Aircraft

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    Turkish Airlines: Hard landing in Brussels


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Fabio Lorenzato

      What: Turkish Airlines Airbus A340-300 en from Istanbul Turkey to Brussels Belgium
      Where: Brussels
      When: Oct 24 2010
      Why: The flight had a hard landing in Brussels, when the nose gear failed to make ground contact and the right wing lifted enough that the left engine scraped the runway. The plane was removed from service for repairs due to damage.

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    Air Nippon Receives Ground Clearance Warning over Mountain Range


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Kaoru Kojima

    What: Air Nippon Boeing 737-800 en route from Nagoya to Asahikawa
    Where: Asahikaw
    When: Oct 26 2010
    Why: 16 nautical miles east of the airport, the flight received a ground proximity warning system warning. The pilot climbed to a safe height in the mountainous area, and continued to make a safe landing at the Asahikawa Airport.

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    Flat Tire at Patna

    What: Air India Airbus A320-200 en route from Delhi to Patna
    Where: Patna
    When: Oct 26 2010
    Why: A runway inspection indicated a runway inspection at Delhi indicated debris on the runway, and that on takeoff, several runway edge lights had been destroyed, presumably from the takeoff of the Air India Airbus A320-200. The runway had to be closed for repairs.

    On landing at Patna, a tire burst on the Airbus. It is presumed that the runway edge lights may have caused some preliminary damage to the tires.

    George’s Point of View

    *Note to pilot: repeat 3 x: runway lights are not speed bumps.

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    Oil Fire Smokes Air Greenland Lavatory


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Stefan Sonnenberg

    What: Air Greenland de Havilland Dash 8-200 en route from Nuuk to Paamiut
    Where: Nuuk
    When: Oct 25th 2010
    Who: 11 passengers and 3 crew
    Why: While en route, a fire was reported in the lavatory. Smoke was detected in the cabin. The crew returned to Nuuk where they made a safe landing.

    Maintenance found an oil leak in the bleed air system.

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    Hull Breach in American Airlines Flight


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer

    What: American Airlines Boeing 757-200 from Miami,FL to Boston,MA
    Where: Miami
    When: Oct 26th 2010
    Who: 154 passengers and 6 crew
    Why: A half hour after takeoff, the plane developed rapid decompression at 31,000 feet requiring oxygen masks, an emergency descent and a return to Miami.

    Maintenance found a one by two foot hole in the hull.

    George’s Point of View

    Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance!

    Even with AD Directives issued, this was still missed. Was there telltale evidence prior to this event that could have prevented endangering 154 passengers and six crew?

    The hole in the hull is not unprecedented. Sixteen months prior to flight AA-1640, Southwest Airlines (SWA) flight 2294, (another Boeing suffering a hole in the hull in July 13, 2009), the FAA has already issued Airworthiness Directive 2010-01-09 mandating inspection requirements. At that time, they ascribed the hull failure to a design fault: Fuselage skin failure due to preexisting fatigue at a chemically milled step.

    It’s an easy enough thing to visualize-picture slightly squeezing an empty cola can, then blowing into it; and repeating the process, over and over. In a soda can, it would not take the 20 years this plane has been flying for the stressed areas to develop a crease, and eventually crack.

    Not that a soda can is expected to sustain the significant pressures at 10,000+ feet, nor does it have the design flaw of chemical milling, nor is its skin made of single and double bonded layers. If it were, one could theoretically presume and anticipate metal fatigue to occur at the weakest location–the edges of where the metal is double-bonded.

    In the Southwest Airlines event, it was observed that the progression of metal fatigue tends to be higher at the borders between chemically milled and non-chemically milled bays.

    The inspection requirements in SB 737-53A1301 require inspections to detect cracks in the vulnerable areas (the chem-mill step) to avoid sudden fracture and failure of the fuselage skin panels.

    Did this plane undergo “repetitive external non-destructive inspections to detect cracks in the fuselage skin“?

    Carriers out there, when there are directives which indicate potential problems, pay attention!

    If not for the stellar performance of this flight crew, this plane would have been a statistic.

