A Southwest Airlines jet wound up on the same runway with a small private plane that had stopped after an air traffic controller cleared both planes to land on the same California runway in October, according to federal investigators. The National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday that the planes came within 900 feet (275 meters) t of each other before the smaller plane taxied off the runway. The board said in a preliminary report that investigators interviewed the controller, a supervisor and others involved in the Oct. 19 incident in Long Beach, California. It did not comment on those interviews. The incident is among the latest in a number of recent cases in which planes came unnecessarily close due to errors by air traffic controllers or pilots. The NTSB said a controller told the crew of a four-seat Diamond DA40 to land on the main runway and stop short of an intersecting runway. About two minutes later, the controller cleared pilots of the Southwest Boeing 737 to land on the main runway, followed shortly by the Diamond crew telling the controller that they were stopped on the runway, as directed. As they were completing their landing rollout, the Southwest pilots told the controller that there was another aircraft on the main runway, the NTSB said. Both planes taxied to their parking areas without further incident.<br/>
unaligned
Brazilian budget carrier Gol is filing an initial proposed plan to re-organise under US Chapter 11 protection, following an agreement between the airline, its largest secured creditor Abra Group, and other parties. Filing of the plan, says Gol, implements “significant investment” of new capital and marks an “important milestone” towards completion of its financial and operational restructuring. Under the plan Gol will convert into equity – or otherwise extinguish – up to $1.7b of debt, as well as up to $850m of other obligations. The airline says this is likely to result in “significant dilution” of its existing equity, given that its most recent financial quarter showed a net loss of R$830m ($136m) and total net debt of R$27.6b ($4.5b). Abra Group has agreed to receive around $950m of new equity – and possibly more – plus $850m of “take-back debt”, according to the agreement, to satisfy $2.8b of debt claims. The take-back debt includes a $250m sum which is mandatorily convertible into new equity, 30 months after Gol emerges from Chapter 11. Gol will assume restructured aircraft leases, following agreements reached with its lessors. The airline also aims to raise up to $1.85b in new capital to support its post-Chapter 11 growth strategy.<br/>
Cambodia Angkor Air is to supplement its fleet with three ATR 72-600s, as it prepares to undergo a rebranding. The carrier operates Airbus A320-family jets as well as ATRs for regional flights. It had indicated earlier this year that it intended to sell two of its ATR 72-500s – manufactured in 2010 – from September, and lease three ATR 72-600s from May 2025. ATR says the three aircraft will be acquired by Chinese lessor HNCA Aviation Financial Leasing, part of a Henan-based civil aviation development and investment group. They will be leased to Cambodia Angkor Air next year, the airframer states, adding that the carrier plans a change of name, to Air Cambodia, on 1 January. “This partnership with ATR and HNCA underscores our commitment to providing our passengers with reliable and modern air travel options,” says Cambodia Angkor Air chief Zhan David. ATR says the fleet expansion is in line with Cambodian government plans to increase regional connectivity and develop additional airports.<br/>