- L-3 Link Simulation & Training announced that its Crawley, U.K.-based operation has been awarded a contract to build and deliver a Boeing 787 full flight simulator (pictured above) for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. The 787 FFS, which will be installed in KLM’s training facility at Schipol Airport, will become ready for training during the fourth quarter of 2014. L-3 Link also has gained U.K. Civil Aviation Authority Level D certification on a Boeing 787-8 FFS that is now providing aircrew training for a Middle Eastern airline.
- Etihad Airways will launch direct flights to Dallas/Fort Worth on Dec. 3, 2014, the airline’s fifth destination in the U.S. The new ultra-long haul service will have three flights a week.
- Boeing will begin construction in the second half of 2014 on a new paint facility on its main campus in North Charleston, S.C. The company expects to begin painting fully assembled 787 Dreamliners in South Carolina in mid-2016. The facility will be used to apply customer liveries to Boeing South Carolina-built 787s.
- Aeroscraft Corporation, which is developing the cargo airship Aeroscraft, and Cargolux Airlines signed a memorandum of understanding. Cargolux and Aeros are working together to explore a partnership to provide new logistical services.
- Gothenburg, Sweden-based Dacotrans – the Swedish network member of the Famous Pacific Shipping Group forwarding and NVOCC system since 2000 –changed ownership. Following the retirement of Sten Wasmouth, Stefan Hansson and Caj Larsson have now acquired the business.
- Qantas Freight released a new version of its smartphone app to the Google Play store, giving customers using Android smartphones the ability to track shipments and view flight information. The release of the Android app follows the success of Qantas Freight’s iPhone app, which launched in September 2012.
- Norwegian Air Shuttle signed an agreement to implement Boeing‘s new suite of mobile maintenance applications. With these applications available on iPads, Norwegian maintenance technicians will have real-time, mobile access to technical manuals, part numbers, maintenance history and other information needed to support maintenance tasks. The app will also enable Norwegian technicians to share documents, photos and other relevant information needed in maintenance troubleshooting.
- IAG Cargo entered into a global strategic partnership with freight management network The WACO System. Under the agreement, WACO’s members have been nominated as preferred forwarders by IAG Cargo, while IAG Cargo becomes part of WACO’s preferred carrier program.
- American Airlines Cargo began offering wide-body service from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo. The new service, operated with a B777-200ER, provides customers with a way to move cargo from Asia to Brazil. Automotive parts, equipment and infrastructure for mobile networks and international mail are expected to be the primary exports from Asia into Brazil. Perishables, leather and aircraft parts are expected to be the major exports from Brazil.
- Implant Sciences Corporation, a supplier of systems and sensors for homeland security and defense markets, received orders from multiple U.S. air cargo screeners totaling more than US$600,000 (436,173 euros) for the company’s Transportation Security Administration-qualified QS-B220 desktop explosives trace detectors.
- AirBridgeCargo Airlines successfully passed the audit procedures that confirm its compliance with the International Air Transport Association’s Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). As a result of the audit, IATA has extended the airline’s IOSA certificate for another two years until November 2015. The certificate confirms that AirBridgeCargo’s operational activities conform to the highest international air safety requirements. The audit inspection process included all of the key areas of ABC’s business, including its management system, operating control, flight performance, maintenance, ground handling and aviation security.
- Southwest Airlines is extending its schedule through June 2014. The airline is increasing service beginning May 11, 2014 between LaGuardia and Nashville, Houston Hobby, Chicago Midway and Akron-Canton, Ohio. Southwest Airlines announced new nonstop service between San Diego and Orlando; New Orleans; Portland, Ore.; and Seattle/Tacoma. The airline is also offering new nonstop destinations in Portland, Ore., including the two daily nonstop flights to San Diego and daily service to Baltimore/Washington, Chicago Midway and Houston Hobby.
- IAG Cargo will expand its Constant Climate network with five new European airports: Prague; Vienna; Las Palmas, Spain; Basel, Switzerland; and Zurich. Constant Climate is IAG Cargo’s service for temperature-controlled pharmaceutical goods.
- Boeing delivered the first 747-8 with performance-improved GEnx-2B engines as part of the airplane’s Performance Improvement Package. A Cathay Pacific Airways 747-8 freighter was the first 747 to deliver with the PIP engines. The engine is the first of the package’s three improvements to enter service. The two other components, Flight Management Computer software upgrades and reactivation of the horizontal tank fuel system on the 747-8 Intercontinental, are expected to enter service later in December and in early 2014, respectively.
- One of Volga-Dnepr Airlines’ IL-76TD-90VD freighters was the bus stop for an 18-meter (59-foot) Irisbus Citelis bus on its journey from Turin, Italy, to Astana, Kazakhstan. Iveco Italy, a passenger transport business, needed to deliver the bus to Astana for a special promotion in the local market. This is the first time a vehicle of such length has been carried onboard the IL-76TD-90VD.