Airlines Save Fuel by Using Water

Did you know that fuel is now the largest component of operating costs for airlines? If you read aviation news articles, you might have read about that.  So what are airlines doing to help save fuel?  For one, they are buying new aircraft, if they can afford it; the latest technology aircraft burn fuel more efficiently -- and that means less fuel is used.  Also, since 2001, hundreds of jetliners worldwide have been outfitted with upswept wingtips that increase range and make the aircraft more aerodynamically efficient. That can save up to 7% on fuel costs. Pilots also routinely taxi to and from the runway on one engine only, to save fuel and operate planes' auxiliary-power units as little as possible.

Here's the latest fuel efficiency tactic: Pratt & Whitney's engine-washing system, called EcoPower, has recently been shown to be a potential fuel saver. The system is mounted on trucks, so it can be used at the gate. Scouring caked-on grime from the inside of an engine can reduce fuel consumption by about 1.2%. No big deal, you say? Well, listen to the statistics: If every airline in the world washing its engines, the industry could save about $1 billion (yes, that's billion) a year in fuel costs and also cut carbon-dioxide emissions by 3.2 billion pounds.

Clean engines run cooler too, which allows airlines to avoid costly overhauls for up to 18 additional months. Southwest Airlines and United, which are two of Eco-Power's biggest customers, say they are indeed realizing savings already with EcoPower. Southwest said that in less than two months of use, they have saved about $1.6 million in fuel. United, which plans to wash the engines of its entire fleet at least twice a year (and its long-haul aircraft more often) anticipates saving about three million gallons of fuel annually.

Here's the engineering behind this: During thousands of operating hours, pollutants in the air builds up an oily crust on the jet engine's fan blades, which compress air before it enters the combustion chamber. Over time, the engine becomes less efficient and then starts to run at hotter temperatures, which increases wear and burns more fuel.    

Embraer Expects to Build Record Number of Jets

Embraer, the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, has indicated it expects to deliver 200 jets in 2008, with the 170/190 model accounting for about 80% of the total deliveries.  This further indicates the health of the commercial aviation market -- as airlines worldwide buy and fly Embraer jets.

In 2007, the company delivered 123 170-190 aircraft, seven ERJ-145s and 35 Legacy aircraft. At the end of 2007, Embraer's backlog (aircraft ordered by not yet build and delivered) consisted of 430 170-190 and 46 ERJ-145s, as well as options for another 917 aircraft.

According to Embraer's President and CEO, depite a slowing world economy "customers are demanding more aircraft, not less."  And Phoenix East Aviation, one of the world's most respected training academies for airlines worldwidem feels this continuing stream of orders for new commercial aircraft is onhe more indication of the strong and continuing growth in commercial aviation --  which is sure to result in an even greater need for new pilots.

Training Pilots for Airlines Worldwide

If you've been following aviation in the press anywhere in the world the past few years, you know the shortage of commercial pilots is at perhaps its highest level in many, many years right now. That's no secret. And orders for new aircraft worldwide have been booming, which makes the pilot shortage problem even more severe.  This creates an exceptional opportunity for someone who wants to fly as a career.

A number of the big aircraft orders have come from low-fare airines, especially in Asia and the Middle East, such as IndiGo, AirAsia, Air Arabia, Tiger Airways and Lion Air. It is expected that more than 1,000 new pilots will be required per year in Southeast Asia alone over the next 20 years.

While there may be enough people who wish to be pilots, the major problem is training them -- finding sufficient training schools in that region to get all the want-to-be student pilots trained.  Such training centers simply do not exist in sufficient numbers in Asia -- nor in Africa.  And then there is the cost -- it is expensive, not just in Asia, but in Europe and South America.

The answer is training centers in other regions, such as Phoenix East Aviation, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Phoenix East has been in business since 1972 doing one thing only, and doing it exceptionally well -- training young pilots for aviation careers.  Phoenix East focuses on the international student, knowing that a strong diversity in their student pilot population brings an additional, positive element to the training experience, especially for the student who wishes to someday fly internationally.  Over half of Phoenix East's student pilots are from countries outside North America.  But in contract to some schools, which seem to specialize in students from only one country, Phoenix East has students from countries in Asia, Africa and Europe, as well as North and South America.  That's one of the things that makes the training experience at Phoenix East especially rich and rewarding.

Want to know more? contact www.pea.com or call 1-386-258-0703 worldwide and ask to talk to an Admissions Officer.  You may find out there is a training aircraft waiting for you at Phoenix East Aviation, followed by an excellent career as a pilot -- contact Phoenix East now for details.

Why Do Airlines Merge?

The big news this week in aviation circles is the proposed merger between Delta Airlines and Northwest Airlines. If government regulators at the U.S. Justice Department approve this deal, it will make the Delta-Northwest combination the world's biggest carrier.

Since you want to be part of this exciting industry and make it your career, it would be helpful for you to understand a little about why airlines merge. Mergers are intended to achieve several goals. They can widen route networks, attract more high-profit corporate travel contracts and also strengthen pricing power through their stronger market positioning. Plus mergers can bring important cost savings -- from optimizing the combined aircraft fleets to streamlining (saving money) on reservations systems, technical systems and administrative functions.

In the  case of the Delta-Northwest merger, Delta's chief executive officer said that the combined carrier would be aable to reduce its costs by $1 billion a year, plus push more of its capacity to high-profit international markets -- and offer a huge network, with service to more than 400 cities in 67 countries. If the deal does get approved by government regulators, full consolidation of the two companies is not expected to be complete until 2012.

What's next: United Airlines and Continental? Or United and US Airways?

Japan Set to Start Manufacturing Jet Aircraft

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries expects to announce this week that the company plans to move forward with its Mitsubishi Regional Jet, a 96-seat, single-aisle plane. The jet will use new engine technology and new manufacturing methods that the company hopes will allow it to leapfrog existing regional jets.  The company is reported to have lined up financial and technical support from Toyota Motor Corp, Boeing and Pratt & Whitney jet engines.

Regional jets are smaller commercial planes with a range of about 2,000 miles. In recent years, airlines around the world have rushed to purchase these smaller jets. It is not clear at this point whether Mitsubishi would next move into building larger jets. The company is reported to be firming up orders from All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, and Vietnam Airlines.

Voted Best Airlines in Europe and Asia

Swiss International Air Lines was voted "Best Airline for Europe" by the readers of Germany's Business Traveller magazine. It won first in the categories of cabin crew, cabin comfort and ground services and lounges and was therefore once named Best Airline for Europe. It achieved this same award in 2006.

