Airbus is developing a fix to an A321neo pitch-up issue, featuring a flight-control system update, which it expects will become available in the third quarter of 2020. The anomaly is the subject of a European Union Aviation Safety Agency directive requiring operators to introduce temporary revisions to the flight manual. EASA issued the directive following analysis of behaviour by the A321neo's elevator and aileron computer. FlightGlobal has learned that issue – which can result in excessive pitch-up – only affects the A321neo in particular remote conditions when combined with specific commanded manoeuvres. Four conditions are required. These comprise a low approach altitude, below 100ft, in a specific landing condition, with the aircraft characterised by a particularly aft centre-of-gravity, and the crew engaged in performing a dynamic manoeuvre – such as a go-around. Under these conditions the aircraft could enter a pitch-up situation which EASA has described as "excessive". FlightGlobal understands the crew would be able to react to the pitch-up to bring the aircraft immediately under safe control, and that there would be no automatic take-over of manual crew input by automatic aircraft systems.

Source: FlightGlobal

Oneworld carrier British Airways has suspended flights to the Egyptian capital Cairo for a week, to review security. The airline says its services to Cairo will be halted for seven days. BA operates a daily flight from London Heathrow using Boeing 787s. "We constantly review our security arrangements at all our airports around the world," the airline says. It states that the suspension is a "precaution to allow for further assessment". "The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our priority, and we would never operate an aircraft unless it was safe to do so," the carrier adds. Its formal advice to travellers says most visits to Egypt are trouble-free, but that there is a risk of terrorist attacks which, it says, could occur across the country.

Source: FlightGlobal

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has temporarily suspended the operations of GippsAero GA8 aircraft.

This follows a fatal GA8 aircraft accident on 14 July 2019 in Sweden during a skydiving flight.

The accident happened near Umeå in northern Sweden. None of the nine people on board the aircraft survived the accident.

The GA8 is manufactured in Australia by GippsAero, which is based in the Latrobe Valley.

CASA has temporarily suspended GA8 operations as a precautionary step pending the outcome of further investigation by Swedish and European authorities.

The temporary suspension will be for up to 15 days from midnight 20 July to midnight 03 August 2019 and affects all GA8 aircraft operating in Australia and all Australian registered GA8 aircraft operating overseas.

CASA has written to all Australian operators of GA8 aircraft advising them of the temporary suspension and reminding them of their obligation to comply with all applicable GA8 Airworthiness Directives issued by CASA.

CASA has also written to all National Aviation Authorities who have GA8 aircraft operating in their jurisdiction advising them that CASA has imposed a 15-day temporary operating suspension on these aircraft.

CASA has been working closely with the Swedish and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

In response to CASA temporarily suspending GA8 operations in Australia, EASA has issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive to European GA8 aircraft owners and operators to not operate the aeroplane except for ferry flights.

CASA has sent an airworthiness engineer to Sweden to observe the accident investigation and collect relevant safety information.

There are 63 GA8 aircraft registered in Australia out of a world-wide fleet of 228. The GA8 is a single engine high wing aeroplane with fixed tricycle landing gear.

In Australia the GA8 is used in a range of operations including charter, aerial work and parachuting.

GippsAero hold a production certificate issued by CASA to manufacture the GA8 and is subject to regular surveillance and safety checks by CASA.

The aircraft type was certified in 2000 by CASA for normal operations, which includes skydiving.

Source: CASA