The Federal Aviation Administration his finalised a rule requiring that operators inspect Boeing 737 Max wiring shields for issues that could, in extreme circumstances, cause dual-engine failures or erroneous engine data. The rule, made public 24 June, does not relate to the flight control system implicated as a factor contributing to two 737 Max crashes. The FAA’s airworthiness directive (AD) requires that 737 Max 8s and Max 9s be inspected for wiring shield issues prior to flight. Both models remain grounded following the crashes, and Boeing predicts regulators will clear the jet in time to allow deliveries to resume in the third quarter. Boeing itself addressed the wire-shield issue with a service bulletin released in December 2019. The FAA’s order follows reports that “exterior fairing panels on the top of the engine nacelle and strut… may not have the quality of electrical bonding necessary to ensure adequate shielding”. Specifically, operators must inspect thumbnail and mid-strut fairing panels for issues with an aluminium foil that shields aircraft wiring “from the electromagnetic effects of high-intensity radiated fields”, according to FAA documents. Such fields are caused by “electromagnetic energy from radar, radio, television and other ground-based, shipborne or airborne radio frequency transmitters”, according to earlier FAA materials. Those signals can affect modern aircraft that rely heavily on electric systems. In the case of the 737 Max, “cuts” in the aluminium foil can cause electromagnetic energy to affecting wiring in ways that “could potentially lead to a dual-engine power loss event and/or display of hazardously misleading primary propulsion parameters”, the AD says. Asked to comment, Boeing says it “recommended this action in December 2019 and has been working closely with our customers to ensure the 737 Max’s engine nacelles are fully protected from electrical energy. We support the FAA’s airworthiness directive, which makes our recommended action mandatory”. The FAA’s original proposed rule, released in February, also said the aluminium cuts made 737 Max more susceptible to risks caused by lightning strikes. But the agency removed mention of lightning from the final rule after Boeing objected. The airframer said that, even with cuts in the aluminium, the Max’s systems have sufficient margins to protect against lightning strikes. Boeing also asked the FAA to require that the inspections be completed before next “revenue” flight, rather than before non-revenue flights. The FAA declined that request. Boeing has told the FAA it will cover the cost of the work under 737 Max warranties.

Source: Cirium

Emirates will begin reactivating its Airbus A380 fleet in mid-July with the reintroduction of the superjumbo on flights to Europe. The Dubai carrier said in a tweet on 23 June: “The iconic Emirates Airbus A380 will return to the skies with flights to London Heathrow and Paris starting from 15 July.” The airline’s fleet of 115 A380s has been parked since late March in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. Emirates operates the aircraft in various seating configurations, one of which is the densest A380 layout in service at 615 seats. The plan to reintroduce A380 services follows the announcement of new protocols which will enable Dubai to be open to business and leisure visitors from 7 July. These protocols for travel into and out of Dubai airports were announced under the directives of the vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Emirates Airline president Tim Clark gave the double-decker his backing in a webinar interview earlier this month, amid speculation that the A380 would be a major victim of the crisis. He said it “would be folly to exclude large widebodied aircraft in the future. The A380 has proven to be a hugely successful aircraft and if fuel prices were forever to stay at today’s levels, this aircraft is hugely potent.”

Source: Cirium

Alaska Airlines will add Embraer 175 regional jets to its fleet flying within the state of Alaska, bringing in the smaller-gauge aircraft on routes that would not be profitable using larger jets. The Brazilian-made aircraft, operated by Alaska’s regional partner Horizon Air, will begin service in Alaska in October 2020. The airline says the smaller jet will allow it to serve more destinations more often, and open further opportunities. “This jet gives us the flexibility to increase daily frequency between Anchorage and Fairbanks up to seven times a day, and to provide year-round service to King Salmon and Dillingham,” Alaska’s regional vice-president Marilyn Romano says. “In time, the new mix of aircraft will unlock other markets in the state for future service.” these routes had previously been flown with larger Boeing 737's, but that has become a costly proposition after the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent travel restrictions caused a sharp decline in passenger demand since the beginning of the year, motivating the airline to swap out the 737's for smaller jets. The change also allows Alaska to add frequencies in the void created on some routes when regional carrier Ravn Air ceased operations on 5 April. The E175's are configured with 12 first-class seats, 12 premium-economy seats and 52 economy seats, Alaska says. Air travel is the most reliable and regular form of transportation for both passengers and cargo to remote communities across the state, which is the USA’s largest by area and closest to the Arctic Circle. Ground- and sea-based transportation networks are often only able to operate at certain times of the year or in specific weather conditions. In May, Alaska Air Group – the parent company of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air - reported a $321 million operating loss during the first quarter, down from a $25 million operating profit in the same period a year earlier. The airline has said it hopes to reduce monthly cash burn to $200 million by June, down from $400 million in March. It collected $992 million in payroll support as part of the CARES Act, passed by the US Congress in March, designed to support airlines and prevent redundancies as they manage through the global crisis.

Source: Cirium