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Why are they hangar queens? what is wrong with the kingfisher?

Flair Airlines cancels Waterloo-Edmonton service, other routes from Waterloo to continue Story by Kevin Nielsen • Yesterday 2:37 p.m. With four of its planes having been seized earlier this month, Flair Airlines has been forced to adjust its plans for the Waterloo International Airport. A Flair Airlines plane is seen in this undated handout photo.© THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Flair Airlines “We will be making some adjustments to our spring summer schedule as a result of the events a few weeks ago,” Garth Lund, the airline's chief commercial officer, told reporters on Friday while also reaffirming the company’s commitment to the area. “Kitchener-Waterloo is a really critical key market for Flair. It's one of our seven operating bases.” The company will be suspending service between Waterloo International Airport and Edmonton although it still plans to launch its new service to Abbotsford, B.C. in May. “We will be preserving the rest of the routes. We'll still be launching Abbotsford this summer and Puerto Vallarta from the winter season,” he noted. Video: War of words in Flair Airlines plane seizure situation Lund told reporters that while Flair had initially hoped to grow capacity by 30 per cent this summer, it will now temper that move to 15 per cent. “So particularly in the next couple of months, there won't necessarily be that growth coming through,” he explained. “But by the time we get to July, August, when people really want to have, we'll be there and the growth will be there.” The airline was initially to have a third plane begin flying out of Waterloo International Airport by June, but one of the four planes seized earlier was based there which left it with just the one. The company will not get to three this summer but will return to having a second plane based at the airport in Breslau this summer. “So as we transition through to the peak, we'll have it there through the peak of summer and onward from there,” Flair CEO Stephen Jones said. The company also released details of an economic impact study it commissioned InterVistas to do both nationally and locally on Flair’s impact. “It's not just the jobs that we create, but it's the connectivity that we bring and the economic activity that flows from that,” Jones explained. The delays may be over for the discount airline, Global News Flair Airlines disruptions shake public’s confidence in Canadian low-cost airlines Unmute 0 View on Watch The report said that while Flair currently has around 1,100 employees, the spinoffs from that currently create another 4,700 jobs as well and over $890 million in economic output -- a number which includes tourist spending as well as employment. Locally, the airline says it was responsible for $83.7 million in economic output when one factors in employment and tourism dollars. “So for the year ending 2022, our activities in Kitchener Waterloo region resulted in 188 full-time employees across the region,” Jones said, a number which includes staff of its own at the airport as well as customs officers and airport staff. “The income earned from those employees in 2022 was $19 million with an estimated average salary of $101,000.”

Boeing pushes Starliner test flight to July Boeing pushes Starliner test flight to July by Patrick Hilsman Washington DC (UPI) Mar 30, 2023 Boeing said it was now targeting July 21 as the earliest window for its first manned Starliner flight to the International Space Station, delaying the liftoff by several months. Boeing and NASA said Wednesday that additional time was needed to "close out verification and validation work prior to the systems first flight with crew on board" the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft for the flight which was originally scheduled for the test mission originally scheduled for April. "We are very proud of the work the team has done," Mark Nappi, vice president and Starliner program manager, said. "We understand the significance of this mission for both us and NASA. We will launch when we are ready and that includes at a time when the International Space Station Can accept our vehicle." The Starliner has been described as a "next-generation" spacecraft which is designed to carry up to seven passengers, or alternately a mix of crew and cargo, to low-Earth orbit. The capsule has a "weldless structure," and can be reused up to ten times. Test pilots Barry Wilmore and Suni Williams were scheduled to fly on the mission. The mission would have marked the first time a woman would be a crew member on the first flight of a spacecraft. According to Boeing, Wilmore, Williams, and backup pilot Mike Fincke "finished the second part of the Crew Equipment Interface Testing milestone." "They maneuvered around the spacecraft getting hands-on experience with the tools and equipment they will use during the test flight," Boeing said. "Wilmore, Williams and Fincke will also conduct several simulations focused on the spacecraft's backup manual flight mode for added redundancy in the event of an emergency. Fueling the spacecraft and loading updated software flight parameters ensuring alignment with the ISS will be conducted closer to launch," the company said. Related Links Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com

Pilot Jobs – Flair Airlines (flyflair.com)

Here is a link to a free Sarcastic Font and it also has the benefit of being in cursive , so some folks will be unable to understand it. Sarcasm Fonts | FontSpace Wednesday Script Font | Jimtype Studio | FontSpace for example

Now you have really confused the readers.

