The Boeing 787 Dreamliner: Over 1000 Deliveries To Date

By admin

 

Boeing has now delivered over 1,000 of its 787 Dreamliner. This meant the 787 beat its predecessor, the 777, to the milestone by seven years. Meanwhile, circumstances surrounding the occasion may have led the planemaker to let it pass by without particular fanfare.

Over 500 orders before first delivery
Boeing has been on quite the journey with its Dreamliner program since it launched in 2004 with a firm order of 50 from All Nippon Airways (ANA). After years of delays caused by issues in the supply chain, worker strikes, and onboard electrical fires, the 787 took its first flight in December 2009. Boeing then finally delivered the new aircraft to ANA in September 2011.
The 787 was the first plane to pass the 500 order mark before the first delivery, as Boeing had already received 677 pre-orders. In 2013, a full 50 of the model were then grounded after the battery of a Japan Airlines 787 caught fire on the runway. However, when it all works, it is an amazing aircraft and a favorite of both airlines and passengers.

By the end of April this year, Boeing had delivered 1,003 of its 787 Dreamliners. Out of these, 376 are of the smallest 787-8 variant, 566 are 787-9s, and 61 are the stretched 787-10. The 787-9 also makes up the bulk of Boeing’s Dreamliner backlog, representing two-thirds of the 486 unfilled orders.

Germany restricts travel from the United Kingdom

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

The German Government is banning all but essential travel from the United Kingdom from Sunday amid concerns that a variant of COVID-19 first detected in India is circulating throughout the British population.

On Friday, Germany’s Ministry of Public Health declared Great Britain and Northern Ireland a virus variant region

Only German citizens or people holding resident status will be allowed to enter Germany from the United Kingdom from midnight tonight.

With the UK now classed as a coronavirus variant zone, anyone entering Germany from the UK must prove a negative PCR test taken no longer than 72 hours before arrival, or a rapid antigen test that was taken within 24 hours. These rules also apply to people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Germany wants to play it safe
As of Thursday, the UK has reported 3,424 cases of the B.1.617 Indian variant that is believed to be a more virulent strain that is more contagious than other variants.

The World Health Organization has called B.1.617 a mutation of concern despite having limited scientific knowledge of how transmissible it is.

When speaking about the quarantine decision newswire service Reuters quotes a German government source as saying:

“We want to play it safe during this important phase of the vaccination campaign; the entry of problematic mutations must be avoided as far as possible.”

Earlier in the pandemic, the big worry was the spread of the highly contagious and deadly B.1.1.7UK or Kent variant, which surged in the UK during December and is now the dominant strain of the virus in the United States. And it is not just the Kent and Indian variants that have health officials concerned, with the South Africa variant B.1.351 and Braziliant variant P.1 also present in the UK.

There is no evidence to suggest that the Indian or other mutations are more deadly than the original strain. The big worry, however, is that the variants are more easily transmissible.

This means a greater risk of people becoming infected and overwhelming the health system. As with the original version of COVID-19, the risk of getting severely ill is highest for the elderly and people with underlying health conditions.

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

Nigeria Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB has been given the mandate to lead the investigation into the cause of the Air Force Beechcraft 350 jet that killed the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, vLt General Ibrahim Attahiru.

This is the first time in recent past AIB is allowed to investigate a military plane crash

Disclosing this development yesterday, Mr Tunji Oketunbi, AIBGeneral Manager, Public Affairs stated,  “Nigerian Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, has been mandated by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to lead the Investigation into the crash of a military aircraft that occurred on Friday in Kaduna, in which the Chief of Army Staff died.”

“The Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) from the accidented Beechcraft 350 aircraft have been recovered and investigation has commenced.”

“Investigators will download and analyse vital information contained in the recorders at the AIB-N’s world class Flight Safety Laboratory, in Abuja.

“The crash, which occurred on landing, claimed 11 lives including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, his aides, and the flight crew.”

“The mandate given to AIB-N is based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the two agencies on July 1, 2020 covering areas of mutual assistance” Oketunbi revealed.

Beechcraft 350 Aircraft takeoff accidents crash twice in 3 months

By admin

On February 21, 2021 A Beechcraft 350 Super King Air crashed in Abuja, Nigeria killing 7 people.

