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Contact photographer Tiago Palla
What: Hifly Airbus A310-300 en route from Lisbon to Berlin
Where: Lisbon
When: Dec 15th 2009
Who: not available
Why: After takeoff, the plane developed a non-disclosed technical problem and returned to the airport. A replacement flight transported the passengers four hours later.
December 8, 2009 — RENO, NEVADA — GE Aviation has selected Premier Turbines as its Designated Repair Center in North and South Americas for M601 and H80 turboprop engines.
As part of this exclusive agreement, Premier Turbines will offer heavy repair services, exchange engines and rentals, line replacement unit rotable pools and field service support to all existing and future M601 and H80 engines in the Americas region. GE Aviation will provide the necessary OEM parts to meet Premier Turbines’ needs. Premier Turbines will be ready to accept M601 engines for repair in the first quarter of 2010.
“GE chose Premier Turbines based on its strong commitment to customer support and quality as well as its extensive experience providing repair services for turbine engines,” said Brad Mottier, vice president and general manager of Business & General Aviation at GE Aviation. “This designation will further expand GE’s service and support offerings for M601 operators and future H80 engine operators.”
Located in Neosho, Missouri, Premier Turbines is a leading provider of repair and overhaul services for commercial, government and military turbine engines, components and accessories with more than 40 years experience. Premier Turbines is dedicated to providing precision service, on-time performance and the expertise that comes from decades of experience on thousands of turbine engines. The company was acquired by BBA Aviation in 2003.
Last year, GE Aviation began offering M601 operators around-the-clock customer support through its Business Jet Operations Center. The Business Jet Operations Center is staffed with customer product technicians who can provide a rapid response to needs, such as parts availability, trouble-shooting and field issues. M601 engines are overhauled at GE Aviation Czech’s facility in Prague.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines and components as well as avionics, electric power, and mechanical systems for aircraft. GE Aviation also has a global service network to support these offerings. For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation.
GE AVIATION EXPANDING OPERATIONS IN BATESVILLE
Governor Haley Barbour announced today that GE Aviation is expanding its operation in Batesville. The company’s Batesville plant produces composite components for the GEnx jet engine, which will power Boeing’s new 787 and 747-8 aircraft. The GEnx engine is the world’s only jet engine with composite fan blades, composite fan platforms and a composite fan case.
With the expansion, GE Aviation will add an additional 350 jobs over the next few years. The facility currently employs more than 100 employees.
“I am delighted that GE Aviation is expanding its operations in Mississippi and is adding 350 jobs at its Batesville facility,” Governor Barbour said. “This premier aviation company has become a valued corporate citizen in Mississippi, and I commend it for its continued commitment to the state and for creating additional high-wage, high-skill jobs for Mississippians.”
The opportunity to expand these operations stems from the growth of advanced composites in jet engines, which can provide greater durability and weight savings over more traditional metal materials. GE Aviation is pursuing advanced technologies, materials and processes that will result in more efficient jet engines.
“Our Batesville operation is involved in some of the most advanced manufacturing processes in the aviation industry,” said Jeanne Edwards, GE’s plant leader in Batesville. “Also, GE is very fortunate to have a strong order book for its new GEnx engine. Many of the technology advantages inherent in the GEnx engine are linked directly to the components produced in Batesville.”
The expansion will represent a company investment of approximately $85 million. The Mississippi Development Authority provided $8.6 million in Momentum Mississippi incentives to assist with this project. In addition, Panola County provided $4 million to assist with the expansion.
GE Aviation partnered with Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory to demonstrate the capabilities necessary for producing composite fan platforms in 2006. In 2007, the company announced it would locate a new manufacturing facility in the state. After its Batesville facility was completed in 2008, the company began production of these components there.
In June of this year, GE Aviation announced a new research partnership with the University of Southern Mississippi in which researchers from both the company and the university are working together on technologies related to composite panels, which will also be produced in Batesville.
