AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

*The 1st pictures of a MERPATI NUSANTARA Fokker 100, involved in a runway accident at Kupang, Indonesia earlier this week, have surfaced. On Wednesday, December 2, Merpati Flight 5840 was on Domestic Service from Ujung Pandang to Kupang, with 88 passengers and 6 crew members onboard. Despite attempts to troubleshoot, the crew had to touchdown with the left hand main gear not fully extended. The crew lost navigational control just prior to stopping, and run off the runway into soft ground, about 1800 meters past the runway threshold. No one onboard Flight 5840 was injured, however the Fokker did suffer substantial damages. Indonesian authorities are investigating the accident.

*European safety regulators are extending fuel-icing prevention modifications to Airbus A330 and A340 aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce Trent engines. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued an airworthiness directive ordering replacement of fuel-oil heat exchangers in Trent 500 and 700 powerplants.Trent 800 engines for the Boeing 777 are already the subject of a similar directive, the result of investigations into the BRITISH AIRWAYS Boeing 777 accident, at London Heathrow last year. But an incident at Manchester in May, involving an ETIHAD A330, led Airbus to suggest that Trent engines on the A330 and A340-500/600 might also need precautionary modification.EASA's new directive states: "The incident has indicated the potential susceptibility to ice blockage for Airbus aircraft in combination with [Rolls-Royce] engines that feature similar fuel systems to the Trent 800." It is requiring heat exchangers in Trent 500s and 700s to be modified within 6,000 flight hours from 10 July 2009, or before 1 January 2011, whichever falls first. (SK COMMENT: An update on the British Airways incident, BA Flight 38, has also been posted today).

*A SOUTHWEST AIRLINES Boeing 737 picked up an additional passenger while inflight yesterday, after a passenger gave birth. SW Flight 441 was on Domestic Service from Chicago MDW to Salt Lake City, Utah, when the incident took place. While inflight at 38000 feet, near Denver, Colorado, a woman who was 8 months pregnant went into labor. Cabin crew assisted the woman to the rear galley, and paged for medical assistance. A doctor and 3 nurses onboard attended to the woman, and her new baby was born within minutes of her going into labor. The flight crew announced the birth, saying that a "new passenger had just boarded the aircraft". The 737 was diverted to Denver, where the mother, baby, and rest of the family were transported to hospital. According to Denver media, mother and baby are in good condtion.

*Two Airbus A380s suffered minor incidents at London Heathrow yesterday. SINGAPORE AIRLINES Flight 322, on International Service from Singapore to Heathow, touched down on the runway at Heathrow without incident, however the crew noted a tire pressure indication. While Flight 322 rolled out, other aircraft were ordered to go-around. Immediate inspection of the runway revealed tire debris, which was quickly cleaned up, and the runway was put back into use. The Singapore A380 departed later in the day for the return flight to Singapore after being repaired. The 2nd incident involved QANTAS Flight 31, also on International Service from Singapore, which suffered nose wheel steering failure while landing. The crew was able to slow the aircraft, however they were unable to vacate the runway and needed to be towed. The A380 was on the ground for about 10 hours, waiting for spare parts to be flown in, and then repairs made. The Qantas aircraft departed for the return trip to Singapore a short time after repairs were completed. The same A380 also suffered identical nose wheel steering failure in July.