Two people have been killed after an Antonov An-24 veered off a runway in Russia and burst into flames after hitting a building.
The Angara Airlines aircraft with 43 passengers and four crew on board flying between Ulan-Ude in Eastern Siberia to Nizhneangarsk on Thursday and was on approach when the left-hand engine reportedly failed.
“At 10:24 local time, the plane made an emergency landing at the airport in Nizhneangarsk. During landing, the aircraft rolled out from the runway and collided with ground infrastructure objects. As a result of the collision a fire occurred.” Angara Airlines said in a statement.
“All 43 passengers were promptly evacuated. There are no casualties among the passengers.”
A video of the crash posted on YouTube appears to show it unfold from within the aircraft.
Respected specialist website The Aviation Herald reported the captain and flight engineer were killed in the accident but said seven people were injured.
It said the aircraft landed on Nizhneangarsk’s runway 22 in the touchdown zone following a stable approach, rolled out on the center line for some distance, then veered right off the runway, went over soft ground and impacted a building later identified as a sewage plant.
The plane had an experienced crew: the captain had 34 years and 15,702 flying hours under his belt and the first officer 20 years of experience and 6,315 flying hours.
Russian authorities have begun an investigation into the crash.
The Antonov 24 is a twin turboprop aircraft designed in 1957.
It first flew in 1959 and more than 100 are still in service worldwide, mostly in Africa and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
It has been involved in a long list of crashes and incidents over the years with the Aviation Safety Network recording 170 hull losses.
The last serious commercial accident involved a South Airlines flight in 2013 which stalled and crashed on landing at Donetsk International Airport in the Ukraine.
Five of the 52 people on board died as a result of the accident atrributed to a loss airspeed and pilot error.
The most serious accident involved Africa’s Equitorial Express Airlines in 2005 and resulted in 60 deaths.
A rendering of the Delta terminal project at New York's La Guardia Airport. Image: Delta
A transborder joint venture between Canada’s WestJet and US carrier Delta Air Lines has been cleared by the Canadian Competition Bureau as the airlines wait for a decision from US authorities.
The competition bureau issued a no-action letter confirming it would not challenge the joint venture agreement to deepen their existing partnership.
Approval of the deal would see the two expanded codesharing, add reciprocal elite frequent flyer benefits, co-locate hubs and begin joint sales, marketing and cargo activities.
The chief executives of both airlines were keen to spruik the benefits of the partnership as they announced the Canadian decision.
“Today’s clearance by the CCB is an important step towards satisfying the conditions necessary to implement the proposed WestJet-Delta transborder joint venture,” WestJet chief executive Ed Sims said.
“We thank the CCB for its timely and thorough review. The joint venture will lead to more consumer choice, connectivity, and economic benefits on both sides of the border by growing U.S.-Canada business and tourism travel.”
Delta chief Ed Bastian said the joint venture would create a world-class experience for people traveling between the US and Canada.
“The joint venture between Delta and WestJet will create an expanded network with more frequencies and destinations, improved airport connections and significantly enhanced frequent flyer benefits,’’ he said.
The proposal is still subject to regulatory approval from the US. Department of Transportation.
Meanwhile, Delta released more details of a new concourse — the first of four — due to open at New York’s LaGuardia Airport in the autumn.
The airline said its spacious 105,000-square-foot concourse would feature floor-to-ceiling views of Citi Field and Flushing Bay, gates that can accommodate a range of aircraft types, and dining options from favorite New York chefs and eateries.
Images: Delta
Bastian said it was a significant component in more than $US12 billion the airline was investing in airport redevelopment efforts around the country.
The airline operates more than 275 peak-day departures from La Guardia and began construction of a $US3.9 billion replacement of terminals C and D in 2017.
The completed project will feature 37 gates across four concourses connected by a central check-in lobby, security checkpoint and baggage claim.
The centralized check-in lobby is due to open in 2021.
There will be larger Delta Sky Club, bigger gate areas, more concessions space and more efficient roadways.
Dual taxiways will also reduce aircraft hold and taxi times.
The Delta project is part of a $US8 billion redevelopment of LeGuardia announced by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2015.
The 737 MAX on one of its test flights. Photo: Boeing.
The International Air Transport Association has renewed its call for state aviation safety regulators to work together on getting the Boeing 737 MAX back into service.
The call comes after representatives from more than 40 airlines, safety regulatory authorities, original equipment manufacturers, training organizations and other organizations met for a summit on the crisis in Montreal.
IATA said regulators needed to align technical validation requirements and timelines to ensure the safe re-entry into service of the aircraft.
