May
23

China’s CAAC issues 787 type certification

It’s been a long wait. After years of delays, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) today issued the Chinese type certification certificate for the Boeing 787-8.

A team from China Southern is currently in Seattle undertaking preparatory work and customer acceptance flights before formally accepting the carrier’s first 787 LN 34, registered B-2725, on or before May 28. Hainan Airlines will follow, taking delivery of its first 787-8 in June.

The opaque nature of Chinese bureaucracy has muddied the official reason behind the CAAC’s delay in issuing the Chinese type certificate. Industry sources suggest that the 787 type certificate was ready for issue in late 2011, however due to development delays the preparatory work expired before the 787 could enter service under the old certificate. It is also suggested that Air China’s political connections in Beijing played a hand in delaying the paperwork, waving their magic wand to reduce the competitive pressure on the Chinese flag carrier which couldn’t secure early delivery positions for its 787-9 order, and didn’t order the A380.

Each carrier holds orders for ten 787-8s; China Southern will receive five aircraft, and Hainan seven, by the end of 2013.

Check out Carry-on’s profile of China Southern
*This post has been amended as we mistakenly wrote Air China had not ordered the 787. Air China has 15 787-9s on order. Thanks to one of our readers for pointing this out.

May
14

Ain’t she pretty? Airbus rolls out painted A350XWB.

Image: Airbus SAS.

Airbus has rolled out its first Airbus A350-900 MSN001 in its full paint scheme at its Toulouse production facility.

Airbus is yet to set an official date for the maiden sortie of the prototype flight test aircraft.

Fitted with Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines the aircraft has spent close to a week in the paint shop. The A350 has already completed flight-test-instrument (FTI) verification and will now commence ground testing, followed by a series of ground runs before its first flight.

Airbus holds 616 customer orders for the three member A350 family, which will eventually include a smaller 250-seat A350-800 variant and larger 350-seat A350-1000 variant.

More information about the Airbus A350 family.

Image: Airbus SAS.

May
03

Japan Airlines is bringing the dream to Sydney.

 

Pushing ahead with it’s 787 expansion, Japan Airlines will be the first international airline to introduce Boeing 787 services to Sydney. Operating the daily JL771/772 service from Tokyo Narita, the Boeing 787-8 will replace the Boeing 777 currently operated from December 1.

Three months after the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was grounded in late-January, the aircraft and programme are back in the air. With safety fixes for the aircraft’s battery system approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, airlines are bursting with renewed confidence in the besieged programme and planning the aircraft’s re-entry into service on routes around the globe.

Both Japan’s All Nippon Airlines (ANA) and JAL each suffered separate fire incidents in the 787′s lithium-ion battery, and are now working to restore the Japanese public’s confidence in the aircraft before they resume services on June 1. Over the next few weeks both carriers plan to undertake more than 200 test flights for pilot training and battery system verification demonstrating to the public the safety of the aircraft.

With the arrival of the 787 into the Australian market imminent, airlines will soon have a host of new operational opportunities into the country. Initially for JAL, the substantial product upgrade, but capacity downgrade of the 787 reduces available seat capacity on the Tokyo – Sydney route by 24%; instantly improving Qantas capacity share and competitiveness on a market that has struggled since its 1997 peak.  However, the economics of the 787-8 provides the potential to introduce new routes and improved schedules to destinations across Asia and beyond, encouraging growth and allowing markets to mature with the potential to increase capacity with the 787-9 from sometime after 2016. Up-gauging to an aircraft with a similar operating cost, but significantly increased capacity also delivers airlines greater pricing flexibility, to stimulate even more demand through lower fares or the ability to extract higher margins from operations.

The unprecedented level of regulatory and developmental scrutiny afforded the 787 will ultimately deliver an exceptionally safe next generation aircraft. There may be some initial tepidness from passengers in booking on the 787, but ultimately the romance of a revolutionary aircraft will draw them back. It’s been a long wait, but the 787 is almost here.

Carry-on is booked to travel on the inaugural Sydney service, and will be bringing you all the excitement of the day. Stay tuned.

Boeing’s full page すみません (apology). Image: Yoshiaki Miura, Japan Times.

