ANA ramps up 787 pilot training

All Nippon Airways (ANA) intends have 100 pilots type-rated for the Boeing 787 by the end of December.
The carrier currently has 30 pilots rated on the 787 more are being trained to ramp up numbers in time for the delivery of new aircraft this year, said Captain Masami Tsukamoto, co-pilot of the inaugural passenger flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong.
ANA is likely to receive the delivery of its third 787 "within weeks", said Shinichiro Ito, the airline's president and CEO.
ANA plans to expand its 787 network to Europe and North America next year, said Ito, studying the possibility of starting services to Switzerland, Belgium and the west coast of the United States.
The airline will operate its first international service in December from Tokyo to Beijing, China. And its first long-haul flight from Tokyo-Haneda to Frankfurt, Germany on 21 January 2012.
The airline expects to receive five more 787s by the end of the calendar year, bringing its Dreamliner fleet to seven.
It also anticipates taking delivery of 11 787s by the end of its financial year which ends 31 March 2012, with 20 total aircraft scheduled for its 2012 fiscal year.
The airline has ordered a total of 55 787s, two of which have already been delivered. All 55 aircraft, including 15 787-9s, are due to be handed over by by Boeing by 31 March 2018.

Tips for Proper Aircraft Tire Maintenance – Goodyear Expert

Aircraft tire/wheel assemblies can lose up to 5 percent of their pressure each day.
When it comes to aircraft tire maintenance, few people in the industry have visited more hangars and seen all manner of service work and maintenance procedures than Goodyear Aviation’s Rob Robson. Robson is a Product Support Manager for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, and for more than 10 years he’s been immersed in aircraft tire product support for everything from piston singles to helicopters and fighter jets.
By his own count, Robson has witnessed numerous aircraft tire maintenance procedures and has inspected hundreds of worn tires. He has seen firsthand the ill effects of improper maintenance. As a result, Robson can offer valuable advice for those who wish to better understand how proper aircraft tire maintenance can help to deliver more landings.

The most important factor of any aircraft tire maintenance program is maintaining proper inflation pressure.

According to Robson, the problems created by incorrect inflation can be severe. Over inflation often leads to uneven tread wear and reduced traction, makes the tread more susceptible to cutting, and places greater stress on aircraft wheels. Under inflation creates faster tread wear on the shoulders, damages the tire’s innerliner, and greatly increases the stress and flex heating in the tire that can lead to tire failure.

“Because aircraft tire/wheel assemblies can lose up to 5 percent of their pressure each day, they need to be checked daily, or before each flight, with a calibrated pressure gauge when the tire is at ambient temperature (not heated by taxiing). Any tire that’s been run more than 10 percent underinflated should be removed from service,” Robson said. The industry veteran also recommends filling tubeless assemblies with nitrogen instead of air because it’s dry and non-combustible.
Another key area of aircraft tire maintenance:

• Lookout for no harmful chemicals are used or spilled on the tires.

• Keep hangar floors clean of all debris to avoid foreign object damage to the tires.

• It is also important to inspect the tires closely, in addition to checking tire pressure, during pre-flights to check for any damage to the tires from service.