Aviation

Air Traffic Controller suspended over Facebook post.

AN Air Traffic Controller is facing mental and physical anguish after being suspended without pay over a Facebook conversation among colleagues “about matters at work”.
This according to Christopher Joefield, the First Vice President of the Public Services Association (PSA) who called a press conference in Port of Spain on Wednesday.
Joefield said the PSA had decided to file high court action against the Civil Aviation Authority of Trinidad and Tobago because of the alleged harassment, intimidation and victimisation of an air traffic controller whose name was given.
Joefield explained that the employee was a member of a secret Facebook group and he and his friends were engaging in a conversation about matters of work. Joefield said this information came to the attention of management of the Civil Aviation Authority.
Joefield said the CAA decided to take disciplinary action against the worker but what would have been discussed in that group…ought not to have led to any Tribunal.
He added “further, the procedural fairness showed a lot of bias on the part of the Civil Aviation Authority.”
Joefield criticized the CAA for hiring a Senior Counsel in the matter as an example of “management’s will to spare no expense to abuse their employees.”
“The employee was suspended for two weeks without pay.
Joefield said this led to stress on the part of the employee and as a result he had to undergo a number medical tests ” to ensure that his health is not compromised by the actions of his employer”.
The Express contacted the CAA in an attempt to get its side of the story and a message was left with the Authority’s Director General’s voicemail.

Courtesy : Daily express

Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

American Airlines Is Looking for Flight Attendants: Apply Now

The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

Close Call at Heathrow: BA Flight Narrowly Escapes Drone Collision

China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.