All articles by David Kaminski-Morrow – Page 183
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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 ...
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NewsMC-21-300 undergoes post-certification cold-weather tests in Siberia
Russian airframer Irkut is to test the MC-21-300 under cold-weather conditions in Siberia, to ensure it can operate in the country’s extreme climate. The tests, which are taking place in the Sakha republic, involved operating the aircraft with over 70 occupants. State technology firm Rostec says the trials combine a ...
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NewsQatar frustrated over A350 dispute escalation as it details aircraft skin damage
Qatar Airways has described Airbus’s decision to cancel an order for 50 A321neos as a “matter of considerable regret and frustration”, after the carrier secured acceleration of a court hearing on the A350 paint dispute. The airline says 21 A350s in its fleet will remain grounded, and it will not ...
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NewsFrench probe CitationJet level-bust incident with Hop Embraer 170
French investigators are probing an incident in which a Cessna CitationJet passed over a Hop Embraer 170 after suffering an in-flight altitude deviation. The CitationJet – a 1995 airframe operated by VallJet and registered F-HGPG – was operating a non-scheduled service from Paris Le Bourget to Geneva on 12 January. ...
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NewsIl-96 to serve as testbed for high-thrust PD-35 engine
Russian aerospace developers intend to use the Ilyushin Il-96 as a testbed for the high-thrust Aviadvigatel PD-35 engine. The powerplant is being developed for potential large transport aircraft, and the Russian government recently allocated over Rb44 billion ($575 million) to the programme. Deputy trade and industry minister Oleg Bocharov, speaking ...
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NewsUral’s new LMS-901 utility aircraft becomes airborne during runway tests
Ural civil aviation plant UZGA’s multi-purpose LMS-901 Baikal, the utility aircraft intended to replace the Antonov An-2, has become airborne for the first time. The aircraft briefly lifted off the runway during a series of tests over the course of 14-18 January. Its developers had conducted low-speed taxi checks, before ...
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NewsDiverted Ryanair 737 not intercepted by Belarusian fighter: inquiry
One aspect of the Ryanair Boeing 737-800 Minsk diversion incident clarified by the ICAO inquiry is the involvement of an RSK MiG-29 interceptor. While early reports of the incident, on 23 May last year, had indicated that the military fighter had escorted the Ryanair flight to Minsk, the inquiry reveals ...
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NewsCrucial missing evidence impairs ICAO probe into Ryanair diversion incident
ICAO’s has been unable to obtain several crucial pieces of evidence – including emails, phone communications, and surveillance footage – during its investigation into last year’s Ryanair Sun Boeing 737-800 diversion to Belarus, while the Minsk air traffic controller assigned to the flight could not be traced. The organisation’s factual ...
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NewsEl Al sets up subsidiary to host loyalty programme
Israeli flag-carrier El Al has shifted its frequent-flyer programme to a wholly-owned subsidiary as part of its efforts to obtain financial support from the government. El Al says the activities and assets of the programme have been moved to assist the development of the business and the “recruitment of investors”. ...
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NewsUK long-haul start-up Flypop brings in second A330
UK start-up Flypop is introducing its second Airbus A330 after the twinjet was transferred to its London Stansted base. It will deploy the aircraft on temporary cargo services with the aim of starting passenger operations during summer this year. The airline is aiming to start long-haul flights to destinations on ...
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NewsAirbus hunts for talent in recruitment drive to support sustainability strategy
Airbus is looking to recruit around 6,000 new personnel across the aerospace group to support its strategic direction during the recovery. The company had slashed its workforce as the pandemic disrupted its aircraft production but it is preparing to accelerate output over the next 18 months. Airbus is also implementing ...
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NewsIcelandair to lease additional 737 Max jets from Dubai’s DAE
Icelandair is to lease another pair of Boeing 737 Max jets to raise its capacity for the summer season, taking the aircraft from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise. The airline had indicated, last October, that it was considering adding up to three more 737 Max 8s to its fleet. Icelandair has been ...
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NewsChina’s AutoFlight seeks EASA certification for Prosperity I eVTOL taxi
Chinese electric vertical take-off and landing specialist AutoFlight is preparing to embark on a European certification bid for its Prosperity I air taxi aircraft. It has established a European operation at Augsburg airport and is pursuing approval from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency for the three-passenger eVTOL aircraft by ...
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NewsMaldivian to modernise turboprop fleet with acquisition of ATRs
Indian Ocean carrier Maldivian is ordering three ATR turboprops, comprising two 72-600s and a 42-600, which are set to be delivered this year. Maldivian’s ATRs will be fitted with the new Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127XT engines, the development of which was unveiled at the Dubai air show last year. ...
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NewsSeveral Airbus and Boeing types cleared over ‘5G’ concerns but 787 among exceptions
US aviation regulators have cleared several Airbus and Boeing models to operate low-visibility landings at airports where ‘5G’ communications services will become available. The US FAA’s work means some 45% of the US commercial fleet has been approved for the operations. Its analysis follows concerns over potential interference from 5G ...
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NewsBahrain’s Texel claims first Middle Eastern converted 737-800 freighter
Bahraini operator Texel Air has received the Middle East’s first Boeing 737-800 converted freighter, with a second due to be delivered in September. The two aircraft will take the carrier’s freighter fleet – which includes a 737-300F and two 737-700FCs – to five. Texel Air held a ceremony on 16 ...