NewsAccidents/Incidents
NASA’s Mars Helicopter ‘Ingenuity’ has suffered a major problem in its attempt at a fourth flight
The Ingenuity mini-chopper on NASA’s Perseverance Mars probe has suffered a major problem in its attempt at a fourth flight on the Red Planet, the US space agency said Thursday.
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California tweeted on Thursday that the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter “didn’t get off the ground, but the team is assessing the data and will aim to try again soon.”
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Virgin Australia passengers have been forced into 14 days quarantine after Queensland shut its border while the flight was mid-air
All passengers on a delayed flight have been forced into 14 days of hotel quarantine after Queensland shut its border while the flight was mid-air.
Virgin Australia’s flight VA469 from Perth International Airport to Brisbane was scheduled to leave Perth at 1:40 pm on Friday. However, the flight was delayed due to engineering matters.
LinkCommercial
Boeing 737 MAX electric issues prompt FAA directive
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) requiring Boeing to address the “unsafe condition” of certain Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The move came after Boeing called on 16 737 MAX operators to address the electrical problem on April 9, 2021.
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Airbus turns profitable after good delivery performance
On April 29, 2021, the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus announced that it turned profitable during the first quarter of 2021.
In a report of Q1 2021 results, Airbus posted a net income of €362 million ($439 million), a notable increase compared to a net loss of €481 million ($583 million) in the first quarter of 2020. According to the European aircraft giant, the increase in finances was mainly due to a good cost and cash controls as well as higher number of aircraft deliveries.
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BOEING REPORTS IMPROVING FIRST QUARTER
In its latest results, Boeing reported a net loss of $561 million for the first three months of 2021 on revenue of $15.2 billion, 10% lower than the prior-year period. On an adjusted per-share basis, Boeing lost $1.53, a narrower loss than the adjusted $1.70 per share loss it reported a year ago. Boeing’s total backlog has grown to $365bn – Boeing Commercial Airplanes first-quarter revenue decreased to $4.3 billion from $6.2bn in 2020 – a 54% decline, which was driven by lower 787 deliveries, partially offset by higher 737 deliveries.
LinkAirlines
Mahan Air’s Boeing 747-300 flies again after over five years of maintenance in Iran
Mahan Air’s 35-year old Boeing 747-300 has now started to fly again, after over five years of maintenance and heavy C-check in Teheran.
This Boeing 747-300 is the world’s last passenger Boeing 747-300 aircraft. This Boeing 747 was parked at Mehrabad International Airport after suffering an uncontained engine failure in October 2015.
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JetBlue takes delivery of first Airbus A321LR enabling the carrier to launch transatlantic flights
JetBlue Airways today announced it has taken delivery of the airline’s first Airbus A321 Long Range (LR) aircraft, with tail registration of N4022J, arriving at JetBlue’s home at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Terminal 5 this afternoon.
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Transat secures $700 million in funding from the Government of Canada
Transat A.T. Inc. (the parent of Air Transat) announced today that it has reached an agreement with the Government of Canada to borrow up to $700 million in additional liquidity through the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF).
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Ryanair to establish a new base at Riga with 16 new routes
Ryanair has announced a new base opening in Riga with two based aircraft, 95 departing flights per week and 30 routes in total, including 16 new routes connecting Riga to a host of international destinations across Europe from October 2021.
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ANA to install world’s first hands-free lavatory doors on 21 aircraft
All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest and 5-Star airline for eight consecutive years, has partnered with JAMCO Corporation to develop the world’s first hands-free door that allows easy access to lavatories on its aircraft. The innovative door was developed as part of the ANA Care Promise initiative, and will help limit potential vectors for the transmission of pathogens. The first hands-free doors will be introduced to domestic flights starting May 1.
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Sun Country Airlines announces 18 new nonstop routes
Sun Country Airlines has announced the addition of 18 new nonstop routes, adding nine airports to its growing network. The expansion includes six nonstop routes from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), two nonstop routes from Duluth International Airport (DLH), two nonstop routes from Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB), one nonstop route from Dane County Regional Airport (MSN), five nonstop routes from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) and two routes from Rochester International Airport (RST).
LinkAirports
XpresSpa offers 30 minute PCR COVID-19 tests at SFO and 10 other US airports
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has become the latest US gateway to open a COVID-19 testing facility operated by the XpresSpa Group.
The XpresCheck at SFO is a pop-up facility located pre-security, near the baggage claim area on the Arrivals level at Terminal 3 and boasts nine separate testing rooms that between them are capable of conducting 500 tests per day.
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Dubai International Airport enjoys ‘relatively positive’ Q1
Dubai International Airport (DXB) believes that it ended the first quarter of the year on a relatively positive note, registering a gradual but steady recovery in both customer numbers and cargo volumes.
By the end of Q1 2021, DXB served 63% of the destinations in 89% of the countries on 74% of the airlines compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Guangzhou Baiyun busiest airport in the world in 2020
ACI World today released the COVID-19 impacted world traffic rankings for 2020, the global pandemic ensuring that it has a very different look to normal, with Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) in China replacing Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL) as the busiest gateway on the planet.
LinkMilitary / Space
India plans to lease six A330 MRTT tankers from France
The Indian Air Force (IAF) plans to lease one A330 MRTT tanker from France for training purposes and five more to act as aerial refuelers for their fighter jets, according to the Hindustan Times.
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Cobham to provide countermeasure to German Eurofighters
Cobham Mission Systems announced on April 29, 2021, it won subcontracts to provide chaff and flare dispenser equipment for the German Air Force’s Tranche 4 Eurofighter Typhoon fleet.
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China launches first module of future space station
The first of three elements of the future Chinese space station was launched on April 21, 2021. The central module, which will be the habitable space of the taikonauts and the station's control center, was propelled by a Long-March 5B rocket from the Wenchang launch center on the tropical island of Hainan, southern China.
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Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins has died
Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins dead at 90, family statement says.
Astronaut Michael Collins has often been called “the forgotten astronaut.” He flew to the Moon aboard Apollo 11 in July 1969, but never set foot there. During the mission, Collins orbited the Moon, doing photography and keeping the command module ready to receive moonwalkers Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin when they finished their surface mission.
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Aviation Quote
Aviation is not so much a profession as it is a disease.
- Anonymous
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General Aircraft Knowledge
1. The Douglas DC-7C, the Lockheed L-1049G Constellations a,d other aircraft were powered by Wright R-3350 turbocompound engines. What did these 18 cyclinder mengines have in common with the two reciprocating engines that powered the RMS Titanic?
2. Explain why rain entering a pitot tube during flight neither floods the airspeed indicator nor damages the instrument's internal mechanism?
3. The Bell UH-1 Iroquois "Huey" was the worlds first production turbine powered helicopter; true or false?
4. An acrobatic pilot enters a knife-edge turn to the left, while maintaining this 90-degree bank angle, his conventional turn indicator will show:
A A Large turn rate to the left.
B A large turn rate to the right.
C Either a left or right turn.
D That the airplane is not turning.
5. What is the difference between severe and extreme turbulence?