No but I did notice it was not doing what I wanted it to do and fixed it before you asked.

Porter Airlines (Canada) Limited - scheduled international licence The applicant has applied to the Canadian Transportation Agency (Agency) for a licence to operate a scheduled international service, large aircraft, in accordance with the Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United Mexican States on Air Transport signed on July 27,... A-2023-56 | Determination | 2023-03-22 Porter Airlines (Canada) Limited - scheduled international licence The applicant has applied to the Canadian Transportation Agency (Agency) for a licence to operate a scheduled international service, large aircraft, in accordance with the Air Transport Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of Cuba, signed on May 8, 2015, as... A-2023-57 | Determination | 2023-03-22 Porter Airlines (Canada) Limited - scheduled international licence The applicant has applied to the Canadian Transportation Agency (Agency) for a licence to operate, through code sharing, a scheduled international service, large aircraft, in accordance with the Arrangement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of Colombia set out in a... A-2023-58 | Determination | 2023-03-22 Porter Airlines (Canada) Limited - scheduled international licence The applicant has applied to the Canadian Transportation Agency (Agency) for a licence to operate, through code sharing, a scheduled international service, large aircraft, in accordance with the Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica on Air... A-2023-59 | Determination | 2023-03-22 Porter Airlines (Canada) Limited - scheduled international licence The applicant has applied to the Canadian Transportation Agency (Agency) for a licence to operate, through code sharing, a scheduled international service, large aircraft, in accordance with the Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of Dominican Republic on Air Transport,... A-2023-60 | Determination | 2023-03-22 Porter Airlines (Canada) Limited - scheduled international licence The applicant has applied to the Canadian Transportation Agency (Agency) for a licence to operate, through code sharing, a scheduled international service, large aircraft, in accordance with the Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of El Salvador on Air... A-2023-61 | Determination | 2023-03-22 Porter Airlines (Canada) Limited - scheduled international licence The applicant has applied to the Canadian Transportation Agency (Agency) for a licence to operate, through code sharing, a scheduled international service, large aircraft, in accordance with the Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of Haiti on Air Transport, signed on... A-2023-62 | Determination | 2023-03-22 Porter Airlines (Canada) Limited - scheduled international licence The applicant has applied to the Canadian Transportation Agency (Agency) for a licence to operate, through code sharing, a scheduled international service, large aircraft, in accordance with the Agreement on Air Transport between the Government of Canada and the Government of Jamaica, signed on... A-2023-63 | Determination | 2023-03-22 Porter Airlines (Canada) Limited - scheduled international licence The applicant has applied to the Canadian Transportation Agency (Agency) for a licence to operate, through code sharing, a scheduled international service, large aircraft, in accordance with the arrangement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of Panama set out in an... A-2023-64 | Determination | 2023-03-22 Porter Airlines (Canada) Limited - scheduled international licence The applicant has applied to the Canadian Transportation Agency (Agency) for a licence to operate, through code sharing, a scheduled international service, large aircraft, in accordance with the Agreement on Air Transport between Canada and the European Community and its Member States, signed on... A-2023-65 | Determination | 2023-03-22 Showing 11-20 of 29235 decisions. Porter Airlines (Canada) Limited - scheduled international licence The applicant has applied to the Canadian Transportation Agency (Agency) for a licence to operate, through code sharing, a scheduled international service, large aircraft, in accordance with the Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and... A-2023-66 | Determination | 2023-03-22

For the sake of those who work for Flair, I hope you are wrong.

