Virgin Australia sale: Flights from $49 one way

Virgin Australia has just dropped a monster sale across 32 destinations with Aussies able to fly around the country for as little as $49.00 ($33.88 US)

Virgin Australia has dropped a round of very cheap tickets, offering domestic flights from as little as $49 one way, just in time for summer.

The airline revealed the discounted domestic and international flights would be up for grabs until midnight Monday, 5th September, or until sold out.

However, the sale fares can only be booked on select dates and destinations between the 17th January 2023 and the 24th June 2023.

“We are incredibly focused on providing Australians with excellent value airfares and we’re pleased to have launched over 1 million sale fares to popular destinations, including Bali, Fiji and the Gold Coast from as low as $49, which we know will be welcome news for travellers looking to plan a summer holiday,” a Virgin Australia Group spokesperson said.

“Our Bring on Summer sale fares are expected to sell quickly, particularly given the strong demand we are currently experiencing for returning travellers who are booking flights to wonderful destinations in Australia and abroad.”

Sydneysiders looking to head to the popular coastal town of Byron Bay are looking at $49 one way.

If the Sunshine Coast is what you’re after, it’s $69 — and it’s the same price for those wanting to travel to the Gold Coast.

Melburnians keen for a holiday to Hamilton Island are looking at $135, while it’s $95 for those travelling from Brisbane.

On the international front Aussies can head to destinations such as Bali, Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa for $469, $475, $489 and $559 respectively, depending on the city you fly out from.

All sale fares include Velocity Frequent Flyer points and earn status credits.

Tickets are limited and will be unavailable if sold out before the sale ends.

Air France pilots suspended following cockpit brawl

Cabin crew were forced to intervene as the pilot and co-pilot laid into each other.

AIR FRANCE AIRBUS A380-861 F-HPJE (MSN 052)

Air France pilots are under scrutiny after recent incidents that have prompted French investigators to call for tougher safety protocols. Two Air France pilots were suspended after physically fighting in the cockpit on a Geneva-Paris flight in June, an Air France official said.

The flight continued and landed safely, and the dispute didn’t affect the rest of the flight, the official said, stressing the airline’s commitment to safety.

Switzerland’s La Tribune reported the pilot and co-pilot had a dispute shortly after take-off, and grabbed each other by their collars after one apparently hit the other. Cabin crew intervened, and one crew member spent the flight in the cockpit with the pilots, the report said. News of the fight emerged after France’s air investigation agency, BEA, issued a report on saying some Air France pilots lack rigour in respecting procedures during safety incidents.

It focused on a fuel leak on an Air France flight from Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo to Paris in December 2020, when pilots rerouted the plane but didn’t cut power to the engine or land as soon as possible, as leak procedure requires.

The plane landed safely in Chad, but the BEA report warned the engine could have caught fire.

It mentioned three similar cases between 2017 and 2022, and said some pilots were acting based on their own analysis of the situation instead of safety protocols.

Air France said it was carrying out a safety audit in response. It pledged to follow the BEA’s recommendations, which include allowing pilots to study their flights afterwards and making training manuals stricter about sticking to procedure.

The airline noted it flies thousands of flights daily and the report mentions only four such safety incidents. Air France pilots’ unions have insisted that security is paramount to all pilots and defended pilot actions during emergency situations.

The BEA also investigated an incident in April involving an Air France flight from New York’s JFK airport that suffered flight control problems on approach to its landing in Paris.

Story sourced from here:

Air France pilots suspended following cockpit brawl as safety fears mount | 7NEWS

Three people killed after a light plane crashed west of Brisbane.

                                  BREAKING NEWS

Three people have been killed after a light plane crashed west of Brisbane.
The aeroplane crashed in a remote area near Lowood, located about an hour west of Brisbane, Queensland's Capital. Paramedics reportedly struggled to get to the scene and were forced to travel to the accident site on foot.

The aircraft ran into hazardous weather and dropped out of the sky from 2,000 feet to 500 feet in a few seconds.

Airline tracking website showed the aircraft leaving Roma (RMA/YROM) in western Queensland this morning at 7.20am, before stopping in Dalby (DBY/YDAY) at approximately 9am.

The plane then took off again from Dalby fifteen minutes later, at 9.15am losing connection with air traffic support 52 minutes later near Ipswich at 10.07am.

