Image by Dave Sizer via Flickr
As we continue to perfect the Brief, we offer a new opener, as well as a tribute to this Day in Aviation History. Tune in.
Notes:
American Eagle’s New Service to Augusta
WestJet Launches New Frequent Flier Program
787 Begins First Flight Tests outside of Washington
United orders 25 A350XWBs
Continental Airlines calls Tarmac Delay...
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Boeing
Flight Wisdom Briefing 3
The 787 Dreamliner Takes to the Skies
Today is a historic day in the history of flight, one of many, but one we are happy to share with our fellow aviation enthusiasts. We couldn't be there, so we have sourced some of these pictures from David Parker Brown at AirlineReporter.com.
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Lufthansa to Bring Back In Flight WiFi
Image via Wikipedia
Lufthansa is bringing back in-flight wi-fi. As reported by Upgrade Travel, Lufthansa will be the first transatlantic carrier to put out a comprehensive plan for wi-fi connectivity after Boeing discontinued its in-flight wi-fi offering.
Lufthansa’s system, called Flynet, is Panasonic-based, and uses a satellite based network, like Row 44, which is working with...
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New Schedule Up for the 787 Dreamliner
Image by Getty Images via Daylife
Boeing expects to fly the 787 Dreamliner by the end of this year, and deliver the first one in the last quarter of next year.
Once the last bugs are worked out, and the process is finalized, they estimate they will be able to produce ten 787s per month by...
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787 – 7-Late-7?
Image via Wikipedia
Boeing will be delaying the first flight of the 787 Dreamliner due to stress where the wings attach to the side of the plane. Executives said that the fixes to the 787 would require only a few small parts to reinforce areas of one to two square inches that displayed excess stress...
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News from the Manufacturers
Image via Wikipedia
Boeing is expected to conduct the maiden flight of the 787 Dreamliner this month. The plane has been plagued by delays. When the A380 was plagued by wiring problems, we said that Boeing had to make sure that it got the Dreamliner out on time to ensure the lead it got was...
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Sixth and Final 787 Test Aircraft in Final Assembly
Image by jnsabino via Flickr
The first major parts for Dreamliner Seven are set to begin showing up in Everett when the horizontal stabilizer is flown from Italy.
“The first flight test airplane, ZA001, is getting its paint touched up this week before finishing factory testing. Power was brought onto the second airplane, ZA002, in late...
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What’s Going On
Image by Getty Images via Daylife
Ryanair has made another bid for Irish competitor, Aer Lingus. Aer Lingus is preparing its defense plan and wishes to remain independent.
Continental announced it has completed installation of an Audio/Video on demand system on its fleet of 757-200s aircraft, with the last two reentering service by December 23rd. These...
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News Briefs – Post-Thanksgiving Edition
For the first time in the United States, an airport is being built for commercial service completely without government funding. This new airport will be in Branson, Missouri, which receives 8.4 million visitors a year for its shows and conventions. The nearest airport is over an hour away in Springfield, and lacks low-fare service,...
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Plane and Simple News
It’s time here at Flight Wisdom to review the latest in airplane manufacturing…
Airbus
Airbus delivered the first Airbus 380 to Singapore Airlines last month. After delivering the first four superjumbos to Singapore Airlines, Airbus will have to redesign cabins and electrical layouts for Emirates Airlines and Qantas. It is scheduled to hand over 13...
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Boeing Delays 787 Deliveries and First Flight
Breaking News
Today, Boeing announced a delay in the schedule for the 787 Dreamliner. We had faith in Boeing…especially after the troubles Airbus had with the A380 putting the plane almost two years behind schedule, we thought Boeing would smartly throw some money to avoid the same media issues.
To build the 787 Dreamliner faster, Boeing...
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Roundup – The Old and the New
We’ve been a bit occupied of lot, and have a lot to catch up on. Rest assured, that while this is not our primary responsibility(we have jobs), we hope to be back on top of things soon, bringing the best in air travel developments in a timely fashion.
Hagerstown Airport, 80 miles northwest of downtown...
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Much to Say – New Ideas, New Renovations, New Planes
Mesa Airlines announced an agreement with United Airlines to replace 8 50-seat CRJ-200 aircraft with two 66-seat CRJ-700 aircraft. United, as well as other airlines, are replacing the cramped 40-50 seater planes with larger more spacious regional planes which preserve the economy of smaller aircraft but add the comfort of mainline service.
