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What is the fuel switch at the heart of the Air India crash investigation?
Sources briefed by U.S. officials on their early assessment of the evidence said that a cockpit recording of the dialogue between the two Air India pilots that led to the crash last month confirms that the captain stopped the fuel flow to the plane's engine. Here are some facts about the engine fuel switches. They describe their function in the aircraft, and how they moved on an Air India flight. What are fuel switches? These switches regulate the fuel flow to a plane's engine. Pilots use them to shut down engines or start engines manually on the ground. Experts in aviation say that a pilot could not accidentally move fuel switches feeding the engines. If moved, however, it would immediately cut off the engine's power. According to John Cox, an aviation safety expert from the United States, there are separate power systems and wirings for the fuel shutoff switches and fuel valves that they control. Where are the fuel switches located? The fuel control switches are located under the thrust levers on a Boeing 787-8, which is equipped with two GE engine in Air India's instance. The switches have a spring loaded mechanism that keeps them in place. The pilot must first lift the switch and then change it from cutoff to run. There are two different modes: 'CUTOFF" and "RUN". What happened on the fatal AIR INDIA flight? According to the flight recording, after a few seconds of takeoff, both switches were switched from "RUN" to "CUTOFF", one after the other, with a one-second time difference. The engines started to lose power as a result. On the cockpit voice recording, one pilot is heard asking the other pilot why he has cut off the fuel. The report stated that "the other pilot replied that he had not done so." The report failed to identify the remarks made by the captain of the flight and those by the first officer. Sources briefed about U.S. officials early assessment said that the first officer, who was in control of the 787 at the time, asked the captain to explain why he had moved the fuel switches so that they starved the engine of fuel. He then requested that the captain restore fuel flow. According to the preliminary report both switches were in the "RUN" position and found at the crash scene. The report stated that when fuel control switches from 'CUTOFF to RUN' are moved while the aircraft is flying, the control system of each engine automatically manages a sequence for relighting and restoring thrust, including ignition and fuel injection. John Nance, an aviation safety expert from the United States, said that "no sane person would turn off those switches in flight", especially when the plane was just beginning to climb. (Reporting from Abhijith Gaapavaram, New Delhi; Dan Catchpole, Seattle; editing by Jamie Freed).
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Air India's Boeing Dreamliner crash: Inside the cockpit
Sources briefed by U.S. officials on their early assessment of the evidence said that a cockpit recording of the dialogue between the two Air India pilots that led to the crash last month confirms that the captain stopped the fuel flow to the plane's engine. The sequence of events on June 12 is detailed in the preliminary investigation report by Indian investigators, released on July 12. Air India Dreamliner VTANB landed at Ahmedabad as AI423 at 05:47 GMT. 07:48 GMT - An aircraft was observed leaving Bay 34 of the airport. 07:55 GMT - Air traffic control granted the taxi clearance to the aircraft. A minute later, the aircraft taxiied from the bay via TaxiwayR4 and backtracked before lining up for takeoff. 08:02 GMT - The aircraft has been transferred from tower to ground control. Take-off clearance has been issued at 08:07 GMT. The aircraft began rolling at 08:07 GMT. Aircraft lifted off at 08:08 GMT. The report stated that "the aircraft air/ground sensor switched to air mode in accordance with liftoff." Aircraft reaches maximum airspeed of 180 knots at 08:08 GMT. "Immediately after, the Engine 1 fuel cutoff switch and Engine 2 fuel shutoff switch transitioned one by one from RUN to CUTOFF with a gap of 1 sec." The Engine N1 and N2 started to degrade from their takeoff values when the fuel supply was cut off. In the cockpit recording, one pilot is heard asking another why he cut off. "The other pilot replied that he didn't do it." The airport's CCTV footage shows that Ram Air Turbines (RATs) are deployed immediately after take-off during the initial climb. The aircraft began to lose height before crossing the perimeter wall of the airport. The RAT hydraulic pump started supplying power at 08:08 GMT. The fuel cutoff switch for Engine 1 has been changed from CUTOFF (stop) to RUN (run). The fuel cutoff switch for Engine 2 also changes from CUTOFF (stop) to RUN at 08:08 PM GMT. When fuel control switches from CUTOFF are changed to RUN during flight, the full authority dual engine controls (FADECs) of each engine automatically manage a relighting and thrust recovery sequence. Engine 1's core speed deceleration halted, reversed, and began to recover. Engine 2 could relight, but it was unable to stop core speed deceleration. Fuel was repeatedly added to the engine to increase core acceleration and recovery. The pilot who sent "MAYDAY Mayday Mayday" at 08:09 GMT. 08:09 GMT - Data recording has stopped. (Reporting by Aditya Kalra; Editing by Jamie Freed) 08:14.44 GMT - Crash Fire tender leaves the airport premises to rescue and fight fires. (Reporting and editing by Jamie Freed; Aditya Klra)
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What were the names of the two pilots that flew the Air India jet which crashed?
