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Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
PAF to display air power at UK airshow
Listen to article A contingent of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), featuring its advanced JF-17 Thunder Block-III fighter jets and a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, landed on Thursday at the Royal Air Force Base Fairford in the United Kingdom to participate in the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2025, according to a press release by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The JF-17 Thunder Block-III aircraft, equipped with cutting-edge EASA radar and beyond-visual-range (BVR) capabilities, completed successful air-to-air refuelling en route to the UK, with support from a PAF IL-78 aerial tanker, military's media wing reported. The long-range flight operation demonstrated the PAF's ability to project airpower far beyond its borders. 'JF-17 Block-III is an EASA Radar and Long Range BVR equipped 4.5 generation multi-role fighter aircraft which is capable of undertaking wide variety of combat missions bolstering airpower application in the face of contemporary challenges thereby strengthening national security.' Adding a visual flair to the event, the PAF's C-130 Hercules has been painted in a special livery reflecting RIAT 2025's theme, 'Eyes in the Skies'. 'In line with RIAT's annual tradition of themed artistic displays, PAF C-130 Hercules has been adorned with an exclusive livery inspired by this year's theme, 'Eyes in the Skies.' The captivating design symbolizes vigilance, situational awareness and the technological edge maintained by modern air forces in ensuring global security. The striking artwork is expected to be a center of attraction, reflecting Pakistan Air Force's creativity and operational heritage', the press release stated. 'PAF's participation in RIAT, one of the world's largest military airshows, underscores Pakistan Air Force's commitment to showcasing its professional excellence, operational capability and the indigenous strength of its aviation industry.'
Hans India
12-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hans India
AAIB initial probe needs to be taken into global quorum to ensure 787 aircraft safety
As a pilot, Safety Management System (SMS) and safety professional, the two most critical phases of flight are the take-off and landing, and during this, all attention is on flight instruments and hand flying the aircraft to about (usually) 2,000 feet then engaging the autopilot. Thrust Setting is manual (not autopilot/AUTO THROTTLE) and MAX TAKE OFF THRUST; and focus, attention is on continuing flight and flight controls, never on the throttle quadrant, since thrust is set to MAX TAKE OFF THRUST. From the AI 171 preliminary report, which will have a global ramification on all 787 operators, it is reported that the fuel valves/switches were moved to CUT OFF. It is highly unlikely that any pilot, especially during takeoff would want to meddle or fiddle around with switches behind the thrust levels. At best, you would focus on raising the landing gear which is located in the front panel of the cockpit, or raise the flaps. The reason why the Fuel Valves/Switch was turned back to CUTOFF is something that needs to be investigated. It must be noted that the 787 has a cockpit camera and all pilot and co-pilot actions would have been recorded. Strangely, and shockingly, the Preliminary Report does not mention reference to the Cockpit Camera Recording and Footage. The NTSB, the FAA, EASA in addition to the AAIB need to investigate to the fullest as to why did the 'Fuel Switch to Cut Off'. No pilot would be stupid to cut fuel to both engines during a phase when he needs engine power the most. It is imperative that we wait for the entire, comprehensive investigation report to come out. If the Fuel Cut Off switches moved automatically to cut off, so as the AI 171 initial report says, then airlines that operate the 787 today need to review and investigate potential Fuel Switch Runaway with their aircraft. The 787 Dreamliner is a comprehensively digitally controlled and software-driven aircraft which constantly needs patch and systems updates. If the Fuel Switches moved to CUTOFF, the cause of this trigger needs to be established. Furthermore, to this I may add that no pilot is stupid, or inept to want to play around with switches in the middle section of cockpit when all attention is focused on forward flight cockpit instruments located in front of the pilots, during takeoff and landing. This will be a complex crash to investigate for the NTSB, AAIB, Boeing, EASA, the Indian DGCA and the UKCAA, and no stone should be left unturned with this investigation. It is imperative that this investigation also be taken into the global quorum, with the including of ICAO, CAA Canada and other safety oversight regulators, that manage and oversee the 787 aircraft operation in their jurisdiction.
