Thursday 20 March 2014

Comair Orders 8 B737 MAX

Comair's good fortune continues. The absence of serious competition, and the prospect of African skies opening up, has placed them in a position to make a strong commitment. Share price continues to rise.

The following report by Reuters:

Johannesburg - South African airline Comair Ltd said on Wednesday it has ordered eight 737 MAX 8 aircraft from Boeing with a list-price of $830 million (R9 billion), sending its shares up sharply.

The order makes Comair, which operates the kulula.com budget airline, the first African airline to order the new aircraft.

The franchise partner for British Airways said it would take delivery of the first four planes in 2019 and the remaining four over the next two years, chief executive Erik Venter said.

The airline, which is ordering the new planes to replace aging ones, has the option to take a further eight of the narrow body aircraft that can seat 189 as currently designed.

Comair expects to receive the last four of an earlier order for eight 737-800 craft in 2015 and 2016.
POSSIBLE MH370 WRECKAGE SIGHTING

Reports are now surfacing that satellite images show a possible 25m piece of wreckage 2500km from Perth. Orion aircraft observer tweets suggest strong radar returns.

It will take some time to confirm, but this is the most substantial evidence that has emerged since the MH370 departed KL on March 7th.

The search for flight recorders will be difficult, but the seabed is believed to be abyssal, which is a positive. However, given that the CVR will only hold 1 hour of data, we may not glean much from the recorders. The wreckage is more likely to throw light on whether the train of events was intentional or accidental.

Update 24 March - still no confirmed positive sightings



Tuesday 18 March 2014

STILL NO SIGN OF MISSING MALAYSIAN BOEING

This is not strictly a South African aviation topic, but anyone connected with the industry must be following the saga at some level as it unfolds. For South Africans, there are some similarities with the 'Helderberg' tragedy.


Despite the high volume of so-called "facts" there is still no definitive information regarding MH370, except for 2 electronic clues which indicate that the airliner deviated from its planned course. Whether this was due to deliberate human actions, or due to aircraft malfunction is still a guess. All that we know from past experience is that the longer that the search continues, the less likely it becomes for us to find any wreckage.

There will now be renewed calls for more relaible aircraft tracking, especially as cell phone technology has put most of us in touch with an electronic network at all times.

Thoughts must be with the relatives and friends of the passengers, who are in complete uncertainty as to the fate of their fellows.

The following report from airlineratings.com

New focus on area 1000km south-west of Perth, Australia.

The search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has now been expanded deep into the southern hemisphere off the south-west coast of Western Australia.

An armada of 10 planes has arrived in Perth Western Australia to search for the missing Boeing 777.

Malaysian investigators say Flight MH370 was deliberately diverted during its flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8 and then flew on for up to seven hours.

Investigators suggest hijacking, sabotage, or pilot suicide, and are examining the backgrounds of all 227 passengers and 12 crew members. They are also looking into backgrounds of ground crew.

Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has not ruled out finding the plane intact.
“The fact that there was no distress signal, no ransom notes, no-one claiming responsibility, there is always hope,” said Mr Hishammuddin.

Australian search authorities says that they have evidence that the missing plane may be off WA and major search assets have been re-deployed to Perth from Malaysia.

Leading the search is the US Navy’s latest sub hunter the P8A Poseidon.

It’s a commercial plane but with a sting!

The Boeing P-8A is based on the world’s biggest selling plane, the 737, but comes with a suite of electronics and armaments designed to find and destroy the most elusive submarines and ships.

It can fly for 7,500km and has been strengthened to make 60 degree turns and operate just 60m off the ocean.
And once it has detected the enemy it can launch an array of bombs or missiles – in fact 10,000kgs of them.

These include torpedoes, depth charges, SLAM-ER missiles and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
It has the very latest in communications with over 10 separate radios and data links across the VHF, UHF, HF and SATCOM spectrums.

Like the Lockheed Orion it is designed to replace the P-8A has advanced sensors and mission systems which include advanced multi-mode radar, a high definition electro-optic camera, sonar buoys and an acoustic system.

However, rather than hunt submarines the P-8 and the four Lockheed P3 Orions will be searching for metal debris, such as tail or wing of MH370 Boeing 777 that may be floating on the water.

They will also be using their underwater detection ability to search for a large object.

The P-8 can cover an area of 38,850 square kilometres in a nine-hour flight.

Visit our website at www.webb-elgin.com to learn more about our software and training services.
New focus on area 1000km south-west of Perth, Australia.

Boeing P8A Poseidon

Search Area for MH370
The search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has now been expanded deep into the southern hemisphere off the south-west coast of Western Australia.

An armada of 10 planes has arrived in Perth Western Australia to search for the missing Boeing 777.

