Rise of Private-Jet Ride Sharing Crimps New Aircraft Orders …

Posted on October 29, 2016 by Writer

Thanks to new technology, flying in a private jet is no longer just for business titans and the super-wealthy. But in a paradox, that means aircraft manufacturers like Cessna and Bombardier Inc. are selling fewer planes.

The general aviation industry is undergoing a major shakeup as new business models attempt to match idle aircraft with passengers, many of whom now can’t afford their own plane. Membership companies, ride-sharing programs, on-demand charter providers and start-ups claiming to be the Uber of private aviation are all looking to introduce more people to the convenience of flying without the hassle of commercial airports.

“Unfortunately for airplane manufacturers, these new programs aren’t out buying a lot of new jets,” said Brian Foley, a business-aircraft consultant who spent 20 years as director of marketing for the North American jet unit of France’s Dassault Aviation SA. “They’re just trying to use existing assets out there and get more utilization out of those parked airplanes.”

Manufacturers have throttled back production of some models to adjust to weaker demand for private aircraft. New jet deliveries are expected to drop 6.4 percent this year to 645 and slip another 3.7 percent to 625 next year, according to JPMorgan Chase Co.

Those declines contrast with an increase of more than 5 percent for flight hours for the charter market in the October-to-September period for the past three years, according to Argus International Inc.

Industry ‘Democratization’

The increase in charter activity is partly because of the new

Article source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-28/rise-of-private-jet-ride-sharing-crimps-orders-for-new-airplanes

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Rare, but serious engine failure behind Chicago airplane fire

Posted on October 29, 2016 by Writer




CHICAGO — Pilots were forced to abort a takeoff and evacuate passengers from a burning American Airlines flight on a runway at Chicago O’Hare International Airport after the airliner experienced what a federal official said was a rare and serious type of engine failure.

American Airlines Flight 383 to Miami experienced an ‘‘uncontained engine failure,’’ in which engine parts break off and are spewed outside the engine, the official said. The official wasn’t authorized to speak publicly about the incident and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity. The danger of such a failure is that engine pieces effectively become shrapnel and can cause extensive damage to the aircraft.

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Flames and heavy black smoke poured from the side of the Boeing 767 jet as it sat on the runway Friday after the aborted takeoff. Officials said the incident left 21 people injured. Footage from the scene showed passengers coming down emergency slides and hurrying across grass next to the runway as emergency vehicles surrounded the plane. The right wing was drooping toward the ground and appeared to have partially melted.

Passenger Sarah Ahmed told WLS-TV the plane was speeding down the runway when she heard an explosion and saw flames and black smoke. She said everyone on the right side of the aircraft jumped from their seats and moved to the

Article source: https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2016/10/28/smoke-pours-from-plane-tarmac-chicago-hare/Obw2Qq2DkkmKp2l36ZS8BO/story.html

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GearBrain’s ULTRA List: Holiday Gifts that Really Wow!

Posted on October 28, 2016 by Writer

The holidays are fast approaching and you’ve surely got someone on your gift list that deserves something really special. These hi-tech and comparatively big-ticket items may be pricy, but their bells and whistles can’t be topped and they’re all well worth it. Whether or not you plan to buy something off this list, it will be fun to peruse these amazing and impressive items. Maybe if you made it to the “good boys and girls” list this year, someone will surprise you with an ULTRA gift.

Tesla Model X

Tesla Model X

Zoom swiftly into 2017 with the newest design from Tesla, the Model X. This vehicle is billed as the “safest, fastest, and most capable SUV in history.” The electric-charged Tesla fits 7 adults (5,000 towing capacity) and features all-wheel drive and a 100 kWh battery. Zip like a rocket from 0 to 60 in a mere 2.9 seconds. The Tesla has self-driving capability bringing driving into the futuristic era. Collision avoidance and emergency braking technology are included as well as HEPA strips to filter pollution. Inside, the advanced dashboard touchscreen will connect to a media player, GPS map, autopilot, and more. Price starts at $74,000. Maybe Oprah will bless you with a special giveaway this season! Check out the Model S as well.

DJI Phantom Drone 4

DJI Phantom Drone 4 Series

Drones are all the rage this year, and the DJI

Article source: http://www.gearbrain.com/connected-devices-holiday-gifts-connected-gear-smart-cars-smart-watche-2068247050.html

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Evolution of an Aerotropolis

Posted on October 28, 2016 by Writer

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is connected to Dallas by a light-rail line. A rail link to Fort Worth is in the works. ( DFW international Airport)

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is connected to Dallas by a light-rail line. A rail link to Fort Worth is in the works. (© DFW international Airport)

It lies halfway between—17 miles (27 km) in each direction—the two Texas cities from which it takes its name. But in many ways, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is virtually a city unto itself.

