Aviation News

An electrical fire has filled the cabin of a Japan Airlines Boeing 787 with smoke minutes after passengers disembarked following a flight from Tokyo.

The Fire broke out on the empty Dreamliner after it parked at a gate in Boston on Monday, putting safety concerns about the new, carbon-composite jet back in the spotlight and drawing attention from federal investigators.

Officials said the fire started when a battery in the Japan Airlines jet’s auxiliary power system exploded around 10.30am local time, shortly after passengers disembarked.

The Japan Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner jet aircraft is surrounded by emergency vehicles at Logan International Airport in Boston. Photo: AP

A mechanic inspecting the jet discovered smoke in the cockpit while performing a routine post-flight inspection and reported it to authorities at Boston’s Logan International Airport, officials said.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are looking into what caused the problem, which came just weeks after Boeing endured a string of other electrical problems that briefly grounded three of the planes. The new jet also has suffered an engine failure and fuel leaks in the 14 months it has been in service.

“I don’t want to be an alarmist,” said Carter Leake, an analyst at BB&T Capital Markets in Virginia. “But onboard fires on airplanes are as bad as it gets. Even though it happened on the ground, rest assured the FAA is asking ‘What if it happened in the air?’”

The electrical fire is troubling in part because the 787 relies heavily on electrical power to drive onboard systems that in other jet models are run by air pressure generated by the engines. The new jet also suffered an electrical fire during a test flight, prompting a redesign of electrical systems.

Boeing spokesman Marc Birtel said Monday, “We are aware of the event and are working with our customer.” Other Boeing officials declined to comment.

Japan Airlines did not respond to several requests for comment.

The Dreamliner is Boeing’s first jet to be made of carbon composites rather than aluminum, a change that lowers the plane’s weight and allows it to burn less fuel.

The jet was plagued by production problems that delayed initial delivery by 3-1/2 years. Boeing currently has nearly 800 unfilled orders for the plane and is ramping up production from five per month to 10 a month this year.

Yet since entering service in October 2011, the plane has repeatedly made headlines for mechanical problems.

Last July, the FAA investigated an incident in which a 787 engine made by General Electric blew apart on the ground in South Carolina, prompting changes in how the engines are made, maintained and inspected. A similar engine failed on a Boeing 747 in Shanghai in September.

The Dreamliner’s run of electrical mishaps began December 4, when a United Airlines flight from Houston to Newark, New Jersey, made an emergency landing after it appeared that one of its power generators failed. United later said an electrical panel was at fault. On December 13, Qatar Airways said it had grounded one of its three 787 jets because of the same problem United had experienced. On December 17, United said that a second 787 in its fleet had developed electrical issues.

Also in December, the FAA ordered inspections of 787s after fuel leaks were found on two aircraft operated by foreign airlines. The leaks stemmed from incorrectly assembled fuel line couplings, which could result in loss of power or engine fire, the FAA said.

In the latest incident, a fire crew determined that a battery used to power the plane’s electric systems when the engines are not running had exploded. The mechanic was the only person on board the plane when the smoke was discovered and no one was hurt by the blaze.

“Passengers were in no danger as this event had happened at least 15 minutes after they deplaned,” said Massport Fire Chief Bob Donahue.

In late December, Boeing Chief Executive Jim McNerney said the 787 has not experienced an unusual number of problems for a new aircraft, calling the problems “normal squawks.”

But Monday’s electrical fire raised questions about that view and is likely to make Boeing highly susceptible to any other issues that could arise on the aircraft.

Wing de-icing and cabin air conditioning systems on the 787 are electrical. If ventilation failed on a flight or the cockpit filled with smoke, the pilots would decompress the cabin to get air and would quickly dive to 10,000 feet, where oxygen levels and temperatures are survivable, said Leake, the analyst at BB&T Capital Markets, who is also a former commercial and military pilot.

He said normal teething issues for a new plane might include an engine shutting down at a gate, stuck landing gear or a malfunctioning lavatory. In contrast, an engine breaking up and a fire that fills the cockpit with smoke are “all squawks that, unfortunately for Boeing, could have severe consequences.

