Locked outside the cockpit

The situation passed last September during a Transavia commercial flight connecting Hurghada (Egypt) to Amsterdam (Netherlands). During flight the Captain felt the call of Mother Nature and went out of the cockpit to relief the pressure and right after leaving the toilet when tried to return to the cockpit the door was locked and none was responding from the inside. The First Officer fell asleep.

Here is the website of the aviation herald with the details of this unusual episode but really reminding the thematic of the previous post. http://avherald.com/h?article=45cd431c&opt=0

Dead Tired

Have ever thought during a routine flight for how long are the pilots flying? Most certainly not but the probability of that flight is their first of the day is huge. Recently this subject has been in discussion in Europe Aviation Authorities and the new rules and changes to the  present ones didn't had the agree of pilots or pilot associations and pilot unions. Thing is simple, some of the work times such as flight delays flight plan changes on ground and several other reasons now aren't suppose to count as duty time but if you count that time and then put that same pilot in the air probably the pilot as a duty time well beyond the reasonable for a safe conduct of the flight.

European pilot associations requested scientific studies about this matter to be able to present a proposal of duty time restrictions that try to meet both, airline interests and a safe way to fly.

Due to the fact that these studies weren't take into account to the new rules there as been promoted a petition on the Internet to ask for a new analysis of this and to the scientific studies be taken into account as a way to promote safety in cockpit.

Here is the web link to the petition and I ask You to BEFORE sign to read it carefully so that You can understand the Why of this.

The A350 XWB Final Assembly Line: efficiency in motion

Here's a small footage of the Final Assembly Line of the Airbus A350. As I said on previous posts not the most charming aircraft there is but if that's the cost to have efficiency I think that we can handle it like that.

About the Boeing 787 Dreamliner battery issues

TAP passes from 4th to 7th safest Airline even without an accident

According with the updated list from JACDEC investigation center the Portuguese flag Airline TAP passed from the 4th to the 7th position in the safest Airlines in the world and without a single accident or major incident. The reason for this descent was that Emirates, now in 4th position, Etihad Airways, now in 5th and EVA Air in 6th have a younger fleet than TAP. A reason that in my opinion is acceptable as for the number of cycles, flight hours and years of aircraft have an important wight in flight safety.

Credits: Filipe Cardoso

In the upper positions comes Finnair in first with the last accident in 1963, a DC-3 crashed resulting in the loss 22 passengers and all crew Air New Zeland in second and Cathay Pacific in third.

The TAP last accident remounts to 1977 in Funchal Madeira and was due to a runway overrun with a Boeing 727 resulting in the death of 131 people. The Madeira airport at the time had a considerably small runway dangerous cross winds during approach phase and a cliff ate the end of the runway directly to sea. More than 30 years later the airport has been modernized and the runway saw its length grow to almost the double but runway 05 approach is still considered one of the most dangerous approaches in commercial operation worldwide. 

Credits: Jorge Miguel Abreu, Madeira Spotters - Jetphotos.net

One thing leaves me quite happy and that is to know some of the pilots flight attendants engineers and maintenance technicians that work hard to maintain TAP at this high standards and zero accidents since more than 30 years, here's My recognition to all of them as great professionals that they are.

Trainee Pilot Safely Lands Piper Warrior with Missing Wheel at Mangalore...

Here's a story of a young student pilot that lost a wheel of his Piper Warrior main undercarriage and that come to a safe landing with no injuries and as it seems not so considerable damage to the aircraft. This was yesterday in Melbourne, Australia where this student pilot is getting his ATPL in an arrangement between this Autralian flight school and the Chinese airline China Southern Airlines and has about 120 flight hours of instruction.

So True!!!

Rejected take off to TAP Portugal privatization

The Portuguese Government by the Treasure Secretary of the State Luís Albuquerque announced yesterday that the single proposal to alienate the Portuguese Airline TAP Portugal from the group Synergy of the millionaire Germán Efromovich was refused.

Credits: Filipe Cardoso

The Portuguese Government pointed to the rejection of this proposal the lack of financial warranties as prescribed in the specifications referred as primordial do the sale of the Airline. This proposal rounded 1.5 thousand million euros from witch 316 million euros to recapitalize the Airline and the rest to cover TAP's deficit and the Portuguese Government would gain about 35 million euros.

