Summary
- S7 Airlines modified its de-icing procedures for the Boeing 737-800 following several engine incidents.
- Engine characteristics were affected by the de-icing fluid, however the engine remained operational.
- The Russian aviation regulator beneficial turning off engines during de-icing, washing engines more often, and analyzing risks for other aircraft types.
Russia-based S7 Airlines was forced to vary its anti-ice procedures for the Boeing 737-800 following several engine incidents. The change was made following meeting with officials from the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency (FATA, Росавиация).
Turning off the engines for deicing
Based on the airline, it had experienced several incidents with its Boeing 737-800 in the times leading as much as the choice, which was announced on January 31, 2024. S7 Airlines explained that crews reported changes to the operating characteristics of one among the CFM International CFM56 engines powering the 737-800 when the aircraft was being deiced. Complying with safety requirements, the pilots would typically return to the parking area and await technicians to conduct additional inspections of the narrowbody jet.
Photo: Art Konovalov | Shutterstock
Based on the outcomes, the degraded engine characteristics were attributed to the contamination of the compressor blades as a consequence of the ingestion of the de-icing fluid. Nonetheless, S7 Airlines stated that the engine was fully operational during every event, and the problem didn’t impair its operation.
Consequently, S7 Airlines decided to vary its de-icing procedures when operating Boeing 737-800s, noting that now, the aircraft’s engines can be turned off while ground staff de-ice the airline’s aircraft of the sort. The carrier didn’t mention a gathering with FATA officials in its post on the social media Telegram.
Photo: Omid Behzadpour | Shutterstock
Meanwhile, FATA detailed that Dmitry Yadrov, the top of FATA, met with S7 Airlines to debate the problem. Through the meeting, Yadrov and the carrier’s representatives paid particular attention to engine surges of S7 Airlines’ 737-800s, the Russian aviation regulator explained on its Telegram channel. FATA added that there have been three separate events when engine surges were recorded within the last days of January 2024.
FATA made three recommendations to S7 Airlines, including turning off engines during de-icing procedures, washing the engines more often, and analyzing the situation in relation to other aircraft types to mitigate risks related to flight safety. Still, the Russian regulator emphasized that there have been no negative trends regarding the variety of incidents suffered by domestic airlines in January.
Russia’s S7 Cuts Moscow Crew By 15% Due To Aircraft Groundings
A few of S7 Airlines’ former crew members have already been hired by Aeroflot and its low-cost arm, Pobeda.
Two-engine stall on departure
On December 8, 2023, a S7 Airlines Boeing 737-800 suffered a two-engine stall while the aircraft was climbing shortly after its departure from Novosibirsk International Airport (OVB). The Boeing 737-800, registered as RA-73665, previous registration VQ-BKV, was operating flight S72502 to Moscow Domodedovo International Airport (DME).
The flight returned to OVB, in line with ADS-B Exchange data. Meanwhile, Flightradar24 records showed that the aircraft returned to industrial service on December 22, when it operated flight S75237 from OVB to Khabarovsk Novy Airport (KHV). It was unclear whether S7 Airlines had spare engines or imported parts via third-party intermediaries, considering that the Western world has sanctioned Russia and its aerospace sector over the invasion of Ukraine in February 2024.
Russian Aircraft Incidents Have Tripled In 2023 As Airlines Struggle To Maintain Planes
There have been over 180 incidents this yr.