Alaska Airline’s First Flight Using Biofuel to Boeing 737 and Bombardier Q400

Alaska Airlines will operate 75 scheduled domestic flights partially powered by biofuel derived from used cooking oil. The first of the these flights, to be operated with Boeing 737s and Bombardier Q400s, will occur Wednesday when two aircraft fly from Seattle-Tacoma to Portland, Ore., and Washington National, respectively.

The fuel, a blend comprising 20% biofuel, is being supplied by broker SkyNRG and made by Dynamic Fuels, which is a joint venture between Tyson Foods Inc. and Syntroleum Corp. AS emphasized the fuel “meets aviation and military safety, sustainability and performance standards.”

The carrier said that it and regional affiliate Horizon Air “will continue to operate select flights between Seattle and the two cities over the next few weeks.” AS and Horizon parent Alaska Air Group chairman and CEO Bill Ayer said, “Commercial airplanes are equipped and ready for biofuels. They will enable us to fly cleaner, foster job growth in a new industry, and can insulate airlines from the volatile price swings of conventional fuel to help make air travel more economical. What we need is an adequate, affordable and sustainable supply. To the biofuels industry, we say: If you build it, we will buy it.”

AAG said it estimated that the 75 flights would emit 10% fewer carbon dioxide emissions compared to its traditionally powered flights. AAG and Boeing were among the group that last year formed Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest.

FAA Investigating Southwest Airlines Navigation System Failure as Landed at Los Angeles International Airport

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating what caused a Southwest Airlines jetliner to lose its navigation system as it landed at Los Angeles International Airport last week, officials said Wednesday.

The pilot of Southwest Flight 1445, carrying 92 passengers from San Jose to LAX, found that some of his instruments had failed while on approach to LAX around noon on Oct. 20, said Brad Hawkins, a spokesman for Southwest Airlines.

The plane’s first officer took control of the Boeing 737 as the pilot radioed for assistance to the air traffic control tower, Hawkins said.

The cause of the navigation system’s failure remained under investigation, said FAA spokesman Lynn Lunsford.

Hawkins said mechanics found that a tripped circuit breaker was the cause of the problem. The plane’s instruments were operational after the breaker was restored to its position, he said.

Incoming flights were ordered to circle around as the plane was guided in with help from two veteran air traffic controllers, said Ron Geyer, head of the controller’s union that oversees Southern California’s air space.

Global Aviation Industry Future : Airline Industry Expects Economic Recovery

The global airline industry is making a robust economic recovery and will need $3.6 trillion in new aircraft over the next 20 years, Boeing Co. said Thursday, July 15 in its annual long-range forecast.

In all, airlines will need 30,900 new jets between now and 2029, with more than two-thirds of the demand for smaller single-aisle jets such as Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’ A320, Boeing said in its 2010 Current Market Outlook.

Airlines have seen a rebound in passenger and freight traffic this year and should return to profitability in 2011, company officials say.

“For passenger traffic in 2010 we’re expecting to see a 5 to 6 percent improvement over where we were last year; in terms of cargo, somewhere around 14 percent or more,” Randy Tinseth, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president for marketing, said in a recent briefing in advance of Farnborough International Air show in Britain.

Airlines have been able to manage their way through the economic downturn fairly well by keeping costs down, Tinseth said. “We’re starting to see more airlines returning to profitability – returning to profitability really before we expected it,” he added Boeing’s 20-year forecast is slightly brighter than last year’s, when it predicted demand for 29,000 aircraft worth $3.2 trillion for 2009-2028. This year’s report says 21,160 single-aisle jets worth $1.7 trillion will be needed, along with 7,100 twin-aisle planes such as the 777, 787 and Airbus’ A330-340 family, worth $1.6 trillion.

The world will need 720 large aircraft such as Boeing’s 747 and Airbus’ superjumbo A380, worth $220 billion, and just 1,1920 regional jets – those under 90 seats – worth $60 billion.

The report, now in its 46th year of public release, is widely regarded as the most comprehensive and respected analysis of the commercial aviation market, and reflects the improving, yet still unstable conditions facing the industry.

It noted that commercial aviation has weathered many downturns in the past. Yet recovery has followed quickly as the industry reliably returned to its long-term growth rate of approximately 5 percent per year. Boeing expects the same resilience in the first half of 2010 as the industry rebounds from the recent severe downturn. Passenger traffic is projected to rise 6 percent for the year, with similar annual growth rates for 2011 through 2014.

Responding to improving demand, global airline financial performance is forecast to improve to the break-even point in 2010, following a $10 billion net loss in 2009. Asia-Pacific airlines, reflecting the region’s strong economic growth, are forecast to lead the world in profits during 2010, followed closely by North American airlines, which are exercising capacity discipline. Emerging markets are expected to be profitable, led by Latin American airlines. Europe is the only region forecast to lose money in 2010, owing to the lagging economic outlook and airspace disruptions from volcanic ash.

Worldwide economic activity, reflected in the global gross domestic product (GDP), is the most powerful driver of growth in commercial air services and the resultant demand for airplanes. The global GDP is projected to grow at an average of 3.2 percent per year for the next 20 years. Reflecting the economic growth, worldwide passenger traffic will average 5.3 percent growth and cargo traffic will average 5.9 percent growth over the forecast period. To meet the demand for commercial aviation services, the number of airplanes in the worldwide fleet will grow at an annual rate of 3.2 percent.

Air transport throughout the world continues to change in response to market opportunities and challenges. New airline business models and the dynamic growth of air travel in the emerging economies throughout the world are diversifying the demand for airplanes. As global air travel declined in 2009, there were still many markets and business models that experienced growth. Over the next 20 years, 77 percent of demand for new airplanes will come from outside North America, with about 34 percent of deliveries going to the Asia Pacific region.

The Boeing forecast continues to predict that the greatest demand for new aircraft, by market value, will come from the United States, followed by China. Remarkably, the United Arab Emirates-with a population of less than 5 million, yet home to several highly competitive airlines-will be the third largest market by value.

The need to replace older, less efficient airplanes accounts for 44 percent of the projected market for new airplanes. The 2010 forecast anticipates 13,490 airplanes will be replaced over the next 20 years. This reflects rising fuel prices and the increasing economic burden of using older, less capable, and less efficient airplanes. At this replacement rate, 84 percent of the fleet operating in 2029 will have been delivered after 2010.

Today, there are 11,580 single-aisle aircraft in operation around the world, representing 61 percent of the total jet fleet. The single-aisle fleet is forecast to more than double, reaching 25,000 airplanes or 69 percent of the total fleet by 2029, largely reflecting the rapid expansion of air services in Asia, the rise of intraregional air travel in emerging economies, and the growth and geographic expansion of the low-cost-carrier model.

Among the 30,900 aircraft to be delivered over the next 20 years, 21,160 (69 percent of the units and 47 percent of the value) will be single-aisle airplanes. Demand for single aisles comes not only from growth markets, but also for replacing older aircraft such as the 737 Classics, A320s, and McDonnell Douglas MD-80/90s. It is forecast that there will be a wave of single-aisle aircraft retirements in the 2015 to 2017 timeframe as many of these older aircraft reach 25 years of age – a typical retirement age for jet aircraft.

The fastest growing market will be for twin-aisle airplanes. This segment is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 4.4 percent. The twin-aisle fleet will grow from 3,500 airplanes in operation today to 8,260 airplanes in 2029. In 20 years, much of the in-service fleet will be newer aircraft, such as the Boeing 787 and 777, which offer more passenger comfort, improved efficiency, and better environmental performance than the airplanes they replace.

The next 20 years will see 7,100 new twin-aisle deliveries, which is about 23 percent of the total number of airplane deliveries for the period and 45 percent of the total market value. About 40 percent of the demand for twin aisles will come from the Asia Pacific region. The imminent introduction of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and, later of the Airbus A350, is also driving demand, as these new aircraft offer significant efficiency improvements over the aircraft they are replacing.

