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Mechanics contaminated Air Force One planes, causing $4 million in damage and threat of fire

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According to Airforce Times . Mechanics from Boeing contaminated the oxygen system on a presidential Air Force One aircraft last April, according to an accident investigation board report released Tuesday.
The contamination to the VC-25A — one of two planes that is known as Air Force One when it carries the president — required $4 million in repairs, which Boeing paid for, the March 6 report said. Had it not been corrected, such contamination could have increased the risk of a fire.
The report said that three Boeing mechanics at a plant in Port San Antonio, Texas, used a contaminated regulator and contaminated tools, parts and components while checking the oxygen system for leaks during regular depot maintenance between April 1 and 10, 2016. They also used an unauthorized cleaning procedure while unsuccessfully trying to sanitize the parts, the report said.

To avoid the chances of a fire breaking out, only “oxygen-clean” tools and components — items that have been cleaned in a specific way to remove any residue that could react when coming into contact with oxygen — can be used on the plane’s oxygen system, according to the report.

Once components are oxygen-cleaned, they can only be exposed to the air for a short amount of time — as little as two to five minutes —,before they must be cleaned again and sealed in a protective package, the report states.

One mechanic gave another mechanic tools and parts to work on the plane, and said they were oxygen-clean. But the second mechanic later learned many of those tools and parts hadn’t been properly cleaned and had been exposed to the air too long.
At one point, the report said, the first mechanic gave the second some cleaning solution and said, “Here [is] some cleaning fluid. Do with it what you want. Use it if you want, but I don’t know anything about it.”
The report said the solution could have been used to clean those tools and parts, but none of the three mechanics were trained or authorized in the proper techniques. Two mechanics then cleaned parts in the wrong way, and connected the passenger oxygen system and the medical oxygen system together with the contaminated parts.
The report said the Boeing depot had fallen behind schedule and wasn’t providing enough oversight over its operations. To try to catch up, the depot’s maintainers — including the three maintainers who worked on Air Force One — had been put on mandatory 12-hour shifts beginning in December 2015. The three maintainers were working six to seven days a week — sometimes working without a day off for weeks at a time.

Boeing’s quality assurance also failed to verify the mechanics were conducting the repairs in the correct way but signed off nevertheless.

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All three maintainers had been trained on oxygen cleanliness, the report said, but their actions showed they either did not absorb or retain the information. Three weeks before the mishap, one mechanic went through a training course that emphasized this matter, but the report said this mechanic did not remember taking the recertification training, and the mechanic “failed to observe explicit warnings concerning cleanliness.”
Investigators also expressed their concerns about a lack of experience at Boeing’s San Antonio depot. In 2012, Boeing decided to move its heavy maintenance operation for Air Force One from Wichita, Kansas, to San Antonio, but this move meant 172 Boeing personnel wouldn’t meet the required five-year experience requirement. Boeing requested waivers for those 172 employees in February 2015 — including two of the mechanics involved in the oxygen system contamination — and self-assessed those employees’ relative inexperience would be a low risk.
Boeing spokesman Ben Davis said in a Wednesday interview that the company supported the investigation, and that the report accurately described what happened.
“We took swift action to self-report the incident to the Air Force, and we remediated the oxygen system at no cost to the government,” Davis said. “We fully understand the level of responsibility that comes from working on the president’s aircraft, and we’re committed to our partnership with the Air Force to provide the highest standard of support for the VC-25.”

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GE eyes multi-billion dollar engine deal with India for fighter jet programs

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GE eyes multi-billion dollar engine deal with India for fighter jet programs

While the design of the aircraft manufacturing is rapidly progressing under the AMCA and TEDBF project. Now, the engine manufacturer is promising to provide HAL with the technology. In order to participate in the Indian future fighter lead design manufacture, GE is now prepared to express its interest.

General Electric (GE), a major American aerospace engine manufacturer, has submitted an application to the Pentagon asking for permission to jointly produce and share engine technology with India. The Pentagon has brought up the matter with the appropriate authorities, and the proposal is moving quickly as a result of the urgency displayed by GE, which is eager to expand its business in India with a multi-billion dollar engine deal for Indian fighter jet programs.

A military turbofan engine built by General Electric Aviation is known as the GE F114. Current applications include the F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and other military aircraft. It was initially created for the F-14 Tomcat fighter aircraft.

