Looks like the A320 series is hanging around at AC for much longer; AC is committing to a major avionics upgrade to the type, adding a HUD, and EEIS2 systems to make the cockpit similar to the upcoming A321LR's: https://aircraft.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2024-04-a-significant-a320-family...
Jump to postI can't imagine Flair threatening a lawsuit against their credit card processor back when it was reported that People's Trust was withholding $25 million in funds from Flair, likely due to some sort of covenant being triggered, is helping the matters. If the credit card processor is hearing that &qu...
Jump to postPurely asking out of interest - is it possible the Government might smell trouble and put a stop to it? I remember when NewLeaf was proposed as a virtual airline there was a whole debate on whether that should be allowed. WorldTicket is basically acting as a virtual airline here. I suspect it all h...
Jump to postThere seems to be something new on the website. When you search now you get the same error message but then a popup that says they will redirect you to a "trusted partner" which turns out to be CheapoAir's general search. I searched for a Flair flight and they all now seem to be listed as...
Jump to postI just tried a booking with Flair, and it seems Flair is redirecting everyone wanting to book with Flair onto Expedia.ca. Once on Expedia, you'll have to manually input the origin, destination and dates, and even then, you'll have to specifically search for flights; I've found a few flights that ap...
Jump to postI just tried a booking with Flair, and it seems Flair is redirecting everyone wanting to book with Flair onto Expedia.ca. Once on Expedia, you'll have to manually input the origin, destination and dates, and even then, you'll have to specifically search for flights; I've found a few flights that app...
Jump to postIf I understand this correctly, this bank facilitates credit card payments from customers to Flair. And now they are withholding money that is currently being spent on flights because they are worried about chargebacks in case of a bankruptcy? I.e. the withheld money would be used to refund custome...
Jump to postRelax, its not even close to leaving bolts off. I see the big picture that QA and QC need a serious overhaul at Boeing and Spirt (as well as other things), but sensationalism isn't helping the issue. Again, not knowing the procedure, they could have done it completely correct minus the addition of ...
Jump to postMy car/bus isn't a metal tube at 30,000 feet. It's much, much easier to stop it if the defect becomes an issue Examples like the Ford Explorer-Firestone tread separation issue and the Toyota unintended acceleration issue proves otherwise. You missed the point; the use of Dawn dish soap wasn't docum...
Jump to postFrom the NY Times story: "The F.A.A.’s examination also explored how well Boeing’s employees understood the company’s quality-control processes. The agency interviewed six company engineers and scored their responses, and the overall average score came out to only 58 percent." . What both...
Jump to postFair use excerpt from the NYT article: At one point during the examination, the air-safety agency observed mechanics at Spirit using a hotel key card to check a door seal, according to a document that describes some of the findings. That action was “not identified/documented/called-out in the produ...
Jump to postAC is tweaking their in-flight meal and beverage offerings: https://media.aircanada.com/2024-03-07-Pack-Your-Appetite-Air-Canada-Serves-up-Globally-Inspired-Flavours-with-Major-Upgrade-to-In-Flight-Menus Addition of an option for pancakes if the flight offers hot meal service for breakfast in econom...
Jump to postSome minor drama from the weekend that made it into the news when an AC 77W was struck by lightning whilst taking off from YVR on its way to LHR: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/lightning-strikes-plane-vancouver-airport-1.7135041 The aircraft continued on its flight to LHR,was inspec...
Jump to postThe CT-155 Hawk's have now halted flight training, with 419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron standing down and going on hiatus in a ceremony scheduled for March 8: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/maple-leaf/rcaf/2024/03/rcaf-embarks-bridge-flit-419-squadron-begins-hiatus.html ...
Jump to postThat's a good amount for Canada, with their huge triple coastline (Arctic, Pacific, Atlantic). It's a direct 1:1 replacement of the current Aurora fleet, which is right now, 14 aircraft. I know, but it's a much more capable airplane and many of the other countries have been replacing their P3's wit...
Jump to postThe order for 17 P-8's for Canada & Germany has been issued. Is this like 1 1/2 years of production? https://www.thedefensepost.com/2024/03/01/boeing-poseidon-canada-germany/?expand_article=1 That's a good amount for Canada, with their huge triple coastline (Arctic, Pacific, Atlantic). It's a d...
