US investigators have determined that a McDonnell-Douglas DC-9 freighter depressurised after sustaining serious damage to a bulkhead from unsecured cargo. The Everts Air Alaska aircraft (N935CE) had departed the Alaskan airport of Bethel on 23 December 2017. US National Transportation Safety Board investigators found that a pallet jack – a small trolley designed to lift and move pallets – had moved during flight, striking the aft pressure bulkhead. The jack had come loose because a tie-down fastener had failed, says the NTSB in conclusions released on 23 August. It states that the aircraft suffered "substantial" damage during the event, and depressurised, but that it managed to return safely to Bethel. "Inspection revealed a tie-down fastener for the pallet jack had pulled out," the NTSB adds. None of the three occupants – two pilots and a cargo handler – were injured. While the NTSB does not give the year of manufacture for the jet, Cirium fleets data shows the DC-9-30 was originally delivered to Scandinavia's SAS in 1969 and subsequently operated for carriers including ABX Air.

Source: FlightGlobal

Russian authorities have indicated interest in introducing remote-tower concepts similar to those being deployed at a number of European airports. Federal air transport regulator Rosaviatsia has been hosting a discussion on the subject in co-operation with the ministry of transport, the state air traffic management corporation, and the state civil aviation research institute. Rosaviatsia says the concepts could be used to "improve quality and effectiveness" of air navigation services at Russian airports with low levels of flight activity. Russian industries have developed the necessary remote video surveillance technology, it adds, but a pilot project needs to be undertaken at a suitable airport in order to conduct a "practical check" of the capabilities and carry out a risk assessment. The discussion, held during the MAKS Moscow air show, outlined foreign experience in remote-tower implementation as well as the critical problems associated with data transmission between the tower and the control centre, with contributions from Russian specialist firms VNIIRA and MANS. Rosaviatsia also points out that the introduction of remote towers would need amendments to the regulatory framework, to address the issue of legal oversight.

Source: FlightGlobal

London's Metropolitan Police has vowed to "do everything in its power to prevent and stop" any attempt to disrupt operations at Heathrow, after reports that climate-change activists planned to fly drones within the UK airport's restricted airspace on 13 September. The threat came from a group named Heathrow Pause, a faction within the Extinction Rebellion movement. Its attempt to ground flights was envisioned to be part of a wider protest at Heathrow. Responding, the Met Police notes that Heathrow is "part of our national infrastructure" and states: "We will not allow the illegal activity of protesters to cause misery to thousands of air travellers. The dangers of flying drones in airspace used by airliners carrying passengers are stark and the consequences potentially very severe." Heathrow Airport says that while it agrees on the need to act on climate change, this is a global challenge that requires constructive engagement and action. "Committing criminal offences and disrupting passengers is counterproductive," it states. "Flying any form of drone near Heathrow is illegal and any persons found doing so will be subject to the full force of the law. We are working closely with the Met Police and will use our own drone-detection capability to mitigate the operational impact of any illegal use of drones near the airport."

Source: FlightGlobal