Sources briefed by U.S. officials on their early assessment of the evidence said that a cockpit recording of dialogue between two pilots of an Air India flight which crashed last month confirms that the captain stopped the fuel flow to the plane's engine. Here is a short profile of both pilots, based on media reports and the preliminary investigation report: CAPTAIN SUMEET SABHARWAL The 56-year old pilot had a valid airline transport pilot's license until May 14, 2026. He was cleared to fly in the role of pilot-in command on several aircraft, including the Boeing 787, 777 and Airbus A310. He has accumulated a total of 15,638 flying hours. Of these, 8,596 were spent on a Boeing 7. According to a report in the Times of India, Sabharwal called his family at the airport and assured them that he would call again once he landed in London. He was described as a gentleman by a pilot who briefly spoke with him. FIRST OFFICER CLIVE KUNDER The 32-year old had a commercial license that was issued in the year 2020 and was valid until 26 September 2025. He was cleared to fly the Cessna 172, Piper PA-34 Seneca and Airbus A320 as well as Boeing 787 as a co-pilot. His total flying time was 3,403 hrs. One-hundred and twenty eight hours were spent as a copilot on a 787. Indian media, citing his family, reported that Kunder has been a passionate flyer since his school days. In 2012, he began working as a pilot. He joined Air India as a pilot in 2017. Reporting by Abhijith and Adityakalra, editing by Jamie Freed
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The key events of the Air India crash investigation
Sources briefed by U.S. officials on their early assessment of the evidence said that a cockpit recording of dialogue between two pilots of an Air India flight which crashed last month confirms that the captain stopped the fuel flow to the plane's engine. The timeline below shows the key events of the investigation so far: JUNE 12 Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner headed for London crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, killing all 242 passengers on board except one. JUNE 13 India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau launches an investigation in the deadliest aircraft crash of the past decade. The team includes an aviation medicine expert, an air traffic controller, and representatives of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. Boeing 787 jets are equipped with two GE recorders. One is installed in the front of the jet and the other at the back. Both aircraft have a cockpit data recorder as well as a voice recorder. A black box is recovered on the roof of a nearby building. JUNE 16 The second blackbox unit was recovered from the debris on the crash site. JUNE 24 Indian Air Force aircraft transported the two black boxes separately from Ahmedabad, India to an AAIB laboratory in Delhi. The team, led by the AAIB Director General and technical members of AAIB and NTSB, began the data extraction in the evening. JUNE 25 The data from the memory module of the black box unit at the front end of the aircraft was successfully downloaded. If the power source of the aircraft is lost, the forward recorder has an independent power supply which provides power for the device for approximately 10 minutes. JULY 12 The preliminary report of Indian investigators indicated that there was no recommendation to Boeing or GE for this stage. This indicates a fault with the aircraft or engine is unlikely. The report said that one pilot could be heard asking the other pilot on the cockpit recording why he had cut off the gas. The report stated that "the other pilot replied that he had not done so." The crash report did not specify which flight captain made the remarks and which first officer. Nor did it identify which pilot sent out "Mayday Mayday Mayday" before the crash. Within a year after the crash, a final report will be expected. JULY 16 The Wall Street Journal reported that the first officer who was piloting the plane asked the captain, who had more experience, why he put the fuel switches in the "cutoff position" seconds after the plane lifted off the runway. JULY 17 In a press release, the AAIB stated that "certain sections in international media have repeatedly attempted to draw conclusions by using selective and unverified reports." The AAIB added that the investigation is ongoing and it's too early to make definitive conclusions. A spokesperson for the board said that the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board was assisting in the Air India investigation, and its chair Jennifer Homendy had been fully briefed about all aspects. The spokesperson said that this included the cockpit voice recordings and the details from the flight recorder, which the NTSB helped the AAIB to read out. Reporting by Abhijith Ganahapavaram, New Delhi. Editing by Jamie Freed
