Hong Kong authorities have warned Boeing 787 operators of possible adverse autopilot behaviour during localiser capture at the city’s international airport, after the latest in a string of incidents involving the type. A newly-issued NOTAM instructs carriers to check a Boeing flight crew operations bulletin referring to “anomalies” in localiser capture and possible misbehaviour by the autopilot flight-director system, particularly during ILS approaches to runways 25R and 25L. It states that the issue can lead to “proximity to high grounds”, adding that – if in doubt – crews should climb back to minimum sector altitude and conduct a missed approach. The NOTAM follows an incident on 21 April involving an Air Canada 787-9, arriving from Vancouver, which had been cleared for an ILS approach to 25L. Transportation Safety Board of Canada says the crew contacted air traffic control after reaching the waypoint LOTUS, located about 15nm from the threshold, and reported being established on the ILS. After controllers advised the crew to switch to the Hong Kong tower frequency, they observed the aircraft “overshooting the localiser” of 25L and descending to 3,900ft – below the minimum sector altitude of 4,300ft. Controllers contacted the crew to warn of terrain and the pilots corrected the flightpath to re-intercept the ILS. The crew reported receiving a “false capture” of the ILS, says the safety board, which adds that the pilots had visual contact with both the terrain and the airport at the time. The safety board indicates that only four occupants were on board the 787 (C-FNOH), suggesting it was operating a special freight supply service. Boeing has been working on a resolution to the issue, which has affected several 787 flights into Hong Kong including four between July and October last year involving aircraft operated by Virgin Atlantic, Ethiopian Airlines, and Etihad Airways.

Source: Cirium

Vietnam’s domestic air travel market is taking tentative steps back to normality with the country’s airlines adding flights as the coronavirus pandemic ebbs. Vietnam Airlines has started operating 4-6 flights daily on the key Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City route, with this to grow to 11 flights daily in May. The mainline carrier’s services will be supplement by two daily services by low-cost unit Jetstar Pacific. Low-cost rival VietJet is also operating six daily flights on the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh Route. In addition, both airlines will resume limited services to other cities, such as Da Nang. The airlines announced the moves as Vietnam emerges from a countrywide lockdown owing to the Coronavirus crisis. Vietnam, which reacted early to the pandemic that originated in China, has been relatively unscathed. Government statistics suggest it suffered just 270 cases. In all, the three carriers should operate 17 flights daily on the route in May. Cirium schedules data indicates that in May 2019 the country’s carrier’s operated roughly 65 daily services on the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City route, one of the Asia-Pacific’s busiest. Highlighting coronavirus concerns, aircraft will be disinfected after every flight. Aircraft crews will have face masks, gloves, goggles and alcohol wipes. Passengers are required to wear masks throughout the flight. The country’s third carrier, Bamboo Airways, has said that it still intends to grow in 2020, but to 40 aircraft instead of the 50 planned. It has two aircraft in service and 22 in storage. The airlines have said that they will await developments regarding the eventual resumption of international flights. Three carriers have 39 aircraft in service with 167 in storage. In addition, the three airlines have firm orders for 344 aircraft.

Source: Cirium

Air Arabia and Etihad Airways now intend to finalise launch plans for their new Abu Dhabi joint-venture carrier "as market conditions improve", having just secured its air operator's certificate. The two UAE carriers originally outlined plans for Air Arabia Abu Dhabi in October 2019. It will be the emirate's fifth carrier and its first in the low-cost category. Speaking last year, before the coronavirus pandemic, Air Arabia chief executive Adel Ali had indicated that the aim was to launch the new airline in the second quarter of 2020. Air Arabia today says the joint venture will work with the national regulator to finalise the launch date "as market conditions improve and skies are open again". Scheduled passenger flights were halted on 25 March, and Etihad has since said it hopes to resume a reduced scheduled network from the start of May – travel restrictions permitting. Etihad Aviation Group chief executive Tony Douglas states: "Despite these unprecedented times, today’s announcement is a message of positivity that reflects the strength of the UAE's aviation industry. "We are pushing ahead with our plans to resume normal flying and once we have, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi will ideally serve those who wish to explore new destinations from the capital, meeting the growing demand for low-cost travel in the region and complementing Etihad's own global network." Ali adds: "Air Arabia Abu Dhabi demonstrates the commitment of the UAE to invest in the aviation sector, and we are looking forward to the launch day, which will establish Abu Dhabi as another key hub in the region for low-cost travel." Air Arabia Abu Dhabi has been assigned the reservation code 3L by IATA and will adopt the low-cost business model to which Air Arabia adheres. Sharjah-based Air Arabia already has affiliated operations in Egypt and Morocco. The launch network for Air Arabia Abu Dhabi has not yet been disclosed.

Source: Cirium