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What exactly is freezing rain, and why is it so risky for air travel?

Snow is pleasant to many people, but it is terrible for travelers. It is a nightmare for airlines if there is snow at the airport, and the majority of airlines and passengers are affected by the weather. However, it keeps airline passengers safe in the event of a flight cancellation. In this article, we’ll go over this in further detail.

Alaska Airlines pilot Captain Bret Peyton who has worked for airlines for over 22 years has given some of the importance and safety standards for air travel. He goes on to describe how airlines make the difficult decision to cancel flights. But it’s all for a good cause: saving airline passengers.

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Airlines often aim for a profit margin throughout the winter and holiday season and get full bookings, but if there is bad weather, they keep profits low and focus on passenger safety.

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This is How Alaska Airlines is prepping for winter storms(Opens in a new browser tab)

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What exactly is freezing rain, and why is it so risky for air travel?

Courtesy : Alaska

Why do most airlines, including Alaska, cancel flights during the winter?

Explaining Alsaksa pilots, To begin with, safety is our first priority at Alaska Airlines, and we never operate a flight unless we are confident it is fully safe.

Korean Air plane overshoots runway in the Philippines(Opens in a new browser tab)

Freezing rain occurs when warm, humid air rises over surface-level cold air. The temperature inversion causes super-cooled water droplets to adhere to any surface, including an airplane wing, power cables, and even tree branches.

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When an airplane’s wing is covered in icicles, it is unable to take off or land. Although deicing only provides a short-term fix for freezing rain, it prevents airplanes from taking off. Moreover, it might result in aerodynamic fluxes.

Although freezing rain is difficult to foresee, some regions, including Seattle and Portland in the United States, continue to experience it.

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Alaska is concerned about traveler security. Most aircraft will be grounded if the condition exceeds the limitations.

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We’ve all seen photos of electrical lines covered with icicles. Imagine if that was an airplane wing. We clearly cannot function under those conditions.

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Traditional deicing procedures are effective against freezing rain, but only in light situations. Moderate to heavy freezing rain creates conditions that make any airplane unable to fly in.

Because the prediction is so unpredictable over the next few days, we’re not sure how much freezing rain will fall in Seattle and Portland, but we do expect at least some in these two major cities.

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Alaska Airlines pilots are well-versed in operating in winter circumstances, and we will not operate an aircraft unless it is safe to do so. To summarise, if the airplane is moving, it is safe to do so.

What exactly is freezing rain, and why is it so risky for air travel?

Courtesy: Alaska

Air India Pilot Refused To Listen To Younger Female Co-Pilot & The

Weather forecasts aid in airport operations management.

Most airlines cancel flights if the weather forecast indicates that it is unsafe to operate, although in most cases, the airline can operate under continuous monitoring. The ground crew deices the aircraft and prepares it for flight. Furthermore, if the airport is larger, traffic on arrival and departure planes becomes more difficult. Clearing snow on the ground, as well as maintaining ground equipment and aircraft maintenance, is difficult in the winter climate. In terms of operations, airlines need to cancel flights ahead of time so that they can maintain as many planes flying as possible.

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Courtesy: Captain Bret Peyton (Alaska Airlines)

Why is it dangerous for airplanes to fly in adverse weather?

There are numerous crashes in the aviation industry that are caused by technical reasons and certain external ones, but weather plays a significant role in safe operations. Aviation organizations such as the FAA and EASA are always advised on safe weather operations.

According to the NTSB survey, most crashes occur in low visibility conditions, and it has also been observed that bad weather makes flight operations risky. We believe that the aircraft is flying above clouds and hence is not influenced by them, but it is still not safe as it approaches the land. Due to the snow, electrical equipment may fail to function or sensors may fail to calibrate accurately. It could cause the tubes to become clogged and the equipment to become frozen during operations.

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The aircraft surface is particularly important because it can accommodate ice on the surface, which can cause problems with aircraft operations. In some airports, tracking the ground and landing planes is difficult. The pilot’s job is to moderate-severe winds and cold temperatures. Some passengers may be able to plan another trip if it is safe to do so. If the flight is risky, it must be grounded.

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What exactly is freezing rain, and why is it so risky for air travel?

Why is it necessary to deice an airplane?

As part of our safety policy, they commence deicing measures whenever there is snow or ice on our aircraft. Snow or ice accumulation on the wings or tails of aircraft makes them unsafe to fly, thus they must remove it before takeoff.

They have a full fleet of trucks, equipment, and staff ready to go across several stations, as well as plenty of deicing solutions. They work as swiftly as the airport and weather conditions permit. However, deicing aircraft at the gate can result in lengthier tarmac wait times—but safety comes first.