San Francisco International...
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Roundup – New Service, Safety, and Soft Drinks
Airtran has signed a new three year contract with Coca-Cola. Onboard, you can get Coca-Cola Classic®, Diet Coke®, Sprite®, Sprite Zero(TM), Coca-Cola Zero(TM), Minute Maid® Lemonade, Dasani® Water, Cherry Coke(TM), Cherry Coke Zero(TM) and three types of Minute Maid® juices. Poor Pepsi. Has anyone signed with them lately?
Air France-KLM announced last week they would...
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Boeing Delivers 3000th Everett-Build Widebody Airplane
Boeing announced today the delivery of its 3000th widebody airplane from its Everett, Washington plant. The plane was a 777-200ER delivered to Korean Air.
The plant, celebrating its fortieth anniversary, has made 747, 767, and 777 models. Boeing widebody aircraft have flown more than 34.5 million flight, logged more than 148 million flight hours and...
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The 787 – First Bidet in the Air
ANA, set to be the launch customer for the 787 Dreamliner, announced that they will install bidet toilets as a standard feature when it begins flying the aircraft.
The toilets, made by Toto…will…and we do not joke, “refresh the parts other airlines cannot reach,” ANA’s chief executive said the launch ceremony…
Credit for pointing us to...
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Boeing 787 Unveiled Sunday
We thought we should address the unveiling of the new 787…Fifteen thousand cheering people showed up to the event, giving crowds at the plant in Everett, Washington the first look at Boeing’s first all-new plane in twelve years. The event, hosted by Tom Brokaw, was watched live by thousands at Qwest Field in Seattle...
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787 Dreamliner to be Unveiled
Boeing will unveil the 787 Dreamliner on Sunday…July 8th, 2007(7/8/7)…in a bit of marketing whimsy. Things have been good for Boeing this year, with 544 orders for the year so far…which puts it on track to be the industry leader…a title it stole back from Airbus last year…
For a historical perspective, Reuters has...
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Roundup – Plant a Tree
Easyjet is promoting its vision of a shorthaul aircraft that will generate half as much carbon dioxide and can be delivered by 2015. They are working with aircraft manufacturers to make their dream a reality.
US Airways won’t be allowed to serve alcohol once again in New Mexico, after being refused an extension on its...
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Roundup – New Service, Air Passes, new planes and more..
Air Canada will introduce daily nonstop service from Vancouver to Yellowknife with seasonal service from December 1st through April with a 50-seat CRJ. Flights are timed to connect with service to Tokyo, Osaka, and points within British Columbia.
Airtran launched service today from Portland, Maine to BWI. The first flight from BWI brought a delegation...
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Roundup – A Snake Swallowed My Suitcase and More
Northwest has exited bankruptcy…its shares have started trading on the New York Stock Exchange Thursday morning. Unlike Delta, Northwest has kept a low-profile during bankruptcy and is moving forward with plans to eliminate its oldest and most costly planes now that it has exited. However, Northwest employees are less than happy with the situation…as...
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Roundup – Snakes on a Plane, Bees, Lightning, New Routes and More
A man desperate to keep his girlfriend from boarding a flight from Ft. Myers to New York called in a bomb threat for her airplane Wednesday afternoon. Christian G. Mejia, age 23, was arrested after he dropped off his girlfriend and her travelling companion to an airport and drove to a pay phone and...
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Roundup – Dreamliner Final Assembly, 25th Anniversary of London Service…
Final assembly of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner began today with a ceremony. The Dreamliner has 568 firm orders from 44 airlines, and is the fastest-selling new airplane in aviation history. The first 787 is due to roll off the assembly line on July 8th.
Eos has increased its fleet to four 757-200ER aircraft in preparation...
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Roundup – Virgin America, Atlanta’s Second Airport, Save the Cookies and More
Virgin America has been approved to launch service. Now that the company has been formally approved, the next step will be to seek a waiver to start selling tickets. The company is planning a mid-summer launch. Virgin America’s first flights will be between its home base of San Francisco (SFO) to New York (JFK)....
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Second May Roundup
Airtran will be the first to serve Cherry Coke and Cherry Coke Zero onboard all flights effective this month. We just love the fact that it is big news which soft drinks an airline has…probably bigger for the airlines that don’t give you any.
United raised fares on popular business routes by up to $50...
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