Midatlantic Routes For Sale In April

[BoeingBoy]

This from Aviation International News on MDA...

Ambiguity at US Air begs for answers about Embraer 170s

by Gregory Polek

Hopes for a first-quarter launch of US Airways’ MidAtlantic division dimmed to a flicker last month as pilots continued their dispute over payscales for new Embraer 170 positions and management took steps to sell off assets to meet minimum federal loan requirements. As a result, more than a month after the FAA granted the 70-seat Embraer 170 provisional certification to ostensibly allow MidAtlantic to begin proving runs and crew training, the Pittsburgh-based division still hadn’t taken delivery of its first airplane, leaving everyone in the dark about when, if ever, the fledgling airline would get off the ground.

Complete Article

Jim

 

[zonecontroller]

While offering a variety of technical reasons why the delays are occurring, Honeywell nevertheless accepted much of the responsibility for the schedule slippages. According to Vicki Panhuise, Honeywell vice president of programs, Primus Epic has required unprecedented levels of integration between aircraft systems and avionics. This, she said, has presented an ongoing challenge for the avionics manufacturer’s engineering staff, as well as the FAA, component suppliers and airframe builders. Early on Honeywell was very successful with Primus Epic, selling airframe OEMs on the system’s modular avionics concept and advanced features. At the time, said Panhuise, the aviation industry was in a steep growth mode and it was difficult for Honeywell to find engineers with the expertise necessary to shepherd Primus Epic through what in the end turned out to be no fewer than six concurrent certification programs. “So we got behind,” said Panhuise. “And as people here got behind, flight testing got behind. It is unfortunately a reality of aircraft certification. We spent a lot of time working with our customers on the fact that we were having difficulties finding experienced resources during the market growth period and that this was causing a bubble of work that we had to manage.”when Embraer CEO Mauricio Botelho told reporters that U.S. type certification of the Embraer 170 would be delayed until November, several months after the first airplanes were promised to launch customer Alitalia. Botelho blamed the difficulties on integration of the 170’s fly-by-wire flight controls with Primus Epic software. Panhuise said Honeywell is now in the midst of “a tremendous effort” to rectify issues with OEM customers, which has included new software loads for the Embraer avionics test airplane at Honeywell’s aerospace headquarters in Phoenix.
The other certification programs that include Primus Epic will need to make adjustments.

 

[BoeingBoy]

Thanks zonecontroller,

That is the most indepth info I've heard yet on the software issues with the -170. Do you know if this is Honeywell's first experience with fly-by-wire aircraft?

Jim

 

[zonecontroller]

I could not confirm any fly-by-wire aircraft
Other in-development aircraft that fly with Primus Epic are the Gulfstream G550, Bell/Agusta AB139, Cessna Citation Sovereign and Raytheon Hawker Horizon

Aviation International News
Air Transport

 

[Twicebaked]

According to ITN.net, the plane is an all-coach aircraft with 18 rows in 2x2 configuration. Rows 1-4 are preferred seats.

I don't believe that to be a true statement! The first 4 rows are not prefered seats. At least according to the inflight department.

 

[tadjr]

I don't believe that to be a true statement! The first 4 rows are not prefered seats. At least according to the inflight department.

What is inflights definition of preferred seats? Its not first class, however its very likely that the first 4 rows are Q seats which on the seat map are held for the preferred members like the first several window and aisle rows are on the mainline jets. Maybe you just didnt ask the right question or you are both speaking about different "preferred" meanings.