What: Virgin Blue Boeing 737 en route from Melbourne to Sydney Where: Melbourne When: Nov 19 2010 7:16 a.m. Who: 122 passengers, 6 crew Why: Just after takeoff, the pilot noted a peculiar odor described as burning plastic (originally reported as smoke in the cockpit.) After being aloft for less than 30 minutes, the plane was met by 11 fire trucks on the landing which was safe; and the plane seemed to be operating as usual. Passengers were provided alternate flights as maintenance checked over the plane for the source of the smell, which may have been the new engine.
George’s Point of View
An electrical fire? or Old Spice? Avon? Brut? Body odor? Old Spice ON body odor?
What: A First Air Boeing 737-200 en route from Norman Wells, to Inuvik Where: Inuvik When: Nov 15th 2010 Who: 22 aboard Why: After takeoff, the right engine’s warning light came on. The crew declared an emergency but continued to Inuvik to make a safe landing.
On examination, the overheat detection mechanism was faulty.
What: Cape Air Cessna 402 en route from Lebanon to Boston Where: Manchester-Boston Regional Airport When: 6:30 a.m. Who: 5 passengers Why: After the plane developed low oil pressure in the right engine, the pilot shut it down and made a safe landing at Manchester Boston Regional Airport.
What: Air India en route from Ahmedabad to Delhi Where: Sanganer airport, Jaipur India When: November 17, 2010, 7:15 am Who: 129 passengers Why: The pilot en route to Delhi did not have enough fuel to reach his destination, and diverted to Jaipur where he made a safe landing with emergency services on standby. The airport said he had enough fuel, but that the plane had developed a fuel leak. Passengers waited for six hours for the leak in the fuel tank was repaired and were provided hotel accommodations.
What: JetBlue Embraer 190 en route from Charlotte, N.C., to Boston Where: Boston When: Nov 17, 2010, 9 a.m. Who: 25 passengers Why: While en route, the plane developed a problem with the flaps. After declaring an emergency, the pilot made it safely to Logan, landing without flaps.
* Note the photo of this plane in Boston last year.
What: Ryanair en route from Fes, Morocco to Beauvais, France Where: Liege, Belgium When: Wed Nov 17, 2010 Who: 100+ passengers Why: After leaving Morocco three hours late, the plane was unable to land in Beauvais because the airport had closed due to foggy weather conditions. After they diverted to Liege, some passengers became disruptive and refused to leave the plane. After an hour trying to get the passengers out, the crew only left when the passengers became abusive.
The exit doors were open, the toilets were locked and the lights were out. Passengers (mostly French) would not leave the plane until 3:30am when police became involved. (Reports are that 100 passengers staged a sit-in lasting from five to eight hours and refused to leave.) Passengers were upset at landing in Liege without warning.
Three other flights to Beauvais were also diverted to Liege without incident.
Buses were provided to take them to their destination.
George’s Point of View
A plane, completely abandoned by pilots and crew fearing for their safety, professional negotiators called in to coax rude and abusive passengers out of a dark plane with locked bathrooms…
Sure, no passenger would be tickled pink over a plane ride that takes them so far out of the way that they have to take a 350 mile bus ride back, but would the passengers have preferred crashing on the foggy Beauvais runway? What is missing here? We need Paul Harvey to tell us ….the rest of the story.
What: Qantas Boeing 747 en route from Johannesburg to Australia Where: Johannesburg When: Nov 16, 2010, 7:20 p.m. Who: 171 passengers Why: After takeoff around 6pm, the Qantas jet—reportedly the same plane which turned back from Sydney to Buenos Aires on Nov 15 2010_ingested a bird into the number 2 engine,which caused a drop in power. The pilot made an emergency landing (80 minutes after takeoff) in Johannesburg with emergency vehicles on standby.
Passengers will be provided hotel accommodations and are expected to have flight accommodations on one of three options within 24 hours.
The damage to the number 2 engine is said to be limited to a turbine blade.
George’s Point of View
While it is no doubt that the media is overreacting to the current series of Qantas incidents, the airline’s reputation of being the world’s safest airline should be untarnished. Consider how their fleet is being squeezed by having to pull six A380 superjumbos because of the engine problem that Rolls Royce admits is their problem.
