Virgin Australia to end Cairns-Tokyo flights

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-8SA VH-IJU (MSN 44223)

A year after initiating flights, Virgin Australia is bidding farewell to Japan. The airline will terminate its Cairns (CNS/YBCS) to Tokyo (HND/RJTT) service, with the last flight scheduled for the 24th of February 2025. Citing lower-than-expected Japanese visitation as a primary reason, the airline has declared the route financially unsustainable. 

"We understand the disappointment this may cause to our customers booked beyond February 24, 2025," stated Alistair Hartley, Virgin Australia's Chief Transformation and Strategy Officer. "Despite the difficult decision, the shortfall in the recovery of inbound Japanese visitors has rendered the continuation of our Tokyo service unfeasible." Virgin Australia will refund approximately 2,000 affected passengers; those who booked through third parties should seek refunds and alternate arrangements from their respective agencies. 

The airline will maintain up to 17 weekly flights to Japan via All Nippon Airways, available for booking on Virgin's website. The Cairns-Tokyo Haneda route, launched in June 2023, faced challenges from the start, including criticism over the use of a single-aisle aircraft for the seven-hour journey. Initially operated by an older Boeing 737-700 due to production delays, the service later upgraded to the Boeing 737 MAX 8. With the cessation of the Japan route, these aircraft will be reassigned to domestic services, with the fleet expanding to eight MAX 8s following the delivery of the final plane next month. Although inbound travel to Japan has rebounded, surpassing pre-2019 figures, outbound tourism from Japan has not experienced a similar upturn.

Remembering Air Canada Flight 143 - the Gimli Glider

  

Today we remember Air Canada Flight 143, or more commonly known as the "Gimli Glider". AC143 was a Canadian scheduled domestic passenger flight between Ottowa (YOW/CYOW) and Edmonton (YEG/CYEG) that ran out of fuel on the 23rd of July 1983, at an altitude of 41,000 feet (12,500 m), midway through the flight. The flight crew successfully glided the Boeing 767 to an emergency landing at a former Royal Canadian Air Force base in Gimli, Manitoba that had been converted to a motor racing track. This unusual aviation incident earned the aircraft the nickname "Gimli Glider".  

The accident is commonly blamed on mistaking pounds for kilograms, which resulted in the aircraft carrying only 45% of its required fuel load. However, the unit's error was the last in a series of failures that aligned in a Swiss cheese model to cause the accident. The aircraft departed Montreal and landed at Ottawa, a scheduled stop on its way to Edmonton. At Ottawa the plane was re-fueled, and the crew were told 11,430 liters of fuel were on board. The flight crew then thought they had 20,400 kilos of fuel (instead of only 9,144 kilos!). This amount was entered in the FMS. 

En route to Edmonton, at FL410, the EICAS warned low fuel pressure in the left fuel pump. The captain at once decided to divert the flight to Winnipeg, then 120 miles (192 km) away, and commenced a descent. Within seconds, warning lights appeared indicating loss of pressure in the right main fuel tank. Within minutes, the left engine failed, followed by failure of the right engine. The aircraft was then at 35,000 feet, 65 miles (104 km) from Winnipeg and 45 miles (72 km) from Gimli. Without power to generate electricity all the electronic gauges in the cockpit became blank, leaving only stand-by instruments, consisting of a magnetic compass, an artificial horizon, an airspeed indicator and an altimeter. Vectors were given to Gimli. The captain, who had flying experience on a glider, used gliding techniques to manoeuver the airplane for the approach. The landing gear was lowered, but the nose gear could not be lowered and locked. The 767 touched down on runway 32L within 800 feet of the threshold. The nose contacted the runway, and the airplane came to rest short of a part of the runway which was at the time being used as a drag racing strip.

The Board of Inquiry found fault with Air Canada procedures, training, and manuals. It recommended the adoption of fueling procedures and other safety measures that were already being used by US and European airlines. The Board also recommended the immediate conversion of all Air Canada aircraft from Imperial units to metric units, since a mixed fleet was more dangerous than an all-Imperial or an all-metric fleet.

