Aerospace
Heathrow Airport set a new record by seeing 40 years’ growth of passengers in just 4 months.
Heathrow Airport set a new record by seeing 40 years’ growth of passengers in just 4 months.
- A proof of the UK aviation industry’s revival was the over 6 million passengers that passed through Heathrow in June, bringing the total for the first half of the year to 25 million. The unprecedented increase in passenger volume over the past four months is comparable to what has occurred over the previous 40 years.
- We began hiring in November of last year in preparation of capacity recovery this summer, and by the end of July, we will have the same number of security personnel on staff as we did before the pandemic. To give travellers more room, we also reopened Terminal 4.
- Following the enormous reductions in resource across the whole aviation supply chain, swiftly building capacity is exceedingly difficult. Due to delays at other airports and airspace congestion around Europe, arrival punctuality is extremely poor, which has made it more difficult for the airport, airlines, ground handlers, and governmental organisations to meet resource requirements.
- Despite this, we have been able to give the vast majority of passengers a high level of service. Nevertheless, despite our best efforts, there have been times over the past few weeks when service levels have not been acceptable, with long lines, delays for passengers with limited mobility, bags not travelling with passengers, or arriving late. We want to apologise to any affected passengers for this.
- The DfT and CAA requested the aviation industry to reassess summer schedules in June. Part of their request included introducing a slot amnesty to encourage carriers to cancel flights without facing financial consequences. At Heathrow, providing passengers with a secure and dependable journey is our top concern. If the reviewed adjustments to airline schedules can assist in achieving that, we will carefully evaluate them.
- Many folks probably haven’t travelled recently. The best way for travellers to get ready for their trips is to arrive at Heathrow no earlier than three hours before their flights, put any liquids that are less than 100ml in a clear, resealable 1lt bag, and take out any bulky electronics before going through security.
- We are evaluating the CAA’s most recent analysis for the H7 regulatory period and will provide any comments as soon as possible.
According to Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye, “We saw exponential increase in passenger numbers last month as nearly six million individuals left the country – the equivalent of 40 years of growth in only four months. I’m quite happy of how our staff has risen to the demand of expansion while providing consistently top-notch service to the vast majority of customers. However, there have already been instances in recent years where demand surpasses airport, airline, and ground handler capacity.
We will evaluate the schedule adjustments that the airlines have provided in response to the government’s mandate to minimise customer disturbance this summer and will request that they take more action if necessary. Everyone who travels through Heathrow should feel assured that their trip will be secure and dependable.
Aerospace
Defence Ministry inks Rs 2,890 crore contract for upgrade of 25 Dornier aircraft
The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on March 15, 2024 for Mid Life Upgrade (MLU) of 25 Dornier Aircraft along with associated equipment for the Indian Navy at a cost of Rs.2,890 cr.
The MLU for Dornier Aircraft includes an upgrade to incorporate state-of-the-art Avionics Systems and Primary Role sensors. The upgrade would significantly enhance the operational capability of the Dornier aircraft of the Indian Navy to perform Primary Roles of Maritime Surveillance, Coastal Surveillance, Electronic Intelligence, and the development of Maritime Domain Awareness. In addition, this upgrade will also enable Indian Navy Dorniers to carry out Secondary Roles of Search and Rescue, Medical/Casualty Evacuation, and Communication Link.
The Indian-built Dornier is set to undergo aircraft upgrades for future operations. Currently utilized solely for defense purposes, it has now secured new operations under the Air India umbrella, expanding its usage to commercial aircraft as well. Being one of the most economical aircraft for any airline, it’s advantageous due to its Indian origin and suitability for short routes and rugged terrains such as mountains or seas. The D228 aircraft has also established itself as a benchmark for operations, requiring less maintenance compared to other aircraft
Mid Life Upgrade (MLU) of 25 Dornier Aircraft is likely to generate an employment of 1.8 Lakh Man- days during its execution span of 6.5 years. The indigenous upgrade entails supply of major systems and equipments from indigenous sources thus significantly contributing towards “Atmanirbharta” in Defence, in consonance with Make-in-India initiative of Government of India.
Aerospace
Boeing’s three New Crises Spark Concerns, Focuses on Resolving Quality Concerns
In a troubling turn of events for aviation giant Boeing, a series of incidents involving its aircraft have raised significant concerns and prompted urgent actions from both the company and airlines.
These new issues have put Boeing back in the news and made regulators and the public pay even more attention to what’s going on.
LATAM Boeing 787 cockpit seat
One of the most alarming incidents involves Boeing’s flagship 787 Dreamliner jets. Following a report linking an accidental cockpit seat movement to a sudden plunge experienced by a LATAM Airlines plane en route to New Zealand, Boeing swiftly responded by recommending airlines to inspect switches on pilots’ seats.
The company’s directive, issued on Friday, underscores the gravity of the situation, with safety considerations taking precedence. Boeing’s recommendation advises airlines to examine the motorized boeing 787 Dreamliner cockpit seats during maintenance routines and provides instructions on disabling seat-moving motors. This precautionary measure comes in the wake of an incident where 50 individuals were injured during a flight drop, believed to be caused by seat movement.
United Airlines Boeing 737
Moreover, another unsettling incident emerged involving a boeing 737 Oregon, United Airlines flight operated by a Boeing 737-800. Upon landing at Medford Airport in Oregon, a fuselage panel was discovered missing from the aircraft. Although the flight proceeded smoothly and landed as scheduled, the absence of the external panel raises significant safety questions.
United Airlines has pledged to conduct a thorough examination of the plane and address any necessary repairs before returning it to service. The incident adds to Boeing’s growing list of challenges, further amplifying concerns about the integrity and maintenance of its aircraft. The narrative surrounding these incidents evokes a sense of unease within the aviation industry and among the traveling public.
The revelation that a seat switch malfunction could potentially lead to a catastrophic event underscores the importance of rigorous safety protocols and oversight. Boeing’s response, coupled with United Airlines’ commitment to addressing the issue promptly, highlights the collaborative efforts necessary to ensure the safety and reliability of commercial air travel.
A statement from United stated that an external Boeing panel had been discovered missing from the aircraft after it had been parked at the gate. The statement also stated that United will be performing a “thorough examination of the plane and completing all the needed repairs before it returns to service.”
In addition to six crew members, United reported that the aircraft was carrying 139 passengers. At 10:20 a.m., according to the airline tracking website Flight Aware, the flight left San Francisco and arrived in Medford early, landing at 11:36 a.m.
John Barnett, aged 62, a Boeing whistleblower who bravely reported on the poor quality conditions at Boeing facilities, tragically passed away, reportedly due to suicide. However, a close family friend disputes this narrative, asserting that Barnett had expressed concerns about his safety and had foreseen his demise. This unsettling development has left Barnett’s family and friends deeply troubled, leading to suspicions regarding the circumstances of his death. These suspicions have prompted a response from Boeing, as questions arise about the company’s responsibility and potential involvement in Barnett’s passing.
Aerospace
Comac is set to fly to five Southeast Asian countries for a C919 and ARJ21 demonstration tour
Following the successful debut of the COMAC aircraft at the Singapore Airshow 2024, the company has secured new branding rights for its products in the Southeast Asian aviation market. According to sources, the airline is directing its aircraft displays to Malaysia.
A static display and demonstration flight featuring the China-manufactured commercial aircraft C919 and ARJ21 were held on Wednesday at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Malaysia’s Selangor state.
The event showcased the brand-new C919 and ARJ21 aircraft, both quietly competing in the narrow-body segment market and slightly challenging the Boeing 737 and A320 family aircraft. The ARJ is tailored for regional airports with shorter routes.
C919 and ARJ21’s five-country tour.
This event concluded the C919 and ARJ21’s five-country Southeast Asian demonstration flight tour, which included visits to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Indonesia.
COMAC is actively seeking an international market alongside China. Currently, the company has amassed over 1100 aircraft orders for the COMAC C919 aircraft.
Throughout the demonstration flights and static displays, the aircraft manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) conducted a series of product promotion activities targeting potential customers.
Furthermore, the company aims to expand its airline network in these countries by obtaining regular licenses from their respective national aerospace authorities.
The purpose of the tour was to evaluate the aircraft’s adaptability to various airports and routes in the five countries, assess the ground service equipment’s suitability, test special flight procedures’ feasibility, and highlight the economic viability of these routes. COMAC stated that demonstration flights would lay the groundwork for future market development in Southeast Asia.
ARJ21 can carry 97 seats and C919- 192 seats.
The ARJ21 regional aircraft is designed to accommodate 78-97 passengers with a flight range of 2,225-3,700 kilometers. Meanwhile, the C919 jetliner offers a layout for 158-192 seats and a range of 4,075-5,555 kilometers, as per the company’s specifications.
The C919 completed its maiden commercial flight on May 28, 2023. Since then, China Eastern Airlines, its inaugural customer, has received five C919 aircraft, operating round-trip flights on Shanghai-Beijing and Shanghai-Chengdu routes. COMAC reports that it has safely transported over 140,000 passengers to date.
Aerospace
First-Ever Crash Of Tejas Fighter Jet In Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer, Pilot Safe
Following the crash of the Tejas fighter jet, several questions have surfaced regarding its safety during operations. The aircraft had recently undergone an upgrade to its next version, the Mark 2 version of Tejas, and was anticipated to receive higher orders from the Indian Air Force (IAF). Additionally, India had cleared budget approval for the development of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Project, projected to be India’s first fifth-generation fighter jet aircraft. However, in the aftermath of this crash, the IAF has initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
A Tejas aircraft belonging to the Indian Air Force encountered a mishap during a training sortie in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, crashing within the vicinity of a student hostel compound. The incident, occurring around 2 pm, witnessed the safe ejection of the pilot, with no reported injuries on the ground.
This marks the first crash involving the indigenous jet since its maiden test flight over two decades ago in 2001. Notably, the Tejas, a lightweight combat aircraft, was integrated into the Indian Air Force fleet in 2016.
The plane descended onto the grounds near the Lakshmi Chand Sanwal Colony, adjacent to the student hostel in Jaisalmer. Promptly, the Air Force has initiated an inquiry to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“The Indian Air Force confirms the occurrence of an accident involving one Tejas aircraft during an operational training sortie in Jaisalmer today. The pilot has been successfully ejected. A thorough investigation, under a Court of Inquiry, has been set in motion to determine the root cause,” stated an official statement by the Indian Air Force.
The first squadron within the Indian Air Force to adopt the Tejas was the esteemed No. 45 Squadron, also known as the ‘Flying Daggers’, in 2016. Subsequently, the No. 18 Squadron joined the ranks in 2020, further bolstering the operational deployment of the Tejas.
Presently, the Indian Air Force has integrated 40 Tejas MK-1 aircraft into its fleet, with an additional 83 Tejas MK-1A fighters awaiting deployment as part of a procurement agreement valued at over ₹ 46,000 crore. Furthermore, in a recent development, the Defence Acquisition Council has given preliminary approval for the acquisition of 97 additional Tejas planes for the force, signaling a continued commitment to indigenous defense capabilities.