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870 Airbus A350F

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The final assembly rollout of the first Airbus A350F freighter, the ICAO-mandated emissions standards that take effect in 2027, flight delay compensation, a streaming data black box, IAE signals future GTF engine, and FAA flight restrictions end. Additionally, updates on Boeing’s criminal and civil cases, the USS Forrestal aircraft carrier, and listener mail.

Aviation News

First A350F airframe rolled out from final assembly line

The Airbus A350F freighter was launched in 2021 and originally scheduled to enter service in 2025, but Spirit AeroSystems’ inability to deliver enough central fuselage sections prevented that. Spirit AeroSystems has experienced quality control and production output issues, compounded by financial challenges and a pending business restructuring involving both Airbus and Boeing.​ These issues affected both the freighter and passenger A350 production rates.

The A350F is designed to meet the ICAO-mandated emissions standards taking effect in 2027. The standards also work in coordination with ICAO’s CORSIA scheme, requiring carbon offsetting for most international flights from 2027–2035, with mandatory participation for most states.​

Rendering of Airbus A350F freighter in Singapore Airlines Cargo livery. Copyright Airbus.
A350F rendering, courtesy Airbus.

Trump Admin Blocks Plan to Force Airlines to Pay Customers for Delays

Flight cancellations by US airlines result in refunds for passengers, but flight delays are not compensated. The Biden-era proposal would have required airlines to pay cash compensation to passengers when carriers are responsible for major flight delays. The FAA said the proposal would create “unnecessary regulatory burdens” and impose significant costs on airlines. The DOT said it preferred to “allow airlines to compete on the services and compensation they provide.”

Black Box in the Sky Captures Data on the Fly

Honeywell Aerospace is developing a system it calls “Black Box in the Sky” (BBITS). It replaces hardware-based recorders with streamed flight data in near real-time. BBITS streams data via a cloud-based portal, simplifying flight data collection, and is consistent with the ICAO Timely Recovery of Flight Data (TRFD) mandate. 

The ICAO Timely Recovery of Flight Data (TRFD) technical standard, part of the Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS), requires that aircraft use technologies that ensure flight data is quickly and reliably accessible for investigators after an incident, without needing to physically recover the flight data recorder (FDR), particularly in cases such as accidents over water. TRFD applies to large commercial aircraft with type certification applications submitted after January 1, 2021.

See: Honeywell to Connect ‘Black Boxes’ for Aviation Safety.

IAE partners reaffirm GTF engine push for next-generation single-aisle jets

International Aero Engines (IAE) is a joint venture formed in 1983 to develop the new V2500 engine for the 150-seat single-aisle aircraft market. The initial consortium was Pratt & Whitney (30%), Rolls-Royce (30%), Japanese Aero Engine Corporation (JAEC) (23%), MTU Aero Engines (11%), and Fiat (6%). Fiat later withdrew, and its share was taken over by Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney. Then Pratt bought out RR in 2012, making PW the majority shareholder.

The V2500 powers the Airbus A320 family and the McDonnell Douglas MD-90. More than 7,800 engines have been sold.

In a statement, (IAE international engine partnership marks key milestones and charts future propulsion path), the consortium said, “Together, the companies will evolve the required technologies for the development of the most advanced and efficient GTF engine technology for the next generation of commercial aircraft.” Aerotime comments that “IAE is signaling that an evolutionary path may offer lower risk than more disruptive architectures, such as open-rotor systems or hydrogen-powered solutions.”

Shane Eddy, president, Pratt & Whitney, said, “As founding partners on some of the most critical engine technology and support in aerospace today, we remain fully committed to these engine programs and working together on the development of future commercial aircraft applications, particularly the next generation single aisle aircraft. As we work to chart IAE’s future propulsion path, our performance on today’s GTF program will remain our highest priority as we continue to focus on delivering to our customer commitments.”

Trump administration ends flight cuts at busy airports

The FAA’s flight cuts at 40 major airports ended, and the DOT emergency directive was cancelled. DOT pointed to a decline in air traffic controller-related staffing triggers. Controllers received 70 percent of the pay they were owed during the shutdown. FAA said staffing levels have continued to snap back into place since the end of the government shutdown. The current data aligns with staffing conditions before the shutdown.”

Boeing Update

Erin Applebaum, attorney at aviation accident law firm Kriendler & Kriendler, describes the latest developments in the Boeing criminal and civil lawsuits.

First civil trial of 737 Max in Ethiopia begins as Boeing settles three more lawsuit

Boeing has accepted liability for the crash, and the jury’s task in this civil case was limited to setting damages for burial costs, lost income, and emotional suffering for the family of one victim. Boeing’s liability had already been established and is the same for all victims. On the other hand, damages are assessed on a per-victim basis, taking into account the unique circumstances of each individual.

Boeing settles with families of three 737 Max crash victims

Boeing won’t face criminal charge over 737 Max crashes that killed hundreds of people

A federal judge in Texas granted the government’s request to dismiss, and Boeing will not face a criminal conspiracy charge. Erin describes how the judge did not think dismissal was warranted, but his hands were tied as he would have had to find that the government was acting in bad faith. The families have filed an appeal under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act.

The USS Forrestal

Micah tells a story about a chance encounter and the USS Forrestal aircraft carrier. It’s called A Forrest Fire at Sea – The USS Forrestal.