In addition to its terminals and runways, DFW—which sprawls over a nearly 30-square-mile (78 sq km) expanse that is larger than Manhattan—is home to warehouses, factories, three hotels, office space, a golf course, and the world’s largest Infiniti car dealership. And while it lacks residential neighborhoods, its periphery has attracted scores of major companies to locate their headquarters nearby and has spawned upscale suburbs that are home to corporate executives and entrepreneurs willing to pay for the convenience of being minutes away from a flight to just about anywhere in the United States or the world. According to a 2013 University of North Texas study, DFW is responsible for having created 148,000 jobs and $31.6 billion in annual economic activity in the region—more than the gross domestic product of nearly half of the world’s nations.

“We’re more than just a great airport,” explains John Terrell, the airport’s vice president for commercial development. “We’re an economic driver.”

And while some airports have

Article source: http://urbanland.uli.org/infrastructure-transit/evolution-of-an-aerotropolis/

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Rise of Private-Jet Ride Sharing Crimps New Aircraft Orders

Posted on October 28, 2016 by Writer

Thanks to new technology, flying in a private jet is no longer just for business titans and the super-wealthy. But in a paradox, that means aircraft manufacturers like Cessna and Bombardier Inc. are selling fewer planes.

The general aviation industry is undergoing a major shakeup as new business models attempt to match idle aircraft with passengers, many of whom now can’t afford their own plane. Membership companies, ride-sharing programs, on-demand charter providers and start-ups claiming to be the Uber of private aviation are all looking to introduce more people to the convenience of flying without the hassle of commercial airports.

“Unfortunately for airplane manufacturers, these new programs aren’t out buying a lot of new jets,” said Brian Foley, a business-aircraft consultant who spent 20 years as director of marketing for the North American jet unit of France’s Dassault Aviation SA. “They’re just trying to use existing assets out there and get more utilization out of those parked airplanes.”

Manufacturers have throttled back production of some models to adjust to weaker demand for private aircraft. New jet deliveries are expected to drop 6.4 percent this year to 645 and slip another 3.7 percent to 625 next year, according to JPMorgan Chase Co.

Those declines contrast with an increase of more than 5 percent for flight hours for the charter market in the October-to-September period for the past three years, according to Argus International Inc.

Industry ‘Democratization’

The increase in charter activity is partly because of the new

Article source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-28/rise-of-private-jet-ride-sharing-crimps-orders-for-new-airplanes

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A simple way to boost your AMT performance? Read the instruction manual

Posted on October 28, 2016 by Writer

I once worked with a guy who was OCD in THE EXTREME.

An example: On a trip one time, the old backpack he carried with him when he traveled finally wore out, and we stopped into a sporting goods store so he could buy a replacement.

A bit later, we stopped for lunch, and I watched in utter stupefaction while he pulled the instruction manual for the backpack out and thoroughly read through it while cross-checking and preparing the backpack for use.

He read the instruction manual. For a backpack.

I still can’t believe it. I mean, I can’t be certain, but I’m pretty sure I mastered Backpack Technology sometime around 1971.

But hey – we’re all different, right?

Like the old male stereotype, I’ve never been great with reading instructions. (I’m pretty good with following instructions – but that’s an entirely different matter.) I learned about the importance of following instructions building model airplane kits as a kid. My first few attempts – in which I merely kinda-sorta glanced at the diagrams as I went to work – didn’t turn out all the great. One early effort was an F-4 Phantom Jet – my favorite airplane at the time. I was almost done building the kit, and I put the rear stabilizers (the little wings on the tail of an airplane on) and found they had a distinct downward angle. Well, I just knew this was wrong! Everyone knows wings just stick straight out on airplanes (F4U Corsairs notwithstanding)! So I kept fiddling with the

Article source: http://fleetowner.com/powertrain/simple-way-boost-your-amt-performance-read-instruction-manual

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Boeing’s struggling 747 jumbo snags a lifeline from UPS order

Posted on October 27, 2016 by Writer

Boeing’s 747 jumbo jet may have won a reprieve from an uncertain future as United Parcel Service agreed to buy at least 14 freighters — the biggest order in almost nine years.

The deal for 747-8 aircraft, fueled by UPS’s international expansion, may provide the first signs of an air-cargo recovery that would renew demand for the iconic humpbacked plane dubbed the “Queen of the Skies.” Sales have dwindled for the four-engine 747 and Airbus Group’s A380 superjumbo as passenger carriers shift long-range flights to more fuel-efficient twin-engine jets.

The UPS deal is valued at $5.3 billion based on list prices, before discounts that are customary for aircraft purchases. Based on real-market pricing estimates by aircraft-valuation firm Avitas, the order has a value of about $2.6 billion.

UPS will deploy the front-loading cargo planes on international routes while shifting some earlier-model 747s to domestic flying, the Atlanta-based courier said Thursday. The jets, which will be delivered over a three-year period starting in 2017, will begin a “cascade” of aircraft-route reassignments that will add significant capacity to the company’s busiest lanes.

“UPS is making several strategic capital investments for increased global operating capacity,” Chief Executive Officer David Abney said in a statement.

UPS’s international export volume has grown by more than 40 percent since 2008, with U.S. domestic volume rising by 20 percent, said Myron Gray, president of U.S. operations. That growth

Article source: http://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeings-struggling-747-jumbo-snags-a-lifeline-from-ups-order/

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