Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group.&nbsp;He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion,&nbsp;the&nbsp;student newspaper at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, serving as editor-in-chief before graduating with a bachelor's in aeronautical science. After a stint as managing editor at Professional Pilot&nbsp;magazine, he joined&nbsp;AIN in late 1998. Chad holds a commercial pilot certificated with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and he also is a CFI/CFII. He lives and works from his home in Venice, Florida.

Online Editor

Chad Trautvetter

The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) yesterday issued three safety recommendations related to an uncommanded and unarrested flap extension above the maximum flaps extension speed while Bombardier Challenger 604 D-AAAY was on climbout from Farnborough Airport on August 10. Two of the recommendations in the AAIB’s follow-on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gov.uk/aaib-reports/aaib-special-bulletin-s1-slash-2023-bombardier-cl-600-2b16-604-variant-d-aaay">Special Bulletin</a>&nbsp;are for life limits on the aircraft’s four flap extend and retract relays, while the third calls for the UK Civil Aviation Authority to “reassess the safety case for the flap operating system.”
According to the AAIB, a failure in the System 1 retract relay prevented the system from arresting the uncommanded flaps extension. This failure also caused the flaps on D-AAAY to retract at half speed during the previous 64 flights recorded on the flight data recorder—without the pilots being aware. Bombardier has since issued five service bulletins addressing this issue and Transport Canada published a related airworthiness directive on February 10.
The cause of the failure was damage to the D contacts in the flap extend relay, which resulted from an unsuppressed back-EMF&nbsp;generated when the flap brake detector unit was de-energized, the AAIB said. The four flap extend and retract relays form part of the system to arrest an uncommanded flap movement, it added.
The AAIB continues its investigation into the incident and will issue a final report “in due course.”

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

UK Air Accident Investigators Issue Safety Guidance in Wake of Challenger 604 Uncommanded Flap Extension Incident

The UK AAIB is urging life limits for four relays and reassessment of the 600-series Challenger flap system following an uncommanded flap extension event.

AAIB Issues Safety Guidance in Wake of CL604 Flap Mishap

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Ultra-long-range model has amassed 75 records, many from customer trips

Speed Records Abound for Bombardier's Global 7500

We talk through the process from conception to delivery

Flying Privately: How Aircraft Like the Bombardier Global 8000 Come to Life

Hanneke Weitering

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

AltiSky will assemble, sell, and service VoltAero's aircraft

VoltAero Picks U.S. Distributor for Cassio Hybrid-electric Aircraft 

Jennifer Leach English

Company noncommittal on expanding its lineup upwards, citing $1B investment cost

Embraer’s Plans for a Larger Bizjet Remain Up in the Air

Operations ebbed, backlogs were steady, and available aircraft increased

GJC: Bizjet Market Continues To Stabilize in 3Q2024

Greenville-based charter operator pre-orders 10 eVTOL air taxis

SAI Flight To Operate SkyDrive eVTOL in South Carolina

Charles Alcock

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

More In Aircraft

Speed Records Abound for Bombardier's Global 7500

Ultra-long-range model has amassed 75 records, many from customer trips

Flying Privately: How Aircraft Like the Bombardier Global 8000 Come to Life

We talk through the process from conception to delivery

VoltAero Picks U.S. Distributor for Cassio Hybrid-electric Aircraft

AltiSky will assemble, sell, and service VoltAero's aircraft

Embraer’s Plans for a Larger Bizjet Remain Up in the Air

Company noncommittal on expanding its lineup upwards, citing $1B investment cost

GJC: Bizjet Market Continues To Stabilize in 3Q2024

Operations ebbed, backlogs were steady, and available aircraft increased

SAI Flight To Operate SkyDrive eVTOL in South Carolina

Greenville-based charter operator pre-orders 10 eVTOL air taxis

AMSL Starts Untethered Flight Tests with Vertiia eVTOL Aircraft

Australian start-up is developing a hydrogen-powered aircraft

Deliveries Increase as EHang Works to Boost eVTOL Aircraft Performance

Chinese manufacturing wants to extend range with solid-state batteries

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN