ATR 72 in-flight upset traced to rudder maintenance fault

Investigators are warning ATR operators that a crucial rudder component could be installed incorrectly in the turboprop, after the crew of an Air Contractors aircraft experienced serious control problems after take-off from Edinburgh a month ago.

UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch inspectors determined that the twin-engined aircraft had undergone routine maintenance on its rudder immediately before the 15 March flight.

As the ATR 72-200 reached flight level 230, travelling through 185kt, it rolled 5-10° left while the rudder trim indicated fully-right. The co-pilot, flying, disengaged the autopilot and applied aileron and right rudder in a bid to correct the roll and side-slip.

Some 15-20° of right bank was necessary to hold the heading constant. The crew requested vectoring to return to Edinburgh.

"The co-pilot had to operate the control wheel with both hands in order to maintain directional control," says the AAIB. "The commander operated the power levers in the latter stages of the final approach."

Neither of the two pilots, the only occupants of the ATR, was injured. The aircraft involved was a 21-year old airframe, serial number 183.

The AAIB found that the maintenance at Edinburgh had involved disassembling the rudder's travel limitation unit, a system which reduces rudder deflection at speeds above 185kt.

Two cams form part of the engaging mechanism to reduce rudder authority. While the left-hand cam had been correctly installed, the right-hand cam had been transposed through 180°.

"Neither an independent inspection nor an operational test of the [limitation unit] was performed," says the AAIB, even though a test of the unit after removal or installation is required by the aircraft maintenance manual.

The incorrect assembly was only discovered after the incident and the AAIB says that the maintenance manual does not indicate that the cam can be installed wrongly, which can lead to uncommanded rudder input in flight.

It has urged ATR to inform operators of the potential problem and to revise testing procedures in the maintenance manual. The AAIB states that ATR "intends to take the necessary actions" in response to the investigation.

Air France A380 hits CRJ while taxiing at JFK

Extraordinary video images have emerged of an Air France Airbus A380 colliding with a Bombardier CRJ during taxiing at New York JFK.

Air France has confirmed the incident in which the A380 appears to strike the empennage of the CRJ with its outer left wing while taxiing.

The airline is still gathering details of the event and the extent of damage to either aircraft is unclear. The source of the video images is uncertain.

One report cited the US FAA as saying the collision was between Air France flight 007, heading for Paris Charles de Gaulle, and the recently-arrived Comair flight 6293 from Boston

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skysoft

Requirements to get Pilot Licence

The Private Pilot Licence (PPL) Course

Syllabus:

Theory - 100 hours of ground school
Flight - 40 hours of flight training

course consists of a minimum 45 hours of ground training and a minimum of 40 hours of flight training on Cessna172 Aircraft . An average student takes about 45 to 50 hours of flight training. Out of the required minimum of 40 hours, the student must have completed at least:

25 hours of dual training
10 hours of solo including 5 hours of navigation
3 hours of dual night flying
2 hours of dual simulated instrument flying training.


Written Test

You must pass a knowledge test with a score of 70% or better. This test is administered at CAA facility. the test consists of 75 multiple-choice questions selected from the Private Pilot Test Bank.

Flight Test

You must successfully complete a practical test, which will be given as a final exam by CAA inspector or a designated examiner. The CAA designated examiners are professionals , experienced flight instructors who are authorized by the CAA to conduct flight tests..

Requirements:

1. High school or equivalent as a minimum education must pass Physics,Mathematics and English.

2. Good command of the English language

3. Minimum age 18 years to enrol for the course and 19 years to obtain a licence

4. Class II Medical certificate by a CAA physician

5. All students required by law to get Security clearance prior to commencing flight training in the Schon Air Flying Academy will apply for your security clearance when all your documents with course application fee received.

