EASA to 'increase scrutiny' of 777X post-Max
April 26, 2021
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency plans to "increase its scrutiny" of the in-development Boeing 777X programme "as part of our lessons learned from the 737 Max". The agency says that while it would not comment in detail on the scope of its activities, "we will indeed be conducting a more in-depth review of the aircraft critical changes", adding: "We will be following a thorough process to ensure the safety of the aircraft". It stresses that its scrutiny of the 777X will fully respect the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement, and notes that negotiations with the US Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing are already under way. EASA was responding to questions on comments by Emirates Airline president Tim Clark, who said that the 777X programme was "in a state of disarray", with deliveries expected to be several years late and the carrier still unaware of what the aircraft's exact capabilities would be. Clark attributed this to the desire of safety bodies around the world to have some oversight of the programme for themselves, adding cost and complexity to the development process. "The various regulators across the planet will want to look at the airplane and how its built to make sure it passes muster as far as they're concerned," he said.
LHT becomes launch customer of IATA spares e-auction platform
April 26, 2021
Lufthansa Technik will put up a large amount of surplus aircraft parts for auction using a new e-auction platform hosted by IATA. The German MRO provider describes IATA's "MRO SmartHub" as a "neutral web-based platform" to buy and sell aircraft parts, and says that it will be the service's launch customer. In the global auction starting on 26 April – on the eve of the MRO Americas 2021 convention – LHT will offer a variety of aircraft parts that have been part of the company’s surplus inventory for less than three years and are made available in sub-packages to fit requirements of specific fleet operators or MRO providers. Commercial assets include material for Airbus A320, A330, A340, A380, Boeing 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, 787 and MD-11, Bombardier CRJ, Embraer ERJ and De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 aircraft. LHT says that the material will come with dual or triple release certification with one-year warranty. Current LHT customers will be automatically accredited for the bidding process after registering on the platform, the MRO provider notes. Head of commercial for aircraft component services Georg Fanta states that the components available for auction come from an "extensive surplus portfolio that we are permanently adjusting to the changing demand of our valued customers from all over the world". In April 2020, LHT disclosed the sale of rotable component stock, including 9,000 line-replaceable items, to US spare-parts specialist AvAir.
Mango could be temporarily mothballed due to lack of funds
April 23, 2021
Low-cost airline Mango may suspend operations temporarily next month. In an internal mail leaked to The Citizen, the airline’s management has advised its staff similarly. Mango’s last flights until reignition will occur on 30 April. The airline has been waiting for some time for an injection of funding that, according to spokesperson Benediction Zabane, has not materialised yet. In the South African Airways (SAA) business rescue plan, mention is made of a R 1 billion capital requirement by the national carrier’s subsidiary. SAA was not available for comment but Richard Mantu of the Department of Public Enterprises said that “the department is in discussions with the board of Mango and interim board at SAA about the repositioning of the subsidiaries in light of the delayed funding”. A recent International Air Transport Association (IATA) report noted that airlines worldwide continue to bleed cash and that the hoped recovery has been slower than expected.