Aircraft Information:

Owner / Operator: Executive Helicopters
Aircraft: Cessna 182 Skylane RGII
Registration: VH-EHM

Serial Number: R18200431

Engine: Textron Lycoming O-540 (Piston)

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS 

Emirates reinstates non-stop Airbus A380 flights to Auckland

The resumption of the Gulf carrier's longest route will expedite the path to Dubai and Europe for Kiwi travellers.

EMIRATES AIRBUS A380-861 A6-EEU (MSN 147)

New Zealanders heading to Dubai and Europe with Emirates will again have a direct path as non-stop flights between Auckland and Dubai – once again the Gulf carrier's longest direct flight – return to the skies from the 1st December.

As an added bonus, the 17-hour-10-minute service will be upgraded to an Airbus A380, complete with its inflight bar and lounge for business and first class travellers. The superjumbo swap will mean a substantial upgrade for business class to the A380's fully flat beds, without the dreaded middle seat and unpopular 2-3-2 layout.

Currently, Emirates serves Auckland daily with a Boeing 777 aircraft which makes a 90-minute stop in Kuala Lumpur in both directions. The return of the direct flight will shave more than two hours off the total flight time between the two cities.

EMIRATES BOEING 777-31H A6-ECX (MSN 38982)

However, the direct Auckland service won't initially feature its new premium economy class, with that honour becoming available to flights from Christchurch (via Sydney), also from the 1st December.

The direct EK449 flight will set off from Auckland at 9:15pm, touching down in Dubai at 5:15am the morning afterward. EK448 will depart at 10:05am, landing in New Zealand at 11:05am the next day after a 16-hour journey.

Etihad makes history as UAE’s first female Captain in commercial aviation

Etihad pilot makes history as UAE’s first female Emirati Captain in commercial aviation

ETIHAD BOEING 787-9 A6-BLR (MSN 39663)

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, this week celebrated Captain Aisha Al Mansoori who has become the UAE’s first female Emirati Captain in a commercial airline. This is a significant milestone for aviation within the UAE and part of Etihad’s efforts to expand the roles of women in aviation, in particular the pilot community.

The command upgrade ceremony took place at Etihad’s Crew Briefing Centre in the presence of the pilot’s family, her peers in Etihad’s pilot community, and the airline’s senior management.

The 33-year-old Captain joined Etihad’s Cadet Pilot program in October 2007 and was one of only two UAE National females in her batch. In 2010, Aisha Al Mansoori successfully graduated from the program and took her first flight on an Airbus A320 to Amman, Jordan.

Since then, Al Mansoori climbed the ranks, completing the requisite flying hours to become a Senior First Officer. She was then the first female UAE national to fly the superjumbo passenger aircraft the Airbus A380.

To obtain the rank of Captain, Al Mansoori completed Etihad’s rigorous program of checks and the mandatory number of flying hours required to be considered for the rank of Captain. She passed the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority’s theoretical knowledge and flying exams successfully and officially became the first Emirati female Captain to hold an Air Transport Pilot License in the UAE.

Mohammad Al Bulooki, Chief Operating Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said, “Etihad is extremely proud of Captain Aisha’s achievement and the trailblazing role she is playing for women in aviation in the UAE. She will no doubt be the first of many, and Etihad looks forward to welcoming more female pilots to the rank of Captain in the future.

“Etihad remains committed to Emiratisation and to elevating Emirati women to play their part in the growth of the aviation industry.

“Aviation is gender blind, and to prove oneself, Etihad’s pilots undergo intensive exams and meet strict requirements on flying hours to ensure the highest standards of training in international aviation are upheld. Aisha earned her rank and will no doubt inspire her fellow Emiratis and young women around the world to follow their dreams in aviation.”

On this occasion, Captain Aisha Al Mansoori said: “I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to join Etihad’s Cadet Pilot program and grow my career over the years with Etihad. I am thankful for the tremendous support I have received from my instructors at Etihad and for their guidance through my training, which has shaped my skills and prepared me for the rank of Captain.

“I am proud to be the first female Emirati to be a Captain in a commercial airline, and I hope I will be an inspiration to young women to follow this career path.”