The rest of Qantas fleet must be scrambling to make up for the temporary loss of the A380s. Such is the perfect scenario-pushing the remaining fleet to the max-that will inevitably stress the “weakest links,” should there be any.
But a bird strike is a routine event, routine in the sense of being an inevitable phenomenon. Bird strikes happen. And when they do, so far, the Qantas pilots have been able to handle every contingency.
What: Gazpromavia Yakovlev YAK-42 en route from Ufa, Bashkortostan to Novy Russia Where: Novy Urengoy, Siberia When: Nov 15th 2010 Who: 96 passengers Why: On landing in snow, the plane overran the runway. There was some damage to the left wing but no one was injured.
What: Jetstar Airbus A320-200 en route from Brisbane to Mackay Where: Brisbane When: Nov 16th 2010 Who: 164 passengers Why: After takeoff, Brisbane Airport crew noticed fluid on the runway, the Jetstar crew received a low fluid indication in one of three hydraulic systems and the gear would not retract.
The crew made a “standard air return” Brisbane to make a safe landing within a half hour of departure. Passengers were rebooked on a later flight with a scheduled arrival of 9:25 pm. The plane was pulled from service for maintenance and inspection.
What: Qantaslink Boeing 717-200 en route from Alice Springs to Darwin Where: Alice Springs When: Nov 16th 2010, 2:10 pm Who:115 passengers Why: Just after takeoff, the plane was struck by lightning. The plane returned to Alice Springs and made a safe landing. Operations were unaffected but here was minor damage to the plane’s exterior. Passengers were scheduled on an alternative flight with a six hour delay.
What: British Airways Boeing 747-400 en route from Vancouver,BC to London Where: Vancouver When: Nov 13th 2010, 2:00 a.m. Who: 262 on board Why: While underway, the left engine surged and the temperature exceeded normal. The standard protocol is to shut down the surging engine and land. The crew returned to Vancouver where they made a safe landing with Richmond Fire and Rescue Services, BC Ambulance and emergency airfield services on standby. The plane safely taxied to the gate. Passengers were delayed overnight, accommodated in hotels and alternative flights.
What: American Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route from Washington DC to Dallas /Ft. Worth Where: Dulles International Airpor When: Nov 12th 2010 Why: After takeoff, a cargo fire alert convinced the pilots to divert to Dulles, where they made a safe landing; and passengers disembarked on to the tarmac. The passengers were transported to the terminal and provided alternative transportation. No actual fire was found.
What: Qantas Boeing 747-400 en route from Sydney Australia to Buenos Aires, Argentina Where: Sydney When: Nov 15th 2010 Who: 199 passengers, 21 crew Why: While en route, the plane developed smoke in the cockpit, according to Qantas, originating in the cockpit electronic display. The crew donned oxygen masks, and decided to return to Sydney. They dumped fuel, and landed safely–described by a passenger as a perfect landing.
The video interview of a passenger has his account of when the event, including when entertainment systems switched off, the second officer came through the cabin with an explanation; the captain explained later too, once they were on the ground. The passenger also makes a significant point about how the crew must be feeling about Qantas maintenance, and that possibly too many Qantas maintenance resources are being diverted to the A380 problem.
Passengers were scheduled on a flight with a 6 hour delay.
The interviewer says “The Qantas A380s are now being called 180s. They take off, go for ten minutes, make a 180 and go back where they started from.”
Rolls-Royce announced it will replace the A380 superjumbo engines with oil leaks in Qantas’s fleet.
Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/11/16/qantas-plane-makes-emergency-landing-after-cockpit-fills-with-smoke-115875-22720244/#ixzz15TQgHSrI
Go Camping for 95p! Vouchers collectable in the Daily and Sunday Mirror until 11th August . Click here for more information
Sydney, 15 November 2010
Qantas Flight 17 from Sydney to Buenos Aires today, operated by a Boeing 747, returned to Sydney after experiencing an issue with the aircraft’s electrical system.
