All articles by David Kaminski-Morrow – Page 112
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NewsInflation and fuel to hamper Russian airlines’ profitability recovery: credit agency
Russian credit rating agency AKRA believes the country’s air transport sector is unlikely to return to pre-crisis profitability levels until at least 2025, despite the trend towards recovery. AKRA, based in Moscow, says the sector – which had been “on the verge” of unprofitable operations even before the pandemic – ...
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NewsDHC-2’s trim and balance scrutinised after fatal crash during parachute lift
Swedish investigators are closely examining elevator trim settings, and weight and balance calculations, as part of the inquiry into a fatal De Havilland Canada DHC-2 crash during a parachute drop. None of the nine occupants – a pilot and eight parachutists – survived after the single-engined aircraft, which had climbed ...
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NewsRyanair: Substantial fare cuts needed to recover bookings after ‘Omicron’ impact
Budget carrier Ryanair expects “significant” price stimulation over the fourth quarter is necessary to recover a sharp decline in bookings triggered by the outbreak of the latest coronavirus variant. The airline stated in December that it was slashing January capacity by a third, and says the outlook for pricing and ...
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NewsBaghdad missile attack damages retired Iraqi Airways A300
Iraqi Airways states that a missile attack on Baghdad airport has damaged an out-of-service aircraft, but that the carrier is continuing to operate services. The attack took place at dawn on 28 January, the airline says. It has released photographs of a parked aircraft, the nose-gear doors of which identify ...
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NewsUS firm Elroy Air unveils Chaparral heavy-cargo autonomous VTOL vehicle
San Francisco-based autonomous aerial vehicle specialist Elroy Air has unveiled a pre-production model of its vertical take-off heavy cargo carrier, the Chaparral C1, which is capable of lifting 140-230kg and transporting the load across ranges up to 260nm. Elroy Air says it has secured agreements for over 500 aircraft from ...
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NewsFatal GIV crash probe focuses on post-maintenance spoiler asymmetry
Investigators have revealed that a Gulfstream GIV took off from Santo Domingo with a spoiler asymmetry shortly before diverting to another airport in the city, where it crashed fatally during its approach to land. The aircraft – owned by Helidosa Aviation Group, and registered HI1050 – had arrived at Santo ...
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NewsUnited Engine tests domestically-built control system for SSJ-New’s PD-8
Russia’s United Engine has developed an automatic control system for the Aviadvigatel PD-8 powerplant which will be installed on the Sukhoi SSJ-New aircraft. The SSJ-New is a version of the Superjet 100 that includes a greater proportion of domestically-built components. PD-8 engines will serve as an alternative to the PowerJet ...
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NewsEight BA and Virgin jets at Heathrow suffered insect blockages in six weeks
Insect nesting activity affected the pitot-static systems of eight different aircraft in the space of six weeks at London Heathrow last year, and UK investigators believe the behaviour could have been influenced by changes in air quality and lower noise at the airport during the pandemic. Two of the incidents ...
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NewsITA to acquire A350s from Kuwaiti lessor
Kuwaiti lessor ALAFCO has disclosed that it will supply several Airbus A350 twinjets to the new Italian carrier ITA Airways. ITA has signed a lease deal for four A350-900s, which will be delivered in the second and third quarters of this year. ALAFCO says the list price for the aircraft ...
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NewsEngines of 787 in 2019 Rome incident had dozens of cracked blades: inquiry
Italian investigators probing a Norwegian Boeing 787-8 engine failure have confirmed that progressive corrosion fatigue resulted in a 6mm crack in an intermediate pressure turbine blade, which separated on take-off from Rome. Investigation authority ANSV has also disclosed that 84 other similar blades in the left-hand Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 powerplant ...
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NewsEarly liquid-hydrogen aircraft will slow, rather than check, emissions rise: ICCT study
Full adoption of liquid hydrogen-powered aircraft on all replaceable routes by 2050 would cap passenger aviation emissions at 2035 levels, but not reduce them, according to analysis released by the US-based non-profit International Council on Clean Transportation. Its white paper stresses that this is based on the “most optimistic” fuel ...
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NewsSmartwings claims first 737 Max flight to Antarctica
Czech carrier Smartwings has conducted a Boeing 737 Max service to Antarctica, landing the aircraft at the Troll airfield on 26 January. The airline says the Max 8 twinjet (OK-SWB) is the first from the re-engined family to arrive in Antarctica. Troll station is sited on the edge of Antarctica ...
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NewsWizz doggedly keeps to recovery plan in face of latest Covid-19 variant
Central European budget carrier Wizz Air turned in a €213 million ($241 million) operating loss for the third quarter, as a result of travel restrictions, but claims it managed to keep capacity above pre-crisis levels at times. Wizz transported nearly 7.8 million passengers during the three-month period to 31 December ...
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NewsYakutia to start introducing MC-21s in 2025: Sakha republic head
Siberian carrier Yakutia will start taking delivery of Irkut MC-21s in 2025, according to the head of the Sakha republic. Nikolaev Aisen conducted an inspection of the MC-21-300 – the version fitted with Pratt & Whitney PW1400G engines – after a flight-test airframe arrived in Yakutsk for low-temperature tests. The ...
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NewsAirbus setting up new airline to offer A300-600ST Beluga fleet for charter
Airbus has set up a new commercial outsize transport service intended to capitalise on the remaining flying life of its A300-600ST Beluga fleet, as it phases out the type from its main internal logistics operation. The Airbus Beluga Transport service has already carried out its first work, with aircraft F-GSTC ...
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NewsAirbus wing-plant personnel ballot for strike in pay dispute
Airbus workers at the airframer’s UK wing plant in Broughton and its aerospace centre at Filton are poised for potential industrial action over a pay dispute. The Unite union says workers at the facilities have started balloting for industrial action over the dispute which affects 3,000 members. Its national officer ...
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NewsIberia reaches sustainable-fuel supply pact with Spanish firm Cepsa
Iberia has reached an agreement with fuel-supply specialist Cepsa over large-scale sustainable biofuel production, which will be sourced from waste, recycled oils, and sustainable plant feedstock. The agreement also covers efforts to decarbonise the air transport industry with the development of alternative fuels, including renewable hydrogen and electrical power – ...
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AnalysisIs pilot skills fade another symptom of the pandemic?
Reduced flying time during the pandemic has raised concerns that pilots could be more prone to error and cognitive lapses – with studies pointing towards the risk of a lasting decay in capability.
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NewsConvertible ‘AirCar’ secures Slovakian certification
Slovakian authorities have granted a certificate of airworthiness to a road vehicle capable of transitioning to an aircraft, following a 70h flight-test campaign. The KleinVision AirCar, powered by a 1.6-litre BMW engine, undertook over 200 sorties as part of the certification effort. Transport Authority of Slovakia’s civil aviation director Rene ...
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NewsRussian ministry cracks down on unruly passengers with restraint proposal
Russia’s transport ministry is preparing legislation enabling tougher measures against disruptive passengers, intended to permit crew members and security personnel with the right to use special restraints. Under the proposal the captain of the aircraft would be given the responsibility of deciding whether to use such measures in the event ...