Spotting at Seoul's Incheon Airport

Three weeks ago, my wife and I were returning from a wonderful holiday in Seoul. Our Korean Air flight was scheduled for 8:30 pm, but we arrived at the airport at 11:00 am, intending to spend the afternoon plane spotting from the airport's dedicated indoor viewing deck/cafe. Upon arrival, we stored our luggage and proceeded to the 4th-floor viewing area. The elevated position and expansive windows offered an excellent view of the taxiways, aprons, and two of the four runways. It was a plane spotter's dream. 

As soon as I began taking photos, security approached me. They informed me that photography was prohibited and indicated a sign warning of prosecution for unauthorized photos. I inquired about obtaining permission, but my question was ignored.

The subsequent photos were taken while our plane was taxiing when we arrived and as we walked from the plane to the baggage claim area, and later in the afternoon near the boarding gates as we were leaving.

Incheon International Airport (ICN/RKSI) is the main international airport serving Seoul, the capital of South Korea. It is also one of the largest and busiest airports in the world.

This airport opened for business on the 29th of March 2001, to replace the older Gimpo International Airport, which now serves mostly domestic destinations and shuttle flights to several East Asian metropolitan areas.

It is 7m (23 feet) AMSL and has 4 Asphalt runways. 

15R/33L 3,750 mts 12,303 feet   15L/33R 3,750 mts 12,303 feet 
16L/34R 4,000 mts 13,123 feet   16R/34L 3,750 mts 12,303 feet 

It is a hub for the following airlines

Air Incheon, Air Premia, Air Seoul, Asiana Airlines, FedEx Express, Jin Air, Korean Air, Polar Air Cargo, T'way Air

Focus city for Jeju Air

KOREAN AIR AIRBUS A380-861 HL-7621 (MSN 126)

KOREAN AIR BOEING 737-MAX 8 HL-8352 (MSN 63440)

KOREAN AIR BOEING 747-8B5 HS-7637 (MSN 40909)

T'WAY BOEING 737-8Q8 HL-8294 (MSN 32798)

JEJU AIR BOEING 737-8JP HL-8336 (MSN 39016)
SPORTING THE ANDONG, KOREA LIVERY

JEJU AIR BOEING 737-8AS HL-8539 (MSN 36570)

AIR JAPAN BOEING 787-8 JA801A (MSN 34488)

ASIANA AIRLINES AIRBUS A321-251NX HL-8510 (MSN 11075)

CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES AIRBUS A320-214 B-8990 (MSN 7728)

H K EXPRESS AIRBUS A321-231 B-LEG (MSN 7872)

ASIANA AIRLINES AIRBUS A330-323 HL-8286 (MSN 1464)

AIR SEOUL AIRBUS A321-231 HL-7790 (MSN 4142)

CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES AIRBUS A320-251N (MSN 9133)

XIAMEN AIR BOEING 737-86N B-5595 (MSN 38017)

JIN AIR BOEING 737-8SH HL-8014 (MSN 42051)

KOREAN AIR CARGO BOEING 747-8B5F HL-7639 (MSN 37653) 

KOREAN AIR BOEING 787-9 HL-8084 (MSN 34813)

KOREAN AIR AIRBUS A321-272NX HL-8528 (MSN 11290)

KOREAN AIR AIRBUS A330-323 HL-7584 (MSN 0338)

XIAMEN AIR BOEING 737-85C B-5658 (MSN 38395)

ASIANA CARGO BOEING 747-48EF HL-7420 (MSN 25783)

JIN AIR BOEING 737-8SH HL-8246 (MSN 41299)

KOREAN AIR BOEING 737 MAX 8 HL-8351 (MSN 63439)

KOREAN AIR BOEING 747-8B5 HL-7631 (MSN 40906)

Qantas plane flew with tool left in engine

QANTAS AIRBUS A380-842 VH-OQL (MSN 0074)

An investigation has revealed that a Qantas aircraft flew for nearly 300 hours with a loose tool in one of its engines. The Airbus A380-842 conducted multiple flights, accumulating 294 hours with the tool lodged in the outboard left engine, after maintenance in Los Angeles on the 6th of December 2023. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) discovered the 1.25-meter-long nylon tool wedged against the low-pressure outlet guide vanes on the 1st of January.

The tool remained undetected during the routine foreign object inspection following the three-day maintenance stint in December. It was present for 34 flights, including passenger services between LAX and Melbourne, before being found.

Although the tool was deformed, it did not damage the engine. "The ATSB investigation determined that maintenance engineers overlooked the tool in the engine's low-pressure compressor case during foreign object checks after the borescope inspection," stated ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell. "Additionally, the engineers did not initiate the lost tool procedure once the tool was missing, and the certifying engineer cleared the aircraft for service without accounting for the tool."

