At first glance, Hong Kong's strength as an airfreight hub for China is remarkable. To go through the city, most of its traffic, goods from mainland China, must clear customs twice. Yet Hong Kong International Airport not only overcomes that disadvantage; it is now also the world's largest freight airport, handling 3.98 million metric tons in 2011, just ahead of Memphis (Tenn.) International Airport's 3.92 million tons. And that was before capacity at Hong Kong grew by half this year, with the opening of a third giant terminal for Cathay Pacific Airways.

These included: Ensure that unstabilized approach and go-around policies are clear, concise and unambiguous, including follow-up procedures for non-compliance. Emphasize the importance of good monitoring by both pilots since that can affect the safe execution of a go-around. Operations manuals must contain a strongly worded policy statement that no punitive action will follow a go-around.

The planned cessation of all Concorde flights really brought the end to an era.

Customers want it, but the airframer is balking

If GE Aviation's use of direct metal laser melting is any indication of how additive manufacturing could radically change parts production and supply chains, the industry should be on alert. GE has used additive manufacturing technologies over the years, but its purchase of Morris Technologies and Rapid Quality Manufacturing (RQM) in November 2012 provided a quantum leap into direct metal laser melting (DMLM), which it views as a disruptive manufacturing technology.

Eclipse founder’s new challenge: ultra-long-endurance UAVs

Technology, preparation and quality are major supply chain challenges

Intertrade, which facilitated the establishment of the airliner surplus parts supplier business four decades ago, has added engine parts to its portfolio, completing its evolution from a one-product specialist to a full-service used-components supplier.