Two deadly Beechcraft King Air accidents at the end of June 2019 helped propel aviation safety into one of its darkest periods on record.

The fact that both accidents occurred shortly after takeoff—and several recent similar events—might be cause for alarm for this popular twin turboprop, according to Per Second News

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters on Friday said bad weather was also responsible for the crash of a Nigerian Air Force Beachcraft 350 aircraft at the Kaduna International Airport that killed 10 people including the Army Chief, General Ibrahim Attahiru.

Since October 2014 there have been at least five King Air accidents during takeoff or initial climb.

During each of these events, including the two most recent crashes, the pilot lost control of the aircraft shortly after takeoff. In four of these events, the aircraft wreckage hit structures on or near an airport.

The crash on Friday in Kaduna occurred close to the airport after takeoff also.

On June 30, 2019, nine days after an Hawaii crash involving a Beechcraft 350 aircraft, another King Air 350 collided with a hangar and terrain after takeoff from Addison Airport in Texas. Two pilots, one an ATP and the other commercial-rated, and eight passengers died. The Part 91 cross-country flight was planned to depart Addison and fly to St. Petersburg, Florida.

According to the preliminary report, the takeoff and departure of the airplane were captured by several video cameras, radar, and observed by witnesses. One witness stated that as the aircraft went down the runway, “it seemed quieter than normal and sounded like it didn’t have sufficient power to takeoff.”

Emirates’ newest airbus A380 entered service

By admin

 

Emirates’ newest Airbus A380 entered service earlier this week, doubling the number of premium economy seats offered by the Dubai-based airline.

The aircraft is one of two set to be delivered to the airline this year, with only four A380 deliveries outstanding.

A year ago, the Airbus A380 was practically non-existent in our skies. In the 12 months since the giant has slowly returned to service. Most jets remain on the ground, although Emirates is slowly removing its jets from an extended stay on the ground as it increases its network and capacity.

Dubai-based giant Emirates has wasted no time putting its latest aircraft into service. The carrier received 118th Airbus A380 from Airbus last Wednesday.  The Upon delivery, the aircraft flew to Dubai, arriving on May 13th. Here, it will have undergone an entry to service check.

With the aircraft getting the all-clear, it has joined 19 other active Airbus A380s in the Emirates fleet. On Tuesday, the aircraft operated its first passenger flight, heading to Paris and back. On Wednesday and Thursday, Emirates flew Frankfurt and back the marking the first time that the airline’s new premium economy cabin had been flown to the German aviation hub

Today, the aircraft was given a slightly shorter flight to operate. The giant departed Dubai International Airport (DXB) at 16:02 as flight EK2803. Cruising at an altitude of 40,000 feet, the aircraft is expected to arrive in its neighboring country at 18:12. After a turnaround in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, the aircraft will return to its Dubai home.

Which Airbus A380 aircraft is Emirates currently flying?

According to ch-aviation.com, aside from A6-EVP, 19 other Emirates Airbus A380 aircraft are currently flying. The oldest of these is A6-EEU, with an age of 7.55 years, while the average age of the airline’s active A380s is 3.41 years old. This compares to an average age of 6.9 years across the entire fleet.

Of the airline’s 145 current Boeing 777 aircraft, 141 are currently active, with four stored according to ch-aviaiton.com’s fleet data. This means that the airline’s only option to add additional seats is to reactive further Airbus A380 aircraft. Emirates’ Airbus A380s count for 55% of the airline’s capacity, with 61,579 seats across the fleet. This compares to 48,522 seats on the Boeing 777 fleet

Emirates is set to take the last four Airbus A380s to be built over the next year. According to the current delivery plan, one more aircraft delivery is currently scheduled for 2021. The remaining three should join the airline in 2022  The A380 production line is set to be modified into an A320 family production line

How airlines navigate over, around conflict zones

By admin

Flying is statistically by far the safest means of transportation.

However, some parts of the world’s airspace are more precarious than others. From State-to-operator information and NOTAMs to concessions due to practicality, we take a look at what goes into route planning when conflicts need to be considered and what can happen when information is insufficient, or wires get crossed.

