Latest news with #AirbusA330
Chicago Tribune
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
Sheldon H. Jacobson: Commercial airplane jet engine problems are more common than many realize
Speculation abounds as to the cause of the Air India airplane crash on June 12. One explanation so far is that both engines of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner failed, a highly unlikely event. Jet engine failures have been making the news this year. A Delta Airlines Airbus A330 engine caught fire on April 21 while taxiing from its gate for departure. This followed an American Airlines Boeing 737-800 engine catching fire at Denver International Airport in March while taxiing to its gate during a precautionary diversion. In February, a United Airlines Airbus A319 experienced an engine fire out of Houston's airport, resulting in an aborted takeoff. Clearly, no airline is immune. So how frequently do engine failures occur and is this a concern? Airplane engine shutdowns are dangerous, particularly during takeoff. Commercial pilots are trained to deal with engine shutdowns while in flight. Given that commercial airplanes have two engines, losing one engine is rarely catastrophic because all such airplanes are capable of flying with one engine. A list compiled by Boeing of commercial jet airplane accidents from 1959 through 2022 illustrates how safe air travel has been for decades. Based on publicly available data, the recent spate of engine shutdowns is not that surprising. A jet engine fails around once every 375,000 hours of flight time. This means that a single jet engine operating continuously would fail approximately once every 43 years. But jet engines do not operate continuously, making this figure uninformative, perhaps even misleading. Airplanes, including their jet engines, go through rigorous regular maintenance designed to keep them at peak reliability on every flight. Moreover, each airplane is in use several times per day, so each flight is not made on a unique airplane. For example, Southwest executes over 4,000 flights per day with a fleet of just over 800 airplanes, or around five flights per day per airplane. Since not all airplanes are in service every day, each airplane in service likely executes even more flights per day. Jet engine overhauls are part of the heavy maintenance check. Given that the lifespan of an airplane is captured in flight cycles (a takeoff and landing), engines undergo a complete overhaul anywhere between 4,000 flight cycles to as many as 50,000 flight cycles, depending on the type of airplane, the age of the engines and how the airplane is used (long-haul versus short-haul flights). This means that all the maintenance attention paid to jet engines ensures that the risk of an engine failure in-flight is exceedingly low. But low is not zero, given the volume of flights. In the United States, more than 27,000 flights operate every day, with each airplane equipped with two jet engines. If each such flight lasts two hours on average, then jet engines are operating around 108,000 hours per day. This means that a jet engine should be failing approximately once every three or four days, which seems like an absurdly high rate. Or is it? The Federal Aviation Administration newsroom reports a daily list of airplane incidents. From Jan. 1 to June 17, a total of 17 incidents explicitly noted engine issues on commercial flights, or approximately 1 every 10 days, which is on the same order of magnitude as what we would expect. However, from May 1 to Dec. 31, 2024, 17 incidents noted engine issues, or around 1 every 2 weeks, which is 30% lower than the more recent rate. Though this data represents a very small sample size, and the rates are exceedingly low given the number of flights each day, it does beg the question: Are there components of commercial airplane jet engines that have changed over time causing this elevated risk? Of course, a jet engine failing does not automatically translate into an airplane accident. The risk to passengers is reduced given that each airplane has two jet engines. Since all commercial jets can fly with a single engine, the risk of losing both engines on a single flight is astronomically low. Yet such rare events do occur, as the Air India flight demonstrated. Another example occurred in January 2009, when US Airways Flight 1549 lost power to both its engines when a swarm of Canada geese overwhelmed the engines, causing damage that made them inoperable. The experience and heroics of Capt. Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger and the ground support people resulted in the airplane gliding down to a safe landing in the Hudson River, effectively saving hundreds of people's lives on the airplane — and on the ground, if the airplane had been forced down in a residential or urban area. The maintenance attention paid to commercial jet engines, and to the entire airplane for that matter, ensures that every time a passenger boards an airplane, mechanical failure and engine fires are low on the spectrum of risks. The most common cause of airplane accidents is pilot error, which is why the FAA requires pilots to undergo thorough and regular training to keep their skills at the highest level. They also mandate pilot flying hour and on-duty limitations to ensure that fatigue issues are minimized. Air traffic control also manages flights with an eye to keeping airplanes out of harm's way from each other as well as from inclement weather. Air travel continues to be one of the safest modes of transportation over extended distances. Once the root cause of the Air India crash becomes known, such information can only make air travel even safer in the future. Indeed, the biggest risk faced by travelers is not during their flight, but on their drive to and from the airport. Sheldon H. Jacobson, Ph.D., is a professor in the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He uses his expertise in risk-based analytics to address problems in public policy.
