FAA investigates
FAA looks into the SkyWest emergency landing due to contradictory statements. FAA:
The flight crew reported a pressurization problem and declared an emergency before landing safely. While a SkyWest spokeswoman said one passenger lost consciousness during the flight, the airline disputed news reports that a door had opened on the aircraft [also stating] there was no indication that the plane lost cabin pressure.
Computer glitch grounds all flights
A computer system glitch grounds and delays 3500 United Airlines flights, causing a ripple effect of heavy delays throughout major airports. Aviation experts said that delays of even 90 minutes could have a snowball effect triggering flight delays at each late flight’s destination. The FAA specifically blames the ground stop on “automation issues”. Passengers complain of system backups and long lines. Gate agents at some locations are forced to write tickets by hand.
We experienced a network connectivity issue this morning. We are working to resolve this and apologize to our customers for any inconvenience.
FAA approves paper drone
FAA approves the PowerUp 3.0 paper airplane drone to fly commercially. The smartphone-controlled paper airplane has a flight time of five to 10 minutes and a range of 180 feet. It has also been used and endorsed by NASA scientists. The petition was filed by a lawyer with a concentration in drone law and pilot who wants to use the paper airplane drone to take aerial videos and photos.
I intend to operate my UA [Unmanned Aircraft] commercially by conducting aerial photography and videography, both at the request of others and absent anyone’d request, but in either with the intent to create salable art.
Plane catches fire
A fire breaks out at the Las Vegas airport on Flight 2276 heading for Gatwick Airport in London. 14 people are transported for medical care for minor injuries. One of the injured says the plane was getting ready to take off when he heard a big thud. He lifted the window shade and saw flames on the engine. The plane stopped and the captain told the passengers there was an emergency and they needed to evacuate. When one of the emergency doors opened, smoke poured in. Flight attendants directed passengers to safety. The Federal Aviation Administration says the aircraft’s left engine caught fire, prompting the crew to abort the take-off. The flight had 159 passengers and 13 crew members aboard.
British Airways plane on fire at #LAS Vegas airport @cnn @cnnbrk pic.twitter.com/0ogixuYSqX
— George (@Gyleong) September 8, 2015
Flights resumed
American Airlines fixes a technology problem that grounded flights. The Federal Aviation Administration says the airline had requested to halt service to Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth and Miami airports. A spokesman for the carrier has cited a “connectivity issue” for the halt in service to the three airports.
We have resolved connectivity issues that led to a ground stop today. We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to get our customers on their way as soon as possible.
FAA grounds Starship pending crash investigation
SpaceX’s Starship rockets are grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration, after the rocket exploded on Thursday morning, to investigate the failed launch. FAA statement:
An anomaly occurred during the ascent and prior to stage separation resulting in a loss of the vehicle. No injuries or public property damage have been reported. The FAA will oversee the mishap investigation of the Starship / Super Heavy test mission. A return to flight of the Starship / Super Heavy vehicle is based on the FAA determining that any system, process, or procedure related to the mishap does not affect public safety. This is standard practice for all mishap investigations. The FAA is responsible for protecting the public during commercial space transportation launch and reentry operations.
Conservationists sue FAA over SpaceX launches
Conservation groups sue the Federal Aviation Administration for approving expanded rocket launch operations by SpaceX without an environmental impact study (EIS), an extensive study that includes public review and can take years or decades to complete. The FAA approved the launches based on a far less thorough assessment and a finding that SpaceX activities at Boca Chica pose “no significant impact” on the environment.
The federal court lawsuit is filed in the District of Columbia by the Center for Biological Diversity, the American Bird Conservancy, Surfrider Foundation, Save RGV (Rio Grand Valley), and the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation. It says that explosion was only the latest in a series of at least nine that have occurred at Boca Chica in recent years and that the mishaps are disrupting a haven for protected wildlife and vital habitat for migratory birds. The plaintiffs are asking the court to vacate the finding of no significant impact and require a full EIS before any more launches occur.
This case concerns whether the nation’s commitment to preserving our critical wildlife habitat and treasured coastal landscapes must be sacrificed as we reach out to explore the cosmos.
Musk: Starship ‘ready to launch’
Reponding to a video posted on X by SpaceX, showing a “fully stacked” Starship on the launchpad at Boca Chica Starbase, Musk says Starship is ready for its second attempt at an orbital flight test, pending regulatory approval.
Starship is ready to launch, awaiting FAA license approval
Starship is ready to launch, awaiting FAA license approval https://t.co/WjENkdudo9
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 6, 2023
The FAA says the launch licence application for Starship depends on various requirements being met, including reviews on policy, payload, safety, airspace integration, financial responsibility and environmental impacts.
The FAA will make a licence determination only after the agency is satisfied SpaceX meets all licensing, safety and other regulatory requirements.