Aviation Daily Roundup: March 23, 2022

March 24, 2022

CAAC Confirms Recovery Of China Eastern MU5735 Recorder

Credit: Xinhua News Agency



Rescue personnel have recovered one of two in-flight recorders belonging to the ill-fated China Eastern flight MU5735, two days after the Boeing 737-800 crashed into mountains in southern China. Speaking at a March 23 press conference, officials from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said they were not able to confirm if the equipment found was the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) or the flight data recorder (FDR), due to the extent of the damage. Video released shows a cylindrical unit. State-backed Xinhua News Agency reported it was the CVR.




Six Nigerian Airlines Form New ‘Spring Alliance’

Credit: Joe Pries



Nigerian airlines Aero Contractors, Air Peace, Arik Air, Azman Air, Max Air and United Nigeria Airlines have joined forces to create the “Spring Alliance.” The six carriers will use the alliance to give one another operational support in the event of disruption. “The flying public will reap the benefit,” Air Peace chairman and Airline Operators of Nigeria VP Allen Onyema said.




Air New Zealand Unveils Ultra-Long-Haul New York Route

Credit: Rob Finlayson



Air New Zealand has confirmed the launch of its longest-ever scheduled route, a direct flight from Auckland to New York. The carrier’s service to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport is due to start on Sept. 17. The flight will initially be three times per week, and it will be operated by Boeing 787-9s. Flight duration is expected to be just over 16 hr. northbound and 17.5 hr. southbound on the 14,200 km (8,800 mi.) route.




U.S. Airline Unions Take Aim At Wizz Air Permit Application

Credit: Wizz Air



A handful of unions representing tens of thousands of U.S.-based aviation workers called on the U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) to deny Wizz Air’s request for a foreign air carrier permit over allegations of an “anti-union” corporate culture. Hungary-based Wizz Air applied on Jan. 18 for permission from the DOT to operate cargo and charter flights between Europe and the U.S., with initial plans to operate a single Airbus A330 freighter during periods when it is not being deployed on behalf of contracts operated by the Hungarian government.




European Industry Mulls Hydrogen Systems

Credit: Airbus



European OEMs and equipment suppliers are studying various configurations for the use of hydrogen on board, before embarking on hydrogen propulsion and ultra-efficient aircraft programs in the 2027-2029 time frame. In an appearance at the Clean Aviation forum here, Airbus emphasized it is studying several propulsion architectures, as the airframer wants to leave no stone unturned before making a choice for a hydrogen-powered aircraft entering into service in 2035. The event kicked off the Clean Aviation private-public partnership, a follow-on to the Clean Sky 2 project at EU level.




Daily Memo: Real-Time Flight Data Streaming’s Unfulfilled Potential

Credit: Boeing



Aircraft operators and manufacturers tend to funnel their investments into two general categories: things that will make them more money than they spend, and things they are required to do because of regulatory mandates. Collecting and analyzing operational flight data fits broadly into both categories—particularly for carriers. Technological improvements in how data is sent from the air to the ground and what type of information can flow are prompting operators to invest more in real-time data systems.




Material Defect Prompts PW1100G-JM Inspection Mandate

Credit: Airbus / C. Brinkmann



A material defect affecting PW1100G-JM-series high pressure turbine disks linked to a March 2020 uncontained engine failure may be more widespread than originally believed, prompting the FAA to propose mandating inspections recommended by Pratt & Whitney. The latest batch of affected high pressure turbine (HPT) 1st and 2nd stage disks may be installed on as many as 189 engines on Airbus A320neo-family aircraft in the U.S.-registered fleet, an FAA draft directive set for publication March 24 shows.




Aegean Airlines Moves Into The Black Despite Market Volatility

Credit: Rob Finlayson



Flexibility and adaptability to volatile market conditions “will continue to be very critical,” the CEO of Aegean Airlines said March 23. Presenting the annual results for Greece’s largest airline, Dimitris Gerogiannis said the Group had “accelerated its investment program in new technology aircraft, which will reduce the impact of the increase of fuel prices.” The airline was also planning expansion of its route map, new services and products, as well as the gradual restoration of capacity to reach pre-pandemic levels for the 2022 summer season.




Air Belgium Grows Fleet, Expands Cargo, Passenger Services

Credit: Rob Finlayson



Air Belgium will further expand its fleet over the course of 2022, with increasing emphasis on cargo. The Charleroi-based operator has, as predicted by Aviation Week Intelligence Network in December 2021, acquired a pair of Boeing 747-8F freighters to add to its previous all-Airbus fleet of passenger and cargo aircraft. The airline, headed by TNT Airways veteran Niky Terzakis, launched in summer 2018 and initially specialized in long-haul leisure services, notably to the French Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe using a small batch of Airbus A340-300s.




Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde GebreMariam Steps Down

Credit: Kurt Hofmann



Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde GebreMariam has been granted an early retirement and is stepping down from leadership of the airline after 11 years in the position. GebreMariam has been under medical treatment in the U.S. for the past six months. Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest airline, said in a March 23 statement that GebreMariam needs to focus on his personal health issues and will be unable to continue leading the airline as a Group CEO.




AirBaltic Eyes Temporary Airbus A220 ACMI Business

Credit: Airbus / Jean Vincent Reymondon



Latvian flag-carrier airBaltic says it is fielding requests for up to 15 ACMI contracts from all over the world, citing its Airbus A220-300s as the right size aircraft for network rebuilding. “We are the largest A220-300 operator worldwide, and since May 2020, we operate an all A220-300 fleet,” CEO Martin Gauss told Aviation Daily. But the carrier is deploying only 60% of its capacity, which it attributes to the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.




Bamboo Airways Inaugurates Second European Route

Credit: Bamboo Airways



Bamboo Airways has opened a new nonstop route connecting Vietnam and the UK as the carrier continues to advance its long-haul expansion plans. Flights between Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) and London Heathrow (LHR) will initially operate twice a week using Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The airline said frequencies would increase in line with demand.




Oneworld Sees Potential For Up To Eight ‘Connect’ Members

Credit: Aviation Week Network



Oneworld CEO Rob Gurney sees potential to grow Oneworld Connect—its lighter membership option—from one to eight members after formally welcoming Royal Air Maroc (RAM) as the alliance’s first full member in Africa. RAM announced plans to join Oneworld in December 2018 and became a full member in April 2020. Oneworld membership normally takes 18 months, but the Moroccan carrier completed its preparations in just 15 months. However, RAM’s joining celebrations were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.




CAAC confirms recovery of China Eastern MU5735 recorder, Six Nigerian Airlines form new ‘Spring Alliance’ and more. Take a look at the daily roundup of air transport news.

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