The pilot who crash-landed in Halifax early Sunday had to bring the aircraft in without benefit of an instrument landing system on the ground, according to a retired Transport Canada aviation inspector.
Jock Williams told CBC Tuesday the pilot used the "back course," which he described as "the poor sister of the instrument landing system."
The instrument landing system works with the plane's autopilot and sends signals between the ground and the plane, letting the plane get lower to the ground as it approaches the runway, regardless of poor visibility. That increases the chances of a safe landing in bad weather.
Halifax does have ILS, but it's only on one end of the runway that was in use Sunday. Given the weather and wind direction, the pilot used the other end of the runway.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
BREAKING Paris Match Magazine has obtained video showing final moments of #Germanwings flight from inside the cabin
This version of the final moments of the Germanwings flight is confirmed by another element we recently obtained: the information from the “Cockpit Voice Recorder,” one of the A320’s two black boxes. This one recorded the sounds and conversations in the cockpit. Its contents were described in detail by a special investigator. Here is his account.
NEWS Lufthansa cancels anniversary celebrations
Lufthansa has confirmed it will cancel its 60th anniversary celebrations, originally planned for next month. In a statement earlier the airline said live coverage of the memorial service at the Cologne Cathedral in memory of the victims of flight 4U 95245 would be broadcast instead. That event will take place on the April 17th.
EMERGENCY Eastern Airways flight #EZE51U flight forced to make emergency landing
Flight #EZE51U which was flying to Wick John O'Groats Airport was forced to make an emergency landing.
Eastern Airways have confirmed that its T3 561 flight was forced to turn back to Aberdeen International Airport after the plane experienced problems after take off.
The flight was due to arrive at Wick JOG Airport at 9:50am.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said the plane landed safely in Aberdeen just before 10am.
Eastern Airways have confirmed that its T3 561 flight was forced to turn back to Aberdeen International Airport after the plane experienced problems after take off.
The flight was due to arrive at Wick JOG Airport at 9:50am.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said the plane landed safely in Aberdeen just before 10am.
NEWS Korean Air outlines Airbus A330-300 roll-out plans
Korean Air is strengthening its global service by introducing fuel efficient cutting edge aircrafts. Starting April 2nd, Korean Air will introduce its brand new A330-300 aircrafts, one of the main Airbus model aircrafts, on its South East Asia routes. The newly introduced A330-300 aircrafts will join the fleet serving on Korean Air’s routes to Sydney, Brisbane, Singapore as well as other routes in south-east Asia and Oceania.
Monday, March 30, 2015
NEWS Boeing, ANA Finalize Order for Three 787-10 Dreamliners
Boeing and All Nippon Airways (ANA) today finalized an order for three 787-10 Dreamliners, valued at approximately $900 million at list prices. With this order, originally announced as a commitment in January 2015, ANA becomes Boeing's newest 787-10 customer and first airline in Asia to operate the entire family of 787 Dreamliners.
NEWS Inaugural Virgin Atlantic flight cancelled due to foam canon salute instead of water
Virgin flight from ATL to MAN cancelled: foam canon salute instead of water /@FlightEmergency Pic: @MichaelSnasdell pic.twitter.com/dYmUPIVKimA packed Virgin Atlantic passenger jet was grounded shortly before its high-profile inaugural flight to Atlanta after a botched ‘water cannon salute’ by airport fire tenders clogged up its engines by spraying thick foam instead of water.
— AirLive.net (@airlivenet) March 30, 2015
Some 252 departing passengers hoping to enjoy an on-time departure at 10.35am instead faced a five hour delay before finally being told the flight would have to be cancelled altogether. They are being put up at hotels overnight and told to report for a replacement flight at 9.30am Tuesday.
More on DailyMail
NEWS United cancels plans to operate 787 from Newark to London
United Airlines has cancelled its plan to operate the Boeing 787-8 on Newark to Heathrow. The Dreamliner was scheduled to operate from 6th May to 17th August on UA114 and UA111, however will continue to operate on 767-300ER as UA940/941.
NEWS Norwegian has moved forward is planned service increase on its route from Gatwick to New York JFK
Norwegian has moved forward is planned service increase on its route from Gatwick to New York JFK.
From the 25th October, the airline will increase the operation from 6 weekly to daily instead of late February 2016.
DY7015 departs Gatwick at 1710 and arrives at JFK at 2000.
DY7016 departs JFK at 2230 and arrives at LGW at 1000 (except Friday which times are 30 minutes earlier)
From the 25th October, the airline will increase the operation from 6 weekly to daily instead of late February 2016.
DY7015 departs Gatwick at 1710 and arrives at JFK at 2000.
DY7016 departs JFK at 2230 and arrives at LGW at 1000 (except Friday which times are 30 minutes earlier)
NEWS Hainan Airlines plans Birmingham charter services during July and August from Beijing
Chinese carrier, Hainan Airlines has planned service from Beijing to Birmingham which will be on a charter basis. The twice a week service will operate from 3rd July to 28th August with a 767.
Service will operate on Mondays and Fridays.
HU7949 departs Beijing PEK at 0250 and arrives in Birmingham at 0800
HU7950 departs Birmingham 0930 and arrives back to Beijing at 0335 the following day
Service will operate on Mondays and Fridays.
HU7949 departs Beijing PEK at 0250 and arrives in Birmingham at 0800
HU7950 departs Birmingham 0930 and arrives back to Beijing at 0335 the following day
NEWS #Germanwings: How Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance Systems Could Save Lives
The technology exists to physically take command away from a pilot to save an aircraft from imminent collision with the ground and is in operation with the U.S. Air Force.
Read the article on AviationWeek
Read the article on AviationWeek
Bomb threat on board Turkish Airlines flight #TK15 from Istanbul to Sao Paulo
UPDATE Bomb Threat: First pictures of Turkish Airlines #TK15 to Sao Paulo diverted to Casablanca /@sergio3s pic.twitter.com/oJhMwHJqOE
— AirLive.net (@airlivenet) March 30, 2015
UPDATE #TK15 According brazilian press, Moroccan authorities didnt find anything on board the plane at Casablanca airport after bomb threat.
— AirLive.net (@airlivenet) March 30, 2015
Update: After the landing of #TK15, passengers have now been evacuated and a search is underway to find any explosives. - @PollyR_Aviation
— AirLive.net (@airlivenet) March 30, 2015
UPDATE We have confirmation Turkish Airlines #TK15 has landed safetly at Casablanca.
— AirLive.net (@airlivenet) March 30, 2015
BREAKING Turkish Airlines press office: a note found at the toilet cabin reading 'Bomb' on #TK15 /@eagunes
— AirLive.net (@airlivenet) March 30, 2015
BREAKING Reports of bomb threat for #TK15. Now on approach to Casablanca. Live: http://t.co/mzKkQjjfiX pic.twitter.com/WSDy9IIh5Z
— AirLive.net (@airlivenet) March 30, 2015
UPDATE EMERGENCY #TK15 is now heading to Casablanca. Track: http://t.co/mzKkQjjfiX pic.twitter.com/No5zG0EsmK
— AirLive.net (@airlivenet) March 30, 2015
BREAKING Turkish Airlines #TK15 from Istanbul to Sao Paulo is declaring an emergency. Track: http://t.co/mzKkQjjfiX pic.twitter.com/A4DAXaf5sn
— AirLive.net (@airlivenet) March 30, 2015
NEWS Malaysian Radar Spotlighted in New #MH370 Report
The recent release by the Malaysian Ministry of Transport of a Factual Information report on the MH370 disappearance has provided more detail about the failure of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) air defense radar system to identify and track the errant airliner. However, the report by the Malaysian Annex 13 Safety Investigation Team does not specify the military radars involved, continuing a pattern of withholding sensitive defense information that was evident during government briefings at the time of the disappearance.
More
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NEWS Lufthansa Group overhauls pilot safety following Germanwings disaster
In coordination with the German Federal Aviation Office, other German airlines and the German aviation industry association (Bundesverband der deutschen Luftverkehrswirtschaft), the airlines of the Lufthansa Group are to adopt a new cockpit occupancy procedure as a precautionary measure. Under the new procedure, two authorised persons must be present in the cockpit at all times during a flight.