    Thank you, John D King for sending the links.

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    Threat Called in to Skywest


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    Contact photographer

    What: Skywest-Delta CRJ-200 commuter jet en route from Helena, Montana to Salt Lake City
    Where: Salt Lake City
    When: October 28, 2010
    Who: 46 passengers, 3 crew
    Why: A bomb threat call claiming there was an incendiary device aboard Skywest-Delta flight 4654 was reported to Skywest at St. George. Law enforcement was notified.

    Bomb-sniffing dogs did not find anything. The call is being traced, and security has been doubled.

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    Injury Delays Flight


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Bruce Leibowitz

    What: Delta Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Orlando to Salt Lake City
    Where: Orlando
    When: Oct 27 2010
    Who: 1 injury
    Why: Before takeoff, the plane made a sharp stop while taxiing, injuring one.

    The injury did not prevent takeoff, although there was a short delay while the injured party received treatment.

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    Indigo Airbus Lands without Steering


    Pictured: An IndiGo Airbus A320-232 taking off from Ahmedabad
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Sunandan Subramaniam

    What: IndiGo Airbus A320-200 en route from Guwahati to Kolkata
    Where: Kolkata India
    When: Oct 27 2010
    Who: 169 people on board
    Why: 7.30pm on approach to Kolkata, the pilot notified ATC that his plane had developed a problem with the hydraulics, and landing gear problems were ruled out.

    The plane made a safe landing at 7:53 pm. Nose gear steering was unavailable, so the plane was towed to the gate. While the plane was stuck on the runway, the airport shut down operations, although not for long. Incoming planes had to circle for less than half an hour.

    The next leg of the plane’s itinerary was Chennai; another plane was flown in to accommodate the passengers.

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    Dubai-based flydubai receives first interior on Next-Generation 737-800

    SEATTLE, Oct. 27 — Boeing and Dubai-based flydubai today celebrated delivery of the first Next-Generation 737 with the new, passenger-inspired Boeing Sky Interior.

    “The superior passenger experience of this exciting new interior is the result of many years’ work by Boeing employees and suppliers,” said Beverly Wyse, 737 vice president and general manager. “Our airline customers will draw value from the many practical improvements we have made in the new design.”

    Since the Next-Generation 737 was introduced in 1997, customers have taken advantage of continuous improvements to this best-selling airplane that have made it ever more efficient, reliable and passenger-friendly. Boeing Sky Interior is the latest in a series of improvements to the airplane. The next to come will be a package of performance improvements that will reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by 2 percent – making the airplane a full 7 percent more efficient than the first Next-Generation 737 delivered. The performance improvements to the airframe and engine are beginning certification test soon, and will be fully in service by early 2012.

    With the new 737 Boeing Sky Interior, airlines will welcome their passengers into a cabin featuring modern, sculpted sidewalls and window reveals. The ingenious design of the new, larger stow bins allows them to accommodate even more bags than before, while taking up less space in the cabin. The innovative assist mechanism of the new bins gives easy access, and as they pivot up and out of the way, there is much more headroom around the aisle seats and a greater sense of space in the cabin.

    Airlines will select from different lighting schemes that range from a welcoming, soft blue overhead sky simulation to a calm, relaxing, pallet of sunset colors.

    LEDs (light emitting diodes) are brighter and replace incandescent signage, attendant and halogen reading lights. With an estimated 40,000 hours between replacements, LEDs last 10 times longer than the previous standard of lights.

    Other features that passengers particularly will appreciate are a quieter cabin, intuitive placement of switches and call buttons, and improved sound quality and clarity through new speakers in each passenger row.

    “We are very proud to be the first to offer our passengers an enhanced onboard experience with the brand new Boeing Sky Interior,” said Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai. “We have achieved much in our first 16 months of service and will continue to bring our passengers the best product offerings on one of the newest 737 fleets in service.” The airplane, a Next-Generation 737-800, will enter service in November.

    A total of 46 airlines and leasing companies have ordered the 737 Boeing Sky Interior for more than 1,200 of their airplanes. flydubai is the first of five airlines that will receive Next-Generation 737s with the new interior this year.

