AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

*Following the release of the first images of AEROFLOT's 1st Sukhoi Superjet 100, the first images for its other launch customer, ARMAVIA, have been released. Armavia has 2 of the type on order, for which it signed an initial agreement in 2007, and options for another pair. Registered EK-95015, the aircraft, which is the 1st production example, serial number 97007, has been named after cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. The carrier plans to put the type into operation in February and will use the Superjet on the route between its base, at the Armenian capital Yerevan, and Moscow.

*Authorities in Houston, Texas say that a soldier was attacked and stabbed in the neck after an altercation with another man on an EXPRESSJET plane last month. The soldier is back on post after treatment for his injuries and the man accused in the incident is free after pleading innocent and posting bail. The incident took place onboard the aircraft just prior to its departure for Savanah, Georgia. Police reports indicate it started with a verbal altercation between the 2 men. When a Flight Attendant tried to calm the men down, police say the man charged in the incident, stabbed the soldier. According to eyewitnesses, the man had a window punch in his hands. Window punches are typically used by police, fire and EMS to break glass and rescue someone from a bad car accident. According to media reports, the TSA is investigating how the man managed to get the tool onboard the aicraft. Window punches aren't on the list of prohibited travel items, though the list does include scissors, box cutters and utility knives.

*According to Russian media reports, Russian investigators from MAK have handed over to Poland all case materials related to the investigation of the April 10, 2010, crash of the POLISH AIR FORCE Tupolev TU154M that killed Polish President Kaczynski and 95 others. It is not clear if the information sent included the actual cockpit voice recordings. On Friday, Poland asked MAK to hand over the recordings, not just the transcripts. However, a Russian Transport Minister said the recordings were officially handed over the Poland shortly after the crash. It is also not clear if information on the communications between air traffic controllers, which Poland had also requested, was part of the hand-over. According to one media report, MAK handed over "all that was possible".

*DELTA AIRLINES Flight 1208, an A320, had to make an emergency return to Salt Lake City, Utah, yesterday, January 15, due to problems with cabin pressurization.

*QANTAS Flight 11, a Boeing 747, had to reject takeoff a high speed from Sydney, Australia, yesterday, January 15. The rejected takeoff after the No.1 engine failed with a loud bang and streaks of flames as the aircraft rolled down the runway. The crew was able to stop on the runway and Emergency Services were deployed, as seen in passenger photo above. The aircraft was removed from service for inspection and repairs. According to media reports, the Captain announced over the intercom to passengers that the engine had ‘‘cooked itself’’.

*LUFTHANSA Flight 425, an A330, had to make an emergency diversion to Gander, Newfoundland, on Friday, November 14. While climbing out of Boston, Massachusetts, the crew reported that they were unable to retract the landing gear and requested vectors to a safe area to work checklists. The crew later reported they count not retract the landing gear due to the loss of a hydraulics system and requested to hold and circle for an hour, to burn off fuel and then return to Boston. Shortly thereafter, the crew amended their request and decided to divert to Gander, for reasons not specified. The A330 was repaired within 2 hours in Gander and then released to continue on its flight to Munich, Germany.

*LAN CHILE, an A340, had to make an emergency return to Madrid, Spain, on Friday, January 14, due to problems with cabin pressurization.

*JET AIRWAYS Flight 479, a Boeing 737, lost a panel located near landing gear, while enroute, on Friday, January 14. According to media reports, the 737 completed its flight from Mumbai to Goa, India, without incident. Post flight inspection found that a panel near a wheel well was missing. The wheel well area is where the landing gear is locked on retraction after takeoff and also houses hydraulics systems that control the movement of the landing gear and brakes. India's DGCA has launched an investigation.

*LUFTHANSA Flight 647, an A340, had to return to Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, January 13, after the crew shut 1 engine down. The A340 was repaired and departed 5 hours later for Frankfurt, Germany.

*An AK BARS AERO CRJ200 had to make an emergency return to Kazan, Russia, on Tuesday, January 11. According to media reports, the aircraft returned after the nose gear door did not close after departure. This incident took place on the same day as the previously reported Ak Bars Flight 501. That CRJ veered off the runway and into a snowbank upon landing in Kazan. Nose gear problems were also suspected in that incident. Due to the incidents, the Federal Air Transport Agency and the Tatar Transport Prosecutor’s Office have opened investigations.

*ANA Flight 990, a Boeing 767, suffered a tail strike upon landing at Tokyo Haneda Airport on Tuesday, January 4. The incident was just made public yesterday. According to media reports, at least 1 runway centre line light was damaged in the incident. The extent of damage to the 767 was not disclosed. The JTSB is investigating.