Aerospace

12 Interesting Facts About The American Airline That You Probably Didn’t Know.

American Airlines is one of the most popular airlines that people use to travel both domestically and internationally. However, despite the fact that the airline has spent a considerable amount of time in the spotlight and under the scrutiny of the public eye, there are still some things that many people don’t know. With that in mind, here is the list of 12 facts you probably didn’t know about American Airlines.

#12: It’s the World’s Largest Airline

It’s true! In terms of fleet size and revenue, AA it the largest airline in the world. It’s also the second largest airline in the world in terms of destinations served 350– the first is United.

Fleet: 946
Destination : 350

#11: It Came From 82 Separate Airlines

The airline was created in 1930, and it came about from a conglomeration of 82 other airlines. It has since undergone several more mergings, and its most recent was with U.S. Airways.

#10: It Was the First to Fly the DC-3

The DC-3 was a plane developed by C.R. Smith and Donald Douglas under the Douglas Aircraft Company. The plane itself is a fixed-wing propeller-driven plane and the first time it was used by AA was in 1936.

#9: American Airlines Was the First Airline to Profit From People

When the airline was first created, it solely transported mail (just like other airlines at the time). However, AA was the first to profit from carrying passengers without any mail.

#8: American Airlines Owned the World’s First Airline Lounge

Lounges are now quite popular in airports as a way for members to relax without the stressed out crowds so often seen in airports. AA was the first to create such a lounge, and it did so at New York’s LaGuardia airport. The lounge was known as the Admirals Club.

# 7: It Offered its Planes to Filmmakers for Free

Though renting planes for films now comes with a steep price, AA lent one of their planes to producers for the 1951 film Three Guys Named Mike. It also provided advertising for the film.

#6: It Was the First Airline to Use Electronic Booking

Though most airline customers book their flights online today, it didn’t used to be that way. AA was the world’s first airline to launch an electronic booking program, which it called Sabre.

#5: It Used the Same Logo for Nearly 50 Years

American Airlines’ iconic eagle logo was introduced in 1967 and was designed by Vignelli Associated. The airline used the logo all the way until 2013.

#4: It Hired a Female Pilot Before Any Other Major Airline

It’s true! AA was the first major airline to hire a female pilot. Her name was Bonnie Tiburzi.

#3: Its Current Headquarters Comprise More Than One Million Square Feet

AA’s headquarters are located in Texas, and the headquarters are comprised of two large office buildings. Together, the buildings contain about 1.4 million square feet and require over 4,000 employees to maintain it.

#2: It’s Environmentally Conscious

Airlines need a lot of water to operate. To prevent water waste, American airlines recycles water for washing planes, rinsing tanks, and irrigation. Since 2002, the airline’s decision to do this has saved them over one million dollars.

#1: It’s Gone Through Nearly 20 Different Slogans

That’s a lot of catchy lines! The airline’s first slogan was “America’s Leading Airline,” and its current one is “Going for great.” We hope you enjoyed our list of 15 interesting facts you didn’t know about American Airlines!

Courtesy : Aviation Squad

Aerospace

China Secures Production Certificate for Mass Production of Pilotless eVTOL Aircraft

EHang

The first passenger-carrying pilotless electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in the world, the EH216-S, has received the Production Certificate for its eVTOL aircraft from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

This is a significant milestone for EHang Holdings Limited, the leading UAM technology platform company in the world. This outstanding accomplishment is another big step towards mass manufacturing for the eVTOL aircraft and the ensuing commercial operations, building on the ground-breaking acquisition of the Type Certificate and the Standard Airworthiness Certificate for the EH216-S.

The PC is a crucial certificate that the aircraft maker receives from the CAAC, the country’s aviation authority. By obtaining this certificate, EHang has demonstrated that it has set up a quality management system for mass production that satisfies the airworthiness regulation standards set forth by the CAAC, and the company has been given permission to continue producing mass quantities.

It is also a strong guarantee of the calibre of the goods made by EHang. Raw materials, supplier management, manufacturing organisation, production quality control, aircraft pre-delivery test, after-sales repair and maintenance, etc. are all included in the mass production quality management system for the EH216-S.