“Any electrical problem in the next 30 days, for whatever reason, which would be a normal teething problem, is going to be a big deal,” he added. “It creates a perception issue.”

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-incidents/dreamliner-nightmare-787-fire-fills-cabin-with-smoke-20130108-2cdpo.html#ixzz2HTKmJJlg

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An international flight was diverted after a drunk Perth man allegedly tried to smoke a cigarette on the plane before punching and spitting on crew members.

The 34-year-old man was taken off the flight, en route from Sydney to Japan on Monday night, when it was diverted to Cairns.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) allege the man was heavily intoxicated and was abusive towards the crew and other passengers.

He had to be forcibly restrained by the crew and was arrested when the plane landed in Cairns, police said.

Assistant commissioner Shane Connelly said the public needed to remember that when they travelled on an aircraft their behaviour was subject to Australian laws.

“Enough is enough. An aircraft captain and co-pilot can ill-afford to be distracted from their duties of safely flying an aircraft by having to deal with drunk, violent or disorderly passengers,” he said.

“The cabin crew are there to make your flight safe and enjoyable.

“They should not have to restrain violent passengers, be abused or assaulted, or be interfered with in conducting their duties.”

AFP responded to more than 1000 alcohol-related incidents at Australia’s 10 major airports during the 2011-12 financial year.

Out of those incidents, 145 were for offences related to offensive and disorderly behaviour and excessive alcohol consumption.

AFP said the plane was forced to dump its fuel load when it diverted to Cairns and the airline would seek to recover significant costs.

The man was due to face Cairns Magistrate Court on Tuesday charged with smoking in an aircraft, disorderly and offensive behaviour on board an aircraft, and interfering with crew or aircraft.

The offences carry a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment.

He will also be charged with assaulting crew general, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-incidents/qantas-flight-grounded-after-drunk-passenger-allegedly-spits-at-crew-20121218-2bkuj.html#ixzz2FU4xDXfP

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The failure of electrical generators on two new Boeing 787 planes are normal problems for a jet program that is just entering service, the company’s chief executive officer said on Friday.

“We’re having what we would consider the normal number of squawks on a new airplane, consistent with other new airplanes we’ve introduced,” Boeing Co CEO Jim McNerney said in an interview on cable network CNBC.

“We regret the impact on our customers, obviously,” he added. “But … we’re working through it.”

On Thursday, Qatar Airways said it had been forced to ground one of its three Boeing 787 Dreamliners after it found the same electrical generator problem that recently forced a Dreamliner operated by United Continental Holdings Inc’s United Airlines to make an emergency landing.

McNerney also said many major companies would say their employment and investment decisions are being affected by the “fiscal cliff.”

“Eventually ours will, too,” he said. “But we’re in a longer-cycle environment.”

McNerney said he hoped that solving the fiscal cliff would not impede longer-term tax reform

Read More: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-boeing-ceo-says-787-problems-are-not-unusual-for-new-plane-20121214,0,920774.story

Virgin Atlantic may pick up extra passengers in the fallout from our national airline’s codeshare arrangement with Emirates.

Virgin Atlantic’s Australian general manager, Luke Fisher, is reluctant to say that Qantas’s codeshare arrangement with Emirates gives his airline an opportunity to pick up business.

But he does acknowledge that Qantas’s transit through Dubai on the way to Europe may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Qantas’s link-up with Emirates means that passengers will, from next April, pass through United Arab Emirates rather than Bangkok on their way to Europe.

“I understand why Qantas are doing that,” Fisher told Sky Report.

“I just think that option will work for some and maybe it won’t work for others.”

We ran into Fisher over cocktails at the Upper Class bar while taking the Virgin Atlantic service to London via Hong Kong recently. (Is there anything more glam, or indeed more ill-advised, than cocktails at 35,000 feet?)

“Traditionally, Australians have travelled to Europe via south-east Asia,” he said.

“And that’s traditionally been through Bangkok and Singapore.”