“The Boeing 737 MAX tragedies weigh heavily on an industry that holds safety as its top priority,” IATA director general Alexandre de Juniac said.
“We trust the Federal Aviation Administration, in its role as the certifying regulator, to ensure the aircraft’s safe return to service.
“And we respect the duty of regulators around the world to make independent decisions on FAA’s recommendations.
“At the same time, aviation is a globally integrated system that relies on global standards, including mutual recognition, trust, and reciprocity among safety regulators.
“This harmonized structure has worked successfully for decades to help make air travel the safest form of long-distance travel the world has known.
“Aviation cannot function efficiently without this coordinated effort, and restoring public confidence demands it.”
The statement came as the FAA again emphasized it would not be rushed into returning the Boeing 737 MAX to service as it confirmed it had uncovered a new “potential risk” in the troubled plane.
In a statement posted Wednesday evening US time, the FAA said it was following a thorough process “not a prescribed timeline” for returning the MAX to passenger service.
The global 737 MAX fleet has been grounded since March as Boeing works on software changes designed to prevent problems thought to have played a role in two fatal crashes of MAX aircraft.
It remains unclear when the planes will be allowed back in the sky and the FAA in its latest statement repeated its stance that it would lift the prohibition order on the MAX “when we deem it is safe to do so”.
Garuda Indonesia topped the OTP table. Photo: Garuda Indonesia
Asia-Pacific airlines shine when it comes to getting passengers to their destination on time, taking out eight of the 13 top spots in the annual on-time performance review by aviation data experts OAG.
Dark horse Garuda Indonesia was first past the post and earned a five-star rating with 91.6 percent of its flights on time.
It was followed in the top five by Japan’s Fuji Dream Airlines (90.5 percent), Panama’s Copa Airlines (90.1 percent) and Japanese carriers Star Flyer (90.0 percent) and Skymark Airlines (89.2 percent).
Air Baltic struck the first five-star blow for Europe with an OTP of 88.3 percent and was followed by the only US five-star airline, Hawaiian Airlines, at 87.8 percent.
Also in the five-star field were Japan’s AirDo, Thailand’s Bangkok Airways, Spain’s Binter Canarias, Tapei’s Uni Airways, Japan’s All Nippon Airways and Russia’s Aeroflot.
Singaporean-based Jetstar Asia (84.6 percent) led the four-star category, which also included low-cost carriers Thai AirAsia (83.8 percent) Japan’s Solaseed (83.7 percent) and Indian carrier Indigo (81.5 percent).
Other Asia-Pacific airlines in this category included Jetstar parent Qantas (84.3 percent), Japan Airlines (84.3 percent), Singapore Airlines (83.2 percent) and Fiji Airways (82.1 percent).
Air New Zealand (78.7 percent), Malaysia Airlines (77.5) and Virgin Australia (77 percent) were among the region’s airlines in the three-star category
There was a difference of almost 35 percentage points between the best performing carrier in the league and 56 percent on-time performance of it’s worst, Cebu Pacific.
Joining Cebu in the bottom ranks were Czech Airlines (59.4 percent) and Canada’s Sunwing Airlines (57.8 percent ).
Twenty-nine of the 50 global airports to achieve five stars in the league were in the Asia Pacific, with 22 located in Japan.
The top five airports were Hilo in the US (94.56 percent), Minsk International in Belarus (92.97), Japan’s Nagoya Komaki (91.9 percent) Panama City Tocumen International (91.07) and Hanamaki (91.0), also in Japan.
The analysis is based on a rolling 12-month performance and covers airlines and airports with a minimum of 600 operations a month where OAG processes flight status information for at least 80 percent of flights.
Could the row-by-row look and feel not have been broken up a little_ Photo: John Walton
There’s something about the route from New York to Paris that has made it a magnet for premium narrowbody flying for airlines, from L’Avion and OpenSkies to La Compagnie.
La Compagnie — now part of the larger XL Airways Group — brought its latest all-business-class jet to the Paris Air Show to show off the new interior.
Interestingly, given the enormous interest in the extra-long-range Airbus A321XLR at Le Bourget, this isn’t either the XLR or its slightly less longer-range sibling, the A321LR.
This is a stock standard A321neo, which in the lightweight configuration of 76 business class seats has enough legs to get it to and from the US.
The seats are a big upgrade on the angled sloping sleepers La Compagnie has on its 757-200s.
While the Collins Aerospace Diamond seats are about a decade old in airline service, they’re among the best that you can get in the fully flat market right now.
