Monthly Archives: January 2013

Exclusive photos: Malaysia Airlines joins oneworld alliance. Airbus A330 in special oneworld livery

National carrier Malaysia Airlines joins the oneworld alliance from tomorrow. Bangalore Aviation is in Kuala Lumpur to cover the event. Below are some exclusive photos of Malaysia Airlines’ Airbus A330-300 9M-MTE in the special oneworld livery. The airline will also paint one its Boeing 737-800’s and one Airbus A380 superjumbo in the oneworld livery at a later date. Till then …

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Analysis: Malaysia Airlines entrance into OneWorld strengthens the alliance’s network and Indian presence

by Vinay Bhaskara Malaysia Airlines A330-300 9M-MTE in oneworld livery On February 1st. 2013, Kuala  Lampur based Malaysian national carrier Malaysia Airlines will officially join the OneWorld alliance, a partnership of11 airlines around the world that serves more than 849 destinations globally. Malaysia Airlines serves 61 destinations on a fleet of 105 aircraft, and enjoys a strong reputation as one …

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GoAir takes delivery of its first Airbus A320 fitted with Sharklets

Just a day after, IndiGo took delivery of its first Airbus A320 equipped with Sharklets, Wadia Group owned GoAir, has taken delivery of its first Sharklet equipped A320, registration VT-GOL. VT-GOL is the 14th aircraft delivered from a 20 A320 classic engine option (A320ceo) order placed in 2006. Just like IndiGo, all subsequent A320 deliveries to GoAir will be equipped …

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US Aviation Review 2012: Vinay vs. Cranky Flier

by Vinay Bhaskara and Brett SnyderEarlier this month, I had a chance to do a little bit of back and forth with Brett Snyder (a.k.a Cranky Flier) about some of the biggest news stories in US aviation from last year. While the idea was that we’d do a lot of debating, it became mostly a discussion (what was that line …

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IndiGo becomes first Indian airline to operate A320 with Sharklets. First globally with IAE V2500 engines.

As reported by Bangalore Aviation last month, India’s largest domestic airline, IndiGo, has taken delivery of its first Sharklet fitted A320 aircraft, registration VT-IFH, and thus becomes the first Indian carrier, and third globally to operate this new version of the A320 aircraft. IndiGo is the first carrier globally to operate a Sharklet fitted A320 powered by the IAE V2500 …

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US NTSB investigation updates on Japan Airlines Boeing 787 fire at Boston

The National Transportation Safety Board released the fourth update on its on-going investigation into the January 7th fire aboard a Japan Airlines (JAL) Boeing 787, registration JA829J, at Logan International Airport in Boston, USA. The fire occurred after the airplane had landed and no passengers or crew were on-board. The burnt APU battery unit The agency has still not found …

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News Digest – Press Releases – 2nd half January 2013

Japan Airlines releases nine month traffic data ending December 2012 — MIAL awards contract for duty free at New T2 at CSIA Duty free shops awarded to a consortium led by Aer Rianta International cpt. Fashion, Luxury and Lifestyle awarded to Nuance Group India Pvt Ltd Mumbai, January 24, 2013 – Mumbai International Airport Private Limited (MIAL), managed by GVK-led …

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More information from American Airlines on their recent rebranding

by Vinay Bhaskara Following American Airlines’ announcement of a new livery and logo lost week, Bangalore Aviation contacted their PR department with a few questions about the driving factors behind the various brand decisions. Find our questions and the responses with American’s spokesperson(s) below: 1)  Why was the Double A logo that has graced the tail of Americans planes for …

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Indian Air Force’s first Boeing C-17 Globemaster III enters flight testing

The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) first Boeing C-17 Globemaster III airlifter (tail number CB-8001) has been delivered by Boeing, on schedule, for flight testing. Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster III. CB-8001 The first of the 10 airlifters ordered, now enters a U.S. Air Force (USAF) flight test program at the famous “The Right Stuff” Edwards Air Force Base in Palmdale, …

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Spicejet reports profit in Q3 FY2013 – Financial and operational analysis