Mentioned

Video: MAINE | An Aviation Short Film

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, Rob Mark, our Main(e) Man Micah, and Erin Applebaum.

Episode 192 – Mike Flies Seaplanes

Mountain Lakes Seaplanes

Mike Kincaid is a CFI/Designated Examiner at Mountain Lakes Seaplanes, based at Pappy Boyington Airport (COE) in Hayden, Idaho. He learned to fly in Alaska, where seaplanes are a must, and he had a career with the Alaska Department of Public Safety. In Alaska, Mike hiked, fished, hunted, skied, snowshoed, mushed dogs, flew bush planes, chased bad guys, protected the wildlife of Alaska, and built log cabins deep in the woods. He now shares his passion for seaplane flying with students from around the globe in his restored Piper J3 and writes when the weather grounds him.

We talk about how Mike ended up in Alaska and learned to fly, and what it’s like to fly with floats. He offers a few stories about his adventures in Alaska, some good and some very much the opposite. Mike’s books include Seaplane Rating Basics and several others based on his Alaska adventures. Mike was also involved in the movie The Frozen Ground based on a real case about a serial killer in Alaska. The movie is scheduled for release December 2012 and stars Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, and Vanessa Hudgens. Mike did the flying (some if it spectacular glacier flying) which director Scott Walker referred to as “organic flying.” He was the stunt double and pilot for John Cusak.

The week’s aviation news:

David’s aircraft of the Week: the Thwipplenut Parakeet.

In this week’s Australia Desk report: Qantas announces Jetstar Hong Kong in partnership with China Eastern….but will Hong Kong’s lawmakers allow it? Fiji’s military government causing problems for Qantas’ 46% stake in Air Pacific, RAAF ramps up plans for EA18G “Growler” conversions, Melbourne Airport announces a $A1billion upgrade.

Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

This week on Across the Pond, we get our own student pilot back: Neil Bradon. When we last talked to Neil back in Episode 168 he had just solo’d in Ireland and was planning to spend the next few years in the USA. Well, he arrived, found his school and is flying again. Find out how he’s doing.

Neil is an avid Airplane Geeks listener and supporter and has his own blog at www.getmyppl.blogspot.co.uk and lives his life on Twitter as @Pilot_ngb.

Find Pieter Johnson on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on his blog Alpha Tango Papa, and also on Facebook at XTPMedia.

Links from Listener Email:

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

Episode 187 – Ducky Does Airplanes

Stirling Corkscrew Evasion by Simon W. Atack

Guest David Allen produces the great video podcast Other People’s Airplanes, where he takes you with him on flights in, well, other people’s airplanes. He also co-hosts the popular Pilot’s Flight PodLog, a hangar flying podcast. Follow David on Twitter as @DaveFlys.

We talk about how David uses multiple GoPro cameras mounted on the airplane to capture an immersive in-cockpit video experience, and some exciting changes coming to the Pilot’s Flight PodLog. David has also seen the first rough cut of the documentary film, A Pilot’s Story and he gives us a little taste of that. This will be a DVD that we’ll all want to own when it becomes available. David tells us what it takes to do what he does, and how you can too. Also, if you stick with the show, you’ll hear where the handle Ducky came from.

The week’s aviation news:

In this week’s Australia Desk report: In this week’s Australia Desk report: Grant has been to an air show without Steve! Air New Zealand announces job cuts following low profit figures, Air New Zealand confirms the purchase of two additional 787-9s, Virgin Australia announces profit increase of 118% on same time last year, RAAF may reconsider purchase of C27J Spartans – Airbus Military keen to sell them C295s instead.

Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

This week on the Across The Pond segment, Pieter Johnson talks to Simon Atack, one of the world’s greatest aviation artists. We find out how Simon starting drawing and painting aeroplanes and what inspires him to keep producing his amazing pictures.

You can find Simon Atack on Twitter at @SimonWAtack on the Web at www.simonatack.com, and on Facebook. Pieter can be found on Twitter as @Nascothornet or XTP Media’s Facebook Page.

Mentioned in the episode:

Links from listeners:

Isaac’s Seattle links:

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

Episode 144 – Igor Sikorsky III

Sikorsky S44

Our guest this episode is Igor Sikorsky III, grandson of the man many consider to be the father of the helicopter industry. Igor flys a float plane and, along with his wife Karen, operates The Bradford Camps in the North Maine Woods. Besides providing fishing, hunting, and family vacations in a beautiful setting, Igor offers the annual, three day Sikorsky Weekend, an immersive experience in Sikorsky history.

Guest co-host Chris Manno is an airline captain who blogs at JetHead and cartoons at Flightcrew Zoo.

The week’s aviation news:

Steve Visscher and Grant McHerron from the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast have another great Australia Desk Report.

In his Across the Pond segment Pieter Johnson talks with Tim Robinson, Editor of the Royal Aeronautical Society’s magazine Aerospace International about the UK Military Helicopter fleet and how it has been affected by the spending review. We also hear what its like to participate in a live helicopter training exrecise with the Royal Marines, Royal Navy and the Army called Pastan Jaguar. Follow Tim on Twitter at @RAeSTimR, and Pieter at @Nascothornet.

Mentions:

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter and on Facebook, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.