Malaysian investigators say Flight MH370 was deliberately diverted during its flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8 and then flew on for up to seven hours.

Investigators suggest hijacking, sabotage, or pilot suicide, and are examining the backgrounds of all 227 passengers and 12 crew members. They are also looking into backgrounds of ground crew.

Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has not ruled out finding the plane intact.
“The fact that there was no distress signal, no ransom notes, no-one claiming responsibility, there is always hope,” said Mr Hishammuddin.

Australian search authorities says that they have evidence that the missing plane may be off WA and major search assets have been re-deployed to Perth from Malaysia.

Leading the search is the US Navy’s latest sub hunter the P8A Poseidon.

It’s a commercial plane but with a sting!

The Boeing P-8A is based on the world’s biggest selling plane, the 737, but comes with a suite of electronics and armaments designed to find and destroy the most elusive submarines and ships.

It can fly for 7,500km and has been strengthened to make 60 degree turns and operate just 60m off the ocean.
And once it has detected the enemy it can launch an array of bombs or missiles – in fact 10,000kgs of them.

These include torpedoes, depth charges, SLAM-ER missiles and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
It has the very latest in communications with over 10 separate radios and data links across the VHF, UHF, HF and SATCOM spectrums.

Like the Lockheed Orion it is designed to replace the P-8A has advanced sensors and mission systems which include advanced multi-mode radar, a high definition electro-optic camera, sonar buoys and an acoustic system.

However, rather than hunt submarines the P-8 and the four Lockheed P3 Orions will be searching for metal debris, such as tail or wing of MH370 Boeing 777 that may be floating on the water.

They will also be using their underwater detection ability to search for a large object.

The P-8 can cover an area of 38,850 square kilometres in a nine-hour flight.
- See more at: http://www.airlineratings.com/news/254/search-for-mh370-widens#sthash.kktHxdOl.dpuf
New focus on area 1000km south-west of Perth, Australia.

Boeing P8A Poseidon

Search Area for MH370
The search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has now been expanded deep into the southern hemisphere off the south-west coast of Western Australia.

An armada of 10 planes has arrived in Perth Western Australia to search for the missing Boeing 777.

Malaysian investigators say Flight MH370 was deliberately diverted during its flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8 and then flew on for up to seven hours.

Investigators suggest hijacking, sabotage, or pilot suicide, and are examining the backgrounds of all 227 passengers and 12 crew members. They are also looking into backgrounds of ground crew.

Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has not ruled out finding the plane intact.
“The fact that there was no distress signal, no ransom notes, no-one claiming responsibility, there is always hope,” said Mr Hishammuddin.

Australian search authorities says that they have evidence that the missing plane may be off WA and major search assets have been re-deployed to Perth from Malaysia.

Leading the search is the US Navy’s latest sub hunter the P8A Poseidon.

It’s a commercial plane but with a sting!

The Boeing P-8A is based on the world’s biggest selling plane, the 737, but comes with a suite of electronics and armaments designed to find and destroy the most elusive submarines and ships.

It can fly for 7,500km and has been strengthened to make 60 degree turns and operate just 60m off the ocean.
And once it has detected the enemy it can launch an array of bombs or missiles – in fact 10,000kgs of them.

These include torpedoes, depth charges, SLAM-ER missiles and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
It has the very latest in communications with over 10 separate radios and data links across the VHF, UHF, HF and SATCOM spectrums.

Like the Lockheed Orion it is designed to replace the P-8A has advanced sensors and mission systems which include advanced multi-mode radar, a high definition electro-optic camera, sonar buoys and an acoustic system.

However, rather than hunt submarines the P-8 and the four Lockheed P3 Orions will be searching for metal debris, such as tail or wing of MH370 Boeing 777 that may be floating on the water.

They will also be using their underwater detection ability to search for a large object.

The P-8 can cover an area of 38,850 square kilometres in a nine-hour flight.
- See more at: http://www.airlineratings.com/news/254/search-for-mh370-widens#sthash.kktHxdOl.dpuf
New focus on area 1000km south-west of Perth, Australia.

Boeing P8A Poseidon

Search Area for MH370
The search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has now been expanded deep into the southern hemisphere off the south-west coast of Western Australia.

An armada of 10 planes has arrived in Perth Western Australia to search for the missing Boeing 777.

Malaysian investigators say Flight MH370 was deliberately diverted during its flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8 and then flew on for up to seven hours.

Investigators suggest hijacking, sabotage, or pilot suicide, and are examining the backgrounds of all 227 passengers and 12 crew members. They are also looking into backgrounds of ground crew.

Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has not ruled out finding the plane intact.
“The fact that there was no distress signal, no ransom notes, no-one claiming responsibility, there is always hope,” said Mr Hishammuddin.

