General Aviation Thread

[Sandhi Yudha]

Meanwhile in Kaapstad, South-Africa....

One of the doors of a British Airways Boeing 777 ripped off at Cape Town

A strange incident occurred at Cape Town airport in South Africa this Wednesday, 26 January 2022. A British Airways Boeing 777-200ER registered G-YMMH was

www.aviation24.be

Investigation is still on progress, but according to some sources on the internet, it happened when the aircraft was being pushed back for departure with the door still open and the aviobridge still attached to the aircraft.

There have to be so many things going wrong.
- How is it possible that the flightcrew thinks that the door is closed and the aviobridge is de-attached?
- Did the flightcrew checked the indicators of the doors on the instrument panel in the cockpit?
- How is it possible that the technician and the pushback-truck operators did not saw that the door was still open and the aviobridge was still attached?


(Image taken from the article)

 

[ngatimozart]

Meanwhile in Kaapstad, South-Africa....

One of the doors of a British Airways Boeing 777 ripped off at Cape Town

A strange incident occurred at Cape Town airport in South Africa this Wednesday, 26 January 2022. A British Airways Boeing 777-200ER registered G-YMMH was

www.aviation24.be

Investigation is still on progress, but according to some sources on the internet, it happened when the aircraft was being pushed back for departure with the door still open and the aviobridge still attached to the aircraft.

There have to be so many things going wrong.
- How is it possible that the flightcrew thinks that the door is closed and the aviobridge is de-attached?
- Did the flightcrew checked the indicators of the doors on the instrument panel in the cockpit?
- How is it possible that the technician and the pushback-truck operators did not saw that the door was still open and the aviobridge was still attached?


(Image taken from the article)

Saw that on Facebook. Someone is going to get a please explain what happened and why you should keep your job. It's a very expensive stuff up and neither the airline, nor the airport will be happy.

Wonder if they will accept a dollar down and a dollar a week out of the culprit's pay in restitution.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Saw that on Facebook. Someone is going to get a please explain what happened and why you should keep your job. It's a very expensive stuff up and neither the airline, nor the airport will be happy.

Wonder if they will accept a dollar down and a dollar a week out of the culprit's pay in restitution.

Yes, i don't want to know how much the damage on aircraft and aviobridge costs.
A new door is already not cheap, but there is maybe also some structural damage on the fuselage of the aircraft.

Besides that all the passengers, luggage and cargo need to be transfered to another flight, this will cause delay for hoursm which may have to be financially compensated to the passengers.



Here some aviation news from India.

India's national carrier, Air India, has been officially handed over to the Tata Group, which bought the debt-ridden airline in October last year for nearly $2,4bn (£1,7bn).

Air India: Tata Group takes over loss-making national carrier

India's iconic national carrier has officially been handed over to its original founders, the Tata Group.

www.bbc.com

 

[the concerned]

I have just been reading about company's looking to air cargo more as shipping costs soar. Is it time to relook at extremely large airships for carrying freight.

 

[ngatimozart]

I have just been reading about company's looking to air cargo more as shipping costs soar. Is it time to relook at extremely large airships for carrying freight.

The marine shipping cost increase is a temporary thing due to the pandemic with the negative impacts upon the supply chain due to lockdowns etc., and container shortages. Once things start settling down and and the balance returns to manufacturing maritime logistics, the freight rates will drop. That will be in our new post pandemic normal.

 

[Ananda]

Video

fb.watch

From Boeing FB on their 777-8F (Freighter) that just firm order from Qatar Airways as launch customer.

It's interesting development in my opinion as Boeing so far got problem to attract market for 777-8 compared to 777-9. Something similar with Airbus on A330 Neo where market mostly taking A330-900 then A330-800.

Both 777-8 and A330-800 are long range variant but with lower seat capacity. It is more on niche market for Airlines that handle long range intercontinental routes but with relatively thin market. On case of 777-8, Boeing CEO himself already talking for 787-10 HGW development. As Boeing see that 777-8 attraction to market being surpass by its newer stable mate.

So, if not enough traction for passanger, then convert that to Long range freighter. Something that in that market, Boeing still shown market lead toward Airbus. Also with the growth of cargo business that surpassed passanger ones, for foreseeable future Boeing need to secure it's lead on the segment.

 

[John Fedup]

Video

fb.watch

From Boeing FB on their 777-8F (Freighter) that just firm order from Qatar Airways as launch customer.

