French carrier Aigle Azur has filed for bankruptcy, but will continue to operate flights during a "period of observation". The Paris Orly-based airline says it was placed in receivership on 2 September, under a judicial administrator, and that court bankruptcy proceedings having been initiated. Previously, on 27 August, the carrier had been put under the control of a temporary administrator at the request of the carrier's president, Frantz Yvelin. That came after what the company describes as a "totally ugly" situation in which a minority shareholder attempted to take control of the business. Several media outlets have reported that French businessman Gerard Houa – who controls around 20% of Aigle Azur via Luxembourg-based entity Lu Azur – tried to install himself at the airline's helm. Aigle Azur says it has filed a complaint over this move, which was rejected by 80% of shareholders. China's HNA Group is the airline's largest shareholder with a 48% stake, while airline investor David Neeleman owns 32%. Flights by Aigle Azur have been "assured" during a "period of observation", the airline says.

Source: FlightGlobal

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