Daily Record
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
A Place in the Sun star Scarlette Douglas was meant to be on plane which crashed and killed her friend
Former I'm A Celebrity star Scarlette opened up about her fear of flying after she was supposed to be on the doomed Air France flight. A Place in the Sun host Scarlette Douglas has admitted that she "hates flying" because she was supposed to be on a doomed plane which crashed and killed more than 200 people. Despite hosting the popular travel show, Scarlette revealed that she really dislikes air travel after her friend died when Air France Flight 447 crashed into the mid-Atlantic Ocean in June 2009. All 228 people onboard, including Scarlette's friend, lost their lives in the tragedy. According to The Mirror, Scarlette was meant to be on the Airbus A330 after her friend booked both their seats. However, the presenter had a job in Hollywood so didn't travel in the end. Scarlette, who appeared on I'm A Celebrity in in 2022, made the heartbreaking admission at the Taste of London Food Festival opening party in Regent's Park this week. Speaking to a Daily Mail reporter, she said: "I lost a really good friend of mine in the Air France crash from Brazil to France. The scary thing was I was supposed to be on that flight. She had booked it." Scarlette says she "hates flying" as a result, which proved a challenge for her role on A Place in the Sun. She hosted the programme and its various spin-offs between 2015 and 2022, before her I'm a Celeb stint. The star was asked about flying in the wake of the Air India plane crash, which saw all but one of those onboard the Boeing die in a horror crash. A total of 53 Brits were killed after the plane, destined for Gatwick Airport, collided into a medical college in Ahmedabad, western India. Although the investigation into the crash continues, an aviation expert has claimed the co-pilot pulled the plane's wing flaps instead of retracting the landing gear moments after take-off. But inconsistent airspeed indications and miscommunication led to the pilots inadvertently stalling the doomed Air France plane, on which Scarlette's friend travelled in 2009. They failed to recover the plane from the stall, and the plane crashed into the mid-Atlantic Ocean. The investigation was hampered because the aircraft's flight recorders were not recovered from the ocean floor until May 2011, nearly two years after the accident. Eventually, the final - and conclusive - report by France's Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) was published on July 2012. The majority of those onboard the four-year-old Airbus were Brazilians and French citizens. However, five tragic Brits died in the atrocity, including 11-year-old boy Alexander Bjoroy, oil worker Graham Gardner and PR executive Neil Warrior.
Daily Mirror
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
I'm a Celebrity star was supposed to be on doomed plane which crashed
Scarlette Douglas, who was on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2022 and presented A Place in the Sun for seven years, spoke in the wake of the Air India plane crash Popular TV presenter Scarlette Douglas"hates flying" - because she was supposed to be on a doomed plane which crashed and killed more than 200 people. Although she hosted Channel 4 show A Place in the Sun for seven years, Scarlette dislikes air travel after her friend died when Air France Flight 447 crashed into the mid-Atlantic Ocean. All 228 people onboard, including Scarlette's mate, lost their lives in the global tragedy in June 2009. And Scarlette, who was on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2022, was meant to be on the Airbus A330. Her friend booked both their spaces but Scarlette had a job in Hollywood so didn't travel in the end. The 38-year-old presenter, from Enfield, north London, made the heartbreaking remark at the Taste of London Food Festival opening party in Regent's Park this week. Speaking to a Daily Mail reporter, she said: "I lost a really good friend of mine in the Air France crash from Brazil to France. The scary thing was I was supposed to be on that flight. She had booked it." Scarlette says she "hates flying" as a result, a challenge during her role on A Place in the Sun. She hosted the programme and its various spin-offs between 2015 and 2022, before her I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! stint. The star was asked about flying in the wake of the Air India plane crash, which saw all but one of those onboard the Boeing die in a horror crash. Some 53 Brits were killed after the plane, destined for Gatwick Airport, collided into a medical college in Ahmedabad, western India. Although the investigation into the crash continues, an aviation expert has claimed the co-pilot pulled the plane's wing flaps instead of retracting the landing gear moments after take-off. But inconsistent airspeed indications and miscommunication led to the pilots inadvertently stalling the doomed Air France plane, on which Scarlette's friend travelled in 2009. They failed to recover the plane from the stall, and the plane crashed into the mid-Atlantic Ocean. The investigation was hampered because the aircraft's flight recorders were not recovered from the ocean floor until May 2011, nearly two years after the accident. Eventually, the final - and conclusive - report by France's Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) was published on July 2012. The majority of those onboard the four-year-old Airbus were Brazilians and French citizens. However, five tragic Brits died in the atrocity, including 11-year-old boy Alexander Bjoroy, oil worker Graham Gardner and PR executive Neil Warrior.
