Southwest Airlines flight WN-3286 made a safe landing following multiple bird strikes in Burbank, California, on November 24th.
The Boeing 737-300 plane was flying from Oakland, California, when it suffered bird strikes.
The plane continued for a safe landing. Everyone aboard remained unharmed.
UTAir flight UT-447 had to return and make an emergency landing at Vnukovo International Airport, Russia, on December 23rd.
The Boeing 737-500 plane took off for Makhachkala, Russia, but had to turn back due to suspicion of fuel leak.
The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Renowned panelists in the first panel discussion at the 20th World Routes Development Forum, which was held in Chicago on September 21, concluded that the global aviation industry is currently facing 5 critical challenges.
As per the results of live polling moderated by BBC World News presenter, Aaron Heslehurst, the delegates regarded infrastructure as the most critical challenge, with aviation profitability, safety/security, taxation and oil price stability being the other 4.
At the start of the session, the issue of safety and security was discussed, particularly in context of the recent incidents of MH17 and MH370. Managing director of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), Datuk Badlisham Ghazali appreciated the actions taken by the ICAO and other bodies in order to improve aviation safety, however, he emphasized on the need of enhanced visibility from global aviation bodies regarding the industrial developments aimed at increasing safety. Referring to MH17 tragedy, he said, “The industry needs to move forward in more visible way. Response has not been as visible as what I had hoped for.”
The issue of aircrafts flying over conflict area in eastern Ukraine was also brought up during the discussion. Thomas Windmuller, SVP airports, passenger and cargo services at IATA, asked why some airlines had the vital information not to fly while the others were not aware.
Profitability was another point of discussion in the forum and according to Windmuller, “We are in a period of sustained growth in volume, but not necessarily profitability. The number of airlines that recover their capital cost is very small… The problem is not just airlines, it is aviation. There are very few parts and components that are making big money. These include airports, and air navigation services, who do not make a profit, and do not cover their long-term capital costs.”
The delegate voting regarded Infrastructure challenges as the most serious issue being faced by the aviation industry today. The current investment in aviation infrastructure development projects vary a great deal from country to country. In some countries like China, big investments are being made for infrastructure development while in some other countries this trend is non-existent.
Trey Urbahn, the chief strategy officer of Azul Brazilian Airlines, said that the most pressing issue being faced by Brazilian aviation industry today is taxation. Giving example of Azul Brazilian Airlines, he said that 36% of the company’s profit go on taxes and that the company is working with the government to address this serious issue. He suggested that the taxation garnered should be re-invested for infrastructure development.
JetBlue flight B6-2802 had to return and make an emergency landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, on July 11th.
The Embraer ERJ-190 plane took off for Buffalo, New York, but had to return shortly afterwards after the crew noticed fumes in the cockpit.
The plane landed back uneventfully. Everyone aboard remained safe.
American Airlines flight AA135 had to return and make an emergency landing at London Heathrow airport, on December 15.
The airline said that the Los Angeles-bound Boeing 777 had to turn back due to a medical emergency.
The plane, carrying 267 passengers, landed back safely at around 4 p.m.
Authorities said the flight again departed London shortly after 6 p.m.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Jehan M. Ghouse
What: Air Cargo Carrier Shorts SD-360 en route from Tupelo to Houston
Where: Houston
When: May 17th 2012
Who: 2 crew
Why: After the Air Cargo Carrier landed at Houston-George Bush Intercontinental Airport, it caught on fire. Aviation Herald claims the cause of the fire was “brakes of the right main gear.”
Emergency services responded.
We haven’t heard if the plane made a hard or fast landing, Houston temps, or if there was some mechanical problem like a lock-up that caused the fire.
This Special Bulletin contains information on the progress of the investigation into a ground fire on an unoccupied Boeing 787-8, registration ET-AOP, at London Heathrow Airport on 12 July 2013.
It follows the publication of Special Bulletin S5/2013 on 18 July 2013. The AAIB are assisted in the investigation by Accredited Representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) (representing the State of Design and Manufacture), the Civil Aviation Authority of Ethiopia (representing the State of Registry and the Operator) and the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada (representing the State of component manufacture), with technical advisors from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the operator and the aircraft and component manufacturers.
In Special Bulletin S5/2013, the AAIB reported the existence of extensive heat damage in the upper portion of the aircraft’s rear fuselage, particularly in an area coincident with the location of the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT). The absence of any other aircraft systems in this area containing stored energy capable of initiating a fire, together with evidence from forensic examination of the ELT, led the investigation to conclude that the fire originated within the ELT battery.
