All articles by David Kaminski-Morrow – Page 144
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NewsSriwijaya 737-500 crash probe spurs order to check autothrottle computers
Investigations into the fatal Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737-500 accident earlier this year have spurred an order to operators of older 737 variants to conduct autothrottle checks aimed at detecting possible flap synchronisation component failure. But the US FAA is stressing that latent failure of the synchronisation wire is “highly unlikely” ...
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NewsIcelandair Group finance chief steps down after two years
Icelandair Group has named Ivar Kristinsson as its interim chief financial officer, following the decision by Eva Soley Gudbjornsdottir to step down from the post after two years. Gudbjornsdottir has overseen the group’s finances, steering it through the impact of the pandemic, since succeeding Bogi Nils Bogason – who had ...
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NewsIrkut receives first wing panels for serial MC-21
Russian airframer Irkut has received the first MC-21 wing panels for a serial production aircraft, delivered to the Irkutsk-based facility by road. The 17.5m panel was manufactured at the AeroKompozit plant in Ulyanovsk – a distance of some 3,600km from the MC-21 final assembly line. Irkut will used the panels ...
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NewsHard landings within limits do not count as accidents: court ruling
European judges have ruled that a hard landing within permissible aircraft limits does not fall within the definition of ‘accident’, after a passenger lodged an injury claim following a firm touchdown in Switzerland. Austria’s supreme court had sought a preliminary verdict as to whether a hard landing, made within the ...
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NewsAirbus appears to deliver A321neo test aircraft to VietJet
Airbus appears to have delivered the first A321neo manufactured, the MSN6673 test aircraft, to Asian carrier VietJet Air. The twinjet – powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines – was the first A321neo for which Airbus completed initial assembly. But it was beaten to the variant’s maiden flight in February ...
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NewsAn-26 crew twice told to abort after non-precision approach deviations
UK investigators have suggested that pilots may be losing currency with non-precision approaches, as they become less common, after probing an incident involving a Ukrainian Antonov An-26 at Birmingham. The Vulkan Air aircraft (UR-CQD) had prepared for a localiser-DME approach to runway 33 as it arrived on 16 July last ...
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NewsSmartLynx steps up to long-haul operations with A330 acquisition
Wet-lease specialist SmartLynx Malta is branching into long-haul operations with the introduction of Airbus A330s for cargo services – and eventually passenger flights. SmartLynx has previously exclusively operated single-aisle types but states that it will bring in five A330s over May and June. The aircraft, acquired through Hong Kong-based lessor ...
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NewsAirbus procurement chief assigned to lead A220 towards profitability
Airbus systems procurement chief Benoit Schultz is to take over as head of the A220 operation, as chief executive of Airbus Canada, succeeding Philippe Balducchi who has led the division for nearly three years. Balducchi has “decided to pursue other opportunities” outside of Airbus, says the airframer, having spent two ...
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NewsInquiry into fatal Aeroflot Superjet fire examines earlier Yakutia gear collapse
Russian investigators probing the fatal Aeroflot Sukhoi Superjet 100 landing accident at Moscow two years ago have analysed a Yakutia Superjet overrun and gear collapse as part of an assessment of the type’s structures and components. After returning to Sheremetyevo airport on 5 May 2019 the Aeroflot aircraft landed hard, ...
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NewsAerCap shareholders back GECAS acquisition
Leasing firm AerCap’s shareholders have voted in favour of the proposed merger with US leasing giant GECAS, which the two companies unveiled in March. AerCap held a shareholders meeting on 12 May and asked them to back several items relating to the transaction, including the deal itself plus the re-appointment ...
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NewsConfident Airbus restarts work on new Toulouse A321neo production line
Airbus has given a further sign of its confidence in single-aisle recovery, by resuming work on an additional assembly line for A321neo twinjets. The airframer had unveiled plans for the modernised Toulouse line in January 2020, just weeks before the pandemic crisis forced it to slash production rates and shelve ...
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NewsGreen Africa unveils initial batch of Nigerian domestic destinations
Nigerian start-up carrier Green Africa Airways has unveiled an initial route network on which to commence operations. The network focuses on its Lagos base and comprises six domestic destinations, including the capital Abuja and Port Harcourt. Green Africa also says it will operate to Akure, Ilorin, Enugu and Owerri, cities ...
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NewsST Engineering sets up leasing venture for converted freighters
Singaporean modification and maintenance firm ST Engineering is to establish a joint venture specialising in dedicated freighter leasing, in response to increased demand for cargo aircraft. ST Engineering’s asset-management arm will equally-own the venture with partner Temasek. Over the next five years the venture will acquire passenger aircraft – primarily ...
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NewsCroatia Airlines trims losses but first-quarter bookings remain weak
Croatia Airlines has managed to reduce first-quarter operating losses to Kn86.2 million ($13.9 million) compared with the previous figure of Kn95.7 million. Its revenues for the period more than halved to Kn113.6 million. The company says the beginning of the year has been “weaker than expected”, with travel reservations still ...
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NewsLuxair expecting gradual summer recovery after heavy full-year losses
Luxair is expecting a gradual resumption of activities for the summer season, but has revealed the effect of the crisis on its financial performance with a full-year operating loss of nearly €160 million ($194 million). The company recorded a 57% fall in revenues to €263 million. Operating losses for the ...
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NewsJazeera and Air Arabia experience contrasting first-quarter fortunes
Kuwaiti budget carrier Jazeera Airways has turned in a first-quarter loss while Sharjah low-cost operator Air Arabia managed to achieve a net profit in the same period. Jazeera Airways is proposing a rights issue of KD10 million ($33 million) to improve its liquidity position, after posting a net loss of ...
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NewsEASA draws up criteria for single-pane observation window modification
European authorities have put forward safety proposals after receiving an application for a large aircraft modification which involves installing two observation windows in the upper aft fuselage. The windows need to be “optical quality”, says the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, which means they will comprise only a single glass ...
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NewsRolls-Royce UltraFan receives first intermediate compressor case
Rolls-Royce has taken delivery of the first UltraFan engine demonstrator’s intermediate compressor case. The structure has been produced by GKN Aerospace at its Swedish facility. UltraFan is a high-bypass engine being developed by Rolls-Royce for large civil aircraft applications from the middle of this decade, and is intended to improve ...
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NewsEl Al financing agreement with Israeli state clears final hurdle
Israeli flag-carrier El Al’s financing agreement with the state has entered into effect, after the final condition – a government approval on the main points of the deal – was met. Several conditions had been outlined when the agreement was detailed in March, among them approval from the boards of ...
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NewsDelta agreement for A321neos lifts Airbus orders in April
Airbus recorded orders for 48 aircraft in April, including 25 A321neos for Delta Air Lines and 22 for lessor Avolon. But the Avolon order – for 14 A321neos and eight A320neos – appears to be a rejig of a previous agreement. Airbus listed 22 cancellations for the month and the ...