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    Maintenance, Smoke Grounds UA Flight to Shanghai

    What: United Airlines Boeing 777 en route from Chicago to Shanghai
    Where: Winnipeg
    When: Oct 25, 2010 1:40 pm
    Who: 194 passengers
    Why: While en route, the plane developed smoke in the cabin. The nearest place to land a 777 (requiring a long runway) was Winnipeg, so the pilot diverted to Winnipeg and made a safe landing with emergency crews on standby on the tarmac. Monday afternoon, a UA crew was assessing the plane; but a replacement plan is scheduled to arrive Tuesday to take the passengers to Shanghai.

    George’s Point of View

    Sometimes it seems as if it takes an emergency for a plane to get maintenance.

    Airliners never stop; they land, unload passengers, cleanup, fuel up, load more passengers and they are off again.

    When do planes get maintenance? After they see smoke?

    It’s not just United.

    Look at our posts: Engine failures, engine fires, cracked windshields, no oil pressure, low air pressure, breaking landing gear, non-working nose gear, shredding tires, smokey cabins…

    When do they stop a plane long enough for it to truly get a little TLC?

    I knew a former navy mechanic who said he would never fly on a commercial plane. Before AND After every flight, the crew checks every plane from nose to tail, ensuring everything is in perfect working order. It seems like a commercial plane only gets a good once over once it’s too late.

    We don’t do that with our cars. You know once the car’s warning light comes on, it’s already too late, and damage has already happened. So we get timely oil changes, and basic care because every dollar spent on maintenance is a hundred dollars not spent on repair.

    Sure, flight 835 plane is getting a once over now, but for that to happen, a plane full of passengers had to be put at risk.

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    Emergency Landing Kuwait City


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Christopher Schneider

    What: Kuwait Airways Airbus A300-600 en route from Kuwait City to Dhaka
    Where: Kuwait
    When: Oct 23rd 2010
    Why: After takeoff, the windshield developed a crack. The pilot returned to Kuwait and made a safe landing.

    Conflicting reports:
    According to Mohammed Bursali, Public Relations Director of Kuwait Airways, The windshield was replaced and the flight resumed an hour later. However, a replacement jet arrived four hours later to resume the flight.

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    Chaos on Aero Contractors in Lagos


    Not the 500. Pictured: Boeing 737-322 exAero Contractors Nigeria lease
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer JayDeeKay

    What: Aero Contractors Boeing 737-500 en route from Port Harcourt to Lagos
    Where: Nigeria
    When: Oct 24 2010
    Who: 84 passengers, 15 injuries
    Why: Passengers were complaining of pressure problems resulting in ear pain. Passengers reportedly “ran amuck” in the cabin when they saw smoke, apparently resulting in injury.

    Officially, ten minutes before arrival in Lagos, a smoke problem in the cabin was reported to ATC. The crew reported the smoke, and made a safe landing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport with emergency on standby at 6:30 pm. Passengers evacuated, resulting in fifteen injuries. Passenger’s luggage was not released until 8:30 pm

    According to maintenance, the smoke problem was mist and condensation from the air conditioning which had been switched to manual.

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    Two in one: Pia Emergency

    What: PIA Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A310-300 en route from Quetta to Islamabad
    Where: Islamabad
    When: Oct 24 2010
    Who: 187 passengers
    Why: On approach to Islamabad, nose gear failed. The pilot shut down the plane on the runway, and the plane was towed.


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Asuspine

    What: PIA Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A310-300 en route from Manchester to Islamabad
    Where: Manchester
    When: Oct 24 2010
    Who: 190 passengers
    Why: After takeoff, suffering a technical problem, the pilot returned to Manchester where he made a safe landing. The flight (or a replacement) was rescheduled for the next day.

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    Plane lost in Washington

    What: Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute twin engine Cessna 304 en route from Chehalis to Lewiston Idaho
    Where: Packwood/Morton area, Southwest Washington
    When: October 25, 2010
    Who: pilot and 2 passengers
    Why: A pilot en route to Lewiston Idaho told ATC that one of his engines was down. He reported he was diverting to Chehalis but transmission stopped. Radar contact was lost at 7:44 am

    A search is being conducted by a navy helicopter and a jet ranger. There is a weak beacon signal indicating the location.

