Today a Sudan Airways Boeing 707-300 cargo plane crashed shortly after take-off from Sharjah Airport (SHJ/OMSJ), United Arab Emirates. The Boeing was leased from AZZA Transport and operated as flight SUD2241, bound for Khartoum (KRT/HSSS), Sudan.
The plane crashed near a road, broke up and burned. No one of the 6 crew on board survived.
Videos
News story & photos at http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/emergencies/six-dead-after-…
Boeing recently delivered a 777-300ER (Extended Range) to Singapore-based leasing company BOC Aviation and its customer, Cathay Pacific Airways. The airplane is painted in a special oneworld livery to highlight the commitment of Cathay Pacific, as a member airline, to the alliance’s 10th anniversary.
The airplane (B-KPL) is the 12th Boeing 777-300ER for Cathay Pacific and brings the airline’s 777 fleet to 29 airplanes, which includes 12 777-300s and five 777-200s. The airline also operates 22 Boeing 747-400 passenger airplanes.
The oneworld alliance has 10 member airlines and 17 affiliate airlines, serving 134 countries and 673 destinations, with 8,400 daily departures. Full oneworld alliance members are American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Finnair, Iberia, LAN, Japan Airlines, Malév, Royal Jordanian.
Source: Boeing
Photo: Boeing
In preparation for its Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E), Northrop Grumman’s first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye test aircraft, known as Delta One, has successfully completed its first land-based catapult launch tests. Both E-2D System Development and Demonstration (SDD) aircraft, Delta One and Delta Two, are currently undergoing shore-based carrier suitability testing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., conducted by the U.S. Navy’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 20 (VX-20).
Prior to joining the carrier fleet, all naval aviation aircraft undergo carrier suitability testing. The bulk of this testing involves catapult and arrested landing structural tests, as well as the interoperability between the aircraft and the carrier.
Introduced in 2007, and built on the E-2’s strong legacy of providing world-class airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) capability for more than 45 years, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the sixth generation of the E-2. While its external appearance is similar to the E-2C, the internal systems of the Advanced Hawkeye have been completely redesigned and the capabilities vastly expanded. With its newly developed, more powerful AN/APY-9 Electronic Scan Array (ESA) radar, the E-2D will provide the warfighter with the expanded battlespace and situational awareness required for today’s and tomorrow’s missions.
Under a $408 million contract awarded in July 2007, Northrop Grumman is producing three E-2D pilot production aircraft which are on-track for delivery to the U.S. Navy in 2010. Following the successful completion of a Milestone C review, a $432 million contract, awarded in June, kicked off Low-Rate Initial Production. The Navy’s Program of Record is for 75 total E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft.
Source: Northrop Grumman
Photo: Northrop Grumman
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today proposed fines against US Airways and United Airlines because of violating maintenance procedures and operating airplanes in unsafe conditions.
US Airways is fined a $5.4 million civil penalty for allegedly operating eight aircraft on a total of 1,647 flights from October 2008 to January 2009 while not in compliance with certain Airworthiness Directives (ADs) or the airline’s maintenance program. ADs are rules issued by the FAA when an unsafe condition exists on a type of aircraft, and additional maintenance is required to remedy the problem.
The FAA found the following issues:
The FAA found the following problems with maintenance practices:
United Airlines was fined a $3.8 million civil penalty for allegedly operating one of its Boeing 737 aircraft on more than 200 flights after the carrier had violated its own maintenance procedures on one of the plane’s engines.
On April 28, 2008, a United 737 returned to Denver after shutting down an engine due to low oil pressure indications. During teardown of the engine a week later, United mechanics found that two shop towels, instead of required protective caps, had been used to cover openings in the oil sump area when maintenance was done in December 2007. As a result of United’s failure to follow its maintenance procedures, between February 10 and April 28, 2008 it flew the aircraft on more than 200 revenue flights when it was not in an airworthy condition.
United’s maintenance procedures specifically require use of protective caps or covers on all components that could be adversely affected by entry of foreign materials.
Both airlines have 30 days to respond to the FAA.
Source: FAA
There’s a great video on youtube, featuring the entire US Navy Blue Angels performance at 2009 MCAS Miramar Airshow (Miramar, California) – over 1 hour video in HD quality!
