The French BEA issued an update on the September 2017 uncontained engine failure over Greenland involving an Air France Airbus A380.
Part from the fan hub recently recovered from Greenland has been examined by the manufacturer Engine Alliance under BEA supervision. Metallurgical examination of the recovered titanium fan hub fragment identified a subsurface fatigue crack origin. The fracture was initiated in a microtextured area approximately in the middle of the slot bottom.
Examination of the fracture is ongoing. Meanwhile, Engine Alliance announced to the concerned A380 operators that an engine inspection campaign will be launched soon.

Filed under: Uncategorized by Harro Ranter
Comments Off on Engine Alliance to start engine inspection campaign over A380 uncontained engine failure

Filed under: Uncategorized by Harro Ranter
Comments Off on NTSB: Cessna Caravan stalled during go-around in Bethel, Alaska, accident

The U.S. FAA issued a NOTAM warning U.S. pilots that flights are not permitted in the overwater area of the Tehran Flight Information Region, Iran, until further notice, due to heightened military activities and increased political tensions.

Filed under: Uncategorized by Harro Ranter
Comments Off on FAA issues Notam prohibiting flights over parts of Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman

The Instituto de la Aeronáutica Civil de Cuba (IACC) reported that it had completed their investigation into the May 2018 accident involving a Global Air Boeing 737-200, citing errors in weight an balance calculations.

The Global Air Boeing 737-200, operating on Cubana de Aviación flight 972 from Havana to Holguín, Cuba, crashed shortly after takeoff on May 18. 2018. The aircraft came down in vegetation near a railway outside the airport, broke up and burst into flames. There were 107 passengers on board along with six Mexican crew members. One passenger survived the accident.

On May 16, the Instituto de la Aeronáutica Civil de Cuba (IACC) reported that it had completed their investigation. The authorities did not share any details and just reported that the probable cause of the accident “were the actions of the crew and their errors in the weight and balance calculations, which led to the loss of control and collapse of the aircraft during the takeoff stage”

A Global Air official earlier had reported that the aircraft had attained an extreme nose-up attitude during takeoff, which would suggest the centre of gravity was aft of the aircraft’s limits.

Filed under: Uncategorized by Harro Ranter
Comments Off on Cuba: Crash of Global Air Boeing 737-200 at Havana due to errors in weight and balance calculations

The FAA issued a warning to U.S. civil pilots to ‘exercise caution’ when operating in the airspace above the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman due to tensions in the region.

Iran has publicly made threats to U.S. military operations in the Gulf region. In addition, the FAA states that Iran possesses a wide variety of anti-aircraft-capable weapons, including surface-to-air missile systems (SAMs), man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) and fighter aircraft that are capable of conducting aircraft interception operations. Some of the anti-aircraft-capable
weapons have ranges that encompass key international air routes over the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Additionally, Iran recently conducted a military exercise in the region,
demonstrating their unmanned aircraft system (UAS) capabilities.
The FAA continues that although Iran likely has no intention to target civil aircraft, the presence of multiple long-range, advanced anti-aircraft capable weapons in a tense environment poses a possible risk of miscalculation or misidentification, especially during periods of heightened political tension and rhetoric.
There is also the potential for Iran to increase their use of Global Positioning System (GPS) jammers and other communication jamming capabilities, which may affect U.S. civil aviation operating in overwater airspace over the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

More information:
Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) KICZ A0015/19

Filed under: Uncategorized by Harro Ranter
Comments Off on FAA issues warning for airspace above the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has issued flight restrictions for U.S. aircraft in Venezuelan airspace due to ‘increasing political instability’.

The FAA prohibits flights below FL260.

Filed under: Uncategorized by Harro Ranter
Comments Off on FAA issues flight restrictions over Venezuela

Filed under: Uncategorized by Harro Ranter
Comments Off on ATR 72-600 veers off runway on landing in thunderstorm at Taichung, Taiwan

On April 17, 2019 the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) extended the validity of the conflict zone warnings for Iraq and Syria to 25 October 2019.

Filed under: Uncategorized by Harro Ranter
Comments Off on EASA extends conflict zone warning for Iraqi and Syrian airspace

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a draft report from the Boeing 737 MAX Flight Standardization Board, after reviewing changes made by Boeing to the aircraft’s Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). Design issues of the MCAS were noted in the wake of two fatal Boeing 737 MAX 8 accidents.

The Flight Standardization Board reviewed only the training aspects related to software enhancements to the aircraft, stating the “system was found to be operationally suitable”.

The report is open to public comment for 14 days. After that, the FAA will review those comments before making a final assessment. Boeing Co. is still expected in the coming weeks to submit the final software package for certification.

Filed under: Uncategorized by Harro Ranter
Comments Off on FAA publishes draft report on Boeing 737 MAX MCAS changes

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a new Notam, prohibiting flights for certain U.S. aircraft in a specific area of the Libyan airspace.

The FAA reported that is concerned about increased tensions associated with the current conflict for control of the capital, Tripoli. Libya National Army (LNA) forces have begun operations aimed at seizing control of Tripoli, including Tripoli International Airport.  The Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), with support of militias, has conducted counterattacks, including tactical airstrikes on LNA forces. LNA has declared a military zone and is threatening to shoot down aircraft operating in Western Libya. 

Both GNA and advancing LNA forces have access to advanced man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) and likely anti-aircraft artillery.  These ground-based weapon systems present a risk to aircraft, but only at altitudes below FL300.  LNA forces have tactical aircraft capable of intercepting aircraft at altitudes at and above FL300 within the self-declared military zone in Western Libya, which may present an inadvertent risk to civil aviation operations in Western Libya.  While the LNA tactical aircraft threat is likely intended for GNA military aircraft, an inadvertent risk remains for civil aviation at all altitudes due to potential miscalculation or misidentification. This risk necessitates an all-altitude flight prohibition for a specific geographic area West of 17 degrees east longitude and North of 29 degrees north latitude in the Tripoli FIR.

Filed under: Uncategorized by Harro Ranter
Comments Off on FAA issues new Notam, prohibiting U.S. aircraft to use part of Libyan airspace