INCIDENT Probe launched after SpiceJet Bombardier Dash 8 took off without ATC clearance

 

A SpiceJet Bombardier DHC-8-402Q Dash 8 took off from Rajkot Airport without ATC clearance last week on 30th December 2021.

The aircraft with registration VT-SUQ was performing flight SG-3703 from Rajkot Airport to Indira Gandhi International Airport when the incident took place. The aircraft took off without taking the mandatory ATC clearance. It landed in New Delhi without further incident.

According to The Times of India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has opened an investigation calling the incident a “serious lapse”. An aviation authority spokesperson said:

“A SpiceJet Q400 (VT-SUQ) operating Rajkot-Delhi as SJ-3703 on December 30, 2021, took off from Rajkot without ATC clearance. Pending investigation, the pilots have been off-rostered (taken off flying duty).”

A senior official of the Airport Authority of India stated that the ATC asked the pilots how they flew without take-off permission. In response, the crew apologised and said that there was a mistake. This might have happened probably due to a communication gap, error or something else. The flight pilots have been de-rostered since then.

JAMES G. WAWERU

Senior aviation Editor,

James is a navigator/FOM2 currently blogging at airbizafrica. 

He is an aviation ethusiast and has an eye for details that 

often helps him spot the best stories of the day... 

BREAKING An American Airlines passenger stormed the cockpit and damaged the flight controls during boarding

 

An American Airlines passenger stormed the cockpit during boarding, damaged the flight controls, and then tried to jump out the window as the pilot attempted to stop him.

A passenger broke into the cockpit of an American Airlines jet at an airport in Honduras and damaged the plane as it was boarding for a flight to Miami before being taken into custody, the airline said on Tuesday.

Crew members intervened and the man, who was not immediately identified, was arrested by local authorities, American Airlines said in a statement. There were no reports of injury.

ABC News reported that the suspect ran down the jetway and into the cockpit, damaging flight controls and attempting to jump out an open window as a pilots tried to stop him.

“We applaud our outstanding crew members for their professionalism in handling a difficult situation,” American said in its statement.

The damaged aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 carrying 121 passengers and six crew members, was grounded at Ramon Villeda Morales International Airport in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, the airline said.

JAMES G. WAWERU

Senior aviation Editor,

James is a navigator/FOM2 currently blogging at airbizafrica. 

He is an aviation ethusiast and has an eye for details that 

often helps him spot the best stories of the day... 

Allegiant Air orders up to 100 Boeing 737 MAX jets

 

U.S. low-cost carrier Allegiant Air has announced a commitment for up to 100 Boeing 737 MAX family jets.

The commitment is split between 50 firm orders with options for additional 50 MAX jets. Allegiant Air will buy 30 737 MAX 7 and 20 737 MAX 8-200 aircraft. The order is valued at more than $5.5 billion at list prices.

In a statement, Allegiant Air’s chairman and CEO, Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., said:

“Our approach to the fleet has always been opportunistic, and this exciting transaction with Boeing is no exception. While the heart of our strategy continues to centre on previously-owned aircraft, the infusion of up to 100 direct-from-the-manufacturer 737s will bring numerous benefits for the future.”

The Las Vegas-based carrier currently operates an all-Airbus fleet of 110 Airbus A319s and A320s. The low-cost carrier will continue to operate them and buy A320s in the used market.

Commenting on this deal, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Stan Deal said:

“We are thrilled that Allegiant has selected Boeing and the 737 MAX as they position themselves for future growth, improved efficiency and operational cost performance.”

Allegiant will reportedly take delivery of 10 MAX jets in 2023, 24 in 2024, and 16 in 2025.

JAMES G. WAWERU

Senior aviation Editor,

James is a navigator/FOM2 currently blogging at airbizafrica. 

He is an aviation ethusiast and has an eye for details that 

often helps him spot the best stories of the day... 

REPORT Lufthansa group confirmed that 18,000 flights had been flown empty to keep airport slots

 

Brussels Airlines has operated 3,000 flights without passengers this winter to avoid losing take-off and landing slots.

The airline’s parent company, Lufthansa Group, confirmed that 18,000 flights had been flown empty, including 3,000 Brussels Airlines services, according to a report in The Bulletin.

EU rules require that airlines operate a certain percentage of scheduled flights to keep their slots at major airports.

Under these “use it or lose it” regulations, prior to the pandemic carriers had to utilise at least 80pc of their scheduled take-off and landing slots.

