Fixes to incorrect shim work in the aft fuselage of the 787 will take days rather than months, Boeing says.

Boeing is studying several options to reactivate the closed-out tail fuel tank on the 747-8.

Lufthansa yesterday launched a wide-ranging cost-savings program that is aimed at improving profitability by €1.5 billion ($1.9 billion).

The EC says Chinese airlines could face stiff penalties for failing to comply with ETS.

Wind tunnel and structures tests mark next steps for NASA’s advanced airliners plan.

The agency has begun initial operation of its much-delayed en-route system at six more major ATC centers.

LAN Airlines' latest fleet plan reduces its 2012 Boeing 787 deliveries to just two aircraft.

Norwegian Air Shuttle’s large fleet expansion plans are causing European low-fare carriers to question their rival’s strategy.

Hungarian airline Malev appears to be close to running out of money.

Spanair late Friday ceased all operations but did not say whether it planned to file for bankruptcy.

Airbus CEO Tom Enders will replace EADS Louis Gallois this summer.

Carrier signs up for rival reengined single-aisles, with a large Boeing order and a major commitment for Airbus A320NEOs

Boeing issued a bullish forecast for 2012, setting up the possibility that it will regain the order and delivery lead from Airbus.

Saudi Arabian Airlines has been identified as the buyer of eight Boeing 777-300ERs.

Lufthansa chairman says the group should initiate much closer integration between its various airlines.

21 JAN 2012

The NTSB cited an operational error by a tower air traffic controller as the probable cause of a near mid-air collision involving a commercial jetliner and a small private plane over the Gulfport-Biloxi Airport.

On Sunday, June 19, 2011, at 12:35 p.m. CDT at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, a Cessna 172 was cleared for takeoff on runway 18 by the tower air traffic controller. Sixteen seconds later, the same air traffic controller cleared an Embraer 145, a commercial passenger flight, for takeoff on runway 14, the flight path of which intersects the flight path of runway 18.

While both airplanes were about 300 feet above the airfield, the Embraer passed in front of the Cessna. The closest proximity between the two planes was estimated to be 0 feet vertically and 300 feet laterally.

The Embraer 145, N13929, operated as ExpressJet flight 2555 (dba Continental/United Express) was carrying 50 passengers and 3 crewmembers, and was bound for Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) where it landed uneventfully.

The Cessna 172P Skyhawk, N54120, operated on a local  instructional flight carrying an instructor and a student.

No one in either airplane was injured in the incident.

More information:

• Complete incident report
• The accident docket, which contains statements from the pilots, the airport diagram, and other investigation related documents

 

Tagged: airprox, ATC, Gulfport, near-miss, nmac, NTSB ()

Lufthansa and NetJets on Monday will unveil an expansion of their Private Jet offering into North America.

20 JAN 2012

The Peshawar High Court in Pakistan rejected the inquiry report of the fatal Airblue Airbus A321 accident, judging it incomplete.

On December 20, 2011,  the inquiry report into the fatal Airblue Airbus A321 accident was submitted to the Peshawar High Court in Pakistan. The investigators concluded that the crew had violated procedures during an attempted approach to land at Islamabad in inclement weather.

The Peshawar High Court on January 20  rejected the report, stating it was incomplete and inconclusive in several aspects that were mandatory for the inquiry.  The court issued orders to the Civil Aviation Authority to constitute a board to “revisit the findings from the starting point up to the crash, within three months.”

Additionally, the chief justice called for an inquiry on the performance of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) “regarding its crew, flying fleet, communication system, lights, landing, taking off and fitness certificates”.  He added that experts should also check the capabilities of the captains and crew members and submit its report to the court within 90 days.

Source: The News International, The Express Tribune, Dawn

()

20 JAN 2012

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD), ordering inspection of certain Airbus A380 aircraft for the possible presence of cracks in the wing rib feet.

The AD states:

Following an unscheduled internal inspection of an A380 wing, some rib feet have been found with cracks originating from the rib to skin panel attachment holes (Type 1 cracks according to Airbus All Operator Telex (AOT) terminology).

Further to this finding, inspections were carried out on a number of other aeroplanes where further cracks have been found. During one of those inspections, a new form of rib foot cracking originating from the forward and aft edges of the vertical web of the rib feet has been identified (Type 2 cracks according to Airbus AOT terminology). The new form of cracking is more significant than the original rib foot hole cracking. It has been determined that the Type 2 cracks may develop on other aeroplanes after a period of time in service.

This condition, if not detected and corrected, could potentially affect the structural integrity of the aeroplane.

For the reasons described above, this AD requires a Detailed Visual Inspection (DVI) of certain wing rib feet. This AD also requires reporting the inspection results to Airbus.

This AD is considered to be an interim action to immediately address this condition. As a result of the on-going investigation, further mandatory actions might be considered.

The cracks were discovered by Airbus engineers while performing repair work to a Qantas A380 that had suffered an uncontained engine failure near Singapore’s Changi Airport. Singapore Airlines also discovered some cracks in on the L-shaped feet of the wing ribs. The feet attach the rib, a vertical fixture, to the cover of the wing.

On January 9th a spokesman for the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association demanded that all A380 aircraft should be grounded for inspections. Airbus reported that all planes were safe to fly and that the cracks did not pose a safety threat.

More information:

• A380 wing cracks ‘really is not a safety issue’: head engineer (Sydney Morning Herald, 6 Jan 2012)
• Singapore Air Checks A380s After Cracks Found (Bloomberg, 20 Jan 2012)
• EASA AD 2012-0013

Tagged: A380, AD, cracks ()

20 JAN 2012

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that Curaçao and Sint Maarten do not comply with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), based on an assessment of each country’s civil aviation authority.

As a result, the FAA has assigned both Curaçao and Sint Maarten an International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Category 2 rating. With a Category 2 rating, Curaçao and Sint Maarten air carriers will not be allowed to establish new service to the United States, but can continue existing service. Both countries were previously part of the Netherlands Antilles, which had a Category 1 rating.

A Category 2 rating means a country either lacks laws or regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards, or that its civil aviation authority – equivalent to the FAA for aviation safety matters – is deficient in one or more areas, such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record keeping or inspection procedures.

As part of the FAA’s IASA program, the agency assesses the civil aviation authorities of all countries with air carriers that operate or have applied to fly to the United States and makes that information available to the public. The assessments determine whether or not foreign civil aviation authorities are meeting ICAO safety standards, not FAA regulations.

Countries with air carriers that fly to the United States must adhere to the safety standards of ICAO, the United Nations’ technical agency for aviation that establishes international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance.

More information:

• www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/iasa/

Tagged: Cat 2, Curacao, FAA, IASA, oversight, Sint Maarten ()