Page 6 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2014 Online Magazine

NEWS

Industry News and Updates

Subcontinent strikes back
Following the expulsion of an Indian
diplomat from New York for visa and pay
Open and shut case issues, the Indian government has rattled
the cage further with the Federal Aviation
The faulty A380 door that caused a depressurisation and subsequent unplanned Administration (FAA). If the FAA does
landing by an SIA flight to Singapore will be inspected at Baku Heydar Aliyev downgrade India’s air safety rankings (as
International Airport, Azerbaijan, before being either repaired or replaced. One was mooted late last year) murmurings
passenger told AAA that “..it would appear that there was an issue upon take off from within the government indicate they
at Heathrow Airport. Passengers sitting near the door on the main deck heard a will cancel or delay delivery of the next batch
whooshing sound and the noise got progressively worse when the plane reached of 787 Dreamliners for Air India. The FAA
37000 feet,” she said. The pilot announced there was a problem after the oxygen highlighted 33 issues that needed attention
masks deployed, which reportedly caused some screams and crying, but the plane for the nation’s full safety conformance,
landed safely. The plane – with or without a new door – will be flown home to SIA’s which could lead to a downgrade of national
MRO base in Singapore. safety rankings from Cat1 to Cat2 in areas
such as pilot training, record-keeping, and
inspection procedures. If this happens:
“.. there will be an equal and befitting
response, which will include a one-year
ban on delivery of any new Dreamliners
for Air India,” warned an unnamed official
in one recent report in Mint. Safety is of
prime concern, obviously.

Bombardier cuts

Reports from the would-be first-
league manufacturer of regional jets,
Bombardier, indicate its strategy is
Qantas cuts the only realistic answer was to close not going to plan. The makers of the
new C-Series narrow-body are to lay
Australia’s flag carrier Qantas has Avalon and schedule MRO for its fleet off over 1,500 workers after lacklustre
confirmed closure of its Avalon heavy of ageing 747s at another facility. “We sales of the jets - under 200 to date -
MRO centre in Victoria, Australia. The have invested AU$30 million this year helped push back the launch date of
predominantly 747-equipped facility will to upgrade our maintenance facilities the new aircraft. “[The cuts are] all
close doors in March, with the potential in Brisbane and we will continue to do to do with the goal of assuring our
loss of up to 300 jobs across both staff heavy maintenance on more than 110 long-term success,” one Bombardier
and contract worker positions. Lyell aircraft in this facility, including our fleet spokesperson told the BBC “It’s .. part
Strambi, Qantas Domestic CEO said of Boeing 737s, Boeing 767s and Airbus of the overall focus we’re putting on
that “.. after a comprehensive review A330s. This decision in no way reflects managing our costs prudently,” she
it was clear … there was no workable on our employees at Avalon, it simply added.The layoffs, although major, only
solution to continue operating the reflects the structural changes to our take 6% out of the company’s aerospace
sub-scale maintenance facility.” He fleet that means long periods of no heavy division, which is also bolstered by rail
added that after reviewing all options, maintenance work,” added Strambi. and mass transit divisions.

6 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM