What: Spanish Navy Agusta-Bell 212ASW Where: Fond Verrettes area, about 50km from Port-Au-Prince Haiti When: April 16, 2010 10:30 Who: 4 on board. No survivors. Why: One of a detachment of four Spanish Navy Agusta-Bell 212ASW helicopters assigned to the Spanish navy amphibious ship Castilla crashed in a sparsely populated remote
rugged location called Mount Toro. The helicopter, which is part of an independent detachment is said not to be part of the 400+ Spanish soldiers engaged in Haiti’s recovery and reconstruction efforts, reportedly struck trees and slammed into the ground before catching fire. The rugged terrain is reportedly hampering recovery.
What: American Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route from Cali Colombia to Miami Where: Cali Colombia When: Apr 16 2010 Who: 95 passengers Why: While en route, a fire developed aboard the galley. The crew decided to return to Cali where they made a safe landing. A couple of hours later, after inspection, the plane was returned to service.
What: UPS Boeing 747-400 en route from Louisville to Dallas Where: Louisville When: April 14 2010 Who: 2 crew Why: After takeoff, multiple systems failed, and the crew decided to make a cautionary landing. No explanation has been provided any more explicit than generic “multiple system failures” but whatever the problem was, by Wednesday the plane was back in the air.
What: Air Canada Boeing 767-300 en route from Tokyo to Calgary Where: Tokyo When: Apr 16 2010 Who: 179 aboard Why: After takeoff, the plane developed problems with its right engine. The crew decided to return to the airport where they made a safe, cautionary landing.
What: United Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Washington to Seattle Where: Sioux Falls When: Apr 14, 2010 Who: 166 passengers Why: While en route, the crew smelled smoke in the cabin.
Passengers complained of burning eyes. The crew elected to divert to Sioux Falls where they made a safe cautionary landing.
A replacement flight was provided, with passengers reaching their destination with only a four hour delay.
What: Lufthansa Boeing 737-300 en route from Hamburg to Dusseldorf Where: Hamburg When: Apr 14th 2010 Who: 88 passengers and 5 crew Why: After takeoff from Hamburg, the plane had a bird strike that impacted an engine and caused substantial vibration. The plane returned to Hamburg and within a quarter hour was safely on the ground.
What: AeroUnion Airbus A-300B4-200 en route from Monterrey (Mexico) to Los Angeles,CA Where: Mexico When: April 13th 2010 Who: 2 crew ; 3 on ground fatalities Why: After taking off from Monterrey on a freight flight after 11:00 pm, it is reported that a turbine and wing fell off the plane, and then the Airbus fell out of the sky on to a highway not far from the runway. (Most of the wreckage is on airport property. ) The crew and three individuals on the ground were killed.
SEATTLE, April 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) tonight honored 14 companies as winners of its 2009 Supplier of the Year award.
The winners, chosen from among the company’s more than 12,000 active suppliers worldwide, are located in Germany, India, Japan and the United States. They were judged on quality, delivery performance, cost, environmental initiatives, customer service and technical expertise. Four are small businesses as defined by the U.S. government.
The winners, and the categories, are:
AZX International Corp. (Huntington Beach, Calif.) – Aerospace support
Cytec Engineered Materials Inc. (Greenville, Texas) – Common aerospace commodities
Deharde-Maschinenbau H. Hoffmann GmbH (Varel, Germany) – International
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach, Fla.) – Academia
Frontier Electronics Systems Corp. (Stillwater, Okla.) – Avionics
GE Commercial Engine Operations (Evendale, Ohio) – Propulsion
GM Nameplate Inc. (Seattle) – Interiors
Hamilton Sundstrand, Electric Systems – 787 Team (Rockford, Ill.) – The Pathfinder Award, a new award recognizing outstanding efforts and significant strides in performance
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (Bangalore, India) – The Alliance Award, a new award recognizing unique capabilities and services that are instrumental to a new Boeing product
OfficeMax Inc. (Naperville, Ill.) – Non-production
San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind (San Antonio) – Diversity
The Toolroom Inc. (Owensville, Mo.) – Outside manufacturing
Honeywell’s UOP (Des Plaines, Ill.) for technology
“Boeing and our suppliers are more interconnected now than ever before – combining our talents and capabilities to create the most innovative products and services for our customers and the aerospace industry worldwide,” said Ray Conner, Boeing enterprise leader of Supplier Management and vice president and general manager of Supply Chain Management and Operations for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
“Every supplier – small and large – is critical to our success, and it is important to recognize these suppliers for demonstrating industry-leading standards of quality, efficiency and performance.”