While several carriers, including British Airways and Singapore Airlines, continue to fly through south-east Asia, Fisher believes Virgin Atlantic is attractive beyond sentimentality because it goes through Hong Kong.

“Hong Kong is a great transit point because it’s both a business destination and a leisure destination,” he said.

“Hong Kong is very much the conduit for a lot of business done in China.”

Virgin Atlantic claims the fastest transit out of all the two-leg trips to Britain, because the service is on the same aircraft all the way through.

“When you’ve got change of equipment it takes more than two hours, whereas ours is 90 minutes,” Fisher said.

“If you are travelling all the way through, it’s a very short stop.” Which is good and bad.

On our way up, we couldn’t squeeze in a shower at the delightful but busy Hong Kong Clubhouse.

But we did so on the journey back, having started in rock-star style at Virgin Atlantic’s amazing drive-up valet check-in at Heathrow. It’s a service that’s exclusive to its Upper Class passengers.

We also checked out Virgin Atlantic’s premium economy service on a couple of legs and found it very comfortable. It’s proving very popular with Australians.

“This year’s codeshare with Virgin Australia up to Hong Kong has been one of our most successful codeshare launches,” Fisher said.

“The first six months, the number has been more than 3000 passengers, and that is a lot more than we anticipated.

“It’s a huge market and we are finding our premium economy is a real winner.”

Royal treatment

Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class check-in may well have been the inspiration for Garuda’s new “premium check-in area”.

While Garuda doesn’t boast Virgin Atlantic’s limo transfer, kerbside bag drop and possibility of running into Posh and Becks, its service is certainly an improvement as you pass through busy, often chaotic, Soekarno-Hatta.

Executive-class passengers and Garuda Frequent Flyer Platinum members can now check in, pay their airport taxes, and manage bookings at check-in counters in a cordoned-off area. Garuda’s business-class bookings increased by 9 per cent in the first half of 2012 over the same period in 2011.

A little bit extra

KLM has introduced premium economy on its flights within Europe. The new class is called Economy Comfort.

Air Canada has set a price on its bulkhead and exit-row seats.

No longer luck of the draw, or first-in, best-seated, the Canadian national carrier now charges $118 a seat for the privilege of all that extra legroom.

Techno savvy

Sky Report passed through Qantas’s domestic terminal at Sydney Airport recently and was delighted to discover free wi-fi available.

About time.

Plus, the airline is rolling out better, higher-speed wi-fi for its lounges across the country.

In other Qantas moves, the airline is replacing its business-class blankets with cosy duvets – or, in the vernacular of its home country, doonas.

Souvenir appeal

Oh those Fins and their quirky designs. Finnair has teamed with the Finnish cult homewares and fabric-design house, Marimekko, for a new inflight look for everything from livery to teapots.

It will be introduced during the northern spring.

We hope the flight crews are being trained in frisking techniques. The new crockery, in particular, looks very … shall we say, collectable?

Flight ‘favourites’

More than 700 international cabin crew members in 85 countries were asked by the flight booking site, Skyscanner, who their perfect airline passenger is.

According to those surveyed, the passenger is male, travels alone for pleasure rather than business, and is in his 30s.

No reason was given for the choice, but Sky report believes “hot” and “rich” should possibly have been terms included in the survey for a clearer picture.

The survey did come up with some more useful information, however.

It revealed flight crews’ top annoyances, the first being passengers who click their fingers for attention.

(Who does that? Clearly not single 30-something males.)

Second on the list was people who got up before the seatbelt sign was extinguished.

Also highly rated were: talking through the safety demonstration; stuffing rubbish in the seat pocket; asking for more blankets and pillows; and complaining about the temperature of the cabin.

Which pretty much adds up to all passengers being an annoyance to flight crews, generally.

Route watch

Qantas has increased capacity between Tasmania and the mainland via Melbourne. Some 1700 seats have been added with the introduction of Q400 aircraft operated by QantasLink. The seats are on services between Melbourne and Hobart, Launceston and Devonport.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/opportunity-knocks-20121207-2azst.html#ixzz2ExdK75E9

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