Aviation News

American Airlines

American Airlines has selected the Airbus A319 and A321 as the variants it will receive under its 130-aircraft A320-family fleet order, which the carrier announced in July.

The airline expects to begin taking delivery of the Airbus A320-family jets starting in 2013, but American Airlines says it is not confirming yet the exact breakdown of the two types by numbers of aircraft. All will be fitted with ‘Sharklet’ wing-tip devices to reduce fuel burn by up to 3.5 per cent over current A320-family jets.

In the quarterly 10Q financial filing American Airlines made to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on October 19, the carrier noted it would take all 130 of the aircraft on 10-year leases from or via Airbus; 20 of the aircraft will be delivered in 2013, 35 in 2014; 30 in 2015; and 45 in 2016 and beyond.

American also holds options on 70 more current-generation Airbus A320-family jets and purchase rights on 15 more. If American exercises any of these commitments, the aircraft would be delivered from 2014 to 2017.

The airline has confirmed all the current-generation Airbus A319s it will be leasing will be powered by CFM56-5B engines from CFM International, a joint venture between General Electric and Snecma.

However, all the current-generation Airbus A321s will be equipped with V2500-A5 engines from International Aero Engines (IAE), a joint venture between Pratt & Whitney, MTU and JAEC.

It is quite unusual for airlines to select more than one engine type within an order for one aircraft family. However, both American’s A319 fleet and its A321 fleet are likely to be large enough to offer enough economies of scale for operating two engine types to be economically justifiable. Additionally, American may well also have received significant financial incentives from both CFM International and IAE.

The airline declines to disclose the financial terms and conditions of its CFM56-5B and V2500-A5 engine purchases.

Beginning in 2017, American plans to begin taking delivery of 130 Airbus A319neos and A321neos it has also ordered. The carrier plans to take delivery of 10 aircraft in 2017 and from 20 to 25 a year from 2018 through 2022 inclusive. (Effectively this means taking 20 aircraft in only one year and 25 in each of four others, or 24 aircraft in all five years beginning in 2018.)

American also has taken options on no fewer than 280 Airbus A320neo-family aircraft, which if exercised would all be delivered between 2017 and 2025.

The carrier’s engine choices for its current-generation A320-family jets suggest it could well choose the CFM LEAP-1A engine to power its Airbus A319neos and the Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1100G geared turbofan to power its A321neos. The two engine types are the two propulsion options for the A320neo family.

The carrier says its current-generation Airbus A320 family aircraft will offer a 35 per cent reduction in fuel cost per seat versus the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 and a 12 per cent and 15 per cent fuel cost reduction per seat, respectively, versus the Boeing 757 and Boeing 767-200.

American currently operates large numbers of MD-80s and 757s and has a fleet of 15 Boeing 767-200s which it uses for transcontinental services linking New York with Los Angeles and San Francisco.

“We are aggressively moving forward with our plans to have the youngest, most fuel-efficient fleet in the U.S. in the next five years,” says Tom Horton, president of parent holding company AMR Corp and American Airlines. “The A319 and A321 aircraft will strengthen our fleet, helping us dramatically improve our fuel and operating costs, while at the same time, offering our customers the chance to fly in aircraft that are designed to greatly enhance their travel experience.”

American says the Airbus A320neo-family jets it will begin receiving in 2017 are about 15 per cent more fuel efficient than today’s models. Sharklets will be standard fit on all A320neo-family aircraft.

Dallas/Fort Worth-based American is scheduled to be the first network airline in the U.S. (but not the first U.S. airline, an honor which will fall to Virgin America) to deploy the new Airbus aircraft.

American says its 260 new Airbus aircraft will all feature cabin interiors with increased overhead storage, reduced noise and ambient lighting options.

The carrier is also strengthening its Boeing fleet, with plans to acquire 200 additional aircraft from the 737 family, with options for another 100 737 family aircraft.

As part of the Boeing agreement, American plans to take delivery of 100 aircraft from Boeing’s current 737NG family starting in 2013, including options on three Boeing 737-800s that the carrier exercised on July 1.

American also expects to acquire 100 of the latest-generation Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, which will be powered by CFM International LEAP-1B engines. The new-engine variant is expected to have 10 to 12 per cent lower fuel burn than current 737s.

Texas-based American’s most recent deliveries of the 737-800, with 160 seats, include the all-new Boeing Sky Interior, offering larger overhead bins that pivot down and out. These bins are similar to those on the Boeing 787.

The airline says the Boeing Sky Interior also offers a contemporary feeling of spaciousness, and variable LED lighting options for cabin ambience.

American plans to acquire 42 Boeing 787s, which are currently scheduled to be delivered starting in late 2014.

The carrier also has firm orders for nine Boeing 777-300ERs and six additional Boeing 777-200ERs. Two Boeing 777-300ERs are scheduled for delivery in 2012 and seven in 2013, while American will receive two 777-200ERs a year from 2014 to 2016. American converted an order for one 777-200ER to specify a larger 777-300ER instead.

source: http://www.airlinesanddestinations.com

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Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines was fined $50,000, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced today, for deceptive advertising that did not include fees and taxes upfront in ads on billboards and posters, as well as advertising tweets by the airline.

DOT rules require all price advertisements for air travel to list the full price to be paid by the consumer, including all carrier-imposed surcharges.

Starting in June 2011, Spirit used billboards and hand-held posters to advertise new service from Los Angeles, that contained an asterisk next to the advertised fare. On the billboards, the asterisk led to small print that stated additional taxes, fees and conditions would apply, but did not disclose the amount. The posters did not include any information about the taxes and fees. In addition, Spirit sent Twitter feeds announcing one-way fares for $9. A consumer who clicked on the link was taken to a second Webpage where the carrier disclosed for the first time that the fare did not include all taxes and fees, and that to qualify, a roundtrip ticket had to be purchased. Only after clicking on another link was the amount of additional taxes and fees disclosed.

“Consumers have a right to know the full price they will be paying when they buy an airline ticket,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a press statement. “We expect airlines to treat their passengers fairly, and we will take enforcement action when they violate our price advertising rules.”

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• security

Pronunciation: AY

Directions: Practice by saying the word pairs and example sentences, then speak the words from this reading.

Word Pairsfree-fry, me-my, sea-sigh, be-buy, tree-try

Example sentence:I tried to dye my tie.

Examples from this reading:Provided - Priority -

Reading

Directions: Read the following passage carefully.

International travellers will no longer have water bottles, perfumes and other liquids confiscated as they board planes under a radical overhaul of airport security.

The easing of restrictions will begin next year as Australia's international airports begin rolling out new explosive detection equipment.

The shake-up, announced by the federal government on Sunday, also promises to cut waiting times for passengers by easing bottlenecks at security gates.

Under the current tight rules to guard against terrorist attacks, international travellers are forced to surrender all liquids – from water and soft drink to sunscreen – in containers larger than 100ml.

About 8000 items – including water bottles – are handed over at Sydney International Airport security checkpoints each month and as many as 1250 duty free items, including perfume and alcohol, are also seized.

But Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said that would now change.

The new technology, which has been trialled at Sydney airport, would enable authorities to detect the smallest trace of explosives in liquids.

"The easing of restrictions will no doubt be widely welcomed," Mr Albanese told The Sunday Telegraph.

"It will make air travel easier and less stressful for passengers as well as free airport security staff to better focus on their core screening responsibilities without the distraction of having to confiscate items from people's bags," he said.

"While preventing acts of terrorism remains our number one priority, we're also determined to minimise the disruption and inconvenience experienced by passengers as they transit throughout major airports, including by deploying the latest technologies."

One of the main gripes expressed by travellers is having duty-free goods seized.

The restrictions were introduced in 2006 following fears that terrorists would take liquid explosives on international flights.

Despite the rules being in place for five years, passengers routinely failed to understand the restrictions, and continued to try to take banned liquids onto flights.

Many passengers get caught out because some duty-free stores fail to place goods in secure bags.

Some European airports have removed the liquid ban, provided their flight originated from outside the EU and they were transferring to another destination.

The global ban on liquids at airports was introduced after British police foiled a terror plot which involved detonating liquid explosives on a series of trans-Atlantic flights in 2006.

Mr Albanese said authorities had been determined to lift the bans as soon as possible.

Question 1: Suggest a different title for this text. Why do you think that this would make a good title?

Question 2: Identify a quote from the text that you think is very important and explain why.

Question 3: What part of the text is hard for you to understand? What do you think it means?

Question 4: What connections can you make between the text and other texts, information, or experiences?

Question 5: Write 3-5 sentences summarizing the text.

Focus on Grammar

There are 3 cases for the simple future:

1. Predict: "Will" and "Going to" are the same when the speaker believes something will happen: "The Yankees will win." is the same as "The Yankees are going to win."
2. Plan: To describe a plan, we usually use "going to": "We are going to see a movie tonight. "
3. Willingness: For something we agree to do (or someone else agrees to do) we use will: "Don't worry about dinner; I will cook. "

How is the simple future in the sentence(s) below?

   Directions: Identify how the simple_futureis used in the sentence(s) below

1. It will make air travel easier and less stressful for passengers as well as free airport security staff to better focus on their core screening responsibilities without the distraction of having to confiscate items from people's bags, he said.
2. International travellers will no longer have water bottles, perfumes and other liquids confiscated as they board planes under a radical overhaul of airport security.The easing of restrictions will begin next year as Australia's international airports begin rolling out new explosive detection equipment.

Word Roots & Stems

Rule: The prefix readds "again" or "back" to the meaning of a word. This is one of the most common prefixes and can be correctly added to most verbs.

Directions: Identify the word that ends with re- in each sentence and write it on the line.

1. It will make air travel easier and less stressful for passengers as well as free airport security staff to better focus on their core screening responsibilities without the distraction of having to confiscate items from people's bags, "he said

1. "While preventing acts of terrorism remains our number one priority, we're also determined to minimise the disruption and inconvenience experienced by passengers as they transit throughout major airports , including by deploying the latest technologies.

1. "While preventing acts of terrorism remains our number one priority, we're also determined to minimise the disruption and inconvenience experienced by passengers as they transit throughout major airports , including by deploying the latest technologies.