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Major airline resumes flights to Israel from UK - a month earlier than planned
Wizz Air has announced its early return to Tel Aviv, jetting back into Israel more than a month earlier than planned. Flights from London Luton will now launch on 22nd August 2025, instead of 15 September. Flights will then run on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets are already on sale at and via the WIZZ app, with prices starting from just £67.99/169 ILS. As well as from London, Wizz Air will be flying to Tel Aviv from Budapest, starting as early as 8th August. The budget airline will also be jetting off from Larnaca, Milan, Rome, Vienna, Bucharest, Iasi, and Sofia, and says it's 'putting Israel back on the map for hundreds of thousands of eager travellers'. 'We're back — and we're back with purpose,' says Olivia Harangozo, Corporate Communications Manager at Wizz Air. 'Our early return to Tel Aviv demonstrates our commitment to our loyal Israeli passengers and to keeping the world connected.' With this announcement, Wizz Air is set to be the biggest foreign airline in Israel in terms of capacity, with 31,000 Tel Aviv-bound seats on sale. Wizz Air's news comes a day after the European Union's Aviation Safety Agency lifted a high-risk advisory recommending pilots avoid Israeli airspace due to the risk of war reigniting with Iran. The advisory covering Israel, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Jordan was put in place on June 13. Yesterday, it was withdrawn, the EASA said. Meanwhile, a separate advisory for Iran was issued, telling pilots to avoid flying over the country for fear of being mistaken as an enemy aircraft. It said: 'Iran is likely to maintain elevated alert levels for its air force and air defense units nationwide, particularly in light of the potential for further ad hoc military actions from their adversaries. 'Consequently, the risk of miscalculation and/or misidentification remains high over FIR Tehran.'
Arab News
04-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Regulators warned Air India Express about delay on Airbus engine fix, forging records
NEW DELHI: India's aviation watchdog reprimanded Air India's budget carrier in March for not timely changing engine parts of an Airbus A320 as directed by European Union's aviation safety agency, and falsifying records to show compliance, a government memo showed. In a statement, Air India Express told Reuters it acknowledged the error to the Indian watchdog and undertook 'remedial action and preventive measures.' Air India has been under intense scrutiny since the June Boeing Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad which killed all but one of the 242 people onboard. The world's worst aviation disaster in a decade is still being investigated. The engine issue in the Air India Express' Airbus was raised on March 18, months before the crash. But the regulator has this year also warned parent Air India for breaching rules for flying three Airbus planes with overdue checks on escape slides, and in June warned it about 'serious violations' of pilot duty timings. Air India Express is a subsidiary of Air India, which is owned by the Tata Group. It has more than 115 aircraft and flies to more than 50 destinations, with 500 daily flights. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency in 2023 issued an airworthiness directive to address a 'potential unsafe condition' on CFM International LEAP-1A engines, asking for replacement of some components such as engine seals and rotating parts, saying some manufacturing deficiencies had been found. The agency's directive said 'this condition, if not corrected, could lead to failure of affected parts, possibly resulting in high energy debris release, with consequent damage to, and reduced control of, the aeroplane.' The Indian government's confidential memo in March sent to the airline, seen by Reuters, said that surveillance by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) revealed the parts modification 'was not complied' on an engine of an Airbus A320 'within the prescribed time limit.' 'In order to show that the work has been carried out within the prescribed limits, the AMOS records have apparently been altered/forged,' the memo added, referring to the Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Operating System software used by airlines to manage maintenance and airworthiness. The mandatory modification was required on Air India Express' VT-ATD plane, the memo added. That plane typically flies on domestic routes and some international destinations such as Dubai and Muscat, according to the AirNav Radar website. The lapse 'indicates that the accountable manager has failed to ensure quality control,' it added. Air India Express told Reuters its technical team missed the scheduled implementation date for parts replacement due to the migration of records on its monitoring software, and fixed the problem soon after it was identified. It did not give dates of compliance or directly address DGCA's comment about records being altered, but said that after the March memo it took 'necessary administrative actions,' which included removing the quality manager from the person's position and suspending the deputy continuing airworthiness manager. The DGCA and the European safety agency did not respond to Reuters queries. Airbus and CFM International, a joint venture between General Electric and Safran, also did not respond. The lapse was first flagged during a DGCA audit in October 2024 and the plane in question took only a few trips after it was supposed to replace the CFM engine parts, a source with direct knowledge said. 'Such issues should be fixed immediately. It's a grave mistake. The risk increases when you are flying over sea or near restricted airpsace,' said Vibhuti Singh, a former legal expert at the India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. The Indian government told parliament in February that authorities warned or fined airlines in 23 instances for safety violations last year. Three of those cases involved Air India Express, and eight Air India. The Tata Group acquired Air India from the Indian government in 2022 and the Dreamliner crash has cast a shadow on its ambitions of making it a 'world class airline.' While Air India has aggressively expanded its international flight network over the months, it still faces persistent complaints from passengers, who often take to social media to show soiled seats, broken armrests, non-operational entertainment systems and dirty cabins.