Flair passengers from Ontario stranded in Calgary with no clear solutions Passenger complaints have tripled and many feel helpless as airlines make the compensation process a frustrating one. Silvia Naranjo speaks to a family stranded in Calgary after Flair cancelled their flights with no rebooking confirmation. By Silvia Naranjo Posted Mar 21, 2023, 3:09PM MDT. Last Updated Mar 21, 2023, 3:25PM MDT. A family from Ontario is stranded in Calgary after flights from Flair Airlines have been delayed or cancelled altogether. Taura Truba says she decided, as a Christmas gift for the family, to take a getaway trip to Calgary. Things got off to a rocky start when the original flight had to be rebooked because the airline cancelled their reservation in advance. After sorting that out, their return flight home wasn’t any better. “It was early afternoon, and we get an email from Flair, telling us, informing us that our flight on the 20th, that Sunday, had been cancelled and that they had rebooked us for the 30th, so 10 days later,” Truba told CityNews. “There’s been no offer of compensation in any way other than to rebook our tickets for several days later.” In an update Tuesday afternoon, Truba said in an email the rebooked flight has now been cancelled. Read More: More Flair passengers come forward on how ID misinformation from airline left them stranded When calling Flair Airline customer support, she says she was told to rebook the flight herself to be reimbursed after. However, she declined to do so due to the high ticket prices on short notice, and based on what the airline supervisor said to her. “I talked to one of the supervisors, and she said the information we are getting from higher-ups is telling us that other airlines will not take bookings from us. They won’t take our payment,” Truba said. She says her partner’s job could not wait, and he had to book another flight back to Ontario without a reimbursement guarantee. But she and their son had to stay, although he was supposed to return to school Monday. “We are stuck here,” she said. “On Flair’s side, they’ve offered nothing other than sorry for the inconvenience.” She says she has not received any booking confirmation or compensation so far and that most of the conversations with Flair have been over the phone. Dr. Gabor Lukasc, the president of Air Passenger Rights, says airlines seek to find reasons outside of taking any responsibility. “Airlines try to argue that it’s the passenger that has to prove that the flight was delayed or cancelled for reasons within the carrier’s control, which is absurd. And we see the airlines just making up excuses,” Lukasc said. “Even under the current – quite flawed – laws, it’s clear that the airline cannot just walk away from the obligation to transport you.” CityNews reached out to Flair airlines, and a statement from a Flair spokesperson says requests for rebooking are looked at on a case-by-case basis. “However, passengers that are impacted by certain cancellations are being rebooked by Flair Airlines on the next available Flair flight, or on other airlines directly, or being reimbursed by Flair directly if they have rebooked themselves,” the statement reads.

Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 157, Number 11: Regulations Amending the Canadian Aviation Security Regulations, 2012 (Air Cargo) The complete document can be viewed at: Canada Gazette, Part 1, Volume 157, Number 11: Regulations Amending the Canadian Aviation Security Regulations, 2012 (Air Cargo) 75 days consultation (until June 1, 2023) March 18, 2023 Statutory authority Aeronautics Act Sponsoring department Department of Transport REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT (This statement is not part of the Regulations.) General Comment Add a comment for the General Comment section Issues The air cargo industry remains vulnerable to extremist elements aspiring to commit acts of unlawful interference, including terrorist attacks. Information on inbound air cargo is not being consistently reviewed and assessed for security risks. To bolster the security of airports, aircraft and the travelling public, the Government of Canada must be empowered to identify high-risk cargo before it is loaded on Canada-bound aircraft. Amendments to the Canadian Aviation Security Regulations, 2012 (CASR 2012) would establish requirements for a Pre-load Air Cargo Targeting (PACT) program. Ensuring all air carriers transporting cargo to Canada submit pre-loading advance cargo information (PLACI) and comply with mitigation measures as directed by Transport Canada (TC), the PACT program would enhance the security of inbound air cargo and ensure that Canadian regulations remain aligned with those of key international trading partners.

Interesting choice of words: “Today is a long-awaited milestone… that will now enable us to disrupt the air cargo industry in Canada,” says WestJet executive vice-president of cargo Kirsten de Bruijn. What needs to be disrupted?