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business Insider
A flight to nowhere U-turned over the Atlantic when the airline realized it needed maintenance
A KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Toronto took a flight to nowhere on Monday after it became apparent the aircraft was scheduled for maintenance. Passengers on Flight KL691 were scheduled to depart 11.20 a.m. local time from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on Monday, but faced a first hurdle when the Airbus A330 intended for the flight had to be withdrawn from service. A replacement plane was found, eventually taking off around two hours after its scheduled departure. The flight reached roughly halfway across the Atlantic Ocean before turning back and returning to Amsterdam, data from Flightradar24 shows. KLM confirmed to Business Insider that the U-turn was caused by the aircraft reaching a "maintenance deadline." "During flight KL691 from Amsterdam to Toronto, it was decided to return to Schiphol as a precaution after it became apparent during the flight that the replacement aircraft (PH-AKA) would reach its maintenance deadline," the airline said in a statement. "The aircraft was fully airworthy at the time of departure. To prevent the license from expiring during the flight, it was decided to return to perform the maintenance in the Netherlands. One person who said they were on the flight shared their experience on Reddit, alongside a photo of their in-flight screen. "Literally mid-flight we got the announcement that the plane they got was not supposed to fly and needed big maintenance that was due today unable to perform in Toronto, so back to Amsterdam," the user wrote. "Pilot and crew were very apologetic," they added. Aircraft have strict maintenance schedules to ensure they are checked thoroughly and remain airworthy. When aircraft experience in-flight issues or problems like the one encountered by flight KL691, it is often easier for airlines to return to their home bases rather than attempting to fix problems thousands of miles away. This often leads to so-called flights to nowhere, where airliners turn back, often thousands of miles into their journey, to return home. As well as making fixing issues easier, returning to a home base also makes it simpler to rebook passengers onto new flights, as was the case with KLM's flight to Toronto. "Although all passengers were rebooked upon arrival, we naturally find it very unfortunate for the passengers who were affected by this," KLM said in its statement.
Man of Many
12-06-2025
- Business
- Man of Many
Virgin Australia Just Opened the Door to a New Global Gateway
By Nick Hall - News Published: 12 June 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 6 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. Virgin Australia is returning to international long-haul flying , announcing its first Sydney to Doha flight on 12 June. , announcing its first Sydney to Doha flight on 12 June. The latest travel route comes via the Virgin Australia-Qatar Airways alliance that was formed in November 2024. that was formed in November 2024. The new service connects Australian travellers to more than 170 destinations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa via Qatar Airways' global network. Domestic airline Virgin Australia is officially back in the long-haul game, announcing its first Sydney to Doha flight will take off on 12 June 2025. Created in partnership with Qatar Airways, the new service is set to connect Australian travellers with over 170 global destinations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Better yet, it grants Aussies access to one of the world's most powerful aviation networks, complete with award-winning business class cabins, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi and a host of other benefits. Your next overseas getaway just copped an upgrade. Virgin Australia Sydney to Doha Flights confirmed | Image: Supplied Virgin Flights to Doha The inaugural Sydney to Doha Virgin Australia flights, announced in Sydney on Thursday, represent the airline's much-anticipated return to long-haul flying. As travel buffs may well remember, the organisation ended its long-haul offering in 2020, when a shift into voluntary administration triggered the forced sale of its wide-body Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 planes. Five years later, and with the aid of the 'World's Best Airline', Virgin Australia is finally back in the game. The inaugural Sydney to Doha flight begins on 12 June 2025, with Brisbane flights commencing on 19 June, Perth on 26 June, and Melbourne services commencing in December 2025. According to Virgin Australia's chief executive officer, Dave Emerson, the inaugural Australia to Doha flights represent a pivotal moment for the airline and Australian travellers. 'Today marks the beginning of a new era for Virgin Australia and for international travel from Australia,' Emerson said in a statement. 