May
01

National Air Cargo 747-400F accident

This video is purported to be of the Boeing 747-400BCF, registered N949CA, of National Air Cargo that crashed after takeoff from Bagram Air Force base in Afghanistan on 29 April.

During climb out the nose of the aircraft appears to pitch up sharply, before enters into a stall and coming down near the airport perimeter fence. Reports indicate that listeners on the frequency are reported to have heard the flight crew report a load shift had caused the stall. The aircraft was carrying a crew of seven or eight people, although the this remains unconfirmed.

Orlando based National Air Cargo operated three B747-400BCF aircraft, and is a member of a group of airlines participating in the civil reserve air fleet programme, which transports cargo on behalf of the US Air Mobility Command.

Mar
05

Peeking into British Airways’ chic new A380

British Airways’ new video gives a sneak peek into the onboard refinement of their chic new A380. BA has twelve A380s on order to be delivered by 2016, and will receive with the first three aircraft to be delivered in July, September and November. Configured in a four class 469 seat layout with , BA’s A380 will be deployed between London – Los Angeles from 15 October and daily London – Hong Kong services from 15 November.

British Airways is likely to deploy its A380 to other destinations in Asia including Beijing, Shanghai and Singapore; in line with strategic moves to increase its presence throughout Asia, particularly mainland China. In support of this, BA has signed a codeshare agreement with Cathay Pacific to take affect from 31 March, the final day of the Qantas/BA Joint Service Agreement (JSA). BA will initially place it’s flight code on Cathay Pacific’s services from Hong Kong to Cairns, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

“The best refinements are those you hardly notice. Deceptive in their simplicity, you may not notice them at all. Truly great design steps aside, leaving you with a sensation, a feeling. This was our ambition when designing the interiors for our next generation aircraft. Soon, our A380s will fly between London Heathrow, Los Angeles and Hong Kong. We hope, when you step on board, you can’t put your finger on exactly what makes flying in them so pleasurable.

More than 90 years of experience has taught us how to get things right and our intention is to make sure – on every second of every flight – you realise how flying with us makes you feel.” – British Airways

Tally ho!

Jan
17

What’s next for the 787?

The media loves fire on an aircraft. Fire scares people. Scaring sells news. Unfortunately, this comes to the detriment of Boeing and the 787 programme, which have faced intense scrutiny by media over a range of minor to hazardous issues, that question the safety of the aircraft.

The Boeing 787-8 suffered a series of incidents over the period, several of these a cracked windshield, minor fuel leak and brake issue are common operational issues. The FAA’s Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) issued today focuses on the electrical architecture of the aircraft, specifically the safety of the GS Yuasa lithium-ion polymer battery, which has led to several incidents consistently traced back to the same issue:

04DEC2012 – United Airlines UA1146 diverted enroute due to an electrical malfunction. Multiple error messages, with flight crew requesting firefighters be vigilant of fuselage aft of wing area upon touchdown.

13DEC2012 – Qatar Airways grounded one of its 787 fleet due to an electrical fault upon arrival in Doha. CEO Akbar Al Baker wasn’t happy, jumped up and down, and shook his fists at Boeing.

17DEC2012 – United Airlines identifies a second electrical issue in a separate 787 to 04DEC incident.

07JAN2013 – Japan Airlines 787 JA829J suffered an incident on the ground at Tokyo Narita, in which smoke filled the cabin, and aft cargo compartment as a result of the APU battery in the rear electrical bay catching fire.

16JAN2013 – All Nippon Airlines (ANA) 787  JA804A operated NH692 diverted to Takamatsu when the crew received battery problem indications, and detected an acrid, burning smell in the cockpit. The aircraft was evacuated on landing.

Aviation safety regulators in India, Japan, Poland, Qatar and Chile have suspended 787 operations for an indefinite period, with Ethiopia and Europe’s EASA likely to follow suit.

The location of the Lithium Ion batteries in the Boeing 787-8. Image: Boeing ARFF Data.

Following the commencement of the regulatory review earlier this week, the FAA has determined that “the battery failures resulted in release of flammable electrolytes, heat damage, and smoke” there is sufficient enough risk of onboard fire, or other electrical issues, to cease the programme. An investigation already initiated by the National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB), will now widened and led by the FAA, supported by Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) and Boeing.