There is expected to be little change to the size of the large aircraft fleet over the long term. The number of large airplanes in the fleet will grow from about 800 today to 960 in 2029. Nearly all the gain in large aircraft is coming from the freighter market. The number of large passenger airplanes in operation today is around 500. The large airplane passenger fleet will remain at approximately that level over the long term.

The 720 new large airplanes forecast to be delivered represent only 2 percent of the total aircraft deliveries. Yet with a value of $220 billion, large airplanes account for 6 percent of the total market value. About 43 percent of the deliveries will go to Asia, with China and Southeast Asia accounting for most of the delivery demand. The Middle East, with its already substantial backlog of aircraft in this category, accounts for another 23 percent of the large airplane market. More than half of those airplanes are already on order.

Alaska Airlines Passengers Flight Evacuate Boeing 737 at Sea-Tac

Passengers aboard an Alaska Airlines flight from Sea-Tac to Anchorage Sunday were evacuated after smoke and a brief flash of flame occurred on a Boeing 737 as it sat at a gate.

Alaska Airlines spokesperson Bobbi Egan said 144 passengers and crew of seven were on the 737 at gate N7 when residual fuel in an engine of the auxiliary power unit caused brief flame and smoke.

Egan said the APU, which is attached to the rear of the aircraft, provides power to the aircraft when it’s at the gate.

The passengers were evacuated and boarded another plane to Anchorage.

Canadian Aircraft Manufacturer Bombardier Aircraft Handed Over Eight Q-400 Next Generation to Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines has received the first of eight Q-400 Next Generation turboprop aircraft from Canadian Aircraft manufacturer Bombardier Inc. on March 21, 2010.

The Q-400 made its maiden flight including a refueling stop in St. John’s, Canada, then a transatlantic cross over to Santa Maria, Portugal followed by refueling stop in Cairo, Egypt before the last flight to Addis Ababa.

The flight was accorded a warm welcome at the Bole International Airport by H.E Ato Getachew Mengistie, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communication of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Ato Girma Wake, CEO of Ethiopian, senior officials of the airline and invited guests.

Speaking on the occasion, the CEO Ato Girma Wake said, “Ethiopian Airlines plays a critical and major role in bringing the cities of the different regions of Ethiopia within easy reach of Addis Ababa, the capital. Read more

Boeing Commercial Airplanes Possibility to Modify Structural Next Generation 737 Engine

Aircraft manufacturer Boeing may modify the production of Boeing 737 Next Generation. VP of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said in an interview with ATI and Flightglobal ISTAT, “We’ve talked in moderate detail about what to do. What do we think we’ll have to do is we should have a new mast, new nacelle, wing reinforcement and strengthening of the potential wingbox. ”

Tinseth explains that Boeing “doesn’t really want to touch the main landing gear and we don’t have to. We’ve looked a little bit around maybe some minor modifications around the nose landing gear, still yet to be determined.”
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FAA Directs Airlines to Check Mechanism That Controls Tail Flap of Boeing 737s

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued an emergency airworthiness directive demanding that airlines check a mechanism that controls tail flaps on about 600 Boeing 737s.

The directive was issued Friday and concerns flaps on the horizontal tails of the jets. On March 2, a Ryanair 737-800 en route from the Netherlands to Madrid, Spain, experienced severe vibrations in flight and had to make an unscheduled landing in Belgium.
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FAA Oks Southwest Parts Plan, No Impact On Flights

Southwest Airlines Co. said Tuesday it won approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for plans to replace parts on flap exhaust gate assemblies on 82 of its Boeing Co. 737-300 and 500 series aircraft without grounding flights. Southwest said in a statement that it has already replaced parts on 43 aircraft, and the remaining replacements will be made by Dec. 24. Customers won’t experience any impact on their flight plans as a result of the replacements, the airline said

Continental Airlines Completes Biofuel-Powered Test Flight

Continental Airlines has completed the first test flight of a two-engine commercial aircraft powered by a sustainable biofuel last week at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport.
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Continental Airlines Flight Use Alternatif Fuel

Continental Airlines Inc. ratcheted up the race to develop alternate fuel for passenger planes Wednesday as it successfully flew a Boeing 737 twin-engine jet powered partly by algae and weed.
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