6. Personal interview with the Schon Air Flying Academy enrolment committee

Duration:

Approximately 5 - 6 months
 
Courses:

AIRLAW AND ATC PROCEDURES
OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
METROLOGY
PRINCIPLE OF FLIGHTS
AERODYNAMIC
SYSTEM AND POWER PLANT
INSTRUMENTATION
VFR AND IFR
COMMUNICATION
FLIGHT PLANING
MASS AND BALANCE
NAVIGATION RADIO NAVIGATION

 

Instrument Rating

The Instrument Rating gives the ability to control the aircraft without reference to the ground , using flight and navigation instruments. This is required of the professional pilot who must be able to demonstrate proficiency in instrument flying regardless of the type of aircraft they fly. Instrument training is among the most challenging and satisfying parts of the program.

Syllabus:

Theory - 100 hours of ground school
Flight - 40 hours of flight training

course consists of a minimum 45 hours of ground training and a minimum of 40 hours of flight training. An average student takes about 45 to 50 hours of flight training. Out of the required minimum of 40 hours, the student must have completed at least:

40 hours flight training under a hood or actual instrument meteorological conditions.

100 hours of ground school

Written Test

You must pass a knowledge test with a score of 70% or better. This test is administered at CAA facility. the test consists of 75 multiple-choice questions.

Flight Test

You must successfully complete a practical test, which will be given as a final exam by a CAA inspector or a designated examiner. The CAA designated examiners are professionals, experienced flight instructors who are authorized by the CAA to conduct flight tests. There is a fee for the flight

Requirements:

1. Valid CAA PPL Licence

2. Good command of the English language

3. Class II Medical certificate by a UAE GCAA physician

4. All student required by law to get security clearance prior to commencing flight training in the Pakistan (Schon Air will apply for your security clearance when all your documents with course application fee received).

5. Personal interview with the Schon Air Flying Academy enrolment committee

Duration:

Approximately 4 - 6 months
Courses

AIRLAW AND ATC PROCEDURES
OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
METROLOGY PRINCIPLE OF FLIGHTS
AERODYNAMIC
SYSTEM AND POWER PLANT
INSTRUMENTATION
VFR AND IFR COMMUNICATION
FLIGHT PLANING
MASS AND BALANCE
NAVIGATION RADIO NAVIGATION


Comercial Pilot Liscence

Syllabus

• CAA Private Pilot License (PPL)

- 40 Hours Cessna 172 Aircraft

- 45 Hours Ground Instruction

• Hour Building Phase

- 95 Hours Cessna 172 Aircraft

• Instrument Rating (IR)


- 40 Hours C-172

- 45 Hours Ground Instruction

• Commercial Multi-Engine License (CPLME)

-25 hours

- 100 Hours Ground Instruction

course consists of a minimum 190 hours of ground training and a minimum of 190 hours Single Engine Flight Trainig and 10 hours Multi Engine flight Training, 200 hours minimum at end of CPL course, to obtain CAA CPL, after successful completion of a flight check.

Written Test

You must pass three knowledge tests with a score of 70% or better (PPL, IR, and CPL). This test is administered at CAA facility. The test consists of 75 multiple-choice questions.

Flight Test

You must successfully complete a three practical tests (PPL, IR, and CPL), which will be given as a final exam by a CAA inspector or a designated examiner. The CAA designated examiners are professionals, experienced flight instructors who are authorized by the CAA to conduct flight tests.
Requirements:

1. High school or equivalent as a minimum education

2. Good command of the English language

3. Minimum age 18 year to enrol for the course and 19 years to obtain a licence

4. Class I Medical certificate by a CAA physician

5. All student required by law to get security clearance prior to commencing flight training in the Pakistan (Schon Air will apply for your security clearance when all your documents with course application fee received .)

6. Personal interview with the S enrolment committee

Duration:

Approximately 18 months



Multi-Engine Rating


The Multi-Engine Rating allows you to fly what most people consider to be a "real" airplane - with more performance and more than one engine. This course is designed to take a holder of an CAA Private or Commercial Pilot's License who meets the aeronautical experience requirements to a certified multi-engine rating.

Syllabus:

Theory - 20 hours of ground school
Flight - 15 hours Multi Engine.

course consists of a minimum 20 hours of ground training and a minimum of 15 hours Multi Engine Flight Training on Piper or C-402 Aircraft.

Written Test

You must pass a knowledge test with a score of 70% or better. This test is administered at CAA facility. the test consists of 75 multiple-choice questions.

