severe turbulence.

The American Airlines plane was flying from the South Korean city of Incheon to Dallas when the turbulence hit.

Five people needed hospital treatment, the airline said, but none of the injuries were life-threatening.

The turbulence, which occurred about 75 minutes into the flight, caused food to be thrown around the cabin.

"Medical personnel have been able to evaluate all passengers and crew members asking for medical attention," the airline said.

"Four passengers and one crew member have been transported to local hospitals for further observation and treatment."

A male flight attendant was thrown to the ceiling, hitting his head, Kyodo news agency said, citing a passenger.

"We were eating and all the food just flew up in the air and pretty much bounced off and fell. There were carts all over the place," another passenger told local media.

The plane landed at Tokyo's Narita airport in the early hours of Wednesday. It was expected to continue on to the US later in the day.

Boeing increases share repurchase authorization to $12bn

Boeing Chairman and Chief Executive Jim McNerney announced today that the Boeing board of directors increased the company's authorization for its share repurchase plan to $12 billion and declared that the company's regular quarterly dividend will increase by 25 percent to 91 cents per share.

The $12 billion repurchase authorization approved today replaces the authorization approved in 2013 of which approximately $4.8B was remaining. Repurchase activity for 2014 is now complete at $6B and is expected to resume in January 2015.

The timing and volume of repurchases are at the discretion of Boeing management, however it is currently expected that the share repurchases will be made over the next two to three years. Repurchases may be made on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.

Boeing's new dividend represents an 88 percent increase over the past two years.

The dividend declared today is payable March 6, 2015, to shareholders of record as of February 13, 2015.

Source and image: Boeing

Airbus Helicopters to continue support for Bundeswehr

Airbus Helicopters has won the support contract to maintain, overhaul and ensure the availability of the German Army Aviation School’s fleet of EC135 training helicopters. This extends the existing contract, signed in 2005, by a further seven years.

“At the core of the Airbus Helicopters full service contract is ensuring that on virtually every working day, eleven EC135 aircraft are available on the airfield for training purposes. This puts the fleet’s operational availability at over 95 percent,” explained Ralf Barnscheidt, Head of the Military Support Center in Germany. “A team of technicians that is constantly on-site at the Bückeburg location as well as our specialist maintenance center in Kassel-Calden provide technical and logistical support, carry out through-life maintenance and even large-scale repair work, and are responsible for ensuring the mission readiness of the helicopters.” Barnscheidt added, “We’re delighted that the Bundeswehr has once again chosen to put its faith in us, building on what is now 15 years of fruitful collaboration on the EC135.”

Source and image: Airbus Helicopters

KQ receives kit to detect explosives

Kenya Airways Tuesday received equipment that detects explosives in baggage and cargo.

The two explosive trace detection machines worth Sh3.65 million were donated by the British High Commission to help boost aviation security.

High Commissioner Christian Turner said the equipment, the latest technology in the field, was capable of detecting explosives on passengers and their baggage in seconds.

THREAT OF TERRORISM

He said protecting the aviation industry from the threat of terrorism was a global challenge that needed sharing experiences and strengthening strategies.

“The machines will, no doubt, strengthen the existing aviation security regime in Kenya. They complement the other equipment given last year for cargo screening,” he said.

Training on the use of the machines has been completed. They will be used at Terminal 1A to help screen baggage for Kenya Airways flights.

The country now has a total of 11 such machines, donated by the British Government.

UTair should not count on governmental support

UTair should not count on governmental support

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According to Alexander Neradko, head of the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya), governmental support for Russian air carriers, including UTair Company, is not susceptible to debate. As stated by Lenta.ru, Alexandr Neradko has informed that carriers should rely on their own efforts to reduce costs in the current market conditions.

Recently, numerous lawsuits have been filed against the company, including four claims filed from Alfa Bank and a petition filed by Avia-leasing to declare UTair bankruptcy. By the end of November, 2014, court has decided to take into custody 8 of UTair's Mi-8 helicopters, and company’s financial accounts, because the total debt has reached more than $1.1 billion. Despite these events UTair rejected the claimed bankruptcy.

A consultative group was formed in order to improve company’s financial and economic situation. The group consists of UTair’s largest shareholder ("Surgutneftegaz") and government of Tyumen. The consultation groups will meet to work out a package of measures to restructure the airline’s debt together with federal agencies, creditors and potential investors. 

Source and image: Lenta.ru

Avialeasing requests to declare UTAir's bankruptcy

Arbitral tribunal Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug - Yugra, received a declaration of insolvency for UTAir Aviation from JSC Avialeasing. This result is due to the non-performance of UTair, with debts totalling more than $ 3.5 million. 

Airlines debt consists of the obligation to pay:

- Partial rent payments for October 2013 under the lease of the aircraft Tu-154M 

- Interest on borrowed funds during the period from 01.01.2011 to 11.02.2013, accrued in connection with the violation of the timing of lease payments under the lease of the aircraft Tu-154M

- Legal costs on one court case

Since June 2011 Airline UTair has completely ceased to fulfill the obligation to pay lease payments under operating leases of aircraft, which were signed with Avialeasing. 

Source and image: Avialeasing

Airbus may stop A380 production

Airbus may stop A380 production

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Published on Thursday, 11 December 2014 12:43

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Airbus‘ Chief Financial Officer has announced about the delays in A350 delivery as well as possible stop of A380 production. The fate of A380 shall be decided by 2018, says“Argumenty i fakty” quoting Interfax.

At the moment, Airbus considers two possible alternatives: either the A380 will be equipped with more efficient engines or it will be simply removed from production. As of November 2014, 318 Airbus A380s are already ordered, which is only a quarter of the expected demand.

Source and image: “Argumenty i fakty”