AeroTime
• Stephen Pope
The FAA has ordered operators to replace turbine seals in certain Airbus A380 engines after an uncontained engine failure led an aircraft to abort its takeoff. The directive targets specific engines; the available report does not identify affected operators, the number of engines involved or a compliance deadline.
Aviation Safety & Regulation
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The FAA has ordered operators to replace turbine seals in certain Airbus A380 engines after an uncontained engine failure led an aircraft to abort its takeoff. The directive targets specific engines; the available report does not identify affected operators, the number of engines involved or a compliance deadline.
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Investigators have disclosed that a flap separated during circuit flying before the fatal crash of an Elixir Aircraft single-engined trainer in Rochefort, France. The cause of the separation is not yet understood, and the entire fleet remains grounded as a precaution while the investigation continues.
Mexico’s Federal Civil Aviation Agency suspended the Guadalajara-based air ambulance operator’s maintenance workshop and temporarily grounded two of its aircraft after a routine inspection. The action places both the workshop’s approval and the aircraft’s return to service under regulatory scrutiny.
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A U.S. Army investigation into the collision of an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport cites systemic breakdowns, including two failed radio transmissions that left the helicopter crew without critical air traffic control information. The report also identifies poor visibility and recommends sweeping changes.
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Airline executives say safety standards remain high after a flydubai co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with an axe last week in an attempt to crash the aircraft. They acknowledged, however, that safeguards cannot fully prevent a rogue pilot from acting against the crew or aircraft.
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An AH Airways EMB-120 carrying 30 people struck a zebra while rotating from a Serengeti National Park airstrip on Oct. 4. The aircraft continued to Kilimanjaro International Airport, where it made a belly landing after the landing gear collapsed; no injuries were reported.
Russia’s aviation regulator has ordered inspections of engines on some Tu-214 aircraft. The available report does not identify the affected engines, the number of aircraft involved, the inspection scope or any operational restrictions.
The Flydubai security incident has brought renewed attention to deliberate pilot crashes, a persistent challenge for airline safety. The issue is sharpening industry focus on cockpit technology and pilot mental health, two areas central to addressing threats posed from within the flight deck.
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