Flight Test

You must successfully complete a practical test, which will be given as a final exam by an CAA inspector or a designated examiner. The CAA designated examiners are professionals, experienced flight instructors who are authorized by the CAA to conduct flight tests.

Requirements:

1. A valid CAA Private Pilot or Commercial Pilot (if foreign PPL or CPL, will need to convert to CAA license)

2. High school or equivalent as a minimum education

3. Good command of the English language

4. Class I Medical certificate by a CAA physician

5. All student required by law to get security clearance prior to commencing flight training in the Pakistan (Schon Air will apply for your security clearance when all your documents with course application fee received.)

6. Personal interview with the Schon Air Flying Academy enrolment committee

Duration:

Approximately 1.5 months

Flight Instructor rating


The Flight Instructor. A position for students who desire to accumulate experience to qualify for the Airline Transport Pilot certificate (ATP). The Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) must demonstrate excellent flying skills, thorough knowledge of the academic subjects, and be able to communicate effectively.

Syllabus:

Theory - 85 hours of ground school
Flight - 30 hours of flight training

Written Test

You must pass a knowledge test with a score of 70% or better. This test is administered at CAA facility. the test consists of 75 multiple-choice questions.

Flight Test

You must successfully complete a practical test, which will be given as a final exam by an CAA inspector or a designated examiner. The CAA designated examiners are professionals, experienced flight instructors who are authorized by the CAA to conduct flight tests.

Requirements:

1. Valid CAA Commercial Pilot Licence / Instrument Rating

2. Class I Medical certificate by a CAA physician

3. All student required by law to get Security clearance prior to commencing flight training in the Pakistan (Schon Air will apply for your security clearance when all your documents with course application fee received .)

4. Personal interview with the Schon Air Flying Academy enrollment committee

Duration:

Approximately 4 - 6 months


Licencse Conversion

Schon Air conversion courses to the CAA type licences. We aim to provide the most up to date information, but please check with the appropriate regulatory authority for the latest and most current regulations for your conversion. In order to convert to any CAA License you must meet the experience as per CAR part II for the issue of the licence you are applying for, and you must complete the following:

1. Flight and ground training as required to prepare you for air law knowledge test with a score of 70% or better. This test is administered at CAA facility and you must successfully complete oral and a practical test, which will be given as a final exam by an CAA inspector or a designated examiner

a. Theory - 4 hours of ground school



b. Flight - 10 hours of flight training for PPL and 8 hours of flight training plus 4 hours FNPT II for CPL/ATPL

2. Valid foreign Medical Certificate and Licence.

3. Minimum 18 years of age for a CPL and 21 years for an ATPL .

4. Meet the experience requirement for the issuance of PPL/CPL/ATPL.

5. Letter from approved school / operator.

6. All student required by law to get Security clearance prior to commencing flight training in the Pakistan (Schon Air will apply for your security clearance when all your documents with course application fee received .)

7. Personal interview with the Schon Air Flying Academy enrollment committee and he/she must demonstrate excellent flying skills, thorough knowledge of the academic subjects

Upon completion of the above steps you will be issued with a CAA Pilots Licence.

Duration:

Approximately 1 month

SCHON AIR AP-BJF CRASHED

Schon air AP-BJF Crashed last morning

SCHON AIR C-172 Got crashd

schon air c -172 aircraft red# AP-BJF crashed due to some aircraft frame issues and student was on solo and was flying for 1:50 hours student name Mustafa naeem flying experience 25 hours

Gulfstream G650 test aircraft crashes on takeoff, killing four people on board

The US Federal Aviation Administration and Gulfstream Aerospace have confirmed one of the manufacturer's five G650 test aircraft has crashed at Roswell International Air Center Airport in Roswell, New Mexico, killing two pilots and two test engineers aboard.

According to the FAA, the aircraft - operating as Gulfstream Test 31 - had spent the morning, approximately 2.5h, conducting takeoff-performance and brake testing when it was cleared for takeoff on runway 15, at around 09:30 local time.

On its take-off roll the aircraft had "just gotten airborne" when the right wingtip struck the ground, causing the aircraft to lose altitude, collapsing the gear, skidding on the runway and catching fire.