On the 28th August, Al Mansoori will commence regular flying duties as a Captain at Etihad, a day which also marks Emirati Women’s Day.
(Emirati is a person who is born in, or a citizen or inhabitant of, the United Arab Emirates). 

Cracked window shocked passengers on a LOT flight

A LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 787-8 performing flight LO-6 from Warsaw, Poland (WAW/EPWA) to JFK New York, USA (JFK/KJFK) was enroute at FL400 about 300nm northeast of New York when one of the passenger windows cracked. The aircraft rapidly descended to 10,000 feet, reaching 10,000 feet about 15 minutes later and continued to New York for a safe landing on runway 22L at 19.18 UTC.  

The airline reported the electrophotochromatic layer used to darken the window of the passenger window was damaged, the tightness of the window however was not impaired. The aircraft was dispatched for the return flight.

The window is going to be replaced in Warsaw the airline said.
Passengers in the affected row were relocated, the pilots declared an Emergency landing, and the flight landed safely without further incident. There were no injuries.
The aircraft remained on the ground in New York for about 5 hours, then departed for its next flight.

This was the second issue with windows on the LOT Dreamliners in one week. On Sunday, August 14th, a LOT Polish Airlines flight bound for Toronto was diverted due to a crack in the aircraft's windshield.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: LOT

Code: LO/LOT

Aircraft: Boeing 787-8

Registration: SP-LRA

Serial Number: 35938

Engines: 2 x RR Trent 1000

First Flew: 18/10/2012

Age: 9 Yrs 10 Mts

 

Cathay Pacific makes an emergency landing at Manchester airport

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRBUS A350-1041 B-LXO (MSN 434)

A Cathay Pacific A350-1041 made an emergency landing at Manchester airport  in the United Kingdom on August 23, 2022, after a gear retraction problem. The aircraft departed Manchester International Airport (MAN/EGCC) at 13:00 local time (12:00 UTC) bound for Hong Kong-Chek Lap Kok International Airport (HKG/VHHH). As the pilots started their climb out and retracted the undercarriage they reported problems retracting the gear and elected to return to the airport for an emergency landing.

A live stream of the plane’s take-off showed the landing gear starting to retract after take-off, before moving back down again. The aircraft, operating flight CX216, climbed to 5,000 feet initially, then 7,000 feet before maintaining 12,000 feet while circling over the Irish Sea for around 30 minutes, most likely to dump fuel to make it lighter for landing.

The A350 landed safely on runway 23L at Manchester at approximately 14:24 local time (13:24 UTC), where it was met by fire trucks, as is standard procedure for this type of landing. The aircraft then taxied by itself back to the terminal.

Aircraft Aviation

Airline: Cathay Pacific

Code: CX/CPA

Aircraft: Airbus A350-1041

Registration: B-LXN

Serial Number: 424

Engines: 2 x RR Trent XWB-97

Age: 1 Yr 3 Mts

Passenger plane pilots ‘fall asleep at 37,000 feet’ and fly past airport

Two pilots fell asleep in the middle of a flight but somehow managed to land the plane without anyone getting hurt. Ethiopia Airlines, flight ET343, was travelling from Khartoum (KRT/HSSK) to Addis Ababa (ADD/HAAB) on Monday 15th August when the terrifying incident unfolded.

The pilots controlling the Boeing 737 were meant to begin their descent to Addis Ababa Bole Airport, but flight radar data shows they overshot their destination.

Air traffic control tried to get hold of the pair several times but were unsuccessful, but eventually they woke when the autopilot disconnected and sounded an alarm.

Radar shows the pair – at this point probably very freaked out – turning around and making a second attempt at landing the plane 25 minutes behind schedule.

Data confirmed the aircraft stayed at 37,000 feet as it shot straight over the airport it was supposed to land at.

Aviation analyst Alex Macheras tweeted: ‘Deeply concerning incident at Africa’s largest airline — Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 #ET343 was still at cruising altitude of 37,000ft by the time it reached destination Addis Ababa.

‘Why hadn’t it started to descend for landing? Why... Because both pilots were asleep.’

He said the pair were suffering from ‘pilot fatigue’, which he described as ‘nothing new’.

‘Hopefully both pilots got fired and the aviation authorities starting an investigation on the crew duty schedules etc of this airline! Thank god that nothing bad happened,’ one person wrote.