Dragonair was voted "Best Asian Airline" at the 2007 annual Huran Report Best of the Best Awards, presented in Shanghai in January.  The Hurun Report Best of the Best Awards are selected  based on preferences by China's multi-millionaires (Six-hundred and sixty Chinese entrepreneurs worth at least 10 million RMB voted). Also, Dragonair was named Best Airline (China) by TravelWeeklyChina magazine, as well as being named Best Airline - China in the worldwide Skytrax passenger survey for the sixth consecutive year. 

Dragonair, based in Hong Kong, operates a fleet of 31 passenger aircraft and eight freighters serving 34 regional destinations. It is part of the Cathay Pacific Group.

More Airlines Growing and Expanding Service

LOT Polish Airlines has purchased 12 additional Embraer 175 jets. The value of this order is USD$372 million, and could be as much as USD $744 million, if all options are confirmed. LOT Polish Airlines was the first operator of the E-jets family in Europe, flying out of its Warsaw hub. The new E-175 jets will complement the airline's existing Embraer fleet of six E-175s and 10 E-170s.

Emirates Airline recently signed contracts for 120 Airbus A350s, 11 A380s and 12 Boeing 777-300ERs, worth an estimated USD $34.9 billion.

Air Arabia recently opened a new hub in Kathmandu, Nepal. The airline is the largest low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa.  The new Nepal hub will better serve markets across South and Central Asia, the Far East, the Middle East and the India. The agreement calls for Air Arabia and Nepal's Yeti Airlines to jointly establish a new low-cost carrier to provide service to a broad range of international destinations. 

Fying Cargo -- Another Good Job for a Pilot

If you wish to fly jets as a career, another good job is flying for a cargo company.  That segment of commercial aviation is growing strongly, as the demand for faster shipment of goods increases.  Here's what's going on in that segment of the industry:

DHL is establishing a $175 million USD Express North Asia Hub at Shanghai Pudong Airport. This is designed to reduce transit times and distances. DHL says this new hub will allow it to provide faster service to more major cities in North Asia. The facility's capacity will be up to 20,000 parcels and 20,000 documents per hour. DHL already operates or uses space on 500 weekly flights to or from Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, China.

FedEx is also building a new air hub in Guangzhou, China.

ABX Air has acquired Cargo Holdings Int. (CHI), a leading provider for air cargo transportation to domestic and foreign air carriers. Collectively, ABX Air and CHI have a fleet of more than 135 aircraft, as well as operating the largest fleet of 767 freighter aircraft in the world.

Air Bridge Cargo, which recently added Tel AViv to its growing network, now operates five 747 freighters, and expects three more new Boeing 747-400ERF to be delivered in the next few months. The company also recently set up a dedicated freighter team in their 24/7 operations center in Bangkok.

Airlines' Revenues and Profits Continue to Increase

The International Air Transport Assocation (IATA) expects the airline industry to report record profits in 2008. They estimate net profits to be approximately $9.6 billion USD, up substantially from 2007, which showed a strong increase over 2006.

Net profits in 2007 were approximately $5 billion, as compared to those of 2006, which were $3.8 billion.

The general director and chief executive of IATA said airlines in Asia and Europe have gotten a boost from stronger-than-expected growth. Fuel costs represent on average 26% of an airline's operating expenses, but greater efficiency across the airline industry have partly offset the rise in fuel prices.

What does this growth mean to you, as a pilot or someone who is interested in a career in aviation?  A healthy, strong industry quite simply means more jobs and more opportunities. To find out more about all the opportunities that await future airline pilots, call Phoenix East Aviation at 1-386-258-0703 (worldwide) or 1-800-868-4359 (toll-free in the US) and ask to speak to an Admissions Officer or check out www.pea.com.

Australian Airline Warns of Big Pilot Shortage

Australian airline Regional Express (Rex) has said that the country is facing such a severe shortage of pilots that a crisis will ensue within a year, as airlines continue with unprecedented expansion plans.

Rex Chief of Staff, Jim Davis, said that already some airlines are struggling to find enough pilots to crew their regular schedules, and many are resorting to cancelling flights to cope with the situation. This has impacted not just Rex, but also Qantas, QantasLink, Virgin and Jetstar. 

And the situation is expected to get worse.  Based on industry figures, it is estimated that the net additional requirements for new pilots in Australia will be 1,800 for at least the next two years. The supply of new airline transport pilot licenses (ATP) every year in Australia is about 400.

Clearly new pilots are needed.  If you are interested in learning to fly quickly to get hired by one of these Australian Airlines, come to Phoenix East Aviation in Daytona Beach, Florida now for your training. New pilot training classes begin monthly. Check us out at www.pea.com or call 1-386-254-6842 (or 1-800-868-4359 within the US)   

Air China to Become the World's 6th Largest Airline?

If you want a career as an airline pilot in Asia, the strong growth in that market indicates this is the best time in recent history for you.  A good example of this is Air China, which is poised to become the world's sixth-largest airline, bigger than Northwest Airlines and even British Airways. It appears that Air China plans to take over China Eastern.  That means China could soon have a single giant aviation business dominating Beijing as well as Shanghai. Beijing-based Air China is already affiliated with Cathay Pacific, which is the dominant carrier in the country's richest city, Hong Kong.

The biggest Chinese airline is China Southern. Air China is second and China Eastern third. If Air China and China Eastern do merge, the consolidated Chinese airline would also outrank Lufthansa and possibly Air France-KLM and Continental.

Learn Something About Commercial Aircraft - B737-800

So you say you dream about flying, that you have a passion for aviation?  Then maybe it's a good idea for you to learn a little about commercial aircraft.  Check out this site regularly for information about various aircraft.  Think about which ones excite you...maybe even fantasize about being the captain of one of them yourself someday.

Let's start with a very popular aircraft today: The Boeing 737.

The 737-800 is the most popular member of the next-generation 737 family, with more than 2,400 airplanes ordered. The 737-800 single-aisle aircraft is ranked as the most preferred airplane due to its wide market base, superior performance efficiency and lowest operating costs in its class.  As of last year, Boeing has received orders for more than 4,100 Next-Generation 737s, and has unfilled orders for nearly 1,800 airplanes.

So Many New Aircraft Ordered...

We continue to let you know who's buying new aircraft, so you, as a new pilot or someone interested in a career as a pilot, will know who is growing and buying new equipment.  Actually, virtually all airlines worldwide are expanding now, but check out who's buying new equipment this month:

SpiceJet (India)plans to have 24 planes by April 2008. They currently have 18. The airlines has only been in operation for two years.