Following Air Canada's internal investigation, Captain Pearson was demoted for six months, and First Officer Quintal was suspended for two weeks for allowing the incident to happen. Three maintenance workers were also suspended. In 1985 the pilots were awarded the first ever Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Diploma for Outstanding Airmanship. Several attempts by other crews who were given the same circumstances in a simulator at Vancouver resulted in crashes. Quintal was promoted to captain in 1989. Pearson remained with Air Canada for ten years and then moved to flying for Asiana Airlines; he retired in 1995. Maurice Quintal died at the age of 68 on September 24, 2015, in Saint-Donat, Quebec.

The aircraft was temporarily repaired at Gimli and flew out two days later to be fully repaired at a maintenance base in Winnipeg. Following the full repair, the aircraft was returned to service with Air Canada. Following a successful appeal against their suspensions, Pearson and Quintal were assigned as crew members aboard another Air Canada flight.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Air Canada

Code: AC/ACA

Aircraft: Boeing 767-233

Registration: C-GAUN

Serial Number: 22520

Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7R4D

First Flew: 10/03/1983

Age: 5 Months old

Why do we board an aircraft from the left

Have you ever boarded a plane and wondered 'why do we board from the left'.

The reason for boarding and deplaning passengers from the left-hand side of the plane has several explanations. One explanation is based on traditional nautical customs. 

A U.S. Air Force pilot explained that airports were designed so aircraft could stop in front of the terminal to discharge passengers. This positioning helps the pilot control the wing's position relative to the terminal building and aligns the plane's door with the terminal's door. While some older forms of transport have doors on the right side of the passenger cabin, the pilot's view takes precedence.

Commercial pilot Andrew Stagg suggests that the practice originates from ships, which have a port side (left) and a starboard side (right). Passengers would embark and disembark through the port side, and airplane and jetway designers followed this convention.

For safety reasons, passenger movement is restricted to one side to prevent confusion. The right side is typically used for fueling, loading, and unloading baggage and cargo, keeping these activities separate from passenger movements.

Most modern planes board and deplane from the left-hand side while technical operations occur on the right-hand side.
Until the 1960s, before jet bridges were common, airplanes often parked close to and parallel to the terminal.

With the captain sitting on the left and responsible for taxiing and parking, this configuration allows easier control and judgment. Airplanes are fueled on the right, bags are loaded on the right, and most cleaning and catering vehicles also operate on the right-hand side.

Spotting at Brisbane Airport

Yesterday morning my co-pilot (daughter) and I headed out to Brisbane airport for some long overdue plane spotting. 

The highlight for the day was seeing the special livery China Eastern and the Batik A330 for the first time.

BRISBANE CITY

QANTASLINK EMBRAER E190AR VH-UZD (MSN 19000152)
QF1871 ARRIVING FROM TOWNSVILLE (TSV) 16 YRS

CHINA SOUTHERN AIRBUS A350-941 B-30F9 (MSN 417)
CZ381 ARRIVING FROM GUANGZHOU (CAN) 3 YRS

ALLIANCE EMBRAER E190AR VH-UYI (MSN 19000053)
QF1999 ARRIVING FROM ROCKHAMPTON (ROK) 18 YRS
FLYING FOR QANTAS

JETSTAR AIRBUS A321-251NX VH-OFU (MSN 11292)
JQ57 OFF TO DENPASAR (DPS) 18 MONTHS

ALLIANCE FOKKER 100 VH-XWM (MSN 11276)
VA600 ARRIVING FROM MACKAY (MKY) 35 YRS
FLYING FOR VIRGIN AUSTRALIA

BATIK AIRBUS A330-343 9M-LFD (MSN 1411)
OD157 ARRIVING FROM DENPASAR (DPS) 11 YRS

JETSTAR AIRBUS A320-232 VH-VGZ (MSN 3917)
JQ929 ARRIVING FROM CAIRNS (CNS) 15 YRS

QANTASLINK EMBRAER E190ARVH-XVB (MSN 19000058)
QF1899 ARRIVING FROMCAIRNS (CNS) 17 YRS

SOLOMONS AIRBUS A320-232 H4-SIB (MSN 2445)
IE715 OFF TO MUNDA (MUA) 19 YRS

EMIRATES AIRBUS A380-861 A6-EON (MSN 188)