Others described the incident as ‘mad’ and ‘unprofessional and dangerous’, but others were more sympathetic, suggesting the pilots could have been ‘overworked’.

Investigation pending

Ethiopian Airlines did not explicitly confirm whether the pilots were asleep or not, instead stating that the aircraft "temporarily lost communication" with air traffic control. This is perhaps understandable, as the incident only occurred less than a week ago and the airline is still conducting a thorough investigation.

It isn't clear just how long the pilots were asleep at this point; perhaps the pilots themselves don't even know. Data from FlightRadar24.com shows that the aircraft reached its cruising altitude of FL370 almost an hour before its scheduled landing in Addis Ababa.

Pilot napping, often called 'controlled rest,' is more common (and safer) than you might think and a key tool in fatigue management. However, both pilots falling asleep is a different issue entirely. As the International Air Transport Association (IATA) explains in its Fatigue Management Guide for Airline Operators,


"For two-pilot crews on long-range flights, planned 40-minute nap opportunities on the flight deck seat have been shown to provide an average of 23 minutes of sleep and to improve alertness and performance at top of descent. A short nap can improve alertness and performance and is a valuable mitigation strategy in fatigue management."


The likeliest factor behind this incident is pilot fatigue, which has caused similar incidents in the past.  Not long ago ITA Airways pilots who fell asleep over France sparked a terrorism scare, which was also likely down to fatigue.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Ethiopian Airlines

Code: ET/ETH

Aircraft: Boeing 737-8HO

Registration: ET-AOB

Serial Number: 37937

Age: 11Yrs 8Mts

Engines: 2 x CFM56-7B27

Air New Zealand panic after false inflight emergency declared

Midway across the Pacific Ocean, an Air New Zealand B777 suddenly deployed the emergency masks and declared an emergency.

AIR NEW ZEALAND BOEING 777-319 ZK-OKQ (MSN 40689)

On Friday 19th August, passengers flying over the Pacific Ocean awoke in panic as oxygen masks suddenly dropped from the overhead bins. The Air New Zealand plane was on an overnight flight from Los Angeles (LAX/KLAX) to Auckland (AKL/NZAA) when the masks appeared, and the cabin loudspeakers declared an emergency.

False or not, the panic was real

The incident occurred on Air New Zealand flight NZ5, operated by a ten-year-old Boeing B777, registration ZK-OKQ. The B777-319(ER) departed Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 22:07 on Wednesday, THE 17th August for the twelve-hour flight, although it landed 40 minutes early, arriving at Auckland Airport (AKL) at 05:05 on Friday.

The New Zealand Herald reported that one of the passengers, Morgan Kelly said it was in the middle of the night when the cabin lights blinked. She told The Herald that the oxygen masks fell from overhead, and a loudspeaker began blaring, "This is an emergency, this is an emergency, put your mask on."

Another passenger, Jakob Carter, told 1News that everything had been going smoothly until they hit some turbulence over Rarotonga [Cook Islands] in the early hours of the morning. He told the 1news channel:

"We hit some turbulence, it wasn't that bad, but suddenly the lights went out, oxygen masks dropped down.. people started freaking out, it was quite scary."

He said passengers were confused and worried and kept their masks on for about 20 to 25 minutes. Around then, the captain said over the loudspeaker there was nothing wrong with the aircraft and people could remove their masks. Somewhat contradicting that, an Air New Zealand spokesperson told The Herald there had been an incident on the flight, adding that the captain and inflight services manager had kept passengers informed with an announcement about two minutes after the masks were deployed. "We are also in the process of getting in touch with customers on the flight to apologize for the disruption," she added.

Avoiding turbulence was the culprit

Captain David Morgan is the airline's chief operational integrity and safety officer and a current 787 pilot. In a statement, he said oxygen masks were automatically deployed as the aircraft descended from 34,000 feet (10,360 meters) to 27,000 feet (8,230 meters) to avoid turbulence. "During this descent, an automated emergency warning activated requesting customers put on their oxygen masks."

"We are sorry for the alarming wake-up call on this flight. This was not an emergency situation and the oxygen masks were not required. While our cabin crew and pilots worked quickly to reassure everyone on board, we know it was distressing for our customers."





