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Singapore CAA stops entry and exit of Boeing 737 Max
Although Singapore Airlines (SilkAir) don't have a huge number of planes this is an interesting development as it suggests that there is a disagreement of risk analysis between Singapore CAA and the US FAA.
Not saying who is right or who is wrong, but at who will bend first? Boeing 737: Singapore bars entry and exit of 737 Max planes Singapore's Civil Aviation Authority has temporarily suspended the Boeing 737 Max fleet of aircraft from flying into and out of the country. The decision comes after an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing Max 8 crashed on Sunday, killing 157 people on board. It was the second fatal accident involving that model in less than five months. Singapore's Changi Airport is the world's sixth busiest and a major hub connecting Asia to Europe and the US. But only a handful of airlines operate Max aircraft in and out of the country. Several airlines and regulators around the world have already grounded the Max 8 model following the crash. Singapore is believed to be the first country to ban all variants of the Max fleet of aircraft. The suspension went into effect from 14:00 local time (06:00 GMT). Is disruption likely? Singapore's aviation authority said the affected airlines include SilkAir, which operates six Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, as well as China Southern Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Shandong Airlines and Thai Lion Air. It said it is working with airlines and Changi Airport to minimise the impact on passengers. Experts told the BBC that disruption was likely, however. Aviation consultant Ian Thomas said: "This is sure to lead to significant flight cancellations and disruption to schedules as the airlines involved switch to other aircraft types (assuming they are available)." The BBC's Karishma Vaswani, who is at Changi Airport, reports orderly scenes. Some flights have been cancelled but it is not known if the suspension is to blame. In the US, the country's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told airlines on Monday it believes Boeing's 737 Max 8 model to be airworthy, despite the two fatal crashes. What is a Boeing 737 Max aircraft? The Boeing 737 Max fleet of aircraft are the latest in the company's successful 737 line. The group includes the Max 7, 8, 9 and 10 models. By the end of January, Boeing had delivered 350 of the Max 8 model out of 5,011 orders. A small number of Max 9s are also operating. The Max 7 and 10 models, not yet delivered, are due for roll-out in the next few years. The Max 8 that crashed on Sunday was one of 30 ordered as part of Ethiopian Airlines' expansion. It underwent a "rigorous first check maintenance" on 4 February, the airline said. Following last October's Lion Air crash in Indonesia, investigators said the pilots had appeared to struggle with an automated system designed to keep the plane from stalling, a new feature of the jet. It is not yet clear whether the anti-stall system was the cause of Sunday's crash. Aviation experts say other technical issues or human error cannot be discounted. What have US authorities said? US aviation officials have said the 737 Max 8 is airworthy and that it is too early to reach any conclusions or take any action. US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao on Monday said the FAA would "take immediate and appropriate action" if a defect was found in the Max 8. Boeing has confirmed that for the past few months it has been developing a "flight control software enhancement" for the aircraft. Paul Hudson, the president of FlyersRights.org and a member of the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee, nonetheless called for the plane to be grounded. "The FAA's 'wait and see' attitude risks lives as well as the safety reputation of the US aviation industry," Mr Hudson said in a statement on Monday. |
Well, Australia's CASA just grounded the 7M8...
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So has the UK's CAA. It seems that the only one not moving at the moment are the North Americans.
As an aside, can Silkair's existing 738s have the range to make the trek to their longer destinations (such as Hiroshima or upcoming Busan)? or do they have to lease planes from SIA or someone else to cover the gap? |
Originally Posted by MeltingAlf
(Post 30877198)
As an aside, can Silkair's existing 738s have the range to make the trek to their longer destinations (such as Hiroshima or upcoming Busan)? or do they have to lease planes from SIA or someone else to cover the gap?
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Originally Posted by MeltingAlf
(Post 30877198)
So has the UK's CAA. It seems that the only one not moving at the moment are the North Americans.
As an aside, can Silkair's existing 738s have the range to make the trek to their longer destinations (such as Hiroshima or upcoming Busan)? or do they have to lease planes from SIA or someone else to cover the gap? |
Originally Posted by Coathanger
(Post 30876284)
Well, Australia's CASA just grounded the 7M8...
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Worried about my flight next week from MAA to SIN on MI. It’s usually on a A320, but I won’t be surprised if that’s diverted to serve the 737 routes. |
Originally Posted by MeltingAlf
(Post 30877198)
So has the UK's CAA. It seems that the only one not moving at the moment are the North Americans.
As an aside, can Silkair's existing 738s have the range to make the trek to their longer destinations (such as Hiroshima or upcoming Busan)? or do they have to lease planes from SIA or someone else to cover the gap?
Originally Posted by cowie
(Post 30879626)
I understand from an MI insider that they will likely be using the 738 with payload restrictions to serve HIJ. Doubt they can fill an ex-SQ 772 on that route anyway.
Three flight pairs of the MI SIN-KUL shuttle on 13-15 March have been cancelled and the planes redeployed on other routes. Affected passengers are being funnelled onto one consolidated, SQ-operated A359 flight that's operating only during this period. https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/u...t/?id=jt1v420y |
Originally Posted by cowie
(Post 30884962)
This morning's MI868 SIN-HIJ was served by a B738.
Three flight pairs of the MI SIN-KUL shuttle on 13-15 March have been cancelled and the planes redeployed on other routes. Affected passengers are being funnelled onto one consolidated, SQ-operated A359 flight that's operating only during this period. https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/u...t/?id=jt1v420y Good to have an additional SQ flight a day, & I didn't even realize that Silkair was operating the 737 Max to KUL until the news of the crash ... FLIGHT SQ 108 Aircraft type: Airbus A330-300 Flying time: 1hrs Flying today SIN 12:45 Singapore Changi KUL 13:45 Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur Intl FLIGHT SQ 109 Aircraft type: Airbus A330-300 Flying time: 1hrs Flying today KUL 14:30 Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur Intl SIN 15:30 Singapore Changi |
Looks like SilkAir can't continue to operate without the 737 Maxs
[This is subscription only article so I can't pick out more than the below] SilkAir suspends plans to transfer 14 B737-800s to Scoot while B-737 Max remains grounded SINGAPORE - With all six of its Boeing 737 Max 8 jets grounded and new deliveries of the aircraft suspended, Singapore Airlines' regional arm SilkAir will keep 14 other planes which it had earlier agreed to transfer to Scoot. This is to ensure that SilkAir has enough aircraft to maintain its operations while issues with the B-737 Max are being sorted out, an SIA spokesman told The Straits Times on Tuesday (April 9). |
The transfer was based on MI receiving the new 737 MAX but since they can’t take delivery of new aircraft, thus they can’t transfer. So guess Scoot also have to hold on to the A320. |
Singapore airlines said last week that they were going to keep the orders of the 737 Maxs
Singapore Airlines says its order for 31 Boeing 737 Max jets "intact" I think Boeing will eventually come up with a fix that satisfies all the regulators. Though I must admit, I am a bit concerned about it now, but these things happen I guess. How many other things have Boeing opted not to tell pilots about? |
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