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-VYI (MSN 34181)
QF509 OFF TO SYDNEY (SYD) 18 YRS

ALLIANCE FOKKER 70 VH-NKQ (MSN 11572)
VA1709 OFF TO GLADSTONE (GLT) 28 YRS

REX BOEING 737-8FE VH-RQP (MSN 37822)
ZL314 ARRIVING FROM SYDNEY (SYD) 14 YRS

AIR NEW ZEALAND AIRBUS A321-271NX ZK-NNE (MSN 8799)
NZ143 ARRIVING FROM AUCKLAND (AKL) 5 YRS

CHINA EASTERN AIRBUS A330-243 B-5920 (MSN 1375)
MU715 ARRIVING FROM SHANGHAI (PVG) 11 YRS

KOREAN AIR AIRBUS A330-223 HL-8228 (MSN 1203)
KE408 OFF TO SEOUL (ICN) 13 YRS

SINGAPORE AIRBUS A350-941 9V-SHU (MSN 469)
SQ256 OFF TO SINGAPORE (SIN) 3 YRS

REX BOEING 737-8SA VH-8KH (MSN 4217)
ZL227 OFF TO MELBOURNE (MEL) 10 YRS

QANTASLINK DASH 8 Q400 VH-LQM (MSN 4450)
QF2546 OFF TO BARCALDINE (BCI) 11 YRS

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-VXI (MSN 33479)
QF613 OFF TO SYDNEY (SYD) 22 YRS

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-203 VH-EBL (MSN 0976)
QF6038 ARRIVING FROM MELBOURNE (MEL) 15 YRS
FERRY FLIGHT

"PRIDE IS IN THE AIR"

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-202 VH-EBD (MSN 0513) 
QF119 OFF TO AUCKLAND (AKL) 21 YRS

SINGAPORE AIRBUS A350-941 9V-SHT (MSN 464)
SQ255 ARRIVING FROM SINGAPORE (SIN) 3 YRS

ALLIANCE FOKKER 70 VH-KBX (MSN 11547) 
SXI2451 OFF TO DARWIN (DRW) 28 YRS
THEN CONTINUED ON TO KUALA LUMPUR (SZB)

USED THE CALLSIGN "SOUTHERN CROSS"

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737 MAX 8 VH-81F (MSN 66647)
VA45 OFF TO DENPASAR (DPS) 3 MONTHS

AIR CANADA BOEING 787-9 C-FVLQ (MSN 38357)
AC36 OFF TO VANCOUVER (YVR) 6 YRS

AIR NIUGINI BOEING 767-341 P2-PXV (MSN 30341)
PX3 ARRIVING FROM PORT MORESBY (POM) 24 YRS

CHINA AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 B-18906 (092)
CI53 ARRIVING FROM TAIPEI (TPE) 7 YRS

Qantas wants to bring the 787 back to Brisbane-LAX

QANTAS BOEING 787-9 VH-ZNF (36239)

Qantas is set to enhance certain international routes and introduce new ones in early 2025, coinciding with the return of its final two A380 superjumbos.

The reintroduction of these aircraft will have a cascading effect, allowing the reallocation of other planes in the fleet, such as the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A330, explains Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson.

The last pair of A380s are undergoing extensive maintenance and cabin reconfiguration, with their service resumption scheduled for early next year, Hudson elaborates. In light of the recent inauguration of direct flights to Paris, Hudson reveals that her team is exploring various deployment strategies.

The strategy involves assigning the A380s to current 787 routes, which would then allow the 787s to be reassigned. Hudson expresses a particular interest in upgrading the Brisbane-Los Angeles route to the 787, which currently operates with the older A330 model.

This potential upgrade comes at a time when the trans-Pacific route is expected to see increased competition.