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    Cessna Crashes in Pond, no fatalities


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Adam Howley

    What: Ardmore Flying School Cessna C172R
    Where: Thames New Zealand
    When: Oct 25 2010
    Who: 2 aboard
    Why: At 10:22 a.m, the plane crashed into the pond at the end of a runway. Both individuals aboard the plane were able to exit under their own power. The plane presumably is a total loss. This is not the first time a plane has crashed into the pond at the foot of the runway.

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    Emergency Landing in Malta

    What: Smartlynx Airbus A320-200 en route from Tenerife to Antalya
    Where: Malta
    When: Oct 22 2010
    Why: While en route, the flight suffered a loss of cabin pressure. The pilot diverted to Malta where they made a safe landing. In less than 24 hours, the plane was en route again. Disposition of the passengers is unknown.

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    Aero Emergency Pandemonium Causes Evacuation Injuries

    What: Aero B737-500 en route from Yenagoa to Abuja
    Where: Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos, Nigeria
    When: Oct 24 2010
    Who: 84 passengers
    Why: On approach to lagos, the plane made a reportedly “terrifying” noise and began emitting smoke in the cabin. The pilot managed the landing and directed the crew to assist with evacuations. The passengers panicked, causing a number of injuries as they jumped out of the emergency exits.

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    Small Plane Crashes in California Barn

    What: Cirrus SR-22 en route from Van Nuys to Parker, Arizona
    Where: one mile west of the Agua Dulce Airport
    When: October 21, 2010
    Who: 3 fatalities
    Why: The plane circled before it emerged from clouds, at which time if flew upside down in an uncontrolled spiral. The plane crashed next to a barn a mile short of the airport, exploded on contact; and the remains of those on board are charred and spread across a large debris field. Two horses in the barn were killed, and one was injured but is expected to survive.

    The plane was registered to OVATION MANAGEMENT INC.

     

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    Fed Ex Flight Diverts to Mumbai

    What: Fedex Federal Express McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter en route from Dubai to Bangalore
    Where: Mumbai
    When: Oct 22 2010
    Who: crew
    Why: The plane’s instrumentation indicated a fire in the cargo hold. The flight was diverted to Mumbai where they made a safe landing. However, at 18.24 pm on landing no fire was detected.

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    Allegiant Flies to Vegas with Damaged Nose Gear Tire

    What: Allegiant McDonnell Douglas MD-83 en route from Cedar Rapids to Las Vegas
    Where: Las Vegas
    When: Oct 22 2010
    Why: On takeoff, the plane blew a “front” tire. However, the flight continued to Las Vegas as scheduled. They landed with emergency crews on standby, and after landing taxied to the edge of the runway. The tire was repaired, and the plane continued to the gate, where passengers disembarked.

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    Boeing Statement Regarding USDA-FAA Partnership on Aviation Biofuels

    CHICAGO, Oct. 21 Boeing Vice President, Environment and Aviation Policy, Billy M Glover, issued the following statement in the wake of today’s announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Federal Aviation Administration that the two agencies have agreed to work together to bring sustainable biofuels into production for the aviation industry.

    “Today’s announcement is welcome news for the commercial aviation industry, which sees sustainable biofuels as a key element of its plan to lower its carbon emissions. Through test flights with a number of our customers, we have proven that fuels made from plant matter and algae can power jet aircraft safely and efficiently, and we look forward in the months ahead to the approval of these fuels for commercial use. The challenge then will be to prime the production pump, and bring biofuels to an attractive price point for airlines.

    Boeing is currently working with the USDA and the Air Transport Association on the Farm-to-Fly initiative, which seeks to encourage the production of sustainable aviation biofuels through U.S. agricultural policy. The USDA-FAA partnership will further help in that regard. We applaud their efforts and look forward to working with them to commercialize biofuels that can help the aviation industry meet its aggressive carbon reduction goals.”