Full story sourced from here

Air New Zealand Panic After False Inflight Emergency Declared (simpleflying.com)

Close call for Singapore Airlines’ flight after sensor covers missed

SINGAPORE AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 9V-SHH (MSN 316)

Singapore Airlines flight 256, bound for Changi Airport, was being pushed back from the international terminal on the 27th May this year when a refueller at an adjacent bay noticed the Airbus A350-900 airspeed sensors were still covered. The sensors sit within narrow tubes, called pitot probes, and inform pilots how fast the plane is flying — vital information for air navigation.

To protect the pitot probes, airline staff at Brisbane Airport routinely have them covered once they land, but planes have been known to take off with those covers attached.
That has resulted in several heavy landings over the years, in which planes have had to turn back to Brisbane and land with full fuel tanks.
In the latest incident being investigated by Australian Transport and Safety Bureau, the Singapore Airlines plane was seconds away from taxiing to the runway for take-off when the issue was spotted.
“At about the same time, the flight crew requested pushback approval from air traffic control and turned on the aircraft beacons,” the ATSB noted.
“The aerobridge began to retract away from the aircraft.”
With two minutes to spare before SQ256’s scheduled departure, the pitot covers were removed and the flight left without incident.

A separate ATSB report this year found the infestation had “probably already spread beyond the limits of practical control”, but Brisbane Airport Corporation has taken them on where it hurts.
It has targeted the wasps’ food source.
Brisbane Airport head of airside operations Peter Dunlop said, through “clever vegetation management”, the airport has reported a 64 per cent reduction in wasp activity at the domestic and international terminals, and a 94 per cent reduction in wasp food sources.

An Etihad Airbus A330 was forced to land almost 18 tonnes over its maximum landing weight in 2013, after a wasp nest blocked one of its pitot probes. The airliner had only been on the ground for two hours, demonstrating how quickly such problems could arise. 

Less than a year later, a Virgin Australia Boeing 737 was forced to turn around and land after taking off from Brisbane.

While none of the incidents at Brisbane Airport have ended in tragedy, such wasp activity has been known to have catastrophic consequences.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Singapore Airlines

Code: SQ/SIA

Aircraft: Airbus A350-941

Registration: 9V-SHH

Serial Number: 316

Engines: 2 x RR Trent XWB

Age: 3yrs 4Mts

Jetstar crew assaulted on Launceston flight

JETSTAR AIRBUS A320-232 VH-VGT (MSN 4178)

A Jetstar flight travelling from Launceston (LST/YMLT) to Brisbane (BNE/YBBN) had to be cancelled after a passenger reportedly assaulted two crew members on the inbound leg. 

Tasmania Police and Ambulance Tas responded to reports of a violent passenger on Jetstar Flight JQ753 at around 3pm, on the 19th August 2022. Officers say a teenage girl had become violent during the flight from Brisbane and assaulted two members of the crew. Police attended the aircraft and took a 16-year-old into custody. Ambulance TAS and Police transported her to Launceston General Hospital (LGH), where she has been admitted for treatment. The two flight attendants also went to LGH with minor injuries, both were released around an hour later. The returning flight to Brisbane, however, was cancelled as a result of the incident.

Due to a scheduled flight later that evening, Brisbane to Darwin, the aircraft departed Launceston two hours later as a ferry flight. JQ7992 departed Launceston on runway 32L at 17.38 and landed in Brisbane on runway 01R at 19.47.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Jetstar

Code: JQ/JST

Aircraft: Airbus A320-232

Registration: VH-VGT

Serial Number: 4178

Engines: 2 x IAE V2527-A5

Age: 12 yrs 6 Mts

Exercice Pitch Black is Back

Exercise Pitch Black is returning to the Northern Territory in 2022 and the Royal Australian Air Force would like to thank the Northern Territory community once again for their interest and tremendous support.

The exercise is a biennial three week multi-national large force employment exercise conducted primarily from RAAF Base Darwin and RAAF Base Tindal. RAAF Base Amberley, located near Ipswich will also be included in the exercise this year.
Exercise Pitch Black 2022 is the Royal Australian Air Force’s most significant International Engagement activity with forces participating from a wide range of partner and allied nations developing and enhancing military relationships at all levels.