Gulfstream Aerospace president, Joe Lombardo, says: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who were lost. We are cooperating 100 percent with the investigation."

Both the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA investigators are enroute to the scene.

A source familiar with the accident says S/N 6002, registered N652GD, was the airframe involved. S/N 6002 first flew on 25 February 2010 and was tasked with validating the aircraft's systems, as part of the planned 1,800h certification campaign.

Gulfstream has targeted 2011 for FAA and EASA certification of the large cabin ultra-long range G650, with its first planned delivery in 2012.

British Airways to celebrate Royal Wedding with special liveries

UK flag carrier British Airways has announced it will celebrate the forthcoming Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton with a series of special Royal portrait liveries on a selection of its airliners.

The six aircraft, dubbed "The Royal Fleet", will feature portraits of different members of the British Royal Family emblazoned on the tails of the aircraft.

The details of the members of the Royal Family appearing on specific aircraft are as follows:

•Prince William - G-CIVZ
•Catherine Middleton - G-CIVW
•Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - G-EUXN
•His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales - G-VIIV
•Prince Harry - G-VIIU
•Duke of Edinburgh - G-EUOA
In anticipation of the creation of The Royal Fleet, British Airways commissioned renowned Norwegian artist Dr Olaf Olisapy to design the bespoke tail portraits with a modern artistic interpretation to reflect the new generation of British monachs.

This follows his well-received work in 2007, portraying Norwegian heroes on the tails of Norwegian Air Shuttle aircraft





Controversially, Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall has not been included in the list of Royal portraits to appear on the BA aircraft. British Airways claims capping the number of featured Royals at six is simply a matter of livery material and design economics, rather than a deliberate slight of the Duchess of Cornwall.

Jake Bigo, Head of Livery Design for British Airways said: "We have a limited amount of resources set aside for this job so we had to draw the line somewhere. Otherwise we face the prospect of running out of paint halfway through Camilla's face."

The press office at Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the decision to exclude Camilla from The Royal Fleet

PIA Flying school testing their C-172

AP-BBN on its test flight to get its fitness and airworthiness certificate from CAA Pakistan

Schon air buy two used C-172 for their training operations

Schon air buy two used C-172 for their training operations
there aricraft are already been used by its older company. Schon air also hav got their new registration from CAA Pakistan which are AP-BJG and AP-BJF as schon previously have two C-172 as AP-BHT and AP-BDV. so now schon air have 4 C-172 in their fleet for their training operation.

Two new F-35s set to join flight-test fleet

Two more Lockheed Martin F-35s are set to join the flight-test fleet as programme officials work to recover from a setback on 9 March.

Carrier variant flight-test aircraft CF-2 is scheduled in early April to become the eleventh member of the active flight test fleet, Lockheed says.

The final addition, CF-3, is in the company's "final finishes" position on the assembly line in Fort Worth, Texas, but should achieve first flight before June.

With the original AA-1 prototype inducted into live-fire testing last year, the arrival of CF-2 and CF-3 means the test fleet will finally reach full strength in a few months.

The new F-35s will join a fleet that is just overcoming an electrical power shutdown during a test flight of the AF-4 test aircraft on 9 March.


Two more Lockheed Martin F-35s are set to join the flight-test fleet as programme officials work to recover from a setback on 9 March.

Carrier variant flight-test aircraft CF-2 is scheduled in early April to become the eleventh member of the active flight test fleet, Lockheed says.

The final addition, CF-3, is in the company's "final finishes" position on the assembly line in Fort Worth, Texas, but should achieve first flight before June.

With the original AA-1 prototype inducted into live-fire testing last year, the arrival of CF-2 and CF-3 means the test fleet will finally reach full strength in a few months.

The new F-35s will join a fleet that is just overcoming an electrical power shutdown during a test flight of the AF-4 test aircraft on 9 March.



© Lockheed Martin


That incident forced the programme to ground all 10 flying aircraft for seven days. Seven of the 10 flight-test aircraft were cleared to return to flight on 16 March. The last three F-35s in flight test resumed flying on 25 March after being grounded for nearly 16 days.