NEWS Etihad welcomes South African Airways to Abu Dhabi
Etihad Airways is now able to provide enhanced access to and from South Africa following the launch of a new daily service between Johannesburg and Abu Dhabi by its codeshare partner, South African Airways. A delegation of senior SAA management, South African government officials and visiting travel trade and media representatives, was welcomed to Abu Dhabi when flight SA 278 touched down on schedule at Abu Dhabi International Airport at 20:25 last night.
NEWS Lufthansa Tragedy Reveals European Loophole Over Pilot Screening
Air crew at Deutsche Lufthansa AG and other European carriers haven’t been required to undergo repeated mental screening mandatory in some countries outside the region and depend instead on doctors uncovering a mental issue in checkups -- or on pilots themselves disclosing a condition.
NEWS China reasserts 'two in cockpit' rule it already had
China's civil aviation authorities have again required that at least two crew members are in the cockpit of a flying civil plane at any given time, after Tuesday's deadly Germanwings plane crash.
NEWS easyJet opens new base at Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport Porto
easyJet has opened its new base at Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport Porto. Three new UK routes from Manchester, Bristol and London Luton Airports to the new Porto base will launch this summer.
NEWS Emirates to add daily Orlando service from September
Emirates is commencing a daily service to Orlando, Florida from September 1st. The route will be served by a US-built Boeing 777-200LR with eight First Class suites, 42 Business Class lie-flat beds and 216 Economy Class seats. Emirates flight EK 219 will depart Dubai International Terminal 3 at 03:50 local time and arrive at Orlando International Airport Terminal B at 11.40 local time, a flying time of nearly 16 hours.
NEWS Solomon Airlines A320 to return to service
Solomon Airlines has advised its flagship Airbus A320, currently undergoing a scheduled annual service in Manila, Philippines, is now expected to return to full service on Monday, 13 April.
NEWS Delta restarts Dublin-Atlanta seasonal service
Delta Air Lines will restart its seasonal nonstop flight between Dublin International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, effective March 30, 2015. The daily flight will complement Delta’s existing daily nonstop service between Dublin and New York-JFK.
NEWS Travelport inks deal with Ellinair
Travelport has signed a new agreement with Greek carrier Ellinair. For the first time, Ellinair is now distributing its flights via Travelport’s Travel Commerce Platform.
Sunday, March 29, 2015
NEWS: Australia to introduce rules requiring 2 people in the cockpit at all times
Australia has joined other jurisdictions including Canada and New Zealand in requiring two people to be in the cockpit of regular public transport (RPT) flights at all times.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss told reporters in Melbourne on Monday Australia’s airlines would immediately implement the two-person rule for all RPT services operated by aircraft with 50 or more seats.
“Today’s decision is a sensible, measured response that combines safeguarding the travelling public with the practical capabilities of the aviation sector,” Truss said in a statement.
“The pilot in command of the aircraft will retain operational discretion on the application of the two flightcrew cockpit requirements, to ensure safe operations, depending on flightcrew circumstances.
Transport Canada and the NZ Civil Aviation Authority brought in a two-person cockpit rule following revelations the copilot of Germanwings flight 4U 9525, Andreas Lubitz, locked the captain out of the flightdeck and took control of the Airbus A320 that crashed into the French Alps killing all 150 people on board.
Several airlines round the world, including Norwegian Air Shuttle, Lufthansa, Air Berlin, Easyjet, Monarch Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Thomas Cook, were also changing their operating procedures to require two people to be in the cockpit at all times.
Qantas said on Monday the new rule would apply across its Qantas, Jetstar and Network Aviation fleet. The only exception was for flights operated by its 18 Dash Q200 and Q300 turboprops, which have fewer than 50 seats and generally flew short sectors of between one and two hours “where the need for pilots to leave the cockpit is minimal”.
“Together with regulators and other airlines, Qantas will closely study any learnings that stem from the Germanwings tragedy to help make aviation even safer,” Qantas said in a statement.
“The safety and health of customers and employees is the Qantas Group’s number one priority. We have a comprehensive safety management system that guards against risks to our operations.”
Virgin Australia also confirmed it would be policy at the airline for at least two crew members to be in the cockpit at all times, following a detailed risk review and consultation with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the federal government.
“Safety is our number one priority, and the Virgin Australia Group continuously undertakes thorough risk reviews to maintain the highest safety and security standards,” Virgin said in a statement.
The two-person rule works like this – if a pilot has to leave the flightdeck to use the lavatory for example, a cabin crew member enters the flightdeck and while that pilot is away from the controls.
Truss said the new arrangements would be reviewed after 12 months to determine their effectiveness.
“As the investigation into the tragic loss of Germanwings flight 4U 9525 proceeds, Australian government aviation agencies will continue to work with the Australian aviation industry and airline staff to identify further improvements to the safety and security of aircraft cockpits as appropriate,” Truss said.
“This will include Australian airlines, flightcrew associations and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority working together to review the requirements for medical testing, including mental health, of flight crew members.”
Pilot and Australian Aviation contributor Owen Zupp wrote in a blog post on March 29 – before the government’s introduction of the two-person rule for Australia – he believed the change “may offer some degree of security if implemented correctly”.
“The relieving crew member will need training and the appropriate level of expertise and not every flight attendant necessarily wishes to perform such a duty and bear the responsibility that accompanies the task,” Zupp wrote.
“We must also bear in mind that these are potential safeguards against a relatively isolated event and down the road a different kind of isolated event will occur and a universal call for action will be heard again.
“Unfortunately no human undertaking can be made 100 per cent safe and secure; we can merely endeavour to reduce the risk.
“For the moment, we need to maintain perspective and recognise the relatively rare nature of the Germanwings tragedy when set against the backdrop of how many millions of passengers two-crew flightdecks routinely convey safely every year.”
By: Australian Aviation
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss told reporters in Melbourne on Monday Australia’s airlines would immediately implement the two-person rule for all RPT services operated by aircraft with 50 or more seats.
“Today’s decision is a sensible, measured response that combines safeguarding the travelling public with the practical capabilities of the aviation sector,” Truss said in a statement.
“The pilot in command of the aircraft will retain operational discretion on the application of the two flightcrew cockpit requirements, to ensure safe operations, depending on flightcrew circumstances.
Transport Canada and the NZ Civil Aviation Authority brought in a two-person cockpit rule following revelations the copilot of Germanwings flight 4U 9525, Andreas Lubitz, locked the captain out of the flightdeck and took control of the Airbus A320 that crashed into the French Alps killing all 150 people on board.
Several airlines round the world, including Norwegian Air Shuttle, Lufthansa, Air Berlin, Easyjet, Monarch Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Thomas Cook, were also changing their operating procedures to require two people to be in the cockpit at all times.
Qantas said on Monday the new rule would apply across its Qantas, Jetstar and Network Aviation fleet. The only exception was for flights operated by its 18 Dash Q200 and Q300 turboprops, which have fewer than 50 seats and generally flew short sectors of between one and two hours “where the need for pilots to leave the cockpit is minimal”.
“Together with regulators and other airlines, Qantas will closely study any learnings that stem from the Germanwings tragedy to help make aviation even safer,” Qantas said in a statement.
“The safety and health of customers and employees is the Qantas Group’s number one priority. We have a comprehensive safety management system that guards against risks to our operations.”
Virgin Australia also confirmed it would be policy at the airline for at least two crew members to be in the cockpit at all times, following a detailed risk review and consultation with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the federal government.
“Safety is our number one priority, and the Virgin Australia Group continuously undertakes thorough risk reviews to maintain the highest safety and security standards,” Virgin said in a statement.
The two-person rule works like this – if a pilot has to leave the flightdeck to use the lavatory for example, a cabin crew member enters the flightdeck and while that pilot is away from the controls.
Truss said the new arrangements would be reviewed after 12 months to determine their effectiveness.
“As the investigation into the tragic loss of Germanwings flight 4U 9525 proceeds, Australian government aviation agencies will continue to work with the Australian aviation industry and airline staff to identify further improvements to the safety and security of aircraft cockpits as appropriate,” Truss said.
“This will include Australian airlines, flightcrew associations and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority working together to review the requirements for medical testing, including mental health, of flight crew members.”
Pilot and Australian Aviation contributor Owen Zupp wrote in a blog post on March 29 – before the government’s introduction of the two-person rule for Australia – he believed the change “may offer some degree of security if implemented correctly”.
