Qantas engineers plan nationwide walkouts

Over 1,000 Qantas engineers are poised to intensify their ongoing industrial action, with line maintenance engineers set to walk off the job during peak-hour flights today (Monday morning, 30 September). Flights scheduled between 7am and 9am AEST/ACST/AWST at major airports in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth will be impacted as workers engage in stoppages.

Industrial action by Qantas engineers began on Thursday, with engine and components maintenance workers ceasing work. The cessation of work by line maintenance engineers on Monday is expected to significantly affect flights. These engineers are responsible for towing and marshalling aircraft, as well as conducting turnaround checks to ensure aircraft are safe for subsequent takeoffs. The Qantas Engineers’ Alliance, consisting of the AMWU, AWU, and ETU, has stated that highly skilled engineers were compelled to take industrial action due to Qantas management's refusal to negotiate, with additional actions anticipated in the forthcoming weeks.

Negotiations have been ongoing since April, and the enterprise agreement expired at the end of June. The Alliance is demanding a 5 percent annual wage increase, with an additional 15 percent for the first year to compensate for 3.5 years of wage stagnation.

Steve Murphy, AMWU National Secretary, stated, "These workers possess unique and critical skills that require a decade to master. They were indispensable during the pandemic, making sacrifices to ensure Qantas' survival. Now, Qantas must reciprocate by respecting and properly compensating its workers. Our members emphasize the importance of precision, as there's no room for error at 30,000 feet. Qantas must demonstrate its commitment to safety by valuing its engineers."

Paul Farrow, AWU National Secretary, commented, "No engineer takes pleasure in inconveniencing passengers. Having been an aircraft engineer, I understand the pride in ensuring safe travel. However, the management's actions have cornered them, leading to a significant morale decline. Engineers are at a crucial juncture, refusing to accept a real-term wage reduction while executives receive substantial bonuses."

Michael Wright, ETU National Secretary, remarked, "Qantas engineers have traditionally been held in high esteem, a testament to management's recognition of their crucial safety role. Unfortunately, under Alan Joyce's leadership, this respect has diminished, along with other core values. Vanessa Hudson must now decide whether to prioritise the retention of skilled engineers or focus on executive bonuses. The potential safety risks are clear if Qantas persists in offshoring maintenance due to a shortage of qualified engineers in Australia."

AA passengers go on an eight-hour flight to nowhere

AMERICAN AIRLINES BOEING 787-9 N838AA (MSN 40659)

Passengers on an American Airlines plane earlier this month went on an eight-hour flight to nowhere when the plane suddenly turned around and returned to the same airport, according to the airline.

Flight AA281 departed from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW/KDFW) on the 7th of September almost an hour late, at 11.27 am from runway 36R. The flight was just over four hours into its journey to Incheon International Airport (ICN/RKSI) in Seoul when it turned around over the Pacific Ocean.

The aircraft returned to Dallas due to a "maintenance issue" involving the lavatories and a potential for overflowing sinks, a spokesperson for the airline told the media.

The flight landed safely at 7.03 pm on runway 36L without incident at DFW, and the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team.

"We never want to disrupt our customers' travel plans, and we apologize for the inconvenience, the airline said."

Passengers were given overnight accommodations near DFW, airport the airline added. The flight resumed on a new aircraft the next day.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: American Airlines

Code: AA/AAL

Aircraft: Boeing 787-9

Registration: N824AN

Serial Number: 40643

Engines: 2 x Genx-1B74/75/P1

First Flew: 7th December 2016

Age: 7.9 Years Old

United Airlines flight maneuver to avoid another plane injures 2

UNITED BOEING 787-10 N12010 (MSN 40926)

The Federal Aviation Administration recently initiated an investigation following an incident on a United Airlines flight that resulted in injuries to two passengers. This occurred when the pilots heeded a warning from the onboard midair collision system Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). (The Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System also known as the Airborne Collision Avoidance System (ACAS) is an airborne system designed to increase cockpit awareness of nearby aircraft and service as a last defense against mid-air collisions.)