The modular design of the F114 engine makes maintenance and repair simple. It is able to travel at supersonic speeds and has a maximum thrust of about 29,000 pounds. Additionally, the engine is equipped with cutting-edge technologies like an afterburner for improved performance and a digital engine control system.

Overall, the GE F114 engine is a strong and dependable engine that has been instrumental in the development of numerous military aircraft.

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For the Indian Navy’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) fifth-generation fighter programs, GE has requested authorization to jointly build a 110kn engine based on its F414 engine.

For the 4.5+ Gen Tejas MkII fighter program in India, GE intends to jointly produce a baseline F414 engine that generates a 98kN class of thrust. Moreover, GE wants to create an upgrade core that can provide 110-120kN Class of thrust for the AMCA and TEDBF Program.

For each fighter program over its life cycle, GE estimates a massive deal for 400 engines from India alone, with up to 1000 engines being produced locally in India. Due to the Tejas Mk1A program, GE has an advantage over its rivals in India. GE is eager to fend off offers from Safran and Rolls-Royce by providing engines that are not only economical but also include Transfer of Technology (ToT) for domestic production.

 

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Cirium Launches the First Airline Routes Tool Based on Satellite-Based Flight Tracking

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Cirium Launches the First Airline Routes Tool Based on Satellite-Based Flight Tracking

Cirium, the aviation analytics leader, has launched the aviation industry’s first Airline Routes tool to identify actual flights flown by aircraft type.

10 best airlines in the world for on-time performance 2022.(Opens in a new browser tab)

It uses applied analytics to derive routes flown by airlines based on satellite-based flight tracking and fuses this with advanced fleet data. The new premium Routes tool is part of Ascend Profiles, a visual descriptive analytics tool which enables businesses to quickly view aircraft intelligence by airline or lessor.

Businesses such as aircraft lessors, banks or aircraft manufacturers are empowered to identify the aircraft flown by route for 1,700 airlines and factor development opportunities or risk into their decision-making. By leveraging satellite-based flight tracking data the tool identifies what routes and aircraft airlines actually flew rather than what they planned to fly providing the most accurate flight completion picture.

India is one of the markets in the spotlight currently, as air travel is helping to boost economic growth in the region. Low-cost-carrier, IndiGo recently announced it was looking to grow its international network and further solidify its domestic operations. According to Ascend Profiles, IndiGo has a fleet of 306 aircraft – (273 in service and 33 in storage), plus 501 on order. Of the delivered fleet, 36% are on operating lease.

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Boeing Awarded U.S. Army Contract for Next Generation Diagnostic Tool(Opens in a new browser tab)

The Routes tool shows which two-way international routes IndiGo was operating this January which it was not in January 2022. For example, 172 flights were tracked on the newly added route between Indira-Gandhi International Airport in Delhi to Tribhuvan International in Kathmandu. All operated using Airbus A320s.

Additionally, the new tool shows the bi-directional routes for which IndiGo has ramped up operations. The carrier saw the most significant growth on the Singapore – Bengaluru route, where it completed 62 flights, all using A320s, this January versus only one flight, using an A321, last January.

IndiGo also substantially increased its operations this year on the Dubai – Ahmedabad route, completing five times the number of flights in Jan 23 when compared with Jan 22. The Airline Routes tool is part of Ascend Profiles which visualizes aircraft intelligence of airline or lessor profiles and provides quick and accurate insights showing the latest 12-month year-over-year flights flown by an airline’s routes and can be viewed by flights, seats and ASKs. The tool is available as a web-app on desktop, tablet, and mobile.

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Thief Trying to steal $7.5 million helicopter and crashed it during an attempted robbery at an airport.

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Thief Trying to steal $7.5 million helicopter and crashed it during an attempted robbery at an airport.

Four thieves tried to steal a helicopter at Sacramento Executive Airport in the early hours of the morning between 4 am and 6 am in the morning, but only one was able to start. During an attempted theft at an airport in the US state of California, a criminal stole a $7.5 million chopper and crashed it. No one was hurt at the scene.

The gathered evidence, information from witnesses, and security footage, according to Sean Ragan, the FBI’s Special Agent in Charge, point to a suspect in the case.

The motive for the suspect’s desire to steal the helicopter is being investigated by federal officials. It’s possible that someone wants to purchase the plane for a trip. Terrorism might be a possibility if they intended to purchase it for a different illegal purpose or to harm other people’s property.