“The relieving crew member will need training and the appropriate level of expertise and not every flight attendant necessarily wishes to perform such a duty and bear the responsibility that accompanies the task,” Zupp wrote.
“We must also bear in mind that these are potential safeguards against a relatively isolated event and down the road a different kind of isolated event will occur and a universal call for action will be heard again.
“Unfortunately no human undertaking can be made 100 per cent safe and secure; we can merely endeavour to reduce the risk.
“For the moment, we need to maintain perspective and recognise the relatively rare nature of the Germanwings tragedy when set against the backdrop of how many millions of passengers two-crew flightdecks routinely convey safely every year.”
By: Australian Aviation
ALERT #Germanwings crash: DNA of 78 victims found
New Air Canada statement about crash landing of #AC624
MONTREAL, March 29, 2015 /CNW/ - Air Canada provides the following update on flight AC624:
Air Canada confirms that all but one of the passengers and crew admitted to area hospitals for observation and treatment have now been released.
"We at Air Canada are greatly relieved that no one was critically injured. Yet we fully appreciate this has been a very unsettling experience for our customers and their families, as well as our employees, and we are focused on caring for all those affected. We will also fully cooperate with the Transportation Safety Board as it begins an investigation to determine the cause," said Klaus Goersch, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Air Canada.
Additional Air Canada management personnel have arrived in Halifax to provide assistance to passengers and their families.
No further details are available at this time, however Air Canada will provide regular updates on Twitter and on its website at aircanada.com as warranted.
Family members who seek information about passengers on Flight AC624 may telephone Air Canada at 1-800-961-7099.
Flight AC624, an Airbus A320 carrying 133 passengers and five crew, was involved in an incident upon landing at Halifax International Airport, Nova Scotia. The incident occurred at approximately 24:43 AT Sunday March 29 (23:43 ET March 28).
SOURCE Air Canada - Corporate - Finance
Air Canada confirms that all but one of the passengers and crew admitted to area hospitals for observation and treatment have now been released.
"We at Air Canada are greatly relieved that no one was critically injured. Yet we fully appreciate this has been a very unsettling experience for our customers and their families, as well as our employees, and we are focused on caring for all those affected. We will also fully cooperate with the Transportation Safety Board as it begins an investigation to determine the cause," said Klaus Goersch, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Air Canada.
Additional Air Canada management personnel have arrived in Halifax to provide assistance to passengers and their families.
No further details are available at this time, however Air Canada will provide regular updates on Twitter and on its website at aircanada.com as warranted.
Family members who seek information about passengers on Flight AC624 may telephone Air Canada at 1-800-961-7099.
Flight AC624, an Airbus A320 carrying 133 passengers and five crew, was involved in an incident upon landing at Halifax International Airport, Nova Scotia. The incident occurred at approximately 24:43 AT Sunday March 29 (23:43 ET March 28).
SOURCE Air Canada - Corporate - Finance
NEWS Garuda Indonesia to increase service to Amsterdam and London Gatwick
The airline is adding an extra day of their current service to Amsterdam and Gatwick from Jakarta.
The new flight will depart on Wednesdays from Jakarta on a 777-300ER
Previously the airline has planned to increase from 5 weekly to daily.
The new flight will depart on Wednesdays from Jakarta on a 777-300ER
Previously the airline has planned to increase from 5 weekly to daily.
NEWS Emirates to increase service to Athens from one daily to 10 weekly
Subject to the Government Approval. Emirates is to increase their service to Athens to meet with the increasing demand. The new 3 weekly flight will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
EK105 and EK106 remains unchanged and continues to operate on the Boeing 777-300ER.
The new flights will operate from 1st May to 30th June.
The new flight EK3105 to Athens will depart Dubai at 1645 (1710 on Sundays) and arrive at Athens at 2045 (2110 on Sundays).
The return EK3106 will depart Athens at 2230 (2320 on Sundays) and arrive back at Dubai at 0405 (0455 on Sundays (Monday morning))
EK105 and EK106 remains unchanged and continues to operate on the Boeing 777-300ER.
The new flights will operate from 1st May to 30th June.
The new flight EK3105 to Athens will depart Dubai at 1645 (1710 on Sundays) and arrive at Athens at 2045 (2110 on Sundays).
The return EK3106 will depart Athens at 2230 (2320 on Sundays) and arrive back at Dubai at 0405 (0455 on Sundays (Monday morning))
 |
| A6-ECZ |
NEWS British Airways overthinks, only a one daily A380 to Miami in October instead of two
British Airways reported that from the 25th October, they would introduce the A380 on both flights to Miami. BA207 and BA209 (BA205 remains as 777).
However on the 26th March, the airline announced that they now would only operate the A380 on BA209/208 (depart 1335).
The BA207/206 flight will now continue to operate on a Boeing 747
However on the 26th March, the airline announced that they now would only operate the A380 on BA209/208 (depart 1335).
The BA207/206 flight will now continue to operate on a Boeing 747
NEWS British Airways will begin service to Vienna from London Gatwick in September
BA from the 17th September is adding London Gatwick to Vienna service which sees a planned 6 weekly operation for the month of September and October.
The route will operate on an Airbus A319 everyday except Saturdays.
BA2658 departs Gatwick at 1600 and arrives in Vienna at 1910.
The return BA2659 departs Vienna at 2000 and arrives at Gatwick at 2130.
The service from 25th October will reduce to 4 times a week operating on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
The route will operate on an Airbus A319 everyday except Saturdays.
BA2658 departs Gatwick at 1600 and arrives in Vienna at 1910.
The return BA2659 departs Vienna at 2000 and arrives at Gatwick at 2130.
The service from 25th October will reduce to 4 times a week operating on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
 |
| British Airways A319 // B747forever |
SA faces aviation time bomb - expert - @Macfarlane123
South Africa faces an “aviation time bomb” according to an expert, who says without proper psychological evaluation for pilots a disaster similar to the Germanwings “suicide crash” could not be far off.
According to the Sunday Times commercial pilots in SA are not required to undergo psychological evaluation as part of their annual physical check-ups.
Thabani Nkwanyana, a medical examiner at South African Airways, told the newspaper that SA faces an aviation time bomb with the lack of proper psychological assessment and regulations for aircrew.
He said pilots who are currently grounded face the two common problems, neurological problems and psychological problems. They face a lot of depression and social ills.
Nkwanyana said because of a flawed system and that pilots fear losing their jobs because of mental problems, they do not disclose their issues.
Bottom line is: No, there aren’t sufficient systems in place to monitor the possibility of this type of accident happening, he told the Sunday Times.
Following the crash of a Germanwings plane reports have emerged that the co-pilot had deliberately crashed the aircraft, killing 150 people.
According to a German daily the he had told his girlfriend he was planning a spectacular gesture so "everyone will know my name".
The Bild newspaper published an interview with a woman who said she had had a relationship in 2014 with Andreas Lubitz, the man French prosecutors believe locked himself alone in the cockpit of the Germanwings Airbus on Tuesday and steered it into the French Alps, killing all on board.
"When I heard about the crash, I remembered a sentence... he said: 'One day I'll do something that will change the system, and then everyone will know my name and remember it'," said the woman, a flight attendant the paper gave the pseudonym of Maria W.
"I didn't know what he meant by that at the time, but now it's obvious," she said. "He did it because he realised that, due to his health problems, his big dream of working at Lufthansa, of a having job as a pilot, and as a pilot on long-distance flights, was nearly impossible."
"He never talked much about his illness, only that he was in psychiatric treatment," she told the paper, adding they finally broke up because she was afraid of him.
"He would suddenly freak out in conversations and yell at me," she recalled. "At night he would wake up screaming 'we are crashing' because he had nightmares. He could be good at hiding what was really going on inside him."
The woman also told Bild: "We always talked a lot about work and then he became a different person. He became upset about the conditions we worked under: too little money, fear of losing the contract, too much pressure."
A Lufthansa spokesperson declined to comment. The company and its low-cost subsidiary Germanwings took out full-page advertisements in major German and French newspapers on Saturday, expressing "deepest mourning".
Lufthansa and Germanwings offered condolences to the friends and families of the passengers and crew and thanked the thousands of people in France, Spain and Germany it said had helped since the crash.