Boeing to Pay $6.6 Million in Penalties to FAA Thursday, February 25, 2021 WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed $5.4 million in deferred civil penalties against The Boeing Company for failing to meet its performance obligations under a 2015 settlement agreement. The Chicago-based aircraft manufacturer also agreed to pay $1.21 million to settle two pending FAA enforcement cases. Under the 2015 agreement, Boeing pledged to change its internal processes to improve and prioritize regulatory compliance. The agreement required the company to meet specific performance targets, and authorized the FAA to assess deferred penalties if it failed to do so. The FAA assessed $5.4 million in deferred penalties under the terms of the 2015 agreement because Boeing missed some of its improvement targets, and because some company managers did not sufficiently prioritize compliance with FAA regulations. The 2015 agreement prevents Boeing from appealing the FAA's penalty assessment, and the five-year term of this agreement has ended. Boeing previously paid $12 million in civil penalties as an initial condition of the 2015 agreement. The terms of this new settlement were reached at the end of December 2020. “Boeing failed to meet all of its obligations under the settlement agreement, and the FAA is holding Boeing accountable by imposing additional penalties,” FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said. “I have reiterated to Boeing’s leadership time and again that the company must prioritize safety and regulatory compliance, and that the FAA will always put safety first in all its decisions.” Boeing also will pay $1.21 million to settle two enforcement cases. One case alleged the company implemented an improper structure of its FAA-approved Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) program and exerted undue pressure or interfered with ODA unit members. The other case alleged it failed to follow its quality-control processes and subjected ODA members to undue pressure or interference in relation to an aircraft airworthiness inspection. The FAA will be vigilant in its oversight of Boeing’s engineering and production activities, and is actively implementing the certification reform and oversight provisions of the 2020 Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act. This legislation will allow FAA to assess even greater civil penalties against manufacturers that exert undue pressure on ODA unit members.

The Canadian Press FollowView Profile Flair launches $50-million lawsuit against leasing companies following plane seizures Story by The Canadian Press • 1h ago TORONTO — Flair Airlines has filed a $50-million lawsuit against several plane-leasing companies over what it claims were unlawful seizures of four of its aircraft over the weekend. The filings in Ontario Superior Court state that a trio of leasing companies found a better deal for the planes with a third party and then set Flair up for default. Flair claims in the court document that is an unlawful termination of leases. The statement of claim says the lessors dispatched agents to three Canadian airports to seize the four Boeing 737 Maxes "in the middle of the night as passengers were boarding planes for spring break vacations." Flair launches $50-million lawsuit against leasing companies after plane seizures - CityNews Ottawa

most violations...... WestJet and Flair Largest fine to Sunwing Reality will of course result in airfares being increased to deal with the additional fines. Canada's major airlines hit with fines for hundreds of violations following recent travel chaos Since Air Passenger Protection Regulations came into effect in 2019, tens of thousands of air passengers have complained the airlines aren't playing by the rules. (David Richard/CBC) The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has issued fines to Canada's major airlines for hundreds of violations related to mass flight delays and cancellations last summer and in December. The violations frequently concern failure to update passengers during flight disruptions or promptly address their compensation claims. Some passengers and industry experts argue the fines, which typically range between $2,500 and $39,000, aren't much of a deterrent for misbehaving airlines. "The fines are low," said Ian Jack, a spokesperson for the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), a non-profit travel agency. "We have yet to see the regulator really bring out a big stick on anything." The CTA, Canada's transport regulator, is tasked with enforcing federal Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR). Since the regulations came into effect in 2019, the agency has been flooded with tens of thousands of complaints that the airlines aren't playing by the rules. The CTA doled out the biggest fine — $126,000 — to Sunwing for 36 violations for failing to keep passengers updated during flight delays in December. That month, a winter storm forced the airline to cancel 67 flights, disrupting plans for thousands of holiday travellers. According to the CTA, Flair Airlines and WestJet committed the most violations related to flight disruptions. WestJet is set to purchase Sunwing in the coming weeks in a merger deal. Read the full story here. Federal government announces $75.9 million to tackle air passenger complaints backlog. Surveys show Canadians increasingly frustrated by lengthy air passenger complaint process.

