Aviation Safety

US aviation admin issues safety alert over Boeing 737 jammed rudder

The National Transportation Safety Board on Sept. 26 issued urgent safety recommendations to Boeing and the FAA after investigating the potential for rudder issues in some 737 airplanes

DGCA orders safety risk assessment for B737 planes amid rudder concerns

The DGCA stated that all flight crews involved in B737 planes must be informed, through a circular or advisory, about the possibility of a jammed or restricted rudder control system

Air India's new fatigue policy under fire: Is pilot safety at risk?

Under the new policy, fatigue reports will be reviewed by multiple departments, and if deemed unsubstantiated, will be marked as 'sick'

London bound Air India flight returns to Mumbai due to technical glitch

Air India has promised the passengers cancellation and complimentary rescheduling to another date

10 killed as 2 Malaysian military choppers collide and crash while training

Two Malaysian military helicopters collided and crashed during a training session on Tuesday, killing all 10 people on board, the navy said. The helicopters were rehearsing at a naval base in northern Perak state for the navy's 90th anniversary celebration next month when the accident occurred, the navy said in a brief statement. All victims were confirmed dead on site," it said, adding that the remains have been sent to the hospital to be identified. Seven crew members were aboard the AW139 maritime operation helicopter, the navy said. That aircraft is produced by AgustaWestland, which is a subsidiary of the Italian defence contractor Leonardo. Three other crew members were on a Fennec lightweight helicopter, manufactured by European multinational defense conglomerate Airbus. Local media reported that the AW139 crashed at a sports complex at the naval base, while the Fennec hit a nearby swimming pool. The navy said it will launch an investigation to determine what caused the

Haneda airport incident: DGCA issues notice to prevent runway incursions

To prevent instances of runway incursions at airports, aviation watchdog DGCA has asked stakeholders to put in place a runway safety team at all airports and adopt technologies to improve situational awareness, among other measures. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a circular in view of the collision of planes due to runway incursion at the Haneda airport in Japan last month. Apart from establishing a runway safety team at all aerodromes and ensuring their effective functioning, the regulator has emphasised on comprehensive training for pilots, air traffic controllers, aircraft maintenance engineers, and drivers operating inside an airport. Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) should ensure that stop bars are switched on to signal a stop and switched off to indicate traffic may proceed. In no case, aircraft or vehicles be instructed to cross illuminated red stop bars, DGCA said in a release on Monday. Further, the watchdog said that aerodromes, ATCs and airline

FAA approves inspection process to clear way for grounded Boeing planes

Federal regulators have approved an inspection process that will let airlines resume flying their Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners, which have been grounded since a side panel blew out of a plane in midflight earlier this month. The head of the Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday that his agency's review of the scary incident on board an Alaska Airlines Boeing jet gave him confidence to clear a path for the planes to fly again. The official, Mike Whitaker, said the FAA would not agree to any Boeing request to expand production of Max planes until the agency is satisfied that quality-control concerns have been addressed. This won't be back to business as usual for Boeing, Whitaker vowed. The production limits will apply only to the Max, of which there are currently two models, the 8 and the 9. Boeing builds about 30 a month but has wanted to raise production for some time. Boeing said it will work with the FAA and the airlines to get the grounded planes back in the air. We wi

Flight to sustainability

Sustainable aviation fuel has promise

DGCA suspends Air India's chief of flight safety, alleges lapses

Regulator takes action against Rajeev Gupta after two major safety violations at the airline in the last couple of months

Aviation safety experts claim fire-safety lapse at Chennai Airport

Aviation safety experts have claimed that the newly commissioned terminal at Anna International Airport in Chennai has a "grave" fire safety violation and have raised the issue with its director and the Airport Authority of India. They claimed the emergency exits of the terminal are "sealed", which an airport source said was ostensibly was security reasons, and warned it could lead to a tragedy like the 1997 Uphaar Cinema fire that killed 59 people. Capt Amit Singh, who runs NGO Safety Matters Foundation, recently wrote to the Airport Authority of India (AAI), the Anna International Airport Director and the fire department in Chennai in this regard. According to him, the security hold area of the international departure hall at the newly commissioned New Integrated Terminal Building has not complied with fire safety norms mandated by regulations. When contacted, none of the stakeholders - AAI, the airport director or the Chennai fire department - responded. While EXIT signs have

Airports should develop resilience strategy to mitigate climate risk: Study

Airports should conduct periodic vulnerability assessments and develop a resilience strategy as well as collaborate with insurers to mitigate climate risk, according to a study. The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) initiated the global study on disaster resilience of airports and various airports were surveyed. Airports which conduct periodic vulnerability assessments are anticipating lower impact on their organisation as compared to airports without a periodic assessment practice, it said, adding that airports should engage local and regional stakeholders for increasing airport resilience practices. "Airports should conduct periodic vulnerability assessments and develop a resilience strategy," the study said. Further, it noted that airports should move towards a more proactive approach rather than reactive towards hazard management and resilience planning. "Airports and insurers should collaborate to mitigate climate risk, this will be mutually beneficial."

UN aviation body rejects SpiceJet claim, says it didn't inspect airline

Budget carrier said on Dec 5 its safety processes were found in order 'following an exhaustive audit conducted by the ICAO'

IndiGo, SpiceJet international flights diverted due to technical glitches

Failure in one of IndiGo aircraft's hydraulic systems, caution light indication in SpiceJet plane's cockpit cause diversion

Single-pilot operations only after thorough investigation, EASA says

European Aviation Safety Agency's proposal draws flak from pilots who say it is too risky

India's aviation safety rank to improve after UN agency audit: DGCA

Says country fared well in ICAO audit of Nov 9-16 covering legislation, licensing, operations, airworthiness, among other areas; India was placed below Pakistan and Nepal an earlier exercise

Hyderabad incident: DGCA orders engine inspection of SpiceJet 14 Q400 plane

On October 12, a SpiceJet Q400 plane with 86 passengers on board conducted an emergency landing in Hyderabad as smoke was detected in the cabin when it was mid-air

Akasa Air grounds B737 Max aircraft after noticing engine fuel leak

Carrier operating with three planes, will source spare parts to repair the engine fuel pump

Fire in AI Express plane's engine at Muscat airport; 151 people evacuated

As many as 141 passengers were evacuated from an Air India Express plane at Muscat airport on Wednesday following a smoke warning, according to an airline source. The incident happened while the Kochi-bound Boeing 737-800 aircraft was taxiing and after the warning, the passengers were evacuated as a precautionary measure, the source said. There were 141 passengers and six crew members onboard the aircraft that was operating flight IX 442, the source said. Aviation regulator DGCA will probe the incident, according to an official. Alternative arrangements are being made to bring the passengers from Muscat to Kochi, the source said.

Can your pilot go off to sleep in the cockpit midair? Yes, but...

Both pilots of Ethiopian Airlines dozed off, missing the landing and causing safety concern

DGCA issues guidelines to prevent hits by bird, other animals at airports

It said that all airport operators are requested to review their wildlife hazard management programme to identify the gaps and ensure its strict implementation in and in the vicinity of an aerodrome.