Hello and welcome to the 44th iteration of Simple Flying's 'Sunday Reads' weekly digest. We hope you've had a pleasant week, and what better way to end it than to take a look back at some of our most notable stories regarding commercial aviation from the last seven days!
Qatar Airways' A321neo Order Canceled By Airbus Amid A350 Dispute
The ongoing dispute between Airbus and Qatar Airways regarding surface degradation on the Doha-based carrier's A350s has taken a dramatic turn. Earlier this week, the European manufacturer announced that it had subsequently canceled Qatar Airways' longstanding order for 50 A321neo aircraft. You can read more on the matter here.
5G Debacle: US FAA Continues To Clear Aircraft For Operations
This week has also seen several key developments regarding airline operations in the US amid the country's 5G rollout. With fears that C-band 5G may interfere with equipment, the FAA is certifying aircraft to make low-visibility landings, with 80% now cleared.
Qatar Airways Releases Video Of Airbus A350 Damage
Another interesting turn in the tussle between Airbus and Qatar Airways has been the publication of a video by the latter party. The media in question depicts damage to its A350s showing defects such as flaking paint. You can see the clip in our article here.
A Look At Some Of The Most Notable Gear-Up Landings
Over the course of aviation history, there have been several instances in which aircraft have had to land on their bellies due to gear failures. Earlier this week, Simple Flying took a look back in time to examine some of the most notable, which you can read about here.
Hot Air Balloon Falls Near Copa Plane In Colombia
Medellin José María Cordova International Airport in Colombia recently narrowly avoided operational disruption when a hot air balloon made an unplanned landing. Although it caused no delays, videos show that the balloon nearly hit a Copa Airlines jet.
A Look At Lufthansa's New Boeing 747-8 Premium Economy Seat
Going forward, certain Lufthansa Group airlines will have new premium economy seats onboard their long-haul aircraft. This includes Lufthansa's Boeing 747-8s, which will feature the ZIMprivacy design. You can read more about these new seats here.
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What was your favorite story this week? Let us know what your thoughts are in the comments!