Reuters
04-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Exclusive: Regulators warned Air India Express about delay on Airbus engine fix, forging records
NEW DELHI, July 4 (Reuters) - India's aviation watchdog reprimanded Air India's budget carrier in March for not timely changing engine parts of an Airbus A320 as directed by European Union's aviation safety agency, and falsifying records to show compliance, a government memo showed. In a statement, Air India Express told Reuters it acknowledged the error to the Indian watchdog and undertook "remedial action and preventive measures". Air India has been under intense scrutiny since the June Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad which killed all but one of the 242 people onboard. The world's worst aviation disaster in a decade is still being investigated. The engine issue in the Air India Express' Airbus was raised on March 18, months before the crash. But the regulator has this year also warned parent Air India for breaching rules for flying three Airbus planes with overdue checks on escape slides, and in June warned it about "serious violations" of pilot duty timings. Air India Express is a subsidiary of Air India, which is owned by the Tata Group. It has more than 115 aircraft and flies to more than 50 destinations, with 500 daily flights. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency in 2023 issued an airworthiness directive to address a "potential unsafe condition" on CFM International LEAP-1A engines, asking for replacement of some components such as engine seals and rotating parts, saying some manufacturing deficiencies had been found. The agency's directive said "this condition, if not corrected, could lead to failure of affected parts, possibly resulting in high energy debris release, with consequent damage to, and reduced control of, the aeroplane." The Indian government's confidential memo in March sent to the airline, seen by Reuters, said that surveillance by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) revealed the parts modification "was not complied" on an engine of an Airbus A320 "within the prescribed time limit". "In order to show that the work has been carried out within the prescribed limits, the AMOS records have apparently been altered/forged," the memo added, referring to the Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Operating System software used by airlines to manage maintenance and airworthiness. The "mandatory" modification was required on Air India Express' VT-ATD plane, the memo added. That plane typically flies on domestic routes and some international destinations such as Dubai and Muscat, according to the AirNav Radar website. The lapse "indicates that accountable manager has failed to ensure quality control," it added/ Air India Express told Reuters its technical team missed the scheduled implementation date for parts replacement due to the migration of records on its monitoring software, and fixed the problem soon after it was identified. It did not give dates of compliance or directly address DGCA's comment about records being altered, but said that after the March memo it took "necessary administrative actions", which included removing the quality manager from their position and suspending the deputy continuing airworthiness manager. The DGCA and the European safety agency did not respond to Reuters queries. Airbus ( opens new tab and CFM International, a joint venture between General Electric (GE.N), opens new tab and Safran ( opens new tab, also did not respond. The lapse was first flagged during a DGCA audit in October 2024 and the plane in question took only a few trips after it was supposed to replace the CFM engine parts, a source with direct knowledge said. "Such issues should be fixed immediately. It's a grave mistake. The risk increases when you are flying over sea or near restricted airpsace," said Vibhuti Singh, a former legal expert at the India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. The Indian government told parliament in February that authorities warned or fined airlines in 23 instances for safety violations last year. Three of those cases involved Air India Express, and eight Air India.