An internal investigation revealed the cause of the power failure to be a maintenance procedure. A small amount of "extra" oil was allowed after maintenance service to remain inside the generator, according to the F-35 joint programme office.

"Under some conditions, the extra oil that is churning inside a narrow air gap," the office says.

This causes the temperature within the generator to increase. On the 9 March flight, both generators over-heated, forcing the F-35's second back-up - the integrated power-pack - to take over. The F-35 needs electricity to move its flight controls.

The problem affected the alternate engine starter/generator, which is installed on AF-4, BF-5, CF-1 and all low-rate initial production aircraft. The other seven flight-test aircraft operate with a different engine starter/generator, and were not affected by the grounding.

Despite the flight-test disruption, programme officials do not expect the overall schedule to change. "Flight-test schedules are built with a margin for precautionary safety stand-downs," the programme office says.

IndiGo selects P&W to power up to 150 A320neos

In a major coup for Pratt & Whitney's geared turbofan, A320neo launch customer, Indian low cost carrier IndiGo, is to announce it has selected the PW1100G to power up to 150 of the updated Airbus narrowbodies, say those familiar with the deal. While the official announcement for 300 engines is expected as early as today, the win by the East Hartford-based engine maker comes on the heels of a hard-fought campaign to secure the right to provide 300 engines and associated service contracts to power what Airbus touts as the "largest single firm order" for large jets in commercial aviation history. IndiGo signed an 11 January memorandum of understanding with Airbus for up to 180 A320 aircraft, including 150 of the re-engined A320neos, making it the European airframer's launch customer for the new variant due for entry into service in 2016. Missing from the initial MoU was an engine selection, kicking off a fierce behind-the-scenes competition between the CFM International Leap-X and Pratt & Whitney PW1100G as both vied for the massive contract.



The selection represents the second win for Pratt & Whitney on the re-engined jet, having been chosen by International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) to power at least 60 of its 100 A320neo and A321neo aircraft.

The selection as launch customer also establishes the PW1100G as the lead powerplant to fly first for Airbus's certification campaign.

Airbus says the new engine option for the A320 will reduce fuel burn up to 15%, compared to today's A320, a savings of over 1,510,000 litres (400,000gal) of Jet A and 3.600t CO2 per year.

The PW1524G, the first model of the P&W's PW1000G engine family, is currently in ground testing at two facilities in Manitoba, Canada and West Palm Beach, Florida as it progresses toward its first assignment to power the 110 to 125-seat Bombardier CSeries CS100 aircraft on its 2012 first flight and subsequent 2013 entry into service.

The PW1000G has also been selected to power the 70 to 90-seat Mitsubishi Regional Jet MRJ70 and MRJ90, as well as the 150-seat Irkut MS-21.

SERCO

AIRBLUE

ALL 152 people died no injured are

Airblue A321 involved in fatal Pakistan crash identified

The aircraft involved in today's crash in Pakistan has been identified as an Airbus A321 operated by privately-owned Pakistani carrier Airblue.

Airbus says the A321 has local registration AP-BJB and manufacturer's serial number 1218. Flightglobal's ACAS database says that International Lease Finance (ILFC) is the aircraft's owner and that it is one of three A321s in Airblue's fleet. Airblue also operates one Airbus A320 and two Airbus A319s, says ACAS.

Airbus says the A321 involved in today's crash was built in the year 2000 and that Airblue started leasing it in January 2006.

The International Aero Engine (IAE) powered aircraft had accumulated approximately 34,000 flight hours in some 13,500 flights, it adds.

Airblue's A321 crashed today at around 10:00hr local time on the outskirts of Islamabad. It had been on a scheduled flight from Karachi to Islamabad and reportedly had 146 passengers and six crew on board.

The aircraft crashed into Islamabad's densely forested Margalla Hills. There was rain and low lying cloud at the time of the crash.

Some rescuers have reached the crash site and started to recover the bodies. But some reports, quoting from the country's interior minister Rehman Malik, say rescuers have also found five survivors so far.