United Airlines reported that Flight UA2428 from Newark, New Jersey (EWR/KEWR), was in its descent phase into San Francisco International Airport (SFO/KSFO) last Thursday when it reduced its descent speed due to the proximity of another aircraft at a lower altitude. Following the incident, both injured passengers were hospitalized, according to United's statement.

According to an FAA incident report, one passenger sustained serious injuries while another suffered minor injuries. Such advisories are considered urgent warnings of a potential collision with another aircraft, necessitating immediate action by the pilots.

FlightRadar24 data indicates that the event occurred at an altitude of 31,000 feet near Lake Berryessa, roughly 70 miles north of San Francisco. The data also shows that a Southwest Airlines flight 4096 (N479WN) was 3,000 feet beneath the United flight, and a SkyWest flight 3304 (N179SY) was 1,000 feet below.

The FAA, which oversees air traffic control, stated that the incident did not result in any loss of safe separation between the aircraft. LiveATC.net audio recordings reveal that the pilots declared a medical emergency and informed Oakland air traffic controllers that injuries occurred onboard during the RA, with one possibly being a broken ankle.

According to confirmation from United Airlines the seatbelt sign was illuminated during the incident, and one of the injured passengers was not seated.

While the National Transportation Safety Board has not commenced an investigation, they are in the process of collecting preliminary data.

This in-flight event is among several recent incidents involving potential near collisions, including an episode on the 12th of September where an Alaska Airlines flight had to cancel its takeoff.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: United Airlines

Code: UA/UAL

Aircraft: Boeing 757-224

Registration: N12125

Serial Number: 28967

Engines: 2 x RR RB211-535E4B

First Flew: 1st January 1998

Age: 26.8 Years Old

Hobart Airport set to return to international statues

Air New Zealand is set to resume its Auckland (AKL/NZAA) - Hobart (HBA/YMHB) service next month, with the date now confirmed. The route was suspended in April this year due to maintenance issues with the Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines on Air New Zealand's A320neo and A321neo aircraft. It will recommence on the 27th of October, offering three weekly return flights.

"We will have an additional 24,000 international seats available inbound and outbound over the next five months," stated Hobart Airport CEO Norris Carter.

"Approximately 10 percent of passengers flying into Hobart from Auckland during the last peak season were North American visitors, who can travel to Australia while bypassing the long queues at mainland hubs.

The reinstatement of the Hobart to Auckland flights complements the exciting developments at Hobart Airport, including our $130 million runway upgrade, $200 million terminal redevelopment, and over $20 million investment in car parks, forecourt, and road network. These initiatives are part of our strategy to enhance Hobart Airport, providing more space, more options, and more employment opportunities for Tasmanians," Carter added.

Tasmania's Premier and Minister for Tourism, Jeremy Rockliff, celebrated the return of the Auckland-Hobart route as "fantastic news for Tasmania."

"The revival of the Auckland to Hobart service signifies a robust vote of confidence in Tasmania's tourism and hospitality industry," he remarked.

"The direct flights will offer quick and convenient access to Tasmania for a key visitor market that contributed $35 million to our economy in the year ending March 2024," Rockliff concluded.

Smoke coming from an Emirates 777 causes panic with passengers

EMIRATES B777-31H A6-ECV (MSN 35594)

An Emirates flight bound for Dubai with 280 passengers onboard caused a commotion at Chennai International Airport (MAA/VOMM) on Tuesday night when smoke was detected coming from the aircraft's wing, confirmed by airport officials. The event took place just before the flight's scheduled departure, resulting in a slight delay and increased security measures.

Flight EK547, scheduled to leave for Dubai (DXB/OMDB) at 10 pm, had earlier arrived from Dubai at 8:30 pm. Around 9:15 pm, while boarding was underway, the crew noticed smoke, leading to an immediate aircraft evacuation and notification to airport authorities. Firefighting units were quickly dispatched, and specialists examined the aircraft. The smoke cleared within 10 minutes, airport authorities reported.

