Latest news with #safetychecks
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Driver caught with provisional licence that expired 41 years ago
Police seized a vehicle after discovering the driver had been using a provisional licence that expired decades ago, while conducting safety checks in Nelson and Blackburn. During the checks, 12 motorists were given tickets for not wearing seat belts. One was given a ticket for having illegally tinted windows, allowing only 28 per cent of light through. Legally, the front windscreen must let at least 75 per cent of light through and the front side windows must let at least 70 per cent of light through. The driver was adamant they were legal but a police device, that checks window tint levels, said otherwise. One vehicle was also seized due to the driver having an expired provisional licence. It expired more than 41 years ago. A police spokesperson said: 'Sergeant Dave, Rob and myself conducted a couple road safety checkpoints in Nelson then Blackburn. '12 motorists were given tickets for not wearing seat belts. 'One was given a ticket for illegally tinted windows, allowing only 28 per cent of light through. The driver was adamant that they were legal, our approved device says otherwise. 'Lastly, one vehicle was seized under S.165 of the Road Traffic Act due to the driver having an expired provisional licence. It expired over 41 years ago.'
Times of Oman
19-07-2025
- Automotive
- Times of Oman
Oman Air Enhances Fuel Switch Checks on Boeing Fleet
Muscat: National carrier Oman Air confirmed that it has carried out precautionary checks on the fuel switch mechanisms on its Boeing 787 and 737 fleet. Confirming this in an exclusive interview with Times of Oman, Captain Nasser Al Salmi, Chief Operating Officer of Oman Air, said, 'In line with regulatory guidance, we have conducted extra fuel switch checks on all of our Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft as a precautionary measure and as part of our ongoing commitment to the highest safety standards.' Oman Air has eight Boeing 787 aircraft and 23 Boeing 737 aircraft. While Boeing and the United States Federal Aviation Administration have affirmed the safety of the fuel switch locks, several airlines – including Oman Air, Etihad and Singapore Airlines – have opted to take additional precautionary steps in the interest of operational assurance and safety continuity. India's civil aviation regulator has issued a directive for airlines to conduct precautionary inspections of the fuel switch locking mechanisms on all Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft by July 21. This directive comes in the wake of a recent technical review and supports the industry's focus on continuous safety enhancement. On Monday, Etihad, the second-largest airline in the United Arab Emirates, urged all its pilots to check the fuel switches on 787 aircraft in its fleet. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) preliminary report, released in the early hours of Saturday, said the fuel control switches were found in the 'cutoff' position, triggering a global debate over whether pilot action or mechanical failure caused India's worst single-aircraft aviation disaster. Fuel switches are crucial components in the heart of an aircraft's cockpit that control the flow of fuel to the engines. The twin-engine Boeing 787, which crashed in Ahmedabad, has one switch for each engine. The switches sit underneath the throttle handles in the cockpit's centre console, positioned where pilots' hands naturally rest during critical flight phases. Physical brackets guard each switch on both sides, making it impossible to accidentally brush against them. A spring-loaded mechanism requires pilots to pull each switch upward against resistance before it can be moved.
The Sun
14-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
All Indian aircraft ordered to check vital fuel switches behind jet crash – amid fears disaster was pilot suicide
AIRLINES in India were today ordered to carry out urgent safety checks as the row over the crash which killed 260 people intensified. In 2018 regulators warned that a safety mechanism on fuel switches could disengage, increasing the chance of accidentally cutting off the engines. 9 9 9 9 Air India didn't check its planes at the time because the notice was not mandatory. But India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has now ordered airlines to carry out checks by next Monday. It comes as yet another pilot body slammed the preliminary report into the crash for turning the focus onto the captain and his first officer. Although the 15-page report did not rule out a mechanical cause, experts said it pointed towards a deliberate human act leading to fears of pilot suicide or mass homicide. The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) said it was "deeply disturbed by speculative narratives... particularly the reckless and unfounded insinuation of pilot suicide". The association said: "There is absolutely no basis for such a claim at this stage. It is deeply insensitive to the individuals and families involved. "To casually suggest pilot suicide without verified evidence is a gross violation of ethical reporting and a disservice to the dignity of the profession.' Flight AI 171 crashed on June 12 with the loss of 260 lives after first one fuel switch and then the other was turned off three seconds into the flight. The black box recorded one of the pilots asking the other: 'Why did you cut off?' to which the second replied: 'I did not do so.' The switches were turned back on but only one engine re-started and not in time to prevent the crash. Air India victims' families slam 'cover-up' probe as questions remain over possible engine switch confusion The report highlighted the 2018 US Federal Aviation Administration advice warning operators about the potential disengagement of the switches' locking mechanism, designed to prevent accidental operation. It applied to various Boeing models, including the 787 which was the plane that crashed last month. The notice was advisory, not mandatory, so Air India did not carry out any checks but the firm and all other airlines have now been ordered to do so. The DGCA said today: 'All airline operators of the affected aircraft are hereby advised to complete the inspection required no later than 21st July, 2025. 