All articles by David Kaminski-Morrow – Page 274
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NewsKazakh Fokker 100 crash modelled after icing emerges as prime suspect
Investigators have commenced detailed mathematical modelling of a crashed Bek Air Fokker 100’s flightpath, after icing was identified as a leading suspect in the fatal accident. Preliminary findings from the accident inquiry, disclosed at a formal Kazakh government briefing, have found that the aircraft had been “partially treated” with the ...
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NewsBRA axes A220 order but plans E190 wet-lease
Scandinavian carrier Braathens Regional Airlines has axed a long-standing order for Airbus A220s, and plans to wet-lease Embraer 190s for regional jet operations. BRA evolved from the merger of Malmo Aviation with other carrier operations and inherited the order for 10 Bombardier CSeries jets originally placed by Malmo in 2011. ...
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NewsPilots demand access to talks over Flybe's future
UK pilots are alarmed and dismayed over indications that regional operator Flybe is holding urgent discussions over funding. The airline has so far refused to disclose details of the situation, or even confirm any reports, stating that it does not comment on “rumour or speculation”. But UK pilot union BALPA’s ...
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In depthTackling production issues vital for Airbus to face off competition
Airbus turns 50 years old – again – in 2020. While the European airframer chose to celebrate its half-century in 2019, using the partnership agreement signed in 1969 as a starting point, the official formation of the company took place in December 1970. Whether Airbus will be in the mood ...
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NewsUIA 737 flight recorders to be transferred to Ukraine
Ukrainian investigators will conduct the technical work on the cockpit-voice and flight-data recorders retrieved from the Boeing 737-800 which crashed in Tehran. This work will be shadowed by specialists from the French investigation authority BEA, following discussions between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. BEA had ...
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In depthUkraine mired in airliner shoot-down for third time in 20 years
For the third time in less than 20 years Ukrainian authorities are likely find themselves under pressure in the aftermath of a fatal surface-to-air missile attack on a civil airliner. Admission by the Iranian government that a Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 was inadvertently brought down by such a weapon ...
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NewsUIA 737 shoot-down: Iranian president juggles blame with contrition
Iranian president Hassan Rouhani’s statement of admission that the country’s defence forces shot down the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 in Tehran, lacing humility with an air of political justification, will doubtless be compared and contrasted with the US response to the accidental destruction of an Iran Air flight in ...
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NewsNordwind A321 nose-gear badly damaged in hard landing
One of Russian carrier Nordwind’s Airbus A321s has suffered serious nose-gear damage after a hard landing at Turkey’s Antalya airport. The carrier says the aircraft had been conducting the flight from Moscow Sheremetyevo without passengers on 10 January. “While conducting a go-around, due to windshear, a hard landing occurred,” says ...
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NewsAirbus reveals order for 40 A330neos
Airbus has revealed an order for 40 A330neo jets was placed in the last month of 2019, helping to lift the re-engined type’s net total for the year. The order, placed on 23 December, is attributed to an unidentified customer. Airbus’s full-year backlog data shows that the agreement is for ...
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NewsAirbus achieves 768 net orders, 863 deliveries, for 2019
Airbus has disclosed that it took 768 net orders last year and delivered a total of 863 aircraft, up on the previous year’s 800. The deliveries included 112 A350s – of which 25 were the larger -1000 variant – plus 53 A330s and eight A380s. It says the 173 long-haul ...
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NewsWings mated to flight-test Il-96-400M
Ilyushin has transferred the first test-flight Il-96-400M airframe to a final assembly line where it will be fitted with control systems and its cabin interior. Fuselage mating and attachment of the primary wing structure is complete. The prototype of the four-engined transport is intended to be finished before the end ...
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NewsBritish Airways A319 spoiler strayed after maintenance lapse
Investigators have determined that failure to follow maintenance procedures resulted in a British Airways Airbus A319 experiencing in-flight control problems arising from a loose spoiler. While taxiing at London Gatwick on 2 April last year, the aircraft had returned to stand to resolve a flight-control status message, and two engineers ...
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NewsMissile attack on 737 yet to be proven: Ukrainian president
Ukraine’s president has adopted a cautious approach over the Boeing 737-800 crash in Iran, as evidence mounts that the aircraft was brought down by a missile strike. President Volodymyr Zelensky stresses that the theory of a surface-to-air missile attack has not been confirmed but adds that it has not been ...
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NewsAustralian investigators probe QantasLink Fokker 100 overrun
Australian investigators are probing an overrun during landing by a QantasLink Fokker 100 at the remote Newman airport in the west of the country. The aircraft stopped about 100m beyond the far end of runway 05, which has a length of about 2,000m. None of the passengers or crew members ...
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NewsTehran 737 crash probe proceeds amid disquiet over circumstances
Iranian investigators have established a working group to examine the possibility of unlawful action against the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 which crashed outside Tehran on 8 January. The Civil Aviation Organisation says it has set up several groups to look into various aspects of the crash, in line with ...
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NewsLow-approach A321 crew unaware of Stansted threshold shift
Pilots of a SmartLynx Airbus A321 conducted a low approach to London Stansted because its crew had not realised that a revised arrival procedure, with a displaced threshold, was in place. The aircraft had been approaching runway 22 at night on 22 July last year. Repair work had been taking ...
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NewsIAG chief Willie Walsh to retire in June 2020
IAG chief executive Willie Walsh is to step down from his post on 26 March, and plans to retire completely on 30 June. He will be succeeded by Iberia chief executive Luis Gallego, says the British Airways and Iberia parent company. Walsh had previously signalled his intention to retire from ...
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NewsPowerplant lessor Willis orders up to 60 CFM Leap engines
Engine leasing specialist Willis Lease Finance has ordered up to 60 CFM International Leap powerplants for both the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 Max families. Florida-based Willis says the deal is the largest order placed by the company since its founding in 1985. Its agreement covers both firm and optioned ...
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NewsAirbus set to offer A350 with dimmable windows
Airbus is intending to offer electronically-dimmable windows as an option on A350s, and plans to disclose more details at the Aircraft Interiors Expo at the end of March. The airframer does not currently use such technology in its aircraft range, unlike Boeing which fits dimmable windows on its 787s. Airbus ...
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NewsNo transmissions from UIA 737 crew before crash: investigators
Flight recorders from the crashed Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 in Tehran have been retrieved, with their memory units, although both have signs of physical damage. But there are no firm indications as to the circumstances of the 8 January event, including whether it might have been the result of ...