Matt Molnar
2009-06-29, 03:24 AM
Here's a wrap up of some weekend headlines.
Weekend Wrap: Air France 447 Computers Probed, Billy Mays Death Possibly Aircraft Related, Lufthansa Committed to 747-8 (http://nycaviation.com/2009/06/29/weekend-wrap-air-france-447-computers-probed/)
• Questions were raised over the ability of pilots to control aircraft following computer system malfunctions. Air France 447 crash investigators now suspect (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124605948270463623.html) the Airbus experienced a cascade of computer system failures, set into motion by malfunctioning speed sensors. Another report revealed (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124607165106964441.html) that a Northwest Airlines A330-200 suffered computer problems very similar to those experienced by AF 447 just before it crashed. The NTSB is investigating.
• Television pitchman Billy Mays was found dead (http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/06/28/mays.death/index.html) Sunday morning in his Florida home. The day before, Mays was hit in the head by unknown debris while aboard US Airways flight 1271, a 737-400 which burst its front tires (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31590371/ns/travel-news/) during landing at Tampa International Airport (TPA). Speculative comparisons are being made to the death of actress Natasha Richardson, who died after hitting her head in a skiing accident, but no official cause of Mays death has yet been released.
• Wizz Air nearly caused a riot (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31547798/ns/travel-news/) in downtown Budapest when they attempted to release 1,000 balloons, some of which had coupons attached worth 10,000 forints (US$50). Some spectators rushed the balloons and began popping them to ensure the coupons didn’t float away.
• Lufthansa said they are committed to the 747-8 (http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/06/28/328938/lufthansa-commits-to-747-8-but-braces-for-possible-delay.html), but they don’t expect it to arrive on time.
• Boeing and Airbus may see further sales declines as fewer lenders are willing (http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200906261558DOWJONESDJONLINE000720_FORTUNE5.htm) to finance down payments for large aircraft orders, according to a leading aviation-finance attorney. The down payment for a $2 billion/30 aircraft order approaches $6 billion, due 18 months before deliveries begin.
Weekend Wrap: Air France 447 Computers Probed, Billy Mays Death Possibly Aircraft Related, Lufthansa Committed to 747-8 (http://nycaviation.com/2009/06/29/weekend-wrap-air-france-447-computers-probed/)
• Questions were raised over the ability of pilots to control aircraft following computer system malfunctions. Air France 447 crash investigators now suspect (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124605948270463623.html) the Airbus experienced a cascade of computer system failures, set into motion by malfunctioning speed sensors. Another report revealed (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124607165106964441.html) that a Northwest Airlines A330-200 suffered computer problems very similar to those experienced by AF 447 just before it crashed. The NTSB is investigating.
• Television pitchman Billy Mays was found dead (http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/06/28/mays.death/index.html) Sunday morning in his Florida home. The day before, Mays was hit in the head by unknown debris while aboard US Airways flight 1271, a 737-400 which burst its front tires (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31590371/ns/travel-news/) during landing at Tampa International Airport (TPA). Speculative comparisons are being made to the death of actress Natasha Richardson, who died after hitting her head in a skiing accident, but no official cause of Mays death has yet been released.
• Wizz Air nearly caused a riot (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31547798/ns/travel-news/) in downtown Budapest when they attempted to release 1,000 balloons, some of which had coupons attached worth 10,000 forints (US$50). Some spectators rushed the balloons and began popping them to ensure the coupons didn’t float away.
• Lufthansa said they are committed to the 747-8 (http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/06/28/328938/lufthansa-commits-to-747-8-but-braces-for-possible-delay.html), but they don’t expect it to arrive on time.
• Boeing and Airbus may see further sales declines as fewer lenders are willing (http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200906261558DOWJONESDJONLINE000720_FORTUNE5.htm) to finance down payments for large aircraft orders, according to a leading aviation-finance attorney. The down payment for a $2 billion/30 aircraft order approaches $6 billion, due 18 months before deliveries begin.