Why in the first instance did the FAA allow the aircraft to continue to fly after announcing the safety review?  Why was the FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, so emphatic in saying the 787 was safe after he had announced a review, and before the NTSB had concluded an investigation?

NTSB photo of the aft Lithium Ion battery following the fire on the JAL 787 in Boston. Image: NTSB.

During its certification period and the aircraft’s first 15 months in service the 787 has suffered ongoing problems related to its electrical system. The first aircraft to support fully electric architecture, this replaces pneumatic bleed air systems used to drive cabin pressure and onboard systems, and operates at a significantly higher capacity 1.5MW than any other aircraft.

To support these systems the 787 requires a battery that can efficiently produce enough energy, and currently only less-stable Lithium Ion polymer batteries offer that capability. Overheating or overcharging the battery creates ignitable metallic lithium.

After years of testing the batteries were approved by the regulator with special conditions, and demonstrated assurances that the system would could isolate and shutdown the batteries in this instance, and inflight fire would be contained. Yet the system safeguards failed to prevent either incident incident in Japan.

Navigating in uncharted territory.

Is the 787 programme a disaster? Certainly not, the 787 like the A380 is technological leap in the way aircraft are designed, built and flown. And, every revolution has its problems, see Airbus A380, Boeing 747, Comet, Viscount.

These aircraft all suffered significant problems following their Entry Into Service (EIS). Who remembers the 747 having significant engine problems? All were eventually rectified. It is part of the natural development of aircraft that changes are made, and redesigns worked in, and changes made again. The number of Airworthiness Directives in worldwide circulation for all aircraft types demonstrates this.

With proven operational experience no customer is yet to cancel their orders over this incident, and none are likely too. Airlines awaiting imminent deliver of aircraft will be temporarily inconvenienced, Akbar Al Baker may jump up and down, and Boeing’s reputation will take another hit, but that doesn’t mean they lack faith in the aircraft’s future. The more resources pushed into engineering the 787 now, the better it will become.

As with the DC-10 and the A380 after QF32, it’s no surprise travellers will book away from the 787 for a period of time, concerned about reliability. But they will come back, they have loved the 787 to date. With this level of regulatory and developmental scrutiny we’re going to end up with an exceptionally safe next generation aircraft. It’s a matter of when, not if that happens.

The full statement from the FAA. Boeing’s full statement on 787 action.

This paper is excellent background reading on the FAA’s only other commercial grounding of the McDonnell Douglas DC-10.

 

 

Jan
17

Airline Statements on suspension of 787 ops

Qatar Airways has now issued the following statement on suspension of 787 services:

In compliance with the recommendation of the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States (FAA) and in coordination with the Chilean Aeronautical Authority (DGAC), LAN announces that it will temporarily suspend the operation of its three Boeing 787 aircraft.

Flights that were scheduled to be operated by the 787 will be temporarily replaced with other aircraft in our fleet to mitigate any potential impacts that this situation could cause to its passengers and cargo clients. The safety of the operation and its passengers is LAN’s top priority and the company regrets any inconvenience that this may cause.

Chile’s LAN Airlines part of the LATAM group, has also issued its own statement:

In compliance with the recommendation of the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States (FAA) and in coordination with the Chilean Aeronautical Authority (DGAC), LAN announces that it will temporarily suspend the operation of its three Boeing 787 aircraft.

Flights that were scheduled to be operated by the 787 will be temporarily replaced with other aircraft in our fleet to mitigate any potential impacts that this situation could cause to its passengers and cargo clients. The safety of the operation and its passengers is LAN’s top priority and the company regrets any inconvenience that this may cause.

Ethiopian Airlines issued in the following statement:

Ethiopian Dreamliners have not encountered the type of problems such as those experienced by the other operators. However, as an extra precautionary safety measure and in line with its commitment of putting safety above all else, Ethiopian has decided to pull out its four Dreamliners from operation and perform the special inspection requirements mandated by FAA.

Qantas previously expressed its continued support for the 787 programme on 16DEC:

“Boeing has kept the Qantas Group fully informed about the performance of the 787 since it entered commercial service in 2011. We are confident that the current issues will be resolved before Jetstar receives its first aircraft as scheduled in the second half of this year.”

Click here for more coverage on the 787 EAD action.

The full statement from the FAA.

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