MP3 – Air India Flight 111 declares PAN-PAN

On 27 July, Air India flight AIC111, a Boeing 777-300, declared PAN-PAN at New York JFK Approach due to low fuel. The flight coming from London Heathrow Airport (EGLL) and bound for JFK only had fuel left for 9 minutes and landed with less than the minimum fuel.

Listen to the ATC MP3:
http://archive-server.liveatc.net/kjfk/KJFK-NY-App-CAMRN-Jul-27-2008-2200Z.mp3

Previously the flight was rerouted northwards to avoid bad weather.

Flight Aware Log/Map:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/AIC111/history/20080727/1258Z/EGLL/KJFK

Additional information about PAN-PAN (Source: FAA):
Distress and Urgency Communications
The initial communication, and if considered necessary, any subsequent transmissions by an aircraft in distress should begine with the signal MAYDAY, preferably three times. The signal PAN-PAN should be used in the same manner for an urgency condition.

Obtaining Emergency Assistance

Transmit a distress or ergency message consisting of as many as necessary of the following elements, preferably in the order listed:
If distress, MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY; if urgency PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN

PAN is an acronym for “Possible Assistance Needed”.

Safety Report – 07/31/2008


Date & Time: 07/31/2008 05:59
Location: Boston, MA
Aircraft Type: McDonnell Douglas MD-83 (DC-9-83) Registration: N9629H
Operator: American Airlines Flight: AA1991
Phase: Standing
Damage: Unknown
Injuries & Fatalities: None
Description: While parked at the gate, was struck by a truck at the aircraft’s left wing trailing edge

Date & Time: 07/29/2008 20:22
Location: New York – JFK Airport, NY
Aircraft Type: Boeing 737 Registration: Unknown
Operator: Delta Airlines Flight: DAL141
Phase: Take-off
Damage: Minor
Injuries & Fatalities: None
Description: On departure, the right main tire blew out – the aircraft returned and landed without incident

Source: FAA
Correctness of this posting is not guaranteed & completeness not intended. This posting is just for informational purpose.

Virgin Galactic Rolls Out Mothership “WhiteKnightTwo”

Virgin Founder, Sir Richard Branson and SpaceShipOne designer, Burt Rutan, today pulled back the hangar doors on the new WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) carrier aircraft that will ferry SpaceShipTwo and thousands of private astronauts, science packages and payload on the first stage of the Virgin Galactic sub-orbital space experience.

Virgin Galactic WhiteKnightTwo

Virgin Galactic WhiteKnightTwo Mothership Eve

Virgin Galactic WhiteKnightTwo Nose Art

The rollout represents another major milestone in Virgin Galactic’s quest to launch the world’s first private, environmentally benign, space access system for people, payload and science.

Christened “EVE” in honor of Sir Richard’s mother, who performed the official naming ceremony, WK2 is both visually remarkable and represents ground-breaking aerospace technology. The plane, powered by four Pratt and Whitney PW308A engines, is the world’s largest all carbon composite aircraft and many of its component parts have been built using composite materials for the very first time. At 140 ft, the wing spar is the longest single carbon composite aviation component ever manufactured.

Video – WhiteKnightTwo Mothership Roll-Out

See also Virgin Galactic unveils SpaceShipTwo

Source: Virgin Galactic
Photo Credit: Virgin Galactic

First A380 delivered to Emirates Airlines

Today Emirates Airline has taken delivery of its first Airbus A380 aircraft (A6-EDA MSN 011) in an historic delivery ceremony with over 500 guests in Hamburg, Germany. The first customer A380 powered by Engine Alliance GP7200 engines, was presented to Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates Airline and Group, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum and to Emirates President, Tim Clark by Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO and John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. Also present was James Moravecek, Engine Alliance President and Bruce Hughes, former Engine Alliance President.

Emirates Airbus A380 Delivery

Emirates Airbus A380 Delivery

“Emirates was quick to recognise the potential of Airbus’ all new A380 design, with its large double-deck capacity and excellent operating economics. It will be one of the pillars of Emirates’ future,” said Sheikh Ahmed. “With its very low fuel burn and quietness, the A380 also sets new standards in environmental performance. It will definitely help air transportation and Emirates grow, while reducing the impact on the environment,” he added.

Emirates Airbus A380 Delivery

At the ceremony, Emirates unveiled its exclusive, spacious and luxurious cabin, featuring 489 seats (14 first class suites, 76 business and 399 economy). For added passenger relaxation, innovative ceiling mood lighting throughout creates a calming starry night sky effect.

Video – Emirates offers on-board Shower Spa and premium Lounge:

“Fulfilling the A380 dream has required vision, innovation, a lot of courage and determination. Emirates shared in this vision early on and today the result is the world’s most modern, innovative and eco-efficient aircraft ever built. The A380 is changing the way people travel. Airbus is proud of all the engineers, staff and customers such as Emirates who have made the A380 a magnificent reality,” said Tom Enders.