'Through our partnership with Qatar Airways, we're not just launching a new route — we're opening the world to millions of Australians, delivering more choice, better value and a seamless global experience. This partnership strengthens Australia's global connectivity while generating jobs, boosting tourism and injecting billions into the national economy.' Despite only kicking the international flights off this week, Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways have already outlined plans to expand the offering. By December 2025, the alliance is expected to grow the capacity of flights from Australia to Doha to 2.65 million seats a year, increasing competitiveness in the international travel market. At present, the Sydney to Doha flights will travel on Qatar Airways' Boeing 777 aircraft, which features: Qsuite Business Class – Named World's Best Business Class in Skytrax's World Airline Awards 2024, offering private suites, lie-flat beds, and the option for couples to create a double bed in the sky. – Named World's Best Business Class in Skytrax's World Airline Awards 2024, offering private suites, lie-flat beds, and the option for couples to create a double bed in the sky. Economy Cabins – Among the widest seats in the industry and renowned for in-flight service. – Among the widest seats in the industry and renowned for in-flight service. Complimentary Wi-Fi – High-speed Starlink Wi-Fi is available onboard for all passengers throughout the entire journey. Virgin Australia Sydney to Doha Flights confirmed | Image: Supplied Virgin Australia-Qatar Airways Alliance The new Virgin Australia international route marks the first official long-haul venture between the airline and partner Qatar Airways, following the announcement of a cooperative arrangement in November 2024. The strategic partnership saw Qatar Airways Group take a minority 25 per cent investment in Virgin Australia, subject to approval by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB), both of which later granted authorisation. Importantly, the Virgin Australia–Qatar Airways alliance is set to deliver more choices to Australian consumers when it comes to international travel. According to the two organisations, the alliance unlocks connectivity to six continents, alongside 'elevated service offerings, exceptional inflight amenities and loyalty benefits'. 'We are delighted to welcome Virgin Australia's inaugural Sydney to Doha service to our award-winning Hamad International Airport as the first of four exciting new routes scheduled for 2025,' Qatar Airways Group chief executive officer Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said. 'This milestone moment in the partnership between our two airlines is the culmination of many months of meticulous planning and tireless dedication of our respective teams, as well as a testament to our shared ambition to deliver increased competition, world-class service and value to Australian passengers.' Virgin Australia Sydney to Doha Flights confirmed | Image: Supplied Do You Earn Points on Virgin Australia-Qatar Airways Flights? There is good news for Australian travellers looking to take advantage of the new Virgin Australia international flight routes. Not only will Velocity Frequent Flyer Members receive status credits and points, but the airline has also confirmed limited-time celebration fares to mark the launch. Eligible fares for flights to Doha and selected beyond destinations in Europe have been discounted by up to 15 per cent for selected travel dates between 16 October 2025 and 31 March 2026. Fares on sale from 12:01am AEST 10 June 2025 to 11:59pm AEST 30 June 2025, unless sold out prior. Outside of the launch sale, Velocity Frequent Flyer Members will also receive the following benefits: 50 per cent bonus Status Credits on bookings made between 12 June and 30 June 2025 for travel between 1 October 2025 and 27 May 2026 on an eligible Virgin Australia flight between Australia and Doha (VA1-29). Status Credits earned on the new services (VA1-29) will contribute to the new requirement from October 2025 onwards, to earn at least 50 per cent of Status Credits on Virgin Australia flights to upgrade or maintain Status. Points benefits for Silver, Gold and Platinum members including 50 per cent bonus Points for Silver members, 75 per cent bonus Points for Gold members and 100 per cent for Platinum members on eligible flights. From 1 October 2025, Velocity will be increasing the number of Status Credits that members will earn on the new Virgin Australia services between Australia and Doha (VA1-29) and Qatar Airways-marketed and/or operated flights between Australia and Doha. This ensures that from 1 October 2025, the same Status Credit earn rate applies on all Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways marketed and/or operated services on eligible routes. Virgin Australia Sydney to Doha Flights confirmed | Image: Supplied Economic Impact According to Virgin Australia, the new services are expected to generate more than AUD$3 billion in economic activity within Australia over the next five years. This will reportedly come via an anticipated surge in international visitors and increased tourism spending. Additionally, the increase in routes is expected to generate new jobs in aviation, hospitality, and tourism-related sectors across the country. The airline suggests that it may provide secondment opportunities for Pilots and Cabin Crew to 'broaden their skills and gain international flying experience' within Qatar Airways.
