PLANET OF AVIATION GALAXY

EASA orders wing checks on 20 A380s

2012-01-23T00:34:00.001+08:00

European safety regulators have ordered inspection of 20 Airbus A380s to check for wing rib-foot damage, following the discovery of two different forms of cracks in the structure.

The aircraft affected are early-delivery airframes comprising 10 with Singapore Airlines, seven with Emirates, one with Air France and two Airbus test A380s.In an airworthiness directive the European Aviation Safety Agency has ordered operators to conduct a detailed visual inspection of "certain" wing rib feet, and to report findings to Airbus.The inspections are required within four days, if the A380 has already carried out 1,800 flights, and within six weeks if it has performed over 1,300 flights.

Any operator discovering cracks in the rib feet are required to contact Airbus for instructions.
EASA's directive follows the initial discovery of rib-foot cracks in a Qantas A380 - the aircraft involved in the November 2010 engine failure - and the subsequent discovery of a "more significant" and "new form" of rib-foot crack in a different aircraft, said the authority.While the earlier rib-foot cracks originated from the rib to skin panel attachment holes, EASA said, the new form of crack originates from the forward and aft edges of the L-shaped rib foot's vertical section."It has been determined that the [new type of] cracks may develop on other aeroplanes after a period of time in service," the directive states. The inspections are an "interim" measure, it adds, and further mandatory actions "might be considered".

EASA's directive takes effect on 24 January. It has not been classified as an emergency action.

INFORMATION IS COLLECTED FROM FLIGHT GLOBAL.COM

AIRBUS VS BOEING

2012-01-23T00:26:00.000+08:00

NOW AIRBUS IS PLANNED TO INTRODUCE THE A 320-NEO

The Airbus A320neo is a series of enhanced versions of A320 family under development by Airbus. The letters "neo" stand for "New Engine Option". The main change is the use of the larger and more efficient engines which results in 15% less fuel consumption, 8% lower operating costs, less noise production and a reduction of NOx by 50% compared to the A320 series according to Airbus. Customers will have a choice of either the CFM International LEAP-X or the Pratt & Whitney PW1000G. The airframe will also receive some modifications, including the addition of "Sharklet" wingtips to reduce drag and interiour modifications for the passengers comfort such as larger luggage spaces and an improved air purification system.

Artist's conception of the AIRBUS 320-NEO

WHILE BOEING PLANNED TO INTRODUCE THE NEXT GENERATION OF B 737-MAX...

The Boeing 737 MAX is a new family of aircraft being developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes to replace the Boeing 737 Next Generation family. The primary change will be the use of the larger and more efficient CFM International LEAP-1B engines. The airframe is to receive some modifications as well. The 737 MAX is scheduled for first delivery in 2017, 50 years after the 737 first flew.

Artist's conception of the Boeing 737 MAX

AIRCRAFT PARTS MOVEMENT

2011-12-08T16:07:00.000+08:00

AIRCRAFT PARTS MOVEMENT

2011-12-01T20:46:00.000+08:00

AIRCRAFT LEADING EDGE MOVEMENT

TOP 10 SAFETIES AIRLINE IN THE WORLD

2011-12-01T20:29:00.000+08:00

ANA'S FIRST LONG HAUL FLIGHT B 787 DREAMLINER

2011-11-04T17:05:00.000+08:00

GAS TURBINE ENGINE ANIMATION

2011-10-28T00:11:00.000+08:00

AIRCRAFT BLACK BOX

2011-10-23T13:40:00.001+08:00

AIRCRAFT BLACKBOX

THE BLACK BOX IS DIVIDED INTO TWO :

FLIGHT DATA RECORDER
COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER

FLIGHT DATA RECORDER

A flight data recorder (FDR) (also ADR, for accident data recorder) is an electronic device employed to record any instructions sent to any electronic systems on an aircraft. It is a device used to record specific aircraft performance parameters. Another kind of flight recorder is the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), which records conversation in the cockpit, radio communications between the cockpit crew and others (including conversation with air traffic control personnel), as well as ambient sounds. In this both functions have been combined into a single unit. The current applicable FAA TSO is C124b titled Flight Data Recorder Systems.

Popularly referred to as a "black box", the data recorded by the FDR is used for accident investigation, as well as for analyzing air safety issues, material degradation and engine performance. Due to their importance in investigating accidents, these ICAO-regulated devices are carefully engineered and stoutly constructed to withstand the force of a high speed impact and the heat of an intense fire. Contrary to the "black box" reference, the exterior of the FDR is coated with heat-resistant bright orange paint for high visibility in wreckage, and the unit is usually mounted in the aircraft's empennage (tail section), where it is more likely to survive a severe crash. Following an accident, the recovery of the FDR is usually a high priority for the investigating body, as analysis of the recorded parameters can often detect and identify causes or contributing factors.

COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER

A cockpit voice recorder (CVR), often referred to as a "black box", is a flight recorder used to record the audio environment in the flight deck of an aircraft for the purpose of investigation of accidents and incidents. This is typically achieved by recording the signals of the microphones and earphones of the pilots headsets and of an area microphone in the roof of the cockpit. The current applicable FAA TSO is C123b titled Cockpit Voice Recorder Equipment.

Where an aircraft is required to carry a CVR and utilises digital communications the CVR is required to record such communications with air traffic control unless this is recorded elsewhere. As of 2005 it is an FAA requirement that the recording duration is a minimum of thirty minutes, but the NTSB has long recommended that it should be at least two hours.

The CVR was developed in the 1950s chiefly in Australia. In 1960, following an aircraft crash in Queensland, the inquiry judge strongly recommended that flight recorders be installed in all airliners. Australia became the first country in the world to make cockpit-voice recording compulsory.

