Happy 19th Birthday Virgin Australia

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA ATR 72-500 VH-FVM (CN 979)

IATA	ICAO	Callsign
VA	VOZ	VELOCITY

After the news a few days ago of Virgin Australia slashing 750 jobs I don't think they would be in the mood to celebrate, but Virgin Australia (ex Virgin Blue) has a birthday today.
Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd, commonly referred to as Virgin, is one of Australia's largest airlines, (behind Qantas) and it is the largest airline by fleet size to use the Virgin brand. It commenced services on 31 August 2000 as Virgin Blue, with two aircraft on a single route. 

VIRGIN BLUE B737-8FE VH-VUC (CN 34014)

It suddenly found itself as a major airline in Australia's domestic market after the collapse of Ansett Australia in September 2001. The airline has since grown to directly serve 52 cities both domestically and internationally. Virgin Blue also owned airlines like Pacific Blue; Polynesian Blue and V Australia but now all operate under the name Virgin Australia.
The airline's head office is based here in Bowen Hills, Queensland. It was co-founded by British businessman Richard Branson (the founder of Virgin Group), and former CEO Brett Godfrey.
In 2011, the airline went through a massive transformation—the changing of their brand to Virgin Australia. This included the introduction of a new aircraft livery, new uniforms, and new on board menu options. New wide-body aircraft were acquired for use to compete with Qantas, and the roll-out of business class across all the Virgin Australia network. On 4 May 2011, the former Virgin Blue revealed its new name, Virgin Australia, as well as its new livery. 

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA A330-243 VH-XFC (CN 1293)

In addition to the new name, branding and livery, the airline also showed off its new flagship the Airbus A330 with new domestic business class. Boeing 737 business class seating was also revealed, to be introduced on all of Virgin's jet aircraft by the end of 2011. Pacific Blue and V Australia were both folded into the new Virgin Australia brand.

Current fleet

Virgin Australia fleet

Aircraft	In Service	Orders	Passengers				Notes
			J	W	Y	Total
Airbus A330-200	6	—	20	—	255	275
ATR 72-600	12	—	—	—	68	68	Former Virgin Australia Regional Airlines aircraft
Boeing 737-700	2	—	8	—	120	128
Boeing 737-800	73	—	8	—	168	176	Fifteen registered to Virgin Australia International Airlines . Some aircraft to be transferred to Tigerair Australia
Boeing 737 MAX 8	—	23	TBA				To be delivered from February 2025
Boeing 737 MAX 10	—	25	TBA				To be delivered from July 2021
Boeing 777-300ER	5	—	37	24	278	339	All registered to Virgin Australia International Airlines
Total	98	48

Below is the break down of Virgin Australia owners

Nanshan Group (22.4%)
Etihad Airways (21%)
Singapore Airlines (19.8%)
HNA Group (13%)
Virgin Group (8%)

Virgin Australia to slash 750 jobs

                      VIRGIN AUSTRALIA                             File Photo

Virgin Australia has announced it is cutting 750 corporate and head office jobs as part of a restructuring plan forced on the struggling airline that will also include the axing of uneconomic routes. The airline is not only going to sack 750 office workers but it is preparing to axe routes from its network as its new boss looks to save money and pull the ailing airline out of its financial nosedive. Paul Scurrah, who took over as the airline's chief executive in late March, said "nothing will be off the table" in a review underway into where the airline flies, how frequently and in what aircraft. “We are focused on getting the business into profit as soon as possible, which will take some further tough decisions," Mr Scurrah said on Wednesday after handing down a $315 million full-year loss. "We do expect that we will make network changes on the back of that analysis. That could be a withdrawal from a market or a reduction in frequency or a combination of both." After posting a “disappointing” full-year loss of $349.1m on Wednesday, Virgin said the “challenging trading environment” had been compounded by headwinds such as increased fuel prices and the weak Australian dollar. “There is no doubt that we are operating in a tough economic climate with high fuel, a low Australian dollar and subdued trading conditions,” Virgin Australia chief executive Paul Scurrah said.