German officials said there would be a ceremony on 17 April in Cologne Cathedral attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and senior officials from other countries including France and Spain.
@News24
JC Mac Farlane
@Macfarlane123
According to the Sunday Times commercial pilots in SA are not required to undergo psychological evaluation as part of their annual physical check-ups.
Thabani Nkwanyana, a medical examiner at South African Airways, told the newspaper that SA faces an aviation time bomb with the lack of proper psychological assessment and regulations for aircrew.
He said pilots who are currently grounded face the two common problems, neurological problems and psychological problems. They face a lot of depression and social ills.
Bottom line is: No, there aren’t sufficient systems in place to monitor the possibility of this type of accident happening, he told the Sunday Times.
Following the crash of a Germanwings plane reports have emerged that the co-pilot had deliberately crashed the aircraft, killing 150 people.
According to a German daily the he had told his girlfriend he was planning a spectacular gesture so "everyone will know my name".
The Bild newspaper published an interview with a woman who said she had had a relationship in 2014 with Andreas Lubitz, the man French prosecutors believe locked himself alone in the cockpit of the Germanwings Airbus on Tuesday and steered it into the French Alps, killing all on board.
"When I heard about the crash, I remembered a sentence... he said: 'One day I'll do something that will change the system, and then everyone will know my name and remember it'," said the woman, a flight attendant the paper gave the pseudonym of Maria W.
"I didn't know what he meant by that at the time, but now it's obvious," she said. "He did it because he realised that, due to his health problems, his big dream of working at Lufthansa, of a having job as a pilot, and as a pilot on long-distance flights, was nearly impossible."
"He never talked much about his illness, only that he was in psychiatric treatment," she told the paper, adding they finally broke up because she was afraid of him.
"He would suddenly freak out in conversations and yell at me," she recalled. "At night he would wake up screaming 'we are crashing' because he had nightmares. He could be good at hiding what was really going on inside him."
The woman also told Bild: "We always talked a lot about work and then he became a different person. He became upset about the conditions we worked under: too little money, fear of losing the contract, too much pressure."
A Lufthansa spokesperson declined to comment. The company and its low-cost subsidiary Germanwings took out full-page advertisements in major German and French newspapers on Saturday, expressing "deepest mourning".
Lufthansa and Germanwings offered condolences to the friends and families of the passengers and crew and thanked the thousands of people in France, Spain and Germany it said had helped since the crash.
German officials said there would be a ceremony on 17 April in Cologne Cathedral attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and senior officials from other countries including France and Spain.
@News24
JC Mac Farlane
@Macfarlane123
TODAY Iberia Express launches double daily service between Madrid and London Gatwick
Beginning today, two daily flights will arrive to Gatwick from Madrid.
IB3714 departs Madrid at 0845 and arrives at Gatwick at 1000.
IB3715 departs Gatwick at 1040 and arrives at Madrid at 1355
IB3718 departs Madrid at 1745 and arrives at Gatwick at 1900.
IB3717 departs Gatwick at 1935 and arrives at Madrid at 2250.
Today, Iberia Express launched service to also Heathrow from Tenerife (3 times a week) and Gran Canaria (4 times a week). Also to Edinburgh from Madrid.
IB3714 departs Madrid at 0845 and arrives at Gatwick at 1000.
IB3715 departs Gatwick at 1040 and arrives at Madrid at 1355
IB3718 departs Madrid at 1745 and arrives at Gatwick at 1900.
IB3717 departs Gatwick at 1935 and arrives at Madrid at 2250.
Today, Iberia Express launched service to also Heathrow from Tenerife (3 times a week) and Gran Canaria (4 times a week). Also to Edinburgh from Madrid.
TODAY Iberia Express begins service to London Heathrow with services to Tenerife and Las Palmas
Iberia Express today is beginning service to Heathrow with 3 weekly flights from Tenerife and 4 weekly from Las Palmas.
From today, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays:
The outbound: IB3602 departs Tenerife at 1120 and arrives London at 1545
The return: IB3603 departs London at 1705 and arrives to Tenerife at 2130
From tomorrow, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays:
The outbound: IB3604 departs Las Palmas at 1120 and arrives to London at 1545
The return: IB3605 departs London at 1705 and arrives to Las Palmas at 2130
VIDEO Pilot locked out of cockpit on flight to Las Vegas Emergency Landing at McCarran Airport
On a Delta flight from Minnesota to Las Vegas, the pilot needed to use the toilet and upon return the door jammed to the cockpit. The co-pilot had never landed the plane alone and the pilot did a great job of keeping everyone calm. Las Vegas prepared for an emergency landing but the landing was fine.
#GermanWings Pilot has vision problems - @Macfarlane123
DÜSSELDORF, Germany — Andreas Lubitz, who was flying the Germanwings jetliner that slammed into a mountain in the French Alps on Tuesday, sought treatment for vision problems that may have jeopardized his ability to continue working as a pilot, two officials with knowledge of the investigation said Saturday.
The revelation of the possible trouble with his eyes added a new element to the emerging portrait of the 27-year-old German pilot, who the authorities say was also being treated for psychological issues and had hidden aspects of his medical condition from his employer. The police found antidepressants during a search of his apartment here on Thursday, an official said Saturday.
It is not clear how severe his eye problems were or how they might have been related to his psychological condition. One person with knowledge of the investigation said the authorities had not ruled out the possibility that the vision problem could have been psychosomatic.
Mr. Lubitz, the co-pilot, was alone in the cockpit of the Airbus A320 jetliner on the flight from Barcelona to Düsseldorf, ignoring demands from the captain to be let back in, when the plane crashed. The French prosecutor in the case, drawing from cockpit voice recordings and other data about the flight, has said that Mr. Lubitz deliberately guided the plane, with another 149 people on board, into the mountains.
Since then investigators in Germany and France, airline regulators, political leaders and the families of the victims have sought answers about what might have led Mr. Lubitz to do what he did.
The information available so far about a possible motive remains sketchy, and it is not yet clear whether his apparent decision to crash the plane was triggered by a particular development in his life. Investigators and journalists continue to search for clues from every period and corner of his life, including his relationship with a longtime girlfriend and a report in a German newspaper on Saturday that another woman with whom he had a relationship had described him as unstable.
Many questions remain unanswered, if not unanswerable, including whether his decisions in the cockpit on Tuesday morning were impulsive or planned.
Friends and acquaintances have repeatedly said how important flying was to Mr. Lubitz, who began piloting gliders at a flying club near his hometown at the age of 14.
Police officers searching Mr. Lubitz’s apartment here in Düsseldorf on Thursday found notes from various doctors testifying that he was too ill to work, including on the day of the crash. Prosecutors refused to comment on the illness specified in the notes. One had been torn up and thrown in the wastebasket, supporting investigators’ suspicion that he was hiding his medical problems from the airline.
It appears that Mr. Lubitz did not tell the airline about his vision concerns. The European Aviation Safety Agency has vision standards and pilots are tested every year as part of an annual medical exam, a spokesman for the agency said.
The Düsseldorf University Hospital said in a statement on Friday that Mr. Lubitz had been evaluated at its clinic in February and as recently as March 10. Reached by phone on Saturday, a spokeswoman would not comment on whether he had sought treatment for vision problems, citing patient privacy laws. The hospital has an eye clinic. On Friday the hospital denied speculation that Mr. Lubitz had sought treatment for depression there.
Although he was flying for a commercial airline, Mr. Lubitz was a co-pilot and not working the kind of long-haul routes he aspired to.
When Klaus Radke, president of the club where Mr. Lubitz learned to fly gliders, the Luftsportclub Westerwald, first met him, he was a typical 14-year-old who was unusual only in his wide-eyed fascination with flying, Mr. Radke said. Last fall, when Mr. Lubitz came back to the club to put in some flight hours he needed to keep his glider’s license current, Mr. Radke was impressed at the fit, by all appearances self-assured and professional pilot that Mr. Lubitz had become.
“When I saw him as an adult compared to a youth, I thought, ‘He really amounted to something,’ ” Mr. Radke said Saturday. “He was confident, helpful. I thought, ‘Man, he’s someone who made it.’ ” Mr. Radke, who said the club had received emailed death threats for helping Mr. Lubitz begin his flying career, picked up no sign last year that anything was amiss.
“I’m not a doctor,” Mr. Radke said. “For me he was normal.”
