UNITED AIRLINES ! UA ! UAL

macintosh a écrit:
.......Par ailleurs, en regardant les mouvements sur la flotte de UA, je suis tombé sur ceci : grounding de tous (!) leurs 777 jusqu'à mise en conformité vis à vis d'une AD le 2/4. Je n'avais pas entendu parler de cela par ailleurs
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=ablrLeU_GsrI&refer=canada

En aviez vous entendu parler ? Car 52 B777 au parking, ça doit poser quelques sérieux problèmes de planning....

United Airlines, a unit of UAL Corp, became on Wednesday the latest major U.S. carrier to ground planes and cancel flights due to a lapse in maintenance work.
United grounded its fleet of 52 Boeing Co 777s and canceled 38 flights after disclosing to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) overnight that tests on a cargo hold fire suppression system were not thorough enough.

The disclosure comes just ahead of a congressional hearing on airline inspection practices and the adequacy of FAA oversight.

Four of United's rivals have in recent weeks sidelined aircraft and cancelled flights for missed inspections and other safety problems.

Southwest Airlines Co faces an FAA fine of up to $10.2 million for knowingly operating aircraft that were not in compliance with an agency order to check for fuselage cracks. Cracks were found in some planes after the lapse was disclosed.
Southwest chief executive Gary Kelly is scheduled to testify on Thursday before the House of Representatives Transportation Committee on why the airline missed inspections and the subsequent decision by top level maintenance personal to keep planes in the air.

The case was prompted by whistle-blower complaints to the panel.
"There is a lack of an enforcement mindset at the FAA," said Democratic Rep. James Oberstar of Minnesota, who has led the investigation into Southwest and will chair the hearing.

Senior FAA officials will testify about the agency's role. They will also address allegations the FAA has become cozy with airlines and assertions the system that allows carriers to self-report maintenance problems is open to abuse. Southwest and FAA personnel involved in the matter in Dallas, where the airline in based, have been removed from their jobs.

"We had a breakdown in the system with Southwest Airlines," acting FAA Administrator Bobby Sturgell told a news conference on Wednesday. "There is no excuse. We have taken appropriate action."

Sturgell said a sweeping FAA safety review of airline compliance with inspection orders, that began after the Southwest incident, found a handful of discrepancies that required further investigation. He would not describe the problems or identify the four airlines still being probed.

Responding to allegations that front line FAA managers have at times ignored safety concerns raised by inspectors, Sturgell said the FAA would now permit inspectors to report lapses to higher level authorities.

The FAA will also require that senior level airline officials, instead of maintenance personnel, be responsible for reporting inspection problems. "We have found ways to increase the accountability of all parties," Sturgell said.
The industry, through its lead trade group, the Air Transport Association, said it welcomed the changes.

UAL FLIGHTS DISRUPTED
United said it had canceled 38 of its 84 daily 777 departures, mainly for lucrative flights to Europe and Asia. More cancellations are possible on Thursday, it said.
United said it voluntarily disclosed the maintenance shortfall to the FAA and would not operate the planes until the tests are completed. United Chief Executive Glenn Tilton said in a message to employees the problem was related to a "discrepancy" in Boeing's maintenance manual that was only revised in January.

Tilton said United was consulting with Boeing on the matter. A Boeing spokeswoman could not immediately be reached for comment.

"The FAA and other airlines will have to determine if tests will be required on their fleets," Tilton said.

An FAA spokeswoman said the action taken by United was unrelated to its safety review, which did prompt groundings last week at AMR Corp's American Airlines and Delta Air Lines Inc. Both cancelled hundreds of flights to reinspect wiring on 430 MD-80s.

During its troubles in mid-March, Southwest grounded dozens of 737s after voluntarily disclosing a second lapsed inspection on fuselage checks.
........
(Additional reporting by Bill Rigby, editing by Tim Dobbyn)

sevrien a écrit:J'espère que cela vous donne les clarifcations, y compris celles sur l'ambiance !

macintosh a écrit:

sevrien a écrit:J'espère que cela vous donne les clarifcations, y compris celles sur l'ambiance !

Bonsoir Sevrien, et Merci pour ces éléments... en effet, pas terrible, l'ambiance côté FAA...
J'espère qu'il y a eu progrès depuis...

United moves closer to fleet revamp decision
By Lori Ranson

United Airlines still plans to reach a decision by year-end about placing an order with Airbus or Boeing for widebody aircraft, and replacement of its Boeing 757s.

