MIAMI – The FAA has sent out an Airworthiness Directive (AD) ordering the immediate inspection of Boeing 777-200s fitted with Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines following the recent United Airlines (UA) incident involving the aircraft and engine type.
The directive notes that the inspection has been ordered due to the recent event in which a United Airlines Boeing 777 aircraft was forced to perform an emergency landing following one of its engines exploding mid-air. According to the FAA, the in-flight failure of low-pressure compressor blades on PW4077 engines resulted in the engine’s uncontained event.
According to the AD, each engine will require an extensive test to determine if any cracks are evident on its blades. The airline has already grounded all of its Boeing 777-200s fitted with PW4000 engines in preparation for the AD.
MIAMI – The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan has grounded domestic airlines from operating flights using Boeing 777s fitted with PW4000 engines.
The decision follows a Japan Airlines (JL) Boeing 777 with starboard engine trouble making an emergency landing at Okinawa International Airport (OKA) in December and the recent United Airlines (UA) Boeing 777 emergency landing this weekend.
NOTAM’s relaying the restrictions state that all Boeing 777s fitted with PW4000 engines are requested to avoid Japanese airspace until further notice.
ANA Boeing 777-200 at Haneda International Airport | Photo: Kochan Kleps
Domestic Boeing 777 Aircraft
Domestic aircraft affected by the grounding are 19 All Nippon Airways (NH) Boeing 777s and 13 JL Boeing 777s. The airlines grounded the aircraft on their own on Sunday following the UA incident.
Aeromexico Boeing 787. Photo: Alberto Cucini - @ac avphoto
MIAMI – Aeromexico (AM) announced it has not satisfactorily concluded negotiations of the Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) with with Pilot/Flight Attendant unions Asociación Sindical de Pilotos Aviadores de México (ASPA) and Asociación Sindical de Sobrecargos de Aviación de México (ASSA).
The airline states that acceptance by said unions of the adjustments presented by AM to the CBA is essential to face “the adverse financial, operational and structural effects caused globally to the airline industry by the COVID-19 pandemic.” As such, the CBA must:
Comply with the commitments and objectives required by the DIP lenders under the Senior Debtor in Possession Credit Facility (“DIP Financing”), obtained within the Company’s voluntary financial restructuring process, under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States of America