United & Continental to merge

Yesterday, the aviation industry was stunned when it was announced that an all-stock merger between United Airlines and Continental Airlines was agreed upon, which would make it the world's largest airline.  The $3 billion merger (which took only three weeks to complete) would result in 10 domestic hubs that serve over 144 million passengers to 370 cities in 59 countries.  The United name will remain, with the new headquarters based in Chicago, but the Continental logo, livery, and colors will still be kept along with Continental's presence in Houston.  Management would be roughly split between the two.  But the deal still faces some potential hurdles.  First, it must pass stringent anti-trust rules, and second, the employee unions from both airlines must agree to the deal.  If everything goes through, the merger could result in more than $2 billion of additional revenue and cost savings.  But for us consumers, this will most likely result in higher fares, with less routes to choose from and more fees.  This is because consolidation would allow both airlines to cut routes and thus reduce seating capacity, which translates to increased fares.  I just hope nothing happens to my hard-earned Continental frequent-flyer miles.

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Proposed names for the new airline: Uninental?  Or how about Continited?

B1 Bomber celebrates 25 years

On June 29, 1985, the first B-1 Lancer bomber entered service at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas.  25 years later (with numerous technological modifications in tow), the B-1 still continues to protect U.S. troops and its allies, delivering precision guided weapons at a moment's notice.  It was originally designed as a heavy nuclear bomber during the Cold War, but as the Iron Curtain fell and the U.S.S.R. eventually dissolved, the B-1 transformed itself into a more conventional role.  With its swept-wing geometry, the B-1 can deliver ordnance at supersonic speeds over long distances.  It can also deliver its payload stealthily due to a special paint on its surface that considerably reduces its radar cross section.  Out of the 100 B-1B's that were produced and delivered to the U.S. Air Force, 66 still remain in active service.  I've had the pleasure of seeing and "feeling" a B-1B take off, and it's an absolutely breathtaking experience.  Those engines sure are loud!

Photo Credit / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Dreamliner undergoes extreme weather testing

Make sure to bring a warm jacket, because at the McKinley Climatic Laboratory (located at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida), the world's largest refrigerated hangar can simulate freezing temperatures up to -65 degrees F (or as hot as 165 degrees F).  That is where ZA003 is currently located.  It will undergo cold weather testing to make sure that all of the plane's systems (hardware and software) can still function at freezing temps.  Once that is complete, the plane will swing over to the other extreme: 115 degree F temperatures, where all aircraft systems will be tested again to see if they still work under the extreme heat.  So whether you're operating out of Siberia or Abu Dhabi, these tests will help ensure that the Dreamliner will start up and perform normally.

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747-8 begins flight test operations in So Cal

On Monday, April 19th, RC521 completed a flight from Boeing Field in Seattle, WA to Palmdale, CA, marking the beginning of the 747-8's flight test program in the sunny skies of Southern California.  The Palmdale facility has excellent test-flight facilities, not to mention the obvious fact that the weather is almost always perfect in SoCal (no dreary Seattle rain and dark skies to encumber the flight test).  RC521 will eventually be joined by the two other remaining flight test aircraft, with the fleet expected to complete approximately 3,700 hours of rigorous on ground and in the air flight testing.  "California, here we come, right back where we started from!"

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EADS to submit bid for U.S. Tanker contract

While they still have not secured a U.S. partner, EADS nevertheless has decided that it will re-enter the U.S. Air Force's Tanker Replacement contest.  They will offer the KC-45, which is based on an Airbus A330 platform, the platform that actually won the previous Tanker contest before Boeing successfully overturned the win.  With this announcement, the Air Force has decided to extend the proposal deadline from May 10 to July 8.  There is also talk of revisions to the draft request for proposals (RFP) with regards to foreign-owned prime contractors (such as EADS), which could make it easier for them to make a bid without a U.S. partner.  Below is a link to Boeing's official response on EADS decision to re-enter the contest.  Let the games begin!

Boeing Statement

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EADS scrambling to find U.S. partner for Tanker contract

After the Pentagon had extended the contract bid deadline by 60 days for the U.S. Air Force Tanker Replacement Program, EADS has been running the gamut of U.S.-based defense companies to see if they would agree to partner with EADS for the contract.  Their original partner, Northrop Grumman, decided earlier in the year not to compete.  L-3 Communications, Raytheon, and BAE Systems have been tapped as potential candidates, although strong political pressure may inevitably keep these U.S. companies from teaming up.  It is highly unlikely that EADS would win if they decided to go it alone.  Aside from the obvious fallout of a European-based company taking away American jobs should EADS actually win, EADS also has very little experience in U.S. defense contracts.  Their largest U.S. military contract so far is the Army's UH-72A Light Helicopter, which is technically less challenging than the proposed new tanker.  Having a U.S. defense company on their side would give them the credibility and technical experience necessary to win the contract.

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Spirit Airlines to start charging for carry-on bags

Next time you're flying out of Florida, and you decide to hop on Spirit Airlines, just make sure not to check-in any luggage at the airport.  Or bring any carry-on bags with you.  In fact, just bring your wallet, phone, and a toothbrush.  That's all you need, unless you want to pay the exorbitant fees that Spirit (based in Miramar, FL) will start charging its customers beginning August 1st.  Here's a price breakdown of the new fees:

Carry-on bag: $45
Carry-on bag registered online or by phone: $30
Carry-on bag for Club Fare members: $20
1st checked-bag: $25
2nd checked-bag: $45

We'll see if there's going to be any backlash with these new fees, and whether other airlines will adopt a similar approach.  Who knows?  Soon you might be seeing coin-operated lavatories on your flight.  Does anybody have change for a dollar???

Ultimate-load wing test on 787 deemed a success

On March 28th, Boeing simulated the most extreme circumstances that the 787 could possibly encounter on its static test airframe.  This involved flexing the wings upward by about 25 ft. and pressurizing the fuselage up to 150% of normal.  After a couple weeks of extensive analysis of the raw data collected, Boeing has concluded that all the requirements of the test have been met, and that the design of the 787's revolutionary airframe has been validated.  You can view a pretty cool video of the static test at the link below:

787 Static Test Video

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