Unexpected airport traffic

I had to smile at reports that three deer had a close encounter with Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft at RAF Coningsby recently.

Cute, I suppose, but animals on the runways and taxiways can be a real hazard.  In flying around Africa for many years, I grew used to pilots of smaller aircraft (from 40-50 seat regional airliners to small 4- or 6-seat puddle-jumpers) having to "buzz" over the runway at very low altitude, to scare off animals grazing or resting there.  Larger animals (of which Africa has a gracious plenty) would often be so used to this that they'd ignore the nasty buzzing creatures overhead, and go right on doing whatever they were doing.  Only when the pilot was absolutely sure that there were no animals within "hazard range" could he proceed - and even then, a sudden unexpected run by an animal could lead to disaster.  It's a not uncommon occurrence.

Miss D. assures me that the same thing has been known to happen in Alaska, where she learned to fly.  She says even larger airliners, like Boeing 737's, sometimes have to "clear the runway" at more remote airports in that state before they can touch down.  Apparently polar bears regard small aircraft filled with people in the same way that we'd regard a tin filled with delicious chunks of meat.  Not a comforting thought, that!

I wonder how a jet fighter pilot in England would react to critters like that on the runway?




Peter

Er . . . oops?

The Russian Mil Mi-26 helicopter is the largest in the world, able to lift up to 20 tons (the same cargo capacity as a Lockheed C-130 transport aircraft) or over 100 passengers.  It's almost as big as a Boeing 737 airliner.

An Mi-26 was coming in to land on the Yamal peninsula in Russia a few days ago when something went wrong.

Looking at the fragments of its massive eight-bladed rotor flying around, I'm glad I wasn't anywhere nearby!  There's no word on casualties, but it landed tail-down, and the fuselage looks relatively intact, so I hope those inside managed to get away with only minor injuries.




Peter

I suppose it's cheaper than fixing the actual console . . .

Back in January I reported on two incidents involving Airbus A350 airliners, where pilots' beverages had been spilled onto the center console, resulting in serious technical problems.  This led to an emergency order defining a "liquid free zone" in the cockpit until further measures could be developed.

Now Airbus has announced a more permanent solution (you should pardon the expression).

Airbus has developed a removable cover for A350 integrated control panels, designed to protect vital systems from inadvertent liquid spills in the cockpit, after two incidents which preceded uncommanded engine shutdown.

The cover – which protects engine master levers, thumbwheels and rotary knobs – needs to be removed during critical flight phases, including take-off, approach and landing.

But outside of these, such as during the cruise, the cover must be fitted, according to a directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

There's more at the link.

I suppose, as a temporary, short-term fix, it may work:  but why not seal the console and its instruments properly during the manufacturing process?  Shouldn't that have been done in the first place?  Surely that would be the optimal solution to the problem?  Or am I asking too much of aviation engineers and technicians?

Peter

Er . . . oops?

A tip o' the hat to reader D. W. for sending me the link to this video.  Men at work, not at their best!

Some expensive oopses, there . . .




Peter