Last week, Israel redirected flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport due to the escalating conflict with Hamas. While the country has the most sophisticated missile defense system in the world, known as the Iron Dome, the decision was a reminder of the potentially tragic outcomes of civilian aircraft passing through or over zones of conflict.

From Korean Air Lines Flight KE007 and Iran Air IR655 to Malaysian Airlines MH17 and Ukraine International PS752 on this side of the century, misdirected fire sometimes leads to massive civilian casualties.

And yet, airlines sometimes continue to fly to and above areas of ongoing conflict and unrest. What precautions are taken to keep aircraft and passengers safe, and through what mechanisms are the decisions made?
ICAO regulations for State-to-operator
Most of the decisions on what routes to take are decided by airlines and pilots.

When planning a flight route, the on-ground planning team usually calculates the most fuel-efficient path depending on atmospheric conditions. Meanwhile, in certain parts of the world, they also need to take the situation on the ground into consideration, as well as potential ‘no-fly zones’.

There are international standards for sharing information on local and potentially precarious situations on the ground.

Accordingto the Chicago Treaty setting up the International Civilian Aviation Organisation (ICAO), its member states are obliged to ‘promptly communicate potential risks to safe and secure civil aviation operations in their sovereign or delegated airspace’.

This is done via what is called the Aviation Security Point of Contact (POC) Network, or through regional contingency mechanisms. The ICAO also has a specific document, numbered 10084, which outlines State-to-operator and State-to-State sharing procedures, as well as airline risk assessment.

NOTAMs

Updated conditions that could potentially affect the safety along the route are relayed to pilots via so-called NOTAMs (Notice to Airmen). These are generated and disseminated by government agencies and airport operators to staff and crew concerned with flight operations.

Other than immediate conflict and missile launches, they can inform of closed runways, bird flocks, lasers, military exercises, volcanic ash (specifically known as ASHTAM), software patches, and temporary flight restrictions due to passing head-of-state aircraft.

Safety depending on accurate information
Airlines also conduct their own security assessments, often by bringing in third-party consultant agencies. However, all well-informed decisions are based on access to reliable, accurate, and up-to-date information, such as what kind of weapon capabilities fighting groups in a given area have access to.

When this is not available, risk assessment can sometimes be flawed, as the tragic case of MH17 shot down over eastern Ukraine in July 2014 demonstrates.

The area over which the Boeing 777-200 was passing had a no-fly zone in place for up to 32,000 feet. The aircraft was cruising at 33,000 when a ground-to-air missile hit it, and all 283 passengers and 15 crew on board were killed.

At the same time, contingency plans must be in place for unscheduled events while flying over an area of uncertain conditions. For instance, when only certain flight paths and levels are advisable, such as over Somalia or Western Sahara.

What happens in case of an emergency, such as an engine failure or depressurization of the cabin?
Potential risk vs. practicality
Assessments can also differ from country to country and airline to airline. For instance, most national aviation agencies classify Syrian airspace as high risk due to the potential of missiles erroneously locking on to civilian aircraft, whether from military jets or ground-to-air. The FAA even warns that the threat is extended to neighboring flight information regions (FIRs) in the Eastern Mediterranean.

However, in 2019, Qatar Airways once more began flying through Syrian airspace on its routes from Doha to Beirut and Larnaca in an effort to cut down on detour times caused by the then two-year-long neighborhood blockade. At the time of the decision, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker told Reuters, while ensuring that the restored routes posed no safety issue, that,

“This is all about the blockade. We are blockaded, and so we have to find ways to fulfill the requirements of my country. It’s very simple.”

Dual ATC and pre-authorization
Generally, the Eastern Mediterranean is a tricky area to navigate. Due to the conflict and lack of recognition of sovereignty between the Greek and the Turkish part of Cyprus, pilots need to listen to air traffic controllers from both sides while diplomatically navigating the airspace above Nicosia.

Pivoting back to the air defense system of Israel, all aircraft must receive entry approval from Israeli ATC about 180 miles before entering the country’s airspace. Otherwise, they risk having an Israeli fighter jet outside of the windows, demanding identification and justification.