Time and again, the same adjectives pop up when people remember Mr. Lubitz. He was courteous and friendly, but reserved and not someone who drew attention to himself — thoroughly normal. The one thing that set him apart was his love of flying.
Mr. Lubitz grew up in Montabaur. Detlef Adolf, manager of a Burger King there, described him as a reliable and punctual employee during the time, around 2007 or 2008, he worked part time as a cook at the restaurant. While there, Mr. Lubitz became romantically involved with a young blond-haired woman who worked at the counter, Mr. Adolf said.
His love of flying was already well known. An entry in a graduation yearbook published by Der Spiegel predicted that Mr. Lubitz would become a professional pilot. Mr. Adolf remembered how overjoyed Mr. Lubitz was when he was accepted into pilot training. “He was happy — happy that he passed,” Mr. Adolf said.
Mr. Lubitz entered Lufthansa’s flight training school in 2008, in a three-story brick building at the airport in Bremen. He continued his training in the United States at the Airline Training Center Arizona, a Lufthansa subsidiary where the year-round warm weather provides good practice conditions.
The first sign of any trouble in an otherwise promising career as a pilot came during Mr. Lubitz’s studies. Lufthansa, the parent company of Germanwings, said this week that Mr. Lubitz had interrupted his pilot training at one point for several months for reasons it did not disclose.
Whatever the cause it was not enough to derail his career. Mr. Lubitz completed his studies, worked as a flight attendant while awaiting an open slot as a pilot, then finally began working as a co-pilot for Germanwings in 2013. He logged 630 flying hours. In his spare time he was an avid runner who competed in several half-marathons and other races.
Mr. Lubitz divided his time between his parents’ house in Montabaur, a small town about an hour’s drive from the German financial capital of Frankfurt, and a home here in Düsseldorf.
An official with knowledge of the investigation said that at the time of the crash, Mr. Lubitz was still dating his longtime girlfriend, the woman he had met while working at Burger King. The name Mr. Adolf gave as the name of the woman was written beside Mr. Lubitz’s on the mailbox at his apartment in Düsseldorf.
The German newspaper Bild published an interview with a different woman, a flight attendant who said she had dated Mr. Lubitz last year. The woman, speaking under an assumed name, described him as unstable and quoted him as saying that someday he would “do something that will change the entire system and everyone will know my name and remember it.”
Germany’s Federal Aviation Office said on Friday that Mr. Lubitz had a known medical condition, though he was still permitted to fly. Carsten Spohr, Lufthansa’s chief executive, said at a news conference on Thursday that Mr. Lubitz “was 100 percent flightworthy without any limitations.”
Commentators in the German news media have questioned whether the country’s strict privacy laws made it too easy for Mr. Lubitz to hide potentially serious health problems from the airline.
Referring to the break in his training and the fact that his flying license took note of medical issues, Mr. Radke of the Luftsportclub Westerwald said: “If that’s true, as a responsible employer you should ask questions. That’s my personal opinion.”
“If you’re driving a car and the oil light goes on, do you keep driving? No,” Mr. Radke said. “If no action was taken, there’s a flaw in the system.”
JC Mac Farlane
2015 - 03 - 29
NEWS Pilot Unions Protest Germanwings Investigation Leaks
French pilot union Syndicat National des Pilotes today complained about what it calls a “violation of professional secrecy” over the allegedly unauthorized leaking of the contents of cockpit voice recorder (CVR) recovered from the wreckage of the Germanwings Airbus A320 that crashed in the French Alps on March 24.
EMERGENCY Air Canada #AC624 from Toronto crash lands in Halifax
The plane crashed on the runway of the Halifax International Airport early Sunday, but no major injuries were reported. At least 23 people have been sent to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. AC624 had 132 passengers and five crew members on board at the time of the crash.
It’s believed the plane slammed into a power line, likely leading to the crash and a mass power outage at the airport. A direct link between the power outage and the crash have not been confirmed by airport officials. The airport has been shut down and all flights have been cancelled.
ALERT Air Canada #AC624 exited runway upon landing at Halifax Airport, passengers have deplaned (pic:@JAddisMills) pic.twitter.com/poVBXQ5mBB
— AirLive.net (@airlivenet) March 29, 2015
It’s believed the plane slammed into a power line, likely leading to the crash and a mass power outage at the airport. A direct link between the power outage and the crash have not been confirmed by airport officials. The airport has been shut down and all flights have been cancelled.
ALERT Passengers huddle in hangar after evacuating AirCanada #AC624 that ran off runway in Halifax (pic:@JAddisMills) pic.twitter.com/gVIAkQyR2I
— AirLive.net (@airlivenet) March 29, 2015
ALERT PHOTO C-FTJP Air Canada #AC624 Airbus A320 written off landing accident at CYHZ Halifax (Pic: Deadwood) pic.twitter.com/Hc0O5CXs2f
— AirLive.net (@airlivenet) March 29, 2015
UPDATE #AC624 Nose of Air Canada plane badly damaged on runway at Halifax Stanfield Int'l Airport /@AngMacIvorCBC pic.twitter.com/irtdRGqePE
— AirLive.net (@airlivenet) March 29, 2015
NEWS Delta restarts Dublin-Atlanta seasonal service
Delta Air Lines will restart its seasonal nonstop flight between Dublin International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, effective March 30, 2015. The daily flight will complement Delta’s existing daily nonstop service between Dublin and New York-JFK.
NEWS Travelport inks deal with Ellinair
Travelport has signed a new agreement with Greek carrier Ellinair. For the first time, Ellinair is now distributing its flights via Travelport’s Travel Commerce Platform.
NEWS Solomon Airlines A320 to return to service
Solomon Airlines has advised its flagship Airbus A320, currently undergoing a scheduled annual service in Manila, Philippines, is now expected to return to full service on Monday, 13 April.
EMERGENCY Air Canada statement about flight #AC624
MONTREAL, March 29, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada provides the following update on flight AC624, an Airbus A320, that was involved in an incident upon landing at HalifaxInternational Airport, Nova Scotia. The incident occurred at approximately 24:43 AT Sunday March 29 (23:43 ET March 28).
The passenger list indicates the airplane was carrying 133 passengers and 5 crew members.
All passengers and crew deplaned the aircraft. Air Canada can confirm that 23 passengers and crew sustained non-life threatening injuries and have been transported to local hospitals for observation and treatment.
Air Canada personnel are currently on site providing assistance to passengers and additional Air Canada teams are on their way.
No further details are available at this time, however Air Canada will provide regular updates on Twitter and on its website at aircanada.com as information becomes known.
Air Canada will be cooperating fully with authorities in their investigation.
Air Canada
The passenger list indicates the airplane was carrying 133 passengers and 5 crew members.
All passengers and crew deplaned the aircraft. Air Canada can confirm that 23 passengers and crew sustained non-life threatening injuries and have been transported to local hospitals for observation and treatment.
Air Canada personnel are currently on site providing assistance to passengers and additional Air Canada teams are on their way.
No further details are available at this time, however Air Canada will provide regular updates on Twitter and on its website at aircanada.com as information becomes known.
Air Canada will be cooperating fully with authorities in their investigation.
Air Canada
Saturday, March 28, 2015
NEWS JetBlue pilot who yelled during flight sues airline for $16M
A JetBlue Airways pilot who scared passengers by yelling about Jesus and al-Qaida during a 2012 trip from New York to Las Vegas sued the airline for more than $16 million Friday, saying it jeopardized the flight by failing to recognize he was ill.
NEWS Fasle fire alarm forces an A310 Bangladesh Airlines flight from Singapore to emergency landing at Dhaka airport
A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Singapore with 210 passengers made an emergency landing at Dhaka airport this evening after one of its engines sent false fire alarm, official said.
Contacted Biman’s Director Engineering MM Asaduzzaman told The Daily Star that due to a false fire warning at engine number two, the captain of the aircraft, Airbus310, sought for the emergency landing at Hazarat Shahjalal International Airport around 8:45pm.
This may happen due to electric short- circuit. “We are assessing whether there is any damage to the engine,” he added.
All emergency services including fire units were kept on alert following the emergency call by the pilot, sources said.