The specific cause of the smoke was not immediately revealed, but the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security mandated a detailed inspection of the Boeing 777 aircraft. A thorough investigation, ensuring passenger safety, led to the flight's delayed departure.

After a comprehensive review and engineer approval, the flight departed at 12.30 am. 

Emirates issued a statement regarding the incident: 

"Due to a technical issue, Emirates flight EK547 from Chennai to Dubai on September 24, 2024, was postponed. After an engineering check, the plane was authorized to continue to Dubai. Emirates regrets any inconvenience caused. The safety of our passengers and crew remains a top priority."

The holdup raised concerns among travelers, but airport officials assured that all safety procedures were observed, and the situation was managed without endangering passengers or crew. 

There is speculation that mistakenly overfilling the aircraft's fuel caused the smoke.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Emirates

Code: EK/UAE

Aircraft: Boeing 777-31H

Registration: A6-ECZ

Serial Number: 38983

Engines: 2 x GE GE90-115B

First Flew: 1st February 2010

Age: 14.7 Years Old

United Airlines threatened to remove Business Class passengers if they didn't give seats to crew

Passengers travelling on United Airlines flight 923 from Los Angeles (LAX/KLAX) to London (LHR/EGLL) on Sunday were allegedly threatened to be removed from the flight if three of them did not give up their business class seats and moved to extra legroom coach.

As per reports, due to a problem in the onboard crew bunk facilities, the airline wanted three of the Polaris Business class cabin seats. As per both FAA guidelines and the United flight attendant contract, the crew must be able to get ample rest on a long-haul flight to be able to attend to critical phases of the flight. Since the flight was ten and a half hours long, the crew asked for volunteers who could vacate the seats

A passenger told the media that gate agents informed the passengers that crew rest areas were in operational due to a problem and the maintenance personnel hadn't been able to fix it.

However, in this case, passengers had already boarded the flight by the time the engineers noted that the problems with the bunk area could not be fixed. There were no spare seats so gate agents got on and asked passengers to volunteer. They offered them $1,500 in travel credits plus 75,000 miles for the inconvenience.

But no one volunteered and so they arrogantly warned everyone that the entire plane would be deplaned if no one came forward. One of the passengers told reporters that this “came across as a threat, both in their wording and the tone.”

The airline then later offered $2,500 in credits, after which three people volunteered. The incident led to the flight being delayed by 54 minutes.

A similar incident happened with United sometime back when it was about to take off from India. Due to a weight and balance problem, the first seven rows of passengers in business class were forced to move to coach.

However, a lot of them “were already in their pajama's, watching movies” and got angry. The rearrangements could not be accomplished within 20 minutes, and so the flight had to be cancelled.

Vietjet to suspend its Adelaide flights as soon as next month

VIETJET AIRBUS A330-343 VN-A810 (MSN 0952)

Just days after Adelaide Airport announced the resumption of China Southern's direct flights to Adelaide, which had been suspended during the pandemic, the budget airline VietJet is discontinuing its services in South Australia.

The inaugural Vietjet flight from Ho Chi Minh City touched down at Adelaide Airport on Tuesday, the 21st of November 2023, marking the beginning of its five weekly round-trip flights between Adelaide and Ho Chi Minh City.

VietJet has made it clear the decision to suspend flights was not because the route wasn't popular, but it has based its decision on the need to reorganise and optimise its fleet and operational effectiveness efficiency.

Bookings will remain available until the 26th of October, but after that, there will be no more scheduled flights for now.

It is understood talks between VietJet and Adelaide Airport are underway on the possibilities of VietJet returning in the near future.