Emirates is the largest customer for the A380 with 58 aircraft on order. Four Engine Alliance GP7200 engines delivering up to 72,000 lbs of thrust each will power the aircraft, with a resultant overall fuel efficiency of only three litres of fuel per passenger per 100 kilometres.

To date, total orders and commitments for the A380 stand at 202 aircraft from 17 customers.

Emirates Airbus A380 Delivery

Check out http://www.a380delivery.com/ for great photos and videos!

Source: Airbus
Photo Credit: Airbus

Emirates Airline buys 60 Airbus wide-bodies

Dubai based Emirates Airline has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) for 30 Airbus A350XWB plus 30 A330-300s. The agreement was signed between Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates Airline and Group and Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO on the occasion of their first A380 delivery in Hamburg, Germany.

At the 10th Dubai Airshow in 2007, Emirates signed a firm order for 70 A350 XWBs with an option for 50 more. Today’s agreement includes the firming up of 30 of these A350 XWB options and will eventually increase Emirates’ total order for the A350 XWB to 100.

Sheikh Ahmed said, “Dubai’s aims to attract 15 million visitors a year by 2012 and Emirates is forging ahead with expansion plans. The A350 XWB and A330 will enable Emirates to expand using modern fuel efficient aircraft and alongside the A380 will be key tools in achieving our goals.”

“Emirates Airline continues to impress with its pace of growth. We are honoured in the faith Emirates places in Airbus and we are delighted that the vision and innovation that are hallmarks of the A330, the A350 and all Airbus aircraft products, will further support the growth and success of Emirates. These orders and the delivery of its first A380, make this a truly remarkable day in the history of both companies,” said Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO.

Source: Airbus

Video – Air Mauritius A330 Evacuated after Bird Strike

On Thursday Air Mauritius flight MK745, an Airbus A330-202 (3B-NBM) (the only A330 Air Mauritius operates – delivered in December 2007), was evacuated at Delhi Airport (India) after a bird strike occured during take-off.

Air Mauritius A330 Bird Strike

After a bird hit engine number 1, the take-off was aborted, causing the brakes to overheat and catching fire.
The aircraft was evacuated through the emergency escape chutes.

Video by BBC showing evacuation

Amateur video from inside the plane
Part1: http://www.hindustantimes.com/AudioVideo/AudioVideoPage.aspx?ID=…
Part2: http://www.hindustantimes.com/AudioVideo/AudioVideoPage.aspx?id=…

Source: hindustantimes (just ignore the stupid and wrong narrative over there)

Video – Hole in Qantas 747 forces emergency landing at Manila

Qantas flight QF30, a Boeing 747-438 (VH-OJK) from London via Hong Kong to Melbourne made an emergency landing in Manila (Philippines) today after a loud bang punched a hole in the plane’s fuselage at approximately 29000 feet, followed by a rapid decompression of the cabin. The crew were forced to conduct an emergency descent to 10000 feet and landed safely in Manila.

The Chief Executive Officer of Qantas said all 346 passengers and 19 crew disembarked normally and there were no reports of any injuries to passengers or crew. The flight crew had performed emergency procedures after oxygen masks were deployed.

The Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB) and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) have been notified of the incident and Qantas is sending its own engineers to Manila.

Raw video – Amateur video from inside Qantas QF30

Video by AP

Raw pictures by Reuters

Video by Reuters – Emergency landing for Qantas plane

If you don’t see any video, you need to activate Javascript.

Further pictures: http://www.repubblica.it/2006/05/gallerie/esteri/aereo-manila/1.html

ATSB Report: http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2008/AAIR/aair200804689.aspx

Safety Report – 07/24/2008


Date & Time: 07/24/2008 04:14
Location: Denver, CO
Aircraft Type: Airbus A319-114 Registration: C-FYJP
Operator: Air Canada Flight: 1042
Phase: Take-off
Damage: Unknown
Injuries & Fatalities: None
Description: On takeoff a right main tire blew. The aircraft returned and landed without incident. Passengers deplaned by stairs.

Source: FAA
Correctness of this posting is not guaranteed & completeness not intended. This posting is just for informational purpose.

Safety Report – 07/21/2008

Date & Time: 07/19/2008 00:06
Location: Chicago (O’Hare), IL
Aircraft Type: Airbus A320 Registration: Unknown
Operator: Mexicana Airlines Flight: 802
Phase: Landing
Damage: Unknown
Injuries & Fatalities: 1 person with minor injuries
Description: On landing went off the end of the runway and into the safety barrier. One person on board sustained minor injuries.

Source: FAA
Correctness of this posting is not guaranteed & completeness not intended. This posting is just for informational purpose.