“Mississippi is rapidly becoming known as a center for composite materials and technologies,” said Gray Swoope, executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority. “I am proud that GE Aviation is utilizing our available resources and developing these materials and processes here in Mississippi, and I am pleased the company is working with Mississippi universities to further refine these technologies. GE Aviation’s decision to further invest in its Mississippi operations demonstrates its continued confidence in the state and in our workforce.”
Pictured: A Cessna 310 photographed at the Avalon Airshow 2009 (not the one involved in the incident)
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Andrei Bezmylov
What: Cessna 310R en route from Sundance Airpark to Alva
Where: Alva Regional Airport, Oklahoma
When: Dec 13, 2009. 12:00 a.m.
Who: pilot Darin Dean Moser
Why: Returning from a business trip to Oklahoma City, the pilot made a pass over the airport and aborted his initial attempted landing. The family, who was waiting at the airport, heard the vehicle crash.
There were foggy flight conditions at the time.
What: Robinson R44
Where: Moorabbin Airport, Australia
When: Dec 15, 2009, 10am
Who: pilot
Why: Pilot Geoffrey Edelsten was on his first solo, when the helicopter yawed quite violently to the left, to the right and into the ground. He sustained minor cuts.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Andres Dallimonti
What: Avianca Fokker 100 en route from Cucuta to Bogota Colombia
Where: Bucaramanga
When: Dec 14th
Who: 70 passengers
Why: While en route, the interior of the plane began to smell of a strange chemical odor. The flight diverted to Bucaramanga, where a couple of gallons of a chemical brought by a passenger was discovered. The chemical was removed. No one was injured.
Colgan’s Dec. 7 report to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said last February’s crash was probably caused by pilots’ “loss of situational awareness,” failure to follow the training and procedures, but pointed out contributing factors:
Although Bombardier is withholding comment until the NTSB completes its investigation, a spokesman pointed out that the existing avionics are reliable and certified; and there are currently no requirements for systems to report abnormally low air speed.
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Contact Photographer Frank Robitaille
What: Continental Airlines Flight 3407, Bombardier Q400 turboprop operated by regional carrier Colgan Air en route from Newark, New Jersey to Buffalo Niagara International Airport
Where: Clarence Center, New York.
When: Thursday Feb 12 struck a house at 10: 10 pm. Two homes were affected.
Who: 44 passengers and four crew members, 1 off-duty pilot, 1 person on the ground, all fatalities. The passenger manifest has not officially been released.
Why: The New Jersey-to-Buffalo flight was cleared to land on a runway pointing to the southwest. But the plane crashed with its nose pointed to the northeast. Seconds after two automatic warnings to the pilots that the plane was not moving fast enough to stay aloft, the twin turboprop aircraft went through a “severe pitch and roll” after positioning its flaps for a landing. It did not dive into the house, as initially thought, but landed flat on the house. Icing is emerging as the possible cause for why flight 3047 fell from the sky. The flight data recorder has been collected and is currently being examined.
Strike dates will be from 22 December to 2 January.
The airline plans to cancel domestic UK flights first and keep as many international services flying as possible.
Customers who have tickets for flights during the strike period can exchange for other calendar dates. (Options are to refund, rebook or reroute.)
Under contest are new staff contracts which include a single on-board management grade, no seniority, promotion on merit, and pay set at market rate plus 10%. British Airways is under pressure to restructure and permanently reduce its costs.
Sean O’Brien of the Island, Ballycumber, Co Offaly, was convicted on ten charges( relating to landing on the roof at the Parkrite Texas Centre, Athlone, Co Westmeath on 7 July 2007 to collect a set of keys) has been given a six month suspended sentence and fined €5,000.
The most significant charge applied is dangerous and negligent use of a Helicopter.
Failure to use common sense is not a charge.
The defendant holds a US pilots’ license but is a man of ‘no means’ who did not own the helicopter and is on disability.
The judge said, “You are telling me in Florida there are no regulations in relation to landing a helicopter on top of a supermarket?”
It is illegal under aviation law to land an aircraft of this kind on any elevated helipad in Athlone.