Australian search authorities says that they have evidence that the missing plane may be off WA and major search assets have been re-deployed to Perth from Malaysia.

Leading the search is the US Navy’s latest sub hunter the P8A Poseidon.

It’s a commercial plane but with a sting!

The Boeing P-8A is based on the world’s biggest selling plane, the 737, but comes with a suite of electronics and armaments designed to find and destroy the most elusive submarines and ships.

It can fly for 7,500km and has been strengthened to make 60 degree turns and operate just 60m off the ocean.
And once it has detected the enemy it can launch an array of bombs or missiles – in fact 10,000kgs of them.

These include torpedoes, depth charges, SLAM-ER missiles and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
It has the very latest in communications with over 10 separate radios and data links across the VHF, UHF, HF and SATCOM spectrums.

Like the Lockheed Orion it is designed to replace the P-8A has advanced sensors and mission systems which include advanced multi-mode radar, a high definition electro-optic camera, sonar buoys and an acoustic system.

However, rather than hunt submarines the P-8 and the four Lockheed P3 Orions will be searching for metal debris, such as tail or wing of MH370 Boeing 777 that may be floating on the water.

They will also be using their underwater detection ability to search for a large object.

The P-8 can cover an area of 38,850 square kilometres in a nine-hour flight.
- See more at: http://www.airlineratings.com/news/254/search-for-mh370-widens#sthash.kktHxdOl.dpuf

Sunday 16 March 2014

Update

On our website you can read more about our software, training, and other services. We offer training in airline management, scheduling, and yield management. We supply crew and flight scheduling software services.
http://www.webb-elgin.com

Sunday 9 March 2014

STRATEGIC OPTIONS FOR SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS

For more than 20 years the fate of South African Airways has been a matter for regular discussion, and as time goes by, the debt mounts, the results deteriorate, and the problems become deeper. World airline competitiveness is constantly improving, and in spite of fuel price and aircraft purchase price increases, major carriers do still manage to make profit, albeit relatively little compared to the associated risks. IATA recently documented that the overall global profit per airline passenger was less than 3% of the ticket price.

With each change of management a new 10 year plan is invented, usually accompanied by a major aircraft investment. It is not unlikely that the aircraft manufacturers play a significant role in generating each version of the SAA strategy. It must be noted that the so-called "fuel guzzling" aircraft used by South African Airways are also used by a number of profitable airlines, and that SAA in fact has one of the youngest fleets in its class, just over 10 years according to airfleet.net, whereas some of the major competitors flying into Johannesburg have fleet ages in excess of 15 years.

The strategic variables that need to be considered are:
  • ownership
  • capitalisation
  • network
and none of these can be considered in isolation.

At a time when the Middle East airlines are on the acquisition trail, and are already active in Africa, it seems fairly likely to me that some form of ownership deal with one of the Middle East carriers is a serious option. It is the Middle East carriers who are eroding the profitability of a large portion of long-haul flights due to their own growth and yield strategies. There would be some tricky discussions around the current debt book, but considering that Etihad is in advanced discussions with Alitalia, the Italian national carrier, I would assume that the SAA problem is somewhat smaller by comparison, and could be resolved. According to the New York Times - "The largest sticking point to a deal remains Alitalia’s debt of nearly €1 billion. The airline’s lenders, who now also happen to be among its largest shareholders, have so far refused to restructure, according to a person familiar with the discussions who requested anonymity because the talks are confidential."

Such an arrangement with a foreign airline would necessarily require a radical revision of the SAA network, and it would possibly take the form of the significant reduction in long-haul, or intercontinental, flights. This would eventually suggest that SAA and SA Express (the regional feeder airline) become a single entity. It would also result in a different aircraft  fleet composition.

The South African government has two vested interests in SAA, if we cast aside the financial burden, as it has been ignored for many years now. These interests are national presence (brand), and employment targets. If we follow the "do-nothing" strategy, these objectives will in any case dissolve.

What is clear to me, and most South Africans, is that major change is necessary, before the monolith simply implodes under the weight of debt and job creation.


On a morning when the mystery of MH370 remains headline news, a quick look at the ratings:

Top of the ranking from AirlineRatings.com of the safest carriers in 2013 is the Australian airline Qantas.
Awarding it a full seven stars, the website cites the airline's fatality-free flying record from the beginning of the jet era in the early 1950s.
Other airlines sharing the seven-star rating and winning a place among the top 10 safest airlines are, in alphabetical order, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Eva Air, Royal Jordanian, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.

There can be some debate about the list, but it remains apparent that the Far East is the home of some of the most impressive large carriers, with the Middle East a close second.