Mouse in airplane meal forces flight to make emergency landing

SCANDANAVIAN AIRBUS A320-232 OY-KAW (MSN 2817)

Scandinavian Airlines has reported that one of its flights made an emergency landing last week after a mouse was discovered in a passenger's in-flight meal. The flight, en route from Oslo, Norway (OSL/ENGM), to Malaga, Spain (AGP/LEMG), was diverted to Copenhagen, Denmark (CPH/EKCH), in accordance with the airline's safety protocols, as the rodent presented a risk, according to SAS spokesperson Oystein Schmidt in a statement to AFP.

Airlines typically enforce strict regulations regarding rodents on board to prevent potential damage, such as chewing through electrical wiring.

"This is something that happens extremely rarely," said SAS spokesperson Oystein Schmidt. "We have established procedures for such situations, which also include a review with our suppliers to ensure this does not happen again."

“Believe it or not. A lady next to me … opened her food box and a mouse jumped out and ran across the food tray,” wrote passenger Jarle Borrestad on Facebook, sharing a photo of himself smiling alongside two women who were also smiling. This marks the second rodent-related travel disruption within a week, following a train service in southern England that was terminated when two squirrels boarded a carriage, and one refused to leave.

Passengers were later transported to Malaga on a different aircraft.

If you were like me and wondered why the airline took the rather drastic measure of diverting the flight as soon as possible. Well, like many other airlines, SAS does have a policy of emergently diverting flights when an unexpected rodent is found. That’s because such rodents can pose significant safety risks to the flight. So, if you do see a mouse on your flight, don’t just say, “Aww, how cute.” Instead, tell the flight crew as soon as possible.

The biggest airplane-specific risk is that rodents can chew through wiring and other airplane parts. And you kind of want an airplane’s wiring to be intact and functioning when the plane is up in the air. Also, the trouble with seeing one mouse is that you don’t know how many other mice may be in the vicinity. A single mice could be the harbinger or sign of an infestation. Therefore, the discovery of one mouse means that the crew will need to check the rest of the plane for any other furry accomplices.

Australian passenger ordered to pay over $8,000 for wasted fuel after diversion

An airline passenger has copped an unconventional penalty—he must reimburse the airline for the fuel costs the airline wasted during a diversion. The Australian Federal Police reported that a 32-year-old man from Western Australia caused a disturbance on a flight from Perth (PER/YPPH) to Sydney (SYD/YSSY), leading to the aircraft returning to Perth. Consequently, the pilot had to jettison fuel to safely land.

The passenger has been ordered to reimburse the airline $8,630 AUD ($5,806 USD) for the cost of the wasted fuel. Additionally, the Perth Magistrate Court imposed a fine of $6,055 on him. Consequently, his mid-air misconduct has accumulated a total cost of $11,861, which is likely a multiple of the original ticket price.

"This incident should serve as a warning that criminal behavior onboard can come with a heavy cost for the offender," said Shona Davis, the AFP's Acting Superintendent, in a statement. "It's much simpler to follow the instructions of airline staff than to cause unnecessary problems, which can ultimately hit you in the wallet."

Though the flight occurred on the 25th of September 2023, it took nearly a year for the case against the disorderly passenger to progress through the Australian legal system.

The identities of both the man and the airline remain confidential, and the specific actions leading to his substantial fine have not been disclosed. The accused passenger admitted guilt to one charge of disorderly conduct aboard an aircraft and one charge of not adhering to safety instructions.

Imposing a fuel cost on a disruptive passenger is unusual, but other forms of fines are more typical.

In 2021, the US Federal Aviation Administration declared a zero-tolerance stance towards misbehavior on flights.

During that year, fines were levied for various offenses on US flights, including a passenger who tried to breach the cockpit and another who assaulted a flight attendant, necessitating hospitalization. The most severe in-flight transgressions are reported to the Department of Justice.

The most substantial fine for an individual, amounting to $50,823 USD, was given to a passenger who carried personal alcohol onboard, became inebriated, attempted to smoke marijuana in the lavatory, and committed sexual assault against a flight attendant, all during that one flight.

