Aviation

Close Call at Heathrow: BA Flight Narrowly Escapes Drone Collision

A British Airways flight carrying 200 passengers narrowly avoided disaster when two illegally flown drones came dangerously close to colliding with the aircraft.

The incident occurred on July 28 as the Airbus A321 was descending into Heathrow Airport at an altitude of just 800 feet. As reported by Dailymail.

A Close Call at High Speed

The flight, traveling from Rome, was nearing its final approach at 140 knots when the first officer spotted the drones. Alerting the captain, both pilots identified the objects as a severe threat. Remarkably, the aircraft passed just 50 feet beneath the drones, avoiding what could have been a catastrophic collision.

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The UK Airprox Board (UKAB), which investigates near-miss incidents, revealed in its report that the drones were operating well above the UK’s legal altitude limit of 400 feet for unmanned aerial devices.

Additionally, they were flying outside the 5km restriction zone established around all UK airport runways, further violating drone safety regulations.

The black propellers of the drones were clearly visible to both pilots, who assessed that there was a serious risk of impact.

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The report concluded that the altitude and description provided by the crew confirmed the objects were drones and noted that “providence had played a major part in the incident,” with a definite risk of collision present.

A Wake-Up Call for Safety

A british airways spokesperson emphasized the airline’s commitment to safety, stating, “We take such matters extremely seriously, and our pilots report incidents so that the authorities can investigate and take appropriate action.”

This alarming incident underscores the ongoing risks posed by drones operating illegally near airports. While the flight landed safely at Heathrow without harm to passengers or crew, the event serves as a critical reminder of the importance of adhering to drone regulations to ensure airspace safety.

As drone technology becomes increasingly accessible, stricter enforcement and awareness campaigns are necessary to prevent future incidents.

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.