What: A-310 Airbus en route to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Where: Stephenville International Airport, Canada
When: Dec 16, 2010
Who: 8 crew
Why: Overheating batteries convinced a pilot to land the privately owned airbus at Stephenville International Airport.
After landing, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police met the jet on the tarmac. The crew will be staying at local hotels until the plane is repaired.
United Airlines flight 102 made an emergency landing at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, on March 6th.
The plane took off for Munich, Germany, but had to return shortly afterwards due to a bird strike.
The plane landed safely. All 184 passengers aboard remained unhurt.
The Qatar Airways flight QR23 made an emergency landing at Manchester airport at about 1 p.m. on August 5, on suspicion of a possible explosive device on board.
The flight was en route from Doha to Manchester when the crew received a threat regarding a possible device on the Airbus A330. Royal Air Force fighter Typhoon jet aircrafts were then sent to escort the plane which was carrying 269 passengers and 13 crew members at the time.
Chief Supt John O’Hare said: “An incoming plane has been escorted into the airport by the Royal Air Force, as a result of information received by the pilot about a possible device on board….We don’t know how genuine this threat is but it is absolutely vital we deal with the situation as a full emergency.”
The plane landed safely. The passengers were evacuated and the plane was thoroughly searched. However, no device was found.
The British police arrested a 47 year old passenger on suspicion of making bomb hoax threat.
Manchester’s runways remained closed for 25 minutes, and nine inbound flights were diverted to other airports.
What: Saudi Arabian Airlines Airbus A300-600 en route from Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) to Khartoum
Where: Khartoum
When: Jul 7th 2009
Who: 310 passengers and 16 crew
Why: On approach, the crew reported problems with the braking system. The plane swerved while landing but no injuries or damage was reported.
EgyptAir Express flight MS-392 had to divert and make an emergency landing in Luxor, Egypt, on February 17th.
The plane heading from Aswan to Cairo, Egypt, was diverted after the crew noticed a crack in the windshield.
The plane landed safely. All 71 people aboard remained unharmed.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Michael Brazier-Aviation-Images
What: Air France Airbus A340-300 en route from Paris to Bogota
Where: Guadeloupe
When: Mar 11th 2012
Who: 224
Why: While en route, a valve of the anti-ice system failed. Pilots diverted to Guadeloupe, where they stayed long enough to make repairs, before continuing on to Bogota less than four hours late.
21 December 2009
Airbus to provide extended services to airlines in China
Sichuan Airlines, the first Chinese operator to fly Airbus A320 Family aircraft, has signed a contract with Airbus for customized Flight Hour Services (FHS) for its future fleet of three brand new leased A330s, which are scheduled to be in service from early next year.
In order to operate the newly built A330 fleet in a more efficient and cost-effective way, Sichuan Airlines has decided to use the Airbus FHS and will become the first customer for Airbus FHS in China.
The FHS is part of Airbus’ comprehensive portfolio of support, services and solutions that help Airbus customers meet and exceed their business objectives. Airbus will deliver to Sichuan Airlines a tailor-made solution with strong support from Airbus worldwide customer services system. Under the agreement, Airbus guarantees availability of key Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) as well as related logistics and maintenance services for Sichuan Airlines for an initial 13.5-year period.
Airbus FHS helps minimize aircraft on-the-ground time by providing airlines with even faster and simpler access to spare parts and services at predictable rates, based on stock and flight hour parameters. Airbus already has FHS services in operation with other customers in the Asian region.
“The introduction of Airbus A330s and the Airbus FHS for the new A330 fleet is a natural choice for Sichuan Airlines as we have been in successful partnership with Airbus for 14 years. Thanks to the tailor-made Airbus Flight Hour Services, we will optimise our investment and deliver better services to our customers,” said Mr. Lan Xinguo, Chairman of Sichuan Airlines.
“Facing evolving market and customer requirements, Airbus continues to develop innovative and customized services, enabling Airbus customers such as our long lasting customer Sichuan Airlines to focus on their core business,” said Laurence Barron, President of Airbus China.
“There are now more than 530 Airbus aircraft in operation with Chinese airlines and the Airbus fleet in China are expanding fast. More than ever, our Chinese customers are expecting from us innovative and flexible solutions to enable safe, efficient and profitable operations and this agreement strengthens further our partnership with our long time customer Sichuan Airlines,” said Charles Champion, Executive Vice President Customer Services of Airbus.
Sichuan Airlines was also the operator of the very first Airbus A320 assembled by Family Final Assembly Line China (FALC) in Tianjin.
