Lufthansa to Rebuild and Fly 1649A Super Constellation

Posted on June 16, 2008
Filed Under Aerospace Industry, Aviation Interest | Leave a Comment

In a front-page story, the Wall Street Journal (6/16, A1, Michaels, subscription required) reports that Lufthansa “has a unique sideline [business] rebuilding and flying antique aircraft,” which includes $400-per-ticket flights on a 1936 Junkers-52 and, in 2010, flights on a Lockheed 1649A Super Constellation “Starliner.”

The company purchased three of the aircraft last year, which will be used to create one functional aircraft. The Journal article details the history of Lufthansa’s Starliner use from the 1950’s through the 1970’s, including the amenities offered and common mechanical issues encountered while flying the aircraft.

In the rebuilt model, “Lufthansa will install modern flight controls,” as well as modern digital safety systems and seat belts. The Journal notes, “Once, many carriers maintained their antiques to show off, but years of financial pressure have put an end to most of that.” In the case of Lufthansa, the company “can afford its costly projects partly because active and retired employees volunteer to reconstruct, maintain and fly the old planes.”

Israel Confirms Plans for 25 Beechcraft T-6A Trainers

Posted on June 13, 2008
Filed Under Aerospace Industry, Aviation Interest, Simulation | Leave a Comment

Deliveries are sought from early 2009, with a formal request for proposals expected very soon. The air force’s selection of the T-6A follows a long-running evaluation process, and comes as the service has launched the first steps to shift training activities from the Zukit due to its growing maintenance costs.

The service last month began to conduct some flight academy “combat check” sorties using its Grob G120AI basic trainers, although the Zukit will also support this task - during which cadets perform aerobatic manoeuvres to determine whether they will be streamed on to combat aircraft - over the coming year to ensure that the switch does not affect the quality of its sorting process.

In addition to providing students with access to a modern aircraft using advanced avionics equipment, Israel’s introduction of the T-6A will also cut its fuel consumption by 66%, according to the DSCA. The formerly Raytheon T-6A is already in service with the Greek air force, the Bombardier-run NATO Flying Training in Canada system and provides the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System for the US Air Force and US Navy.

US Air Traffic Training Bottleneck

Posted on June 11, 2008
Filed Under Aviation Interest | Leave a Comment

Interesting coverage here from our friends across the Pond (BBC News) regarding FAA air control staffing.

-Andy

The US Federal Aviation Administration has hired so many new air traffic controllers that it cannot train them efficiently, according to a report.

It has exceeded its own quotas for inexperienced staff at more than 20% of its facilities, the US Transportation Department’s inspector general said.

It found the FAA had underestimated how many controllers would retire or leave, leading to a surge in hiring trainees.

The FAA has accepted most of the report’s recommendations.

FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown told Reuters news agency that there had been other occasions over the years when the percentage of controllers in training went up.

“We’ve been able to maintain a safe system,” she said.

It can take up to three years before new recruits and controllers transferred from other control towers are fully trained to cover all positions at a facility.

Confusion

The inspector general’s report said that the FAA had taken on so many new staff that it had exceeded its own maximum trainee quota at 22% of its 314 air traffic control facilities.

The FAA says that each facility can accommodate up to 35% inexperienced controllers while still operating effectively and training the new staff.

The inspector general found that 52% of controllers were inexperienced at one New Jersey control tower last December.

The report also found confusion within the FAA over who was responsible for hiring and training employees and errors in its training database.

“Facility managers, training managers and even headquarters officials were unable to tell us who or what office was ultimately responsible for facility training,” the report said.

The FAA had proposed strengthening controller training protocols in 2004 but never followed through on the policy, the inspector general found.

The US House of Representatives is due to hold a hearing on Wednesday on air traffic controller staffing.

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