The last time that Pakistan had a fatal crash, involving a passenger commercial aircraft, was in 2006 when a Pakistan International Airlines Fokker F27 crashed and killed 45 people.

Airblue A321 involved in fatal Pakistan crash identified

The aircraft involved in today's crash in Pakistan has been identified as an Airbus A321 operated by privately-owned Pakistani carrier Airblue.

Airbus says the A321 has local registration AP-BJB and manufacturer's serial number 1218. Flightglobal's ACAS database says that International Lease Finance (ILFC) is the aircraft's owner and that it is one of three A321s in Airblue's fleet. Airblue also operates one Airbus A320 and two Airbus A319s, says ACAS.

Airbus says the A321 involved in today's crash was built in the year 2000 and that Airblue started leasing it in January 2006.

The International Aero Engine (IAE) powered aircraft had accumulated approximately 34,000 flight hours in some 13,500 flights, it adds.

Airblue's A321 crashed today at around 10:00hr local time on the outskirts of Islamabad. It had been on a scheduled flight from Karachi to Islamabad and reportedly had 146 passengers and six crew on board.

The aircraft crashed into Islamabad's densely forested Margalla Hills. There was rain and low lying cloud at the time of the crash.

Some rescuers have reached the crash site and started to recover the bodies. But some reports, quoting from the country's interior minister Rehman Malik, say rescuers have also found five survivors so far.

The last time that Pakistan had a fatal crash, involving a passenger commercial aircraft, was in 2006 when a Pakistan International Airlines Fokker F27 crashed and killed 45 people.

Airblue passenger aircraft crashes in Pakistan

A Pakistani passenger aircraft has crashed in Pakistan with about 150 people on board.

There were 146 passengers and six crew on board the Airblue Airbus A320-family aircraft, say news reports in Pakistan quoting from local civil aviation officials.

The aircraft was on a domestic flight from Karachi to Islamabad when it crashed, at around 10:00hr local time today, into the Margalla Hills which are on the outskirts of Islamabad, say the reports.

Helicopters in the area have located the crash site but rescuers are having difficulty because of the mountainous terrain and lack of road access, add the reports.

Some reports quote the country's interior minister as saying 10 bodies and five survivors have been found so far.

Airblue officials were not immediately available for comment when contacted today

Thunder At farnborough air show 2010

Boeing F-18 Super Hornet Farnborough Airshow 2010 Tuesday

Lockheed F-22 Raptor Farnborough Airshow 2010 Monday

Farnborough 2010- An interview with Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan

previous air show incidents

Updates from Farnborough Airshow 2010

UPDATES FROM Farnborough Air Show 2010

Boeing 787 Dreamliner tour at the Farnborough Air Show

Updates from Farnborough Air Show

updates from Farnborough airshow 2010

Pakistan Air Force JF-17 Arrive At Farnborough Airshow 2010

Big thanks to the PAF for sending these aircraft to Farnborough. Great looking military jets, this is the first time they have visited the Farnborough airshow 2010. The Farnborough International Airshow is a seven-day international trade fair for the aerospace business which is held biennially in Hampshire, England. The airshow is organised by Farnborough International Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of British aerospace industry's body the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) to demonstrate both civilian and military aircraft to potential customers and investors. It (along with the Paris Air Show) is an important event for the aerospace industry particularly for the announcement of new developments and orders.

P180 Avanti

FARNBOROUGH: VIDEO & PICTURES - 787 touches down for UK debut

Boeing's 787 twin-jet has touched down at the Farnborough Air Show, marking the aircraft's first appearance in the UK.
It headed in over north Wales, tracking south towards Oxford, and circled at around 9,000ft to the west of Farnborough before descending to conduct a flypast from the east.
The Rolls-Royce Trent 1000-powered aircraft, ZA003, then made a second approach and touched down, coming to a rapid stop on the runway.