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    Press Release: Embraer Confirms Ejet

    This second EMBRAER 175 is the fifth E-Jet in the airline’s all Embraer fleet São José dos Campos, October 22, 2010 – Embraer has signed a contract with Fuji Dream Airlines (FDA) of Japan for the sale of an EMBRAER 175, which is the fifth E-Jet in the airline’s fleet. The new aircraft will be configured in a single class with 84 seats. The order also includes an option for one additional aircraft of the same model and marks the quick expansion of FDA’s fleet in a highly competitive market like Japan’s. This deal is already included in Embraer’s firm order backlog for the third quarter of 2010, as “Undisclosed” customer.

    “We are honored that FDA has reaffirmed its confidence in the E-Jets family and ordered another EMBRAER 175,” said Paulo César de Souza e Silva, Embraer Executive Vice President, Airline Market. “The re-order is a sign that our E-Jets have been instrumental in the birth and growth of a new airline, and provided it with an optimal tool to develop new routes, while providing their customers with a reliable and comfortable airplane.”

    As a start-up airline in Japan in 2007, FDA chose to purchase two EMBRAER 170s as its debut aircraft. The first was delivered in February 2009. In June, the airline decided to increase the fleet and ordered one EMBRAER 175, which joined the two original EMBRAER 170s in early 2010. With this agreement, FDA will end 2010 with a total of five E-Jets (three EMBRAER 170s – one pre-owned and bought this year – and two EMBRAER 175s).

    “Since FDA started offering flights in July 2009, we have made significant progress in developing our network and business. This progress has been made possible partly due to the operational flexibility offered by the E-Jets family, especially the EMBRAER 170 and EMBRAER 175, which has allowed us to explore and capitalize on new routes,” said Tsuneji Sugawa, Senior Managing Director of Fuji Dream Airlines.

    FDA is the only airline in Japan with an all-Embraer E-Jets fleet. The company is part of the Suzuyo Group, which owns a full-flight simulator to provide pilot and fleet engineering training for its staff. FDA has also signed a ten-year Pool Flight Hour program contract with Embraer to manage and facilitate all necessary spare parts for its E-Jets. The program gives airlines the opportunity to reduce their cost exposure related to parts inventory and storage facilities, therefore increasing their capacity to budget costs.

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    Unruly Passenger Hauled off by Mounties and Fined $28,000 Canadian


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    Contact photographer

    What: Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400 en route from Orlando,FL (USA) to Manchester
    Where: Gander
    When: Oct 21 2010
    Who: 451 passengers and 17 crew
    Why: While underway, a drunken passenger got into a brawl with his wife and father in law. The pilot diverted to Gander where the disruptive passenger, UK citizen Roy Anthony Heaps, was escorted out of the airport by Mounties.

    The court ordered Heaps to pay a fine of $15,000 for charges of assault, uttering threats, mischief and interfering with an air crew; and restitution to the airline along the lines of 13,000 Canadian Dollars.

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    Overloaded (?) Cessna Crashes in Colombia

    What: Condor Cessna TU206G Turbo Stationair
    Where: El Astillero, Cerro San Antonio de Prado, Colombia
    When: October 20, 2010, 9:40 am
    Who: 4 aboard, 4 fatalities
    Why: The plane carrying provisions to Urabá and 3 passengers flew into San Antonio Mountain, killing all aboard. A would-be passenger’s life was saved because he could not board the flight—because it was full.

    The pilot did not report an emergency to the tower.

    The pilot was Juan Guillermo Mondragon. Passengers included John Amado Pérez, Osías Sierra and Xenobia Palacios.

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    Kingfisher Emergency Landing in Mumbai

    What: Kingfisher Airbus A320-200 en route from Hyderabad to Mumbai
    Where: Mumbai, India
    When: Oct 21 2010
    Who: 136 aboard
    Why: On final approach to Mumbai, the plane incurred a bird strike which struck the landing gear. The plane made a safe landing at Mumbai, although there was some damage to the plane. Everyone made it safely off the plane.

    Newspapers reported “bird was trapped inside the wheels of the plane.”