National Transportation Safety Board chair on airplane close calls 2h ago As the aviation system is facing questions after at least six "close call" incidents between airplanes since December, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy acknowledged risks while voicing confidence in the system. "We are still the safest aviation system in the world," Homendy told ABC "This Week" anchor Martha Raddatz on Sunday. "There are clearly risks that we need to evaluate, and this is why the NTSB is investigating several incidents so it doesn't become something more catastrophic." One of these incidents involved a United Airlines 777 aircraft apparently taking a nosedive after departing from Hawaii. The plane carrying hundreds of passengers from Maui to San Francisco went down to 775 feet above the Pacific Ocean before pilots could regain control. A formal investigation was not opened until two months later, as United reportedly did not report the incident to NTSB because they believed there was no need to as there were no passenger injuries or damage to the aircraft.National Transportation "The criteria for accidents and incidents is something that we will look at and constantly review," Homendy responded. "We didn't have a full investigation of it because it occurred on the same day as another very turbulent event in Hawaii. But it is something that we are investigating." Raddatz asked whether the aviation system is being pushed "too hard" following the immense toll the COVID-19 pandemic took on the industry. "I think it's a difficult time for the aviation industry," Homendy responded. "I think, you know, we saw a lot of layoffs. We saw a lot of employees retire, we have new employees coming on that are being trained. We have drones coming online, air taxis, so it's a difficult time and it's really a transitional time for the aviation industry." MORE: Runway incidents have risen but serious close calls have decreased over 20 years: FAA Homendy assured Raddatz that the National Transportation Safety Board is "very concerned" about these incidents, emphasizing the overall progress of aviation over the last several decades. "Can you confirm that these incidents, these very close calls are on the rise?" Raddatz asked. "They are on the rise," Homendy answered, adding that "the FAA needs to take action." Data from the Federal Aviation Administration shows the number of overall runway incidents at U.S. airports has increased, but the number of most serious close calls at U.S. airports has decreased over the last two decades.

FAA approves restarting Boeing 787 Dreamliner deliveries next week Story by By David Shepardson and Valerie Insinna • Yesterday 12:48 p.m. By David Shepardson and Valerie Insinna (Reuters) -The Federal Aviation Administration on Friday approved Boeing to resume deliveries of its widebody 787 Dreamliner next week. The agency halted 787 deliveries on Feb. 23 due to a data analysis error related to the jet’s forward pressure bulkhead, which Boeing Co found after reviewing certification records. The FAA said Boeing had addressed those concerns. "The FAA may resume issuing airworthiness certificates next week," the agency said. Boeing shares, which were down 1.4% before the announcement, rose 1.7% following news of the resumption, which was first reported by Reuters. Boeing said it had completed the analysis necessary to confirm the aircraft meets requirements, and will not require further production or fleet action to meet FAA standards. "The FAA will determine when 787 ticketing and deliveries resume, and we are working with our customers on delivery timing," Boeing said. (Reporting by Valerie Insinna; Editing by Leslie Adler)

Not a good sign. 4 Flair Airlines planes seized amid ‘extreme’ action in commercial dispute Story by Saba Aziz • 20m ago 4 Flair Airlines planes seized amid ‘extreme’ action in commercial dispute (msn.com) A Flair Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX jetliner (C-FLUT) is airborne on final approach for landing at Vancouver International Airport, Richmond, B.C., on Monday, December 12, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS IMAGES/Bayne Stanley© THE CANADIAN PRESS IMAGES/Bayne Stanley Flair Airlines say four of its planes are "not operational" after "extreme and unusual" actions by a U.S.-based lessor to seize the aircrafts amid a commercial dispute. In an emailed statement to Global News Saturday, a spokesperson for Flair Airlines said a "commercial dispute" with a New York-based hedge fund and lessor had affected four of its planes. "Flair Airlines is aware of extreme and unusual actions taken by a New York-based hedge fund and lessor of certain Flair Airlines aircraft," the spokesperson said. "The airline is aggrieved by this unprecedented action." The spokesperson added that the airline was involved in ongoing communications with the company and "payment has been initiated." "Flair Airlines will continue to engage in a consensual mediation with the lessor to remedy the situation," the statement said. For now, Flair is activating three spare aircrafts that it had planned to use in the summer. -- More to come. With files from Global News' Amanda Connolly

And now it will get very interesting, at least for those working at the merged (or not merged) airlines. Note the protection granted to Montreal. Ottawa greenlights WestJet's takeover of Sunwing The Canadian Press Staff Contact Updated March 10, 2023 2:38 p.m. MST Published March 10, 2023 2:34 p.m. MSTMore share options OTTAWA - The federal government is giving the thumbs up to WestJet Airlines' takeover of Sunwing Airlines and Sunwing Vacations. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says the decision "was not taken lightly" given the travel chaos that erupted over the winter holidays and left Sunwing passengers stranded abroad for days. Announced last March, the takeover will see Calgary-based WestJet bolster its vacation package offerings as it adds the tour operator to its fleet, though they've said the two brands will be marketed separately. Last fall the Competition Bureau warned that the purchase by Canada's second-biggest airline would likely result in higher prices and decreased services, particularly around package deals. The transport minister has attached conditions to the acquisition that include extending Sunwing packages to five new cities, maintaining capacity on affected routes and keeping both a vacations business head office in Toronto and a regional one in Montreal for at least five years. Financial terms of the takeover have not been disclosed. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 10, 2023.