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WSJ reports that Union Pacific is exploring a deal to purchase Norfolk Southern.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Union Pacific was looking at a deal with rival Norfolk Southern. This merger could be a game changer for the industry and attract intense regulatory scrutiny. Norfolk's shares grew 4% in extended trade. The Journal, citing sources familiar with the situation, said that the talks were in an early stage, and there was no guarantee they would lead to a deal or regulatory approval. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern have not responded to comments immediately. The acquisition could create a railroad titan with a combined value of around $200 billion. This would further consolidate an industry which has shrunk over the last several decades from dozens to a few major carriers. Semafor had reported that Morgan Stanley and Union Pacific were exploring the possibility of an acquisition by a competitor. Could not confirm immediately either report. Surface Transportation Board, a regulatory agency that oversees railroads, would have to approve a deal of this magnitude. The deal would also need to be supported by the unions of workers. The STB approved Canadian Pacific’s $31 billion purchase of Kansas City Southern by 2023, with multiple conditions. This was the most stringent regulatory oversight ever placed on a major rail merger. (Reporting and editing by Devika Syamnath in Bengaluru)
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S&P 500 and Nasdaq close at record levels as earnings, data point to consumer strength
Investors praised strong economic data, and earnings reports showed that American consumers were willing to spend. Six of the last seven Nasdaq sessions ended with a record-high, while the S&P 500 had six top finishes since June 27, Preliminary data shows that the S&P 500 rose 35.32 points or 0.56% to 6,299.02, and the Nasdaq Composite rose 157.25 or 0.76% to 20,887.74. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 247.64, or 0.56% to 44,502.42. Wall Street is on a good run after it fell in early April following President Donald Trump’s announcements about Liberation Day tariffs. The week of April 8th was seen as the test for these gains, with several key economic reports being released and the beginning of second quarter earnings season. The economic data and earnings reports of corporations "show that the economy is still very solid and therefore markets were able to grind up this week, with some data supporting where we're going," said Anthony Saglimbene. Chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial. Data released on Thursday showed that U.S. retails sales rebounded sharply in the month of June. Investors saw renewed consumer confidence and economic momentum after mixed inflation data that showed both a stalling of producer prices and an increase in consumer inflation during the same month. Investors are watching to see if Trump's tariff policy is starting to affect the U.S. economic system. Federal Reserve officials have indicated that they will not cut interest rates until they can assess the inflationary effects of higher import taxes. Adriana Kugler of the Fed said that rate cuts will be on hold until Trump's tariffs start to increase consumer prices. According to CME's FedWatch, traders now place the odds at just over 54% for a rate cut in September. A move in July is almost ruled out. Positive comments from companies that cater to American consumers accompanied the strong retail sales. PepsiCo's stock jumped following a forecast of positive results. Demand for energy drinks, and healthier sodas helped offset concerns over a decline in core profit. United Airlines has gained since the carrier forecast stronger demand in early July. This is a rare positive sign for an industry that's been strained by Trump budget cuts and trade tensions. Delta Airlines and American Airlines are also climbing. The technology stocks, and in particular U.S. chipsmakers, were also boosted after TSMC posted a record quarter profit. The company, which is the world's largest producer of AI chips, said that demand for artificial intelligence has been increasing. TSMC shares listed in the U.S. as well as Marvell and Nvidia gained. Ameriprise's Saglimbene says the TSMC earnings explosion bodes well for chipmakers as well as the technology sector. "Before the Big Tech earnings are released in the next two weeks, the sole source of production for those chips (AI) is stating that their demand is extremely high. The set-up is positive for Big Tech, and that's why technology is dominating the news today," he said. (Reporting from Pranav Kashyap in Bengaluru, Nikhil Sharma and David French in New York. Editing by Maju Sam and David Gregorio.