Following the incident, Qantas engineering staff received briefings on the critical nature of tool retrieval post-maintenance. The airline also conducted an internal review, leading to new protocols for tool management. Mitchell emphasized the significant safety hazard that foreign objects, particularly those introduced during maintenance, pose to flight operations.

World FAA bans U.S. flights to Haiti after bullets hit 3 planes

The Federal Aviation Administration has imposed a 30-day ban on U.S. airlines flying to Haiti following the shooting of three planes by gangs, and the United Nations has also temporarily halted flights to Port-au-Prince, affecting the influx of humanitarian aid. A Spirit Airlines aircraft was struck by gunfire as it approached the capital on Monday, resulting in an injury to a flight attendant and the closure of the airport. The Associated Press released images and videos showing the plane's interior riddled with bullet holes.

JetBlue and American Airlines discovered bullet damage to their aircraft after departing Port-au-Prince on Monday, leading to American Airlines suspending its flights to the city until the 12th of February 2025. These incidents are part of a surge in violence coinciding with the swearing-in of Haiti's new prime minister amidst political upheaval. According to U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, the organization recorded 20 armed conflicts and increased roadblocks that interfered with humanitarian efforts on Monday.

The Port-au-Prince airport is scheduled to remain closed until November 18, with the U.N. planning to reroute flights to Cap Haïtien, a calmer city in the north. The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince issued a security alert on Monday, noting the presence of gang-led initiatives to obstruct travel in and out of the capital, potentially involving armed conflict and disruptions to transportation infrastructure.

The embassy has cautioned that Haiti's security situation is volatile and perilous, advising that travel within the country is risky and the safety of travelers to airports, borders, or during further travel cannot be assured by the U.S. government. Individuals are urged to assess their personal security circumstances prior to any travel within Haiti.

Australian airfares increase since REX collapse

Australia's airline industry is notably a duopolistic one, with Qantas and Virgin Australia controlling 95% of the domestic passenger market. This dominance persists despite numerous attempts by other companies to establish themselves over the years. 2024 has witnessed the notable failures of Bonza and Rex airlines that had sparked hopes for increased competition in the market. Their departure is now showing its expected consequences.

A recent quarterly report by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) indicates that domestic airfares on major city routes have risen by 13.3% as of September, following Rex Airlines' cessation of capital city services at July's end.

The ACCC's findings also revealed a significant rise in the cost of "best discount economy" tickets on routes formerly serviced by Rex—95% between Adelaide and Melbourne, and 54% between Canberra and Melbourne.

Additionally, the report highlights a decline in fuel prices by over 40% in the 12 months leading up to September, a reduction not reflected in the airlines' pricing strategies. With Australia's limited competition, it appears airfares will continue to be high, driven by increased demand and reduced supply.

For Australian passengers, the only viable solution to achieve lower domestic airfares is increased competition from another airline, although this may seem unlikely in the near future. A new airline starting up in Australia would require substantial financial support to withstand market volatility and must be solely dedicated to its operation.

There is a glimmer of hope with the potential entry of Koala Airlines, which has recently announced its intention to join the market and succeed.

Many customers are likely hoping that Koala will succeed where Bonza and Rex did not. However, Koala's market entry is still some distance away as the airline is in the process of obtaining an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) from CASA and acquiring a new fleet.

Koala has revealed little about its business strategy, other than offering a cash refund guarantee for passengers and planning to use artificial intelligence to stay competitive in the market.

Looking back on the world's deadliest mid-air collision

On the 12th of November 1996, Saudia Flight 763, a Boeing 747 en route from Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL/VIDP), India to Dhahran International Airport (DHA/OEDR), Saudi Arabia, and a Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907, an Ilyushin Il-76 en route from Shymkent Airport (CIT/UAII), Kazakhstan to Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL/VIDP), India collided over the village of Charkhi Dadri, around 100 km (62 miles) west of Delhi. 

The crash killed all 349 people on board both planes, making it the world's deadliest mid-air collision and the deadliest aviation accident to occur in India. There were 312 POB the Saudi flight and 37 POB the Kazakhstan flight. The crash was caused by failure of the Kazakhstani crew to maintain the correct altitude, because of confused dialogue with the tower, communicated via the radio operator, while also apparently fighting turbulence.

Investigations showed the Kazakh aircraft had descended below its assigned altitude of 15,000 feet and was flying at 14,500 feet. A few seconds later the same aircraft had descended another 310 feet, giving an altitude of 14,190 feet, 810 feet below its assigned altitude. Shortly afterwards both aircraft collided, plummeting down in flames and crashed in an arid farming area.