The carrier formally sent a request for proposal in June to the rival airframers after determining the competitive environment was ripe for either Airbus or Boeing to secure an order from one of the largest widebody operators in the world.

Flightglobal's ACAS database shows United operates 25 747-400s, 34 767-300ERs, 19 777-200s and 33 777-200ERs. The carrier also operates 94 757-200s.

Today during a call with analysts and investors to discuss the carrier's $57 million loss for the third quarter, United chief financial officer Kathryn Mikells said the carrier is "very close to wrapping this up and making a decision", about its intent to place an order.

Mikells said both manufacturers offer "very good products in terms of their potential to fit into our long-term fleet strategy".

She said it is "really about the deal and the economics of the aircraft, and that's what we're pressing on right now".

United is confident both manufacturers will remain "very responsive" in the competition, said Mikells, "and we look forward to bringing it to a close".

United Airlines a fait ses adieux au Boeing 737

publié le 29/10/2009 à 14:51, Emilie Drab



Les B737 ne voleront plus sous les couleurs de United Airlines. La compagnie américaine a cloué au sol le dernier de ses monocouloirs le 28 octobre, à l’issue d’un vol d’adieu qui a fait escale dans chacune de ses bases. Il va à présent être préparé pour finir ses jours dans le désert californien.

Le dernier B737 de United Airlines est le B737-300 immatriculé N331UA, livré à la compagnie en 1988. Son dernier vol a été désigné UA737 pour l’occasion et a décollé de Washington (Dulles) pour rejoindre San Francisco. Mais il a pris son temps pour effectuer son périple, s’arrêtant à Chicago, Denver et Los Angeles pour fêter son départ.

Cet appareil était le dernier des quatre-vingt-quatorze B737 (-300 et -500) que la compagnie exploitait en septembre 2008. C’est à ce moment-là qu’elle a pris la décision de s’en séparer, malmenée par la flambée du prix du carburant, et de ne conserver que ses Airbus, plus récents donc plus économes en carburant, dans sa flotte de monocouloirs.

United Airlines a été l’une des premières à commander des B737, étant cliente de lancement du B737-200 en 1968. En quarante ans, elle en a commandé 233 exemplaires à Boeing.

United nearing decision on refleetingUnited Airlines is nearing a decision on refleeting, replacing Boeing 747s, 777s 767s and 757s. Flight International has this detail. Flightglobal’s ACAS database shows United operates 25 747-400s, 34 767-300ERs, 19 777-200s, 33 777-200ERs and 94 757s.

This would be a huge order for Airbus or Boeing. United previously said it plans to stick with one supplier.

The original RFP drew hoots from the industry. United sought terms that were considered ridiculous by many, particularly given United’s own financial condition and the existing backlogs at Airbus and Boeing. Industry sources said UA wanted the winning manufacturer to buy the 767s and 757s at above market valuations and lease them back at below market rental rates; to finance 100% of the new airplanes; and require no down payment or progress payments.

United said it is not interested in the Airbus A380 or the Boeing 747-8; one industry source said United might consider the 747 if Boeing would finance 105% of the purchase price, a prospect considered unlikely even though Boeing needs a new passenger-version customer. We are told UA believes the 787 in unable to perform the missions desired (perhaps a reflection of the overweight and fuel burn issues) and that the 777-300ER is considered by UA to be “old technology.” (This would be the second airline to take this view that we know of, if the characterization is correct.)

We’re told Airbus seems to have the advantage to win the order. We’re told of the prospect of 35 A350s could be initially ordered. The A320 family, which comprises the bulk of UA’s mainline fleet now that the Boeing 737 Classics have been retired, has the advantage over Boeing’s 737NG, we’re told.

The Airbus plan to add winglets to the A320 family, beginning with the A321 to better compare with the 757, may be significant. UA does not operate the A321 today. The A321 does not have quite the range of the 757 and winglets would make the airplane a better US trans-con airliner. We speculate that this might be a key to winning the UA order.

Airbus is also to decide by the end of next year whether to re-engine the A320 family, and officials are talking with CFM International, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and International Aero Engines about doing so. Entry into service would be about four years after a decision, or late 2014 or in 2015. Airbus said it doesn’t plan a replacement airplane until 2024. Boeing will likely be forced into a similar decision along the same timeline whether to re-engine the 737.

Interestingly, it was United’s order for the A319/A320 that spurred Boeing to develop the 737NG. Boeing stubbornly offered the 737-400 to United, up to then an exclusive Boeing operator (McDonnell Douglas DC-10s being the exception). Boeing did not believe UA would order the A320 and refused to offer an update of the venerable 737. When UA ch0se Airbus, Boeing developed the 737NG.

