Aviation

South Africa Shows Interest in Procuring Embraer C-390 Aircraft

South Africa is making significant strides in talks to potentially acquire Embraer’s C-390 Millennium, the Brazilian aerospace company announced on Wednesday. This update follows Embraer’s second showcase of the military cargo aircraft in South Africa, aiming to fulfill the strategic lift capability needs of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

In a statement released on September 25, coinciding with the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition at Waterkloof Air Force Base, Embraer emphasized the progress of South Africa’s “C-390 acquisition process.” The company expressed optimism about securing a deal, highlighting that the C-390 Millennium is “well suited to meet the needs of the SANDF, as well as other government authorities.”

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The South African National Defence Force has expressed notable interest in the C-390, having had the opportunity to evaluate the aircraft’s capabilities. An SANDF spokesperson acknowledged the wide range of features and advanced technology demonstrated by the aircraft, indicating that the country is advancing in the “necessary steps for the selection of the much-needed strategic lift capability.”

Currently, the South African Air Force operates five C-130BZ Hercules transport aircraft through the 28 Squadron, based at Waterkloof Air Force Base. However, the C-390 Millennium, with its 26-ton payload capacity, presents a strong candidate to replace the aging C-130 fleet.

If successful, this purchase would mark embraer first C-390 customer in Africa. The aircraft is already in service with the air forces of Brazil, Hungary, and Portugal and is on order for Austria, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and South Korea, indicating growing global confidence in the C-390 Millennium’s capabilities.

Aviation

Lost Tool Found in Qantas A380 After 34 Flights

An Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation recently revealed that a Qantas A380 operated 34 flights with a 1.25-meter nylon tool lodged in one of its engines.

This turning tool, used during borescope inspections to rotate the intermediate-pressure compressor, was left behind during scheduled maintenance at Los Angeles on December 6, 2023. It remained inside the engine until it was discovered by maintenance staff during a subsequent check at Los Angeles on January 1, 2024.

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The ATSB report highlights two critical lapses. First, maintenance engineers failed to notice the tool during final checks for foreign objects after the borescope inspection. Second, the lost tool procedure was not activated when the tool was identified as missing.

The certifying engineer ultimately cleared the aircraft for service without accounting for the misplaced tool. During the time qantas films the tool was inside, the A380 completed 34 flight cycles, accumulating nearly 294 hours without any noticeable effect on engine performance.

Although the tool was deformed by high-energy airflow within the engine, there was no reported damage to the engine itself. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell commented.

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“This incident underscores the importance of following established maintenance protocols. Engineers missed the tool during foreign object checks, and the required lost tool procedure wasn’t started after realizing the tool was missing.”

Following the investigation, the airline issued a safety directive, urging all engineering and tool storage teams to adhere strictly to these protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.

A qantas spokesperson stated, “While the tool didn’t impact engine performance, we take this incident very seriously. It is critical to follow the correct lost tool procedures.”