British Airways to Expand Fleet with New Boeing 777X Aircraft

International Airlines Group (IAG) has placed an order for brand new Boeing 777X aircraft, to be more precise, for 18 Boeing 777-9 aircraft, plus 24 options, for British Airways.

According to the statement, new aircraft will replace 14 Boeing 747-400 and four Boeing 777-200 planes in a period of 2022-2025.

“The new B777-9 is the world’s most fuel efficient longhaul aircraft and will bring many benefits to British Airways’ fleet. It’s the ideal replacement for the Boeing 747 and its size and range will be an excellent fit for the airline’s existing network”, said Willie Walsh, IAG chief executive.

British Airways has 135 wide-bodied longhaul aircraft in its fleet (12 A380s, 30 B787s, 12 B777-300ERs, 46 B777-200s and 35 B747s) with 12 more B787s, four B777-300ERs and 18 A350s on order.

(Karolina Prokopovič - Aviation Voice)

jetBlue Airbus A320-323(WL) (c/n 5349) N809JB

Arrives at Long Beach Airport (LGB/KLGB) sporting the special "jetBlue For Good" livery this afternoon with extreme dark & threatening skies in the distance.

 
(Photos by Michael Carter)

US legislators introduce bill to mandate secondary cockpit barriers

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers have introduced a bill that would require all commercial aircraft operating in the US be retrofitted with secondary cockpit barriers to prevent terrorist attacks similar to 9/11.

If it becomes law, the Saracini Enhanced Aviation Safety Act would mandate the installation of lightweight wire-mesh gates between the passenger cabin and cockpit door, which would block access to the flight deck whenever the cockpit door is opened during flight.

The bill was named in honor of Capt. Victor Saracini, who was killed when the plane he was flying—a United Airlines Boeing 767—was hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center on 9/11. His widow has since become a national advocate for aviation safety.

“It is unacceptable that, more than 17 years after terrorists breached the cockpit of my husband’s airplane on Sept. 11, 2001, our skies are still susceptible to repeat this act of terrorism,” Ellen Saracini said “It is my mission to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect the flight deck aboard our nation’s airliners because, without secondary barriers, we are just as vulnerable today as we were on that fateful day.”

Since 2001, FAA has issued a series of rules to protect flight decks from intrusion and small arms fire, resulting in the installation of reinforced flight deck doors on all commercial carriers operating flying to and from the US. While these doors provide protection when they are closed and locked, the FAA has long recognized that the flight deck is vulnerable when the crew members open the door to access lavatories, transfer meals or switch positions for crew rest purposes.

Last year, Congress attached an amendment onto the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 that required all new manufactured aircraft to install a secondary barrier protecting the cockpit. The Saracini Aviation Safety Act would extend that rule to all existing aircraft, ensuring current fleets are held to the same standards as newly manufactured planes.

“I was proud to cosponsor bipartisan legislation last Congress requiring secondary barriers on new commercial aircraft to help stop terrorists on airplanes,” Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-New Jersey) said. “Now that it’s law, we need to go a step further to protect our country by requiring all commercial aircraft to have secondary cockpit barriers. We must do everything we can to prevent all terror attacks on our country, and that includes in our skies.”

(Ben Goldstein - ATWOnline News)

Polar Air Cargo Boeing 747-47UF (32838/1307) N416MC

 

Originally delivered to Atlas Air on July 16, 2002, this lovely aircraft is now operated by Polar Air Cargo and is captured on short final to Rwy 25L at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX/KLAX) on December 15, 2018.

(Photos by Michael Carter)

Air China Cargo Boeing 777-FFT (44678/1158) B-2095 / Delivered 12/17/2013

Arrives at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX/KLAX) on December 29, 2018.

(Photo by Michael Carter)

American Airlines Boeing 737-8Max (44446/6652) N308RD / Delivered 12/22/2017

Departs from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX/KLAX) on a simply gorgeous SoCal morning, February 8, 2019.

(Photo by Michael Carter)

Air Canada Boeing 737-8Max (61222/6940) C-FSNQ / Delivered 6/8/2018

Climbs from Rwy 25R at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX/KLAX) on February 8, 2019.

(Photo by Michael Carter)

United Airlines Boeing 737-9Max (43437/7173) N37507 / Delivered 9/30/2018

Captured on short final to Rwy 25L at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX/KLAX) on February 8, 2019.

(Photo by Michael Carter)

Lufthansa Cargo McDonnell Douglas MD-11F (48782/626) D-ALCB

Captured on short final to Rwy 25L at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX/KLAX) sporting the carriers new livery on a gorgeous SoCal afternoon.

(Photos by Michael Carter)