Airlines
American Airlines Boeing 787 suffered a lightning strike during flight
Lightning strikes can disrupt airline operations, resulting in costly delays and service disruptions. Airplane strikes are rather common, but they rarely have a significant impact on the airplane’s continued safe operation. Lightning protection is employed on Boeing flights to avoid delays and interruptions, as well as to lessen the severity of a lightning strike. Maintenance workers must be familiar with lightning protection measures, correct inspection, and repair procedures to maximise the effectiveness of repairs to lightning damage.
The geographical area where the aircraft operates and how frequently the aircraft passes through takeoff and landing altitudes when lightning activity is most common, are two factors that have an impact on the frequency of lightning strikes that an airplane experiences.
During flight, lightning struck an American Airlines airplane. A picture of the American Airlines Dreamliner’s upper fuselage was posted by Aviation Maintenance.
American Airlines Boeing 787 (unknown ID) experienced extensive damage to its composite fuselage crown when it was hit by lightning during flight. @goodbadugly_ap pic.twitter.com/Ye3EpBl2Ab
— JACDEC (@JacdecNew) February 24, 2023
When the Boeing 787 was struck by lightning while in flight, the composite fuselage crown sustained significant damage. Summer is thunderstorm season, and flying aircraft may occasionally be struck by lightning. A lightning strike on an airplane, however, is not harmful because airplanes are made to resist lightning strikes.
The highest probability for lightning attachment to an airplane is the outer extremities, such as the wing tip, nose, or rudder. Lightning strikes occur most often during the climb and descent phases of flight at an altitude of 5,000 to 15,000 feet (1,524 to 4,572 meters). The probability of a lightning strike decreases significantly above 20,000 feet (6,096 meters).
LIGHTNING PROTECTION
The majority of legacy airplanes’ external parts are made of metal and are thick enough to withstand a lightning strike. This metal assemblage serves as their primary defense. The thickness of the metal surface is sufficient to shield the interior of the plane from a lightning strike. The metal skin also prevents electromagnetic energy from entering the airplane’s electrical wiring. While the metal skin does not prevent all electromagnetic radiation from entering the electrical wire, it does keep it at a manageable level.
Boeing tries to design and test its commercial airplanes for lightning-strike protection by understanding nature and the impacts of lightning strikes in order to ensure protection is supplied throughout their service lives. Important techniques for reducing lightning strike damage include material selection, finish selection, installation, and application of protective measures.
LIGHTNING-STRIKE STRUCTURAL INSPECTION PROCEDURES
If lightning strikes an aeroplane, a lightning-strike conditional inspection is required to determine the lightning-strike entrance and exit sites. When inspecting the locations of entry and exit, maintenance professionals should carefully check the structure to find all of the damage that has happened.
Prior to returning to service, a conditional inspection is required to determine any structural or system damage. The structure may have burn holes, which can cause pressure loss or cracks. Prior to flight, the crucial system components, wire bundles, and bonding straps must be certified as airworthy. For these reasons, Boeing recommended that a comprehensive lightning-strike conditional examination be completed prior to the next trip in order to keep the plane airworthy.
Airlines
Russia has started branding the SJ-100 short-haul aircraft
Russia has recently initiated a branding campaign for the SJ-100 short-haul aircraft, which has been developed by Yakovlev PJSC, a notable Russian aerospace company. The primary focus of this branding effort is to highlight and emphasize the aircraft’s use of 100% Russian domestic components.
After being barred from Western nations, Russia intends to debut its smaller aircraft, the SJ-100, in a significant way on the global market. The SJ-100 will face off against the Boeing 737-7, Embraer E195, and Airbus A220. For countries like Indonesia, China, India, Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran, and those that are allies of Russia, the SJ-100 is a potential aircraft for operation.