It's interesting development in my opinion as Boeing so far got problem to attract market for 777-8 compared to 777-9. Something similar with Airbus on A330 Neo where market mostly taking A330-900 then A330-800.

Both 777-8 and A330-800 are long range variant but with lower seat capacity. It is more on niche market for Airlines that handle long range intercontinental routes but with relatively thin market. On case of 777-8, Boeing CEO himself already talking for 787-10 HGW development. As Boeing see that 777-8 attraction to market being surpass by its newer stable mate.

So, if not enough traction for passanger, then convert that to Long range freighter. Something that in that market, Boeing still shown market lead toward Airbus. Also with the growth of cargo business that surpassed passanger ones, for foreseeable future Boeing need to secure it's lead on the segment.

I wonder if Boeing has started to realize that offering a 767 based AAR jet again against the Airbus Lockheed 330 in the next tanker bid with fly? Perhaps a 777-8F tanker could be an option but after the cluster-F so far, going with another Boeing concept will be a tough sell. Still, could be a way to increase the success for the 777-8.

 

[Ananda]

Perhaps a 777-8F tanker could be an option but after the cluster-F so far, going with another Boeing concept will be a tough sell

Question is, KC-46 supposedly replacing both KC-135 and KC-10. Thus improve operability of USAF Tankers fleet toward one type only. If they are looking for another tanker type base on 777-8, then they are back with two type of tankers fleet again.

 

[John Fedup]

Question is, KC-46 supposedly replacing both KC-135 and KC-10. Thus improve operability of USAF Tankers fleet toward one type only. If they are looking for another tanker type base on 777-8, then they are back with two type of tankers fleet again.

Ideally, a single tanker fleet makes sense in terms of operability which is why the A330 should have been selected in the first place as well as being more suitable for the vast Pacific region. Now two types are likely (unless Boeing is prepared to lose more money on heavily discounted KC-46s). The A330 based MRTT, a proven product with more capacity or an alternative Boeing jet with even more capacity but unproven. Given Boeing’s performance of late, the USAF likely prefers the A330 over another Boeing concept. Pollies will make the decision however. Lobbyists from SC and Alabama are likely preparing for battle.

 

[Ananda]

LMXT: Fueling the Future | Our LMXT offering for the United States Air Force will be built in Georgia and Alabama and extend our 60+ year history of delivering tankers to U.S. and... | By Lockheed Martin - Facebook

Our LMXT offering for the United States Air Force will be built in Georgia and Alabama and extend our 60+ year history of delivering tankers to U.S. and...

fb.watch

Sometimes I forget on this one. Airbus has learn that having big US defense contractor is a must to enter US defense project, especially big one.

The Southern States going to be fighting for this one, as you have put.

Lobbyists from SC and Alabama are likely preparing for battle.

However if that happens, is that means two types of Tankers as before (instead one as KC-46 supposedly be) ? Logically LM can argue that reliance on one contractor only for whole USAF Tankers fleet can provide some level of risk, then two contractors. It will be interesting to see how Boeing going to fight. If that happens perhaps the scenario for MRTT based 777-8 can be add into the competition mix. However I think Boeing going to fight for KC-46 first.

 

[John Fedup]

LMXT: Fueling the Future | Our LMXT offering for the United States Air Force will be built in Georgia and Alabama and extend our 60+ year history of delivering tankers to U.S. and... | By Lockheed Martin - Facebook

Our LMXT offering for the United States Air Force will be built in Georgia and Alabama and extend our 60+ year history of delivering tankers to U.S. and...

fb.watch

Sometimes I forget on this one. Airbus has learn that having big US defense contractor is a must to enter US defense project, especially big one.

The Southern States going to be fighting for this one, as you have put.



However if that happens, is that means two types of Tankers as before (instead one as KC-46 supposedly be) ? Logically LM can argue that reliance on one contractor only for whole USAF Tankers fleet can provide some level of risk, then two contractors. It will be interesting to see how Boeing going to fight. If that happens perhaps the scenario for MRTT based 777-8 can be add into the competition mix. However I think Boeing going to fight for KC-46 first.