Something similar occurred in September 1983. Korean Air Lines Flight KE007 was on its way from New York to Seoul via Anchorage when it entered Soviet prohibited airspace due to a navigational mistake. The USSR forces mistook the unidentified 747-200 for a US spy plane and took it down with air-to-air missiles. All 246 passengers and 23 crew on board were killed.
When things go wrong.

The immediate loss of life is tragic in and of its own. Just as any casualty of war, the trauma reverberates and extends through generations. However, ‘mistaken identity’ shoot-downs also generate more tension between the actors involved or responsible. While only material, it may also cause revenue problems stemming from lack of overflight fees as airlines choose different routes.

Following the missile launch against Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752 by Iranian forces shortly after take-off from Tehran in January 2020, many carriers stopped flying over the country. Due to potential airstrikes in the broader area, carriers such as Lufthansa, Air France, Singapore Airlines, and Qantas all stopped flying over Iraqi and Irani airspace.

Earlier this year, Iran announced a plan to encourage foreign airlines to make use of the country’s airspace by providing incentive tariffs. Qatar Airways has increased its number of flights over Iran as a result, and discussions are ongoing with Turkish Airlines.

Flight PS752 is not the only tragedy to result from tensions between the US and countries in the region. In July 1988, Iran Air Flight 665 was traveling from Tehran to Dubai when it was shot down by a missile fired from the USS Vincennes. All 290 people on board the aircraft were killed.

The US insists that it misidentified the Airbus A300 as a possible enemy F-14 Tomcat and that it made over ten unanswered calls. Iran, on the other hand, says that the pilots identified themselves as civilian. The black box was never recovered.

Sirika assures Nigerians of national carrier come 2022

By Favour Nnabugwu

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has onc.e again assured Nigerians of the establishment of a national carrier as operations may commence in the first quarter of 2022

This is just as he said that the COVID-19 exposed certain economic vulnerabilities in the nation due to its lack of having very strong, viable airline.

Sirika who responded to questions from State House correspondents after a virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja said the new national airline was overdue while the 2021 will be used to do the needful.

According to him, the Ministry would return to the council in two weeks to submit a memo with an outline business case for the council’s approval

He said, “It is still on top gear; we are coming back to council; hopefully in the next two weeks to present the memo on the national carrier. We went to council to approve the outline business case for the carrier; then, the council raised some questions and asked us to go and look at the memo again and bring it back.

“So, once it comes back and the outline business case is approved by council, we will go to the full business case which is now going to the market and establishing the national carrier.

“It is our intention to have the national carrier running in 2021, which is this year; unfortunately, due to COVID-19, which took the greater part of last year, since March last year, activities have almost been impossible.’’

He said that though the pandemic negatively affected civil aviation, in terms of establishment of the national carrier, it made it a much better time to establish the carrier than before.

Sirika also expressed confidence that the airline would have speedy access to equipment for operations and at a cheap rate and stressed that the national airline is needed because Nigeria not only has the population but is at equi-distant from all locations

According to Sirika, Nigeria has a massive market and population to sustain an airline.

He said that updates would be provided on the progress of the project after the next presentation to FEC.

“The COVID-19 has exposed the nation; lack of having very strong, viable airline is bad for the economy of Nigeria and for any country for that matter; tourism for example is badly affected by lack of airline.

“Finally, to just say that Nigeria is the best candidate to have an airline; 200 million people that travel sometimes almost for nothing, sitting within the West African Region, 400million people; contiguous to Central Africa, 600million.

“Twice the population of the US; equal to the population of entire continental Europe; at the centre of Africa, Nigeria, equal distance from all locations; rising middle class, propensity to fly is high; Nigeria is the best candidate for a very robust carrier.

“ In this 2021, we will try to do all the needful and probably intend to start operations somewhere in the first quarter of 2022,’’ he said.

Aviation union, join NLC shut down Kaduna Airport

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

Aviation unions under the aegis of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) today joined the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) shut down Kaduna Airport in compliance with the strike action declared organised labour against  Kaduna State Government.

Kaduna airport workers were seen on Monday barricading the gates of the airports in compliance with the industrial action which started from midnight of Sunday, 16th May 2021 to midnight of Friday, 21st May 2021 and chanting solidarity songs.