CRASH INVESTIGATION

2011-10-22T20:08:00.000+08:00

THE CHINA AIRLINES CRASH INVESTIGATION

PILOT ERROR ( AIRCRAFT CRASHES )

AIRCRAFT DITCH INTO HUDSON RIVER

AIRCRAFT CRASH INVESTIGATION

AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION

2011-10-19T23:51:00.001+08:00

EXAMPLE OF REGISTRATION NUMBER MARKING

An aircraft registration is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civil aircraft, in similar fashion to a licence plate on an automobile. In accordance with the Convention on International Civil Aviation all aircraft must be registered with a national aviation authority and they must carry proof of this registration in the form of a legal document called a Certificate of Registration at all times when in operation. Most countries also require the aircraft registration to be imprinted on a permanent fireproof plate mounted on the fuselage for the purposes of post-fire/post-crash aircraft accident investigation.
Because airplanes typically display their registration numbers on the aft fuselage just forward of the tail, in earlier times more often on the tail itself, the registration is often referred to as the "tail number".
Although each aircraft registration is unique, some, but not all countries allow it to be re-used when the aircraft has been sold, destroyed or retired. For example N3794N is assigned to a Mooney M20F. It had been previously assigned to a Beechcraft Bonanza (specifically, the aircraft in which Buddy Holly was killed). Also note that an individual aircraft may be assigned different registrations during its existence. This can be because the aircraft changes ownership, state of registration, or in some cases for vanity reasons. An example of this is Middle East Airlines which has changed registrations on part of its Airbus A321-200 fleet from French registrations to Lebanese ones.

ICAO ( INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANISATION )

2011-10-19T23:38:00.000+08:00

THE ICAO LOGO

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. Its headquarters are located in the Quartier International of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The ICAO Council adopts standards and recommended practices concerning air navigation, its infrastructure, flight inspection, prevention of unlawful interference, and facilitation of border-crossing procedures for international civil aviation. In addition, the ICAO defines the protocols for air accident investigation followed by transport safety authorities in countries signatory to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, commonly known as the Chicago Convention.

The ICAO should not be confused with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a trade organization for airlines also headquartered in Montreal, or with the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), an organization for Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP's) with its headquarters at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the Netherlands.

CIVIL AVIATION

2011-10-19T23:34:00.001+08:00

Civil aviation is one of two major categories of flying, representing all non-military aviation, both private and commercial. Most of the countries in the world are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and work together to establish common standards and recommended practices for civil aviation through that agency.

Civil aviation includes two major categories:

Scheduled air transport, including all passenger and cargo flights operating on regularly scheduled routes; and

General aviation (GA), including all other civil flights, private or commercial

Although scheduled air transport is the larger operation in terms of passenger numbers, GA is larger in the number of flights (and flight hours, in the U.S.) In the U.S., GA carries 166 million passengers each year, more than any individual airline, though less than all the airlines combined.

Some countries also make a regulatory distinction based on whether aircraft are flown for hire like:

Commercial aviation includes most or all flying done for hire, particularly scheduled service on airlines; and

Private aviation includes pilots flying for their own purposes (recreation, business meetings, etc.) without receiving any kind of remuneration.

All scheduled air transport is commercial, but general aviation can be either commercial or private. Normally, the pilot, aircraft, and operator must all be authorized to perform commercial operations through separate commercial licensing, registration, and operation certificates.

AIR LEGISLATION

2011-10-19T23:20:00.000+08:00

1. Air legislation are air laws governing Air Navigation, Air Transport, and Maintenance of Civil Aircraft and its equipments, to minimum acceptable Air worthiness standard as defined in the law of the country or land.

Air law is the same to 85% of all countries, operating civil aircraft. 15% laws governs the operation of civil aircraft of individual countries.
Air laws consist of numerous regulations and requirements.

2. The differences between Regulations and Requirements :

- Regulations

Regulations are air laws which as applicable to civil aircraft.
Regulations are approved by the Parliament of the country and becomes the law.
If a regulation is not followed, then the penalty is the case treated in a civil court for conviction.
Words such as SHALL and MUST are used in regulations.

- REQUIREMENTS

These are standards used in civil aircraft.
Requirements are not approved by parliament.
Therefore if it is not followed, it is treated as non compliance.
Words such as MAY, IF, AS, NECESSARY is used in requirements

WHAT IS STATE AIRCRAFT ???

2011-10-19T23:13:00.000+08:00

State aircrafts are government owned aircrafts and are used in :

Military
Police
Customs

- The aircrafts do not come under DCA Malaysia but it has the respective Ministry of Defense or Ministry of Home Affairs.

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WHAT IS CIVIL AIRCRAFT ???

2011-10-19T23:08:00.000+08:00

CIVIL AIRCRAFT IS THE AIRCRAFT WHICH IS USED TO CARRY PASSENGERS AND THEIR CARGO. THERE ARE 4 CATEGORY IN CIVIL AIRCRAFT :

1. Transport category aircraft

- Passenger aircraft - these aircrafts carries paid passengers and their personal baggages.

- Cargo aircraft - the aircrafts are only used for carrying paid cargo.

2. Aerial category aircraft :

- These aircraft SHALL not carry any passengers or cargo.

- These aircraft is to be used for the following purpose:

Crop spraying (Agriculture
Search and rescue
Fire fighting
Aerial photography
Cloud seeding
Para trooping or static drop or free fall
Constructions
Surveying
Observation and patrol
Aerial advertisement

3. Private category aircraft :

- Aircrafts used by individual people or a group of people for own use or pleasure.

4. Special category aircraft :

- These aircrafts are used for demonstration flights, with the view of sale

- Aircraft being used for charter flights are also classified under this

- Aircraft flying for maintenance repair or modification

- Aircraft on flight test