Aerospace

How a hero pilot averted disaster Collision in mid-air

Following reports that the state carrier’s plane narrowly avoided a mid-air collision with a British Airways flight over Turkey, putting the lives of nearly 500 passengers in danger, SriLankan Airlines praised its pilots for safely commandeering a flight from London to Colombo. The airlines also praised the pilot’s talents, as well as the communication and surveillance systems, for averting a major disaster. It should be noted that flight UL 504 was flown by an Airbus A333.

The national carrier claimed on June 13 that “the pilots’ vigilance and the state-of-the-art communication and surveillance systems onboard the aircraft allowed safe passage for UL 504”.

Furthermore, SriLankan Airlines commends the pilots operating UL 504 for their prompt action, which secured the safety of all passengers, crew, and equipment onboard UL 504, the company stated in a statement.

After media sources indicated that UL 504, flying from London to Colombo, escaped the worst potential mid-air collision while in Turkish airspace, the correction was provided. According to accounts, the Airbus A333 aircraft carrying 275 passengers had crossed Turkish airspace after departing Heathrow on its way to Colombo. The Srilankan aeroplane had been instructed to rise to 35,000 feet from the current altitude of 33,000 feet.

The Srilankan jet noticed a British Airways flight with more than 250 people on board about 15 miles away, travelling at 35,000 feet, and contacted Ankara’s air traffic control.

Ethiopian Airlines Refutes the Wrong Reportings of the New York Times

Despite being cleared twice incorrectly by Ankara air traffic control, the Sri Lankan pilots refused to rise. Minutes later, air traffic control replied quickly, warning the Srilankan jet not to climb because a British Airways flight to Dubai was already at 35,000 feet.

If the UL pilot had climbed to the requested height, the UL flight would have collided with the British Airways jet, which was flying faster than the UL flight, according to the Daily Mirror newspaper.

The passengers and crew safely departed from the flight after landing at Bandaranaike International Airport here, and a report on the event was filed, according to the statement.

A 13-year-old Qantas Airbus A380 is being scrapped in Victorville.

Aerospace

When Ratan Tata was denied entry to the airfield at the Aero India show, he waited

During our visit to Aero India 2019, we had the unexpected opportunity to see Ratan Tata at the event, which was a thrilling moment for us. However, there was a surprising hiccup when the security staff didn’t allow him to enter due to a lack of a security pass.

Despite this, he remained calm and patiently waited for about 20 minutes until a member of the Tata team brought him the required pass, after which he calmly proceeded inside. It was a humbling sight, showcasing his composed demeanor even in such situations.

Ratan Tata ji is not only a renowned industrialist but also a trained pilot, holding a pilot’s license. In 2007, he became the first Indian civilian to fly the F-16 Falcon during the Aero India show in Bangalore—a proud moment for the nation.

His passion for aviation extended beyond flying, as he played a key role in shaping India’s aerospace industry. Under his leadership, Tata ventured into manufacturing and maintaining aerospace components while upholding its legacy of quality. Notably, Tata’s collaboration with Airbus to develop and manufacture the C295 aircraft is a testament to its growing influence in the sector.