TIG Post

Tag: Aircraft

  • 4 historic landings of large aircraft witnessed in Ghana

    4 historic landings of large aircraft witnessed in Ghana

    In the span of the last seven years, Ghana has witnessed the arrival of a remarkable array of aircraft at both Kotoka International Airport (KIA) and Kumasi International Airport.

    The Airbus A380, operated by Emirates, marked a significant milestone in 2018 with its successful landing and departure at Kotoka International Airport’s Terminal 3. This event, a one-time service to the new terminal, showcased the airport’s capability to accommodate the world’s largest commercial aircraft.

    Piloted by Ghanaian Captain Solomon Quainoo and UAE national First Officer Faisal Alhammadi, this historic A380 landing underscored KIA’s readiness for such prestigious flights.

    The recurrence of history transpired on September 29, 2022, as another A380, operated by British Airways, graced KIA’s tarmac, reaffirming Ghana Airports Company Limited’s proficiency in handling some of the globe’s largest passenger planes.

    In a more recent development in 2023, US Vice President Kamala Harris embarked on a historic visit to Ghana aboard Air Force 2, the official call sign for any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the Vice President. The grandeur of this jet was on display at KIA for three days during her official visit.

    Adding to this aviation saga, the Airbus A320 operated by EgyptAir made its debut at the newly-renovated Kumasi International Airport on April 25, 2024. Transporting the Egyptian football team Zamalek, the A320 landed to play a football match with Ghana’s Dreams FC. Notably, this marked the third successful A320 landing and takeoff at Kumasi International Airport since 2019, as reported by AviationGhana.com.

    Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, highlighted during a recent tour of the new Kumasi International Airport that its inauguration is scheduled for May, preceding its full operationalization by June 2024. Expansion plans are underway, including runway extension works to accommodate larger aircraft beyond the A320 and B737, aiming to enhance the airport’s capacity and capabilities.

  • Aircraft veers off flight path after both pilots fall asleep in Indonesia

    Aircraft veers off flight path after both pilots fall asleep in Indonesia

    Indonesia’s transportation department to look into a situation where two Batik Air pilots fell asleep during a flight. This information comes from the civil aviation director-general M Kristi Endah Murni, according to the state news agency Antara.

    The pilot and co-pilot fell asleep at the same time for 28 minutes during a flight from Kendari to Jakarta on January 25. This caused the plane to go off course.

    No one on the plane, including 153 passengers and four flight attendants, were hurt during the flight. The plane was not damaged either, according to the KNKT preliminary report.

    The flight BTK6723 flew for two hours and 35 minutes and safely landed in Jakarta, as Antara and the initial report said.

    This news story is still being updated. Come back later for more information.

  • Delta Airlines to introduce new Aircraft in Ghana – Transport Minister

    Delta Airlines to introduce new Aircraft in Ghana – Transport Minister

    Transport Minister, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, has assured Parliament of ongoing talks with Delta Airlines for the acquisition of new aircraft in Ghana, addressing concerns over the Accra-New York route.

    The Minister acknowledges discussions with Delta to enhance service quality following recent criticism.

    Responding to MP Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka’s urgent question regarding Delta’s emergency landing in Praia Da Vitoria, the Minister outlines efforts to ensure Delta ceases using older aircraft in Ghana.

    “The government is in discussion with three other airlines who have applied to service the Accra-New York route,” he said.

    Ofori-Asiamah notes that despite some aircraft being older, if approved by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), restricting them is challenging.

    The Minister discloses ongoing government discussions with three other airlines seeking to operate the Accra-New York route.

    He anticipates concluding these talks in the third quarter of 2024, addressing MPs’ queries about a specific timeline.

  • License for much-anticipated national carrier issued by GCAA

    License for much-anticipated national carrier issued by GCAA

    The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has approved an initial license for the much anticipated national carrier, according to the deputy minister of transportation, Hassan Tampuli.

    On the fringes of an event celebrating Air France’s 90th anniversary in Accra, the deputy minister informed reporters that this approval came about as a result of the government entering into an agreement with a private group. The minister further stated that the government had “already signed a shareholders’ agreement with them.”

    “We have incorporated the company, and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority has granted them the first level of licence,” Mr. Tampuli stated.

    “We are currently waiting for the company to identify the type of aircraft they will use, and the final licence will be awarded after the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority inspects those aircraft. At present, we are still in the incubation stage,” he added.