Exercises such as this are pivotal to ensuring Air Force remains ready to respond whenever the Australian Government requires. The training and integration of forces that occurs during this exercise directly supports Air Force’s ability to conduct operations.

Exercise Pitch Black features a range of realistic, simulated threats which can be found in a modern battle-space environment and is an opportunity to test and improve our force integration, utilising one of the largest training airspace areas in the world — Bradshaw Field Training Area and Delamere Air Weapons Range.

The exercise will host up to 2500 personnel and up to 100 aircraft from around the globe including participants from Australia, France, Germany, Indonesia, India, Singapore, Japan, Republic of Korea, UK, the Philippines, Thailand, UAE, Canada, Netherlands, Malaysia, New Zealand and the US. Significantly, Germany, Japan, and the Republic of Korea will be participating fully for the first time.

Activities such as Exercise Pitch Black recognise Australia’s strong relationships and the high value we place on regional security and fostering closer ties throughout the Indo- Pacific region.

To show our appreciation of your support we are pleased to continue the tradition of providing a flypast and handling display at Mindil Beach and an Open Day at RAAF Base Darwin where you will have the chance to observe, first-hand, some of the participating Air Forces’ capabilities.

The exercise will also support a concurrent International Observer Group program in order to provide an opportunity for foreign forces to gain an appreciation of how Australia prepares for and executes major activities.

International partners expected to participant include Canada, France (French Air Force and the French Armed Forces New Caledonia), Germany, Indonesia, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, UK, Republic of Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and the United States.

The exercise will include day and night flying involving up to approximately 100 participating aircraft. There will not be any overarching scenario for the exercise. Each mission will be executed as a stand-alone serial with distinct training objectives.

Objectives of Exercise Pitch Black 2022

Through Exercise Pitch Black the RAAF will demonstrate Air Force’s commitment to building professionalism and enhancing military relationships for the safe and effective conduct of air operations with regional and partner nations.

The exercise will enhance regional security through multinational interoperability and understanding

COVID-19

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the RAAF is adjusting how it does business while still maintaining operational readiness. Exercise Pitch Black 2022 is critical to the RAAF maintaining that readiness.

The RAAF has worked with relevant State and Territory authorities – including Chief Health Officers – to design an exercise that achieves its objectives while being safe for the Australian community and participating forces.

International forces entering Australia are subject to the same requirements as any international arrival.

Comprehensive COVID-19 risk management plans – agreed to by relevant state and territory health authorities – will also be implemented throughout the exercise

Where will Exercise Pitch Black take place?

Pitch Black exercise activities are planned to occur in the Northern Territory and Queensland particularly at RAAF Base Darwin and RAAF Base Tindal. RAAF Base Amberley, located near Ipswich, will also be included in the exercise this year.

When is it being held?

Exercise Pitch Black will run from 19 August – 8 September 2022. There will be aircraft and people arriving a few days prior to the start of the exercise. Some aircraft and people will remain in the NT for another exercise

How are communities being involved?

The ADF has a long history of training and living in the Northern Territory. For many it’s our home and where our families live.

Extensive engagement has occurred with graziers, local and state governments, communities and businesses, indigenous representatives, schools and environmental authorities.

We really appreciate the very strong support shown for Exercise Pitch Black.

It is important as many interested parties as possible hear about the exercise and are encouraged to provide input. The Pitch Black website will be the central point of information. You can also contact us by sending a query via the Contact Us page. Media should contact Defence Media via email: media@defence.gov.au

At time of writing, the exercise design included up to 100 aircraft from 15 participating nations.


Join them on Social Media - Use the exercise hashtag #PitchBlack22

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AusAirForce
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ausairforce/
Twitter: twitter.com/AusAirForce
YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/AusAirForce
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/ausairforce

Full Story sourced from here 

Exercise Pitch Black 2022 | Royal Australian Air Force

Remembering Saudia Flight 163

SAUDI MD 11 HZ-HM7 (CN 48532)

 