Before being chosen a Supplier of the Year, each company was named as one of the 486 recipients of a Boeing Performance Excellence Award. For information on the 2009 awards, visit the Boeing Supplier Performance Awards Web site.
What: American Airlines Boeing 767-300 en route from Paris to Dallas Where: Reykjavik When: 13 April 2010 Who: 133 passengers and 12 crew Why: While en route, five crew members became ill from chemical fumes aboard flight 49. The flight diverted to Keflavik Iceland where they made a safe landing. London was sending an alternative flight to pick up the stranded passengers and crew and continue to their destination.
There is no indication yet of the source of the fumes. Eight ambulances were on hand to treat those affected.
Boeing Completes Chinook Industrial Cooperation Program in Spain
MADRID, April 13, 2010 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has successfully completed its industrial cooperation program for the third phase of the CH-47D Chinook rotorcraft upgrades performed for the Spanish Army’s Airmobile Force, FAMET. Boeing finished the industrial cooperation program on schedule while exceeding the $80 million requirement, demonstrating the company’s continued success in meeting its commitments.
Over the 10-year program, Boeing completed 75 projects with 20 Spanish companies and institutions. All projects were coordinated through Isdefe, the company that negotiates and manages industrial cooperation agreements on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Defense’s Armament and Material General Directorate.
“In cooperation with Isdefe, Boeing is bringing high-value opportunities to Spanish industry,” said Gwen Kopsie, director of International Industrial Participation for Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “Spanish companies of all sizes were an integral part of the global supply base that brought state-of-the-art upgrades to the Spanish Army’s Chinook fleet. Many more Spanish companies also benefited from Boeing’s advanced technology transfer and training programs.”
Boeing also supports Isdefe’s efforts to develop Spanish industry through a $13 million industrial cooperation program for the Harpoon advanced weapon control system. That program is on track for completion in 2012.
“Boeing has been a partner to Spain for more than 75 years, serving the needs of both its commercial airplane customers and Spain’s military,” said Pedro Argüelles, president of Boeing Spain. “Today, Boeing’s presence in Spain remains strong thanks to our collaboration with airlines, government, academic institutions and industry. Through our Research & Technology Center in Madrid, we work with our partners in Spain to develop solutions for the environmental, safety and reliability, and air-traffic-control needs of today and tomorrow.”
Boeing has successfully implemented industrial participation programs totaling more than US$41 billion in nearly 40 countries over the past 30 years.
The Chinook is a true multi-role, vertical-lift platform. The primary Chinook mission is transport of artillery, troops, ammunition, fuel and supplies within military theaters of operation. CH-47s also have performed humanitarian-support, disaster-relief, rescue, firefighting and nation-building missions on six continents in all climates and conditions. The Chinook is currently in service with more than 18 countries worldwide.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world’s largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide.
What: Slazenger’s single-engine two-seater kit Falco EI BMF landing at Powerscourt private airstrip Where: County Wicklow When: 10 April 2010 Who: pilot Dr Michael Slazenger and passenger Noel Whitney Why: While Slazenger was attempting to land his aircraft at a private airstrip on his Powerscourt estate in Eniskerry, the plane’s wing struck a tree and crashed. Noel Whitney died at the scene, Slazenger died Monday morning.