EasyJet flight evacuated after passenger's vape exploded

EASYJET AIRBUS A320-214 G-EZTN (MSN 4006)

Passengers on an easyJet flight from Greece to the UK had to use emergency slides to leave the aircraft after a vape device exploded inside a carry-on bag.

Malachi Griffith reported that he was aboard flight EZY8216 from Heraklion, Crete (HER/LGIR), ready to head to London's Gatwick (LGW/EGKK) when he heard "fizzing noises."

"I noticed smoke and a burning smell coming from the front of the plane, so I asked my dad if this was normal. Then, a girl sprinted down the aisle with a smoking bag, and suddenly there was a loud pop, which was the sound of the flames, causing everyone to panic," he shared with the media.

He also mentioned that he captured a video of himself and his father evacuating the aircraft via the emergency slides.

easyJet issued a statement confirming that the flight was evacuated due to a fire in a passenger's cabin bag.

"The fire services responded to the scene, and the cabin crew evacuated the plane following standard procedures. Passengers were cared for in the terminal while a replacement plane and crew were organized to transport them home later that day. Safety is our utmost concern," the airline stated.

Originally scheduled to depart at 13:55, the incident delayed the flight until 23:14, with arrival in London at 00:45 the following day.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: EasyJet

Code: U2/EZY

Aircraft: Airbus A321-251NX

Registration: G-UZME

Serial Number: 8454

Engines: 2 x CFMI LEAP-1A32

First Flew: 15/01/2019

Age: 5.7 Years 

10 passengers requiring medical attention after Delta flight suffered pressurization issue

DELTA AIRLINES BOEING 757-232 N681DA (MSN 26957) 

Ten Delta passengers receive medical attention following an emergency landing in Salt Lake City. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a Delta Air Lines flight made an emergency landing Sunday morning due to a pressurization problem, resulting in at least 10 people requiring medical attention. Injuries range from bleeding ears and noses to breathing issues. 

The Boeing 737-900ER performing flight DL1203 from Salt Lake City (SLC/KSLC) to Portland (PDX/KPDX) climbed to 10,000 ft when the crew detected a pressurization issue with the aircraft.

The pilots of the five-year-old Boeing 737-900ER declared a PAN PAN PAN emergency and descended below 10,000 feet and returned to SLC Airport only 23 minutes after departure.

Oxygen masks did not deploy but the plane was unable to pressurize above 10,000 feet, according to the airline. The airline said the plane was taken out of service on the morning of the 15th of September, and went back into service on the 17th after technicians resolved the pressurization issue.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Delta Airlines

Code: DL/DAL

Registration: N916DU 

Aircraft: Boeing 737-923

Serial Number: 64884

Engines: 2 x CFMI CFM56-7BE

First Flew: 14/01/2019

Age: 5.8 Yrs

Bomb on board UTA flight 772

UTA Flight 772, operated by the French airline Union de Transports Aériens, was a scheduled international flight from Brazzaville (BZV/FCBB) in the People's Republic of Congo, with a stopover in N'Djamena (NDJ/FTTJ), Chad, en route to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris (CDG/LFPG), France. On the 19th of September 1989, the aircraft crashed in the Ténéré desert near Bilma, Niger, after a suitcase bomb exploded in-flight, resulting in the deaths of all 170 passengers and crew. This event marks the deadliest aviation disaster in Niger's history.

The aircraft departed N'Djamena at 13:13, reaching a cruising altitude of FL350. At 13:59, an explosion ripped through a container at position 13R in the forward cargo hold, causing overpressure and ejecting fragments of luggage, containers, and pallets, creating holes in the fuselage's left, right, and underside. The cockpit collapsed to the fuselage's left side, and the aircraft disintegrated over the Ténéré desert. The bomb was likely concealed in luggage loaded in Brazzaville. The perpetrators were initially unknown, but a confession led to the in-absentia indictment of six Libyans, including Muammar Gaddafi's brother-in-law and the deputy head of Libyan intelligence. The attack was presumably in retaliation for French support of Chad during the Chadian-Libyan conflict from 1978 to 1987.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: UTA