Pionairs is always looking for new members! If you can, please ask one of your former colleagues who hasn’t joined Pionairs yet to join! It’s very simple: ask them to go to Pionairs.ca and click on The very low dues of $20 per year - including a spouse/partner - are deducted from the pension cheque in June of each year. (If not on pension, payment can be done by PayPal, e-transfer or cheque.) The viability of any non-profit organization such as ours relies totally on the dedication and enthusiasm of its members. Like any organization, it requires individuals who are willing to volunteer some time and talent to Pionairs. If you’re looking for a cause to serve, Pionairs would love to hear from you. Contact either your District Director at Pionairs.ca or your National Executive at Membership@pionairs.ca

Cargojet to sell 777 aircraft, defer cargo conversions as demand slips Orders for 6 freighters on hold, pushed back as Canadian carrier responds to e-commerce downturn Eric Kulisch ·Monday, March 06, 2023 Cargojet operates a large fleet of Boeing 767 freighters. It wants to step up a level to the 777 but has trimmed its acquisition plan in the face of global economic headwinds. (Photo: Shutterstock/Matheus Obst) Listen to this article 0:00 / 10:08 1X BeyondWords Canadian airline Cargojet said Monday it plans to sell two Boeing 777-300 aircraft it had planned to convert into freighters and is postponing orders for other large-aircraft modifications to preserve cash as the weak global economy lowers demand for shipping goods. The all-cargo carrier, which reported a CA$16.3 million ($12 million) decline in gross margin for the fourth quarter because the normal year-end bump in shipping volumes didn’t materialize, said it expects to finalize the 777-300 sale early this quarter for $53.5 million and defer the delivery of two more 777-300s to help weather the current economic downturn. It didn’t disclose who will buy the aircraft. Cargojet (TSX: CJT), expected to be one of the first carriers to deploy the passenger-to-freighter version of the 777, reiterated that DHL will be the launch customer for four remaining 777 aircraft being added to increase international, long-haul capability and revenue. Cargojet operates 34 freighter aircraft, including 21 medium-size Boeing 767s and 13 Boeing 757s for regional routes. Its core business is operating a domestic overnight network between 16 major Canadian cities for integrated express carriers and international airlines, such as Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), DHL Express, Purolator and UPS (NYSE: UPS). Cargojet’s four 777-200 planes will be retrofitted by startup Mammoth Freighters with a wide cargo door, reinforced flooring to support heavy containers and a cargo loading system. Cargojet said it expects deliveries to begin in the first quarter of 2024 and run through the first quarter of 2025. The pullback on fleet expansion negatively impacts Israel Aerospace Industries, which was slated to produce four 777-300s. The purchase of one -300 has been postponed indefinitely, and the second remaining plane was pushed back to the second quarter of 2025. The two airframe engineering firms are vying to manufacture the first 777s converted from passenger to cargo configuration. All 777 freighters operating today were purpose-built by Boeing. Acquiring used passenger jets that have been converted to cargo configuration is less expensive than a new plane, which has the advantage of having a slightly larger payload. Cargojet said its strategy is to better time its capital commitments as the global economy teeters on recession, saying it reserves the option to activate the production slots reserved with Israel Aerospace Industries. “Management is currently maintaining all its existing rights for the aircraft conversion slots and will continue to closely monitor the duration and severity of this economic cycle to allow optionality on fleet ramp, if necessary. Management has a solid track record of securing feedstock aircraft should new opportunities emerge,” it said in the financial documents. “As passenger airlines retire B-777 to move up to B-787 aircraft, the feedstock market for B-777 is expected to remain strong, allowing Cargojet to initially divest its feedstock of B-777s freeing up liquidity immediately,” the airline explained. CEO Ajay Virmani said Cargojet didn’t go through with a planned purchase the third 777-300 originally targeted for IAI and is likely to sell the remaining plane it owns. “We are still in the market should things improve.” Demand for 777 conversion slots remains high and Cargojet could sell its reservations to other airlines or lessors if conditions don’t improve enough for management’s liking, he added. Cargojet also said it is deferring the purchase and conversion of two 767-200s from 2023 to 2024. The combined savings in capital expenditures from the deferred orders amounts to $295 million, much of it to be realized in 2024. The airline still plans to add four 757-200 and three 767-300 freighters to