What: Cathay Pacific Airbus A330-300 en route from from Surabaya Indonesia to Hong Kong Where: Hong Kong When: April 13 2010 Who: 309 passengers and 14 crew Why: On approach to Hong Kong, the flight developed engine failure in one engine which was shut down, and the other engine failed on landing. On the runway, brakes overheated, caught fire, and the tires went flat.
Passengers evacuated the plane via emergency chutes; seven were injured though only five hospitalized. (Other reports indicate 8 admitted to hospital.)
What: Merpati Nusantara Airlines Boeing 737-300 en route from Sarong to Manokwari West Papua. (Sorong-Dominique Edward Osok Airport to Rendani Airport) Where: Rendani Airport, Indonesia When: 12 April 2010 Who: 97 passengers ( 76 men, 21 women, three children and three infants) 6 crew Why: While landing at Rendani in heavy fog and rain, the flight overshot the runway and/or hydroplaned on the wet runway, lost a wing in a forest at the end of the runway and partially ended up with the tail suspended in river shallows. The fuselage split in two. No one was trapped; everyone got out alive. Reports of injury vary, from 80 minor injuries to 20 individuals who sustained varying degrees of injury (broken bones and head injury), one who had facial injury and trouble breathing.
Merpati is on the banned list. Nevertheless, Merpati spokesmen say this was entirely due to weather and not pilot error.
What: American Eagle Aerospatiale ATR-72-500 en route from Lawton to Dallas Where: Dallas When: Apr 10 2010 Why: On landing in Dallas, the plane’s main gear door fell from the aircraft.
The incident occurred a few months after the Federal Aviation Administration proposed a multimillion-dollar civil fine against Fort Worth-based American Eagle Airlines for flying planes with inadequate repairs. Eagle flew 1,178 flights with improperly repaired landing gear doors on four Bombardier aircraft, violating rules set by the FAA.
PARIS, April 12, 2010 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] has appointed Antoine Balas as Director of Corporate Communications for France. He will be responsible for developing the company’s communications strategies and engaging with key stakeholders in the French market.
“France is a major customer and a strong partner for Boeing. Our industrial partnerships in France have been bolstered with the launch of the 787 Dreamliner”, said Yves Galland, president of Boeing France. “We are very pleased to welcome Antoine, who will work closely with the international teams to enhance the company’s reputation and help to grow our business in the country”.
Balas, 39, has a 15-year career in corporate communications. From 1996 to 2004, he held various European positions within Honeywell International, including Communications Manager for the Aerospace organization in Europe. In 2004, he joined the French automotive supplier Valeo as Group Internal Communications Manager. In his last position at Valeo, he led Corporate Communications and Media Relations. He holds a degree in International Trade and a degree in Communications and Public Relations from ISERP.
Since the opening of its Paris office in 2003, under the leadership of Yves Galland, Boeing has significantly increased its partnerships with French suppliers, creating the “Boeing French Team”. In France, more than 100 suppliers collaborate on Boeing programs.
What: DHL Bahrain/ACT Airlines Airbus A-300B4-200 en route from from Bahrain to Bagram Where: Bahrain/ When: Apr 10 2010 Who: 7 crew members Why: On takeoff, the right engine caught fire and scattered debris on the runway. The plane rejected takeoff and rolled to a stop. Subsequent flights were delayed during runway cleanup. No injuries were reported, and emergency services handled the engine fire.
What: Air New Zealand/Eagle Airways Beech 1900D en route from Auckland to Whangarei Where: Auckland When: Apr 9 2010 Who: 9 passengers and 3 crew Why: While en route, the left cargo door opened. The crew landed the plane back at the airport. There were no injuries.
What: Polish Air Force Tupolev TU-154M Where: Smolensk When: Apr 10th 2010 Who: 88 passengers and 8 crew Why: On approach to Smolensk North Airport in dense fog, the plane impacted a forest, coming to rest short of the runway. There are conflicting reports leading up to the decision to land at Smolensk (versus Minsk or Moscow), holding pattern, the number of approaches.