Emirates Airline has contracted for 120 Airbus A350s, 11 A380s and 12 Boeing 777-300ERs, worth an estimated US$35 billion.  (Yes, that's right, a staggering total of 143 new airplanes).

LOT Polish Airlines has signed a firm order to add 12 more Embraer 175 jets.

TACA, a leading Latin American airline, has signed a contract with Airbus to purchase 15 additional A320 aircraft.

TAP Portugal signed a firm order for 12 A350 XWBs, as well as signing a letter of intent for eight more A320 aircraft.

India's Jet Airways have completed an order for 20 Boeing 737-800s. That order is valued at nearly US$1.5 billion. Jet Airways has been in operation since 1993 and has one of the youngest fleets in the world, with an average age of just under five years.

Middle East Aviation Poised for Significant Growth

Middle Eastern airlines are planning significant -- and sustained -- growth, according to the CEO of Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa. Middle East-based airlines are collectively growing at 10 percent a year, double the global average, according to Arab Air Carriers Organization.

That means that one in every eight commercial flight worldwide is now flown by a low-cost carrier. The Middle East is home to the youngest (newest) fleet in the world, with a total of more than 600 aircraft.  The Middle East also had the greatest number of new aircraft on order anywhere in the world.

The reason behind this is enormous economic growth in the region.  Air travel is increasingly being seen as a necessity rather than a luxury. Between now and 2020, the Middle East is forecast to lead world passenger traffic growth, with current travel demand up 18 percent.

If you hope to work for one of these fast growing airlines, you can receive pilot training from US flight schools. Look for those school offering M-1 and J-1 Visas.

Expanding Airlines -- New Aircraft Purchases

If you plan to be a pilot, you may want to find out which airlines are expanding the fastest -- and maybe hiring more pilots.  Though the industry overall is rapidly growing, here's who's placing orders this month for new aircraft:

Malaysia's AirAsia ordered 25 more Airbus A320s. This order is valued at $1.8 billion USD. This new deal will raise AirAsia's total orders for A320s to 175, according to CEO Tony Fernandes. Economic growth is boosting air travel in Southeast Asia, home to more than 500 million people. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is seeking to loosen air restrictions in the region this year to spur tourism and business travel even more.

Copa Airlines took delivery of its 11th Embraer 190 aircraft. The Panama-based airline now has 37 aircraft in its fleet.  Copa Airlines has one of the youngest fleets in the Americas, with an average age of three years. The airline also operates 26 Boeing 737 jets.

Aeromexico receives their first Embraer 190 jet -- three more on order.  Aeromexico Connect, a subsidiary of Aeromexico will operate these new aircraft. This is part of a fleet renovation and expansion program. Aeromexico Connect now operats 27 Embraer 145 jets on regional, domestic and international markets out of Monterrey, Mexico.

As the airline industry continues to grow the opportunity for US and International pilots increases. If you want to become an airline pilot consider Phoenix East Aviation. A flight school in Daytona Beach, Florida that trains tomorrows pilots.

Another New Airline Planned

Another new airline is planned. AirAsia signed a letter of intent with Shipbuilding Industry Group to establish a joint venture low-cost airline in Vietnam.

The airline would carry the name VINA AIRASIA. It would serve domestic, regional and international routes, and eventually build two distinct divisions to facilitate short and long-haul aviation, according to AirAsia.

Interested in flying for this new airline? Call Phoenix East and start your flight training now. Check out www.pea.com and learn how you can fulfill your dream by becoming a commercial pilot.

Global Growth in Air Traffic Predicted

Airbus has predicted that the next 20 years will see a three-fold increase in air traffic, an average annual passenger traffic growth of 5%, a 6% growth in air freight traffic (this would require 3,580 cargo aircraft) and demand for 22,663 new passenger aircraft.

75% of that demand, amounting to over 15,000 new aircraft, will be in the single-aisle category, such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737NG.

Airbus plans to meet that huge demand by ramping up production from to current rate of 32 new aircraft each month to 40.

Boeing is even more optimistic in its statistical analysis on growth. The company sees total sales of 28,600 aircraft.

Of course all these new aircraft require new pilots.  Interested in a career as a commercial pilot? Phoenix East Aviation is waiting for your call to tell you how you can start your training right away.  Call 1-386-258-0703 worldwide or 1-800-868-4359 in the US or see www.pea.com for all the details.

Middle Eastern Growth in Regional Airlines

The Dubai Airshow produced huge orders for widebody commercial aircraft, but it also showed there has been -- and will continue to be -- significant growth in Middle Eastern regional airlines.  The CEO of Royal Jet said that relaxation of customs restrictions in the Gulf region has helped create a thriving economy, which is reflected in regional flights growing at up to 30% a year.  This growth is being met by low-fare airlines such as Air Arabia, Jazeera Airways, Nile Air, nas air and Al Jaber. It is also being met by executive charter operations such as Royal Jet.

Airbus announced orders for an additional 167 A320-family aircraft from nine different customers: 34 from Air Arabia, 20 from nas air, 70 from DAE Capital, 22 from Saudi Arabian Airlines, eight from airblue, nine from Nile Air and four from private cutomers.

Brazilian manufacturer, Embraer, announced more than $1.1 billion USD orders from nine customers. Saudi Arabia's nas air placed an order for five Embraer 190s. Virgin Nigeria ordered three Embraer 190s, seven Embraer 170s, plus options and purchase rights for another 14 Embraer 190s.

There are expected to be even more orders for Middle Eastern airlines in early 2008. And guess what? That means there will all need more pilots.  Ready become a pilot? Contact Phoenix East Aviation and learn how you can start your flight training right now.

 

Dubai Airshow Results -- Even More Aircraft Orders

If you wonder whether a career as an airline pilot would be a secure one, with jobs available, just look at the plans of major airlines for the answer.  The future orders for aircraft are at an all-time high.  This was again apparent at the recent Dubai Airshow.  Airlines would not be buying aircraft in record numbers, if they didn't feel strongly that the commercial aviation industry would be continuing its strong growth for a long time.

Here's what happened at Dubai: Combined, the two major airframe manufacturers, Boeing and Airbus, won contracts worth nearly $70 billion USD at that show. Airbus took the lead with 297 orders and commitments, and Boeing won 155 new aircraft orders.  Both companies are on track for record sales in 2007: they should even exceed the combined record of 2,057 orders placed two years ago in 2005.