    Need for due diligence

    He replied that it is difficult to give an exact timeline because there is a significant amount of due diligence that needs to be done on the private company when questioned about when the final licence will be issued and the carrier will be exposed.

    Furthermore, Mr. Tampuli, the Gushegu Member of Parliament, stated:

    “We need to assess our bilateral air service agreement (BASA) to determine which routes are available to Ghana. These considerations and calculations are crucial for understanding the business model that they [the private group] will be applying in partnering with government”.

    Two more carriers seek entry into Ghana

    The government has received formal applications from two airlines, one based in Italy and the other in Spain, requesting permission to start direct services to Kotoka International Airport (KIA), according to the deputy minister of transportation.

    “So, yes, Ghana is open for business. Airlines are coming. They keep knocking on our door and we are ready; we have the infrastructure to accommodate them and give an experience that will make them come again,” he stated.

    There are currently 23 scheduled and non-scheduled domestic flights from Africa World Airlines (AWA), PassionAir, and GIAN AIR, as well as 23 international and regional flights that serve KIA.

  • Niger coup prompts ban on French aircraft

    Niger coup prompts ban on French aircraft


    In a significant development, Niger’s military rulers have issued a ban on French aircraft from accessing the country’s airspace.

    This decision was announced by the air safety agency, ASECNA, which clarified that Niger’s skies remain open to all commercial flights, except those affiliated with or chartered by France.

    It’s worth noting that France, as the former colonial power, maintains a presence of approximately 1,500 troops within Niger.

    Niger had recently reopened its airspace earlier this month, following a closure that lasted nearly four weeks.

    The initial closure was attributed to concerns about potential intervention by neighboring countries.

    This move came in response to the regional bloc, ECOWAS, which had threatened military action following a military coup in July.

  • Lifeless body discovered in Turkish aircraft’s landing gear

    Lifeless body discovered in Turkish aircraft’s landing gear

    A body was discovered in the landing gear of a Turkish Airlines aircraft after it arrived in Istanbul from Amsterdam late on Thursday, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the airline.

    The identity and nationality of the individual have not yet been determined.

    Both the police and the airline are conducting separate investigations into the incident, according to the spokesperson.

    The private news agency Demirören reported that an Airbus A330, which had flown from Amsterdam, landed at Istanbul Airport late on Thursday. Subsequently, during routine maintenance checks, technical teams discovered a deceased person on board.

  • Dispute as security of South African leaders stranded on aircraft in Poland

    Dispute as security of South African leaders stranded on aircraft in Poland

    For several hours, the South African president’s security crew has been detained aboard an aircraft in Poland.

    It’s reported that authorities are refusing to allow them and accompanying journalists to disembark and continue their journey to Ukraine where Cyril Ramaphosa is leading the peace mission by African heads of states.

    The SAA chartered flight with more than 120 people on board reportedly landed in Warsaw’s Chopin Airport early on Thursday afternoon.

    Ramaphosa’s head of security, Maj Gen Wally Rhoode, said the Polish government was sabotaging the president’s security by not allowing them to disembark.

    “They are delaying us, they are putting the life of our president in jeopardy,” he told journalists.

    “Because we could have been in Kyiv by now and this is all they are doing. I want you guys to see how racist they are.”

    The Polish authorities have not commented on the situation.

  • Airplane’s landing gear completely snaps off during an emergency landing

    Airplane’s landing gear completely snaps off during an emergency landing

    An airplane’s landing gear completely detached during an emergency landing.

    The landing gear failed to retract shortly after takeoff, forcing the captain of a Boeing 747 bound for Chicago O’Hare Airport in the USA to abort the flight.

    The airline, Cargolux, acknowledged that last evening there was a “significant landing incident” involving one of their aircraft.

    Terrifying footage filmed by onlookers shows the aircraft coming in to land at Luxembourg Airport after it safely dumped fuel and turned back.

    As the plane touches down with its rear wheels, it starts to disappear out of the shot momentarily.

    But then a shocked woman behind the camera can be heard saying: ‘Woah, woah, woah, s***!’

    Just out of shot, the right-hand landing gear had completely snapped off from the underside of the aircraft.