This was revised to 50pc as coronavirus saw travel become increasingly difficult – but airlines are still struggling to hit this target.

As a result of Lufthansa Group’s latest figures, the Belgian federal government has written to the European Commission, calling for a change to the rules on maintaining slots.

Lufthansa Group, which owns the carriers Lufthansa, Swiss International Airlines, Austrian Airlines, and Eurowings in addition to Brussels Airlines, has already axed 33,000 flights in January and February.

JAMES G. WAWERU

Senior aviation Editor,

James is a navigator/FOM2 currently blogging at airbizafrica. 

He is an aviation ethusiast and has an eye for details that 

often helps him spot the best stories of the day... 

INCIDENT Caspian Airlines Boeing 737 suffered main gear collapse in Iran

A Caspian Airlines Boeing 737-400 suffered a left main gear collapse at Isfahan International Airport, Iran, on 5th January 2022.

The aircraft with registration EP-CAP was landing as flight RV-6904 from Mashhad International Airport to Isfahan International Airport when it suffered the main gear collapsed shortly after touch down.

The aircraft came to a stop on soft ground with the nose gear off the paved surface, and the aircraft was evacuated via slides. Five of the 117 passengers were injured during the process. In total, 117 passengers and nine crew members were on board the aircraft.

Three female passengers received minor injuries during the evacuation, whereas two male passengers received serious injuries – leg fractures.

JAMES G. WAWERU

Senior aviation Editor,

James is a navigator/FOM2 currently blogging at airbizafrica. 

He is an aviation ethusiast and has an eye for details that 

often helps him spot the best stories of the day... 

United Airlines offers higher pay to its employees during January

 

United Airlines is offering triple pay to its pilots if they pick up trips in January. Flight attendants have also been offered extra money to pick up trips.

United pilots picking an open trip between December 30 and January 3 have been offered three and a half times their regular pay in a move to avoid disruptions over the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Airlines in the United States have cancelled more than 10,000 flights over the last two weeks due to bad weather and an increase in the number of sick calls from crews after testing positive for COVID-19. United cancelled around 200 flights on New Year’s Eve.

In a letter written by the United Airlines Pilot union it said:

“The impact on the operation is clear, and United has experienced a correspondingly large number of cancellations over the past week.”

Along with the Chicago-based carrier, multiple other airlines like American, JetBlue, Southwest, and Spirit are also offering extra pay to their employees. In a statement, Spirit Airlines cabin crew association said:

“All flight attendants, regardless of how you have obtained your pairing, will be receiving 200% pay for any pairing that touches December 28 through January 4.”

JAMES G. WAWERU

Senior aviation Editor,

James is a navigator/FOM2 currently blogging at airbizafrica. 

He is an aviation ethusiast and has an eye for details that 

often helps him spot the best stories of the day... 

Unknown source threatens to shoot down Vietnam Airlines aircraft over Tokyo Bay

 

On Jan. 5, a Vietnam Airlines aircraft, which took off from Japan’s Narita airport for Hanoi International, was threatened that it would be shot down over Tokyo Bay.

Flight VN5311 took off from Narita International Airport with 47 passengers, three pilots, and 12 cabin crew members on board. At 11.10 a.m. local, around 40 minutes after the take-off, the Vietnamese carrier’s office in Tokyo received a call.

The man on the phone, who was claimed to be an American said that Flight VN5311 had better turn back to Narita or it will be shot down when passing Tokyo Bay.

When the airline’s office asked the man to repeat the message,

“I am preparing to shoot VN5311 when it flies above Tokyo Bay. It had better turn around,” the man on the phone said.

After confirming the message, The Tokyo office of Vietnam Airlines informed Vietnamese and Japanese officials immediately. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) told the airline management to divert the aircraft to the Fukuoka Airport after asking permission from the Japanese authorities.

The aircraft landed at Fukuoka safely at 1.02 p.m. local time.

Japanese authorities visited the airport and spoke to the flight crew and passengers to evaluate the situation.

After finding no unusual signs and being convinced that it was safe to proceed, Flight VN5311 was allowed to take off from Fukuoka for Hanoi International Airport. The aircraft landed in Hanoi at 6:12 p.m. local time.

Flight VN5311 was the first scheduled flight between Vietnam and Japan after a two-year flight suspension between two countries due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

JAMES G. WAWERU

Senior aviation Editor,

James is a navigator/FOM2 currently blogging at airbizafrica. 

He is an aviation ethusiast and has an eye for details that 

often helps him spot the best stories of the day...