Pictured: An Air Transat Airbus A310-308
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Peter Tsagaris
What: Canadian Air Transat Airbus A310-300
Where: Tom Jobim International Airport, Rio de Janeiro
When: Dec 13, 2009
Who: Maintenance
Why: During a maintenance check, the plane jumped “chocks,” crossed the tarmac, crashed into two light poles, trees and a power box next to Tom Jobim International Airport maintenance hangar.
Damage was limited to the leading edge slats of both wings, and engine nose cowls.
The plane was undergoing tests by the Tap Maintenance and Engineering.
Do you think it passed?
Is this like the infamous “operation was a success but the patient died?” At least there were no reported injuries.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Maciej Nowak
What: Air Dolomiti Embraer ERJ-195 en route from Turin to Frankfurt
Where: Frankfurt
When: Dec 11th 2009
Who: not available
Why: On approach to Frankfort, the plane developed an electronic problems with the landing gear. The crew managed a safe landing, and a replacement plane was provided for passengers, while the original plane moved to maintenance.
The plane sustained tire damage.
PicturedL An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 767-3BG/ER
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Contact photographer Tommy Desmet
What: Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 767-300 en route from Nairobi to Addis Ababa
Where: Nairobi
When: Dec 11th 2009
Who: not available
Why: The flight aborted takeoff and was rescheduled 4 hours later, when it successfully departed Nairobi.
Details are not available.
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Contact photographer Ralf Meyermann
What: Condor Boeing 757-300 en route from Tenerife Sur Reina,CI Spain to Dusseldorf Germany
Where: Las Palmas
When: Dec 13th 2009
Who: not available
Why: While en route, an engine stalled. The plane diverted to Las Palmas, where a replacement plane was sent.
The plane landed safely in Las Palmas, and the replacement plane delivered the passengers safely 9 hours later.
Pictured: An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 767-3BG/ER
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Pieter-Jan Van De Vijver
What: Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 767-300 en route from Addis Ababa to Lagos
Where: Lagos Nigeria
When: Dec 13th 2009
Who: 180 passengers
Why: On approach, ATC communication failed. With air traffic control’s radar and communication radio out of service, the flight circled, and after two hours in a holding pattern, landed after declaring a fuel emergency.
Other flights also had the same experience.
Nigeria’s Airspace Management Agency NAMA was unavailable for two hours.
11 December 2009The first Airbus Military A400M military airlifter has landed back in Seville, Spain today at 14:02 local time (13:02 UTC) after completing a successful maiden flight lasting 3h 47min following its take-off at 10:15 local time.
Chief Test Pilot Military, Edward “Ed” Strongman, captained the flight supported by Experimental Test Pilot Ignacio “Nacho” Lombo. The engineering team on board included: Senior Flight Test Engineer Jean-Philippe Cottet who had responsibility for the powerplants; Senior Flight Test Engineer Eric Isorce with responsibility for the aircraft systems and performance; Senior Flight Test Engineer Didier Ronceray with responsibility for the handling qualities of the aircraft; and Test Flight Engineer Gerard Leskerpit.
The crew confirmed that the aircraft, known as MSN 1 and its four Europrop International TP400D turboprop engines performed as expected.
Ed Strongman said: “We have had a very successful first flight – the take-off performance was impressive, we explored a lot of the operational flight envelope, and it was a delight to operate in such a well-designed cockpit with its easy interface to all the normal and military systems. I’m sure our customer pilots are really going to like it – we certainly did.”
Nacho Lombo added: “From the very beginning of the flight we were impressed by the ease of handling of the aircraft which was in line with what we experienced in the simulator. The aircraft, systems and engine performance were highly satisfactory. We sense the great potential of this magnificent machine. It has been an honour for all the crew to fly the A400M on its maiden flight, representing all the people involved in the programme.”