At this point, I doubt having two tanker types would be a major concern for the USAF given the problems they had will a single vendor plus it is a road they have already travelled. The larger MRTT or Boeing 777-? could be dedicated to the Pacific where it’s extra range and fuel load will important and the existing KC-46 could be utilized elsewhere. As for Boeing only offering the KC-46, even if they sort all its issues, a larger tanker for the Pacific really is needed.

 

[swerve]

Question is, KC-46 supposedly replacing both KC-135 and KC-10. Thus improve operability of USAF Tankers fleet toward one type only. If they are looking for another tanker type base on 777-8, then they are back with two type of tankers fleet again.

KC-135 was a unique type (albeit sharing history with the Boeing 707) & every example is old. The DC-10 was built in relatively small numbers & apart from the KC-10 hardly any are still flying.

The 767 & A330 are in service in large numbers & still selling, especially the A330. There are worldwide support systems for them. They should be much easier to support than either the KC-135 or KC-10.

 

[John Fedup]

Netflix has a pretty damning documentary (Downfall) about Boeing’s management culture after the merger with McConnell-Douglas which converted the company from a engineering driven firm into a financial pumped up stock firm. Engineering excellence and quality gave away to improved margins in order to please Wall Street. Both the 787 and 737 MAX debacles were the result. The KC-46 FOD issue apparently wasn’t the only jet with crap left behind during manufacture. A great company ruined by greed. No wonder the Pentagon has finally raised the alarm about mergers in the defence industry. I am sure the MRTT is looking pretty good now to the USAF.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Netflix has a pretty damning documentary (Downfall) about Boeing’s management culture after the merger with McConnell-Douglas which converted the company from a engineering driven firm into a financial pumped up stock firm. Engineering excellence and quality gave away to improved margins in order to please Wall Street. Both the 787 and 737 MAX debacles were the result. The KC-46 FOD issue apparently wasn’t the only jet with crap left behind during manufacture. A great company ruined by greed. No wonder the Pentagon has finally raised the alarm about mergers in the defence industry. I am sure the MRTT is looking pretty good now to the USAF.

You mean this one?

Design errors, shortcuts, blaming others for Boeing own mistakes, hiding it from the FAA, a lot went wrong the last years at Boeing.

 

[John Fedup]

You mean this one?

Design errors, shortcuts, blaming others for Boeing own mistakes, hiding it from the FAA, a lot went wrong the last years at Boeing.

The documentary makes a reasonable argument the problem has been ongoing for over two decades starting with the merger with M-D. The fact the merger had the former CEO of M-D, a company on the ropes, as the new leader for the new Boeing, WTF could possibly go wrong? Apparently a lot, starting with a really ugly new corporate culture.

 

[John Fedup]

You mean this one?

Design errors, shortcuts, blaming others for Boeing own mistakes, hiding it from the FAA, a lot went wrong the last years at Boeing.

Yes, just started on Netflix Canada this week (might have been earlier, there is so much new content arriving it is hard to keep track).

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Yes, just started on Netflix Canada this week (might have been earlier, there is so much new content arriving it is hard to keep track).

A couple of years ago this report/documentary was made about the 787. There were no fatal accidents with 787s because of design faults or assembly errors, as far as i know, but if even Boeing employees have doubts about their product and do not dare to fly in these Boeings, then it means there are a lot of things wrong with the aeroplanes and the production process.

 

[ngatimozart]

Yes, just started on Netflix Canada this week (might have been earlier, there is so much new content arriving it is hard to keep track).

Watched it last night. Quite damning really and it appears that the Boeing corporate management have a lot to answer for. The FOD problem certainly appears to now be a Boeing wide problem with it being in the KC-46 program. Hopefully it isn't in the P-8A builds but after watching that program I am almost expecting it.

 

[John Fedup]

Watched it last night. Quite damning really and it appears that the Boeing corporate management have a lot to answer for. The FOD problem certainly appears to now be a Boeing wide problem with it being in the KC-46 program. Hopefully it isn't in the P-8A builds but after watching that program I am almost expecting it.

Haven’t heard about any FOD in 737 variants so hopefully the P-8s are ok. Would be interesting to know which area the problem is more significant at, SC or WA?

 

[John Fedup]

If confirmed, the destruction of the An225 is a sad end to an incredible aircraft. Hard to understand why such a valuable asset would have been destroyed by Russian forces and even harder to understand why it wasn’t flown to somewhere in Europe.


World's largest plane reportedly destroyed in Ukraine
World's largest plane reportedly destroyed in Ukraine