Boeing 787 arrives at Farnborough Air Show

Nawabshah airport

Nawabshah airport

flight global

Rolls-Royce urges airframers to rethink A320, 737 re-engining

Airbus and Boeing say the market will drive their decision on whether to go ahead with single-aisle re-engining plans after Rolls-Royce urged them to concentrate on bringing all-new single-aisle replacements to the market more quickly.
The UK engine manufacturer is concerned that introducing interim "technology refreshes" of existing narrowbodies will have a net detrimental impact on the industry's ability to deliver step-change reductions in fuel-consumption and emissions, by delaying the introduction of new "highly integrated and optimised" aircraft.
"We have said for a while that we remain unconvinced that re-engining is the right answer for the industry - that it is going to give the net benefits that the industry needs," says R-R civil aerospace president Mark King.
"Whenever a product is made that is not as good as it could possibly be, we worry about whether that product can stand the test of time, and therefore about whether we are actually going to see the return on investment that we need to get.
"One of the concerns with re-engining is whether it causes a delay in a new aircraft. All the analysis we do says that the right answer here is a new aircraft, and we don't want to delay that new aircraft."

The engine maker is working on all-new two- and three-shaft civil engine families, known as "Advance2" and "Advance3" respectively which could be available from the second half of this decade.
Although Airbus is exploring technologies for a longer term all-new single-aisle replacement, it says that "airlines have made it clear that any fuel burn reductions available today would be welcome". As such it working towards a decision later this year on whether to launch the A320 "new engine option", which could equip the narrowbody family with CFM International Leap X or Pratt & Whitney PW1000G geared turbofan engines.
Airbus's programmes chief Tom Williams said earlier this year that the airframer did not consider R-R's offering "a solution that works for re-engining...from either a technical or commercial point of view".
Boeing is studying three alternatives in the single-aisle sector - re-engine the 737, continue with incremental improvements or launch an all-new replacement and will decide which path to take by the end of the year, says marketing vice-president Randy Tinseth.
"We're looking for our customers to lead us in that decision," he says. "Some airlines are saying a 15% improvement in fuel burn is a no-brainer, and at the other end of the scale are leasing companies who [want] nothing to change - ever."

Meet British Airways' hero pilot at our Farnborough chalet

All 152 passengers and crew on board British Airways flight BA038 survived when a Boeing 777 crashed at London Heathrow in 2008. The accident became the subject of one of the most complex inquiries undertaken in the UK, and investigators acknowledged the quick actions of the crew in preventing a disaster.
skysoft is offering the chance to meet the commander of the aircraft, Capt Peter Burkill, at the Farnborough Air Show. He will be at the skysoft chalet (A25-26) on the afternoon of Tuesday 20 July where he will be signing copies of Thirty Seconds to Impact, his newly published account of the accident.
BA038 had been on final approach after arriving from Beijing when both Rolls-Royce Trent 800 engines on the 777 failed to respond to a demand for more power.
Unbeknown to Capt Burkill and co-pilot John Coward, a build-up of ice inside the fuel lines supplying the engines had been dislodged as the aircraft descended towards Heathrow. An avalanche of frozen slush blocked the fuel flow, choking off the aircraft's thrust when it was just 700ft above the ground and leaving the crew with moments to avoid a catastrophe.
Thirty Seconds to Impact is Capt Burkill's personal story of the crash of BA038, and the difficult aftermath of the accident. Copies will be available for purchase at the Skysoft chalet on the day, and Capt Burkill will be on hand to talk about his experience. Please do drop by, we'll look forward to seeing you.

UAE gets look at Fire Scout

The United Arab Emirates got a 10-day look at the MQ-8 Fire Scout as Northrop Grumman prepared the unmanned vertical takeoff and landing system for US Navy evaluation later this year.
In early July, a UAE-painted Fire Scout weathered extreme conditions during the demonstration, including takeoffs and landings in 47 degrees Celsius (117 degrees Fahrenheit) heat and high, sand-filled winds. The four-bladed unmanned helicopter climbed to test altitudes of nearly 10,000ft and demonstrated its non-line-of-sight sensor operations capabilities, including its FLIR Systems electro-optical/infrared sensing capabilities used to locate and acquire targets.
A video montage of Fire Scout field trial sensor was presented 14 June to interested multi-national government agencies and media, showcasing the MQ-8's real-time imagery-transmission capability, Northrop says.