Code: UT/UTA

Aircraft: McDonell Douglas DC-10-30

Registration: N54629

Serial Number: 46852

Engines: General Electric CF6-50C2R

First Flew: 13/03/1973

Age: 16 years old

Qantas flight drops 20,000 feet in minutes

ALLIANCE AIRLINES EMBRAER E190AR VH-UYR (MSN 19000100)

A Qantas flight from Townsville (TSV/YBTL) to Brisbane (BNE/YBBN) was forced to divert and make an emergency landing at Rockhampton Airport yesterday after the pilot received an alert of a suspected depressurisation issue.

The aircraft, which belongs to Alliance Airlines, departed Townsville at 8:50am, descended to 10,000 feet as a precaution before requesting priority landing at the nearest airport.

In a statement, a Qantas spokesperson confirmed the aircraft experienced the issue but assured the public that it landed safely at Rockhampton without further complications. "The flight landed normally, and we'll get passengers on their way to Brisbane on other flights this morning," the spokesperson said.

While such incidents can be unsettling, Qantas continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to passenger safety. The swift and professional actions of the flight crew reflect the airline's dedication to ensuring that precautionary measures are taken whenever there is even the slightest sign of a potential issue.

Passengers affected by this disruption will be accommodated on other flights, with Qantas staff working diligently to minimize any inconvenience caused. 

The airline's top priority remains the well-being and safe travel of its passengers.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Alliance Airlines

Code: QQ/UTY

Aircraft: Embraer E19OAR

Registration: VH-UYR

Serial Number: 19000100

Engines: 2x GE CF34-10E6

First Flew: August 2007

Age: 17.1 years

Looking back on the 1981 Zheleznogorsk mid-air collision

The 1981 Zheleznogorsk mid-air collision involved a Yakovlev Yak-40 jet and a Mil Mi-8T helicopter, both operated by Aeroflot. The accident occurred 11 km east of Zheleznogorsk-Ilimskiy Airport, Soviet Union, on the 18th of September 1981. Tragically, all 40 passengers and crew aboard both aircraft perished.

While flight V-652 was en route to Zheleznogorsk-Ilimskiy from Irkutsk, a Mil Mi-8T helicopter was also approaching the same airport after completing a training flight from Bratsk. The V-652 crew began their descent and encountered clouds obscuring the runway. Approximately 11 km (6.9 miles) east of the airport at an altitude of 1,300 ft (396 m), the aircraft collided with the descending helicopter at 7.13 am. The collision inflicted severe damage on flight V-652's left wing, fuselage, and tail, while the helicopter's main rotor and cockpit were destroyed, and its fuselage was seriously damaged. Following the collision, both aircraft plummeted into a wooded hilly area, crashing 400 meters (1,300 feet) apart. All 29 passengers and 4 crew members on flight V-652, along with the 7 crew members of the Mil Mi-8T helicopter, were killed in the tragic accident.

The wreckage of both aircraft was completely destroyed in the accident and subsequent fire. The investigation determined that the cause was inadequate surveillance by ATC. This failure in communication among the three parties permitted the Mil Mi-8T helicopter to enter the approach path of flight V-652.

The Yakovlev Yak-40 involved, CCCP-87455 (MSN 9431236) was built in 1974 and was used by Aeroflot from 1974 until its destruction in 1981. The Mil Mi-8T involved, CCCP-22268 (MSN 6918) was also in use by Aeroflot at the time of the accident.

Alaska Airlines diverts as cabin crew gets ill

ALASKA AIRLINES EMBRAER E175LR N641QX (MSN 17000761)

An Alaska Airlines flight was forced to turn around before reaching its destination after four attendants fell very sick due to an 'unknown smell on the aircraft'.