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Can a passenger rebook a flight that has already been canceled?

Flight cancellations have few effects on passengers. As many airlines, such as Alaska, resume service on the same routes once the weather returns to normal, passengers are advised to return to the booking website and support center and rebook the tickets.

Because the majority of travelers are affected by the cancellation. Passengers must arrange flights based on the flexibility of the dates. There will be times when you can manage them with the right flight and book it again.

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Courtesy: alaskaair.com

Should you wish to hold the value of your ticket(s) and decide to move your trip to a future date, you may place the value of your ticket in your Mileage Plan Wallet for future use or request a full refund by viewing our refund options.

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Marvel

He is an aviation journalist and the founder of Jetline Marvel. Dawal gained a comprehensive understanding of the commercial aviation industry.  He has worked in a range of roles for more than 9 years in the aviation and aerospace industry. He has written more than 1700 articles in the aerospace industry. When he was 19 years old, he received a national award for his general innovations and holds the patent. He completed two postgraduate degrees simultaneously, one in Aerospace and the other in Management. Additionally, he authored nearly six textbooks on aviation and aerospace tailored for students in various educational institutions. jetlinem4(at)gmail.com

Aerospace

China is secretly testing its next-generation medium combat helicopter Z21

China is secretly testing its next-generation medium combat helicopter Z21

China consistently keeps aviation enthusiasts surprised with its advancements in fighter jets and other aircraft. Leading the pack in Asia, China continuously pushes boundaries in developing domestically-built aircraft.

Recently, images circulating on the internet reveal China’s latest creation, the Z-21 helicopter. Resembling its predecessor, the Z-10, this helicopter boasts enhanced fighter capabilities. The emergence of these images sparks questions regarding the fate of plans to acquire Russian-made Ka-52K attack helicopters, particularly the naval version.

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Observing the helicopter in flight, it shares design elements with the Harbin Z-10, notably in the front fuselage and cockpit canopy. The wing stubs for weapon mounts exhibit similar shapes, though with less pronounced angular features. With a tandem seating arrangement, the Z-21 also draws comparisons to the Mil Mi-28, featuring an elongated body with five rotor blades and weapon bays on its sides.

The unveiling of the Z-21 has triggered speculation about its potential role in future military operations. Analysts suggest that beyond its firepower, its introduction could signal significant technological advancements. There’s particular interest in whether China will incorporate a ‘manned-unmanned teaming’ system akin to later Apache models, enabling the Z-21 to control armed drones for reconnaissance and attacks, reducing risks to the helicopter itself.

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The emergence of the Z-21 underscores China’s increasing military prowess and its commitment to developing cutting-edge weaponry. Its deployment and capabilities will be closely monitored, especially concerning regional security dynamics.

The helicopter presents a significant challenge to American-built Apache and other medium helicopters, boasting superior capacity for flying at higher altitudes and more powerful speed and combat capabilities, thus enhancing its effectiveness on the battlefield. On the other hand, amidst ongoing Indian border tensions, this aircraft is poised to play a crucial role in surveillance along the sensitive China border and beyond.

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Aerospace

Qantas Airbus A330 Makes Safe Landing After Engine Blowout

Woman spends tortuous three months trying to resolve huge Qantas errors

A Qantas Airbus A330 Aircraft, flight number QF781, has landed safely without incident in
Perth after the passengers on the Perth-bound flight reported hearing a ‘loud bang’ from one
side of the twin-engined plane engine. The Airbus A330 aircraft made a priority landing at
Perth Airport around 9:37pm local time on 25 March, arriving approximately 52 minutes
behind schedule.


Upon landing, emergency services met with the aircraft on the tarmac. However, the aircraft
taxied to the gate without assistance, with the passengers disembarking normally.
The ‘loud bang’ heard by passengers happened due to a mid-air engine blowout, therefore
resulting in the pilots having to manually shut off the affected engine, together with
requesting a priority landing into Perth Airport. Qantas also added in a statement that the
Airbus A330 aircraft was designed to operate with one engine too.

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Qantas QF781 is a daily scheduled flight from Melbourne to Perth, utilising the Airbus A330
on the route. The Aircraft in question is VH-EBA, an approximately 21 years aircraft,
equipped with 2 GE CF6 engines according to airfleets.net. The Airbus A330 have been a
frequent regional workhorse in Qantas’ fleet, connecting major australian cities with major
destinations within Asia. the Airbus A330 is also used on high-density domestic routes,
similar to QF781, from Melbourne to Perth.