Jump to postNegotiations continuing between AC and ALPA, with decent progress reported thanks to assistance with a mediator: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/air-canada-pilots-see-progress-with-mediator-fight-historic-pay-gains-2024-02-15/#:~:text=MONTREAL%2C%20Feb%2015%20(Reuters),union%20rep...
Jump to postHonestly, what’s the point of getting that aircraft airworthy and then fly it to the US for what? They should have scrapped it in Argentina and let it go. Likely to be torn down and analyzed as to where Iran was getting parts, and to identify what sort of domestic Iranian capability is there to rep...
Jump to postThe US Army has cancelled the FARA (Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft) program,has also requested that further purchases of the UH-60 V Black Hawk be curtailed in 2025 due to cost,keep the GE IETP engine in the development phase instead of moving it into production, and phase the Shadow and Rave...
Jump to postIn the event that Charles III might die soon (which I hope it won´t be the case, I wish him all the best), and William will become King, will the Country go through another Funeral and Coronation Ceremonies within a short time again? They must be very expensive. Will they tone it down somehow? Seri...
Jump to postI believe the sticking point isn't pay, but issues related to crewing, crew scheduling, and breaks; the rumours I've heard said that the rejected offer contained a pay increase of 27% over 5 years, backdated to 2022, and major increases in the perdiem. The increases would have made Transat's FA's th...
Jump to postIt would appear someone is willing to pay for their growth and presumably they pay their taxes. Their investor is one of the largest pension funds in the world and they and the Deluce’s signed up to build an airline with 100 frames, burn cash, and hope that by building a big enough network and a co...
Jump to postEmployees must be leaving at an increased pace at this point. Very gloomy work atmosphere I would think. It is unfortunate of course but there is simply too much capacity in Canada right now. The seemingly insane growth of Porter is the last straw for Flair I'm afraid-I'm sure they didn't see that ...
Jump to postStrike action averted at EVA: https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202401280012 There is a four point agreement between the union and the airline addressing the union's main demands: 1. Increase in the basic salary and job allowance by NT$13,500 (US$431) per month for pilots, NT$11,000 for senior deputy ...
Jump to postBasically, AC gave up a lot of leverage to the union by doing this, and AC historically has run roughshod over the pilot's union when it comes to this. Something is up that is forcing AC to agree to negotiate on what appears to be on the union's terms this time around. Too true. I wouldn't be surpr...
Jump to postPossible labour action at WestJet in regards to their mechanics union, per the presser AMFA put out: https://www.amfanational.org/?zone=/unionactive/view_article.cfm&HomeID=915713 Basically, WestJet has unilaterally filed a notice a Notice of Dispute with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation S...
Jump to postI'm reading chatter on other pilot forums that Air Canada and ALPA have agreed to go into mediation over their contract negotiations... while this does sound like good news for their contract negotiations, there still is the risk of a possible strike as early as this summer. Right now, it is "...
Jump to postIt looks like Flair owes the federal government money in unpaid taxes and has been put on a payment plan to repay. More and more they seem to be revealing more financial strains. - Flair Airlines owes the Canada Revenue Agency $67,174,123.37, plus penalties, interest and other fees. -These unpaid t...
Jump to postI'm reading chatter on other pilot forums that Air Canada and ALPA have agreed to go into mediation over their contract negotiations... while this does sound like good news for their contract negotiations, there still is the risk of a possible strike as early as this summer. Right now, it is "s...
Jump to postCanada is allocating $15 million as part of a training package for Ukrainian Air Force pilots training in F-16's. Part of that money will go to Top Aces, a civilian contractor firm that does operate F-16's:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ukrain ... -1.7092366
I've got an upcoming flight right now with EVA Air in business class and I am getting concerned about the potential for a strike to disrupt my travel plans. Right now, I can get the equivalent China Airlines flight (same route, same fare, and about the same timing) for about the same price; should I...
Jump to postConfirmation that the strike vote by the union is an overwhelming yes, with 910 union members voting. Of the 910, 900 voted for a strike and 10 against, while with the EVA Air pilot core, 543 voted in favour of strike action, and just 9 were against. https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202401220005 http...
Jump to postFrankly, the Bradley crews were very lucky (and skilled) here. Or well trained as they probably knows exactly where the tank's optics were and at that range the Bradley would have blind it with the first salvo. Maybe the next target should have been the tracks. Not sure how easy would have been to ...