The blade of a Bell 429 helicopter plummeted to the ground, scattering debris over the immediate region. Other helicopters that were parked nearby also sustained minor damages.

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The incident is being looked into by both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.

 

 

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Two Spice Jet pilots were grounded by just one photo.

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Two Spice Jet pilots were grounded by just one photo.

The pilots are the most important aspect of safe flight, and several standards are in place to help them maintain the standard operating procedure. One photo is circulating on the internet that resulted in the grounding of two pilots. The image is of the Spicejet aircraft pilots, who are shown eating snacks while keeping beverages in the cockpit with crucial controls. Now comes the debate regarding the safety considerations and normal standards for consuming meals in the cockpit.

This was captured during the Indian Holi celebrations when they were operating a flight from Delhi to Guwahati last Wednesday. The two had a cup of liquid on the flight deck’s center console, where even a small leak might have jeopardized safety. After a photo of the celebration at 37,000 feet while the plane was traveling at 0.79 mach (975 kmph) went viral, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday demanded the airline quickly identify and prosecute the crew members. In accordance with the directive, the airline off-rostered (removed from flying duties) the pilots a day later.

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“Both pilots have been de-registered awaiting an investigation. SpiceJet has stringent regulations concerning food eating in the cockpit, which is followed by all flight crew. Following the completion of the investigation, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken,” a SpiceJet spokeswoman stated. Veteran pilots have raised their alarm about the dangerous celebration. “The coffee cup has been placed on the aircraft’s fuel levers on the center console.

The engine and (auxiliary power unit) fire control switches are located just below. If the coffee spills and falls over the fire panel, it may cause a short circuit, resulting in a false fire alarm. The team must release fire bottles and declare an emergency.

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Saudi Arabia intends to order the world’s 5th largest order of Boeing 787 planes

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5 Facts About Saudi Arabia's Newest Riyadh Airlines
  • Saudi Arabian carriers today announced their intent to purchase up to 121 787 Dreamliners in what will be the fifth-largest commercial order by value in Boeing’s history.
  • This will support the country’s goal of serving 330 million passengers and attracting 100 million visitors annually by 2030.

SAUDIA to Grow Long-Haul Fleet with up to 49 Boeing 787 Dreamliners

Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) today announced the national flag carrier will grow its long-haul fleet with the selection of up to 49 787 Dreamliners. SAUDIA is set to purchase 39 787s, with a further 10 options, utilizing the outstanding efficiency, range, and flexibility of the Dreamliner to sustainably grow its global operation. The agreement will include both 787-9 and 787-10 models.

This agreement is part of Saudi Arabia’s wider strategic plan to transform the country into a global aviation hub. In total, Saudi Arabian carriers announced today their intent to purchase up to 121 787 Dreamliners in what will be the fifth-largest commercial order by value in Boeing’s history. This will support the country’s goal of serving 330 million passengers and attracting 100 million visitors annually by 2030.

SAUDIA currently operates more than 50 Boeing airplanes on its long-haul network, including the 777-300ER (Extended Range) and 787-9 and 787-10 Dreamliner. The additional 787s complement SAUDIA’s existing fleet, enabling it to effectively harness the value of the 777 and 787 families.

Since revenue service began in 2011, the 787 family has launched more than 350 new nonstop routes around the world, including about 50 new routes since 2020. The Dreamliner reduces fuel use and emissions by 25% compared to the airplanes it replaces.

 

Riyadh Air to Launch with All-Boeing Fleet of up to 72 787-9 Dreamliners

Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Riyadh Air announced today that the new Saudi Arabian carrier has chosen the 787 Dreamliner to power its global launch and support its goal of operating one of the most efficient and sustainable fleets in the world.

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Owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Riyadh Air said it will purchase 39 highly efficient 787-9s, with options for an additional 33 787-9s. Based in the capital city, Riyadh Air will play a key role in growing Saudi Arabia’s air transport network.

This agreement is part of Saudi Arabia’s wider strategic plan to transform the country into a global aviation hub. In total, Saudi Arabian carriers today announced their intent to purchase up to 121 787 Dreamliners in what will be the fifth largest commercial order by value in Boeing’s history. This will support the country’s goal of serving 330 million passengers and attracting 100 million visitors annually by 2030.