Who were the big purchasers at Dubai? Airbus and Boeing each won a 100 aircraft order from DAE Capital, which is part of Dubai Aerospace Enterprice (DAE). The company signed purchase letters of intent for 70 Airbus A320s and 30 A350s, plus 70 Boeing 737s, 10 jumbo 777-300s and five 747-8s.

Qatar Airways orders 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 32 777-300ERs, which totalled over $6 billion USD.

Airbus won Emirates' huge order for 81 jets -- 11 A380s plus 70 A350s, in a purchase worth in excess of $34 billion USD.

So what do you think? Do these large, successful airlines are confident there is a growing future in commercial aviation?  If you want to be part of that, check out Phoenix East Aviation at www.pea.com about training to be a commercial airline pilot.

Lufthansa and Chinese Airlines Announce the Need for More Pilots

Lufthansa Passenger Airlines, LH Cargo and Germanwings say they will need about 425 additional pilots in 2008 just to meet the airlines' growing demand. This includes 315 pilots for the passenger segments alone.

Currently, about 4,500 pilots fly for these three German sister carriers. Subsidiary LFT trained over 200 new pilots during the past two years, but they are still looking for an additional 200 pilots. LH doubled its request for new pilots from 120 in 2004 and 2005 to 300 in 2007.  They expect to need an additional 360 pilots by the end of 2008.

Shanghai-based Spring Airlines has indicated they will be slowing development unless they can resolve their pilot shortage. Spokesperson Zhang Lei said the airline was suffering from a pilot shortage and was therefore looking to decelerate fleet expansion.

Juneyao Airlines, also Shanghai-based, said they will hire foreign pilots to accommodate fleet expansion.

Massive Aircraft Order by China

Chinese aviation officals announced an agreement yesterday with Airbus to order 110 A320 aircraft plus 40 A330 aircraft. The massive order is valued at approximately USD$15 million. 

China Southern Airlines also signed a separate agreement with Airbus for 10 A320-200s. These announcements coincided with a meeting held this week in Beijing between French President Sarkozy and Chinese President Hu Jintao. The agreement also includes the stipulation that Chinese industry have a 5% stake in A350 airframe production. Six Chinese manufacturers already build parts for Airbus.

The 160 aircraft ordered yesterday is just another indication of the strong continued growth in commercial aviation worldwide.  Such an order as this also indicates China's confidence in the continuation of aviation growth in the long term. This large order could  top rival Boeing's 2007 orders.

Pilots in the Middle East Are Needed

Middle Eastern airlines are scrambling behind the scenes to ensure there will be enough pilots to fly all the new aircraft they are ordering. Air Arabia pilots attending a recent conference in Amman, Jordan, agreed that it was common for wealthier Middle Eastern airlines to poach pilots from their smaller rivals.

Royal Jordanian estimates that the cost of paying to obtain a CPL, plus 140 hours at Jordan Airline Training and Simulation is approximately $100,000 and takes 30 months. 

Visit Phoenix East Aviation and find out how you can achieve that rating for about half that cost.  With a 60% population of international students, we've been training pilot candidates for airlines worldwide since 1972. Our graduates are successfully flying for airlines throughout the world.

Phoenix East Aviation Flight School works with student with M-1 and J-1 Visa.

The Delivery of an Airbus A380

Airbus has just delivered the first A380 to a customer. That customer, Singapore Airlines, is now in the process of unveiling its astonishing new cabin configuration. SIA will carry 471 passengers in "enhanced" economy, business and a premium first class (which includes 12 personal suites and a full bed). There are even 60 upper-deck business class seats which convert to full flat beds.

Interested in flying one of these incredible airplanes? It make take a few years until you get there, but there's no better time to start working on your dream to fly one of these amazing airplanes. 

Phoenix East Aviation is here to help make that dream come true. Start your flight school training today!

Aviation in Africa Today

Passenger travel in Africa is growing steadily, and that's good news for perspective pilots from African countries. However, capacity needs to grow at the same pace. The market holds immense potential, according to the director-general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and European carriers have been actively working to add routes. US carrier, Delta Airines, is also adding US-Africa non-stop routes. Right now about 3,500 passengers fly daily each way between the US and Africa.

If you're interested in becoming a pilot, and you are from an African country, consider coming to the US for your flight training. You can then become a highly skilled pilot and return to Africa to fly for one of the continent's growing airlines.  Talk to a Phoenix East admissions officer about how to accomplish your aviation goals.

The Global Pilot Shortage Problem

The 10th annual World Aviation Training Conference recently took place. All the statistics that follow are from that conference.

Aviation employment in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will need to double by 2015 and India's will triple to serve the growing industry. The GCC will need 8,000 new aviation professionals a year, but the schools in the region graduate a mere 1,000 a year. And globally, in the next 20 years there will be unparalled growth, with 25,000 new aircraft added to the 17,000 already in service, requiring the training of 18,000 new pilots each year. This is just for the mainline airlines and doesn't even include the regionals, corporate aviation or very light jets (VLJs).

The US is capable of training only about 10,000 pilots each year, with many of them going to jobs outside the country. India has 3,000 pilots today, but needs 15,000. China wants 2,100 pilots a year.

But even this isn't a true reflection of how critical the need for pilots is. In the next 9 years the production of VLJs is expected to be between 2,500 and 7,500. Although certification of these aircraft will be as a single-pilot aircraft, it is expected, at least initially, that operators will want to use two-pilot crews to engender pasenger confidence in this new type of aircraft. Just the VLJ alone could add an extra requirement for 15,000 pilots.

In summary, there is an increasing demand for pilots, and pilot training. Phoenix East Aviation is helping meet this demand by training US and International pilots at our Daytona Beach, Florida flight school.

Asia's Shortage of Pilots

With increasing deregulation and increasing consumer demand, many new commercial airlines are starting operations and offering flights throughout Asia. But there is a serious shortage of pilots. According to Alteon Training, a Boeing company, India has fewer than 3,000 pilots today, but will need more than 12,000 by 2025. China will need to find an average of 2,200 new pilots each year, just to keep up with the growth in air travel, which means it will need more than 40,000 pilots by 2025, according to the international journal, Economist.  Asian airlines are in such need of pilots that they are often hiring first officers with less experience; they have also taken to poaching pilots from other airlines. Philippine Airlines, for instance, lost 75 pilots to overseas airlines during the past few years. China has been trying to lure pilots from Brazil, among other places.

If you are interested in becoming a pilot for an international airline, Phoenix East Aviation can provide the training you need.  Call 800-868-4359 (from the U.S.) or 001-386-258-0703 (from anywhere in the world) for details -- or check out our web site www.pea.com.