The Portuguese Government stated that this proposal was positive and aligned with the Government intentions and strategy to the company. Also said that the interest in selling the Portuguese Flag Airline is to take action in a near future but will now need a revaluation of the market conditions and sale strategy to take place.

The Synergy Group was the only buy proposal that was still in table at this final phase of the whole process and it seems that the most probable action will be the opening of a entirely new privatization process with, who knows, new specifications and requirements to the interested groups.

Germán Efromovich after the Portuguese Government announcement said being surprised with this decision and admits to make a new proposal if the timing of the business is adequate to the Synergy Group as it's his intention to buy an European Airline in order to expand air business to Europe.

EC-KEX the Spanish plane

With the EC-KEX it is time to end the list of Cessnas 152 that I've flown until now, actually this one was the very last 152 registered in my logbook.

 Credits: Daniela Ferreira

 Credits: Daniela Ferreira

The KEX was built by Reims aviation company, in France, licensed by Cessna.

 Credits: Daniela Ferreira

 Credits: Daniela Ferreira

Until now I have flown the KEX for only one time in a round trip that took from Cascais, LPCS overflying land to Vila Nova de Milfontes and return to Cascais, LPCS by shore line showing the amazing beaches almost desert that our beautiful Portugal has.

 Credits: Daniela Ferreira

Not much to say about the KEX as it is a very capable aircraft in good shape to it's age.

 Credits: Daniela Ferreira

As far as I could obtain information the EC-KEX has the construction number 15281796 and I found the previous registration N67380 but not confirmed.

CS-AZB The Blue Angel

The Cessna CS-AZB is from Aeropiloto fleet and I flew it for the first time after completing my ATPL integrated course in a hour building flight to keep up to date. If you pay attention this aircraft figures in this blog as the wallpaper photograph.

Credits: Filipe Cardoso - Me and my friend Tiago Silva

Credits: Filipe Cardoso - My friend Tiago with the controls 

Credits: Filipe Cardoso - Walkaround

The reason for calling it Blue Angel is simple it is because this aircraft at this time is completely painted in Sky Blue with white rims and registration.

Credits: Filipe Cardoso

Credits: Filipe Cardoso

In this little fellow I've went to Portimão, LPPM nad Évora, LPEV and also was the aircraft on witch I took my father and girlfriend to fly for the first time with me at the controls.

Credits: Filipe Cardoso

The Cessna 152 CS-AZB has the construction number 15281900 and a previous American registration N67538 and the English G-HOSE nad G-SACA.

Credits: Daniela Ferreira - Preparing for the next flight

Credits: Daniela Ferreira

Credits: Daniela Ferreira - Daniela one of my first passengers

Credits: Filipe Cardoso - My Dad and my very first passenger

CS-AVC Trustful machine

In Portuguese AVC is the abbreviation to cerebral vascular accident in correct english cerebrovascular accident or a stroke although flying the Cessna 152 CS-AVC couldn't be farther of that kind of stuff.

Credits: Filipe Cardoso 

Right a few weeks since I started flying at the flight school the "AVC" had a landing accident that resulted a a considerable amount of damage a brought the aircraft to a long period of repairs in Aerotécnica Leávia's associated company specialized in aircraft maintenance.

Credits: Filipe Cardoso

After several months of repairs and then after passing an extensive period of inspections and test flights to guarantee the airworthiness certificate to the aircraft, I was already in a more advanced level of the ATPL and so I was now flying normally more complex aircraft and flying the Cessna 150 and 152 only in cross country solo missions so it even took longer time for me to fly this bird.

Credits: Filipe Cardoso

When finally I got the opportunity to fly the "AVC" I was great! The aircraft revealed very good comparing with all other Cessna aircraft that I have flown until then probably result of the intensive repairs post accident but the machine was in great shape and even the small details were quite good.

Credits: Filipe Cardoso

Credits: Filipe Cardoso

The Cessna  152 CS-ACV has the construction number 15279621 and a previous american registration N757BY.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

The Portuguese Navy 19th Helicopter Detachment Fénix Flight wishes you All a Merry Christmas ans a Happy 2013.