The US Navy's will conduct operational evaluation of the system late this year aboard the USS Halyburton
With more than 20 million flight hours, it is currently the Pentagon's only unmanned VTOL programme of record.

Oneworld carriers secure EU clearance for transatlantic tie-up

Oneworld carriers British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia have received clearance from the European Commission for their proposed transatlantic tie-up.
The decision follows commitments from the airlines offered in order to allay competition concerns over their planned joint venture.
In a statement the Commission says it has "made legally binding" the commitments from the carriers.
Among the concessions offered by the carriers were slots at London Heathrow to allow the entry or expansion of competitors on routes to the US cities of New York, Boston, Dallas and Miami.
"After a market test, the Commission concluded that the commitments offered were suitable to remedy the competition concerns and has closed its investigation," the Commission says.

NTSB faults Continental captain in 2008 Denver excursion

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined that the captain of a Continental Airlines Boeing 737-500 that ran off the left side of Runway 34R at the Denver International airport in clear weather the night of 20 December 2008 did not properly control the aircraft for the extreme, unexpected crosswind conditions during the takeoff run.
According to investigators, Flight 1404 experienced crosswind gusts from the left side of as much as 45kt (83km/h) during the takeoff run, exceeding Boeing's 40kt recommended maximum crosswind component for the aircraft and Continental Airlines' 33kt maximum.
But the pilots were not aware of the intensity of the wind before takeoff. Reported wind by air traffic controllers at the time of the pilots received takeoff clearance indicated a crosswind component of 26kt with no gust factor. Data available to controllers but not typically given to pilots showed winds gusting to higher levels.
"This accident started back at the threshold," says NTSB chairman Debbie Hersman. "If [the captain] had had that kind of information he probably would not have initiated the takeoff".
Despite the intensity of the crosswind, investigators determined that probable cause for the excursion and subsequent accident was the captain's "cessation of right rudder" needed to counteract the weathervane effect of the wind and keep the aircraft centred on the runway.
The NTSB says the rudder control would have been adequate to maintain directional control in the winds had the pilot continued to input right rudder pressure after he had made two large corrections for gusts earlier in the takeoff run.
The 737-500 departed the left side of the runway at 119kt speed when the pilot lost directional control, coming to rest in a drainage basin and catching fire. Forty-one of the 115 passengers and crew on board were injured.
The NTSB says pilots will on average experience one takeoff in 15,000 with direct crosswinds (perpendicular to the takeoff direction) as high as 30kt.
"The pilot likely had not seen that high of a crosswind in his experience," the investigators noted.

NTSB also cites as a contributing factor air traffic control's inability to deliver the most relevant wind information available to the pilots, which would have revealed gusts to 36kt.
Also contributing was that Continental's training programme did not include strong and gusting crosswinds in simulator sessions, putting the pilot in a situation where the wind conditions "exceeded his training and experience", says the NTSB.
Investigators say Continental turns off the wind gust effects below 50ft (15m) in its simulators, using only a steady winds at ground level, a factor that eases pilot workload.
Continental, in written input to the NTSB's investigation notes that while the gust model is turned off in the 737-500 simulator below 50ft, it is turned on in the company's four 737-800 simulators at ground level.
"Because all Continental 737 pilots operate all of the 737 models Continental has in line operations, each pilot receives training in all available 737 fleet variant training devices," notes the airline. "Thus, the pilots are exposed to crosswind training in gusty winds during takeoff in the 737-800 FFS and therefore, the 737-500 [full-flight simulator] is not the sole means for crosswind training."
In its 14 recommendations to the FAA, the NTSB asks that surface winds at a variety of airports be used to develop gusty wind profiles that can be used in simulator sessions for airlines, air taxi and fractional operation pilots. In addition, the NTSB is asking that airframers develop type-specific maximum crosswind limits, values which today are recommendations only.
Other recommendations include conducting new research into mountain wave wind phenomena, which was the driving force behind the gusty winds at Denver that night; requiring air traffic controllers to provide pilots with the maximum wind speed information available, including gusts, and requiring the installation of 16g seats for pilots, an upgrade that may have prevented back injuries to both pilots in the Denver accident.

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