They do, however, require the “midnight clamber”, with the slightly angled overlap meaning that window seat passengers with a neighbor will need to straddle them in the sleeping position in order to pop to the loo or stretch their legs.
La Compagnie’s version of Diamond isn’t particularly customized: in addition to the stock standard aircraft these are stock standard business class seats, and that’s fine at La Compagnie’s premium economy prices.
The screens are the well-received RAVE system. Photo: John Walton
One plus: the “tower of power” above and behind passengers’ shoulders, which has often been a pain when it comes to using a plugged-in mobile phone, has been split up.
The USB socket, along with the magnetic-grip headphone cable socket, is now behind the shoulder, but the AC power socket is down by the tables in a much more user-friendly spot.
There are a few minuses, though, but my biggest issue is the look and feel — what the airline interiors industry calls “color, materials and finish”.
It shouldn’t be markedly more expensive to make the nineteen rows of identical seats look less like they stretch off into infinity.
Looking from the front of the aircraft, La Compagnie could have varied up the fabric color on their headrest antimacassars: it has multiple blues in its brand palette and this simple change could make a big difference in reducing this effect.
While the pillow is delightfully squashy (yes, of course I tested it), perhaps some on-brand palette play here could also have helped.
The duvet, too, is bang on brand, looking well up to standard across the Atlantic, but perhaps another set reversing the colors could break things up?
Kudos for a big squashy pillow and pleasant blanket. Photo: John Walton
Looking from the back, the immediate sight is of a sea of serried ranks of seats with the boring off-white thermoplastic of the inboard seat shell retreating into the distance for the length of the aircraft.
This feels very ten years ago, with the trend in interiors being to move away from this sort of beige-on-beige towards more interesting thermoplastics.
Yes, I used the phrase “more interesting thermoplastics”. There’s a huge amount of science and manufacturing innovation going on to make this sort of thing more attractive, more functional, more appealing and more relaxing for travelers.
Imagine if this were a multifaceted medium to dark blue that picked up the light of the sunshine reflecting through the windows over the Atlantic or sparkled quietly in the lights of the evening.
This may feel nitpicky, and indeed it is the kind of detailed work that industry-leading airlines do in order to create a real sense of space and distinction aboard their aircraft. A boutique airline has even more of an opportunity to do this.
Fortunately for La Compagnie, none of the CMF work that makes up most of the low-hanging fruit here is especially difficult: swapping out pillows and duvets is child’s play, while headrests are easy and even the seat shell could be a midlife cabin upgrade at minimal cost.
Southwest Airlines 737 MAX aircraft at Victorville, California. Image: KCAL9.
The US Federal Aviation Administration has again emphasized it will not be rushed into returning the Boeing 737 MAX to service as it confirmed it had uncovered a new “potential risk” in the troubled aircraft.
In a statement posted Wednesday evening US time, the FAA said it was following a thorough process “not a prescribed timeline” for returning the MAX to passenger service.
The global 737 MAX fleet has been grounded since March as Boeing works on software changes designed to prevent problems thought to have played a role in two fatal crashes of MAX aircraft.
It remains unclear when the planes will be allowed back in the sky and the FAA in its latest statement repeated its stance that it would lift the prohibition order on the MAX “when we deem it is safe to do so”.
“We continue to evaluate Boeing’s software modification to the MCAS and we are still developing necessary training requirements,’’ it said.
“We also are responding to recommendations received from the Technical Advisory Board (TAB). The TAB is an independent review panel we have asked to review our work regarding 737 Max return to service.
“On the most recent issue, the FAA’s process is designed to discover and highlight potential risks. The FAA recently found a potential risk that Boeing must mitigate.”
The FAA did not identify the new risk but US media said it related to a microprocessor failure that occurred during a simulation of a runaway stabilizer trim.
CNN reported that the microprocessor failure could push the nose of the plane towards the ground.
It said Boeing engineers were trying to determine if the issue could be fixed by changing the software or the company would have to replace the microprocessors on all existing MAX aircraft.
Boeing confirmed that the problem had been identified during recent simulator sessions conducted as part of the FAA’s review of its software update.
The company said the regulator had identified “an additional requirement that it has asked the company to address through the software changes that the company has been developing for the past eight months”.
“The FAA review and process for returning the 737 MAX to passenger service are designed to result in a thorough and comprehensive assessment,” it said.
“ Boeing agrees with the FAA’s decision and request, and is working on the required software.
“Addressing this condition will reduce pilot workload by accounting for a potential source of uncommanded stabilizer motion.
“Boeing will not offer the 737 MAX for certification by the FAA until we have satisfied all requirements for certification of the MAX and its safe return to service.”
