Aviation

China Airlines cargo plane aborts flight, makes precautionary emergency landing after engine problem

flight map
Aviation 
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A China Airlines 747 cargo plane circled and dumped fuel before returning to Taoyuan International Airport after reporting an engine problem shortly after take-off today, January 16. China Airlines cargo flight CI-5240 took off from Taoyuan Airport at 11:45 am bound for Anchorage, Alaska. According to a United Daily News report, airport ground crew reported hearing an explosion and seeing flames shoot from the outside right engine of the four-engine plane during take-off. A pilot in another plane waiting for

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Teen pilot to land in Taiwan on next leg of record-breaking flight

composite image of rough flight path and Shark Aero ultralight aircraft.
Aviation 
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A 19-year-old pilot is scheduled to land at Taipei Songshan Airport, Tuesday, on the next leg of her quest to break several aviation records, including youngest female to fly solo around the world. Zara Rutherford departed from Belgium, August 18, on the planned 51,000-kilometer journey spanning five continents and 52 countries. Today, Saturday, December 12, Rutherford landed her Shark Aero ultralight airplane at Gimpo Airport in South Korea, marking the beginning of the Asian leg of her round-the-world quest. After

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Frequent nasal swabs on pilots causing nosebleeds: a flight safety issue

Aviation Health and Safety 
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Subjecting pilots to frequent nasal swabs to test for COVID-19 has led to severe nosebleeds while pilots are on duty, and it may affect flight safety, according to the Civil Aviation Administration and pilot unions. According to current epidemic prevention regulations, flight crew must be subject to three PCR tests within 14 days of entry, and it is stipulated that these must be in the form of nasopharyngeal swabs. However, many flight crew members have reported that this method causes

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Air France plane turns back to Beijing after “bang,” burning smell in cabin

passengers aboard Air France AF393
Aviation Regional 
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An Air France flight from Beijing to Paris returned to Beijing shortly after takeoff this morning due to what the airline describes as a “technical fault,” but Chinese media outlets are saying was an explosion and fire in the passenger cabin. Air France said that the crew of flight AF393 flying from Beijing Capital International Airport to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport September 18, 2021 decided to return to Beijing according to the aircraft manufacturer’s operating instructions and the company’s

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EVA airliner tail strike on landing at Guam Airport

EVA Air Airbus A321-200
Aviation 
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An EVA Air passenger aircraft’s tail made contact with the runway while landing at Guam International Airport this afternoon, August 14. EVA Air Flight BR20 departed from Taipei Taoyuan International Airport at 8:55 am this morning and landed in Guam at 3:53 pm local time. However, the tail of the Airbus A321-200 touched the runway upon landing, according to reports. The 146 passengers and 12 crew were all reported safe. However, the aircraft has been grounded for a thorough inspection.

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CAL vaccine delivery flight completely avoided flying over China and Chinese Flight Information Region

China Airlines Cargo unloading vaccines at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport
Aviation 
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The first batch of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines arrived at Taoyuan International Airport this evening, and aircraft watchers noted that the flight path deviated significantly from the usual route, completely avoiding flying over Chinese airspace, Apple Daily reported today, May 28. Flight CI5556 landed at 5:00 pm after taking off from Dubai earlier in the day. Originally scheduled to land at 3:57 pm, the flight was delayed for around one hour in Dubai. Apple Daily suggested that the flight delay was

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Pilots under pressure: keeping your job is a challenge for locals and foreigners alike

pilots wearing ppe on long haul flights
Aviation 
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The Novotel hotel at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport will no longer provide accommodation to foreign pilots after an outbreak of COVID-19, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said, Friday, April 30. Health and Welfare Minister and Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) director Chen Shih-chung said that the most likely source for the infection was a foreign pilot, and that foreign pilots have “divergent” behaviors, being less likely to follow instructions for epidemic prevention. Four of 10 CAL pilots who tested

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Man seriously injured after paraglider accident

injured paraglider being put into ambulance
Aviation 
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A paragliding instructor was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after crash landing on a beach in Dulan Township, Taitung County today, April 23. According to China Times, the 70-year-old senior instructor, named Deng, was flying a powered paraglider at around noon, when it suddenly lost power and fell from a height of around three stories. Witnesses at a nearby camping area immediately called emergency services and rushed to the man’s assistance. Deng suffered a serious head injury and was

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Starlux Airlines opens recruiting for 127 personnel: expecting recovery of aviation tourism industry

Starlux Airlines 321 neo
Aviation 
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Starlux Airlines announced that it was seeking 127 recruits for flight crew and ground service personnel starting today, March 31. The positions are to fill manpower demand for new aircraft delivered, and flight routes opening in the second half of 2021, the airline said. Vacancies include cabin crew, maintenance, sales, customer service, airport operations and internal administration jobs. Starlux Airlines CEO Glenn Chai said that the global aviation industry has been hit hard by the epidemic in the past year,

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Taiwan’s China Airlines launches last chance farewell party flight on retiring “Queen of the Skies” Boeing 747

China Airlines 747 landing at Taoyuan International Airport
Aviation 
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China Airlines is offering a last chance to fly on its 747-400 in the form of a “747 Queen of the Skies Farewell Party,” before retiring the aircraft from service. Originally scheduled for February 6, the farewell flight was postponed due to a coronavirus cluster infection in Taoyuan City in January. China Airlines today announced that the flight has been rescheduled for March 20. Passengers who were originally booked for the February 6 flight, and who are unable to make

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Details of fatal ultralight crash emerge as investigation begins

Aviation 
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Further details about a fatal plane crash in Pingtung County yesterday have emerged as an investigation by Taiwan’s Transportation Safety Investigation Committee began today, January 8. See previous story: Light aircraft reported missing found crashed in Pingtung County: 2 dead The aircraft was identified as a CTLS ultralight belonging to the AeroJones Aero Club, with the serial number AJ-2199. The aircraft took off from the Saijia Airfield in Sandimen Township, Pingtung County at around 2:20 pm with a planned flight

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