Directions: Fill in the blanks below, just as in the models.

Vocabulary Practice

FILL IN THE BLANK

Directions: Use the word bank to identify the word that best completes the sentence.

1. He was _______________ to become an actor.
2. TV is a _______________ when you are doing homework.
3. The war was a big _______________ to his plans.
4. They have a collection of liquor and other _______________.
5. When his country lost the war, the general _______________ed to the enemy.
6. There is a security _______________ at the airport.
7. She has _______________ political views and wants to overthrow the government.
8. The government _______________ his house and car after he was caught cheating on his taxes.
9. Subways _______________ people to move around the city quickly and easily.
10. Early _______________ is important in the successful treatment of cancer.
11. The _______________ blast hurt many people and burned the store.
12. There are _______________ on how old a person must be to drive a car.
13. This is delicious! Do I _______________ some basil in the sauce?
14. The general _______________ his troops along the beach.
15. Computer _______________ improves every year.

Vocabulary Practice

MATCHING

Directions: Write the letter of word that matches the definition on the line. If it helps, feel free to also draw a line between the definition and the matching word.

1. alcohol
2. explosive
3. radical
4. technology
5. enable
6. detect
7. deploying
8. confiscated
9. disruption
10. determined
11. distraction
12. restrictions
13. checkpoints
14. surrender
15. detection

• 
  _______ To make a strong decision.
• 
  _______ Something that takes one attention away from something else.
• 
  _______ Something that upsets or interrupts.
• 
  _______ The intoxicating liquid in drinks like beer and wine.
• 
  _______ To give up control to a stronger force.
• 
  _______ A place where people are stopped for inspection.
• 
  _______ Very different and opposed to what is or was.
• 
  _______ Take something away from someone by authority.
• 
  _______ To allow someone or something to do something; to give one the tools to do something.
• 
  _______ To gain awareness of something.
• 
  _______ Loudly and violently breaking apart.
• 
  _______ A rule or law that limits something.
• 
  _______ To discover, notice, or become aware of something.
• 
  _______ To bring something into action, to make use of.
• 
  _______ Knowledge of machinery, computers, etc.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/

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Airlines have already begun charging for food, drinks, seat assignments and baggage. Now one is demanding that passengers cough up extra cash on board for fuel.

Hundreds of passengers traveling from India to Britain were stranded for six hours in Vienna when their Comtel Air flight stopped for fuel on Tuesday. The charter service asked them to kick in more than $31,000 to fund the rest of the flight to Birmingham, England. 

The situation may represent a new low in customer care in an era when flyers are seeing long lines, long waits and few perks. Britain’s Channel 4 news broadcast video showing a Comtel cabin crew member telling passengers: “We need some money to pay the fuel, to pay the airport, to pay everything we need. If you want to go to Birmingham, you have to pay.”

Some passengers said they were sent off the plane to cash machines in Vienna to raise the money.

“We all got together, took our money out of purses — $205,” said Reena Rindi, who was aboard with her daughter. “Children under two went free, my little one went free because she’s under two. If we didn’t have the money, they were making us go one by one outside, in Vienna, to get the cash out.”

Amarjit Duggal told the BBC she was flying from the Indian city of Amritsar on Comtel after scattering her mother’s ashes. Her father, sister and uncle were still in Amritsar and did not know when they would be able to return home.

The situation was highly unusual in Europe, where airlines are tightly regulated, said Sue Ockwell, a crisis management expert at Travel PR.

“It’s a bit like, well, boarding a train and saying that you can’t go on because they’ve cut the electricity off because they haven’t paid the bill,” Ockwell said. “You just really don’t expect it.

This is patently not going to do that airline any good at all.” The passengers did eventually reach Birmingham, but many expressed anger. “It is absolutely disgusting,” said Dalvinder Batra, who is from the West Midlands. “There are still people stuck out there.” Bhupinder Kandra, the airline’s majority shareholder, told the Associated Press from Vienna that travel agents had taken the passengers’ money before the planes left but had not passed it on to the airline. “This is not my problem,” he said. “The problem is with the agents.”

But Kandra insisted Thursday the company was still solvent. “We have not run out of money,” he said. “We have enough.”

Late Thursday, the Civil Aviation Authority stepped in to protect passengers after a company that sold flights on Comtel Air went out of business. Astonbury Ltd, trading as Skyjet, ceased trading. The authority will ensure that passengers get home in the coming days.

A similar Comtel situation was taking place back in Amritsar. Some 180 passengers on another Comtel flight were told they would not be taking off until they come up with 10,000 rupees (about $200) each, Kandra told the BBC on Thursday.

It was not clear when that plane was supposed to have taken off. The passengers in Amritsar were not stuck on the plane or at the airport, according to British diplomats in India. Most were booking flights on other airlines to get to Britain. Ockwell dismissed Kandra’s explanations, saying it sounded like a bad credit issue. “One really does wonder,” she said.

Airport officials in Birmingham said Thursday that Comtel’s flights this weekend had been canceled, but Kandra insisted all would be operating as normal.

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