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Russian crew member of a ship sunk in Yemen by Houthi militants is being treated.
According to a Russian source, the state news agency RIA reported on Thursday that a Russian crew member from a Greek cargo vessel sunk by Houthi terrorists was receiving treatment in Yemen. RIA identified Aleksei Galactikov as the Russian mariner. He was one of the crew members picked up after the sinking by the Yemeni Navy. The report quoted a high-ranking source who said that the man's condition had improved significantly since the attack. Sources in maritime security had reported earlier that 10 mariners, eight crew members and 2 security guards, had been rescued. They were taken to Saudi Arabia. Sources said that all of the crew except one Russian were Filipinos. Sources said that the Iran-aligned Houthis sank the Liberia flagged Eternity C with 22 crew members and three armed guards aboard, after attacking it with sea drones, rocket-propelled grenades and over two consecutive days. A private search for the remaining 15 passengers on board was called off. Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched more than 100 attacks on ships in an apparent act of solidarity to the Palestinians during the Gaza War. (Reporting by ; Editing by Sandra Maler)
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US Transport chief on California high speed rail: "We have to stop it"
U.S. Transportation secretary Sean Duffy is confident that the administration will win any lawsuits challenging the department's decisions to rescind the $4 billion of U.S. Government funding for California's High-Speed Rail Project. "I wish that it had gone to California. We supported the California project but it will cost more than $130 billion, and there is no funding plan or timeline for completion. Duffy told reporters in front of the department's HQ that "we have to pull out the plug". California High-Speed Rail System (California High-Speed Rail System) is a two-phase 800-mile (1,287-km) system that will connect San Francisco with Los Angeles and Anaheim. In the second phase it will extend north to Sacramento, and south to San Diego. Officials in California called the action illegal. The latest clash between the Republican Administration of President Donald Trump and California has been over the transgender athletes' rights, electric vehicle regulations, and the use of National Guard soldiers during protests in Los Angeles. Last month, the Federal Railroad Administration released a 315 page report citing missed timelines, budget shortages and questionable projections of ridership. The San Francisco to Los Angeles project, originally estimated to cost $33 billion by 2020, has now increased from $89 billion up to $128 billion. California High-Speed Rail Authority stated that it is "fast approaching the track-laying stage, with 171 mile under active construction and designing, 15,500 new jobs created, as well as more than 50 major structural structures completed." In 2008, voters approved $10 billion for this project. Former President Joe Biden's Transportation Department awarded the project approximately $4 billion. Biden, in 2021 restored the $929 million grant that Trump had revoked for California's high speed rail system.
Georgia's new nuclear plants drive United States power sector clean-up: Maguire
New nuclear power plants in Georgia have actually assisted flip the state's power mix so that electricity from tidy energy sources has gone beyond nonrenewable fuel source electrical energy output for the first time.
Georgia's greater nuclear generation has in turn helped to slash the carbon intensity of power generation within the Southern Providers power system, which produces electrical energy and power for most of Georgia, Alabama and parts of Mississippi.