Credits: Filipe Cardoso, Nose Art and Patch Styling Miguel Garrana Amaral

CS-DAT Leávia's Ferrari of the 152s

If was one thing that was general opinion of all those who fly in Leávia's aircraft is about the CS-DAT, it was fast! No not a rocket plane or whatsoever but to a 152 it really was fast.

Credits: Ricardo Jorge Figueiredo - Jetphotos.net

The "DAT" had a propeller better developed to cruise flights so it wasn't the best climber but at cruise it passes all other Cessnas of the school, I founded that in a cross country flight to Portimão, LPPM in a mere 200nm flight the 10 minute difference between Me on the "DAT" and the Cessna 150 CS-APA, see: cs-apa-that-charismatic-noise transformed at Portimão in about 45 minutes. Not Bad!

Credits: Miguel Grilo - Jetphotos.net

It was on this particular aircraft that I made the first mission relative to abnormal attitudes, regaining control vrilles, stall turns, etc. always without problems at all, nice machine!
The "DAT" was also the last aircraft witch I have flew to finish my Integrated ATPL course in a checkride flight.

Credits: Carlos Moreira - Jetphotos.net and PortugalSpotters - my cousin Luis Almeida as Flight Instructor

This aircraft as all the other Cessna 150 and 152 suffered the treatment that student pilots imposed to them but always able to keep their posture and bringing the inexperienced pilots back to ground again.

Credtis: Ricardo Jorge Figueiredo - Jetphotos.net

The CS-DAT has the construction number 15283914 and a known previous american registration that is N6258B

CS-AUR First Solo Flight!

The Cessna 152 CS-AUR starts the presentation of all 152's that I have flown until now. This particular aircraft is very significant to Me as it was the one of my first Solo. After that I flew the "UR" for several times in cross country solo flights to be able to get the CPL.

 Credits: Filipe Cardoso 

On the CS-AUR I flew for about 10 hours total time and went on it to Évora, LPEV and Portimão, LPPM, it was also the aircraft of my 300nm plus cross country flight.

 Credits: Filipe Cardoso 

The "UR" was a regular Cessna 152 made by Cessna itself not Reims Company in France.

Unfortunately this aircraft is also remembered for the worst reasons. See: sad-day-for-portuguese-aviation post. In June the 26th this year during a night training flight in Cascais Airfield, LPCS the aircraft crashed in the surroundings of the field and took the life of the instructor Rogério Teles and the student João Leal who by coincidence is son of the Flight School owner. The accident is still under investigation to find causes for it and if possible state directives to prevent similar hapenings.

 Credits: Filipe Cardoso 

The "UR" had the construction number 15283659 and a previous american registration that was N4826B

CS-ADF Old School

The Cessna 150A CS-ADF was so different from the rest of the Cessna fleet in the flight school that the Leávia required that students should fly that particular aircraft with instructor before going solo with it. And wasn't for less than that. The so called "ADF" due to it's registration was built in a time that instrument arrange and cockpit organization was not important so the cockpit is a bit messy to nowadays standards.

 Credits: Filipe Cardoso

My first flight in this piece of history was a small vfr flight of about 1 hour from Cascais, LPCS to Cascais, LPCS and after that was always solo. Besides its exterior aspect the "ADF" had quite differences inside to, such as the flaps lever that remember the lever of  a Beechraft with that "Handbrake" style. The position of the pilot in flight was also different but I didn't found it to be uncomfortable.

Credits Filipe Cardoso

Unfortunately the "ADF" suffered a crash landing in November 2011 and was considered as unrecoverable due to the extension of the damage fortunately however was the fact that none got injured badly.

Credits: Filipe Cardoso

The Number of the CS-ADF was 15059232 and the only previous registration that I know about is an American one N7132X.

Credits: Filipe Cardoso

Here is the link to the preliminary report of the accident (in Portuguese) http://www.gpiaa.gov.pt/ look for previous years reports and go to 2011 reports.

CS-APA That charismatic noise

When I first flew the Reims/Cessna F150L CS-APA it was just a few flight hours since a complete overhaul that consisted in all normal procedures regarding the inspections to mechanical parts and structural parts. But the major difference was... the new interior all in white and blue with a small red line as contour as the very own Leávia Flight School colors. Oh and I almost forgot that this was in leather imitation. Nice!

