Indonesian investigators say a chronically faulty component and the crew's attempts to fix the problem contributed to the crash of an AirAsia passenger aircraft last year, killing all 162 aboard. The A320 aircraft crashed into the Java Sea less than halfway into a two-hour flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore in December 2014. The report noted that the aircraft's flight control computer had a cracked solder joint that malfunctioned repeatedly, including four times during … [Read more...] about Mechanical, human factors behind AirAsia QZ8501 crash
Regulators
ICAO’s dangerous goods panel rejects battery ban 11-7
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) panel on dangerous goods voted 11-7 Wednesday against a ban on rechargeable battery shipments on passenger aircraft, according to a report by The Assocated Press (AP). The panel's decision is a recommendation to ICAO's air navigation bureau (ANB), whose recommendations are generally upheld by the ANB. The United States, Russia, Brazil, China and Spain, as well as organisations representing airline pilots and aircraft manufacturers, voted in … [Read more...] about ICAO’s dangerous goods panel rejects battery ban 11-7
Hong Kong warns “extra vigilance” over lithium batteries
Following four recent incidents of dangerous goods occurrences involving undeclared and/or mis-declared lithium batteries in air cargo that were exported from Hong Kong, the Special Administrative Region’s Civil Aviation Department (CAD) recently told forwarders, handlers and airlines to exercise "extra vigilance”. Among the four cases, three of them involved lithium batteries which were found emitting smoke during cargo disassembling in the warehouse of the destination or transit stop. In … [Read more...] about Hong Kong warns “extra vigilance” over lithium batteries
Hong Kong warns "extra vigilance" over lithium batteries
Following four recent incidents of dangerous goods occurrences involving undeclared and/or mis-declared lithium batteries in air cargo that were exported from Hong Kong, the Special Administrative Region’s Civil Aviation Department (CAD) recently told forwarders, handlers and airlines to exercise "extra vigilance”. Among the four cases, three of them involved lithium batteries which were found emitting smoke during cargo disassembling in the warehouse of the destination or transit stop. In each … [Read more...] about Hong Kong warns "extra vigilance" over lithium batteries
No EU antitrust objections to €4.4 billion FedEx, TNT merger
European Union antitrust regulators have found no objections to FedEx's €4.4 billion (US$5 billion) acquisition of TNT Express, the two companies said on Tuesday. "FedEx and TNT have been informed by the European Commission that no Statement of Objections will be issued. FedEx and TNT continue to expect that the Offer will close in the first half of calendar year 2016,” the companies said in a joint statement. With a European market share of 17 per cent, the combined company would be Europe's … [Read more...] about No EU antitrust objections to €4.4 billion FedEx, TNT merger
New US task force aimed at mandatory drone registration
The US Department of Transportation took the first step this week towards mandatory drone registration, by announcing formation of a task force to create a registration process. Registration could begin as soon as the holiday season, DOT officials said Monday at a Washington news conference. The idea is to help build a culture of accountability and responsibility among drone operators, DOT secretary Anthony Foxx, said In a statement. Federal Aviation Administration chief Michael Huerta put it … [Read more...] about New US task force aimed at mandatory drone registration