Delta Air Lines has announced a seasonal service connecting Brisbane and Los Angeles from December 2024 to March 2025, featuring the contemporary Airbus A350 equipped with Delta One business class suites. Similarly, American Airlines, a Oneworld alliance member alongside Qantas, will commence a seasonal service between Brisbane and Dallas from October 2024 until the end of March 2025.

The replacement of the A330 service from Brisbane to Los Angeles will be an exciting change.

Brisbane currently doesn't have any 787 services.

Nile Air Airbus A321-200 catches fire on takeoff

A Nile Air Airbus A321-200 travelling from Dammam (King Fahd International) Airport (DMM/ to Cairo (CAI/ caught fire during takeoff at Dammam leading to an emergency evacuation of 186 passengers and eight crew members.

The incident of NP232 occurred in the early hours of Thursday, 18th of July, 2024.

The crew rejected the takeoff at around 100 knots over ground, and the aircraft came to a safe stop on the runway.

Emergency services quickly responded to the fire, which was located in the aircraft’s wheel system. 

All 186 passengers and eight crew members were evacuated via emergency slides without any injuries. The fire was extinguished promptly, and the situation was brought under control.

Dammam Airport management issued a statement regarding the incident, confirming that emergency teams had responded swiftly and effectively.

The management assured the public that the fire was contained, and all individuals on board were evacuated safely.

They also stated that the incident had not affected the airport’s overall operations, including takeoffs and landings.

Nile Air also released a press statement addressing the incident.

The airline confirmed that the flight crew cancelled the takeoff upon detecting the fire in the wheel system and successfully evacuated all passengers and crew without any injuries.

Nile Air promptly provided alternative flights and accommodations to ensure the comfort and safety of the passengers.



Aircraft Information:
Airline: Nile Air
Code: NP/NIA
Aircraft: Airbus A321-231
Registration: SU-BQL
Serial Number: 2410
Engines: 2 x IAE V2533-A5
First Flew: 14th March 2005
Age: 19.4 Years

Widow of MH 17 pilot lets their sons’ dreams take flight

On the back of the 10-year anniversary of MH 17, I thought I would share this good news story

Her husband, Captain Eugene Choo Jin Leong, was killed in the 2014 tragedy, but Ivy Loi didn’t stand in the way of their two sons going into aviation. For someone who lost her husband in the MH17 tragedy 10 years ago, Ivy Loi did not stand in the way of her sons going into aviation, one as a pilot and another hoping to take wing.

Many people asked me about my decision to allow my sons to follow the footsteps of their late father. I guess I cannot blame them as it is quite natural for anyone to have such fears. But it has been their ambition, she said.

Her late husband, Eugene Choo Jin Leong, was the captain of the Boeing aircraft operating flight MH17 which was shot down by a missile over Ukraine in 2014.

Loi said her answer to those who asked about her sons’ career choices was to say that driving on the roads is more dangerous than flying. I have given them my full blessings and encouraged them all the way, she said, adding that it could also be a fine way for the boys to remember their father

Her elder son Melvic, 23, is a pilot with AirAsia while his brother Scott, 21, has just completed his aeronautical engineering degree in the UK and has applied to MAS and AirAsia to join their flying programmes.

Loi said she met her husband on the job a few times while she was a cabin crew with Malaysia Airlines. It was on a flight to Melbourne, Australia that they confessed their love for each other.

It was a special moment I will remember my entire life. He was a wonderful colleague and always kind to all. Everyone just loved to be on his flight when he was captain. He was meticulous in his job and gave his all throughout the flights, she said

Loi said she met her husband on the job a few times while she was a cabin crew with Malaysia Airlines. It was on a flight to Melbourne, Australia that they confessed their love for each other.

It was a special moment I will remember my entire life. He was a wonderful colleague and always kind to all. Everyone just loved to be on his flight when he was captain. He was meticulous in his job and gave his all throughout the flights, she said

Loi said they marked their special bond by naming their first son Melvic, an acronym for Melbourne, Victoria. As a father, she said, Choo was very gentle and made sure he spent most of his free time with his two boys, encouraging them in whatever they were interested in doing. Melvic was 13 while Scott 11 when they lost their father.