in the future - u will be able to do some more stuff here,,,!! like pat catgirl- i mean um yeah... for now u can only see others's posts :c
Air China and China Southern have received their first C919 aircraft.
In a joint ceremony, the two Chinese aviation giants became the newest operators of the domestically produced medium-haul airliners. They join China Eastern Airlines, the third-largest airline in the country, which has already been operating this type of aircraft for some time.
Both aircraft were delivered at Shanghai Pudong Airport on August 28. The Air China aircraft differs from those delivered to the other two airlines. In addition to being a version with extended range, its cabin has a two-class configuration with 8 business class seats and 150 in economy.
China Southern and China Eastern currently operate standard-range models in a single-class configuration with 164 seats. It is expected that China Southern and Air China will each receive two more aircraft by the end of this year.
These are the eighth and ninth C919 aircraft to enter commercial service, but they are far from the last—both airlines ordered 100 aircraft each in April this year. Additionally, Tibet Airlines, Suparna Airlines, and Urumqi Airlines (the latter two are subsidiaries of Hainan Airlines) are also listed in COMAC's order book.
According to the analytics portal Cirium, nearly 1,000 firm orders and 700 options have already been placed for the C919.
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Pilots are required to undergo special training for certain airports, particularly those with challenging conditions, to ensure safe landings and takeoffs. Even experienced aviators need this specialized training when flying into airports like Lukla in Nepal, Madeira in Portugal, or London City in the UK.
These airports, classified as Category C, demand complex maneuvers and specialized landing techniques due to unique geographical features, weather conditions, or short runways.
For instance, Lukla's runway is only 527 meters long and ends in a steep drop, requiring extreme precision from pilots. In Madeira, known for its strong crosswinds, pilots must be able to quickly adjust to sudden changes in wind direction.
To prepare for flights to such airports, pilots undergo simulator training that replicates the specific challenges, including difficult approaches and emergency scenarios. This training helps reduce the risk of incidents and maintains a high level of safety.
The necessity of this specialized training is highlighted by an incident involving an Alaska SkyWest flight, which had to divert to an alternate airport because the captain was not qualified to land at Jackson Hole Airport. This example underscores the importance of such training in ensuring flight safety under conditions that exceed standard operations. (Images: Wikimedia)
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A new Mi-8MTV-1 helicopter has arrived in Chukotka for intra-regional transportation.
The aircraft, manufactured by the Kazan Helicopter Plant, was delivered to Anadyr Airport as part of a comprehensive program for the development of Russia's air transport industry, initiated by President Vladimir Putin.
The helicopter can carry 22 passengers over a distance of up to 620 kilometers at a speed of 230 km/h. It can operate in temperatures as low as -50°C and is equipped with medical modules. Additionally, its range can be significantly increased by installing additional fuel tanks.
Vladislav Kuznetsov, the governor of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, announced plans for annual fleet expansion to ensure weekly air connections between every settlement and Anadyr.
This acquisition is particularly important considering that more than 40% of Russia's territory consists of remote regions in the Arctic and the Far North. Therefore, the development of air transportation in these regions is a key factor for their successful integration.
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A Brazilian startup successfully tested a prototype of an unmanned eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft with a tilting fuselage.
Moya Aero has made its first transition from vertical takeoff to horizontal flight on a scaled-down model of its unmanned electric aircraft, which is 20% of the full size. The test confirmed the functionality of a unique configuration in which the fuselage rotates 90 degrees for cruising mode.
The flight was stable at a speed of around 85 km/h. The next step will be testing a larger model (75% of the final aircraft's size) in October.
Moya Aero plans to start assembling the full-size version this year, aiming for certification by the end of 2026 and operational deployment in 2027.
However, the company plans to use a hybrid powertrain on the final version, providing a range of up to 300 km, compared to 100 km for the fully electric model.
Moya Aero already has 119 letters of intent from potential operators, and the next step for the Brazilian company is to raise approximately $6 million in the upcoming Series A funding round for the development and certification of the full-size aircraft.
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The Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case after the hard landing of the Boeing in Sochi
A criminal case has been initiated for violating safety regulations following the hard landing of a Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by Smartavia at Sochi Airport. This was reported by the press service of the Western Interregional Investigative Directorate for Transport of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation.
The case was initiated under Part 1 of Article 263 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The maximum penalty under this article is up to two years of imprisonment.
According to the investigation, on the afternoon of August 18, the Boeing, en route from St. Petersburg to Sochi, touched the runway twice with the rear part of the fuselage during landing. The crew and passengers on board were not injured. According to the carrier, there were 196 people on board.
Investigators have already inspected the aircraft to determine the nature of the damage and the extent of the harm caused. Additionally, necessary examinations have been appointed, and the investigation into the causes and circumstances of the incident continues.
Following the incident at Sochi Airport, the Boeing operated by Smartavia has been grounded. The investigation is also being conducted by Rosaviatsiya (the Federal Air Transport Agency).
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Boeing Board Appoints Kelly Ortberg President and CEO
On July 31, Boeing announced that its Board of Directors has elected Robert K. "Kelly" Ortberg as the company's new president and CEO, beginning August 8, 2024. Ortberg will also join Boeing's Board of Directors.
He will succeed. Dave Calhoun, who announced his retirement from the company earlier this year after serving as president and CEO since January 2020 and a member of Boeing's Board of Directors since 2009.
Ortberg, 64, has over 35 years of aerospace leadership experience to this post. He started his career with Texas Instruments as an engineer in 1983, then moved on to Rockwell Collins as a program manager in 1987, where he rose through the ranks to become president and CEO in 2013. After managing Rockwell Collins for five years, he oversaw the company's merger with United Technologies and RTX until his retirement in 2021. He has held several key industry leadership positions, including a seat on the RTX Board of Directors. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Aptiv PLC, a worldwide technology business and industry leader in vehicle systems architecture. He was the previous Chair of the Aerospace Industries Association's (AIA) Board of Governors.
Ortberg has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Iowa.
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