Chief Executive Officer Airbus Military, Domingo Urena-Raso, said: “I would like to congratulate Ed Strongman, Nacho Lombo and all of the flight-test team for completing the first flight of the A400M with great success. I am also deeply grateful to everyone in the design, manufacturing and early operations of this programme for their enormously hard work and dedication that have made this aircraft a reality. And I want to thank all those people in our industrial partners and suppliers, as well as our customers, who have contributed so much to the definition and creation of an outstanding product.”
Airbus CEO Tom Enders said: “I hope we can soon provide certainty that we are able to continue the A400M programme. This is expected by those at Airbus, our partners and suppliers worldwide who contributed so strongly to today’s success as well as by the air forces who wait for their plane.”
For its first flight the aircraft took off at a weight of 127 tonnes, carrying 15 tonnes of test equipment including two tonnes of water ballast, compared with its maximum take-off weight of 141 tonnes. As planned, the six-man crew extensively explored the aircraft’s flight envelope in direct law, including a wide speed-range, and tested lowering and raising of the landing gear and high-lift devices at altitude. After checking the aircraft’s performance in the landing configuration the crew landed back at Seville.
In the first half of 2010 MSN 1 will be joined by two sister aircraft, MSN 2 and MSN 3, followed by MSN 4 by the end of the year. A fifth aircraft will join the programme during 2011. This fleet will be used for some 3,700 hours of test-flying between now and first delivery to the French Air Force at the end of 2012. This will be followed by additional military development flying. The type will be certificated by both the civil and military authorities.
A total of 184 aircraft have so far been ordered by Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom,
Airbus Military
Airbus Military is the only military and civil transport aircraft manufacturer to develop, produce, sell and support a comprehensive family of airlifters ranging from three to 37 tonnes of payload. Within Airbus, Airbus Military is responsible for the A400M programme, as well as for military tanker transport derivatives based on Airbus civil aircraft, with the integration of the state-of-the-art flight-refuelling boom (ARBS) which is unique in its class. With the C-295, CN-235 and C-212, Airbus Military is the global leader in the market segments for light and medium-sized military transport aircraft. Altogether Airbus Military has sold more than 1,000 aircraft with over 650 flying with more than 100 operators worldwide.
Pictured: A South African Airways Airbus A319-131
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Contact photographer Gary Shephard
What: South African Airways Airbus A319-100 en route from Durban to Cape Town
Where: Durban
When: Dec 11th 2009
Who: not available
Why: On takeoff, the flight had a bird strike, and made an immediate emergency landing. Passengers debarked and were provided alternative transport.
The bird ingested was reportedly a “Yellow-billed Kite.”
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Contact photographer Anton Harisov
What: Technoavia SM-92T Turbo Finist
Where: Korkino, 12km from Chelyabinsk Russia
When: Dec 13 2009, 11:02 am
Who: 8 on board
Why: The SM-92T plane was carrying one pilot and seven parachutists. According to the MOE, the aircraft performed a U-turn, then began to lose altitude and crashed into the ground in Chelyabinsk. The crash occurred immediately after takeoff from Kalacheva Airport.
All were fatalities.
The GU Emergency Operations Group were on site in the recovery operation.
1. Nikolay Dudkin, born in 1958, pilot
2. Bakgof Sergey, 1957, Instructor
3. Oleg Mashkin, born in 1962,
4. Alexander Pushkarev, born 1967,
5. Nabokina Denis, born in 1971,
6. Saitov Eugene, born in 1976,
7. Lomov Anastasia, born in 1984,
8. Litvinova Natalia, born in 1988
The investigation will focus on pilot error, equipment failure and weather conditions.
Pictured: A Cessna T210F Turbo Centurion landing in Africa
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Contact photographer Sven De Bevere
What: Cessna 210F
Where: Pueblo Nuevo, municipio Veroes, Yaracuy, Venezuela
When: Dec 11, 2009
Who: 4 on board
Why: Friday, the Cessna had been seen flying low over a clandestine airstrip, allegedly used for drug trafficking. The Yaracuy state Special Action Squad discovered the plane whose identification numbers had been tampered with. The area was cordoned off and a gun battle occurred. Four or five individuals were in the plane, and drums of chemicals which are currently being analyzed.