Contacted Biman’s Director Engineering MM Asaduzzaman told The Daily Star that due to a false fire warning at engine number two, the captain of the aircraft, Airbus310, sought for the emergency landing at Hazarat Shahjalal International Airport around 8:45pm.
This may happen due to electric short- circuit. “We are assessing whether there is any damage to the engine,” he added.
All emergency services including fire units were kept on alert following the emergency call by the pilot, sources said.
NEWS Emirates A380 flight #EK17 from Dubai to Manchester declared an emergency because of cardiac arrest onboard
Emirates A380 flight #EK17 took off from Dubai at 08:11.
30 mins before landing, pilots declared an emergency (medical emergency).
30 mins before landing, pilots declared an emergency (medical emergency).
BREAKING Emirates A380 #EK17 to Manchester is declaring an emergency. Track: http://t.co/mzKkQjjfiX pic.twitter.com/Ye0H6pBd6XThe A380 landed safely at 11:36 at Manchester.
— AirLive.net (@airlivenet) March 28, 2015
UPDATE EMERGENCY Emirates A380 #EK17 is safely on the ground at MAN with a male pax in cardiac arrest /@spottingatMAN pic.twitter.com/6c4GKy6mfeAmbulance was waiting at the gate because a male passenger had a cardiac arrest on board.
— AirLive.net (@airlivenet) March 28, 2015
UPDATE EMERGENCY Ambulance waiting at the gate - Manchester airport /@crouchy200068 pic.twitter.com/JPFzNdqRz3
— AirLive.net (@airlivenet) March 28, 2015
NEWS List of aircraft accidents and incidents intentionally caused by pilots
On March 24, 2015, Germanwings flight 4U9525 crashed in France, supposedly following intentional actions by the copilot. All 150 passengers and crew were killed. The following link is a list of airliner accidents and incidents assumed or rumored to have been caused by the a deliberate action of a pilot, compiled from the Aviation Safety Network files. General aviation aircraft are not included.
Link to the list
Link to the list
NEWS easyJet opens new base at Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport Porto
easyJet has opened its new base at Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport Porto. Three new UK routes from Manchester, Bristol and London Luton Airports to the new Porto base will launch this summer.
NEWS Emirates adds daily Orlando service
Emirates is commencing a daily service to Orlando, Florida from 1st September 2015. The route will be served by a US-built Boeing 777-200LR with eight First Class suites, 42 Business Class lie-flat beds and 216 Economy Class seats.
Friday, March 27, 2015
WATCH Plane takes off from South Carolina highway
After making an emergency landing Thursday night, a plane took-off from a highway in South Carolina Friday afternoon, much to the delight of onlookers.
The pilot of the single-engine plane made an emergency landing on the highway Thursday night after the engine stopped. On Friday, the plane was towed back on to the highway and cars were cleared-off the road in preparation for the take-off.
As spectators were readied with their cameras, and with a fleet of emergency vehicles surrounding it, the plane took-off from the same highway.
The plane originated from Middletown, Ohio and was trying to stop for fuel at Greensboro's airport Thursday night on its way to Charleston, South Carolina. The skydiving plane was scheduled to perform before Saturday's Cooper Bridge Run in Charleston.
Spokane, North Idaho News
The pilot of the single-engine plane made an emergency landing on the highway Thursday night after the engine stopped. On Friday, the plane was towed back on to the highway and cars were cleared-off the road in preparation for the take-off.
As spectators were readied with their cameras, and with a fleet of emergency vehicles surrounding it, the plane took-off from the same highway.
The plane originated from Middletown, Ohio and was trying to stop for fuel at Greensboro's airport Thursday night on its way to Charleston, South Carolina. The skydiving plane was scheduled to perform before Saturday's Cooper Bridge Run in Charleston.
NEWS Andreas Lubitz Co-pilot of the crashed #GermanWings A320 regularly visited the french Alps
Being a teen, he came with his family to fly on gliders at the airport - Sisteron Vaumeilh.
Between 1996 and 2003, Andreas Lubitz, has regularly visited this area on the boundary between the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Hautes-Alpes.
Between 1996 and 2003, Andreas Lubitz, has regularly visited this area on the boundary between the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Hautes-Alpes.
ALERT Who was the captain of #Germanwing flight #4U9525 ?
As reports emerge that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz deliberately crashed the Germanwings flight from Barcelona to Dusseldorf, attention has shifted away from the flight’s more experienced captain. Details are now emerging regarding the man who shared the A320 controls with Lubitz, and who left the cockpit shortly before the crash. Widely referred to as “Patrick S,” the Independent now reports that the flight captain was Patrick Sondenheimer, a husband and father of two.
Patrick Sondenheimer, according to the Independent, was an experienced pilot, having completed over 6,000 flying hours on the A320 aircraft model. He had flown with Lufthansa for ten years, German sources said, moving to Germanwings in 2014. He had also previously flown for Condor..
Patrick Sondenheimer, according to the Independent, was an experienced pilot, having completed over 6,000 flying hours on the A320 aircraft model. He had flown with Lufthansa for ten years, German sources said, moving to Germanwings in 2014. He had also previously flown for Condor..
NEWS Germanwings captain Patrick Sondenheimer tried to break into locked cockpit door 'with an axe' as plane was descending
The captain of the doomed Germanwings plane reportedly used an axe to break down the cockpit door in the final moments before his co-pilot “intentionally” descended the plane, killing everyone on board.
NEWS EASA recommends minimum two crew in the cockpit
EASA published a temporary recommendation for airlines to ensure that at least two crew, including at least one qualified pilot, are in the flight crew compartment at all times of the flight.
Airlines should re-assess the safety and security risks associated with a flight crew leaving the cockpit due to operational or physiological needs.
The Agency makes this recommendation based on the information currently available following the dramatic accident of the Germanwings flight 4U9525, and pending the outcome of the technical investigation conducted by the French Bureau d’Enquetes et d’Analyses (BEA). This recommendation may be reviewed in the light of any new information concerning the accident.
View article
NEWS Ottawa imposes new airline cockpit rules in wake of #Germanwings crash
Effective immediately, any Canadian airline carrying passengers will be required to have two crew members in the cockpit at all times, Transport Minister Lisa Raitt said Thursday.
NEWS Amsterdam Schipol flights cancelled after power outage
A major power cut has hit Amsterdam and surrounding towns, causing all flights to and from the city's Schiphol airport to be temporarily cancelled. Incoming flights are being diverted from Schiphol airport - one of Europe's busiest terminals.
Power outage @Schiphol airport. Looking like lots of delays. Security screening @ gate not working (D-gates at least) pic.twitter.com/vwhQIhbLB7
— Simon Bolton (@simonrbolton) 27 Mars 2015NEWS Germanwings co-pilot Lubitz hid existing mental illness from employers
Andreas Lubitz, the Germanwings co-pilot suspected of deliberately crashing an aircraft in southern France earlier this week, hid details of an existing mental illness from employers. Submissions from German prosecutors state they do not know what condition Lubitz suffered from, but media report suggested he suffered depression and required ongoing assessment.
NEWS Hogan continues battle against United States aviation protectionism in London
“The dark clouds of protectionism” gathering over the air travel industry in Europe and the United States pose a significant threat to the millions of travellers who have benefitted from new choice in the market, argued Etihad Airways chief executive James Hogan earlier. Addressing the Aviation Club, Hogan said international regulators should recognise that, “investing in success is not a crime; blocking competition would be.”
NEWS Norwegian leads with cockpit procedure changes following Germanwings crash
Low-cost carrier Norwegian has decided to change its cockpit procedures so that two crew members always are present in the cockpit. Norwegian had been examining cockpit procedures prior to the crash. However, in light of the tragic Germanwings accident, the airline said it was speeding up the process so that two crew members always are present in the cockpit.
INFOGRAPHIC 5 cases of pilots downing their planes /@afp
#INFOGRAPHIC Precedents of pilots downing their planes pic.twitter.com/25gtCGysea
— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) 27 Mars 2015NEWS Co-pilot ‘deliberately’ destroyed Germanwings flight 4U 9525
The co-pilot of Germanwings flight 4U 9525 appeared to deliberately “destroy the plane”, French officials have revealed. Speaking to media, Marseille prosecutor Brice Robin, said the co-pilot intentionally started a descent while the pilot was locked out of the cockpit. Robin confirmed the hypothesis based on information from the ‘black box’ voice recorder recovered from the crash.