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This branding effort is remarkable for various reasons. First and foremost, it demonstrates Russia’s dedication to showcase its domestic aerospace capabilities. Russia’s choice to highlight the use of only 100% Russian components in the branding of the SJ-100 short-haul aircraft is of the greatest strategic significance. In addition to showcasing Russia’s aerospace capabilities, this branding campaign also makes a strong impression on potential customers from other countries.
From an economic standpoint, Russia’s focus on using domestic components aligns with the global trend towards supply chain resilience and reduced reliance on foreign suppliers. The SJ-100’s incorporation of Russian-made components not only assures international buyers of its quality and performance but also presents an opportunity for economic development in their own countries. This can lead to the creation of jobs, the growth of local industries, and the transfer of technology and expertise.
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Recently, The Yakovlev JSC-built SJ-100 Superjet made history by successfully completing its first flight in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Russia. The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade acknowledged this significant development, adding that the test flight verified the plane’s overall stability, steady functioning, and stable handling.
The ability to implement and install their own design solutions and technologies, such as avionics, gear, auxiliary power units, electric power supply systems, air conditioning, fire prevention, and other systems, was demonstrated by Russian developers and producers.
The SJ-100 is a modern regional jet designed to offer exceptional performance and comfort for both passengers and operators. With a length of approximately 29 meters and a wingspan of around 27 meters, the spacious and comfortable cabin is designed to enhance the passenger experience. with modern amenities and ergonomic seating arrangements. During its first flight climbed to heights of up to 3000 metres and reached speeds of 343 kilometres per hour.
Airlines
Akasa Air vs. Pilots: Delhi High Court Upholds DGCA’s Authority to Act in Case of Contractual Breaches
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is authorized to take action against pilots who violate civil aviation rules (CAR), the Delhi High Court ruled on Wednesday.
Akasa Air initiated legal action against pilots who had quit their jobs without giving the required notice by their contracts. In response to a request from the startup airline, which claimed it was in a crisis as a result of the sudden and abrupt resignation of 43 pilots who left the airline without providing the required notice period, the civil aviation regulator submitted written responses.
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However, the Court ruled that it is now unable to give any explicit instructions to the DGCA and MCA regarding how to respond to a future representation that Akasa might make against defaulting pilots.
The court made it clear that there are no limitations on the DGCA’s power to take action in situations of pilot noncompliance in an interim judgment that offers relief to Akasa Air. The airline firm maintained that it is merely requesting a directive to the DGCA to decide their (Akasa’s) claims against pilots who may depart the airline in the future without serving the notice period, not that it is pressing for any action against the pilots who have already quit.
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The DGCA had stated that it lacked the power or authority to intervene in any employment contract and therefore was unable to affect the employment contract between the pilots and Akasa Air.
The aviation authority said that if Akasa Air doesn’t have enough pilots to continue operating flights, it would be in the interests of all parties if it complies with the requirement to keep a limited schedule.
Airlines
Global Airlines to contract Hi Fly to accelerate A380 Entry into Service
- Under the agreement, Global Airlines will benefit from Hi Fly’s expertise to accelerate the Entry into Service (EIS) programme for the airline’s new fleet.
- Hi Fly, based in Lisbon, has significant A380 technical and operating experience.
- First Global aircraft expected to fly to Europe in the months ahead, with a new registration of 9H-GLOBL
In a significant operational move, Global Airlines and Hi Fly have inked a contract to collaborate on the development and maintenance of the four A380 aircraft the new airline has agreed to purchase.
Hi Fly, the first company to operate the A380 on the secondary market, will collaborate with Global as it gets ready to launch operations to help the new carrier realize its goal of giving passengers the best possible experience when flying commercially.
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The EIS and Return to Service (RTS) procedures for Global’s first aircraft, which are anticipated to start in the coming months, are the organisation’s immediate priorities. However, with an affinity for the aircraft and confidence in its long-term potential and popularity, both businesses will look at further possibilities to deepen their partnership.
Hi Fly holds authorization to operate worldwide and currently operates 35,000 flights per year for a base of 140 airlines and governments on a global basis.
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