YouTube page | Website of author (he’s selling DVDs too)
Boeing today announced that the AH-6i light attack/reconnaissance helicopter successfully completed its first flight on Sept. 16, seven months after the company started work on the prototype aircraft.
During the 36-minute flight at the Boeing Rotorcraft Systems facility in Mesa, Ariz., the helicopter demonstrated its flight characteristics and several handling maneuvers.
Speaking today at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition, Al Winn, Boeing vice president of Apache Programs, said that Boeing experimental test pilots have subsequently flown the helicopter over the Arizona desert on multiple occasions as they test the platform’s capabilities.
The AH-6i program, launched by Boeing at the 2008 AUSA meeting, is intended for international customers. The AH-6i features flexible mission configuration, an integrated digital cockpit, combat-proven design, the highest payload in its class, an integrated and qualified weapons system, and a communications package that enables connectivity with other aircraft and ground stations.
The AH-6 is based on the civilian MD 530F.
Boeing will produce the AH-6i at its facility in Mesa and is responding to inquiries from potential customers around the world.
Source: Boeing
Photo: Boeing
Malaysia Airlines Boeing 737-400 9M-MMR sustained substantial damage as the left main gear collapsed at the gate at Kuching (KCH), Malaysia. The wing was punctured by the undercarriage leg and the left engine contacted the ground.
Source: aviation-safety.net
Photo: miricommunity.net user “avantgarde”
This coming weekend, the Red Bull Air Race 2009 season finale will take place in Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona is expected to be one of the most challenging races so far this year. With the track located on an open coastline, nature will play a role in the outcome. Sudden shifts in wind direction and ocean swells which could cause the Air Gates anchored to floating barges to rise and fall slightly will require the pilots to be extra vigilant in order to avoid costly time penalties.
Red Bull Air Race 2009 Barcelona Preview Video
An estimated 1 million watched the 2006 Red Bull Air Race in Barcelona, the Catalan capital widely regarded as one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. Spectators will be able to view this year’s race from the beaches along the Front Maritim when Qualifying takes off on Saturday 3 October at 13:00 local time followed by Race Day on Sunday 4 October starting at 13:00.
Britain’s Paul Bonhomme will try to clinch his first-ever title after seeing the crown slip from his grasp at the very end of both the 2007 and 2008 seasons. But Bonhomme will be feeling intense pressure from defending champion Hannes Arch of Austria, who is just four points behind.
This event will be streamed live on Sunday, 4th October at 15.20 CET (until 17.35 CET, including prize giving ceremony).
You can watch the live stream on the official Red Bull Air Race website or just here on this blog!
Visit http://www.redbullairrace.com for more details
Date: 09/29/2009 21:58
Location: New York LaGuardia, NY
Aircraft Type: McDonnell Douglas MD-88 Registration: Unknown
Operator: Delta Air Lines Flight: DAL1393
Phase: Landing
Level of Damage: Unknown
Injuries & Fatalities: None
Description: On final to runway, struck a bird causing damage to the nose cone. The a/c landed without incident.
Source: FAA
Correctness of this posting is not guaranteed & completeness not intended. This posting is just for informational purpose.
Last week Embraer delivered the first EMBRAER 195 to Lufthansa. The aircraft will be operated by Lufthansa CityLine, the wholly owned regional partner of the German carrier and one of the five partners in the Lufthansa Regional family.
“It’s a great honor to see our E-Jets sporting the colors of such a renowned airline as Lufthansa,†said Mauro Kern, Embraer Executive Vice President, Airline Market. “We´re proud to have been selected as the backbone for the renewal of the Lufthansa regional fleet, and our satisfaction is even greater, because we have recently achieved the outstanding milestone of 600 E-Jets operating with 49 airlines in 34 countries.â€
Lufthansa’s E195 is configured for 116 passengers in a dual-class layout, with a moveable divider. Based at the carrier’s hub in Munich, the E-Jets will develop new routes and expand Lufthansa’s regional outreach, offering passengers more comfort and safety, without the undesirable middle seat.
With a total of 20 E-Jets for CityLine and ten already delivered to Air Dolomiti and Augsburg Airways, Lufthansa will continue its strive to further upgrade its fleet.
Source: Embraer
Photo: Embraer