TIGERAIR A320-232 VH-XUH (CN 6749)             File Photo

The group, which includes the budget carrier Tigerair, will undergo what Scurrah called a “rightsizing” program which would see the jobs cut from the total of around 10,000 employees. The majority of job losses look set to be borne by staff at the airline’s headquarters in Brisbane. Although revenue for the 12 months to 30 June rose 7.5% to $5.83bn as it added passengers, it was not enough to prevent the group recording its seventh consecutive year of losses. Movements in the fuel price and the Australian dollar cost the company $158.8m. Its international business went into the red by $58.3m after heavy investment in new routes to New Zealand and Hong Kong.  The airline’s restructuring, which aims to save $75m a year, includes a shakeup of the top executive team involving the departure of the chief financial officer, chief operations officer and chief commercial officer. The boss of Tigerair, Merren McArthur, will also leave the company as her role will disappear under the changes. The airline’s three distinct parts – Virgin Australia, Virgin Australia Regional Airlines and Tigerair – will have their operations merged under the restructure, although the brands will survive.




Below is the break down of Virgin Australia owners

Nanshan Group (22.4%)

Etihad Airways (21%)

Singapore Airlines (19.8%)

HNA Group (13%)

Virgin Group (8%)

Part of this story was sourced from here
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/aug/28/virgin-australia-to-cut-750-jobs-after-349m-full-year-loss

Fire destroys aircraft while parked at terminal

BREAKING NEWS

AIR CHINA A330-343 B-5977 (CN 1658)                File Photo

An Air China Airbus A330 that had just operated a flight between Singapore (SIN) and Beijing (PEK) has been destroyed by fire while sitting at the terminal in Beijing. Emergency services rushed to the aircraft immediately after what was thought to be a fire in the cargo hold. The aircraft arrived as flight CA976 from Singapore at 3pm local time (07:00 GMT). At 4pm (08:00 GMT) smoke emerged from the cargo compartment of a plane waiting for departure. The staff working on the scene confirmed that there was a lot of smoke but no visible fire on the plane, the statement said. Reports and video's show smoke and fire coming up through the roof of the aircraft. The airport added that there were no passengers inside the plane when the fire broke out and that it initiated emergency response procedures to deal with the fire.
The aircraft was being prepared for a flight to Tokyo (CA183).

Aircraft Information

Airline: Air China

Code: CA/CCA

Aircraft: A330-343

Registration: B-5958

Serial Number: 1587

First Flew: 21/11/2014

Age: 4 Yrs 8 Mts

Test Registration: F-WWCE

Smoke in the cabin forces plane evacuation

HAWAIIAN AIRLINES A330-243 N381HA (CN 1114)   File Photo

An Hawaiian Airlines flight from Oakland International Airport (KOAK/OAK) to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (PHNL/HNL), had to be evacuated via the slides on the runway after landing when smoke filled the cabin. Seven passengers were taken to hospitals when a Hawaiian Airlines flight landed in Honolulu on Thursday morning with smoke in the cabin and cargo hold, officials said. The passengers had "smoke-related symptoms," Hawaiian Airlines said in a statement.

The smoke buildup happened because oil was leaking "onto hot parts of the plane's engine and air conditioning pressurization system," according to a statement released by the airline, which blamed the leak on a failed seal. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Fire Chief Glenn Mitchell described the passengers' injuries as "minor respiratory" in nature. The seven injured were five adults and two children, airline Chief Operating Officer Jon Snook said.  The flight from Oakland made its emergency landing around 11:30 a.m. HT. The other 177 passengers and the seven crew members were bused to the terminal. The smoke began filling the cabin 20 minutes before the plane's arrival, he said. "We sincerely apologize to our passengers for this incident and thank them for their cooperation in the evacuation," the airline statement said. No oxygen masks were deployed to passengers. Snook said the crew didn't want to pump oxygen into the aircraft when there might be a fire. The crew donned smoke masks, he said.  A passenger said the cabin began filling up with smoke, “there were a few people that were crying.”. “I was scared said another passenger. It just kept getting worse and worse,” she said, adding that several passengers got “a few little bumps and bruises” from sliding down the emergency slides. Passengers also said that flight attendants passed out wet cloths in order to help them breathe. The crew deployed the plane's emergency slides for the evacuation, which officials said took between 30 and 45 seconds. Because halon was used in the cargo hold, it will take some time to get luggage back to the passengers, Snook said. Each passenger will have their flights comped and will get a voucher for a future flight.

(Halon is an unreactive gaseous compounds of carbon with bromine and other halogens, used in fire extinguishers.)

Aircraft Details
Airline: Hawaiian
Code: HA/HAL
Aircraft: A321-271
Registration: N218HA
Serial Number: 8764
Engines: 2 X PW1133G
Most of the story was sourced from here but with additions

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/22/us/hawaiian-airlines-smoke-injuries/index.html

Qantas to launch "Project Sunrise"

Qantas has announced three ultra long-haul research flights to gather new data about inflight passenger and crew health and wellbeing. The flights form part of planning for Project Sunrise – Qantas’ goal to operate regular, non-stop commercial flights from the east coast of Australia (Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne) to London and New York. The three flights over three months will use new Boeing 787-9s and re-route their planned delivery flights. Instead of flying empty from Seattle to Australia, the aircraft will simulate two Project Sunrise routes – London and New York to Sydney.

QANTAS B787-9 VH-ZND (CN 63390)              File Photo

This will represent the world’s first flight by a commercial airline direct from New York to Sydney and only the second time a commercial airline has flown direct from London to Sydney. Each flight will have a maximum of 40 people, including crew, in order to minimise weight and give the necessary fuel range. Carbon emissions from the flights will be fully offset. The on-board research is being designed in partnership with Sydney University’s Charles Perkins Centre and Monash University in conjunction with CRC for Alertness, Safety and Productivity. People in the cabin – mostly Qantas employees – will be fitted with wearable technology devices and take part in specific experiences at varying stages of the approximately 19 hour flights. Scientists and medical experts from the Charles Perkins Centre will monitor sleep patterns, food and beverage consumption, lighting, physical movement and inflight entertainment to assess impact on health, wellbeing and body clock. Monash University researchers will work with pilots to record crew melatonin levels before, during and after the flights. Pilots will wear an EEG (electroencephalogram) device that tracks brain wave patterns and monitors alertness. The aim is to establish data to assist in building the optimum work and rest pattern for pilots operating long haul services.

QANTAS B787-9 VH-ZNA (CN 39038)             File Photo

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the flights will give medical experts the chance to do real-time research that will translate into health and wellbeing benefits. “Ultra-long haul flying presents a lot of common sense questions about the comfort and wellbeing of passengers and crew. These flights are going to provide invaluable data to help answer them. “For customers, the key will be minimising jet lag and creating an environment where they are looking forward to a restful, enjoyable flight. For crew, it’s about using scientific research to determine the best opportunities to promote alertness when they are on duty and maximise rest during their down time on these flights. “Flying non-stop from the East Coast of Australia to London and New York is truly the final frontier in aviation, so we’re determined to do all the groundwork to get this right. “No airline has done this kind of dedicated research before and we’ll be using the results to help shape the cabin design, inflight service and crew roster patterns for Project Sunrise. We’ll also be looking at how we can use it to improve our existing long-haul flights,” added Mr Joyce. Qantas has already conducted data on passenger sleep strategies on its direct Perth–London service, and some of these initial findings will be assessed further as part of these dedicated research flights. Customer feedback on food choices, separate stretching and wellbeing zones and entertainment options will also be tested. Findings on crew wellbeing data will be shared with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to help inform regulatory requirements associated with ultra-long haul flights.

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Airbus and Boeing have both pitched aircraft (A350 and 777X) to Qantas that are capable of operating Project Sunrise flights with a viable commercial payload. A final decision on Project Sunrise – which depends on aircraft economics, regulatory approvals and industrial agreements – is expected by the end of December 2019. Mr Joyce added: “There’s plenty of enthusiasm for Sunrise, but it’s not a foregone conclusion. This is ultimately a business decision and the economics have to stack up.”

PROJECT SUNRISE RESEARCH FLIGHTS – KEY FACTS 

• Non-stop flights from New York and London to Sydney will take around 19 hours each, subject to wind and weather conditions. The data will be used to inform all Sunrise flight planning, including from Brisbane and Melbourne.
• The aircraft will position from Boeing’s factory in Seattle, where they will be collected off the production line by Qantas pilots, and flown to their starting points of New York (for two of the flights) and London (for one flight). Cabins will be fully fitted out and otherwise ready to enter normal commercial service.
• The flights will take place in October, November and December, in-line with scheduled aircraft deliveries from Boeing.
• Flights will have up to 40 people (including crew) on board and a minimum of luggage and catering to extend the range of 787-9.
• Other than crew, those in the cabin will mostly be Qantas employees taking part in testing. No seats will be sold as these flights are for research purposes only.
• After the flights, each aircraft will enter regular service with Qantas International – with just a few extra miles on the clock.
• Qantas operates the largest airline carbon offset scheme in the world. This same program will be used to offset all the carbon emissions from these three flights.
• No commercial airline has ever flown direct from New York to Australia. Qantas has once flown non-stop from London to Sydney in 1989 to mark the entry into service of the Boeing 747-400. That flight had a total of 23 people on board and minimal internal fit-out in order to provide the range. The aircraft, registered VH-OJA, was donated by Qantas in 2017 to the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society near Wollongong, New South Wales.