Bombardier has confirmed it will exit the commercial airliner market with an announcement Wednesday it would sell its regional jet business to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for $US550 million.
The Montreal-based company said the cash payment would payable upon closing the deal, planned for the first half of 2020.
The decision comes in the face of strong competition in the regional jet market and after Airbus in 2018 took control of what was then the company’s C Series jets and renamed them the A220.
Boeing subsequently announced it was taking an 80 percent stake in Brazilian manufacturer Embraer’s commercial aircraft operations.
MHI will assume liabilities of about $US200m and take on the maintenance, support , marketing and sales activities for the CRJ series of regional jets.
This includes the services and support network in Canada and the US as well as the type certificates.
MHI said the acquisition was complementary to its existing commercial aircraft business and particularly its SpaceJet commercial aircraft family.
“This transaction represents one of the most important steps in our strategic journey to build a strong, global aviation capability,’’ MHI chief executive Seiji Izumisawa said.
“It augments these efforts by securing a world-class and complementary set of aviation-related functions including maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), engineering and customer support.”
Izumisawa said he was confident the deal represented an effective strategy that would contribute to the success of the Spacejet family.
“MHI has a decades-long history in Canada, and I hope this transaction will result in the expansion of our presence in the country and will represent a significant step in our growth strategy,’’ he said.
Bombardier chief executive Alain Bellemare said the deal represented the competition of Bombardier’s aerospace transformation and “the best solution for airline customers, employees and shareholders”.
“With our aerospace transformation now behind us, we have a clear path forward and a powerful vision for the future,’’ he said.
“ Our focus is on two strong growth pillars: Bombardier Transportation, our global rail business, and Bombardier Aviation, a world-class business jet franchise with market-defining products and an unmatched customer experience.”
The CRJ production facility in Mirabel, Québec will remain with Bombardier and the company will continue to supply components and spare parts.
It will also assemble the current CRJ backlog on behalf of MHI until it is delivered in the second half of 2020.
Bombardier will also retain certain liabilities representing a portion of the credit and residual value guarantees totaling approximately $US400 million.
Moody’s Investors Service labeled the sale was credit positive for Bombardier.
“We believe the regional business was consuming cash and needed material investment into a very competitive regional jet market segment,’’ it said.
“ It also provides additional liquidity or deleveraging potential.”
AirAsia expects to carry 150,000 people between Brisbane and Bangkok over the next year after it added its second Queensland destination to its network on Wednesday.
The new route allows the long-haul arm of the low-cost carrier, AirAsia X, to further strengthen its presence in Australia and is expected to provide an $A156 million boost to the Queensland economy over the next three years as well as support 600 jobs.
AirAsia has been flying to Queensland since 2007 when it began services between Gold Coast and Kuala Lumpur, and also flies to Avalon Airport near Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
“Australia remains a key market for AirAsia and with new aircraft on order we can continue to review potential future expansion opportunities where we witness the right levels of demand for great value, medium to long haul air travel,’’ AirAsia X Group chief executive Nadda Buranasiri said.
“In addition to attracting visitors to Brisbane, the new service will give locals a direct link to the bustling street markets, thriving nightlife and iconic temples of Thailand’s capital city as well as the stunning islands and beaches within easy reach of Bangkok.”
The new route comes after AirAsia last week revealed its new A330neo which will be based at Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport.
The airline is the first to operate the aircraft in Asia and said it would facilitate growth and network expansion plans to key markets such as Australia, Japan and South Korea.
It has 66 of the more fuel-efficient aircraft on order and two on lease.
Buranasiri said A330neo increased the airline’s ability to bring new destinations into play, with direct flights to Europe and the US now possible.
“We are working on many exciting network and product plans to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by this aircraft’s extended range and significant cost efficiencies, which will be announced in due course,” he said.
Established in 1993, Myanmar Airways International (MAI) has been recently awarded 7-star safety rating by AirlineRatings.com, the world’s only safety, and product rating agency.
MAI is the first and only recipient of the IATA Operational Safety Audit Program (IOSA) in Myanmar and has been able to maintain a 100 percent safety record since its inception.
The airline emphasizes safety as a pivotal part of its operations with its fleet operated and maintained by an internationally experienced team of skilled aviation personnel.
The airline currently operates scheduled service to Bangkok (BKK), Singapore (SIN), Guangzhou (CAN) and Kolkata (CCU) from its main base at Yangon International Airport (RGN) and the carrier’s fleet consist of Airbus A320 family aircraft.
It also has a seasonal service to Gaya which caters to religious pilgrim traffic. Overall, MAI has more than 5 percent of the international seat capacity in Myanmar.