The 787-9 provides the longest range of the 787 family of airplanes, flying approximately 300 passengers 7,565 nautical miles (14,010 km), with additional cargo capacity. Passengers enjoy a better experience with the largest windows of any jet, air that is more humid and pressurized at a lower cabin altitude for greater comfort, large overhead bins with room for everyone’s bag; soothing LED lighting, and technology that senses and counters turbulence for a smoother ride.

The 787 family is delivering unmatched fuel efficiency to airline operators around the world reducing fuel use and emissions by 25% compared to airplanes they replace.

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How Airbus deftly avoided the A350 controversy while obtaining fresh orders to secure its future.

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Qatar Airways Scoops Four Onboard Hospitality Awards 2021

Building a brand takes a lot of time and effort, but when anything goes wrong, it can be a nightmare for a firm that is doing well in the market. A huge issue arises when the supplier fails to respond properly to the buyer. When a passenger’s query is not appropriately answered, most airlines suffer comparable challenges. Individuals may escalate the matter to a new level, causing the brand to suffer.

In business, the customer is always correct. When there is a problem with a client, before we criticize them, we must first try to remedy the situation, especially if that customer is very influential in your business. A good business can only be achieved when the products sell in the market after the services and guarantees of the product are taken care of.

Airbus had severe hurdles seeking fresh orders as a result of the A350 paint issue. The issue was temporarily halted due to the COVID pandemic. It had little effect on the Airbus corporation, but after the post-Covid period, the company experienced some difficulties in gaining further orders.

Farnborough Airshow is one of the most well-known aviation market events. Airbus did not receive any orders for wide-body aircraft such as the A350, but it did receive orders for narrow-body aircraft such as the A320 and A220 families.

Qatar Airlines reported paint problems with its Airbus A350 planes. The problem was with the paint on the aircraft’s exterior, which was reportedly peeling off and fading prematurely.

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Qatar Airlines had discussed the matter with Airbus, which had acknowledged the issue and stated that it was working on a solution. The paint issue was not thought to have harmed the aircraft’s safety or performance, but it was viewed as a cosmetic issue that could harm the airline’s brand image.

Airbus indicated that the problem was with the paint’s supplier and that it was working with the supplier to enhance the paint’s quality. Airbus also offered to repaint the impacted aircraft for Qatar Airways and was said to be trying to prevent similar problems in the future.

Owing to the A350 situation with Qatar, Airbus canceled the A320 family aircraft orders. After the cancellation, Qatar turned its attention to Boeing and placed new orders for the Boeing Max and Boeing 777x aircraft. There was all-out head-to-head warfare between the two parties.

Airbus expertly managed the situation and provided the fixes.

Airbus indicated that the problem was with the paint’s supplier and that it was working with the supplier to enhance the paint’s quality. Airbus also offered to repaint the impacted aircraft for Qatar Airways and was said to be trying to prevent similar problems in the future.

However, Airbus wisely moved to the settlement of the concerns and initiated the resolution of the problem and remedy the issue, as well as ensuring that future aircraft will not suffer any such challenges. As soon as the news arrived, it began receiving new orders for aircraft. Air India has confirmed large orders for A350-900 and 1000 series planes. Other airlines began to show interest in it as well.

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The longest flight in the world will be operated by Qantas Project Sunrise using the A350 aircraft since there is sufficient confidence in the aircraft. The range of the Qantas aircraft, which can fly nonstop for up to 19 hours, will be increased to around 9,700 nm.

Airbus addressed this incident skillfully to prevent lasting damage. The same thing serves as a reminder to other manufacturers that in order to prevent losing new orders, they must act promptly to address any problems that are delaying deliveries or after-sales services.

The aerospace sector is difficult since nothing is ever completely perfect when you release any new items. It’s important to embrace the truth and work through any problems.

Airbus is renowned for its highest-quality airplanes and advancements, and it always introduces the most recent technology first. we hope it will continue and aid in the future efficiency and smooth operation of the airline sector. Let us know what you think about Airbus and Qatar Airways. Conflict resolution and the lesson we learned from it, according to you.

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The first MRJ Regional plane from Japan is scrapped in United states. After the programme had terminated

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The first MRJ Regional plane from Japan is scrapped in United states. After the programme had terminated

Japan is renowned for its technological advancement, consistently outpacing other nations. In 2003, the well-known Japanese corporation Mitsubishi plans to launch a regional jet aircraft with a seating capacity of 70 to 90 seats, just like in other nations. An indigenous regional jet for 30 to 90 people is the subject of a five-year, 50 billion ($420 million) research project that was launched by Japan.