Saudia Flight 163 was a scheduled Saudia passenger flight that caught fire after takeoff from Riyadh International Airport (RUH/OERY), Saudi Arabia (now known as the Riyadh Air Base) en route to Jeddah International Airport (JED/OEJD) Saudi Arabia on the 19th August 1980. All 287 passengers and 14 crew on board the Lockheed L-1011-200 TriStar died from smoke inhalation after the aircraft made a successful emergency landing at Riyadh. Flight SV163 landed at Riyadh at 16:06 GMT for a scheduled intermediate stop after a flight from Karachi. At 18:08 the aircraft took off for the final leg to Jeddah. Six minutes and 54 seconds after takeoff, while climbing to FL350, visual and aural warnings indicated smoke in the aft cargo compartment C-3. Climbing through FL220 (at 18:20), a return to Riyadh was initiated. About two minutes later smoke was noted in the aft of the cabin, and passengers were panicking. At 18:25:26 the no. 2 engine throttle was stuck. The fire had by then entered the cabin of the TriStar. Because passengers where fighting in the aisles, aft of doors L2 and R2, the captain asked everybody to remain seated (18:27:40). On final approach engine no. 2 was shut down, and the captain told the cabin crew not to evacuate. Flight SV163 landed back at Riyadh runway 01 at 18:36:24 The crew continued to a taxiway and told the tower that they were going to shut the engines down and evacuate. The engines were shut down at 18:42:18. Because no evacuation had been initiated by then, crash, fire and rescue personnel tried to open the doors. At about 19:05 they succeeded in opening door 2R. About three minutes later, the interior was seen to be engulfed in flames. None of the occupants survived the fire.

Probable Cause:

"The initiation of a fire in the C-3 cargo compartment. The source of the ignition of the fire is undetermined. Factors contributing to the fatal results of this accident were 1) the failure of the captain to prepare the cabin crew for immediate evacuation upon landing and his failure in not making a maximum stop landing on the runway, with immediate evacuation, 2) the failure of the captain to properly utilize his flight crew throughout the emergency 3) the failure of C/F/R headquarters management personnel to ensure that its personnel had adequate equipment and training to function as required during an emergency."

The accident is the deadliest involving a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, as well as the deadliest aviation disaster to occur in Saudi Arabia to date.

The aircraft involved was a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar (Registered in Saudi Arabia as HZ-AHK). It made its first flight on the 13th July 1979, and was delivered to Saudia on the 21st August 1979.

Aircraft Information
Airline: Saudi Arabian Airlines
Code: SV/SVA
Aircraft: Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 200
Registration: HZ-AHK
Serial Number: 1169
Engines: 3 x RB211-524B402
First Flew: 13/07/1979
Age: 11 Months 

Gunman arrested after shots fired inside Canberra Airport

A man has been arrested after shots were fired yesterday at Australia's Canberra airport, sending passengers running in fear. Police say shots were fired in the terminal's check-in area around 1.30pm local time. 

The man was quickly detained, and a firearm recovered. At this stage his motives remain unclear.

The capital's airport was evacuated as a precaution.

Australian media report that the gunman fired approximately five shots. Bullet holes were later seen in the glass windows of the terminal. Footage has emerged on social media purportedly showing a man being arrested by police officers at the airport.

Witnesses described chaos and confusion at the airport's check-in area as security guards urged people to leave.
One eyewitness said she hid under a desk in one of the airport lounges.

Alison, another witness, said she had just put her bags onto the security check belt when the shooting started.

"We were in security and heard the first gunshots. I turned around and there was a man standing with a pistol, like a small one, facing out towards the car drop-off," she was quoted as saying.

Lily Thomson, a reporter for public broadcaster ABC, said she heard the shots and realised something was wrong when people started screaming "run".

"I saw this grandma with a baby and the fear in her face and I knew it was something serious.

"So we all ran and I stayed with that grandma and her baby and hid behind an information desk. We stayed there for a couple of minutes until security told us to evacuate out to the car park.

"Everyone was hiding behind chairs and people were running. It was terrifying," Ms Thomson said.

Some passengers were stuck on board the aircraft on the tarmac as police officers swept the terminal. The passengers were later allowed to disembark.

Some flights have been cancelled or rescheduled following the shooting.

No-one was reported injured.

Plane spotting at Sydney Airport - day two

As we were heading home around lunch time today I wanted to spend a few hours once again at Shep's Mound. Unlike yesterday, where I saw three aircraft never seen before, today I wasn't so lucky.