The captain of the Germanwings plane tried to break the locked door to the cockpit with an ax, a security source told Bild. Germanwings has confirmed that an ax was among the equipment available to its pilots.
Germanwings has confirmed that an axe was among the equipment available to its pilots.
The captain of the Germanwings plane tried to break the locked door to the cockpit with an ax, a security source told Bild. Germanwings has confirmed that an ax was among the equipment available to its pilots.
Germanwings has confirmed that an axe was among the equipment available to its pilots.
PHOTOS Massive power outage in Amsterdam Schiphol airport terminals
Power outage @Schiphol airport. Looking like lots of delays. Security screening @ gate not working (D-gates at least) pic.twitter.com/vwhQIhbLB7
— Simon Bolton (@simonrbolton) 27 Mars 2015Been sat for an hour in the dark at #Schiphol power is finally back on, so hopefully we can make our way home 😂✈ pic.twitter.com/X4McoMPUOm
— Rach Smedley (@RachSmedders) 27 Mars 2015NEWS #Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz had serious depressive episode (Bild newspaper) #4U9525
Lufthansa Chief Executive Carsten Spohr told a news conference on Thursday that Lubitz had taken a break during his training six years ago, but did not explain why and said he had passed all tests to be fit to fly.
"Six years ago there was a lengthy interruption in his training. After he was cleared again, he resumed training. He passed all the subsequent tests and checks with flying colors. His flying abilities were flawless," Spohr said.
A Lufthansa spokeswoman said on Friday the airline would not comment on the state of health of the pilot.
Thursday, March 26, 2015
NEWS: 52 deaths highlight impact of recent air disasters on Australia
In the last 17 months, 52 Australians have been killed in air disasters.
2015 March 25: France: A Victorian woman and her adult son are among 150 people killed when Germanwings flight 4U9525 crashes in the French Alps en route from Barcelona to Dusseldorf.
2014 July 17: Ukraine: 38 Australians among 298 people killed when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 is shot down over a rebel-held area of Eastern Ukraine.
2014 March 8: Location unknown: Six Australians among 239 people killed when Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 vanishes en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
2013 October 16: Laos: Six Australians among 49 killed when Lao Airlines flight QV301 crashes while trying to land during a storm at Pakse International Airport.
AFP
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| People sign the memorial book, lay flower and light the candle in memory of the victims of MH17 passengers. Amsterdam International Airport (Schiphol), 21 July 2014. (Pejman Akbarzadeh / Persian Dutch Network) |
2014 July 17: Ukraine: 38 Australians among 298 people killed when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 is shot down over a rebel-held area of Eastern Ukraine.
2014 March 8: Location unknown: Six Australians among 239 people killed when Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 vanishes en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
2013 October 16: Laos: Six Australians among 49 killed when Lao Airlines flight QV301 crashes while trying to land during a storm at Pakse International Airport.
AFP
NEWS: Damaged Malaysia Airlines A330 is limping home
A severe hard landing by a Malaysia Airlines A330 at Melbourne Airport has kept it stranded there for the last 10 days pending inspections, any necessary repairs and now, an investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. The A330 is now 'limping home'.
It was picked it up on Flightradar24 this morning as MAS5160 crossing Lake Eyre on its way to Darwin. It may be making the trip with its wheels down as a necessary precaution in advance of what may be very extensive repairs at its home base in Kuala Lumpur. The flight data supports that view. The jet is flying low and slow, and taking more than 90 minutes longer to do the Darwin stage that would be normal for a scheduled flight.
This is the Flightaware capture when the data showed it had reached 16,400 feet and was doing 292 knots.
A good leisurely speed and altitude for appreciating the red centre scenery, but not much fun if forecast storms fire up further along the track to Darwin.
By Crikey's Ben Sandilands
It was picked it up on Flightradar24 this morning as MAS5160 crossing Lake Eyre on its way to Darwin. It may be making the trip with its wheels down as a necessary precaution in advance of what may be very extensive repairs at its home base in Kuala Lumpur. The flight data supports that view. The jet is flying low and slow, and taking more than 90 minutes longer to do the Darwin stage that would be normal for a scheduled flight.
This is the Flightaware capture when the data showed it had reached 16,400 feet and was doing 292 knots.
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| Flightaware Screen Capture (Crikey) |
By Crikey's Ben Sandilands
NEWS CAE awarded contracts valued at more than C$70 million for five full-flight simulators and update services
Montreal, Canada, March 25, 2015 – (NYSE: CAE; TSX: CAE) – CAE today announced that it has sold five full-flight simulators (FFSs) and simulator update services to customers in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
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ALERT If you missed it, there are new very important data about #Germanwings flight #4U9525 autopilot
According to FlightRadar24, Between 09:30:52 and 09:30:55, the autopilot was manually changed from 38,000 feet to 100 feet and 9 seconds later the aircraft started to descend, probably with the "open descent" autopilot setting.
EMERGENCY A Boeing 777 bound from Miami to Doha has been forced to make an emergency landing after a pregnant passenger gave birth mid-air to a baby boy
The birth took place just hours after the Qatar Airways flight took off from Florida on Sunday morning and before the pilot was able to make the emergency landing in Gander, Newfoundland, eastern Canada.
With the help of two doctors travelling on the plane the woman gave birth to a healthy boy, Brian Hicks, safety manager at Gander International Airport, said.
'Thirty minutes before the plane was preparing to land, she gave birth to a baby boy,' said Hicks. 'There were two doctors on board, they assisted with the birth.'
'That's the youngest passenger we've ever had at Gander.'
The plane was on the ground for some two hours while the mother and newborn were taken to a local hospital, before it then flew on to the Gulf.
The unnamed mother, who was thought to be travelling alone, and the baby boy are said to be doing well and are thought to still be in Canada, Hicks said.
It is not known where the mother was from and Hicks said the 'big talking point' now is what nationality the baby will adopt as it was born in Canadian airspace.
Qatar Airways has a policy of not accepting pregnant women on board once they have reached the 36th week of labour.
The airline also advises all pregnant passengers to seek medical advice before travelling.
AFP
With the help of two doctors travelling on the plane the woman gave birth to a healthy boy, Brian Hicks, safety manager at Gander International Airport, said.
'Thirty minutes before the plane was preparing to land, she gave birth to a baby boy,' said Hicks. 'There were two doctors on board, they assisted with the birth.'
'That's the youngest passenger we've ever had at Gander.'
The plane was on the ground for some two hours while the mother and newborn were taken to a local hospital, before it then flew on to the Gulf.
The unnamed mother, who was thought to be travelling alone, and the baby boy are said to be doing well and are thought to still be in Canada, Hicks said.
It is not known where the mother was from and Hicks said the 'big talking point' now is what nationality the baby will adopt as it was born in Canadian airspace.
Qatar Airways has a policy of not accepting pregnant women on board once they have reached the 36th week of labour.
The airline also advises all pregnant passengers to seek medical advice before travelling.
AFP
EMERGENCY Cracked windshield forced US Airways Express flight to an emergency landing at Burlington airport
A cracked windshield forced an emergency landing at the Burlington airport Thursday morning.
The US Airways Express jet was flying from Philadelphia to Montreal when the pilot reported a crack developing. To be safe, the pilot decided to land and Burlington was the closest airport.
"The crack was reportedly getting larger and working its way down the windshield, so the pilots elected to get the plane on the ground as soon as possible and have it inspected before they did lose the windshield," said Doug Wood, the airport operations foreman.
"I think it was a good move. It could always be worse, right? A cracked windshield. Good thing the pilot made the decision to land the plane," said David Lazare, a passenger.
The airline says there were about 50 passengers on board and they were working to schedule a bus to complete their journey to Montreal.
WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
The US Airways Express jet was flying from Philadelphia to Montreal when the pilot reported a crack developing. To be safe, the pilot decided to land and Burlington was the closest airport.
"The crack was reportedly getting larger and working its way down the windshield, so the pilots elected to get the plane on the ground as soon as possible and have it inspected before they did lose the windshield," said Doug Wood, the airport operations foreman.
"I think it was a good move. It could always be worse, right? A cracked windshield. Good thing the pilot made the decision to land the plane," said David Lazare, a passenger.
The airline says there were about 50 passengers on board and they were working to schedule a bus to complete their journey to Montreal.
WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
NEWS New cockpit policy for Air Canada
Following the fatal Germanwings crash, Air Canada has announced it will be implementing a policy change requiring two crew members to be in the cockpit of all flights at all times.
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NEWS Frontier Airlines strands flyers for 18 hours
850 mile journey took 18 hours? This is exactly what happened to passengers originally scheduled to fly on Frontier Flight 287.
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NEWS Light Plane Flips in KDWH Seaplane Strip
A pilot who "crashed" in the seaplane landing strip at Houston Hooks airport was uninjured, and was able to "swim to safety".
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NEWS Alps Crash Site 'Freakishly Close' to 1953 Disaster
As investigators head to the remote site in the French Alps where Germanwings Flight 9525 crashed yesterday, aviation experts are remembering an air disaster that happened in what the International Business Times calls a "freakishly close" location near the village of Barcelonnette.
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ALERT Editor's note: The New York Times reports the co-pilot of Germanwings flight 9525, Andreas Lubitz, was born on Dec. 18, 1987, which would make him 27, according to local authorities. Earlier reports by German news media said he was 28. We have updated an earlier update noting his age. An investigation into Lubitz is underway after French officials said he deliberately crashed the plane. - Stephanie
NEWS Op-Ed: Responsible Journalism and the Air Crash Du Jour
As a 20-year veteran of the A320 cockpit for a major U.S. airline, including the last 15 in the Captain’s seat, I have cringed at the utter misrepresentation of aviation facts often disseminated by news outlets and their self-proclaimed “aviation experts” endlessly paraded across the TV screen during coverage of the latest air disaster. Coverage of the tragic crash of Germanwings 9525 has been no exception.
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NEWS Germanwings Co-Pilot Deliberately Crashed Airbus Jet, French Prosecutor Says
PARIS — The chief Marseille prosecutor handling the investigation into the crash of a Germanwings jetliner said on Thursday that evidence from the cockpit voice recorder indicated that the co-pilot had deliberately locked the captain out of the cockpit and steered the plane into its fatal descent.
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NEWS Norwegian changes cockpit procedures
Norwegian has decided to change its cockpit procedures so that two crew members always are present in the cockpit.
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NEWS Frustration with U.S. airlines is soaring
For flight changes or cancellations, which can run into the hundreds of dollars. For seat assignments, which can cost around $50 per seat. For checked bag, usually around $25 per bag. For priority boarding, about $50.
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NEWS Austrian Airlines' new livery revealed
The wraps are off Austrian Airlines's new livery, and it's a more subtle make-over than some were expecting.
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NEWS Finnair to launch Inflight Internet on Airbus A350
Finnair will launch inflight WiFi on the Airbus A350 when the first XWB is delivered in autumn this year, and will fitout its entire short-haul and long-haulr fleet by the end of 2018
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NEWS Emirates offers free wi-fi on-board its aircraft
Emirates, a Dubai-based airline, now offers free wi-fi on 106 of its aircraft, with two to three more aircraft being installed with wi-fi connectivity every month.
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BREAKING NEWS! Germanwings Plane appears to have been deliberately crashed -@flightcrisis
The Marseille Prosecutor has suggested that the co-pilot has intentionally crashed the Germanwings flight into the French Alps on Tuesday as he was in sole control of the aircraft. He appeared to be breathing normally and refused to let the pilot re-enter the cockpit.
Speaking at a conference this morning the prosecutor said that the pilot initiated the descent and was alive until the point of the crash.
The Co-pilot has been named as German National Andreas Lubitz.
Lubitz used the flight monitoring system to start the descent of the plane. This has to be done manually and can not happen automatically.
The prosecutor reports that
Speaking at a conference this morning the prosecutor said that the pilot initiated the descent and was alive until the point of the crash.
The Co-pilot has been named as German National Andreas Lubitz.
Lubitz used the flight monitoring system to start the descent of the plane. This has to be done manually and can not happen automatically.
The prosecutor reports that
"We hear several cries from the captain asking to get in. Through the intercom system he identifies himself - but there is no answer. He knocks on the door and
asks for it to be opened - but there is no answer."
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NEWS Damaged Malaysia Airlines A330 is limping home
The Malaysia Airlines A330 that was stranded at Melbourne Airport for 10 days after a severe hard landing is ‘limping’ home.
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NEWS Pilot locked out of Germanwings flight 4U 9525 cockpit
Findings from one of the two ‘black boxes’ recovered from Germanwings flight 4U 9525 suggest one of the two pilots on board the aircraft was locked out of the cockpit at the time of the crash. The Airbus A320 plane crashed in southern France on Tuesday with 150 people on board.
NEWS Air Seychelles launches new Paris departures
Air Seychelles will launch three weekly non-stop Paris flights from July 2015, replacing the current twice-weekly service to the French capital via Abu Dhabi, and dramatically increase weekly frequencies on its regional network from April 2015. This non-stop Paris service will continue to be operated to Charles de Gaulle airport on an Air Seychelles Airbus A330-200 aircraft.
NEWS Finnair to bring Wi-Fi connectivity to fleet
The board of directors at Finnair has approved an investment program for bringing Wi-Fi connectivity to the majority of Finnair’s wide-body and narrow-body fleet. The total value of the investment is approximately €30 million.
NEWS Pilot locked out of Germanwings flight 4U 9525 cockpit
Findings from one of the two ‘black boxes’ recovered from Germanwings flight 4U 9525 suggest one of the two pilots on board the aircraft was locked out of the cockpit at the time of the crash. The Airbus A320 plane crashed in southern France on Tuesday with 150 people on board.
NEWS Easyjet raises profit forecast on fall in oil price and euro
Easyjet has raised its profit forecast because of the weakening euro and lower oil price. Previous guidance that it would make a pre-tax loss of £10m to £30m for the six months to 31 March had been revised, the carrier said.
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NEWS Aeroflot Group will take delivery of 152 aircraft over the next three years
Aeroflot Group (comprises Aeroflot - Russian Airlines, Rossiya – Russian Airlines, Pobeda, Aurora Airlines and Donavia) will take delivery of 152 aircraft (both Russian-produced and foreign-produced ones) over the next three years, said in the carrier’s statement, RIA Novosti reports
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NEWS Lufthansa CEO: 'safety in aviation not a given'
Safety in aviation is not a given, the chief executive of Lufthansa said, a day after a plane operated by its Germanwings unit crashed into the French Alps, killing all 150 onboard.
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NEWS American Airlines Group expects merger milestone on April 8
American Airlines and US Airways expect to receive a single operating certificate from U.S. regulators on April 8, marking a milestone since their December 2013 merger, parent American Airlines Group Inc (AAL.O) told employees in a newsletter on Wednesday.
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NEWS Defending Ohio As The Birthplace Of Aviation
The Wright Brothers' home in West Dayton is no longer there but their impact on aviation history continues on.Now Ohio is firing back after another state says it is the true home of aviation.
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NEWS How the Germanwings crash will impact aviation insurance
Allianz has released a statement confirming that it is the head underwriter for the Germanwings airplane that crashed in the French Alps with 144 passengers and six crew on board, all presumed dead.
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NEWS Flying safer than staying at home, says aviation journalist
UK-based aviation journalist John Walton has spoken to DW about the probable fallout on Europe's air industry after the Germanwings disaster that killed 150 people in the French Alps.
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NEWS Rag left in two Qantas aircraft in 2013 during maintenance
New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) called upon the expertise of the country’s Wool Testing Authority and US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to determine the origin of a rag found in the electronics and equipment compartment area under the flightdeck of a Qantas Boeing 737-800.
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NEWS Russia to reduce taxes for domestic airlines
The Russian government has approved a bill to reduce the value-added tax (VAT) from 18% to 10% for airlines operating domestic flights.
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NEWS Airlines starting over 450 new routes in first three weeks of S15 season
Sunday 29 March represents the start of the northern hemisphere’s “summer season”. This is when airline schedules are significantly adjusted to cope with the seasonal changes in demand, and when European airlines typically launch the bulk of their new routes for the year.
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NEWS American Airlines Slow to Deal with 'Dead Passenger' Problem
The largest airline in the world seems willing to let dead people aboard its jets because the carrier appears reluctant to abide by its own policy and issue refunds to families of those who’ve died after booking a flight.
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