A video about the ‘Project Sunrise’ research flights can be viewed and downloaded here

(opens in new window)Full story sourced from the Qantas Website

Remembering Saudia Airlines Flight 163

On the 19th of August 1980, one of the deadliest disasters in aviation history unfolded on a runway at Riyadh International Airport in Saudi Arabia’s capital. 301 people lost their lives as a Lockheed L-1011 Tristar made an emergency landing due to an in-flight fire, then mysteriously went silent before anyone left the aircraft. The horrifying disaster boggles the mind because somehow, no one on board the jet survived a flight that never even crashed. Saudia flight 163 was a scheduled Saudia passenger flight which caught fire after takeoff from Riyadh International Airport (RUH/OERY) en route to Jeddah International Airport (JED/OEJN). All 287 passengers and 14 crew on board died from smoke inhalation after the aircraft made a successful emergency landing at Riyadh. Flight SV163 departed Qu'aid-e-Azam International Airport (now Jinnah International Airport) in Karachi, Pakistan at 18:32 local time (13:32 UTC) bound for Jeddah International Airport in Jeddah, with a scheduled intermediate stop at Riyadh Airport. The flight arrived in Riyadh at 19:06 (16:06 UTC). There was a two hour layover for refueling. After refueling, the flight took off at 21:08 (18:08 UTC) bound for Jeddah. Almost seven minutes into the flight the crew received warnings of smoke from the cargo compartment. The next four minutes were spent by the crew trying to confirm the warnings, after which Flight Engineer Bradley Curtis went back into the cabin to confirm the presence of smoke. Captain Mohammed Ali Khowyter decided to return to the airport, and First Officer Sami Abdullah M. Hasanain radioed their intentions at 21:20 (18:20 UTC). At 21:25 (18:25 UTC), the thrust lever for the number two engine became jammed as the fire burned through the operating cable. Then, at 21:29 (18:29 UTC), the engine was shut down during final approach. At 21:35 (18:35 UTC), Khowyter declared an emergency and landed back at Riyadh. After touchdown at 21:36 (18:36 UTC), the airplane continued to a taxiway at the end of the runway where it exited the runway, stopping two minutes and 40 seconds after touchdown at 21:39 (18:39 UTC). The airport fire rescue equipment was stationed back on the landing section of the runway, with emergency personnel expecting an emergency stop and evacuation. This meant they had to rush after the aircraft, which had used the entire length of a 13,000 feet (4,000 m) runway to slow and then exit onto the taxiway. The airplane stopped facing in the opposite direction from landing. Once the aircraft had stopped, the crew reported that they were shutting down the engines and about to evacuate. However, on arrival at the aircraft, the rescue personnel found that the two wing-mounted engines were still running, preventing them from opening the doors. These were finally shut down at 21:42 (18:42 UTC), three minutes and 15 seconds after the aircraft came to a stop, at which point communication with the crew was lost. No external fire was visible at this time, but flames were observed through the windows at the rear of the aircraft. Twenty-three minutes after engine shutdown, at 22:05 (19:05 UTC), the R2 door was opened by ground personnel. Three minutes later, the aircraft burst into flames, and was consumed by fire.
The accident is the deadliest involving a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, as well as the deadliest aviation disaster to occur in Saudi Arabia.

The aircraft involved was a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar. It made its first flight on the 13 July 1979, and was delivered to Saudia on the 21st August 1979.

Aircraft Details
Airline: Saudia Airlines:
Code: SV/SVA
Aircraft: Lockheed L-1011 TriStar
Registration: HZ-AHK
Serial Number: 1169
Engines: 3 Rolls-Royce RB211-524B2-02
First Flew: 13/07/1979
Crashed: 19/08/1980
Age:1 Yr 1 month

Aviation Australia Expo

Today was the annual Aviation Australia Expo and even though the gates didn't open until 10am, I got to the airport around 8am to get a few of the early morning arrivals.