China's Airline Industry Rapid Development

In recent years China's aviation industry has developed rapidly, with an average annual growth rate greater than 16%, according to the country's civil aviation authority (CAAC).  As a result, a shortage of pilots, technical workers, air space and airport capacity has occurred.  The government is forecasting a 14% annual growth in passenger numbers through 2010, after which even more rapid growth is forecasted.

To give it time to expand its aviation infastructure and services, China will allow few new Chinese start-up airlines for the next three years.  Exceptions to this include airlines carrying freight, airlines that use mainly foreign pilots, and airlines that serve the West and Northeast of the country, where development is slower than in the Eastern sections of the country.

China has indicated that because of the rapid aviation industry expansion, 18 of its airports are operating beyond designed capacity, especially Beijing, which is the country's largest and the world's 9th busiest airport.

Trillion Dollar Aircraft Market Forecasted

Boeing, one of the two largest aircraft manufacturers in the world, has forecasted a demand for new aircraft worth US $3.8 trillion over the next 20 years. This is based on a five percent annual increase in passenger traffic growth, and more than a six percent increase in air cargo traffic.

The cargo growth of over six percent a year is for air frieght alone; another nearly three percent growth is predicted every year for airmail. This will triple the volume of world air cargo traffic over the next 20 years.

To meet this projected growth, the average size of freighter aircraft is expected to increase, plus the dedicated cargo fleet will more than double to nearly 4,000 aircraft.

The cargo fleet will partly consist of passenger aircraft converted to freighters, plus a projected other nearly 900 new freighter aircraft.

And these cargo aircraft are getting bigger: Boeing says that by 2026, about 64 percent of the freighter fleet will be wide-body type aircraft. Currently, 58 percent are widebody jets.

This is more good news for new pilots and for those pilots still in training.  More aircraft and more jobs coming your way.

Emirates Airline Places Big Order for Jets

Sheik Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum, chairman of Emirates Airline, has order 55 superjumbo Airbus A380 passenger jets, to create the biggest fleet of these double-decker airplanes in the world. His plan to to make Dubai the busiest international airline hub in the world, bigger than London, New York and Singapore.

This ambitious plan is not unusual for Sheik Ahmed: He built Emirates from just two planes and only $10 million in 1985 into the world's eighth largest international carrier, with a fleet of 105 widebody aircraft currently. It is not only the world's fastest-growing airline, it is also one of the most consistently profitable. It has been profitable ofr 19 of the airline's 20 years in business; it receives no state subsidies.

Sheik Ahmed was at the recent Paris Air Show to meet industry leaders -- and to shop. He added another eight more A380s to his order, with a list price of $2.6 billion. He also has plans to spend another $82 billion on aviation, icluding building a new $33 billion Dubai airport with six runways. Plans show it to be twice the size of Hong Kong Island and the world's largest airport complex. Mr. Cullermore of Aviation Economics Consulting said Emirates' strategy is likely to be effective because there is a need for another big hub to connect traffic between cities in Europe, Asia and Africa.

Sheik Ahmed clearly is planning for the future and believes commercial aviation worldwide will continue to grow and expand.

Airlines Handle More Passengers -- Need More Pilots

So you want to be an airline pilot, but are not sure a job will be waiting for you after pilot training?

Over the past three years, this blog has written a number of articles about the rapid growth of commercial aviation and how this growth has demanded -- and continues to demand -- more pilots. Check out those articles, listed with other articles, on the Phoenix East Aviation blog. Those articles confirm the worldwide growth in commercial aviation.

Here is more evidence, from worldwide Reuters News Service about the continuing growth:

The number of passengers passing through airports worldwide hit a record of 4.4 BILLION in 2006, an increase of nearly 5% from 2005, according to Airports Council International. The 1,640 airports operated by its members in 178 countries also processed 94.3 million tons of cargo last year, up 4% from the previous year.

Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A., was the world's busiest airport, with nearly 85 million travelers, followed by Chicago O'Hare Airport with 77 million, and London Heathrow with 67 million passengers.

Growth in aviation traffic requires more flights -- and more flights naturally require more pilots.  Pilots are limited to a maximum number of flying hours a month. Therefore, more flights require more pilots to be hired.  Call Phoenix East Aviation for more information on what it takes to be ready to be hired by an airline.  Our Admissions Officers have all the details.

So You Love Aviation, But Don't Want to Be A Pilot?

If you have a passion for aviation, consider a career as an Airline Dispatcher, one of the most exciting and best-paying jobs in the airline industry. Commercial aviation is expanding worldwide, and now is an excellent time for you to begin this exciting  career. Dispatcher positions are available with airlines throughout the world. Phoenix East also has agreements with airlines for immediate job placement for qualified graduates.

Phoenix East Aviation provides all your training. Your course is FAA-approved, six-weeks long with 200 hours of classroom training. You'll train at our excellent flight training academy in Daytona Beach, Florida, in a classroom setting, from experienced instructors.

After graduation from Phoenix East and FAA certification, you will be ready to work in an airline's Operations Control Center, making decisions and sharing responsibility with an airline captain regarding daily flights. You will be the "captain on the ground."  Contact one of our Admissions Officers for more details. Call 1-386-258-0703 (worldwide) or 1-800-868-4359 (US) between 8am - 5pm EST.

More Airlines Worldwide that are Growing - Will They Hire You to be Their Newest Pilot?

We all want to work for successful enterprises. Here's some news on just a few airlines that recently have announced excellent performance:

Canadian airline WestJet marks the fifth consecutive record month. The airline's May capacity increased 15% over May of last year.

A growth rate of over 20%  continues in Finnair's Europe-Asia traffic.  For the whole year, Asian traffic is expected to grow by 30%.  And thanks to the 76-100 seat Embraer aircraft, capacity in domestic traffic has also improved. The passenger load factor overall was higher than in 2006 (year to date comparison through May).

Delta Airlines achieved record May load factors. System traffic increased 5.9% from May 2006.

Turning "Green:" The Airline Industry Become More Environmentally-Conscious

At the Paris Air Show this week, in the effort to better publicize its efforts to be part of an environmentally-conscious industry, Airbus showed an image of dolphins, rain forests, and fishing boats on a misty pond. The company's CEO said, at a press conference, that Airbus is "saving the planet, one A380 at a time." Advanced fuel-saving aerodynamic design, including wingtip fences and an all new lighter cabin help reduce fuel burn, making the A320 amily the most environmentally friendly single aisle aircraft in operation.