the fleet this year, noting that they are all secured by customer contracts. One of those 767s will be purchased when it comes off leases in November. Mammoth Freighters, established in 2021 with backing by funds managed by Fortress Investment Group, recently inducted its prototype 777-300 into its overhaul hanger in Fort Worth, Texas, where the existing interior will be stripped for flight testing. Two 777-200 Long Range aircraft for Cargojet, including the prototype designated to prove conformity with Federal Aviation Administration standards, previously were placed in separate production lines. Mammoth hopes to have at least one of the -200 rebuilds completed by the end of the year, with FAA certification anticipated in the first quarter of 2024. FAA reviews for all types of aircraft builds are taking longer than in the past because of resource constraints. Rebalancing costs for slower growth Fourth-quarter results were disappointing after executives in November had expressed confidence they wouldn’t experience a decline in volumes, unlike many all-cargo airlines, because their business was heavily tied to express carriers with daily network needs regardless of cargo volumes. The minimum guarantees in long-term transport contracts provide a good buffer against industry ups and downs, but that hasn’t stopped customers from dialing back trips. DHL, for example, redeployed two 767 cargo jets that operated between its Cincinnati hub, Vancouver, Canada, and Shanghai, China, to another route when demand plummeted late last year, but aircraft utilization was lower than before. Mammoth Freighters has a large conversion center for 777 aircraft in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo: Mammoth Freighters) Management said the amount of cargo shipped and the number of hours flown per aircraft is also expected to decline in 2023 as high inflation causes consumers to spend less. Growth “won’t be like a hockey stick that we have seen in the past three years for sure. It will be in the mid-single-digits probably,” Cargojet CEO Ajay Virmani said on a call with analysts. Cargojet generated $196.3 million in revenue, which was only up 6% versus the same three months in 2021 when fuel surcharges aren’t counted. Management said domestic revenue was essentially flat when other cost pass-throughs were excluded because of the decrease in e-commerce and B2B volumes — and would have been lower if not for automatic rate increases for inflation permitted under long-term contracts. Revenue for turnkey leases — aircraft plus crews and maintenance — increased because of new scheduled routes around the world and ad hoc activity. The charter business is more cyclical than the long-term partnerships with express operators. The gross margin fell to $45.6 million, with adjusted operating income before accounting considerations down 8.4%. Adjusted free cash flow, an indicator of financial strength, declined $2.9 million — partly explaining why the company deferred more capital expenditures on aircraft. The results show Cargojet had difficulty correcting for one-time costs — hiring and training pilots for new routes, overtime and temporary labor — associated with rapid growth to keep up with the surge in shipments during 2021 and early 2022. Onboarding costs for new hires were especially significant. “With 2022 being a record year for year-over-year growth we just couldn’t grow fast enough to service our customers the way they wanted to be serviced. So, when you can’t grow fast enough you do everything pretty much at any cost. Now that’s overstating it, but we ran very high cost for overtime and for training. And to some extent for temporary employees,” said CFO Scott Calver. Earlier in the pandemic, Cargojet was able to hire pilots laid off by passenger airlines who were already certified to fly 757s and 767s, and who only required a few days of training, as opposed to months, he explained. Virmani said the slowdown in volumes didn’t hit Cargojet until December, when the extra network capacity had already been built up. The airline is quickly rightsizing operations, including consolidating cargo on larger 767-300s or switching to more efficient 757s when necessary. Net income was negatively impacted by a write-down in the value of warrants for Amazon and DHL. Cargojet, which derives 30% of its revenue from DHL, last year issued warrants to the express carrier allowing it to acquire up to 9.6% of its shares if it reaches certain revenue milestones. Amazon has the ability to acquire up to 13.9% of Cargojet. Cargojet, in context, still had a banner year in 2022, ending with adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $242.6 million — more than double 2019 profits. In January, Cargojet announced that Canada Post and courier subsidiary Purolator had extended their transport contract through September 2029. The agreement continues to commit the customers to minimum guaranteed volumes. Cargojet in November also renewed its contract with UPS for another five years, taking it through 2030.