CHINA SOUTHERN A330-223 B-6516 (CN 1129)

ARRIVING FROM GUANGZHOU

AIR NEW ZEALAND A3321-271NX ZK-NNF (CN 839)

ARRIVING FROM CHRISTCHURCH

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE C-27J SPARTAN A34-004 (CN 4183)

QANTAS B737-838 VH-VXQ (CN 33723) 

ARRIVING FROM ADELAIDE

ALLIANCE FOKKER F28 MK 100 (CN 11456)

ARRIVING FROM ROCKHAMPTON

MINERALOGY MD 82 VP-CBH (CN 53577)

QANTAS A330-303 VH-QPF (CN 595)

CHINA EASTERNN A330-243 B-8231 (CN 1664)

ARRIVING FROM SHANGHAI

This is clearly the largest event of its kind in Queensland, the Aviation Expo showcases the thriving aerospace industry, with a significant focus on aviation skills development, careers and employment opportunities. The Aviation Expo featured dozens of exhibitors from the aviation, defence and education industries who where there to inspire and educate visitors about the range of interesting roles available in aviation. There where many activities for visitors to experience, including cabin crew evacuations, insight into an operational hangar environment, roving entertainment and careers seminars. Aviation Australia is a world class, registered training organisation, established by the Queensland State Government in 2001 to support the development and growth of aviation and aerospace industries in both the Australian and international markets. More information can be found here. https://www.aviationaustralia.aero/

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH ME...

PROGRESSIVE AERODYNE SEAREY LSX AMPHIBIAN 

VH-XWW (CN LSX 002A)

VAN'S RV 6A VH-ZCZ (CN 24825)

FLIGHT SCOPE AVIATION EXTRA FLUGZEUGBAU 

VH-CIZ (CN 026)

AQUILA AVIATION  EXCELENCE AG ATO1 VH-BNE (CN ATO1-211)

SINGAPORE A350-941 9V-SHB (CN 263)

ARRIVING FROM SINGAPORE

NORTH AMERICAN AVIATION T-28B VH-RPX (CN 137743)

FOKKER DR-1 VH-FXP (CN NA-1)

BEECH A45 VH-XUS (CN G-37)

YAKOVLEV YAK 52 VH-YIK (CN 877-806)

BEECH 35 VH-UXV (CN D-1422)

AEROPRAKT A32 VIXXEN 912 23-8770 (CN 017)

E V A AIR A330-302 B-16339 (CN 1794)

ARRIVING FROM TAIPEI

CHINA AIRLINES A350-941 B-18906 (CN 092)

ARRIVING FROM TAIPEI

QANTAS B787-9 VH-ZND (CN 63390)

E V A AIR B777-35E ZK-OKT (CN 32644)

FLYING FOR AIR NEW ZEALAND - ARRIVING FROM AUCKLAND

AEROPOWER ROBINSON R44 VH-TIL (CN 2392)

STATE OF QUEENSLAND AGUSTAWESTLAND AW 139 

VH-ESZ (CN 31125)

AEROPOWER GUIMBAL CABRI G2 VH-LTO (CN 1071)

CATHAY A330-343 B-LAL (CN 1222)

ARRIVING FROM CAIRNS

AEROPOWER EUROCOPTER AS.350BE VH-SHD (CN 3423)

PIPER PA 28-181 VH-BWU (CN 2843421)

PIPER PA44-180 VH-BJI (CN 4496410)

TECNAM P2004 BRAVO 24-5300 (CN 

GENERAL AVIA CONSTRUZIONO F22R VH-PIQ (CN 021)

AMATUER BUILT F8L VH-NVA (CN 1291)

FLYING SIGNS AMERICAN CHAMPION 8GCBC VH-CFZ (CN 406-99)

TECNAM P92-S ECHO 24-3979

FLY SYNTHESIS TEXAN 550 24-7427

COSTRUZIONI AERONAUTICHE P2010 VH-ARQ (CN 050)

SIRRUS SR20 VH-LWV (CN 1995)

AMATEUR BUILT LANCAIR IV-P VH-LWL (CN 431)

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE C-27J SPARTAN A34-004 (CN 4183)

CESSNA 182K VH-SFH (CN 18257749)

AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE CADETS DIAMOND DA-40NG 

VH-UEX (CN 40.N389)

EUROPOWER ROBINSON R22 BETA VH-NLH (CN 4515)

AIRWORK ROBINSON R44II VH-WTT (CN 12650)