Aviation

US Navy recovers F/A-18E fighter from Mediterranean Sea

he USS Harry S. Truman’s F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft, belonging to Carrier Air Wing, blew overboard on July 8, 2022, as a result of unexpectedly severe weather in the Mediterranean Sea.

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The USS Harry S. Truman’s F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft, belonging to Carrier Air Wing, blew overboard on July 8, 2022, as a result of unexpectedly severe weather in the Mediterranean Sea. The aircraft was successfully recovered by the US Navy.

An expedition from Task Force (CTF) 68, the Harry S. Truman, Naval Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic, and the U.S. Sixth Fleet aboard the multipurpose construction vessel (MPV) Everest was tasked with recovering the aircraft from a depth of roughly 9,500 feet.

A CURV-21 remotely operated vehicle was used to rescue the aircraft by fastening specialised rigging and lift lines to it. The aero plane was raised to the surface and hoisted onto Everest using a lifting hook that was fastened to the gear.

Within 27 days of the disaster, we were able to perform safe recovery operations thanks to the united team’s quick response, which included SUPSALV and Phoenix International personnel, according to salvage officer Lt. Cmdr. Miguel Lewis of the U.S. Sixth Fleet. “To reach the timeline, our task-specific crew worked effectively and safely. The fact that the search and retrieval took less than 24 hours is a real credit to the team’s commitment and competence.

The recovery attempts show off the U.S. Navy’s capacity to carry out international deep-water search and recovery operations. The delivery of the aircraft was made to a military facility nearby from where it will be flown to the United States.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.