The Saudia flight departed Delhi at 18:32 local time while the Kazakhstan flight was descending simultaneously to land at Delhi. Both flights were controlled by approach controller. The Kazakhstan Airlines plane was cleared to descend to 15,000 feet when it was 74 nautical miles (137 km) from the beacon of the destination airport, while the Saudia plane, travelling on the same airway but in the opposite direction, was cleared to climb to 14,000 feet. About eight minutes later, around 18:40, the Kazakhstan flight reported having reached its assigned altitude of 15,000 feet, but it was actually lower, at 14,500 feet, and still descending. At this time, ATC advised the flight, "Identified traffic 12 o'clock, reciprocal Saudia Boeing 747, 10 nautical miles (19 km) report in sight."

The controller called Flight 1907 again and again, but he received no reply. He tried to warn of the other flight's distance but was too late. The two aircraft collided, with the tail of the Kazakhstan flight slicing through left wing of the Saudia 747 and horizontal stabiliser.

The factors contributing to the unauthorised descent of Kazak aircraft to FL-140, departing from the assigned FL-150, were:
1) inadequate knowledge of English language of Kazak pilot, resulting in wrong interpretations of ATC instructions.

2) poor airmanship and lack of proper CRM (Crew Resource Management) skill on the part of PIC (Pilot-in-Command) compounded by leadership quality lacking in him.

Aircraft Information No 1

Airline: Saudi Arabian Airlines

Code: SV/SVA

Aircraft: Boeing 747-168B

Registration: HZ-AIH

Serial Number: 22748

Engines: 4 Rolls-Royce RB211-524C2

First Flew: 03/02/1982

Age at accident: 14 Years 10 Months

Aircraft Information No 2

Airline: Kazakhstan Airlines

Code: K4/KZA

Aircraft: Ilyushin Il-76TD

Registration: UN-76435

Serial Number: 1023413428

Engines: 4 x Aviadvigatel PS-90 turbofan engines

THOUGHTS ARE WITH THE FAMILIES AND FREINDS THINKING OF LOVED ONES TODAY

End of the road for India's Vistara

The merger of Vistara into Air India was scheduled for completion yesterday, the 11th of November 2024. As of this morning, Vistara ceases to exist. Tata SIA Airlines Limited, known as Vistara, was an Indian full-service airline headquartered in Gurgaon, with its main hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The airline, a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, began operations on the 9th of January 2015, with its first flight from Delhi to Mumbai. Vistara operated in 50 destinations with a fleet that included Airbus A320neo, Airbus A321neo, and Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Following the merger, Singapore Airlines will hold a 25.1% stake in the combined entity of Air India.

A specialized "war room" has been set up to ensure a smooth transition and prevent any service disruptions. This involves teams from customer service, engineering, and operations. The regulatory aspects are also being finalized, including updates to Air India's air operator certificate.

The merger, which was announced in November 2023 by SIA and Tata Sons, entails an agreement for SIA to invest up to INR 50,200 million (equivalent to SGD 880 million, based on exchange rates at the time) to maintain a 25.1% stake in Air India. This includes SIA's share of any funding previously provided by Tata, along with the associated funding costs, before the merger's completion.

Total Linhas Aereas Boeing 737-400F catches fire on landing

A Total Airlines Boeing 737-400 (SF) traveling from Vitória-Eurico de Aguiar Salles International Airport, (VIX/SBVT) to São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport, (GRU/SBGR) executed an emergency landing at São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) due to a fire in the cargo hold. 

The plane left Vitória International Airport (VIX) at 23:34 local time (02:34 UTC) on a scheduled cargo flight to São Paulo-Guarulhos. During the approach to runway 28L, the crew declared a full emergency. The aircraft landed at 00:42 local time, and fire services responded upon its complete stop on the runway. 

On landing, the tower notified the crew they could see fire from the aircraft. Stopping on the runway, the crew evacuated via the cockpit escape rope through the cockpit windows, emergency services responded and penetrated the fuselage to extinguish the fire. The following morning, about 8 hours after landing, and after all cargo was unloaded, the aircraft was towed off the runway. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, in particular the fire burned through the aircraft crown.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Total Cargo

Code: TTL

Aircraft: Boeing 737-4Q8

Registration: PS-TLB

Serial Number: 26299

Engines: 2 x CFMI CFM56-3C1

First Flew: 6th April 1994

Age: 30.6 Years Old

The history of PS-TLB

19/04/1994 TC-JEK THY Turkish Airlines 
22/04/2000 HL7527 Asiana Airlines 
21/04/2010 SP-ENB Enter Air 

13/03/2018 EI-STP ASL Airlines Ireland
06/06/2024 PS-TLB Total Linhas Aereas