Jump to postIt is being reported that the costs for the buying, owning and operating of the CH-148 Cyclone fleet has skyrocketed to $14.87 billion, with additional issues related to the delivery of the last two helicopters: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cyclone-helicopters-defence-air-force-1.7088390 The lif...
Jump to postThere is labour issues with EVA Airways, with a possible strike by it's pilots which could result in the pilots walking out over the Lunar New Year: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5080710 The official presser from the union (in Chinese): https://tup.org.tw/news/af862eba-5976-4c8a-89f2-535547e...
Jump to postCongrats to both parties involved. Are these 35K to replace the 77W or for expansion? BR ordered the 77Ws in two batches.. The first group was 9AB, and it seems this order will replace those.. They are close to 15 years old.. The 2nd group was 10AB and much newer, so they will probably be around fo...
Jump to postThe ongoing RCAF Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program is slated to have a bunch of new aircraft types replace the current existing fleet of trainers and will operated by SkyAlyne Canada (a partnership between CAE and KF Aerospace). Under the SkyAlyne proposal, classroom, simulator, and in-flight i...
Jump to postI never understood why the Nimitz class was not designed to have its nuclear refueling accomplished without taking major parts of the ship apart It’s a weakness in the system that a carrier is taken out of action for years and years while major overhauls take place You don't want the nuclear reacto...
Jump to postI never understood why the Nimitz class was not designed to have its nuclear refueling accomplished without taking major parts of the ship apart It’s a weakness in the system that a carrier is taken out of action for years and years while major overhauls take place You don't want the nuclear reacto...
Jump to postFunny how the RAAF find issues on all non-american aircrafts they are operating. How many of these issues are maintenance related and not design-related? I remember all the fuss around the NH90 about part supply when other countries (NZ included) are deploying the type without issues. Perhaps it wo...
Jump to postNobody here noticed, but a 787-9 (C-FVLX) got a special paint job to promote Disney's upcoming movie, Wish:
https://skiesmag.com/news/air-canada-re ... ne-livery/
Looks like a spotter caught a photo of the new livery here:
I suspect Canada was realizing the Aurora fleet is getting quite old. They are P-3's with the S-3 electronics suite. The modernization in 2007 was to extend the life to 2020. There were plans to replace the wings and other structure but that hasn't been done. If not the P-8 now, a tender for aircra...
Jump to postElbit Systems was awarded the contract to install self-protection systems onboard the RCAF's fleet of CC-330's: https://elbitsystems.com/pr-new/elbit-systems-awarded-a-contract-to-supply-dircm-self-protection-suites-to-airbus-defense-and-space-for-the-installation-on-mrtt-a330-aircraft-for-canada/?p...
Jump to post15003 is set to be scrapped; it's been deemed uneconomical to repair, with the expected repair bill being between $7.9 and $28.5 million, with a six to eight-month turnaround period: https://nationalpost.com/news/rcaf-plane-collision-guam-scrapped OTTAWA – Marooned at a Micronesian air force base af...
Jump to postBoeing sez it's a done deal, "up to 16" P-8s will be going to Canada: The Government of Canada has signed a Foreign Military Sales Letter of Offer and Acceptance for up to 16 Boeing [NYSE: BA] P-8A Poseidon aircraft, as part of the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft (CMMA) project. Ref: http...
Jump to postCanadian government is reported to be moving forward with purchasing the Boeing P-8 as it's replacement for the CP-140 Aurora's:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/procur ... -1.7042751
Converting used A319 is the only way it makes financial sense. This is why converting used A330 into tankers makes sense and the main reasons customers pick it over brand new KC-46. The lower frame cost makes the overall purchase price get low enough. Using brand new A220 frames would result in the...
Jump to postFrom a mod stand point, it is much more beneficial to have all your frames of the same/similar configuration. So there is only a few sets of engineering you have to do. So as cheap as an A319 frame is, it may be more beneficial in terms of configuration control, to buy brand new frames and have the...
Jump to postGiven that electronics will continue to shrink, a small airplane with a large wing and internal fuel capacity and low fuel burn would be attractive. An A220 would have long endurance without aerial refueling. This is a misconception. Computing power and chips may shrink, but the physics of radio wa...
Jump to postThe Iowa-class battleships and Midway aircraft carrier are approaching 90 years of being in the water. The hulls are still original. They will all make it to 200 years without springing a leak. The military steel hulls are so heavily armoured that they are not the limiting factor in nearly all case...
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