Three years after fire-prone lithium batteries led to the temporary grounding of Boeing’s flagship 787 fleet world-wide, US regulators are ratcheting up safety standards, as they approve use of various types of lithium power cells on different airliners and business aircraft. Reflecting this new approach, the recent approvals cover non-rechargeable lithium batteries, which industry officials said are used to power everything from emergency exit signs to cockpit equipment to emergency underwater locator devices. The batteries that prompted so much public attention on 787 Dreamliners, by contrast, are larger, more powerful and rely on rechargeable technology to provide backup electric power. Still, govt documents highlight that many of the identified risks are similar between the two categories of batteries. <br/>
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The TSA has plugged staffing gaps that caused long security lines earlier this summer at major U.S. airports. The agency has also addressed lapses revealed last summer in its ability to screen passengers for weapons and explosives, said TSA administrator Peter Neffenger. “This past summer we were struggling with what were very large congregations of people on lines at security checkpoints at some of our largest airports,” acknowledged Neffenger. “When you think about public areas of airports, it was rightfully a concern of people that there were large lines,” he said.” To alleviate the staffing crisis Congress allowed the agency to reallocate US$34m in funding, of which $26m was used to triple the amount of overtime and increase the number of part-time hours paid to transportation security officers at high volume airports. <br/>
After decades of red ink, US airlines have gotten their financial houses in significantly better order. And while this new wherewithal certainly won’t mean more legroom or free checked bags, some carriers are exploring inexpensive ways to make flying economy class a smidge less arduous. Free meals and booze are returning on some long domestic flights, and gratis snacks are common again. A few airlines are even dropping fees for streaming audio and video. These modest steps follow years of “densification” at the back of the plane as carriers sought to boost profits by adding seats. At the same time, travellers at the front of the plane were courted with ever-increasing opulence. The improvements are funded by billions of dollars in profits, including US$12b reported by the 10 largest US carriers in the first half of this year. <br/>
China set up a new state-owned aircraft engine maker to help fulfil ambitions to develop home-grown aerospace giants and become a major player in global aviation. Sunday, president Xi Jinping described the creation of Aero Engine Corp of China, or AECC, as a “strategic move” that would accelerate the development of indigenously made jet engines and thereby boost national prestige and military power. The new company, which has CNY50b (US$7.5b) in registered capital and 96,000 employees, will focus on the design, manufacture and testing of aircraft engines. By setting up AECC, Beijing hopes to create a self-sufficient aerospace sector that can serve commercial and military aviation needs with home-grown technology, industry analysts say. AECC consolidates existing aircraft-engine businesses into a single entity. <br/>