Lufthansa is calling for a temporary agreement between Germany and India after it was forced to cancel flights to the country until 20 October amid a row over access under the current travel bubble arrangements. Germany was one of several countries India negotiated a “travel bubble” agreement with during the summer to enable the restoration of limited services between the two countries as coronavirus-related travel restrictions began to be eased. But Lufthansa says it has been forced to cancel all its planned flights between Germany and India from 30 September through 20 October after its application was “unexpectedly blocked” by the Indian authorities. The carrier says it had applied for the continuation of special flights it was granted to operate until the end of September, noting that India has so far ”not accepted the invitation by the German government to discuss details regarding a temporary travel agreement between both countries”. Lufthansa had been planning to restore Chennai flights in October in addition to the Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai flights it has operated since June. In a statement India’s transport ministry says there are restrictions in place on Indian nationals wishing to travel to Germany “which was putting Indian carriers at a significant disadvantage resulting in inequitable distribution of traffic in favour of Lufthansa”. It adds: “As against Indian carriers operating three to four flights a week, Lufthansa operated 20 flights a week. In spite of this disparity, we offered to clear seven flights a week to Lufthansa, which was not accepted by them. Negotiations continue.” India is on the German foreign office list of countries with an increased risk of infection of coronavirus and visitors from which are subject to a mandatory Covid-19 test. Data shows Air India operating 22 flights during September to Frankfurt, predominantly from Delhi, while Lufthansa is operating 21 flights across the month on each of its Frankfurt routes to Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai, as well as Munich to Delhi. The two carriers are the partners in the Star Alliance. Prior to the pandemic, January schedules show Lufthansa flew daily services from Frankfurt to Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai, and from Munich to Delhi and Mumbai. Air India was serving Frankfurt daily from Delhi and four times a week from Mumbai. ”Lufthansa sincerely urges the Indian authorities to work together with the German government in order to establish a temporary travel agreement between both countries,” the German carrier says. ”Such an agreement is necessary to address the urgent need of tens of thousands of Indians and foreign nationals for travel to and from India and would also help balance the interests of both countries’ airlines.”

Source: Cirium

The US Federal Aviation Administration chief Steve Dickson arrived in Seattle on 29 September and will complete new 737 Max pilot training requirements before flying the Max on 30 September. Dickson has said he will personally pilot the aircraft prior to the FAA certificating the type. Boeing overhauled aspects of the jet’s flight control system and made other changes following two crashes that killed 346 people. “Dickson and FAA deputy administrator Dan Elwell are in Seattle today, completing the recommended new pilot training for the aircraft as part of the preparation for the flight,” says the FAA. Dickson will fly the aircraft on 30 September at 11:30 Seattle time, the agency adds. Elwell will not be aboard. He intends to brief reporters following the flight. The FAA says it will broadcast that briefing live through a feed via its website. Boeing has said it expects the FAA will certificate the Max in time to allow for deliveries to resume in the fourth quarter. Industry observers have speculated that the FAA could grant certification in October.

Source: Cirium

The US Federal Aviation Administration has certificated GE Aviation’s 105,000lb-thrust (467kN) GE9X turbofan, a milestone coming as Boeing continues working toward achieving certification for its GE9X-powered 777-9. The FAA’s airworthiness certification follows a notable GE9X development delay announced at the 2019 Paris air show and comes as Boeing works to begin 777-9 deliveries in 2022. GE completed the GE9X certification program using eight test engines that logged nearly 5,000h of operations and 8,000 engine cycles, the Ohio-based aircraft engine maker said on 28 September. “GE's focus remains working with Boeing to complete the 777X flight-test program and entry into service,” it adds. “Eight GE9X test engines and two test spares have been produced and delivered to Seattle for Boeing’s four 777X test airplanes.” The engine maker continues working to achieve FAA “extended operations” (ETOPS) approval for the GE9X – an effort expected to involve 3,000 ground-test cycles – and is also “conducting maturation testing to help GE engineers prepare to support the engine in service”, it adds. It says “several GE9X production engines have been assembled, and GE Aviation is in the process of completing factory acceptance tests”. Certification of the GE9X comes as Boeing progresses with the delayed 777-9 certification program. Boeing completed its maiden 777-9 flight on 25 January, following by first flight of the second test jet on 30 April and the maiden flight of the third test 777-9 on 3 August. The engine issue disclosed by GE in 2019 involved durability of stator vanes at the front end of the GE9X’s high-pressure compressor. The vanes sit between rotor blades and pivot on a bearing to keep the engine running at optimum performance. The durability problem was causing exhaust-gas temperatures to be outside expected ranges, resulting in premature component deterioration, GE has said. The issue forced GE to recall from Boeing four GE9X engines used for flight tests, though the engine maker quickly addressed the problem and shipped engines back to Boeing.

Source: Cirium