As part of MAI’s ambitious growth plan, MAI resumed its expansion in 2019 and is on track to regain its former position as the largest competitor in the international market amongst Myanmar carriers.
MAI’s fleet plan includes four additional aircraft, which it hopes to put into service between Q3 and Q42019, with the aim of launching five new routes and grow international passenger traffic by more than 20 percent.
More rapid traffic growth in 2020 is likely, driven by the full year impact of the routes and aircraft added in 2H2019.
Through enhancement and deeper collaboration with its sister airlines, Air KBZ, MAI now offers seamless connectivity to 15 domestic destinations across Myanmar, including attractive leisure and business destination such as Mandalay (MDL), Heho (HEH) and Nay Pyi Taw (NYT).
MAI also has extensive codeshare and interline partners across the region, including SriLankan Airlines (UL), Garuda Indonesia (GA), Royal Brunei Airlines (BI) and many others – allowing passengers to connect to and from Myanmar effortlessly to regional destinations.
On other fronts, the carrier’s ground handling unit also was recently highlighted by its partners serving RGN, with All Nippon Airways (NH) and Cathay Dragon Airlines (KA) awarding Outstanding Operational Performance Award (for Southeast Asia) to MAI’s ground handling team.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was created to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world.
It sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency, and regularity, as well as for aviation environmental protection.
It has 8 audit parameters that pertain to safety and they are; Legislation, Organization, Licensing, Operations, Airworthiness, Accident Investigation, Air Navigation Service and Aerodromes.
If the country meets between 6 and 8 of the audits, one star is awarded to the airline. Five secures 1/2 star. However, if any of the criteria are below the average by less than 5 percent it is considered a pass.
The country of Myanmar now achieves a one-star rating for its oversight.
Myanmar Airways International has a perfect safety record in the modern era and is an IOSA – the International Air Transport Association Operation Safety Audit – audited airline.
IOSA was first introduced in 2003 to curb the disturbing trend in airline accidents that could be attributed to simple processes and maintenance programs.
Since it was introduced airlines that have completed IOSA have up to a three-fold safer safety record than airlines that do not do the audit.
Of significant importance to Airlineratings.com is that the audit is done every two years and covers over 1060 parameters.
AirlineRatings.com now awards an airline that has completed IOSA, three stars.
AirlineRatings.com Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas congratulated Myanmar Airways International (IATA code 8M) on this achievement.
“Myanmar Airways International is been a major part of the economic life of Myanmar,” said Thomas. “This is an excellent outcome and will help promote tourism to Myanmar.”
The other main safety criteria are; Is the airline on the European Union (EU) Blacklist; has it a fatality free record for the past 10 years and is the airline FAA (USA).
Displays below the monitor, known as the eXternal Visibility System (XVS), will provide the pilot with systems and trajectory data.
Two side portals and a traditional canopy that will help the pilot see the horizon.
“The XVS is one of several innovative solutions to help ensure the X-59’s design shape reduces a sonic boom to a gentle thump heard by people on the ground.
“Though not intended to ever carry passengers, the X-59 boom-suppressing technology and community response data could help lift current bans on supersonic flight over land and enable a new generation of quiet supersonic commercial aircraft.”
Work on the plane is already underway.
Parts for the new plane’s wing recently arrived at the Palmdale California production facility of NASA partner Lockheed Martin.
The X-Plane will fly at altitudes up to 55,000 feet and speeds up to 1.4 times the speed of sound.
The wing is designed to interact with other features of the aircraft, such as its long nose, top-mounted engine, and uniquely placed canards, to control the location and strength of shockwaves.
NASA says shockwaves from the aircraft’s surfaces are the main culprit behind the sonic boom and X-59 prevents them from merging.
The X-59 is not designed to carry passengers but will conduct a series of tests by flying over communities in the US. It is scheduled for delivery in 2021 and for flight tests from 2022.
The prediction is the thump heard by people on the ground will be no louder than a car door closing.
Lockheed Martin’s supersonic airliner concept alongside the X-59 Image: Lockheed
Lockheed Martin has signaled that it is looking at a twin-engine airliner that will carry up to 40 people at speeds of Mach 1.8 as a result of its work with NASA.
The aircraft would need newly-designed engines and the thinking is it would have a range of about 5200 nautical miles.
This would allow it to fly routes such as New York-London, Tokyo-Los Angeles, and Tokyo-Sydney.
The aircraft is still in the conceptual stage but would be a competitor to a 55-seat plane being designed by Boom Supersonic.
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