The generation mix reversal and drop in power emissions demonstrate the impact that a broadened nuclear fleet can have on energy systems, regardless of the considerable expense overruns and construction delays that beset the Georgia reactors.
VERY LONG TIME COMING
The Vogtle Electric Getting Plant in Waynesboro, Georgia is the largest nuclear plant in the United States, with a power producing capability of 4,536 megawatts (MW).
The very first 2 reactor systems went into production in the late 1980's, and between 2012 and 2022 generated around 27% of Georgia's electricity, according to information from Coal.
Since the beginning of 2023, that nuclear generation share has climbed to 30% thanks to the start-up of the final two reactors at the Vogtle website.
Initial building on the last 2 reactors - Vogtle 3 and Vogtle 4 - started in 2009, and were originally slated to expense around $14 billion, according to a Vogtle Construction Monitoring report.
However, a series of development hold-ups and enormous cost overruns indicated the last reactors just got in production within the last 18 months, nearly 15 years after task beginning.
The last costs for systems 3 and 4 was over $35 billion, according to a report titled Plant Vogtle: The True Expense of Nuclear Power in the U.S., issued this year by a group of Georgia consumer supporters.
The report's authors claim that the final expense of electricity created by the Vogtle reactors will be $10,784 per kilowatt hour (KWh), which would make it the most expensive electrical energy worldwide.
In contrast, electricity produced from wind farms, solar jobs and natural gas-fired plants varies from $1,000 to $ 1,500 per KWh, the report added.
UP AND RUNNING
Leaving the cost problem aside, the effect of the now completely functional Vogtle plant is beginning to emerge.
From 2018 through 2022, the Vogtle website created an average of 2,813 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electrical energy a month for the state of Georgia, around 27% of total state electricity materials according to Ember.
Because Vogtle 3 began operations in April 2023, that generation overall rose to approximately around 3,500 GWh a month, and climbed to over 4,600 GWh in May 2024, when Vogtle 4 initially began running.
CHANGING MIX
The dramatically higher production from atomic power plants has affected Georgia's electrical energy mix in several crucial methods.
To start with, the share of generation from nuclear reactors leapt to 37% in May - a complete 10 portion point above the long-term average - as the Vogtle 4 plant came online.
Second of all, the state's overall electrical power generation overall climbed to new highs as more nuclear generation was added to the output from other sources.
Throughout the January to May period, Georgia's overall electricity generation was 55,634 GWh, which was a record for that period and marked a 12.3% jump from the exact same months in 2023, Ash data shows.
Finally, the higher level of nuclear generation likewise increased Georgia's overall clean electricity output levels, which surpassed generation from the state's fossil fuel properties throughout March, April and May of this year for the very first time on record.
Tidy power's share of the Georgia generation mix was a. record 47% for the January to May period, and compares to 41.5%. during the same months a year back.
Continual output from Vogtle 3 and 4 over the rest of. 2024 might assist push the clean power share of the general mix. closer to 50%.
LARGER IMPACT
Vogtle's complete ramp-up was also apparent farther afield, with. the carbon strength of power production of the Southern Company. Providers power system visiting 14% up until now in 2024 from 2023's. average levels.
Roughly 427 grams of carbon dioxide were released by the. Southern power system for every single kilowatt hour of electrical power. produced up until now in 2024, according to Electricitymaps.com.
That carbon intensity compares to 440 grams of CO2/KWh in. 2023, and 467 g/CO2/KWh in 2022.
For Georgia's power customers, the steep decrease in. emissions per system of electricity, in addition to greater overall. electrical energy products, are a favourable result of the conclusion. of the Vogtle site.
And over the longer term, rising amounts of clean power. might become a more significant aspect of the energy sector than. the last expense of any specific generation property.
<< The opinions revealed here are those of the author, a. columnist .>
(source: Reuters)