According to the union, the reason was not unconnected to flouting the civil service laws and unconstitutional sacking of civil servants before they serve their mandatory 35 years or reach 60 years age limit.

First Deputy National President of NUATE, Comrade Salisu Lawal representing national president said the essence of NUATE joining in the strike is in solidarity to the workers of Kaduna state because an injustice to one is an injustice to all.

“If you are sacking people more than five you have to sit down and negotiate. He first sacked over 2, 500 local government workers and the labour laws state that if you are sacking more than five you have to sit down and talk with them on how to pay redundancy, they didn’t do that.

Comrade Lawal questioned why Kaduna which has one of the highest Internally Generated Reenue (IGR) is refusing to do what is right stating that the solidarity is going to continue till Friday there is another directive from the NLC.

General Secretary, NUATE, Comrade Ocheme Aba, who was in Kaduna to join efforts at the industrial action added,”What is important is when you go home and your wife and children ask why you are doing this you can explain very well.

The Kaduna state government has violated several laws Section 20 of the labour Act provides that if you are going to declare workers redundant compulsory it is first of all you must show good reason why you want to carry out the redundancy and second if you show good reason, and their unions agree with you then you must negotiate their redundancy benefits.

“Don’t forget not terminal benefits but redundancy benefits don’t forget terminal benefits are already established by the conditions of service. That’s not subject to negotiation, you pay the terminal benefit then you pay the negotiated redundancy benefits so he has not done any of that.

“He has violated public service rules that state that a worker is entitled to work for 35 years or till 60 years whichever comes first. He has unilaterally fixed 50 years.

United Nigeria Airlines adds more schedule to Lagos, Abuja

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

United Nigeria Airlines says effective Friday, May 7, 2021,it has increased flight frequency from the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MM2) in Ikeja, Lagos into the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja and vice versa.

The airline, with the development, will additionally fly Lagos-Abuja at 16:00hrs every day. United Nigeria Airlines will also, additionally, fly Abuja-Lagos every day at 17:30hrs

The new schedule adds to United Nigeria Airlines regular schedule on the Lagos-Abuja-Lagos route which emanates from MM2 at 13:00hrs and from Abuja at 14:30hrs.

 

Air Peace Orders The Embraer E195-E2

By Favour Nnabugwu

 

Air Peace will soon take delivery of its third Embraer E195-E2. With a total order of 13, there are still many more of these jets yet to arrive at the airline

The regional jet, configured by Air Peace with 124 seats across two classes, offers a modern and efficient aircraft. With fuel being a major operating cost for any airline, Air Peace had fuel burn-efficiency high on the priority list.

As part of a public statement issued when the airline boosted its order from 10 to 13, Onyema said that he and his team were receiving “impressive data about the aircraft’s economics” after the aircraft entered revenue service. “This was a driver to place this new firm order with Embraer,” Onyema explained.

Before the global crisis, Air Peace had been operating more than 20 local, regional, and international routes. With this in mind, it had strategic plans to expand those routes.

On the regional front with its African operations, Air Peace Chairman and CEO Allen Onyema sees the E195-E2 as the perfect aircraft. The airline chief says the jet furthers its “no-city-left-behind initiative,” which has the goal of enhancing connectivity in Nigeria and the African region.

In addition to connecting Nigeria and Africa, the jets will also be used to connect to the carrier’s international hub at Lagos. In doing so, the E195-E2s will feed Air Peace’s long-haul flights- operated by Boeing 777s.

Air Peace’s CEO also cited the aircraft’s ‘unique configuration’ as another major reason for ordering the E195-E2. In addition to being the very first African carrier to operate the type, the airline is also the global launch customer for Embraer’s innovative premium staggered seating design.

As shown below, this configuration gives every passenger direct aisle access by offsetting each seat from the one next to it. Business class passengers are thus able to enter and leave their seats without disturbing their seat neighbors.

Adding more Embraer jets to the fleet
Air Peace already has Embraer regional jets in its fleet in the form of eight ERJ-145s. While over 20 years separate the development of these jets and the new E195-E2s, there will be a handful of similarities in how the two types operate.

More importantly, however, is the simplicity in having just one planemaker to deal with in terms of service and support for Air Peace’s regional aircraft fleet.