Remembering China Airlines 140

CHINA AIRLINES AIRBUS A330-302 B-18305 (MSN 0671)

China Airlines Flight 140 was a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Taipei-Chiang Kai Shek International Airport (TPE/RCTP), Taiwan to Nagoya-Komaki International Airport (NGO/RJNN), Japan

On the 26th of April 1994, the Airbus A300B4-622R was completing a routine flight and approach, when, just seconds before landing at Nagoya Airport, the takeoff/go-around setting (TO/GA) was inadvertently triggered. The pilots attempted to pitch the aircraft down while the autopilot, which was not disabled, was pitching the aircraft up. The aircraft ultimately stalled and crashed into the ground, killing 264 of the 271 people on board.

It was nighttime and Nagoya airport weather at the time was reported as winds from 280 degrees at 8 knots, visibility of 20 kilometers, cumulus clouds at 3,000 feet and a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. During the initial phase of the approach, both autopilot systems (AP1 and AP2) were engaged as well as the auto throttles. After passing the ILS outer marker and receiving landing clearance, the first officer, who was the pilot flying, disengaged the autopilot system and continued the ILS approach manually. When passing through approximately 1,000 feet on the approach glidepath, the first officer inadvertently triggered the GO levers placing the auto throttles into go-around mode, which led to an increase in thrust. This increase in thrust caused the aircraft to level off at approximately 1,040 feet for 15 seconds and resulted in the flight path becoming high relative to the ILS glideslope. The captain recognised that the GO lever had been triggered and instructed the first officer to disengage it and correct the flight path down to the desired glide slope. While manually trying to correct the glide path with forward yoke, the first officer engaged the autopilot, causing it to be engaged in the go-around mode as well. As he manually attempted to recapture the glide slope from above by reducing thrust and pushing the yoke forward, he was providing pitch inputs to the elevator that were opposite the autopilot commands to the THS, which was attempting to command pitch up for a go around.

Passing through approximately 700 feet, the autopilot was disengaged but the THS remained at its last commanded position of -12.3 degrees. Also at this time, due to the thrust reduction commanded by the first officer, the airspeed decreased to a low level, resulting in an increasing angle of attack (also termed alpha, or AOA). As a result, the automatic alpha floor function of the aircraft was activated, causing an increase in thrust and a further pitch-up. The alpha floor function of the A300 is an AOA protection feature intended to prevent excessive angles of attack during normal operations. Because of the greater size of the THS relative to the elevator (approximately three times greater in terms of surface area), the available elevator control power or authority was overcome as the aircraft neared 570 feet on the approach. Upon hearing the first officer report that he could not push the nose further down and that the throttles had latched (alpha floor function engaged), the captain took over the controls unaware of the THS position.

To date, the accident remains the deadliest accident in the history of China Airlines, and the second-deadliest aviation accident on Japanese soil, behind Japan Airlines Flight 123. It is also the third-deadliest aviation accident or incident involving an Airbus A300, after Iran Air Flight 655 and later American Airlines Flight 587.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: China Airlines

Code: CI/CAL

Aircraft: Airbus A300B4-622R

Registration: B-1816

Serial Number: 580

Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney PW4158

First Flew: 30/10/1990

Panic after Perth flight to Indonesia delayed by power outage

AIRASIA AIRBBUS A320-216 PK-AXD (MSN 3182)

Over a dozen passengers disembarked from an early morning flight in Perth after the aircraft experienced a power outage before take-off. 

AirAsia flight QZ533 was set to leave Western Australia around 3am this morning but encountered a power failure while stationary on the tarmac. A passenger reported that individuals on the plane, which was headed to Jakarta, Indonesia, began crying and some had difficulty breathing. 

Following "technical issues," a Perth airport spokesperson confirmed that the passengers chose to leave the aircraft voluntarily.

The spokesperson stated, "We were informed of a technical issue at the airport as the aircraft was about to depart just before 3am."  We are not aware of the specific issue and cannot provide comments on AirAsia in particular."

The spokesperson also verified that after leaving the plane, none of the passengers required medical treatment at the international airport. Flight Aware indicated that the departure was delayed by an hour, and the arrival at Jakarta airport was anticipated to be over an hour and a half behind schedule.

AirAsia has been requested to provide a statement.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Air Asia

Code: QZ/AWQ

Aircraft: Airbus A320-216

Registration: PK-AZQ

Serial Number: 3875

Engines: 2 x CFMI CFM56-5B6/3

First Flew: April 2009

Age: 15 Years

ANZAC DAY 2024

  

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

LEST WE FORGET

Anzac Day is a National Day of Remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served". Observed on the 25th of April each year, Anzac Day was originally devised to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli against the Ottoman Empire during World War I. (1914–1918) Anzac Day is also observed in the Cook Islands, Niue, Pitcairn Islands, and Tonga, and previously was a national holiday in Papua New Guinea and Samoa. Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first campaign that led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. 

