Aviation

AirAsia debuts new Mirus Hawk slimline seats

AirAsia debuts new Mirus Hawk slimline seats

SEPANG, 30 March 2018 – AirAsia is proud to be the launch customer for the Mirus Hawk, a new slimline seat that combines aircraft cabin innovation with the best of racing engineering.

The high-performance economy class seat – made from carbon fibre, aluminium and genuine leather upholstery – is ergonomically optimised for comfort, passenger living space and style, and is engineered for enhanced durability and reliability.

AirAsia debuts new Mirus Hawk slimline seats

The new seat is also lighter, and is expected to help AirAsia reduce fuel consumption by more than 70,000 litres and lower CO2 emissions by 200 tonnes per aircraft per year, supporting the airline’s ongoing commitment to low air fares and sustainable business practices.

The Hawk also reinforces AirAsia’s innovation focus on innovation from the airport to the air. All Hawk seats are assembled at the state-of-the-art automotive-style production facility in Norfolk, UK by Mirus Aircraft Seating, which draws on Formula 1 engineering expertise and an automotive production mentality to redefine value in aircraft seating.

AirAsia Group CEO and AirAsia X Co-Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said, “Lots of great work has gone into the Hawk. Not only is this premium seat more comfortable and boasts more legroom but it also weighs less, which is good for our guests, our bottom line and the environment as well.

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.”