Credtis: Filipe Cardoso

But the most distinctive thing in this particular aircraft wasn't the interior it as the way it sounded when passing by. This four cylinder Lycoming engine had installed two exhausts one on each side of the engine to a pair of cylinders, this configuration made the exhaust to be so small that it was as if there was no exhaust at all. Great sound, I liked it!

Credits: Filipe Cardoso

Since the first day of its life CS-APA passed through several owners and registrations and its manufacturer number is 1068. I could not confirm the first registration but if someone has more information is completely free to leave a comment for me to correct if necessary. Before coming to Portugal CS-APA had two registrations in France witch were F-BVBD and F-BSGQ.

Credits: Paulo Santos

CS-AYJ "Old Donkey"

The Reims/Cessna F150L CS-AYJ was the aircraft of my first instruction flight. Even to a 150 the YJ was slow and not a great fan of flying to high the Achilles´heel of it was it's low rate of climb and during summer with student and flight instructor aboard was very very slow indeed. The nickname "Old Donkey" was named by a college of the ATPL class regarding it's slow rate of... moving but always fit to the job of leading the inexperienced student pilots back to ground again.

Credits: Filipe Cardoso

As far as I could find the CS-AYJ has the manufacturer number 0916 and a previous registration in Germany as D-ECWL.

Credits: José Jorge - Jetphotos.net

The fabulous 20

Today when I was looking at my logbook I thought that not being a pilot with thousands of flying hours I've already flew a considerable number of aircraft. After counting I've reached to the beautiful number 20 witch is a considerable number counting that I'm still under 300h total flying time.

Some of these aircraft are more relevant to my as a pilot for several reasons than others but at the end all of them brought back to the ground safely.

The next posts I will try to present them to You and I might have a good story to share related to some of them.

FAA orders Boeing 787 inspections, cites fuel leak risk

US FAA has issued an airworthiness directive ordering Boeing 787 operators to inspect the aircraft for “improperly assembled” engine fuel feed manifold couplings.

There are currently 38 787s in service. In a notice published this week in the US government’s federal register, FAA said it has “received reports of fuel leaks on two different in-service [787s] and the subsequent discovery of several improperly assembled engine fuel feed manifold couplings on in-service and production airplanes.”

FAA did not mention which operators reported the fuel leaks, but Ethiopian Airlines has told ATW that it experienced a fuel leak on a 787 during initial operations, adding that the problem is now “resolved.”

FAA said the improper coupling installations “occurred during production” and include “couplings with missing or improperly installed lockwire, parts within the couplings installed in the wrong locations, incorrect parts installed in the couplings, and couplings that have extra parts installed.”

The agency added, “These conditions, if not corrected, could result in fuel leaks, which could lead to fuel exhaustion, engine power loss or shutdown, or leaks on hot engine parts that could lead to a fire … An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule.”

ATW has requested a comment from Boeing. The manufacturer told The Seattle Times that about 19 in-service 787s have already been inspected and the company is making the necessary changes in its 787 production process.

IN: http://atwonline.com/aircraft-engine...leak-risk-1205

Portugal Airshow might come back!

The biannual most popular Portuguese airshow might return in 2013. According to a local newspaper the Mayor of Évora is looking for supporters and partnerships to be able to make the event in it's traditional location the Évora Airdrome, LPEV. Évora airfield seen in this last year the best and the worst happenings in Portuguese aviation.

On the worst side the death of a student pilot in a solo flight in the surroundings of the field with an investigation undergoing at this time. Also the shutdown of CAE-AAE flight academy due to a reorganization of the CAE group after a fusion with the Oxford Aviation Group.

On the bright side Embraer's facilities started to labor witch contributed to the creation of aviation jobs and lead to the creation of an aviation cluster idealized by the Mayor of this small town. When Embraer factories reach it's top in production it's expected to create plus 400 direct jobs and about 1500 jobs indirectly. Let's hope for the best to Embraer and wish them a happy and pleasant stay in Portugal for many years as possible.

Credits: http://acincotons.blogspot.pt/2012/09/fabricas-da-embraer-em-evora-vao-ser.html