Year: 2009

Safety Report – 04/27/2009


Date & Time: 04/24/2009 23:30
Location: Orlando, FL
Aircraft Type: Boeing 737-3H4 Registration: N632SW
Operator: Southwest Airlines Flight: 595
Phase: Landing
Damage: Minor
Injuries & Fatalities: None
Description: On landing struck two large birds


Date & Time: 04/26/2009 23:17
Location: Newark, NJ
Aircraft Type: Boeing 757-33N Registration: N77867
Operator: Continental Airlines Flight: 348
Phase: Take-Off
Damage: Unknown
Injuries & Fatalities: None
Description: On takeoff reported a left engine fire indication and a blown tire. The plane returned and landed without incident at Newark Liberty International Airport.

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

Video – Emergency Landing on Road

Yesterday, an engine failure forced the pilot of a home-built plane to make an emergency landing on a road in Winter Haven (Florida, USA). Cameras inside the plane’s cockpit and another near the engine captured the moments of the landing. Luckily nobody was injured.

Raw Video by AP


Video – The pilot describes the tense moments after the plane’s engine failed

FAA Opens Bird Strike Database

The FAA will make its entire Bird Strike database available for public this Friday, April 24. Portions of the database have been publicly available since the information was first collected in 1990, but the public will now be able to access all of the database’s fields.

The FAA is also withdrawing a proposal to protect the data, after a 30-day comment period closed earlier this week. The FAA has determined that it can release the data without jeopardizing aviation safety.

Over the next months, the FAA will make significant improvements to the database to improve the search function and make it more user-friendly.

The FAA also plans to work with the aviation community to find ways to improve and strengthen bird strike reporting.

The database can be accessed through http://wildlife-mitigation.tc.faa.gov/

Photo – First Set of 747-8 Wings

Boeing has completed major assembly of the first set of wings for the 747-8 Freighter. The new 135 ft 3 in (41.2 m) wings incorporate the latest aerodynamic technologies to fly farther and more efficiently. The advanced airfoil provides improved overall performance and greater fuel capacity. In comparison, the old Boeing 747-400 measures a wingspan of 211 ft 5 in (64.9 m).

Photo

First Set of Boeing 747-8 Wings

The first 747-8 freighter is due to be delivered in late 2010, with the passenger model currently scheduled for 2011.

Photo: Boeing

Swiss Receives Its First A330-300

Zurich based Swiss International Air Lines has received its first new A330-300. The aircraft is the first of nine A330-300s ordered in September 2007 to expand the Swiss’ medium to long haul network.

Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 772B EP engines, the carrier’s first A330-300 is fitted in an all-new, comfortable three-class layout with a total of 236 seats (183 seats in Economy, 45 in Business Class and 8 in First Class).

Swiss International Air Lines Airbus A330-300

“We are more than pleased to introduce the eco-efficient A330-300 into our fleet. Its true wide body cabin combined with our all-new, high-class product increases passenger appeal, comfort and style, while its outstanding performance strengthens our competitiveness and reduces the environmental impact at the same time,” said Christoph Franz, CEO of Swiss.

By adding A330-300s to its Airbus fleet, Swiss will fully benefit from the advantages of the unique Airbus commonality, allowing to use the same pool of pilots, cabin crews and maintenance engineers. This gives Swiss more operational flexibility and will result in significant cost savings.

“We are proud to see Swiss expanding their services with the unrivalled A330 aircraft. Through state of the art technology and outstanding economics, the A330 is a ‘first class’ aircraft for a ‘first class’ airline. Swiss and Airbus make a perfect fit,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers.

Source: Airbus
Photo: Airbus

Flybe Receives Its 50th Bombardier Q400

Bombardier Aerospace announced today that U.K. airline Flybe has taken delivery of its 50th Bombardier Q400 turboprop airliner. The aircraft is equipped with the 1000th installation of Ultra Electronics’ Active Noise Control (ANC) system which is called the Active Noise and Vibration Suppression (ANVS) system on Q400 and other Bombardier Q-Series aircraft. Since the introduction of the ANVS system to Bombardier’s Dash 8 aircraft in 1996, the aircraft have been known as Q-Series airliners, signaling a new era in turboprop passenger comfort. The “Q” means quiet.