The acronym ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose soldiers were known as Anzacs. Anzac Day remains one of the most important national occasions of both Australia and New Zealand a rare instance of two sovereign countries not only sharing the same Remembrance Day but making reference to both countries in its name. When war broke out in 1914, Australia and New Zealand had been dominions of the British Empire for thirteen and seven years respectively. World War One was one of the deadliest conflicts in the history of the human race, in which over 16 million people died. The total number of both civilian and military casualties is estimated at around 37 million people. The war killed almost 7 million civilians and 10 million military personnel. Two out of three soldiers died in battle, the rest died due to infections or disease. The Spanish flu also killed a lot of people in prisoner camps.

For Australia
The First World War remains the costliest conflict in terms of deaths and casualties. From a population of fewer than five million, 416,809 men enlisted, of whom more than 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner.

For New Zealand
The First World War was one of the most significant events of the 20th Century and had a seismic impact on New Zealand society. Just under ten percent of their then population of 1.1 million served overseas, of which more than 18,000 died. There were also over 40,000 hospitalisations due to injury or illness. Nearly every New Zealand family was affected by the impact of the war.

The Red Poppy

The red poppy has become a symbol of war remembrance the world over. People in many countries wear the poppy to remember those who died in war or are serving in the armed forces. In many countries, the poppy is worn on Armistice Day (11th November), but in Australia and New Zealand it is most commonly seen on Anzac Day, 25th April.

In Flanders fields
The red or Flanders poppy has been linked with battlefield deaths since the Great War (1914–18). It was one of the first plants to grow and bloom on battlefields in the Belgian region of Flanders. The connection was made most famously by a Canadian medical officer, Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, in his poem, ‘In Flanders fields’.

                            LEST WE FORGET

All photos taken from the internet and story taken from different websites.

Spotting at Adelaide Airport

Today I flew from the East Coast of Australia to the West Coast of Australia, via Adelaide in Central Australia.

The first flight, Brisbane (BNE/YBBN) to Adelaide (ADL/YPAD) took 2 hours 20 minutes. and I was on the ground for just over 3 hours.

SINGAPORE BOEING 787-10 9V-SCO (MSN 60264)
SQ278 OFF TO SINGAPORE (SIN) 4 YEARS OLD

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-VXP (MSN 33722)
QF675 ARRIVING FROM MELBOURNE (MEL) 20 YEARS OLD

QANTASLINK EMBRAER E190AR VH-XVX (MSN 19000081)
QF1928 OFF TO BRISBANE (BNE) `7 YEARS OLD

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-8FE VH-VON (MSN 33795)
VA1391 OFF TO BRISBANE (BNE) 20 YEARS OLD

VISTAJET BOMBARDIER GLOBAL 6000 9H-VJW (MSN 9728)

BOMBARDIER GLOBAL 7500 N555MZ (MSN 70066)

ALLIANCE AIRLINES EMBRAER E190AR VH-A2U (MSN 19000219)
QQ3105 ARRIVING FROM OLYMPIC DAM (OLP) 15 YEARS OLD

REX BOEING 737-8EH VH-8ZL (MSN 39604)
ZL413 ARRIVING FROM MELBOURNE (MEL) 11 YEARS OLD

ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR PILATUS PC-12 VH-FXZ (MSN 1712)
ARRIVING FROM REMARK (RMK) 7 YEARS OLD

REX SAAB 340B VH-ZXS (MSN 340B-179) 24 YEARS OLD
ZL4819 ARRIVING FROM BROKEN HILL (BHQ) 34 YEARS OLD

CORPORATE BEECH B200SUPER KING AIR VH-URT (MSN BB-1366)

PLATINUM CHARTER BEECH B200C SUPER KING AIR VH-CBZ (MSN BL-38)

RFS PILATUS PC-12NG VH-FVA (MSN 1182)
OFF TO PORT LINCOLN (PLO) 14 YEARS OLD

ROYAL FYING DOCTOR PILATUS PC-12NG VH-FVF (MSN 1228)
OFF TO MOUNT GAMBIER (MGB) 14 YEARS OLD

SHARP AIRLINES METRO 23 VH-OVB (MSN DC-848B)
SW4 ARRIVING FROM BEVERLEY (QBB) 30 YEARS OLD

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-VZA (MSN 34195)
QF733 ARRIVING FROM SYDNEY (SYD) 16 YEARS OLD

QANTASLINK DASH 8 Q300 VH-TQZ (MSN 55)
QF2269 OFF TO PORT LINCOLN (PLO) 23 YEARS OLD

AIR NEW ZEALAND AIRBUS A320-271 ZK-NHB (MSN 8803)
NZ191 ARRIVING FROM AUCKLAND (AKL) 5 YEARS OLD

QATAR BOEING 777-3DZ A7-BAI (MSN 36095)
QR989 OFF TO MELBOURNE (MEL) 15 YEARS OLD

NATIONAL JET DASH 8 Q400 VH-IYZ (MSN 4528)
NC236 OFF TO PROMINENT HILL (PXH) 7 YEARS OLD

PILATUS PC-12/45 VH-PID (MSN 231) 

The second flight, from Adelaide to Perth, took 3 hours and 10 minutes.