It is unlikely re-engining will play a role in UA’s decision because Airbus won’t decide until YE2010. But we always like ironies and throw in this tidbit “just because.”

United close to first new plane order in more than a decade


7:17 p.m. CST, November 19, 2009

United Airlines is close to placing its first aircraft order in more than a decade and has narrowed its search to two ground-breaking airplanes: Boeing's 787 Dreamliner or Airbus's counterpart, the A350-XWB, sources told the Tribune.

United is being furiously courted by both Chicago-based Boeing Co. and France-based Airbus SAS, sources said, even though the carrier's finances appeared shaky just months ago.

Winning United's business is important to both plane-makers, analysts said. Aside from US Airways, Airbus has yet to land a U.S. airline customer for the A350, a largely composite jet that is due to enter the market in about five years.

With a United order, Boeing stands to gain a publicity boost. It has garnered only 13 Dreamliner orders this year, along with 83 cancellations for the jet, which is more than two years behind schedule. A victory also would spare the aerospace giant the embarrassment of losing a longtime airline customer based just blocks from Boeing's corporate headquarters.

"The question: How aggressive is Boeing willing to be from either the prestige or embarrassment perspective?" said Scott Hamilton, an industry consultant.

By year's end, United plans to place a firm order for 25 long-range jets worth upward of $5 billion at list price, said people familiar with its plans. United also wants options for 75 additional wide-body planes that could be converted to orders at a later date.

United intends plans to hold place a separate competition for narrow-body planes next year. Combined, the two contests could eventually add about 150 planes to the carrier's fleet over the next decade.

A United spokeswoman confirmed that the carrier had decided to split its jet purchases but wouldn't address other aspects of its plans. She downplayed a rumor sweeping aviation circles that a deal was imminent.

"We are not working toward a specific time frame," said Jean Medina, the United spokeswoman. "We are working toward getting the right deal for the company."

After sitting on the sidelines while other U.S. carriers placed orders in recent years, United is taking advantage of a buyer's market for jetliners. Emirates Airline and Ryannair are the only other marquee airlines shopping for planes, analysts said, while many financially squeezed carriers are attempting to defer or cancel orders that they placed during global aviation's mid-decade boom.

The nation's third-largest carrier, United made it clear that it expected the manufacturers to provide advantageous pricing and to also help finance the purchase when the airline issued a request for proposal in June. While some in aircraft financing circles scoffed at its approach, United now appears likely to get its way.

Analysts think that Airbus likely holds the edge if United's decision comes down to money, since it has a reputation for striking aggressive deals. Boeing has argued that Airbus can afford to undercut pricing because it is illegally subsidized by European governments, an argument supported by World Trade Organization judges in a preliminary ruling this fall.

"Airbus is far more eager to maintain production rates and aggressively seek market share, so they're going to have an advantage," said Richard Aboulafia, aerospace analyst with Teal Group.

Representatives of Airbus and Boeing declined comment.

Reports: Boeing and Airbus to split United Airlines order
By Jon Ostrower on December 8, 2009 1:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0) |ShareThis
Both the Wall Street Journal and TheStreet.com are reporting that United Airlines is set to announce a 50-aircraft order split between both Boeing and Airbus. The reports suggest that United has purchased 25 787 Dreamliners and 25 A350 XWBs with options for more to follow.

Neither report specifies the variant or delivery dates for each type selected, but could have significant implications for each airframer. Early indications exist that United has selected the 787-8 and A350-900, but this remains unconfirmed.

Boeing CEO Jim McNerney visited Charleston late last week and "let slip" that the company held 840 orders for the 787 "with more to come by the end of the year," says a person who was present for his comments and belived the remark was a potentially subtle allusion to the United order.

First, it's important to establish that in a easing global recession, an order for 50 firm wide-body aircraft, even one that is split, is an impressive sign of the potentially changing fortunes of the commercial aircraft market for both Airbus and Boeing and represent major victories in a time when orders of this size are few and far between.

Though for Boeing, a split buy is a troublesome sign for the 777. In the most direct sense, the airline that launched the 777 had an opportunity to reinvest in the aircraft and declined. This could hasten the ascent of a next generation 777 or an equivalent option in the 305-365 seat segment.