Flybe Bombardier Q400

Flybe, previously known as Jersey European, placed an initial order for four Q400 airliners in March 1999. Subsequent orders were announced in 2003, 2005 and 2007, confirming Flybe as the largest operator of the aircraft type. Flybe which operates 190 routes in 13 countries, carried 7.5 million passengers in 2008 and is now the largest regional airline in Europe.

“The Bombardier Q400 airliner has been the dominant factor in our growth and success,” said Jim French, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Flybe. “It has excellent operating economics, amazing performance, and the ANVS system contributes significantly to its outstanding passenger comfort.”

“Flybe operates the largest fleet of the world’s most technologically advanced turboprop,” said Gary R. Scott, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The Q400 airliner is optimized for short-haul service and Flybe’s successful experience with our high-speed turboprop’s capabilities in European markets has set a standard which other airlines around the world can follow.”

Firm orders for the Q400 airliner have reached 347 aircraft, with 233 having been delivered as of January 31, 2009.

Source: Bombardier
Photo: Bombardier

Boeing Delivers 6000th 737

On Thursday April 16, Boeing celebrated a special program milestone with the delivery of the 6,000th 737. The Boeing 737-800 (Registration LN-NOL) was delivered to International Lease Finance Corp (ILFC) which will lease the 737 to Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA. The airplane’s tail features a special decal denoting this milestone.

6000th Boeing 737 - Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA (ILFC)
6000th Boeing 737 - Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA (LN-NOL)

Norwegian Air Shuttle is the largest low-fare airline company in Scandinavia and has a route portfolio that stretches across Europe into North Africa and the Middle East. Norwegian has 39 737s in its fleet and an additional 42 on firm order with Boeing.

Boeing remains focused on continuous enhancement of the Next-Generation 737 family to ensure the airplane provides market-leading operational, economic and environmental performance to airlines and lessors around the world.
“It is exciting to deliver our 6,000th 737 to ILFC and Norwegian Air Shuttle, and we thank them for being among the hundreds of airlines, operators and leasing companies who have made the 737 the world’s most popular jet airliner,” said Mark Jenkins, vice president and general manager, 737 Airplane Programs. “Thousands of employees have supported the many 737 variations Boeing has introduced, including today’s all-new Next-Generation 737 family which is used in private, government and commercial service.”

Source: Boeing
Photos: Boeing

Embraer Launches KC-390 Program

Yesterday, Embraer signed a contract with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) for the KC-390 military transport aircraft program.

The existence of a study regarding this military transport aircraft was presented two years ago, at LAAD 2007. The jet will have a cargo bay equipped with an aft ramp, to transport a wide variety of types of cargo, including armored vehicles, and will be outfitted with the most modern systems for handling and launching cargos.

Embraer KC-390 Military Transport Jet

The new jet can be refueled in flight and can be used for in-flight or on-ground refueling of other aircraft. The cargo bay will allow configurations for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions. The technical advances of the KC-390 include fly-by-wire technology and the capability for operating on short and rustic runways.

Source: Embraer
Image: Embraer

Photo – Part of New US Airways Livery Spotted

One of my Flickr friends spotted some unusual tail design at Toulouse Blagnac. An Airbus A330-200, to be the first A330-200 for US Airways (N279AY), is sitting there at the ramp, wearing a never seen color scheme on its tail.
Could this be part of a new US Airways livery? Or is it just a one-time special livery to celebrate their new A332?

Airbus A330-200 - New US Airways Livery - Special Design

Photo by a380spotter

Photos – Cockpit Fire Damage ASA Bombardier CRJ-200

Currently these pictures of a damaged CRJ-200 are making the rounds on the Internet. Unlike said in many forums and blogs, this damage was NOT caused by a lightning strike! Instead it was simply caused by a cockpit fire, probably due to an overheated electrical power relay.

Preliminary NTSB report:
ASA Airlines flight 5533, a Bombardier CRJ-200 – registration: N830AS, experienced a cockpit fire on the ground shortly after external power was applied to the airplane in preparation for flight. The captain and one flight attendant evacuated the airplane via an airstair without injuries. They were the only individuals on the airplane at the time. The fire department extinguished the fire after it had burned an approximate 18 inch hole through the left upper cockpit crown skin. The flight was to be flown from Tallahassee Regional Airport (TLH), Tallahassee, Florida, to Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Atlanta, Georgia.

ASA Airlines Bombardier CRJ-200 Cockpit Fire Damage
N830AS Bombardier CRJ-200 Cockpit Hole
ASA flight 5533 Cockpit Fire Damage

Photos: Unknown