Crew killed after two Malaysian Navy helicopters collide

Ten crew members have died following a mid-air collision between two Malaysian navy helicopters that subsequently crashed. The Royal Malaysian Navy reported that the collision occurred on Tuesday morning during aerial training in northern Lumut, the location of the navy's headquarters.

An Agusta Westland AW139 Maritime Operations Helicopter (HOM) crashed near the stadium's raised seating area within the complex, while a Eurocopter Fennec went down near a swimming pool. According to the navy, the Agusta carried seven crew members and the Eurocopter three. All were pronounced dead at the crash site around 9:30 am (01:30 GMT).

The AgustaWestland AW139 M503-3, was operated by 503 Squadron and the Eurocopter AS 555SN Fennec, was operated by 502 Squadron.

The navy has announced plans to form an investigation board to ascertain the cause of the incident. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has referred to the event as a "heart-wrenching tragedy" and has confirmed that an investigation will be conducted.

Social media videos depict several helicopters flying over a stadium with troops arrayed below. It appears one helicopter struck the rear rotor of another, causing both to crash. The crews were rehearsing for the upcoming Navy Day celebrations scheduled to begin on May 3rd.

Malaysia has experienced several helicopter crashes in the last decade.

In 2021, a helicopter crash in Sarawak, Borneo, claimed six lives, including Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Noriah Kasnon.

In 2020, a collision between two helicopters east of Kuala Lumpur led to two deaths.

In 2015, Jamaluddin Jarjis, who was serving as Malaysia's ambassador to the United States and had been a government minister, was among six individuals who perished when their helicopter crashed in a jungle area of central Selangor state.

Aircraft Information:

Owner / Operator: Royal Malaysian Navy

Aircraft: Eurocopter AS 555SN Fennec

Registration: M502-6

Serial Number: 5719

Aircraft Information:

Owner / Operator: Royal Malaysian Navy

Aircraft: AgustaWestland AW139

Registration: M503-3

Serial Number: 31965

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS AND ALL AT THE ROYAL MAYALSIAN NAVY.

British Airways circles for over 4 hours then returns to Singapore

BRITISH AIRWAYS BOEING 747-436 G-CICZ (MSN 28854)

Today's Bristish Airways flight 12, travelling from Singapore (SIN/WSSS) to London's Heathrow (LHR/EGLL) stopped climb out of Singapore, circled for 5 hours to burn fuel and the returned to Singapore.

The flight, which was due to depart at 23.20 local time, finally started taxiing 3 hours 40 minutes later at 03.00 and taxied out for runway 20 centre. It got airborne from 20 centre at 03.10 and started its climb to 32,000 feet. 28 minutes later it leveled off at flt lvl 270 and turned back towards Singapore. 

It descended to and maintained 10,000 feet for the next 4 hours while performing 29 circuits.

It landed safely on runway 02 centre at 08.23.

The cause of the diversion has not been determined yet.

Aircraft Information:
Airline: British Airways
Code: BA/BAW

Aircraft: Airbus A380-841

Registration: G-XLED

Serial Number: 144

Engines: 4 x RR Trent 970

First Flew: August 2013

Age: 10.8 Years

Ex Cathay Pacific A330 bursts into flames while stored at graveyard

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRBUS A330-343 B-HLR (MSN 0421)

A former Cathay Pacific Airbus A330 was completely destroyed by a fire at Ciudad Real Airport (CQM/LERL) in Spain. The A330, which was in long-term storage, ignited and sustained extensive damage. The aircraft, an Airbus A330-300 had been stored at the airport since 2020. The aircraft, aged around 28 years, was waiting to be dismantled.

The fire erupted around noon local time and was subdued within a few hours by the combined efforts of firefighters from Ciudad Real and Puertollano. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported from the incident. Firefighters were prompt in their response, reaching the site shortly after the outbreak was reported.

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRCRAFT STORED AT ALICE SPRINGS AUSTRALIA

Videos circulating online depict the firefighters' efforts to control the fire and prevent it from reaching other stored aircraft. The fire produced a significant plume of black smoke, visible from Ciudad Real city. The airport's chief noted that this was the first instance of having to tackle infrastructure issues at the airport due to a fire.

He also mentioned that, since the airport's opening, they have carried out extensive drills biennially, with participation from State Security Forces, health agencies, and others, to ensure preparedness for various emergencies.

Its test registration was F-WWKK and was first registered as VR-HLH back in January 1996.

Aircraft Information:
Airline: Cathay Pacific
Code: CX/CPA
Aircraft: Airbus A330-342
Registration Number: B-HLH
Serial Number: 121
Engines:
First Flew: December 1995
Age: 28.3 Years