The first Mitsubishi Aircraft Regional Jet / SpaceJet JA21MJ, which was based at Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, is being destroyed. Due to the lack of a successful testing phase. The program is terminated. Most aviation enthusiasts disagreed with the choice to scrap items rather than donate them to the museum.

Mitsubishi Announced The Discontinuation Of SpaceJet program(Opens in a new browser tab)

Let’s find out more about this plane. Several problems have caused the project to be postponed, and MHI keeps delaying its debut. At first, it also received some orders from airlines based in Japan. such as the SpaceJet program. The planned entry was delayed because flight testing took longer than anticipated, and as a result, development was first postponed in October 2020 and then stopped completely in February 2023.

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Two versions of MRJ M90 and M100.

Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation, a division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, created the Mitsubishi SpaceJet family of regional jet aircraft. The Mitsubishi SpaceJet M90 and Mitsubishi SpaceJet M100 are the two current versions that make up the SpaceJet family.

Up to 90 passengers can board the regional plane Mitsubishi SpaceJet M90. It has a maximum range of 2,200 nautical miles and two Pratt & Whitney PW1217G engines. The Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation has been working on the M90 for a number of years, with the initial goal of delivering the first aircraft to launch client ANA in 2020. The delivery has been delayed, nevertheless, because of a number of problems.

Mitsubishi converted the MRJ production facility into a maintenance hangar after the programme was terminated.(Opens in a new browser tab)

The Mitsubishi SpaceJet program has had numerous difficulties and failures, which has caused some business analysts to view the initiative as a failure. The following are some of the main problems that have added to the SpaceJet program’s difficulties:

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1. Delays in development: The SpaceJet program has faced major setbacks, with the initial delivery to launch customer ANA being repeatedly postponed. Several technical problems and design modifications contributed to the delays, which in turn led to more expenses and additional delays.

2. Few consumers have placed orders for the SpaceJet program, which has had difficulty getting orders from airlines. Instead, many airlines have opted to buy regional planes from different producers like Embraer and Bombardier.

3. Effect of COVID-19 pandemic: Due to the need for airlines to reduce fleet size and postpone new aircraft deliveries, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative influence on the SpaceJet program. This has made it even harder for Mitsubishi to acquire additional SpaceJet orders.

4. yet another delay In 2018, Bombardier filed a lawsuit against MRJ for allegedly stealing the trade-secret blueprints for its aircraft. MRJ was granted relief from the allegation by federal judges. It has accomplished about 2600 flying hours up to that point. Yet later, when the aircraft was being tested, there was yet another delay. in 2019,

5. Financial setbacks: Despite Mitsubishi Heavy Industries investing billions of dollars in the SpaceJet program, there have been financial difficulties. But because of the holdups and a lack of orders, the program hasn’t brought in enough money to pay for its development expenses.

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The corporation was looking for a reliable source of funding to support the manufacture of airplanes. The flying display was performed by the aircraft in 2018 at the Farnborough air show. Due to the delays, the aircraft is also receiving some criticism. For all of the prototypes that were improved gradually, it has finished roughly 9 aircraft. MHI persisted in working on this project. More than a billion dollars were invested. but even so, the airworthiness authorities were never impressed.

6. More than 900 design changes have reportedly been made, many of which necessitate going back to the basic design stage. Examples of these changes include a review of the design load and adjustments to the system design of various systems. During the testing phase, numerous design modifications were made to the wings, landing gear, fuselage, wiring, and avionics. Throughout the testing stage, numerous design modifications were done.

The SpaceJet program has generally encountered a number of challenges that have made it challenging for it to prosper, raising questions about its future and whether it will ever enter service. The development of the SpaceJet M100 has been put on hold as Mitsubishi Aircraft Company reevaluates its approach to the SpaceJet program.

Following five revisions of the planning delay, it was stated in October 2020 that the project would be frozen. Five prototypes have already made the trip to the US for flight testing, however, testing has been halted and one of them has had its aircraft registration canceled. The process for acquiring this kind of accreditation was the main cause of delays in the MRJ project. A significant design change was made in order to get type certification, which also contributed to the significant fifth delay, which dealt the business freeze its fatal blow.

Engine maintenance is now being performed on a variety of aircraft at the facility that was constructed for the production of MRJ aircraft. This will be capable of producing 15 units per month.

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