All across Le Bourget Airport at the industry's largest trade show, airline and aerospace comapnies are showing that when it comes to saving the environment, they understand and are acting on it. They are talking about hard-earned environmental advanced and new initiatives.

Airlines and aircraft manufacturers can demonstrate that they have dramatically inproved their environmental performance. Each generation of new aircraft and engines has polluted significantly less than its predecessors. Boeing says that since the jet age began, the industry has reduced engine noise by an average of 30 decibels and fuel consumption by over 70%.

The companies are sincere in their efforts. Both Boeing and Airbus are now designing planes to cut fuel consumption even mroe, estimated to be as much as 20%. Good examples are the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A350. Air France-KLM also noted that their new Boeing aircraft cuts carbon-dioxide emissions by 20%. And Pratt & Whittney, which builds engines for jet aircraft, boasted that the number of metric tons of carbon dioxide the fuel-efficient engine could save would be the equivalent of what would be consumed by a "mature forest the size of Belgium."

The Facts about Low-fare Airlines Trends

Don't listen to anyone that discourages you from flying for the airlines. It's not only a very, very exciting industry -- and career -- it's also growing very steadily and very rapidly.  This means it's a great place to be for someone just starting out on a new career.

Listen to what's going on in just one segment of the industry -- the low-fare airlines: An analysis of flight schedules from 1,000 network and low-fare airlines worldwide recently showed that there are an additional 46,000 flights and 7.5 million seats available just this year on low-fare carriers. How many more, new pilots do you think they need for those 46,000 more flights?

This represents a 17% year-on-year growth in frequency and a 19% increase in capacity over last year.

Looking at a worldwide seven-year trend, there are 46.5 million more seats available now and 318,000 more flights than in 2001. This represents massive increases from 2001, when there was 130,000 flights and 17.2 million seats available.

And here's another astonishing statistic: Low-fare airlines accounted for only 6% of all flights worldwide.

Europe and the Asia-Pacific had exceptional growth. The number of low-fare airline flights within Europe has increased from 13,891 in 2001 to a staggering 89,574 in 2007. The eastern European market showed a strong growth just from last year -- growth was 34% February 2006-February 2007. In the Asia-Pacific region, flights on low-fare airlines have increased to 50,851 from 2,840 in 2001.   

What are you waiting for? Start your flight training now.

Virgin Atlantic Purchases Boeing 787 Dreamliners

In order to keep pace with its growth and as part of its strategy to keep the airline internationally competitive on Atlantic routes, Virgin Atlantic Airways will purchase up to 24 new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

This deal is worth approximately USD $3.6 billion. This new generation of aircraft will fly with a new generation of engines also, which are 20% more efficient than those of other wide-body aircraft. The engines are being developed by both GE and Rolls-Royce. The new technology will also make the engines cleaner-burning and less noisy.  Such improvements are important to the aviation industry.

The newer planes' greater fuel efficiency is a key factor in the record number of jetliner orders recently.

Aircraft Orders Strong for Embraer

Strong orders for the Embaer's 170 and 190 regional jet family mean the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer has sold all production slots for this year -- anad also for most of next year!

Embraer is trying to increase production. It currently produces 14 aircraft per month.  Only about 15% of the production slots available for 2008 remain uncommitted, according to Embraer CEO Frederico Curado.

The company also expects to be able to sell a number of its 170/190 aircraft to China airlines. The EMB-145 is currently being built in China as part of a Harbin-Embraer joint venture.

Airlines Purchasing Airlines as Industry Grows Rapidly

The intrigue continues as airlines and investments groups continue to seek airlines to acquire to capitalize on the industry's growth.  With all this intrigue, maybe Hollywood should base a movie on this. Lots of intrigue and wheeling and dealing!

Texas Pacific Group (TPG) is looking at acquiring Iberia, Spain's biggest airline, and the future of BMI (formerly British Midland) is another issue, as both BA and Virgin Atlantic are showing an interest in this regional airline.

Aeroflot has indicated an interest in acquiring Alitalia, in what looks to be a similar arrangement to the recent takeover of Malev Hungarian Airlines by AirBridge, a Russian investment group. Their bid competes with a consortium that includes Texas Pacific. Alitalia officials hope the sale can be completed by June. And while Lufthansa is just keeping a close eye on the Alitalia bids at this time, it could be tempted to enter the race if Air France-KLM gets into the bidding, since Lufthansa would not like to see its biggest European rival grow larger. 

And Air Berlin, a low-fare, leisure carrier, is said to be interested in buying Condor Airlines, according to Aviation Week magazine. Air Berlin recently purchased LTU, thereby emerging as a strong player in the important intra-European business markets, as well as the leisure market. The carrier just last year gained access to the busy domestic network by buying DBA.

Boeing Exceeds 500 Orders for New B-787 Aircraft from Airlines Worldwide

Boeing just announced it now has orders for more than 500 of the new 787 aircraft. At the same time Japan Airlines (JAL) confirmed that it planned to increase its order for the 787 -- adding another five aircraft. It had initially ordered 30. JAL plans to phase out its enormous 747 fleet and replace those aircraft with 787 and 777.

Boeing indicated it had not expected to pass the 500-order mark so quickly.  The company claims the 787 has become the "fastest-selling commercial airplane in history." It currently has orders for 514 aircraft, from 43 different customers. The 787 is, for all practical purposes, sold out through 2013, based on manufacturing schedules.

Boeing also said other airlines had indicated interest in purchasing the 787; the company expects their orders for this aircraft to continue to be strong, perhaps necessitating ramping up production.

Boeing has scheduled the 787 rollout for July of this year, with the first flight planned for August at this point.

Do you think you might be interested in flying this aircraft? Contact Phoenix East Aviation about starting flight training now -- you could be one of the fortunate pilots who will be flying this magnificent new aircraft.

 

What are the Pilot Career & Aviation Trends?

So you think you might want to be a pilot and fly for an airline? You probably are also interested in where the commercial aviation industry is going -- because if it's growing, you'll be more likely to get the jobs you want throughout your career. So is it growing? You bet. Plus, it is anticipated to continue very strong growth for at least another twenty years.  Here's some of those details:

Based on projections for 726 airports around the world, the trends in both international and US domestic travel demand are once again firmly upwards with growth of 5% expected in this month alone.

In April to June of 2006, world passenger numbers are expected to advance by 5.2%, with the faster growth likely to b e demonstated in the international sector -- a year over year increase of 6.9%. A trend through the first three months of this year could well push annual international passenger growth toward the 7% mark.