A flight travelling to Seattle (SEA/KSEA) from Lihue, Kauai (LIH/PHLI) made a landing in Honolulu (HNL/PHNL), after four members of staff had to be treated by paramedics and taken to hospital. Honolulu EMS later said that the attendants had shown symptoms of nausea and disturbed coordination.

In a statement, Alaska Airlines confirmed that none of the other crew members, including pilots, or any of the 119 passengers fell ill. After the emergency stopover, the plane was flown to Seattle without any of the passengers for inspection. The Airlines confirmed that it is working to re-accommodate passengers on other flights to Seattle. It remains unclear whether the attendants are still in the hospital and what caused them to be ill.

This comes just months after another Alaska Airlines flight destined for Phoenix returned to Portland International Airport in Oregon after fumes were detected in the cabin of that flight.


Aircraft Information:

Airline: Alaska Airlines

Code: AS/ASA

Aircraft: Boeing 737-890

Registration: N533AS

Serial Number: 35201

Engines:

First Flew: December 2010

Age: 13 Years Old

House for sale in Hobart Tasmania

I understand this post is unusual for an aviation blog, but my sister is currently selling her two-story residence in Hobart, Tasmania and I wanted to widen her exposure.

Located in Cambridge, Tasmania, the property spans 10,500 m² and features a house with 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and ample of parking space. This impressive country-style family retreat is perched on just over a hectare of land, offering expansive and versatile living with peace and privacy in Cambridge.

The home boasts a flexible layout that includes multiple family areas, blending formal and informal living and dining spaces. The ambiance of warmth and rustic charm is evident through the exposed brickwork, extensive timber detailing, wood heating, and abundant natural light.

The gourmet kitchen is spacious and well-appointed with high-end appliances, plentiful storage in quality timber cabinets, and sturdy countertops, complemented by two breakfast bars for casual dining. The indoor living areas, including the rumpus and family room, extend to a sunlit courtyard, perfect for outdoor entertainment and dining amidst the quietude of a bushland backdrop, with views of ancient trees and lush foliage.

The residence offers luxurious accommodations with five large, bright bedrooms, each with built-in wardrobes, alongside a study. The master bedroom on the upper level features an en-suite. Facilities in the home include an upper-floor bathroom with a spa and separate toilet. The fifth bedroom on the ground floor has dual access to another bathroom. A sizable laundry room provides direct access to the outdoors, along with substantial storage and space for daily necessities.

A double garage with internal entry ensures secure parking for several vehicles, in addition to the extensive parking available within the gated and fenced perimeter. Additional structures include a workshop, a utility area, and an extra storage shed.

This property is ideal for those in search of tranquility and privacy yet wish to stay within close proximity to essential services. Cambridge is 14 kms (16 minutes) from Hobart city and 5 kms (6 minutes) to the airport

Key features

• Bathrooms: 3   
• Bedrooms: 5    
• Building coverage: 3%    
• Building size: 366m²    
• Built in robes
• Car spaces: 8    
• Courtyard         
• Ensuites: 1                       
• Garage spaces: 2           
• Land size: 1.05 ha
• Living areas: 3                
• Open car spaces: 6
• Remote garage
• Rumpus room
• Study
• Toilets: 3
• Type: House
• Workshop

If you are interested, or have any questions, you can contact them directly here.

17 Cilwen Road, Cambridge, TAS 7170 - realestate.com.au

Looking back on EasyJet Flight 6074

EASYJET AIRBUS A320-214 OE-INE (MSN 7750)

On the 15th of September 2006, approximately 85 minutes into its journey, EasyJet Flight 6074, an Airbus A319 flying from Alicante (ALC/LEAL) to Bristol (BRS/EGGD), suffered an electrical systems failure near Nantes, France, while cruising at 32,000 feet (FL320). This failure rendered multiple aircraft systems, including the radios, autopilot, ECAM (Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor) the captain's electronic flight instrument display, and TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) inoperative.

