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End of an Era: Qantas Farewells Boeing 717 And Welcomes New Aircraft

End of an Era: Qantas Farewells Boeing 717 And Welcomes New Aircraft

A Boeing 717 airplane operated by Qantas, the first of its kind to be registered and operated in Australia, will depart, signaling the end of an era. The departing 717 (registration VH-NXI) holds a special place in the Qantas Group’s modern history, having operated Jetstar’s first flight between Melbourne and Launceston on the day the airline started flying in May 2004.

The aircraft has also flown on regional and domestic routes for QantasLink for the past 15 years. All up, it has completed more than 29,000 flights and safely carried more than 1.6 million customers for both Qantas and Jetstar over two decades.

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All of QantasLink’s 20 Boeing 717s will be gradually replaced by 29 fuel-efficient Airbus A220 aircraft as part of the “Project Winton” fleet renewal program. The first A220 aircraft is due to arrive later this year and the first of 20 A321XLRs will arrive in late 2024.

QANTAS FAREWELLS “QUEEN OF THE SKIES”(Opens in a new browser tab)

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The departing 717 was flanked at Sydney Airport today by two new arrivals in the fleet – a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and a Jetstar A321neo LR. The next-generation aircraft are part of a significant investment in the fleet renewal that will see the Group take delivery of a new aircraft every three weeks on average for the next few years. The incoming aircraft will help Qantas and Jetstar restore capacity and expand their network while lowering emissions and improving efficiency.

Qantas’ latest Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Billabong, started flying on the airline’s international network this month, with another two Dreamliners to be delivered over the next three weeks. These additional aircraft enabled the resumption of Sydney-San Francisco flights and will support the launch of the Sydney to New York via Auckland route next month. This will bring Qantas’ 787-9 fleet to 14.

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Jetstar Unwraps Its New A321LR Before Christmas(Opens in a new browser tab)

Jetstar also this month welcomed its seventh Airbus A321neo LR aircraft, which is 50 percent quieter than the older A321s they replace and burn up to 20 percent less fuel. They are operating domestic services and flying between Australia and Bali. The airline will receive another 11 A321neo LR aircraft by the end of 2024.

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Through a combination of new arrivals and standby aircraft returning to service, the Qantas Group has returned to around 100 percent of pre-COVID domestic flying levels and expects to restore 100 percent of international flying by March 2024.

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Mid-Flight Chaos: Eva Air Flight Attendants Praised for Halting Brawl Over Seat Dispute

Mid-Flight Chaos: Eva Air Flight Attendants Praised for Halting Brawl Over Seat Dispute

In a remarkable display of bravery and quick thinking, three female flight attendants from Eva Air have been lauded as heroes after diffusing a tense altercation between two male passengers aboard a flight from Taiwan to San Francisco.

The incident unfolded onboard EVA Air flight BR8 on May 7, just hours into the 11½-hour journey from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to San Francisco International Airport.

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Reports suggest that the confrontation erupted over a seat dispute when one passenger sought to switch seats due to concerns over a neighbor’s coughing. In the ensuing chaos, the passenger who attempted to claim the seat was met with resistance from its original occupant, leading to a physical altercation.

Witnesses on the flight described a scene of escalating tension as one passenger attempted to strike the other, prompting the swift intervention of the cabin crew. Video footage shared on social media captured the moment when the flight attendants courageously stepped in to separate the brawling passengers, with one attendant holding back the assailant while others intervened to prevent further escalation.

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Passenger Alex Pierce, who captured the incident on video, expressed his concern for the safety of the flight attendants amidst the chaos. Despite the volatile situation, the Eva Air crew remained composed and acted decisively to restore order on the aircraft.

Following the intervention of the flight attendants, the two unruly passengers were handed over to US law enforcement upon the flight’s arrival in California. Eva Air reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards disruptive behavior and commended the crew for their exemplary response to the incident.

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Why do airplane tires cause smoke at touchdown?

Why do airplane tires cause smoke at touchdown?

When an aircraft touches down during landing, the appearance of smoke is a common sight. This occurrence arises from a combination of factors related to the landing procedure and the characteristics of the tires themselves.

As the aircraft descends and prepares for touchdown, the tires are stationary. Upon contact with the ground, they rapidly accelerate from a standstill to an average speed of 240 to 260 km/h. This sudden burst of motion creates friction between the tires and the runway surface, resulting in the emission of smoke.

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The smoke stems from the considerable heat generated by the friction between the rubber tires and the asphalt runway. This heat is sufficient to cause the rubber to almost vaporize, resembling the smoke produced when a bike tire skids against the road.

Several variables influence the intensity and occurrence of smoke during landings. The frequency of landings a tire experiences within a specific timeframe, such as within 24 hours, impacts its level of wear and tear. Airlines rigorously inspect tire conditions before each flight, promptly replacing them if any damage or signs of deterioration are detected to uphold safety standards.

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The design and resilience of aircraft tires are influenced by the type of aircraft and its operational demands. For example, the tires used on an Airbus A330-200 differ in composition and load capacity compared to those designed for conventional automobiles. Furthermore, environmental factors such as runway temperatures and altitude variations contribute to tire performance.

Aircraft tires are meticulously engineered to endure the demanding conditions of takeoff and landing. They incorporate multiple layers of nylon for reinforcement and a wire core to prevent slippage on the rim. Moreover, these tires are filled with nitrogen, offering superior properties compared to conventional compressed air for aviation purposes.

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FedEx B767 Freighter Aircraft Lands in Istanbul Without Nose Gear

A FedEx cargo Boeing 767-300F, bearing registration N110FE, faced a tense situation as it embarked on what should have been a routine journey from Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport to Istanbul.

However, mid-flight, the pilots discovered a malfunction in the front landing gear, setting off a chain of events that culminated in a dramatic emergency landing at Istanbul Airport on 8th May.

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According to reports from the state-run Anadolu Agency, the crew onboard Flight FX6238 promptly alerted authorities at Istanbul Airport upon realizing the landing gear failure. With nerves of steel, they maneuvered the aircraft under the guidance of the control tower, navigating the challenge of landing without the crucial support of the front landing gear.

As the FedEx plane descended toward the runway, onlookers, and social media users witnessed a nerve-wracking sight: the aircraft relying solely on its back landing gear, gently touching its nose to the tarmac in a controlled landing.

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In response to the emergency, airport rescue and fire fighting teams sprang into action, ready to respond to any potential disaster. Fortunately, their services were not required as the skilled piloting and swift coordination ensured the safety of all onboard. Despite the intensity of the situation, there were no reported injuries among the passengers or crew.

The incident prompted the temporary closure of runway 16R at Istanbul Airport, but the quick action of authorities ensured that flight operations continued smoothly on other runways. Istanbul Governor Davut Gul reassured the public of the airport’s robust infrastructure and emergency response capabilities, emphasizing that such incidents are managed effectively to minimize disruptions.

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Still, questions concerning Boeing aircraft quality control have been raised once again in light of the emergency landing. This event adds to the ongoing criticism of Boeing’s safety measures in light of the recent controversies concerning the company’s manufacturing operations.

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