By Vinay Bhaskara and Devesh Agarwal In a result that represents a positive sign for the prospects of the Indian airline industry moving forward, Gurgaon based low cost carrier (LCC) SpiceJet reported a Rs. 102 Crore (US $19 million) net profit for the third quarter of fiscal year 2012-13 (FY 12-13), a sharp improvement from the results in both the …

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Video: ATR72-600 series new ‘Armonia’ cabin designed by Giugiaro

by Devesh Agarwal A video walk through of the ‘Armonia’ cabin on the ATR72-600 series designed with famous designer Giugiaro. As per ATR “the name Armonia is linked to beauty, harmony, balance and calm, themes apparent in the new design.”

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Photographer’s guide and check-list to Aero India and other air-shows

With AeroIndia 2013 coming up soon, I have produced a small guide and check-list for photographers at the air-show. This guide can also be used as a template for other air-shows. Tickets Get your tickets as soon as possible. It is a lot better to pay and get Business passes for either Thursday or Friday (7th or 8th February). You …

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Air India may not get compensation from Boeing for 787 grounding

by Vinay Bhaskara After Air India joined most global operators of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in grounding the aircraft following a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) emergency directive due to issues with the 787’s Lithium-Ion batteries, the beleaguered Indian national carrier is reportedly seeking compensation from Boeing for the losses caused by the grounding. India’s civil aviation minister Ajit Singh said …

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Video: Making of Cebu Pacific’s first Airbus A320 Sharklet RP-C3272

Philippines, low cost carrier, Cebu Pacific Air took delivery of its first A320 equipped with Sharklets yesterday during a ceremony in Manila. Below is a quick time-lapse video on the making of the aircraft. Hope you enjoy.

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Cebu Pacific flies past IndiGo and GoAir with second global A320 with Sharklets

by Devesh Agarwal Low cost carrier, Cebu Pacific Air beat out India’s IndiGo and GoAir, to become the second operator, globally, when it took delivery of its first A320 equipped with Sharklets today during a ceremony in Manila, Philippines. The first ever A320 with Sharklets was delivered to Malaysian low cost carrier, AirAsia, late last year. India’s IndiGo and GoAir …

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Defunct Kingfisher Airlines’ Airbus A380 orders still active

by Vinay Bhaskara Computer rendering of A380 in Kingfisher Airlines livery Image Courtesy of  Malaysia Flying Herald At its recent annual results conference, European aerospace manufacturer Airbus released a bit of shocking information. Apparently, the ill-fated order for five Airbus A380s by now-defunct (though perpetually on the verge of “re-starting” in the eyes of chairman Vijay Mallya) Kingfisher Airlines is …

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American Airlines launches a new livery and branding

Yesterday, Dallas-Fort Worth based American Airlines announced a major re-branding effort, including an all-new logo and livery which it unveiled on its new flagship Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. This new branding will be expanded across American’s entire fleet over the next 3-5 years, as well as into airports and other corporate venues. The full press release from American is displayed below …

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Friday humour: Delta safety video bloopers and fumbles

by Devesh AgarwalThis one of the two versions of Delta Airlines’ safety videos. The other version is here. Below is a video with the bloopers, mistakes and fumbles in the making of these safety videos. Enjoy.

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Video: American Airlines unveils new livery and branding. Go behind the scenes.

Dallas Fort Worth based American Airlines has unveiled a new livery and branding. In these two videos you can see a CGI simulation of the new livery on the airline’s flagship Boeing 777-300ER. Also go behind the scenes in a video on how the new branding and logos were created. Share your thoughts via a comment.

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Video: Airbus Annual Press Conference 2013 (uncut)

Airbus President and CEO Fabrice Brégier and other top Airbus executives reviewed the company’s 2012 highlights and commercial activity, as well as detailed the company’s strategies and prospects for 2013, during a traditional year-opening media event held in Toulouse, France today. Scroll below for the video. It is 1h21m in length. Synopsis Airbus delivered a company record of 588 aircraft …

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