Consequently, the A319 nearly collided with American Airlines Flight AAL63, a Boeing 777-223ER. The transponder, essential for ATC tracking, was also disabled. Ten minutes before a shift change, ATC lost Flight 6074 from radar. In response, ATC instructed AAL63 to descend to 31,000 feet (FL310) and check for EasyJet Flight 6074 on their TCAS, which returned a negative. After the shift change, the new controller repeated the descent command to AAL63. At 11:01:17 local time, AAL63 commenced descent. Shortly after, AAL63 reported sighting an "EasyJet 737" overhead, which was not indicated by TCAS due to the disabled system on EZY6074. 

Subsequently, the pilots of EasyJet Flight 6074 managed to reconfigure their transponder, and a minute later, the code changed to 7700, indicating a general emergency. Attempts to contact ATC using mobile phones were unsuccessful before landing. The crew could not restore most of the aircraft's electrical systems but managed to land safely at Bristol Airport without further communication with air traffic control.

Due to radio failures, EasyJet Flight 6074 proceeded to Bristol to prevent potential interception by fighter jets under the suspicion of hijacking. Air traffic control halted all departures and arrivals at the airport. The aircraft completed a safe landing in Bristol.

Emirates special livery comes to Brisbane

Thursday afternoon I found out the Emirates in its latest special livery would be coming to Brisbane on Friday morning, arriving at 6.30am. So, I got up extremely early and headed to the airport for an hour or so, before leaving for work. 

As an organisation dedicated to transforming lives, The Emirates Airline Foundation supports some of the most deserving social causes that develop initiatives to solve the issues. They focus mainly on programmes for underprivileged children and work hard to ensure all donations are used to create the greatest impact.

EMIRATES AIRBUS A380-861 A6-EEP (MSN 138)
EK434 ARRIVING FROM DUBAI (DXB) 11 YRS

JETSTAR BOEING 787-8 VH-VKE (MSN 36230)
JQ10 ARRIVING FROM TOKYO (NRT) 10 YRS

JETSTAR AIRBUS A320-232 VH-YXQ (MSN 5618)
JQ928 OFF TO CAIRNS (CNS) 11 YRS

QANTASLINK DASH 8 Q400 VH-QOP (MSN 4238)
QLF402 OFF TO EMERALD (EMD) 15 YRS

ALLIANCE FOKKER 70 VH-QQW (MSN 11569)
QQ4823 OFF TO THE GRANITES (GTS) 28 YRS

TEAM GLOBAL EXPRESS BOEING 737-8FE ZK-TXC (MSN 33798)
TFX91 OFF TO NORFOLK ISLAND (NLK) 20 YRS

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-8FE VH-YIG (MSN 38711)
VA601 OFF TO MACKAY (MKY) 12 YRS

AUSTRALIA'S BIG THREE

QANTAS BOEING 737-839 VH-VXP (MSN 33722)
QF933 OFF TO PERTH (PER) 21 YRS

QANTASLINK EMBRAER E190AR VH-UZK (MSN 19000198)
QF1860 OFF TO TOWNSVILLE (TSV) 16 YRS

UNITED BOEING 787-9 N29981 (MSN 66142) 
UA96 ARRIVING FROM SAN FRANCISCO (SFO) 4 YRS

SINGAPORE AIRBUS A350-941 9V-SHI (MSN 322)
SQ235 ARRIVING FROM SINGAPORE (SIN) 5 YRS

PIONAIR BAe 146-300 VH-SAJ (MSN E3150)
QF7298 OFF TO CAIRNS (CNS) 35 YRS

AIR CANADA BOEING 787-9 C-FNOI (MSN 35268)
AC35 ARRIVING FROM VANCOUVER (YVR) 8 YRS

BOMBARDIER CHALLENGER 604 VH-SCR (MSN 5557)

BOMBARDIER GLOBAL 6000 N143MW (MSN 9109)

GULFSTREAM G600 N700PR (MSN 73014)

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-202 VH-EBS (MSN 1258)
QF62 ARRIVING FROM TOKYO (NRT) 12 YRS