To ensure that every aircraft and its components that roll off the production line strictly adhere to the approved type design and safety requirements, the system sets clear guidelines and documentation for every step in the production procedure. This ensures comprehensive traceability and safety control.

Aerospace

Four Airbus A380 Superjumbos lined up to be scrapped

EASA Proposes AD for Airbus A380 Wing Rib Foot Cracks

In a strategic move aimed at reclaiming valuable resources from the iconic Airbus A380 aircraft, VAS Aero Services and Dr. Peters Group have announced a significant collaboration.

This partnership marks a milestone in aviation logistics and aftermarket services, with four of these colossal planes slated for teardown and redistribution of used serviceable material (USM).

The venture between VAS Aero Services, renowned for its expertise in aircraft dismantlement, and Dr. Peters Group, a prominent Germany-based investment fund management firm, underscores a commitment to sustainable aviation practices. This isn’t their first foray into scrapping A380s; their successful partnership has already seen the dismantlement of these aircraft, making them pioneers in this niche.

Under the agreement, the latest consignment brings the tally to eight A380s entrusted to VAS by Dr. Peters Group. Managing Director Christian Mailly of Dr. Peters Group emphasized the trust placed in VAS, citing their unparalleled capabilities in dismantlement and aftermarket sales network. It’s a strategic move in response to the growing demand for quality USM parts, particularly with the resurgence in reliance on the A380.

Notably, the teardown process will be carried out at various locations, optimizing the positioning of harvested parts to cater to different markets. While some parts will be positioned in Europe to support operators in the region and the Middle East, others will remain in the Asia-Pacific region. This meticulous strategy ensures efficient access to spare parts, benefiting MROs and airlines across these markets.

The decision to retire these A380s comes at a time when operators are reassessing fleet strategies amidst evolving market dynamics. Despite initial plans for quick retirement due to the emergence of more fuel-efficient alternatives, factors such as a rebound in long-haul demand and delays in new widebody deliveries have prompted operators to reconsider. The A380, with its unique capacity and capabilities, presents a practical solution for short-term capacity management.

Aerospace

Rolls-Royce Launches Test Flights for Revolutionary Pearl 10X Engine

Rollsroyce

Rolls-Royce reports that the company’s dedicated Boeing 747 flying testbed has seen the successful start of the Pearl 10X, their newest aero engine designed for the business aviation industry.

Dassault, a French aircraft manufacturer, has decided to use this engine only to power their newest flagship, the Falcon 10X. As stated at last year’s Capital Markets Day, the commencement of flight testing represents a significant milestone for both Rolls-Royce and the Pearl 10X programme as the company concentrates on expanding in the business aviation industry.

The first Rolls-Royce engine to power a Dassault business jet is the Pearl 10X, the newest engine in the state-of-the-art Pearl engine family. The Pearl 10X was chosen by the French aircraft manufacturer as their new flagship model, demonstrating even more of Rolls-Royce’s dominance in the business aviation engine market.

Over the next few months, pilots and flight test engineers from Tucson, Arizona, USA, will put the engine through its paces. The flight test programme will comprise testing of the nacelle’s anti-icing system, in-flight relights, engine performance and handling checks at various speeds and altitudes, and fan vibration tests at various altitudes.

The new auxiliary gearbox, which enables higher additional power extraction, and the ultra-low emissions ALM combustor, which is compatible with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), have undergone extensive testing as part of the ground-based development programme thus far. The engine will be the most potent business aviation engine in the Rolls-Royce lineup. It exceeded its intended thrust levels during the very first test run. With over 2,300 testing hours successfully completed on the Pearl 10X engine configuration as well as the Advance 2 demonstration, the programme is moving forward at a rapid pace.

With the most economical engine core available for business aircraft, the Advance2 engine, coupled with a high-performance low-pressure system, gives the Pearl 10X an exceptional thrust of over 18,000 lbf. With a 5% increase in economy over the previous generation of Rolls-Royce commercial aviation engines, the Pearl 10X