'Strict adherence to the timeline is essential to ensure continued airworthiness and safety of operations.' It comes as fears grow that the doomed flight was a pilot suicide. 9 9 And an aviation expert claimed this week that there was a vanishingly small chance the fuel was cut by accident. Ex-pilot Terry Tozer told The Sun why it was extremely likely that the fuel switches were cut off intentionally. The claims came after the preliminary report which revealed the final moments inside the cockpit was released on Saturday. Air India's CEO was also revealed to have backed the doomed fight's pilots in a leaked memo, Reuters reported. Key findings of the report: Dual engine shutdown - fuel cutoff switches moved from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' Confusion between pilots - cockpit audio confirms one pilot asked 'why did you cutoff', the other replied 'I didn't' RAT deployed - as seen in CCTV footage before the crash Engine relight attempted - fuel switches were found returned to the "RUN" at crash site 32 seconds - the time the aircraft was airborne before it crashed Thrust levers mismatch - Thrust levers found at idle but black box data shows takeoff thrust was still engaged Fuel test pass - fuel was clean without any contamination Normal take-off set-up - Flaps and landing gear correctly configured No bird activity - clear skies, good visibility, light winds Pilot credentials clear - both medically fit and rested No sabotage detected - although FAA alerted over a known fuel switch vulnerability not checked by Air India Aircraft loading - the flight was within weight and balance limits Airline head Campbell Wilson said the probe into the horrific crash was far from over and warned it would be unwise to jump to any conclusions. He said in the memo: "The release of the preliminary report marked the point at which we, along with the world, began receiving additional details about what took place. "Unsurprisingly, it provided both greater clarity and opened additional questions." Wilson added: "The preliminary report identified no cause nor made any recommendations, so I urge everyone to avoid drawing premature conclusions as the investigation is far from over." 9 9 9
ABC News
09-07-2025
- ABC News
Warnings over gas leaks after deadly explosion in Kingscliff home
Authorities are warning people to maintain regular safety checks on gas appliances after a house fire started by a suspected LPG-fuelled explosion fatally injured an elderly northern New South Wales man. The 85-year-old suffered severe burns to 50 per cent of his body when the fire erupted just before 7:30am on Monday in a demountable home at a residential village in Kingscliff. He was flown to the Royal Brisbane Hospital but police confirmed on Wednesday he had died. The man's 83-year-old wife, who was also in the home, suffered burns on her face and body and was taken to hospital. The home and a nearby car were destroyed by the blaze in over-50s village Noble Lakeside Park. NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Adam Dewbury said there were clear indications gas was involved. "We've got evidence of a pretty decent flash fire or a minor explosion, which has pushed a lot of the construction of that demountable outside of where we would normally expect if it was a fire that started in a kitchen or in a lounge or a TV," he said. "So there is information to indicate there has been some sort of vapour that has ignited. "One of the things that we do know was, on-scene were LPG or gas cylinders." Superintendent Dewbury said gas leaks were not uncommon and a leak could cause could an explosion. "LPG is heavier than air so it does sit low. It can travel some distance to find an ignition source," he said. "There only needs to be a small amount of gas that's escaped in a small area, like a room, and it can be ignited by a light switch or a fridge thermostat or your heater thermostat clicking on to actually ignite that gas and literally blow your home apart and start a fire. He recommended homeowners have gas cylinders, systems and appliances checked regularly for leaks. "You can do a simple test, just with some soapy water: splash it or spray it around and look for any air bubbles. If you get those gas bubbles, turn the gas bottle off and go for a reseal. "If you can't get it sealed up, call in a licensed tradesperson." NSW government gas safety tips: Plumber and gasfitter David Hipwell said gas appliances and equipment should be checked every couple of years to ensure there were no leaks, particularly from aging appliances. "Over the years, the standard has increased," he said. "There are a lot of safety features that they have added to the appliances over the years to make them safer." However, gas could leak from pipes and regulators and Mr Hipwell recommended a pressure check. "So what that does, it tests the entire line for any sorts of leaks and that will test the appliances and the pipes," he said. "Signs of a gas leak would be the smell of gas, firstly, difficulty in lighting and difficulty in keeping it alight, and excessive gas consumption. "With gas cooking, an orange flame is very dangerous for carbon monoxide poisoning." Gasfitters must hold a licence in NSW and Queensland and must certify any work they do.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Shanklea primary school stays shut after solar panel fire
A primary school will remain closed until Thursday following a fire which started in solar panels on the Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) said the blaze began just before 14:00 BST at Shanklea Primary School in Cramlington on was injured and Northumberland County Council said the damage was "not as significant as first thought".The local authority said the school would remain closed on Tuesday and Wednesday to allow remedial works and additional health and safety checks. NFRS said five crews were sent to the scene where the solar panels on the west side of the building were ablaze.A council spokesperson said: "School staff have worked hard alongside structural and electrical engineers to understand the extent of the damage caused by the fire."They added parents and carers would be informed of the next steps. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