For Airbus, while it has made significant inroads into the 777 market, its flank remains exposed where the 787 excels. The A330-200 remains an option for interim lift aircraft as airlines wait for their 787s or smaller A350s, but the reality is that the 220-270 seat market is extremely vulnerable for Airbus in the long run.

Now let's see if these reports become reality, but I'm left wondering: How does this help United control its costs? Why order one type when you can order two for twice the price?

United Airlines commande 25 Airbus et 25 Boeing




Image AFP

La compagnie aérienne américaine United Airlines a annoncé mardi
une commande ferme de 25 Airbus A350 et 25 Boeing 787 dits
"Dreamliner", avec options d'achat pour 50 exemplaires de chaque modèle
en plus.



AFP - le 08 décembre 2009, 14h50



La compagnie a précisé, dans un communiqué, qu'elle attendait
livraison des appareils commandés entre 2016 et 2019, au fur et à
mesure qu'elle retirera de ses rotations internationales ses Boeing 747
et 767.
Les nouveaux appareils étant de plus petite taille que ceux qu'ils
remplacent, ce renouvellement de la flotte entraînera une réduction de
10% du nombre de sièges disponibles sur ses liaisons internationales.
Elle compte également sur une réduction de ses émissions polluantes et
de ses coûts de maintenance avec ses appareils plus modernes.
La direction de United Airlines avait indiqué dès le mois de juin
qu'elle préparait une commande géante en vue du renouvellement d'une
grande partie de sa flotte, menacée de vétusté.
Cela faisait près de 10 ans que United n'avait pas passé de commande
aux avionneurs, a précisé la directrice financière Kathryn Mikells sur
la chaîne de télévision CNBC, indiquant que cet investissement
intervenait à un moment où "nous continuons à constater des
améliorations" après la grave crise du trafic entraînée
par la
dégradation économique des derniers mois.
http://www.lematin.ch/flash-info/economie/united-airlines-commande-25-airbus-25-boeing

(CercleFinance.com) - United Airlines a dévoilé mardi une gigantesque
commande de 25 Airbus A350 XWB et 25 Boeing 787 Dreamliner, assortie
d'une option portant sur 50 appareils supplémentaires de chacune des
deux gammes.

Dans un communiqué, la compagnie aérienne
américaine explique que cette décision fait suite à un rigoureux
processus d'évaluation de six mois, avec à la clé la signature d'un
accord lui permettant de respecter son cahier des charges à la fois en
termes financiers et opérationnels.

Les livraisons d'appareils
devraient s'échelonner entre 2016 et 2019. UAL indique avoir choisi une
motorisation Rolls Royce Trent XWB pour ses Airbus et Rolls Royce Trent
1000 ou GE GEnx pour ses Boeing de prochaine génération.

Dans son communiqué, United rappelle que sa dernière réception d'appareil remontait à 2002 et sa dernière commande à 1998.

Si
les termes financiers des deux accords ne sont pas spécifiés, la
compagnie explique qu'elle devrait tirer un bénéfice de cette commande
passée à un moment où le secteur de l'aéronautique connaît un bas de
cycle.

http://www.radiobfm.com/edito/info/51976/eads-united-passe-une-gigantesque-commande-airbus-boeing-/

United outlines cash outlay for Airbus and Boeing orders
By Lori Ranson

United Airlines says the total cash outlay for its combined order it placed today with Boeing and Airbus will be $60 million during the next three years.

The carrier has divided its widebody order evenly between the A350-900 and the 787, ordering 25 of each type. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2016 and continue through 2019.

"We have also secured deferral rights that provide us with further financial flexibility," the carrier says. "We have also secured considerable backstop financing from both manufacturers, which will protect us in the event of tight credit markets as the new aircraft are delivered."

Describing the rationale for placing orders with both rival manufacturers United says that neither airframer offers next-generation aircraft sized to optimally serve its current and future markets.

United says the mix of A350s and 787s offer the right range of aircraft sizes needed to replace its 747s and 767s. The A350s have 11% more range than the carrier's current Boeing 747s, while Boeing 787s have roughly 32% greater range than 767s.

The new aircraft also allow United to downgauge its widebody fleet, reducing average seat count for the 50 aircraft by 19%, and resulting in a system-wide international fleet count reduction of 10%.

"This reduction is largely the result of the retirement of our Boeing 747 aircraft," the carrier says.

Only one engine is available for the A350, the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB, while GE offers the GEnx and Rolls-Royce supplies the Trent 1000 for the 787. United has not indicated an engine selection for its 787s.

Today's order was the first United has placed in more than ten years.