The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) does not expect that the Boeing 737 Max aircraft will return to service with the carrier before February 2020. The Dallas-based airline has removed 737 Max 8s from its flight schedules through to 6 January. However SWAPA president Jon Weaks says in a letter to its members that "we are looking at probably a February timeframe to say the least", based on the pace Boeing is coordinating on modifications with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Numerous steps must be completed for the FAA and other regulators to deem 737 Max aircraft safe to return to service in the wake of two fatal crashes. The pilot union has applied to be included in the FAA simulator testing of the modified 737 Max. Southwest will give its pilots 30 days for training to fly the modified 737 Max aircraft before the airline reintroduces them into its schedules, Weaks says. "Our best estimate is late October for the simulator testing and early to mid-November for the certification flight or flights," Weaks adds, noting that these are "best case" scenarios. The union's expectations for a drawn-out return to service are driven in part by reports from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Joint Authorities Technical Review Panel (JATR) that criticised the FAA and Boeing for not adequately preparing pilots to fly Max jets. The FAA and regulators in other nations have not set timelines on when to return 737 Max aircraft to service, but Weaks says the two reports while not officially linked with the return to service "obviously will have some input indirectly". The FAA formed the JATR to analyse the agency's initial certification of the Max. It and the NTSB both reported that the FAA and Boeing made faulty assumptions about how pilots would respond to the Max's automated flight control software that investigators say is a key factor in the two fatal crashes.

Source: FlightGlobal

Investigators have commenced a probe into an accident at Wilson airport, in western Nairobi, involving a Silverstone Air Services Fokker 50 turboprop. The aircraft had been departing Wilson for Mombasa and onwards to Lamu at around 09:00 on 11 October. Kenya Airports Authority says the aircraft "veered off the runway" during take-off. It came to rest on rough ground, in a patch of bushes, suffering substantial damage. Two of the 55 occupants – comprising 50 passengers and five crew members – were injured, says the authority. "We are currently working with the relevant authorities to assess the situation," says Silverstone Air. Meteorological data from Wilson airport indicates good visibility and no adverse weather conditions. Silverstone Air operates a mixed fleet which also includes Bombardier turboprops, and serves several domestic routes.

Source: FlightGlobal

In the aftermath of the collapse of Slovenia's Adria Airways, the neighbouring Croatian government is seeking to avert a similar risk to flag carrier Croatia Airlines after setting out conditions for a capital injection. Prime minister Andrej Plenkovic has set out the conditions in relation to an initial Kn100 million ($14.8 million), which it describes as the "first part" of a Kn250 million advance necessary to stabilise operations at the airline. Croatia Airlines had disclosed on 19 September that the government had approved a decision on creating prerequisites for a Kn250 million recapitalisation. Plenkovic recently cautioned that the Croatian carrier needed to be "financially ready" for the next stage and that the government had embarked on a strategic partnership process for the carrier. The recapitalisation and partnership process is intended to support expansion of the airline's network, renew its fleet, and develop its technical services, he adds. He says the decision is being made to avoid disruption to Croatia Airlines' activities and the possible impact on the Croatian economy. The ministry of transport has formally requested an initial Kn100 million from the finance ministry, and will be tasked with monitoring the spending of this allocated funding. Croatia Airlines will be obliged to submit to the transport ministry a report on expenditure – which will need to include statements of purpose and copies of invoices – and this ministry will, in turn, be required to provide the finance ministry with an assessment of whether the funds have been spent appropriately. Plenkovic says the government believes Croatia "needs a national carrier" to provide connectivity and to strengthen trade and tourism. Stabilisation of the company is intended to precede an effort to provide further funding by the state as well as "other interested investors", says the government.

Source: FlightGlobal