The aircraft departed at 11:11am and landed safely back at Sydney Airport at 1:22pm. Priority clearance to land was gained from air traffic control, following procedure. There were 199 passengers, three flight crew and 18 cabin crew on board.
Engineers are inspecting the aircraft to determine the cause of the issue. Passengers have disembarked into the terminal building.
Reports that the aircraft lost pressure in the main cabin are incorrect. Oxygen supply to the cabin was unaffected.
The incident has been reported to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the Air Transport Safety Bureau.
The flight crew operating the service acted appropriately in line with their training and with Qantas’ safety-first approach. Qantas regrets the inconvenience to passengers and will seek to make contingency arrangements for those affected.
Further details will be released as they become available.
What: Qantas Boeing 767-300 en route from Perth to Melbourne Where: Perth When: Nov 12th 2010 3.15 pm Who: 234 passengers Why: After takeoff, while still near Perth, the left engine (GE) began emitting abnormal vibrations. The engine was not shut down, but the pilots decided on a a routine turnback, and returned to Perth and made a safe landing. Passengers were booked on to alternative flights with up to a five hour delay. This Qantas Boeing incident has nothing to do with the Qantas incidents related to a flaw in Airbus A380 engines.
What: Tulpar Air Yakovlev Yak-42 en route from Kazan to Moscow Where: Kazan When: Nov 12th 2010 Who: 41 passengers Why: Not long after take off, one of the engines had to be shut down. The pilot returned to Kazan where the plane made a safe landing. A replacement plane was provided for the passengers. This charter flight was to transport a soccer team, but they had to wait for the replacement jet.
What: Aegean Airlines Airbus A320-200 en route from Athens to Milan Where: Milan When: Nov 10th 2010 Who: 108 passengers, 6 crew Why: On touchdown in Milan, the plane generated a brake fault message. The return flight was cancelled, and the plane was pulled from service briefly for repairs.
What: Iberia Airbus A340-300 en route from Sao Paulo Brazil to Madrid Where: Sao Paulo When: Nov 12th 2010 Why: While en route, the flight developed problems with their radar and returned to Sao Paulo where they made a safe landing.
What: Air India Airbus A310-300 en route from Thiruvananthapuram India to Dammam Saudi Arabia Where: Thiruvananthapuram When: Nov 10th 2010 Who: 82 passengers including 2 infants Why: After takeoff, the flight developed problems with a landing gear. The pilot burned off fuel, and made a hard but safe landing, but the brakes jammed. The disabled plane had to be towed, tying up the runway for several hours.
The plane was grounded after the emergency landing. Passengers were accommodated on other flights or sent to local hotels.
What: FIT Aviation LLC Piper PA-44-180 Seminole en route back to Melbourne after flying to Grand Bahama. Where: Palm Beach International Airport When: Nov 11, 2010 after 6 PM. Who: 4 passengers, 4 fatalities Why: Taking off for a practice run, the plane suffered engine failure in its left engine, caught fire and the plane crashed. Three of those aboard were killed immediately; one was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach where he died later. The crash location is between the gates of terminals B and C east of the airport’s fire station. where most of the wreckage is covered in flame retardant.
The Piper had been operating since 2008
FIT is part of Melbourne’s Florida institute of Technology. A candlelight vigil was held Friday night at the Florida Institute of Technology campus for the four victims of Thursday’s plane crash.
Kristopher Joy Henegar, 22, of Memphis, Tenn., student
Dheni “Jenny” Frembling, 26, of Melbourne, instructor
Jordyn Agostini, 21, of Melbourne, student
Kyle Henegar, 26, Palm Bay, alumnus
According to the NTSB in this interview, “Engines quit all the time, it’s not just the engine”
What: First Air Avions de Transport Regional ATR-42-300 en route from Pangnirtung to Iqaluit Where: Iqaluit When: Nov 9th 2010 Who: 13 on board Why: North East of Iqaluit, low oil forced pilots to shut down an engine. The pilot dropped to a lower altitude and landed safely at Iqaluit.
What: Vueling Airbus A320-200 en route from Alguaire to Palma Where: El Prat Airport Barcelona When: Nov 12th 2010 Who: 72 passengers Why: After takeoff from Alguaire, the flight developed a hydraulic leak. The pilot diverted to Barcelona where they were attended by rescue vehicles, and landed safely, although needing a tow from the runway. The plane was removed from service for routine repairs.
