NewsCommercial
Boeing’s transparency questioned after new documents emerge
Boeing is countering accusations that it hid key information about development of the 737 maneuvering characteristics augmentation system (MCAS) from regulators, insisting that it kept officials in the loop as the design changed, and regulators were briefed on its final configuration “multiple” times. “Boeing informed the FAA about the expansion of [MCAS] to low speeds, including by briefing the FAA and international regulators on multiple occasions about MCAS’s ...
LinkAirlines
Qantas to decide on launching Project Sunrise services by year-end
While Qantas has completed the first trial flight of its proposed ultra-long-haul services, known as Project Sunrise, the Australian airline continues to stress it is still yet to make a decision whether to officially launch such routes. The first trial flight was from New York JFK airport to Sydney, landing Oct. 20 after 19 hr. 16 min. airborne. Two more trials are planned, from London to Sydney in November, and from New York to Sydney in December.
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South Africa’s CemAir to resume services after nine months
South African regional carrier CemAir is on the verge of restarting services following a nine-month hiatus and a bitter dispute with the country’s aviation regulator.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) grounded CemAir for the second time in two months in January, most recently for what it described as “systemic failures of the airline’s maintenance controls.”
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Virgin Connect may consider larger aircraft
UK regional Virgin Connect, formerly known as Flybe, plans to ultimately consider larger aircraft once things have settled under its new ownership.
Exeter-based Flybe was bought earlier this year by Connect Airways, an acquisition vehicle made up of Cyrus Capital (40%), fellow UK regional airline Stobart Group (30%) and long-haul specialist Virgin Atlantic (30%).
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Turkmenistan Airlines cleared to resume EU flights
Turkmenistan Airlines has been granted permission to resume services to and from the European Union (EU), following an eight-month ban.
In February, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said the Central Asian flag carrier had been barred from EU airspace “pending restoring of compliance with specific international aviation safety standards.”
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Thai 777-300ER suffers engine failure on departure
Investigators are probing an apparent uncontained engine failure involving a Thai Airways International Boeing 777-300ER during departure from Bangkok.
The aircraft had been operating flight TG970 to Zurich, from runway 01L, at about 01:30 on 20 October.
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Fastjet halts Mozambique operations as demand slumps
African budget carrier operation Fastjet Group is to suspend flights in Mozambique after mounting losses resulting from insufficient demand, which it partly attributes to tougher competition.
Fastjet Group had been concentrating on its operations in Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe after its withdrawal from Tanzania.
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FlyArystan to start international services in December
Air Astana's budget operation FlyArystan is to open its first international route, serving the Russian capital Moscow through Zhukovsky airport.
FlyArystan was launched in May on a network of domestic Kazakhstan services.
Link
Ural Airlines takes on Moscow-London route
Russian carrier Ural Airlines is to enter the market for flights between Moscow and London with a service to the UK capital's Stansted airport.
Ural Airlines has previously indicated that it wanted to serve London and had been granted rights on the city pair.
LinkAirports
Norwegian airport carries out first remote-tower landing
Norway's remote tower in Bodo has carried out its first approach and landing guidance for a passenger service, an aircraft arriving at the Arctic airport of Rost.
Air navigation service Avinor is rolling out a broad remote tower network, which will oversee 15 airports by 2022 from a centre in Bodo due to open in the second half of next year.
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Melbourne Airport’s International Arrivals Hall set for major refurbishment
Melbourne Airport’s International Arrivals Hall is set to undergo a multi-million dollar upgrade to cater to its growing international passenger numbers. This includes a significant expansion of the dwelling area with a larger link connecting Terminals 2 and 3, additional seating and escalators, an improved outdoor taxi pick-up zone and greater wayfinding.
LinkMilitary
UASF awards $6.4bil for mock dogfighting services
The US Air Force’s (USAF) Air Combat Command awarded seven companies contracts worth $6.4 billion in total to provide mock dogfighting and aerial combat training services over the next five years.
As part of the Combat Air Forces Contracted Air Support programme, the companies will fly their own fleet of fighter aircraft against USAF fighters during Red Flag exercises, the USAF says in an online award notice posted on 18 October.
Link
Industry details self-protection update bid for Eurofighter
The Eurofighter Typhoon’s self-protection equipment will be the subject of a major modernisation effort, with industry partners having launched plans for a so-called Praetorian Evolution, or “Evo” package of capabilities.
Details of the proposed enhancement were outlined to partner air forces, the Eurofighter consortium and the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency on 9 October by EuroDASS: a venture involving Elettronica, Hensoldt, Indra and led by Leonardo.
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Aviation Quote
There are only two emotions in a plane: boredom and terror.
- Orson Welles, interview to celebrate his 70th birthday, The Times of London, 6 May 1985.
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Trivia
Airframe Technician Knowledge Test
1. The primary purpose of a takeoff warning system is to alert the crew that a monitored flight control is not properly set prior to takeoff. The system is activated by
A) an 80 knot airspeed sensor.
B) an ignition system switch not set for takeoff.
C) a thrust lever.
2. Dutch roll, a combination yawing and rolling oscillation that affects many swept-wing aircraft, is counteracted with
A) a flight director system.
B) an aileron damper system.
C) a yaw damper system.
3. Fuel flow transmitters are designed to transmit data
A) mechanically.
B) electrically.
C) utilizing fluid power.
4. The cabin pressure of an aircraft in flight is maintained at the selected altitude by:
A) controlling the air inflow rate.
B) inflating door seals and recirculating conditioned cabin air.
C) controlling the rate at which air leaves the cabin.
5. How can the proper hydraulic fluid to be used in an airplane be determined?
A) Refer to the aircraft parts manual.
B) Consult the aircraft Type Certificate Data Sheet.
C) Consult the aircraft manufacturer's service manual.
6. Which statement is correct concerning torque effect on helicopters?
A) Torque direction is the same as rotor blade rotation.
B) As horsepower decreases, torque increases.
C) Torque direction is the opposite of rotor blade rotation.
7. What physical factors are involved in the aspect ratio of airplane wings?
A) Thickness and chord.
B) Span and chord.
C) Dihedral and angle of attack.
8. An airplane which has good longitudinal stability should have a minimum tendency to
A) roll.
B) pitch.
C) yaw.
9. Where is fuselage station No. 137 located?
A) 137 centimeters aft of the nose or fixed reference line.
B) 137 inches aft of the zero or fixed reference line.
C) Aft of the engine.
10. What is the minimum edge distance for aircraft rivets?
A) Two times the diameter of the rivet shank.
B) Two times the diameter of the rivet head.
C) Three times the diameter of the rivet shank.