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Engine Issues – Should you be concerned?


While engine issues are highly uncommon due to the stringent checks and quality control on
each component within the engine, there might still be exceptional occasions where such
incidents happen. However, while recognising the risks of dual engines, Aircraft
Manufacturers and Organisations have actually came up with standards so as to ensure that
an aircraft can also land on a single engine, similar to what we saw on QF781.


One of the most well known standard is Extended-range Twin-engine Operations
Performance Standards (ETOPS) which is an acronym for twin-engine operation in an
airspace further than one hour from a diversion airport at a designated one engine
inoperable speed. This ensures that twin-engined aircraft could safely operate routes over
water or remote land without an alternative airport near the flight path, which once required
aircraft with 3 or 4 engines to fly on that route.

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In this case, the Airbus A330 has been certified to fly ‘Beyond ETOPS 180’, and have
received ETOPS 240 certification, which is a certification to enable the twin-engined aircraft
to fly for up to a maximum of 240 minutes with 1 engine inoperative in a cruise condition.
Currently, most twin-engined widebody aircraft in operation would generally have an ETOPS
certification of at least ETOPS 180, with the new Airbus A321LR also having ETOPS 180
certification, therefore enabling the narrowbody to fly long haul flights.

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Aerospace

Boeing CEO Resigns Amid 737 MAX Crisis, Ignites Management Overhaul

Boeing CEO Resigns Amid 737 MAX Crisis, Ignites Management Overhaul

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun has announced his resignation amidst the ongoing 737 MAX crisis, signaling a significant top management shakeup at the aerospace giant.

While Calhoun will continue leading the company until the end of 2024, his decision comes amid mounting pressure following a series of setbacks, including the recent incident involving an Alaska Airlines flight. This departure coincides with the retirement of Boeing Commercial President and CEO Stan Deal, who is succeeded by Stephanie Pope, the current Chief Operating Officer.

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The announcement, made by Larry Kellner, boeing products chairman, outlines a broader restructuring within the company’s leadership. Steve Mollenkopf, a Boeing director since 2020 and former CEO of Qualcomm, will take over as chairman and lead the board in selecting a new CEO. This strategic move comes at a critical juncture as boeing airplanes
faces intense regulatory scrutiny and production constraints due to safety and quality issues.

The market’s initial response to the news was positive, with Boeing’s shares rising by 2 percent before regular trading. However, the boeing aircraft company stock had experienced a significant decline earlier in the year, reflecting investor concerns about boeing distribution aviall the ongoing challenges and uncertainties surrounding the 737 MAX program.

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Calhoun stressed the company’s commitment to transparency, safety, and quality in a letter to employees.“We must continue to respond to this accident with humility and complete transparency. We also must inculcate a total commitment to safety and quality at every level of our company,” he said.

“The eyes of the world are on us, and I know we will come through this moment a better company, building on all the learnings we accumulated as we worked together to rebuild Boeing over the last number of years.”

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Aerospace

Airbus and Boeing wants to buy Spirit Aerosystem

Airbus and Boeing wants to buy Spirit Aerosystem

In the dynamic landscape of aerospace manufacturing, two industry giants, Airbus and Boeing, are eyeing a significant acquisition: Spirit aerosystems.

With Airbus confirming its interest in acquiring parts of the Spirit Aerosystems business, the spotlight shifts to Northern Ireland, where Spirit operates a major wing manufacturing facility for the Airbus A220.

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Employing over 3,000 individuals, Spirit AeroSystems stands as one of Northern Ireland’s foremost manufacturing enterprises, underscoring its pivotal role in the region’s economy. However, the potential acquisition has taken an intriguing turn with Boeing also entering the fray, signaling its intent to engage in talks regarding the purchase of Spirit.

While boeing erp system interest in Spirit is clear, it’s unlikely that the aerospace giant would retain the parts of the business dedicated to supplying airbus. In contrast, Airbus sees an opportunity to strengthen its foothold in the industry by potentially acquiring select assets from Spirit.

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In a recent interview with CNBC, Airbus’s chief financial officer, Thomas Toepfer, acknowledged the possibility of acquiring certain work packages from Spirit. Although the discussions are in nascent stages, Toepfer emphasized the importance of maintaining a stable relationship with Spirit, highlighting their collaborative efforts to enhance performance in recent months.

On the other hand, boeing official confirmation of ongoing discussions underscores its commitment to aviation safety and quality. With the potential reintegration of boeing spirit aerosystems into boeing distribution inc aviall operations, both companies envision a strategic alignment aimed at optimizing efficiency and upholding excellence in aircraft production.

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