Passengers were rebooked and provided dinner; some were booked on buses for part of their trip, and Air Europe, and Air Berlin.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a continuing effort to address aging aircraft issues, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has finalized a rule designed to protect most of today’s commercial planes and those designed in the future from structural damage as they age.
The new rule seeks to prevent “widespread fatigue damage” (WFD) by requiring aircraft manufacturers and certification applicants to establish a number of flight cycles or hours a plane can operate and be free from WFD without additional inspections for fatigue. Manufacturers have between 18 and 60 months to comply depending on the particular aircraft type.
Once manufacturers establish these limits, operators of affected aircraft must incorporate them into their maintenance programs within 30 to 72 months, depending on the model of aircraft. After the limit is in the maintenance program, operators cannot fly the aircraft beyond that point unless the FAA approves an extension of the limit.
“Safety is our highest priority. This rule provides a comprehensive approach to the problem of widespread fatigue in aging aircraft,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Requiring carriers to regularly inspect their aircraft for possible fatigue is essential to ensuring the highest levels of safety.”
“We’ve addressed the problem of aging aircraft with numerous targeted regulations and 100 airworthiness directives over the years,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “This rule is a comprehensive solution to ensure the structural safety of today’s airliners and the airplanes of tomorrow.”
An airplane’s metallic structures are stressed and can develop cracks when they experience repeated loads such as the pressurization and depressurization that happens on every flight. While airlines regularly inspect aircraft for cracks exceeding a certain size, WFD involves aircraft developing numerous tiny cracks, none of which would have raised concerns individually but which together run the risk of joining up and impairing the structural integrity of the plane.
The new regulation applies to airliners with a takeoff weight of 75,000 lbs. and heavier. It also applies to all transport designs certificated in the future.
The affected models, totaling 4,198 U.S.-registered airplanes, are listed in the rule.
The FAA is working closely with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and other national authorities to harmonize this rule with their regulations as much as possible. EASA is now developing rulemaking to address WFD, and the FAA participates in that process.
The final rule is on display today at the Federal Register: http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-28363_PI.pdf . It will be published in the Register Monday, November 15 at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/.
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What: Tarco Airlines Antonov AN-24 en route from Nyala to Zalingei Where: Zalingei City, Darfur, Suden When: Nov 11th 2010 Who: 44 passengers and 6 crew Why: A plane on a peacekeeping mission landed, apparently with an explosion on the side of the plane; two tires burst and caught fire. The fire resulted in from 6 to 15 fatalities, 6 injured. Rported numbers on casualties vary greatly. It is also reported that only 11 survived and that only 6 were killed. CNN did not mention a peacekeeping mission, but said the passengers were returning for a holy day with their families at the end of Ramadan.
So in conclusion-we can just say that something happened, but we’re not exactly sure what, at least not until official reports come out.
What: Varig Logistica Boeing 757-200 freighter en route from Manaus to Sao Paulo Where: Manaus When: Nov 10th 2010 Who: 2 crew Why: While lining up for departure, a freighter loaded with 30 tons of goods to Sao Paulo got stuck on the runway when two main gear tires deflated. Rain and the beached plane effectively disabled most of the runway for several hours.
George’s Point of View
Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance
I find the timing of this incident extremely ironic, when noticing that today we have also received and published a press release highlighting how the “Goodyear Expert Cites Tips for Proper Aircraft Tire Maintenance,” a press release showcasing a Goodyear Tires Product Support Manager’s Tire maintenance manual. It even has photo sections for aviation “tire whisperers” who want to recognize what happened to a tire by the visible damage.
You would think that we would know tires get flat by now, if only from our experience of all the cars on the road.
What: Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300 en route from Houston,TX (USA) to Moscow Domodedovo (Russia) Where: Houston When: Nov 8th 2010 Why: After takeoff, the plane could not fully retract the landing gear . As a result, the flight circled Houston attempting a fix, with the right hand main gear door open until they landed safely an hour after taking off. Passengers were booked on alternative flights.