Everyone aboard the flight was lost, including Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria, the national bank president, deputy foreign minister, army chaplain, head of the National Security Office, deputy parliament speaker, Olympic Committee head, civil rights commissioner and at least two presidential aides and three lawmakers.
Partial list of those lost in the crash:
1. Lech Kaczynski, President of the Republic of Poland
2. Maria Kaczynska, the president’s wife
3. Ryszard Kaczorowski, head of Poland’s London-based government-in-exile during the communist period
4. General Tadeusz Buk, Head of Polish Land Forces
5. Leszek Deptula, MP
6. Grzegorz Dolniak, MP
7. Katarzyna Doraczynska, President’s Chancellery
8 Janina Fetlinska, Senator
9. General Franciszek Gagor, Chief of Staff
10. Grazyna Gesicka, MP
11. Przemyslaw Gosiewski, MP
12. Mariusz Handzlik, Minister at the President’s Chancellery
13. Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka, MP
14. Sebastian Karpiniuk, MP
15. Admiral Andrzej Karweta, Head of Polish Navy
16. Mariusz Kazana, Foreign Ministry
17. Janusz Kochanowski, Poland’s Ombudsman
18. Stanislaw Jerzy Komorowski, Deputy Defence Minister
19. Andrzej Kremer, Deputy Foreign Minister
20. Janusz Kurtyka, National Remembrance Institute head
21. Tomasz Merta, Deputy Culture Minister
22. Aleksandra Natalli-Swiat, MP
23. Piotr Nurowski, head of Polish Olympics Committee
24. Krzysztof Putra, Deputy Speaker of parliament
25. Arkadiusz Rybicki, MP
26. Slawomir Skrzypek, head of Poland’s central bank
27. Wladyslaw Stasiak, head of Kaczynski’s Chancellery
28. Aleksander Szczyglo, head of the National Security Bureau
29. Jerzy Szmajdzinski, Deputy Speaker of parliament
30. Jolanta Szymanek-Deresz, MP
31. Izabela Tomaszewska, President’s Chancellery
32. Anna Walentynowicz, former Solidarity activist
33. Zbigniew Wassermann, MP
34. Wieslaw Woda, MP
35. Edward Wojtas, MP
36. Pawel Wypych, Minister and Kaczynski’s Chancellery
What: Kamchatka Airlines Mil Mi-8T helicopter Where: Elizovo, Kamchatka Russia When: April 9 2010 Who: 18 aboard, 7 fatalities Why: After an avalanche, the bodies of 7 German tourists aboard a helicopter have been recovered. Two survivors (the captain and one tourist) have been taken to a medical center and search is ongoing for the rest of those aboard. Inhospitable mountainous terrain is impeding the search
EVERETT, Wash., April 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Boeing (NYSE: BA) announced today that all test requirements were successfully met during the 787 Dreamliner’s ultimate load wing and fuselage bending test. This follows a thorough analysis of the results from a test on the 787 static test airframe.
“Successfully completing this test is a critical step in the certification of the 787. This is further validation that the 787 performs as expected, even in the most extreme circumstances,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
On March 28, loads were applied to the test unit to replicate 150 percent of the most extreme forces the airplane is ever expected to experience while in service. The wings were flexed upward by approximately 25 feet (7.6 meters) during the test and the fuselage was pressurized to 150 percent of its maximum normal operating condition.
In evaluating the success criteria for the test, Boeing specialists have been poring over the thousands of data points collected during the test to ensure that all parts of the airplane performed as expected.
“The airframe performed as designed and retained the required structural integrity. These results continue to validate the design of the 787 as we move toward certification,” explained Fancher.