Australia's Liberal Approach to Commercial Aviation

A move into the Australian domestic market by Singaporean budget carrier, Tiger Airways, is an ambitious one. This move highlights Australia's liberal approach to commercial aviation, since Tiger's operations will be 100% foreign-owned.

While the US restricts foreign stakes in domestic airlines to 25%, and other countries generally limit foreign ownership to 49%, Australia imposes no such restrictions (except for a rule that foreign investment in any industry must not breach national interest).

Last month Australia also approved the entry of UAR airline Etihad into Australia's already heavily contested international market.

More New Aircraft Orders Announced

Airlines buy new aircraft to A.) upgrade their fleet and/or to B.) meet the demands of growth. And when airlines are growing, they always need more pilots.  So who's placing orders this month?

Bombardier announced an order for 30 CRJ900 regional jets from Delta. The 90-passenger aircraft are valued at over USD $1 billion. In addition, Delta took options on an additional 30 CRJs.

Ryanair is in the process of taking delivery of 10 new aircraft, worth USD $700 million. The aircraft will result in 50 new routes throughout Europe and will create 5,000 NEW JOBS.

Azerbaijan Airlines has signed an order for three 787-8 Dreamliners and two 737-900ERs from Boeing. Azerbaijan Airlines is based in Baku, Azerbaijan. The order is valued at USD $609 million. This will allow the airline to enter the long-haul market. The 787 Dreamliner is the world's newest commercial aircraft and uses 20% less fuel than today's airplanes of comparable size. It also provides nearly 45 percent more cargo capacity.

Royal Jordanian Airlines, Jordan's state airline, has announced it will finalize a deal to buy eight Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Delivery is to begin in 2010. This deal is valued at approximately USD $1 billlion. Royal Jordanian Airlines is expanding its fleet from 24 to 35 aircraft. They purchased seven Embraer 195 jets last year to serve regional destinations in the Middle East -- and five more will be delivered this year.

Comair Ltd., British Airways' franchise operator in South Africa is expected to purchase six Boeing 737 aircraft this year, a sale valued at USD $76 million. South Africa's rapid economic expansion is fueling air travel demand. British Airways, Europe's third-largest airline, owns 13 percent of Comair.

Air New Zealand has ordered four more 787-9 Dreamliners. This is the airline's third order for the 787. They have now ordered a total of eight. The value of this latest order is USD $700 million.

British Airways has placed an oder for four Boeing 777-200ERs. They also have options on four additional aircraft. More orders from British Airways are expected in the next few months as part of its fleet renewal project. In a separate deal BA converted options for four Airbus A320s into firm orders.

The Dubai-based airline, Emirates, has signed a contract to lease five Boeing 777-300ERs. The CEO for the airline said it was no secreet that Emirates has mapped an ambitious growth plan for the next 10 years. Emirates has a fleet of 101 Boeing and Aircraft craft.

Pinnacle has ordered 15 Bombardier Q400 aircraft for its newly acquired subsidiary, Colgan Airlines. The agreement is contingent on the carrier receiving financing from Bombardier.

   

Over 3 BILLION Seats on 28 Million Flights

If you like statistics and aircraft, you'll love these.......

OAG, the global travel information company, has announced that the world's scheduled airlines offered a record 3.3 billion seats (actual count is 3,297,362,597, in case you're counting) during 2006. That represents an average daily offer of over 9 million seats on 77,371 individual daily flights.

Total seat offer was up 3.4% from the 3.2 billion seats (actually 3,187,855,301) offered on 27.7 million flights 2006 vs 2005.

The longest scheduled route flown in 2006 was between Newark, New Jersey, US (EWR) and Singapore (SIN), with an elapsed time of 18 hours and 40 minutes. Singapore Airlines operates this flight, which cover 9,523 miles (8,275 nautical miles; 15,325kms).

The shortest scheduled route flown in 2006 was between Papa Westray (PPW) and Westay (WRY) in the United Kingdom, with an elapsed time of two minutes. The flight is operated by Loganair using a British Norman Islander aircraft to cover just 9 miles (8 nautical miles; 14 kms).

Low cost carriers offered a total of 549,078,161 seats in 2006 on 3,815,204 flights worldwide. Within the US, the capacity share of the low cost carriers was 27%, slightly more than Europe, where it was 24%.

Have You Heard About the Asia-Pacific Airline Industry Growth?

India continues to see rapid airline growth. Jet Airways Executive Director Saroj Datta said five new airlines have started up in just the past 16 months.  There are likely to be another six starting service in the next 12 months. He says that would equate to a 75% increase in available seat miles.

Kapil Kaul, CEO Indian Subcontinent and Middle East, Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), said "in 2004 CAPA predicted 25% growth for the next four years. This year, we've revised that and are predicting 30% growth for the next five years.

Because the need for pilots for so great in India, Indian airlines are now hiring both domestic and foreign pilots to fly its commercial aircraft. 

Interested in flying internationally? Call Phoenix East Aviation and ask to talk to an Admissions Officer. Find out how quickly you can learn the skills and have the experience to be hired by an airline.

A New Environmentally-Friendly Airline Starts Service

Silverjet, the world's first 'carbon neutral' airline has taken its inaugural flight. It is the world's first airline to be 100 percent carbon neutral. Included within each ticket is a mandatory carbon offset contribution, giving passengers the opportunity to reinvest "carbon points" in a number of climate-friendly projects around the world.

Silverjet is an all-business class, luxury airline, flying Boeing 767s fitted with 100 award-winning flat bed seats. It is now flying daily from New York and London.

Pakistan's fast-developing popular private sector airline,

Russia's First Budget Airline

Sky Express, Russia's first budget airline started service this week.  Their goal is to win a sizable share of the fast-growing, USD 7 billion domestic market by 2012.

The airline is flying Boeing 737 aircraft. They will fly to Sochi, the Black Sea resort and also to destinations in the Ural mountains, Siberia and southern Russia.

Etihad Airways Sets Record Three Years in a Row

A fleet of new aircraft, 16 new routes and the accolade of world's leading new airline for the third year running has made 2006 a landmark year for Etihad Airways.

The Abu Dhabi-based UAE national airline continued to achieve strong growth in 2006. Last year alone, the airline launched 16 new international destinations, which included New York, Paris, Casablanca, Khartoum and Jakarta, in additional to their routes to Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Manchester, Doha, Jeddah, Muscat, Kuwait, Tehran, Dhaka and Manila. Currently 80 percent of Etihad's fleet is new. The airline has placed a record USD8 billion order for 29 new Airbus and Boeing aircraft.

