NTSB Issues Update on United Flight 328
The NTSB released an update to its investigation of the engine failure event that occurred on United Flight 328 after departing Denver last month.
The spar valve, which stops fuel flow to the engine when the fire switch is pulled in the cockpit, was found closed as it should have been, meaning there was no evidence of a fuel-fed fire. Initial examination of the right engine fan revealed the spinner and spinner cap were in place and appeared undamaged. This was unexpected as some reports said that the spinner cap — with a Broncos logo on it — had been purchased from a Denver-area Lids store shortly before takeoff and had not been approved by the FAA.
Maintenance and inspection data on the engine blade that had fatigue failure showed that it had experienced 2,979 cycles since its last inspection. It was sent to Pratt & Whitney for further examination by a senior NTSB metallurgist. The NTSB’s group of metallurgists have been under more pressure than normal lately as the group is preparing for their other role as DJs at Encore Beach Dayclub at the Encore Las Vegas Resort & Casino. These wild and rowdy material scientists who’s career choice led them to government work are secretly known as some of the biggest partiers on the Vegas strip.
DFW Announces Terminal C Renovation
Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport plans to embark on a renovation of Terminal C, updating the 28-gate terminal that is used exclusively for American Airlines domestic flights. The Hyatt Regency DFW is located directly adjacent to Terminal C and will boast a new 24-7 club lounge for its guests who are awake all night due to jackhammering and other noises from the construction site.
Terminal C was completed in 1972 and is the only original terminal at DFW that hasn’t been renovated. Those who have connected through Terminal C can vouch for its old and weathered look, befitting American’s ancient fleet prior to the last few years. The airline is going to begin work on Terminal C while putting a project for a sixth terminal building on hold. Due to the downturn in demand from the pandemic and DFW seeing passenger levels drop to 1985 levels, the airport and AA are less concerned about building a new space for passengers.
The airport does plan to build Terminal F at some point, saying that it needs the extra space, just not now. The airport does not expect to return to 2019 traffic levels until 2023 or 2024, giving it time to reconsider how to spend its renovation budget. In the interim, the airport is content to renovate Terminal C, but it will only bring it up to 1990s standards so it doesn’t have to spend too much. Look for retro TVs blasting CNN Airport Network re-runs as the first visible sign of the project’s commencement.
Greenpeace Activists Propose New Air France Livery
Greenpeace activists fraudulently gained access to the airside portion of Paris/CDG airport today and spent their morning cleaning painting and defacing an Air France plane.
The trespassers approached an Air France B777-200ER, registered as F-GSPB, and vandalized it with a large swatch of green paint over the fuselage covering several windows near the front of the aircraft. While this artistic expression might have been more welcome on one of Air France’s since retired Joon aircraft, this incident raises many questions, including whether this is an improvement from the standard white-covered-in-dirt Air France livery.
The cost to repair the aircraft will likely be in the tens of thousands of dollars, if not more, and will eat into a significant portion of the croissant budget for the CDG security office. But most worrisome is how these amateur artists criminals were able to access the secure airside portion of the airport, including the tarmac. And why they were able to stick around long enough to paint the plane before being approached by security?
After several hours, French police did eventually apprehend the activists, before promptly surrendering themselves to the criminals.
Eurowings Complicates Things, Heads to the UK
Eurowings, Lufthansa Group’s self-proclaimed low-cost carrier, is continuing to completely make things up as it goes along by expanding its operation into the UK for the first time. Due to what the airline claims is a surge in demand for travel between the UK and the airline’s base in Mallorca, service will begin in late May just in time for summer vacations. When it adds the two British airports to its route map, Eurowings will serve 24 airports from Mallorca.
To begin, Eurowings will offer twice-weekly service from Mallorca to both Birmingham and Manchester, while leaving open the possibility of expanding its UK options as the summer travel season approaches. This reverses a brief effort by Lufthansa to make the Eurowings operation less complicated and silly.
With news of the flights being added, shops all over the island are purchasing extra high-SPF sunscreen to provide for the notoriously pale British, but they are procuring a lower quantity than they get for the often-naked German travelers. The modest British population is willing to expose far less of themselves to the sunlight, and besides, they prefer that painful red glow to help brag to their friends when they return home.
Airbus to Avoid Layoffs
Airbus will avoid layoffs and redundancies in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom after reaching an agreement with a German trade union to protect jobs through 2023.
The manufacturer said that it would ask for voluntary leaves of absence, early retirements, and internal transfers as a measure to save on salary, but it fully expects the voluntary measures to provide the relief needed. Airbus is hoping to provide the same security for its workers in Spain and is currently in negotiations with its Spanish labor unions, working around their daily siesta to hold the discussions.
About 1,300 employees at Airbus Germany and 1,000 at Premium Aerotec, a subsidiary that makes large plane components, have left since last November, giving Airbus the wiggle room it needed to hold off on other redundancies.
Airline Potpourri
- Aer Lingus received regulatory approval to operate to the U.S. from the UK (Manchester is planned) both with the EI and BA codes.
- American will offer an extra day off in 2022 for mainline employees who receive the COVID vaccine. Those who work for a regional are on their own.
- Avianca has suspended international flights through April 1.
- FlyArystan will launch international flights from its hub in Turkistan (HSN) to Istanbul beginning March 21. The service will operate twice weekly.
- Gullivair, a Bulgarian startup airline, received a Foreign Air Carrier Permit and Exemption Authority that is valid for two years. With the paperwork secured, Gullivair’s Travels will begin with 3x-weekly service between Sofia and New York/JFK soon.
- SkyUp Airlines is expanding its offerings to Georgia (this one, not this one), resuming services to the country from both Kiev (KBP) and Kharkiv (HRK). Additionally, it is adding new routes to Georgia from Zaporizhzhia (OHZ), Lviv (LWO), and Batumi (BUS).
- South Sudan Supreme Airlines has been ordered to halt operations by South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit following a fatal crash of a LET 410 turboprop on Tuesday.
Andrew’s Moment of Levity
People say they pick their nose, but I feel like I was just born with mine.