'would it not be more accurate to say "a computer augmented directional controller"?

TSB deploys to Kelowna, British Columbia, to investigate a WestJet Encore aircraft inflight engine fire 3 March 2023Canadian Aviation News EDMONTON, AB, March 3, 2023 /CNW/ – The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying an investigator to Kelowna, British Columbia, to investigate an inflight engine fire that resulted in the diversion of a WestJet Encore De Havilland DHC-8-402 aircraft on 02 March 2023. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence. The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.

No question there. Good Planning........... Surprised you would ask.

Criminal if true Ottawa on hook for software glitch that caused deadly military helicopter crash Story by The Canadian Press • 3h ago Year later................................................................................ OTTAWA — A still-unresolved software problem identified as the main cause of a deadly military helicopter crash off the coast of Greece in 2020 will end up being fixed on Ottawa's dime — at a yet-to-be-determined cost and time. Ottawa on hook for software glitch that caused deadly military helicopter crash© Provided by The Canadian Press The Defence Department and U.S.-based Sikorsky Aircraft say they have agreed on a plan to fix the autopilot problem that allows the CH-148 Cyclone's computer to override the controls of its human pilots in certain situations. But nearly three years after the glitch resulted in a Cyclone plunging into the Ionian Sea, killing all six Canadian Armed Forces members on board, it still remains unclear when that solution will be implemented. "Now that the technical requirements have been agreed upon by all parties, Sikorsky and its subcontractors have proposed an initial implementation plan for Canada’s review," Defence Department spokeswoman Jessica Lamirande said in an email. "Discussions on this plan are ongoing, so it’s too early to discuss cost and schedule. We hope to have the plan finalized in the coming months, and will provide more details at that time." One thing that has been finalized, however, is that Canada will foot the bill. Lamirande said the planned software upgrades fall outside the scope of the government's existing $9-billion contract with Sikorsky for the delivery and maintenance of 28 Cyclones, which was signed in 2004. "We are committed to continuously improving the safety of our fleets and those who operate and fly in them," she said. Sikorsky spokesman John Dorrian said the company, which has yet to deliver all 28 Cyclones nearly 20 years after the original contracts were signed, is now waiting for a new contract for the work. "Following a contract award from DND, Sikorsky will complete development, flight test and upload of the enhancements to the CH-148 fleet," Dorrian said in an email. The federal government has faced calls for urgency since two internal military reviews identified the autopilot glitch as the primary cause of the deadly Cyclone crash on April 29, 2020. The tragedy took the lives of Master Cpl. Matthew Cousins, Sub-Lt. Abbigail Cowbrough, Capt. Kevin Hagen, Capt. Brenden MacDonald, Capt. Maxime Miron-Morin and Sub-Lt. Matthew Pyke. It also shook the nation during some of the darkest days of the pandemic. Military commanders have repeatedly suggested the problem isn't serious, saying the Royal Canadian Air Force has developed protocols and procedures to avoid a repeat of that tragedy by training pilots to avoid certain manoeuvres. "I'm very confident that we're operating within that aspect, within a safe regime," Air Force commander Lt.-Gen. Eric Kenny said in a recent interview. "Otherwise they wouldn't be flying the aircraft." A number of Cyclones have been deployed overseas on Canadian warships in recent years, where they are primarily used for search-and-rescue missions, surveillance and anti-submarine missions. Kenny said the helicopters have excelled. Yet there have been problems, including the discovery of tail cracks on nearly the whole of the fleet due to a design flaw. Sikorsky has agreed to cover the cost of those repairs, but they have yet to be implemented. The 26 Cyclones that have been delivered by Sikorsky so far don't have all the capabilities that the American company originally promised to include. Former Sea King squadron commander Larry McWha described the Cyclone fleet's autopilot issue as a serious software design flaw or "gremlin" given the potentially deadly consequences. The fact the government is covering the bill for the autopilot fix suggests Ottawa is taking at least partial responsibility "for having specified, tested and approved the original design and control laws that led to the tragic loss of an aircraft and crew," he added. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 3, 2023. Lee Berthiaume, The Canadian Press