Australian carrier Regional Express (Rex) has fired back at what it called “anonymous malicious attacks” on its safety record. In a tersely-worded statement, the airline has defended its safety record, saying that it is “second to none”.
Rex was responding to Australian media reports which alleged that the airline had been lax in safety. The Sunday Telegraph published a report submitted to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in Australia, alleging that Rex pressured its maintenance crew not to report defects. The Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers’ Association, which was behind the report, had urged the authorities to revoke the airline’s licence to maintain its own planes, effectively grounding its entire fleet. A Rex engineer was allegedly disciplined after he spotted corrosion on a propeller shaft, and was told that he was not meant to inspect that part of the aircraft. Rex’s chief operating officer Neville Howell pointed the blame on CASA, charging that it was the authority which leaked the information. “Realising that these baseless accusations are not getting any traction, some are now taking the despicable and cowardly approach of launching anonymous malicious attacks on Rex in the press,” Howell says.

Source: FlightGlobal

South African Airways is to modernise its fleet with a pair of Airbus A350-900s, which will be introduced in the second half of this year. The airline has given few details about the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-powered twinjets but says they will be leased, and configured with lie-flat beds in the business cabin as well as 246 economy seats – with extra legroom in the first six rows.

SAA intends to use the aircraft to replace A340-600s on its route from Johannesburg to New York JFK. The modernisation is an "important indication of our commitment to the implementation of our turnaround strategy", says a spokesman for the carrier. He says the aircraft will assist with the airline's efforts to achieve financial stability in the "shortest time possible", by offering improved operating costs and route prospects, as well as enhancing the travel experience for passengers. SAA will lease the two aircraft for up to three years. It has declined to identify the leasing source.

Source: FlightGlobal

Investigators searching snow-covered areas of Greenland for crucial engine parts from an Air France Airbus A380 have managed to recover some of the missing components. The A380 suffered a serious failure to its outboard starboard Engine Alliance GP7200 while en route to Los Angeles on 30 September 2017. It lost its entire fan disc during the incident and the jet diverted to Goose Bay in Canada. But the investigation into the event has stalled as a result of the failure to locate key parts of the powerplant, which have been subjected to seasonal snowfall and buried. "One of the sought-after engine parts was found," it says, adding that it will be sent to the USA to be examined by manufacturer Engine Alliance under BEA supervision.

Source: FlightGlobal