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Contact photographer Kostas D. Pantios
What: Olympic Air Aerospatiale ATR-42-300 en route from Athens to Naxos
Where: Paros
When: Dec 12th 2009
Who: not available
Why: On approach to Naxos, the crew made a final approach to Paros (situated on side by side islands.)
On advice from ATC, the pilots performed another go around, finding and landing on their planned destination.
View Naxos in a larger map
Pictured: Air West Cargo Ilyushin Il-76TD
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Contact photographer Alexander Jonsson
What: Air West Georgia Ilyushin IL-76 en route from Pyongyang North Korea to Colombo Sri Lanka
Where: Bangkok
When: Dec 12th
Who: 5 crew
Why: When the plane diverted to Bangkok for refueling, 35 tons of weapons (rocket propelled grenades and anti-aircraft Surface to Air Missiles) were discovered on board.
The crew was detained on charges of arms trafficking.
The destination could have been anywhere.
Pictured: Lion Airlines Boeing 737-46B
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Contact photographer JKSC
What: Lion Air Boeing 737-400
Where: Pekanbaru airport, Sumatra
When: December 14, 2009
Who: 165 passengers
Why: On landing, the flight skidded off the runway. It took an hour to evacuate the panicked passengers via mobile stairway.
After a maintenance check, a replacement crew resumed the flight hours later.
EVERETT, Wash., Dec. 12 — Boeing (NYSE: BA) completed high-speed taxi tests on the first 787 Dreamliner today. This is the last in a series of functional tests planned in preparation for first flight.
“Our pilots told me the airplane performed beautifully,” said Mike Delaney, vice president and chief project engineer for the 787. “We’re going through and analyzing the data to ensure we’re ready for first flight. From evaluations we’ve done so far, everything looks good.”
During the testing, the airplane reached a top speed of approximately 130 knots (150 mph, 240 kph), and the pilots lifted the nose gear from the pavement. Video highlights of the taxi testing will be available by the end of the day Monday at www.boeing.com and www.newairplane.com.
Taxi test is the last testing planned before first flight.
Photo: A French-Army Socata TBM-700
Of course this French Military craft is not the exact TBM-700 as in the incident in New Jersey, but who could resist Mick Bajcar gorgeous photograph?
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Contact photographer Mick Bajcar
What: TBM-700 single engine turboprop en route from Nantucket Island in Massachusetts to Essex County
Where: Essex County Airport
When: 12/12/2009 6:00 pm
Who: 4 passengers
Why: While on approach to Essex County Airport, the turboprop developed a nose gear problem. The plane made several passes so that ATC could see the landing gear.
Emergency crews were standing by.
The plane landed without the gear extended, minimal damage
and no human injury.
Pictured: An Air India Airbus A320-231
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Contact photographer Wim Callaert
What: Air India Airbus A320-200 en route from Kolkata to Chennai (India)
Where: Kolkata
When: Dec 11th 2009
Who: 139 passengers
Why: The flight had a successful take-off, but while en route, air conditioning problems developed. (This can also mean pressurization issues. Specifics were not indicated.)
The flight returned to Kolkata and made a safe landing. A replacement plane was provided.
Pictured: A Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Sikorsky S-92A Helibus
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Contact photographer Ken Iwelumo
What: helicopter en route to SeaBird Exploration’s seismic vessel Kondor Explorer
Where: Agbami field offshore Nigeria
When: Dec 11, 2009
Who: 18 on board (16 crew, 2 pilots)
Why: After the helicopter made a controlled “landing” and ditched into the sea, all 18 crew members aboard were rescued.
No word has been released about why the helicopter ditched.
The Agbami seismic project is run by Chevron.
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Contact photographer Darryl Myers
What: American Eagle Embraer ERJ-135 en route from New York La to Montreal
Where: Montreal
When: Dec 10th 2009
Who: 30 aboard
Why: Prior to landing, the plane developed flap failure; the flight made a safe landing without flaps, the second such flap failure on that plane (Toronto) in a five day period.