SHANGHAI AIRLINES BOEING 787-9 B-208X (MSN 63711)
MU7561 ARRIVING FROM SHANGHAI

SINGAPORE BOEING 777-312 9V-SWI (MSN 34574)
SQ212 OFF TO SINGAPORE

AIR NEW ZEALAND AIRBUS A321-271 ZK-NNB (MSN 8542)
NZ101 ARRIVING FROM AUCKLAND

KOREAN AIR AIRBUS A330-323 HL-8027 (MSN 1647)
KE122 OFF TO SEOUL

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-8FE VH-YIJ (MSN 39924)
VA916 ARRIVING FROM BRISBANE

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-VYJ (MSN 34182)
QF591 ARRIVING FROM GOLD COAST

JAPAN AIR BOEING 787-8 JA838J (MSN 34849)
JL52 OFF TO TOKYO

LINK AIRWAYS SAAB 340B VH-VEQ (MSN 340B-424)
VA631 ARRIVING FROM CANBERRA

EMIRATES AIRBUS A380-842 A6-EVN (MSN 267)

REX BOEING 737-8FE VH-PAG (MSN 37821)
ZL18 ARRIVING FROM MELBOURNE

NSW AMBULANCE KING AIR 350C VH-AMS (MSN FM-97)
AM297 OFF TO BOURKE

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-203 VH-EBL (MSN 0976)
QF643 OFF TO PERTH

LAN BOEING 787-9 CC-BGI (MSN 38764)
LA801 ARRIVING FROM AUCKLAND

ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS BOEING 787-9 JA921A (MSN 43865)
NH879 ARRIVING FROM TOKYO

PHILIPPINE AIRBUS A330-343 RP-C8781 (MSN 1460)
PR212 ARRIVING FROM MANILA

JETSTAR BOEING 787-8 VH-VKA (MSN 36227)
JQ11 OFF TO GOLD COAST

AIR CANADA BOEING 787-9 C-FGDT (MSN 37171)
AC34 OFF TO VANCOUVER

AIR VANUATU BOEING 737-8SH YJ-AV8 (MSN 42052)
NF10 ARRIVING FROM PORT VILA

LATAM BOEING 787-9 CC-BGF (MSN 38479)
LA1230 OFF TO SANTIAGO

DHL (TASMAN CARGO) BOEING 767-3JHFVH-EXZ  (MSN 37808)
HJ1 ARRIVING FROM AUCKLAND

QANTAS BOEING 787-9 VH-ZND (MSN 63390)
QF63 OFF TO JOHANNESBURG

QANTASLINK DASH 8 Q400 VH-QOM (MSN 4217)
QF2040 OFF TO DUBBO

AIR INDIA BOEING 787-8 VT-ANZ (MSN 36297)
AI301 OFF TO DELHI

UNITED BOEING 787-9 N29985 (MSN 66144)
UA842 OFF TO LOS ANGELES

MALAYSIA AIRBUS A330-323 9M-MTB (MSN 1219)
MH123 ARRIVING FROM KUALA LUMPUR

SINGAPORE AIRBUS A380-841 9V-SKY (MSN 253)
SQ231 ARRIVING FROM SINGAPORE

AIR NEW ZEALAND BOEING 787-9 ZK-NZM (MSN 38180)
NZ103 ARRIVING FROM AUCKLAND

DELTA AIRBUS A350-941 N511DN (MSN 210)
DL40 OFF TO LOS ANGELES

THAI BOEING 777-3D7 HS-TKY (MSN 42114)
TG478 OFF TO PHUKET

CHINA AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 B-18907 (MSN 105)
CI55 ARRIVING FROM TAIPEI

PILATUS PC 12NG VH-BEV (MSN 1308)

DHL (KALITTA AIR) BOEING 777-F1H N772CK (MSN 35607)
K4834 OFF TO SINGAPORE

VIETNAM AIRBUS A350-941 VN-A891 (MSN 067)
VN772 OFF TO HO CHI MINH CITY

UNITED BOEING 777-322 N2341U (MSN 63721)
UA870 OFF TO SAN FRANCISCO

FIJI AIRWAYS AIRBUS A350-941 DQ-FAI (MSN 299)
FJ911ARRIVING FROM NADI

BRITISH AIRWAYS BOEING 787-9 G-ZBKK (MSN 38627)