Orders for New Aircraft Confirm Continued Industry Growth

On behalf its its subsidiary, Air Nelson, Air New Zealand has firmed up orders for three new Bombardier Q300 aircraft.  This is part of an order for 17 Q300s, plus options on 10 Q300s and 13 Q400s by the airline. The value of this latest transaction is approximately USD48 million.

Air One has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320 from an order for 30 aircraft.  Air One serves 23 domestic and six international destinations.

On behalf of Air One, BAE Systems Regional Aircraft has leased three new Avro RJ70s to use on news routes from London City Airport to Milan Linate. 

Singapore-based Tiger Airways has ordered eight more Airbus A320s. The airline currently operates a fleet of seven A320s, with this latest order bringing its backlog of deliveries to 13 aircraft. These new aircraft will be used in the airline's regional network of 15 cities in seven countries.

Pakistani low-fare airline Airblue has ordered two Airbus A320s and is currently negotiating for four additional. Airblue operates six A320 aircraft presently.

Gol increased their order from 67 to 87 Boeing 737-800s, as part of its ongoing expansion program.

Virgin Blue Airlines has ordered 14 Embraer E-jets for its Australian domestic market and regional markets throughout the South Pacific island region. This includes 11 Embraer 190s plus three Embraer 170s.

Kingfisher Airlines of India have reached an agreement for two new Airbus A321s.  This complements Kingfisher's fleet of 10 A320s and three A319s.

New US low-fare airline, Skybus, based in Columbus, Ohio, has signed a firm contract to purchase 65 Airbus A319s.

Easyjet has also signed a firm contract with Airbus for an additional 52 A319s, taking the airline's total orders for the type to 192. This latest order makes Easyjet one of Airbus' biggest customers worldwide. Additionally, the airline has also taken options on another 75 A319s. Andrew Harrison, Easyjet Chief Executive said, "We are committed to operating only the newest and most fuel-efficient aircraft available. The average age of our existing 122 aircraft is only 2.2 years, and we believe that this and the fundamental benefits of our business model make us one of the world's most environmentally efficient airlines."   

AirAsia, Malaysia's low-cost carrier, has doubled an existing order for 100 Airbus jetliners to fulfill its plans for growth in Southeast Aisa. The order for an additional 100 single-aisle A320's, valued at nearly USD7 billion, underscores the appeal of this model for short-haul routes. AirAsia currently has a fleet of 50 jetliners.

China's Shenzhen Airlines to Form Regional Airline Joint Venture

Mesa Air Group, a US low-cost airline operator, and China's Shenzhen Airlines Co. Ltd. will form a regional airline joint venture based in Beijing.

This will be the first regional airline joint venture in the Chinese mainland, and it is expected to start operations at the end of 2007.

2007: Aviation Markets to Watch

According to Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation's 'markets to watch' in 2007, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia are both expected to undergo rapid development.

The Centre's chairman, Peter Harbison, says "Flag carriers of both countries are on the runway to privatisation, while low-cost entries will stimulate strong rates of traffic growth over the next 12 months."

Vietnam's Pacific Airlines is now offering both domestic and international services in response to rising competition from Tiger Airways and AirAsia.  Vietnam's aviation sector is expanding rapidly, up 13.1% (passenger) and 14.4% (freight) in 2006.

Saudi Arabia's National Air Services (private charter operator) is expected to launch services to serve domestic and regional destinations in the Middle East. And Sama has been awarded a new airline license.

Both countries are also expanding their airport infastructure to accommodate the expected sharp increases in demand.  Saudi Arabia is investing USD8 billion to expand Jeddah, Medina and Tabuk airports. Vietnam is developing a replacement airport for the congested Than Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

Saudi Arabian Airlines Introduces New Low-Cost Services

Saudi Arabian Airlines has just announced the airline's plan to operate low-cost flights.  The decision was made after seeing the success of low-budget airlines in the Gulf region. Two other Saudi private airlines, which are to be newly licensed soon, have also expressed their readiness to start low-cost service.

According to Abdullah Rahaimy, president of the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA), most Saudi investors who have applied for licenses to operate private airlines in the Kingdom have opted for budget airline operating models.

New Low-Fare Start-Up Airlines

Commercial aviation continues to grow. Here are three new start-up airlines just announced:

L'Avion, a new low-fare, business-class airline, will begin flying passengers between Paris' Orly Airport and Newark, New Jersey's Liberty International Airport, this month. The Boeing 757-200s will accommodate 90 business-class passengers, in planes with a capacity of 200. Originally branded Elysair, the France-Dutch operator changed its name to the French word for airplane after conducting a poll on both sides of the Atlantic.

It joins other start-ups like Silverjet. The UK-based carrier will transport business travelers between New York and London, starting January 2007.

They join other business-class only start-up airlines such as MAXjet Airways and Eos, which offer services on links to key European commercial centers. 

Also, Air France-KLM aand Transavia.com announced the creation of a new international mid-haul airline named Transavia.com.  This low-cost airline plans to service nine Mediterranean destinations by mid-year 2007.

Regional Express plans a Massive Fleet Expansion

Regional Express (Rex), the largest independent regional airline in Australia, will begin an extensive fleet expansion and modernization program.  It includes the lease of 25 advanced 34-seat Saab 340B plus aircraft. 

The Saab 340B plus aircraft features a redesigned wing to increase take-off and climb perfornace.  Passenger comfort is also enhanced with the cabin's new noise cancelling system.  The Saab 340 has been described as the ideal turboprop aircraft for today's regional airline environment because of its low operating cost and fuel efficient engines. 

Rex Managing Director Deoff Breust said that the 25 aircraft would be delivered and in service by January 2007.  The expansion is required to meet the increased demand of commercial aviation in Australia.   

Airbus A380 to Make its First Landing In Africa

Ethiopia will be the first to host Africa's maiden flight by the world's largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380, a testing flight that will build confidence in Africa's aviation industry.  This first flight was sent for October of this year. So far, a series of super jumbo A380 successful test flights have been conducted in Singapore, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Hamburg, Madeline (Columbia) and Nunavut (Canada).

Ethiopian aviation authorities have expressed confidence that the newly constructed runway at Bole airport can safely carry the weight of the A380 passenger service.

Ethiopian Airlines, which is owned by the government, has ordered 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets, whose delivery will commence in 2008.

Strong Growth in Asian Aviation

Two of the biggest events in recent Asian aviation history occurred this past September with the long-awaited opening of the new Bang