What: United Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Washington to Denver Where: 157 passengers and 6 crew When: 7 pm Who: 157 passengers and 6 crew members;
The individual who was detained is Mohammed al Modadi, a diplomat in the Qatar embassy in Washington, D.C. Why: When an on board air marshal smelled smoke, he confronted the passenger in the first class bathroom. Mohammed al Modadi, who was apparently sneaking a smoke in the bathroom, declared diplomatic immunity and made a sarcastic declaration regarding Richard Reid.
Modadi was escorted to his seat and rode the rest of the flight flanked by two air marshals.
Two F-16 fighter jets escorted the flight the last 40 miles to Denver where Modadi was taken into custody.
No explosives were found.
George’s Point of View
People should be held accountable for their actions.
In this case, it requires looking closely at the actions. Some logical points are given:
1. Smoking is not allowed.
2. The air marshals were doing their job.
3. There is a time and place for everything. Standing in a plane’s bathroom after smoking a cigarette in a world where real people are really trying to blow up planes is not the place to make a shoe-bomb joke to a nervous air marshal. Even if one is a diplomat. Especially if one is a diplomat.
4. Diplomats are generally expected to smooth over or prevent international incidents, not cause them. (On the other hand, what exactly is Modadi’s job description, and exactly what is he supposed to do?)
5. This time the plane did not blow up.
Anything beyond this is speculation. I am sure the aviation lawyers and the aviation lawmakers will be hotly discussing this event, to see exactly how diplomatic status will affect policy, and playing the “what if” game. What if Modadi was just testing to see what would happen? What if there’s another diplomat biding his time for when we lower our guard, waiting to do this for real?
Whether a diplomat is a political officer to advocate for Qatar interests, a trade officer to advocate for Qatar interests, or a consular officer providing services for Qatar travelers, one can reasonably expect that Modadi’s agenda for today did not include deliberately getting caught sneaking a smoke in the United Airlines lavatory, nearly causing an international incident or providing puppet comedian Jeff Dunham grist for his “Achmed the dead terrorist” character for the next ten years. If Modadi has enough character and charm to jockey his ten minutes of fame into something more, we just may even see him as the new face of the nicotine patch or some other smoking cessation method or remedy.
On the other hand, we can not forget that there are people out there who wait for us to drop our guard so the next suicidal bomber can make his vicious mark.
What: Air Canada Airbus A330-300 en route from Frankfurt/Main to Montreal Where: on runway in Frankfurt; on runway in Montreal When: Apr 6 2010 Who: 219 aboard Why: On takeoff, the plane experienced significant vibration and a tire blew out. The flight crew decided to continue on to their destination.
On landing in Montreal with emergency services standing by, the plane’s landing on a damaged nose wheel (right main) incurred damage to the flap, wheel well and gear door. Passengers disembarked on the runway and were driven to the terminal.
On a completely unrelated note, on the same day, on a different Air Canada flight, a sleeping passenger was left for an hour and a half on the plane after everyone had disembarked. The passenger, departmental head of sports law from Staffordshire University was on a Calgary-Vancouver flight. He was offered a ticket discount as compensation.
One wonders if he will change his specialty to aviation law.
What: Delta Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Atlanta to Las Vegas Where: Will Rogers Airport When: Apr 7 2010 5 pm Who: 182 passengers and 7 crew Why: While en route (near Oklahoma City), the plane developed unspecified mechanical problems in an engine. The crew decided to divert to the nearest airport. The flight landed safely. Passengers were provided refreshments, and given the option to either continue that day on an alternative flight or fly the next day.
What: Republic Airlines Embraer ERJ-170 en route from Omaha to Milwaukee Where: Milwaukee When: Apr 3 2010 Why: While en route, the flight encountered turbulence that injured a flight attendant. The flight made a safe landing, without further injury.
What: Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Addis Ababa to Rome Where: Rome When: Apr 5 2010 Why: On approach to Rome, the Ethiopian Airlines jet experienced hydraulic failure. The flight made a safe landing, but had to be towed to the apron. No injuries were reported.