    The landing gear snapped off the plane after the pilot was forced into an emergency landing
    The landing gear snapped off the plane after the pilot was forced into an emergency landing (Credits: ViralPress)
    The landing gear was captured bouncing through the air along the runway after snapping off
    The landing gear was captured bouncing through the air along the runway after snapping off (Picture: ViralPress)

    When the camera pans further left, the entire landing gear can be seen dramatically flying through the air and bouncing along the runway.

    Huge puffs of dust and smoke kick up from the tarmac before the landing gear comes to a standstill on the ground.

    A fire service truck immediately rushes towards the damaged plane to help.

    Pictures taken afterwards show significant damage to the fuselage with crumpled bodywork and a gaping hole in the plane.

    The plane was badly damaged in the emergency landing
    The plane was badly damaged in the emergency landing (Picture: ViralPress)
    Emergency services were immediately on hand at the scene
    Emergency services were immediately on hand at the scene (Picture: ViralPress)

    The wheels of the landing gear were torn off and entirely separated from the plane.

    A Cargolux spokesman said: ‘Cargolux would like to confirm that one of its aircraft, B747-400F bearing registration mark LX-OCV, suffered a significant landing incident at Luxembourg airport on Sunday evening at 18:52.

    ‘The aircraft was unable to retract its landing gear on take-off from Luxembourg.

    ‘As a result, it was forced to safely dump fuel in order to return to land at the airport.

    ‘On its landing roll its right body landing gear detached from the aircraft.’

    The wheels of the plane's landing gear came clean off
    The wheels of the plane’s landing gear came clean off (Picture: ViralPress)

    Fortunately no one was hurt in the incident and Cargolux say the plane managed to come to a ‘controlled stop’ before emergency services attended the scene.

    The spokesman added: ‘No persons on board nor on the ground suffered any injuries.

    ‘The relevant authorities have been informed of the incident.

    ‘The aircraft remains on the runway and recovery efforts are underway.’

    Last month, a plane carrying the Arsenal women’s football team burst into flames on the runway as it was taking off.

  • Govt repairs some aircraft to fight galamsey activities

    Govt repairs some aircraft to fight galamsey activities

    As the government collaborates with the Ghana Chamber of Mines and the Ghana Airforce (Western Command) to repair some specialized aircraft, the fight against “galamsey” is becoming more intense.

    These aircraft will be used for information gathering, surveillance, and area recognition.

    The three aircraft were inspected by George Mireku Duker, the deputy land minister in charge of mines, on Friday at the Takoradi Airforce Base. He noted that they had not been in use since 2014.

    The Ghana Chamber of Mines is funding the repairs, which are expected to cost €700,000 and take six months to complete.

    Repair works begin on some aircraft for anti-galamsey activities

    “This is an effort we are making to clamp down on recalcitrant miners who are determined to destroy our industry. We want to streamline and regulate activities in the mining sector,” he said.

    Mr Duker expressed the belief that repairing the aircraft was a cost-effective measure to facilitate the fight against “galamsey” as against procuring new drones and other equipment for mining surveillance.

    Servicing the aircraft would see the replacement of crashes, hard drives, outdated software and engines, among other things.

    Repair works begin on some aircraft for anti-galamsey activities

    Mr Duker commended the Chamber of Mines for its immeasurable and patriotic effort towards the fight against illegal mining and lauded the Ghana Armed Forces for its support.

  • Ghanaian pilot who flew the biggest aircraft in the world quits Emirates for McDan Aviation

    The Ghanaian pilot who is on record to have flown the biggest passenger aircraft in the world which is said to belong to Emirates has quit his job with Emirates.

    Solomon Quainoo has joined McDan Aviation.

    He made this announcement via his social media handles saying “Goodbye Emirates, Hello McDan”.

    Solomon Quinoo became well known when he was the man in the cockpit when Emirates operated the A380 to Accra, Ghana for the first time in a one-off flight when the Terminal 3 is inaugurated on Tuesday, October 2, 2018.

    Educated at the Koforidua Secondary Technical and the University of Ghana, his career spans about 14 years with seven and half of it with Emirates Airlines.

    He has operated different types of aircraft including Boeing 777 and A340 before gaining command to pilot the A380, the biggest passenger aircraft in the world.

    McDan Aviation belongs to Ghanaian billionaire Daniel McKorley which runs private jet services at the Kotoka International Airport.

    Source:ghanaweb.com